Stowaway gets scholarship, NCAA probes Arik pilots, FAAN

The boy being led away by security agents.

Aviation industry regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has started probing the Arik Air pilots and officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria over alleged security breaches that led to the arrest of a 15-year-old stowaway, Daniel Oikhena, at Lagos Airport on Saturday.

This is even as the boy on Wednesday landed a scholarship to study free to university level and fulfil his dream of flying to the United States of America.

The pilot, The PUNCH learnt, might lose his licence or be fined huge sum of money if ongoing investigation by the regulators found him guilty of not aborting the  flight for safety checks, following the alleged passenger’s report of presence of a strange boy some metres from the plane.

Already, the regulatory authority has commenced full investigation into the matter, the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, disclosed to our correspondent on Wednesday.

Although the NCAA boss declined to specify the nature of penalty it would impose on Arik Air, its pilot or the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria if they were found guilty, he however said, “If at the end of the day we discover that somebody has not done what it should do, then the appropriate sections of the law will take its full course.”

Akinkuotu stressed that there were penalties and sanctions for breaches in the sector’ and assured that the regulatory agency would not shy away from upholding safety and security regulations in the aviation sector.

On the blames being traded by Arik and FAAN, the NCAA boss said the investigation would reveal whoever was liable.

He said, “Arik might say that FAAN did not provide adequate security, but safety challenges are assuming new trends everyday. The responsibility of any flight lies with the operator. Arik too has responsibility. It was reported that a passenger raised an alarm. If there is merit in that, it means there was a possibility of doing something about it. All these our investigation will unravel.”

The NCAA boss however said that the agency, in the meantime, had put in place measures to stop future re-occurrence.

“Every aircraft that is departing will be followed until take-off. FAAN security will follow them. On our part, we have to continue to monitor everything. There will be greater monitoring at the perimeter fence and access control now.”

Akinkuotu said that the issue of stowaway was age-long and not peculiar to Nigeria and the aviation sector.

 “Stowaway has been age-long since the time when ship was invented; those with criminal intent will also be looking for ways to break the law,” he said.

Aviation security expert and former Military Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu, retd, said the Benin incident had shown that the NCAA needed to audit and investigate the Arik Air security programme and the Benin Airport security programme.

Ojikutu said, “That boy could have been a courier for terrorists. The NCAA needs to find out how the boy knew part of the aircraft and where to enter. How are we sure somebody did not assist him. If the Benin Airport access control and perimeter fencing is not porous, how did he get into the aircraft.”

Meanwhile, Oikhena has been offered a scholarship by the De Raufs’ Volunteer Group, a group of supporters of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The Director-General of the group, Amitolu Shittu, in a statement on Wednesday, said the scholarship was offered to the stowaway to enable the boy to achieve his target of travelling through the air.

11-Year-Old Girl Saves Family From Fire — Did She Predict The Future?

 
Maria Elias led her three siblings to safety.
Many people claim to have experienced premonitions — those eerie, foreboding feelings that something unpleasant is about to happen. They can run from the mundane (knowing who's calling before answering the phone) to the disastrous (dreaming that a loved one will pass away). And sometimes they’re simply uneasy feelings that bad luck is on the horizon.
 That’s exactly what 11-year-old Maria Elias of McFarland, California, experienced when she went to bed on Saturday night. "I couldn't go to sleep because I knew something was going to happen," Maria told KGET TV 17.
Sure enough, at 1:30 a.m., a fire broke out in her family's three-bedroom home, causing an estimated $85,000 worth of damage. Maria fought back tears as she told KGET how she got her two younger brothers and sister to safety and was holding her sister "tight" to ensure that she didn't leave her behind.

Yahoo! Shine could not reach Maria or her family for comment, and it’s unclear exactly how the little girl ushered her siblings to safety. However, Corey Wilford of the Kern County Fire Department told Yahoo! Shine, “Based on witness testimony, the fire was electrical. A person who was sleeping in the home heard a loud pop and smelled smoke, then saw fire erupt on the wall.”

According to a Kern County Fire Department press release emailed to Yahoo! Shine, two people escaped through a window in the home, and in total, eight adults and 12 children were displaced by the fire. All are now being assisted by the American Red Cross.

“I would advise people to have at least one working smoke detector in the home,” said Wilford. “Replace your batteries twice a year and test the detector once a month to make sure it’s functioning. Also, vacuum the detector periodically because dust can prevent it from sensing smoke, or even set off false alarms.” (Visit the National Fire Protection Association website for more tips.)

Whether or not Elias experienced a premonition — and whether premonitions actually even exist — is a hotly debated topic. While many in the spiritual world have long accepted premonitions as fact, science has begun to explore the phenomenon as well. A recent study conducted by Northwestern University found that the human body can react to danger before the brain is conscious of the impending event. And research conducted by Cornell University found that people were able to predict with 53.4 percent accuracy where a photo was located when asked to choose between two locations. Not statistically mind-blowing, but according to a story published in Popular Science, the results were more impressive than the 50 percent accuracy rate that might be expected by chance.

Michelle Obama Shows Off Red and Blonde Highlights

Michelle Obama Shows Off Red and Blonde Highlights

Fast-food workers to stage walkouts in cities nationwide to demand higher pay

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 30, 2013 file photo, demonstrators fill the Hardees on Chestnut in Downtown St. Louis. On Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, organizers say thousands of workers are set to stage walkouts in at least 50 cities around the country, part of a push to intensify the spotlight on the wages paid by chains such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s. (AP Photo/Belleville News-Democrat, Derik Holtmann)

 

Candice Choi and Karen Matthews, Associated Press 2 hours ago Taco BellMinimum wage

NEW YORK (AP) -- Fast-food customers in search of burgers and fries on might run into striking workers instead.
Organizers say thousands of fast-food workers are set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities around the country Thursday, part of a push to get chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay workers higher wages.
It's expected be the largest nationwide strike by fast-food workers, according to organizers. The biggest effort so far was over the summer when about 2,200 of the nation's millions of fast-food workers staged a one-day strike in seven cities.
Thursday's planned walkouts follow a series of strikes that began last November in New York City, then spread to cities including Chicago, Detroit and Seattle. Workers say they want $15 an hour, which would be about $31,000 a year for full-time employees. That's more than double the federal minimum wage, which many fast food workers make, of $7.25 an hour, or $15,000 a year.
The move comes amid calls from the White House, some members of Congress and economists to hike the federal minimum wage, which was last raised in 2009. But most proposals seek a far more modest increase than the ones workers are asking for, with President Barack Obama wanting to boost it to $9 an hour.
The push has brought considerable media attention to a staple of the fast-food industry — the so-called "McJobs" that are known for their low pay and limited prospects. But the workers taking part in the strikes still represent a tiny fraction of the broader industry. And it's not clear if the strikes on Thursday will shut down any restaurants because organizers made their plans public earlier in a call for workers around the country to participate, which gave managers time to adjust their staffing levels. More broadly, it's not clear how many customers are aware of the movement, with turnout for past strikes relatively low in some cities.
Laila Jennings, a 29-year-old sales associate at T.J. Maxx, was eating at a McDonald's in New York City this week and said she hadn't heard of the movement. Still, she said she thinks workers should be paid more. "They work on their feet all day," Jennings said, adding that $12 to $15 an hour seemed fair.
As it stands, fast-food workers say they can't live on what they're paid.
Shaniqua Davis, 20, lives in the Bronx with her boyfriend, who is unemployed, and their 1-year-old daughter. Davis has worked at a McDonald's a few blocks from her apartment for the past three months, earning $7.25 an hour. Her schedule varies, but she never gets close to 40 hours a week. "Forty? Never. They refuse to let you get to that (many) hours."
Her weekly paycheck is $150 or much lower. "One of my paychecks, I only got $71 on there. So I wasn't able to do much with that. My daughter needs stuff, I need to get stuff for my apartment," said Davis, who plans to take part in the strike Thursday.
She pays the rent with public assistance but struggles to afford food, diapers, subway and taxi fares, cable TV and other expenses with her paycheck.
"It's really hard," she said. "If I didn't have public assistance to help me out, I think I would have been out on the street already with the money I make at McDonald's."
McDonald's Corp. and Burger King Worldwide Inc. say that they don't make decisions about pay for the independent franchisees that operate the majority of their U.S. restaurants.
For the restaurants it does own, McDonald's said in a statement that pay starts at minimum wage but the range goes higher, depending on the employee's position and experience level. It said that raising entry-level wages would mean higher overall costs, which could result in higher prices on menus.
"That would potentially have a negative impact on employment and business growth in our restaurants, as well as value for our customers," the company said in a statement.
The Wendy's Co. and Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, did not respond to a request for comment.
The National Restaurant Association says the low wages reflect the fact that most fast-food workers tend to be younger and have little work experience. Scott DeFife, a spokesman for the group, says that doubling wages would hurt job creation, noting that fast-food chains are already facing higher costs for ingredients, as well as new regulations that will require them to pay more in health care costs.
Still, the actions are striking a chord in some corners.
Robert Reich, a worker advocate and former Labor Secretary in the Clinton administration, said that the struggles of living on low wages is hitting close to home for many because of the weak economic climate.
"More and more, people are aware of someone either in their wider circle of friends or extended family who has fallen on hard times," Reich said.
Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, which is providing the fast-food strikes with financial support and training, said the actions in recent months show that fast-food workers can be mobilized, despite the industry's relatively higher turnover rates and younger age.
"The reality has totally blown through the obstacles," she said.

FG okays integrity test on Third Mainland Bridge

The Third Mainland Bridge

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a contract of N290.7m for an advanced integrity test on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The council also approved the move by the Ministry of Finance to obtain a $200m loan from the International Development Association as an additional financing window for the Third National Fadama Development project.

That was just as the FEC gave its nod to the Cybercrime Bill 2003 and directed that the document be sent to the National Assembly for passage into law.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina and the Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, briefed state House correspondents of the outcome of the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Maku said the bridge’s integrity test, which would be conducted and completed within two months, was aimed at detecting areas on the bridge that needed maintenance.

The Federal Government had, last year spent N1bn to carry out repair works on the bridge. Shortly after the repairs, the Lagos State Government raised the alarm on the distressed nature of the bridge, a claim which the Ministry of Works quickly denied.

Maku said the contract for the integrity test was approved in order to save the bridge from extensive deterioration.

He said, “The Minister of Works tabled a memorandum to seek an approval for the comprehensive underwater inspection, assessment of pilings, river bed bathymetric survey, profiling and echometric test on Third Mainland Bridge.

“The bridge is a vital artery on the Federal Highways network connecting Lagos mainland to the island.

“Following reports of oscillation and excessive vibrations of the bridge under traffic load, investigations and tests were carried out by experts on the bridge in 2008 and the reports indicated that the bridge was structurally sound but required the replacement of damaged expansion joints and bearings.

“The ministry decided that Advanced Integrity Assessment, including echometric (sonic pulse) tests on piles was inevitable in order to authenticate the findings of the Nigerian Submarine Divers Limited.

“In order to save the bridge from extensive deteriorating condition, council approved the award of contract for the consultancy services for the comprehensive underwater inspection, assessment of pilings, river bed bathymetric survey, profiling and echometric test on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State in favour of Messrs ICECON (Nigeria) Limited in the sum of N290, 745, 000.00 only with a completion period of two months.”

Adesina said the IDA loan, which was interest-free but would attract 0.075 service charge, would lead to the actualisation of FADAMA land

Theft knocks Nigeria’s oil output to four-year low

Crude oil being illegally transported in the Niger Delta

Nigeria is suffering the worst wave of oil production disruptions in four years, with output falling to levels last seen before the government’s amnesty programme ended militancy in the Niger Delta, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Industrial scale oil theft, sabotage and technical problems, according to the report, have caused crude output to drop to less than 1.9 million barrels a day this summer, the lowest since mid-2009, when production briefly dipped to a 20-year low of 1.5 million bpd.

Any further fall will allow Angola to assume Nigeria’s position as the continent’s largest crude producer, the report stated.

“Output has been less than two million barrels a day for several months,” said Rolake Akinkugbe, Head of Energy Research, Ecobank.

“It’s a reflection of the headwinds facing oil companies in Nigeria,” she added.

The country’s production difficulties have helped push global crude prices above $110 a barrel. They have also damaged the financial outlook in Africa’s second-biggest economy, where oil and gas account for nearly 80 per cent of fiscal revenues.

The country had budgeted for oil sales of 2.5 million bpd in 2013, which, combined with the high petroleum prices, should have allowed for substantial savings in the Excess Crude Account, the government’s rainy-day fund. But instead of increasing, the fund has been run down from $9bn in December to $5.1bn in July.

The Head, Africa Research, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Razia Khan, said falling oil revenues should be a worry for the government, especially with a presidential election scheduled for early 2015.

The Financial Times reported that previous polls had been preceded by a sharp increase in spending and leakages in revenue collection as politicians tried to buy their way to power.

“Nigeria still has a comfortable current account surplus, but it is declining, as is the Excess Crude Account. Unless we see a turnaround in oil revenues, investors are going to start to get concerned,” Khan said.

Nigeria drastically reduced the number of oil worker kidnappings and pipeline bomb attacks in 2009 by persuading more than 26,000 militants to disarm in exchange for monthly cash payments, which are ongoing. While the violence has not returned, the theft of oil has grown into a vast and lucrative enterprise involving well-connected officials and security personnel.

More than 150,000 barrels of oil are reportedly stolen every day, with some feeding illegal refineries in the Niger Delta and the bulk shipped to destinations as far away as Asia.

The kiss Melvin never got

Melvin

Apart from missing the $300,000 prize in the just concluded Big Brother Africa show, his diesire for Dillish yielded no fruit, Jayne Augoye writes

He was about Nigeria’s biggest hope of winning the Big Brother competition this year. But sadly, this was not to be, as, once more,   28-year-old Melvin Oduah’s dream of capturing yet another major reality show was dashed on Sunday. That was when he placed fourth in the competition.

Although he appears to have taken the defeat in good faith, fans of the Delta State-born model have taken to social media sites to express displeasure at the turn of events.

While he attracted empathy from certain quarters, the actor has also been receiving knocks from some bitter Nigerians who took to their Twitter handles, sarcastically posing the question, “Why do you always end up as a runner-up?”

Although their fear sounds superstitious, some may consider the feeling understandable, as the Big Brother Africa show,  this year, is said to be Melvin’s fourth attempt at attaining super stardom via a major competition.

He was the first runner-up in the Mr. Nigeria contest in 2011, first runner-up in Gulder Ultimate Search competition in 2009 and   fifth place winner in the Mr. Macho contest during his National Youth Service year in 2008.

It was thus a pitiable experience seeing the University of Port-Harcourt Chemistry graduate probably feigning a smile on Sunday. His failure to win was a major shocker to all and sundry, especially since he was tipped to win by a reasonable number of evicted housemates, who admired his calm mien.

More so, it appeared that the surviving housemates had so fallen in love with his character so much so, that they rarely ever nominated him for eviction.

The only time he was up for eviction was when he sacrificed himself as the Head of House, after swapping himself up for nomination with a nominated housemate.

That singular gesture earned him the love and sympathy of many Africans who voted to save him. Also, Melvin appeared to be loved by all.

Former Big Brother winner, Uti Nwachukwu, openly campaigned for him via his social media accounts. After the final results were announced, Uti, tweeted, “I am forever proud of Melvin! Best behaved housemate in the history of Big Brother Africa! All seasons! His star has only begun to shine.”

 Dousing claims that the results were manipulated in Dellish’s favour, Uti added, “I’m glad she won! And Melvin wasn’t robbed o .West Africa’s chances were slim and no one was willing to sacrifice.”

Besides failing to win the star prize money, another area where the Nigerian hunk lost out is the failure to secure the heart and love of  Namibian beauty and winner, Dillish Matthews.

Although in-house romances appeared to have been the downfall of many of the contestants this year, it was apparent that Melvin had a soft spot for Dillish, a first runner up in the Miss Universities pageant held in Benin in 2012.

Yet, Dilish stood her ground, refusing to compromise or cheat on Stephen, her lover of four years. Despite numerous romantic gestures and attempts to flirt with Dillish, she wouldn’t bulge.

In the end, she won more votes than Beverley, Melvin, Elikem and Cleo in the final week, to scoop the $300,000 prize and become the third woman to win a season of Big Brother Africa.

Speaking in an online video interview on the Big Brother website immediately after the finals, Melvin thanked Dillish for all the lessons she had taught him

Tiwa Savage and lover cause commotion

Tiwa Savage

In the last few weeks, the Flood with Love campaign, which features some Nigerian celebrities in various publications aimed at raising funds for flood victims, has been attracting varied comments.

However, one of the pieces which feature the pictures of Marvin Records artiste, Tiwa Savage, and fiancé, Tee Blizz, appear to be generating a lot of comments.

This is because the said photo shows Blizz grabbing one of the breasts of his lover, Tiwa. That action may have taken the shine off the intended message the organisers are trying to portray in the first place.

Confusion as flood sweeps away nine-year-old boy

Scene of the incident

Fear and uncertainty has enveloped Oke-Ekoro, Sango area of Ogun State, over the whereabouts of a nine-year-old boy, Gbenga Gbadamosi, who was seen being swept away by flood on Tuesday.

It was learnt that the community had experienced a downpour before the incident occurred.

When our correspondent visited the area on Wednesday, youths and other members of the community were seen draining the water in a gully in the area   with the hope of retrieving the body of the youngster. As of 12noon when the exercise was completed, no body was found there.

 Our correspondent learnt that Gbenga fell into a canal in the area while attempting to pick his sibling’s slippers which had fallen into the water. It was initially believed that the water in the canal swept Gbenga into the gully.

The community leader, Emmanuel Keshiro, told PUNCH Metro that although the rain fell for a short time, it was quite heavy.

He said, “Gbenga and two of his siblings were coming from their mother’s shop after the rain. They were walking by the edge of the canal, when the slippers of one of them fell into the canal.

“Gbenga, being the first  child, wanted to pick it, but his leg slipped into the canal and the flood swept him away.

“The two siblings were only crying, so nobody knew what happened until they ran to the shop and told their mother. She was the one that raised the alarm.”

Our correspondent visited the scene and observed that the canal passed through the community to connect with another town. Weeds and grass cover up the surface of the gully, which also has sharp pointed edges.

Gbenga’s father, Agunbiade, a driver, said he was at his place of work when he heard the news.

He said his wife had earlier informed him of the rain and he told her to hurry home to look after the children.

“When it was evening, I began to dial her line to know her whereabouts. I discovered it was switched off. Someone later called to inform me that flood had swept my son away. I was shocked.

“Gbenga is my first child and he was a well-behaved and gentle child. I love him so much because even everybody in the area knows him for his quiet conduct. I can’t still believe what is happening now.”

He decried the attitude of the police and the fire service to the situation, which he described as nonchalant.

A resident, Bomi Akintade, said the police merely put up appearance at the community on Tuesday and left the residents to grapple with the crisis.

He said the residents started rescue efforts at 4pm on Tuesday till late into the night and resumed 6am on Wednesday.

He said, “We have employed all means to no avail. This water came from Joju, a neigbouring town. It is unfortunate that the government has not been helpful. It was even the landlords’ association that constructed the bridge over the canal. We will continue to search for the boy.’’

Another resident, Lawal Mansour, said it was the second time in three years, that such tragedy would befall the community.

He appealed for the intervention of the Ogun State Government to help in building a safe water channel.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident. He said, “The case was reported at Ota division.”

Land grabbers beat architect to death over N5,000

Kiyesola

When Eniola Kiyesola left home for work on August 18, 2013, he bade his wife and three children farewell, saying he would return after the day’s work.

This was, however, not to be as the 36-year-old man was beaten to death by land grabbers few hours after he left his house.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Kiyesola had gone to a construction site to supervise an ongoing work when about five land grabbers stormed the site.

The culprits were said to have demanded N5, 000 from Kiyesola, adding that if he did not pay them, they would prevent labourers from working.

A relative of the deceased, Mr Sola Solebo, said, “On that day, Kiyesola went to supervise construction at the site.

“After sometime, about five hoodlums from Omo Ebi Bagidan Village, led by one Babu and Kazeem, stormed the site and demanded money.

“Kiyesola reminded them that the owner of the property had given them money when the foundation of the building was being laid.

“The land grabbers then demanded N5, 000 so that they would leave. However, Kiyesola told them that he could not give them any money and told them to come back when the owner of the property was around.

“There was an exchange of words and the hoodlums picked up iron rods and beat him up.”

A labourer, Yusuf Olatundun, who claimed to be an eyewitness, said the culprits beat Kiyesola for over an hour.

Olatundun, a bricklayer, said, “About 15 of us were working on the site when those land grabbers came. The land grabbers said they had an axe to grind with the architect. Some of us rushed to Ijede Police Division to report the matter.

“After beating Kiyesola for over an hour, he collapsed. When he became unconscious, the guys fled. When the police arrived we rushed Kiyesola to General Hospital, Ijede where he was confirmed dead.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that the traditional leader of Omo Ebi Bagidan Village, Sunday Basorun, who was alleged to have employed the culprits to collect land dues for him, had been arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said, “The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.”

Braide added that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing culprits.

Mother, children battle father over property, marriage legitimacy

Lagos High Court, Ikeja

Mrs. Virginia Okoye, along with her three children, wants a Lagos High Court in Ikeja to declare that she remains a legitimate wife of Mr. Collins Okoye, and that the children of the marriage are entitled to the man’s property in Lagos and Imo states.

The claimants are, among other prayers, seeking the court, presided over by Justice Opeyemi Oke, to award N500,000 as damages against the father, who they claimed denied them access to his houses for “no just cause”.

Mr. Yemi Omodele, counsel for the claimants, stated in the statement of claim, “The claimants aver that the defendant hated the claimants with contempt to the extent that he has refused to give them access to his property as his family members, despite the fact that they contributed immensely to the development of the property.”

The row in the Okoye family came to a head, when, 72 years old Collins allegedly locked the wife and the children out of the family house, a two-storey building in Umuezike Village, Ozella town in Orlu West Local Government Area of Imo State.

The other contentious house is located on Akuko Road, Off Ijaye, Agbado, Lagos State.

The children, who are the second to fourth claimants in the suit, tagged, ID/950M/2011, are Emeka, 42; Benson, 38; and Mrs. Oluchi Ubabuike (nee Okoye), 36.

The court papers they filed in the suit, which was initiated in 2011, showed that besides the dispute over the claimants’ right of entitlement to the property, the existence of a valid marriage between Collins and Virginia is also in dispute.

Virginia claimed she was legally married to Collins in 1971 and that she had no knowledge of any other woman married to him as of then.

Collins has countered the claim, saying he was never married to Virginia, but that they were only engaged in cohabitation which produced three children.

He added that Virginia eloped and married another man from an apartment they used to live in in Oshodi about 12 years ago.

He added that the house in Lagos was never his own but belonged to the woman he “is traditionally and legally maried to”, Lilian.

Collins claimed to have married Lilian in 1968 but that the marriage was only solemnised in a catholic church in Ozara, Imo State, on July 12, 2003. He said the union produced five children.

The court on December 10, 2012 ordered Lilian to be joined as the second defendant in the suit.

Collins added that he was not entitled to provide shelter for  Virginia’s children, who he said, “are all adults, married and no longer under his control.”

His statement of claim as filed by his lawyer, Mrs. J.C Nwadinma-Ohanyiri read, “The second (Emeka), third (Benson), and fourth (Mrs. Oluchi Ubabuike) defendants are all married and living with their respective families. The second claimant lives in Greece, the third claimant also lived in Greece before he was repatriated and the fourth claimant lives in London with her husband.”

But Virginia urged the court to declare that she and her children were entitled to possess and inherit Collins property.”

Further proceedings in the matter was adjourned till September 26.

Yobo, Emenike out of Europa as CAS bans Fenerbahce

Nigerian duo of Joseph Yobo and Emmanuel Emenike are out of this season’s Europa Cup as their Turkish side Fenerbahce will be unable to compete in the Europa League this season. This comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a UEFA-imposed two-year ban from European competition over a match-fixing scandal on Wednesday. Emenike just joined the team in the summer transfers.

 With the International Olympic Committee vote on whether Istanbul, Madrid or Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics due on Sept. 7, the timing of the announcement delivers another body blow to the tarnished image of Turkish sport.

 The Turkish Athletics Federation earlier on Wednesday handed a two-year suspension to double European 100m hurdles champion Nevin Yanit for drugs violations, just weeks after similar bans were given to 31 other local athletes.

Fenerbahce said they would appeal the CAS decision in a Swiss federal court but the club’s shares took a beating following the decision, falling nearly 6 percent, before trimming losses to close 3.5 percent down at 24.60 lira.

 Playing under appeal against the original ban, Fenerbahce were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in the second leg of a Champions League playoff on Tuesday, losing the tie 5-0 on aggregate.

Normally a defeat at this stage would still guarantee a berth in the continent’s second tier competition but Fenerbahce will be barred from the Europa League following the CAS ruling.

Lausanne-based CAS said in a statement it had dismissed appeals filed by Fenerbahce and Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv, barred by UEFA over involvement in a domestic match-fixing case dating back to 2008.

“Fenerbahce SK is excluded from two editions of the UEFA club competitions,” CAS said in its ruling following a two-day hearing held at its headquarters on August 21-22.

British Council is Mapping Nigeria’s Creative Economy

What will this mapping do for you?

It will provide data that will:

·         Help you secure Nigerian and foreign investment as well as funding for your creative business

·         Make it easier for you to access intervention and funding from government

·         Put you on the Nigerian creative industries map which will be available online and accessible worldwide 

How will the mapping do this? Continue to find out...

How will the mapping do this?

The mapping will measure

·         contribution of the sector to national GDP, export revenue and job creation

·         the capacity of the sector to boost Nigeria’s international image

·         challenges of sector businesses and opportunities for growth

What do you need to do?

Provide information on your creative business through the survey and win a prize for your participation.

Note! All respondents will be entered into a draw to win exciting prizes. To be entered you need to complete the survey. We appreciate the time taken to complete this as we work towards the common good of the creative sector in Nigeria.

To fill the survey, please follow the link below according to the sector that majority of your creative work occurs in:

Fashion

Music

Film

Other

For more information about the British Council Creative Industries Mapping project go here and here

Birthday message from Mercy Johnson Okojie

A message from Mercy Johnson's heart as she turns a year older today. Read below...

Today, I thought of many things I would love to have as birthday gifts and the many dreams I am still pursuing. In all of this I’m not losing sight of the fact that if not for God I might have ended up on the street like the many kids and young adults begging for food and some prostituting to make ends meet. If we know the circumstances that force some of these people on the street, we would spare a thought for them. I am where I am today purely by the grace of God and the grace of people who believed in me from the word go.

Recently, I was at the Boys Reform Home, Oregun, Lagos, the discussion I had with the principal Mr. Kotun and much later with the Special Adviser in charge of allremand homes in Lagos set me thinking about the boys and girls on the street. They have dreams too. Can they fulfill those dreams on the street? The answer will likely be no; because I won't be where I am today if I ended up on the street.

For this reason, Mercy Johnson Foundation will be doing a lot to get kids off the street. We are not asking people for money or donation, I will do all I can with the resources God has given me, and with the support of my husband to help get these kids off the street and set them on the path where they can begin to pursue their dreams. I want to plead with people, fans, friends and colleagues to spare a thought for the children on the street. We can begin by educating people around us, parents, the children and people in charge of children (Oga-house help relationship, teacher-student relationship, and others) on the need to treat every child like the future of Nigeria depends on it. And truth be told, our future will not be all that enjoyable if we let the scourge of ‘street-children’ fester. By then, the rich will begin to cry.  I learnt Lagos State Government has 11 homes where most children picked from the streets are kept, reformed and reunited with their families after counseling.

That is an initiative Mercy Johnson Foundation will be supporting and beyond that we will be going to different states to help spread the message-Get kids off the street, save the future. From tomorrow, I will begin to replay some of the lessons I learnt at the boys’ reform home and we all can contribute to getting the kids off the street.

I am grateful to everyone that has sent in a birthday message, tweet and gifts. Thank you and God bless you.
Mercy Johnson Okojie

'What made your man leave?' - Ali Baba gives relationship advise

 

The comedian took to his Facebook page yesterday to dish out relationship advice to women. Find it below.. 

Sometime back, in March, I was advising a babe on how to make a man stay. Some comments posted in reply to my status were that men are only controlled by their third legs, money, yansh, boobs, beauty and ego. I tried to highlight a very serious point that babes were missing.

And that is, everyman wants better. We do not want to feel the one we let go was better.

Not too long ago, I read some wild and wide criticism that greeted what Stella Damasus wrote about keeping a man. To some, wrong as they were, Stella had no business telling anyone how to keep a man. I believe she does. I actually think she knows more than she revealed.

Growing up in Ojo Cantonment, my Dad and I were walking back from his friend from a Soldier in the Education Corp of the Nigerian Army, from Gongola state who had been made a Major. Just as we took a turn, from the officers' mess, a naked mad man was running towards us from the opposite direction, shouting Mad Man... Mad man... To my surprise, My Dad, who was a military man, told us to run for cover. So he dragged me behind a kerosine tank, pushed me to the ground and kept looking to see what the mad man was running from. Meanwhile, Some two Fulani men who used to come into the barracks regularly to read palms of anyone who yielded their hands to them, had been walking behind us, before we took cover. They kept walking.

I nearly laughed when I saw them make a Uturn, and took off after the mad man that had run pass us, it now looked like they were chasing the mad man that was shouting "Maaaaaad man!"

On the heels of the Fulani palm readers was another mad man, brandishing a UTC cutlass . Not Machete. Cutlass. The type used in felling trees. That type that reminded one of Prince Nico Nbaga's bell bottom trousers back then. He was swinging the weapon of death as he pursued... It became obvious to us from where we were crouched that the madman had no one in mind as a target. He was after anyone he could lay his eyes on. Because, soon as the Fulani men, vanished at the end of the Block, he gave up on that chase and followed one Man selling Festac 77 sleeveless Adire. Mr Adire seller was actually laughing at the way the Fulani men took to their heels. So, this time I had to laugh when I saw how the amusement on his face changed into fright. He took off and jumped across the gutter by Palmy Bus stop. He continued running even after the machete carrying mad man hand found new targets.

Sorry I digressed. Hope you are still with me.

My Dad later told me a proverb in URHOBO, "AVUE ODIERO, NE EKI VHENRHEE!" Which means you do not need to tell a deaf man that there is chaos and uncontrollable commotion in the market. He can see. That's all he needs.

Back to Stella DAMASUs' write up. We are not all perfect. That said, when a Musician writes a love song, do you stop listening to the love song or letting the lyrics connect to your relationship because the singer has divorced 8 times or has not been able to hold a relationship longer than 3 months? I don't think so. I think STELLA did well. If you like go call police.

Back to the HASHTAG I talked about earlier, #WhatMadeYourGuyLeaveYou.Many ladies missed the point as they always often do. They were talking about how men are polygamous in nature, Cheats, irresponsible, not ready for commitment, gigolos, lack ambition, lack self control, think with their third legs... BLA BLA BLA.

I need to mention at this time, that i was at that time preparing to talk to young ladies who were looking to settle down and finding the right guy. And to tell you the truth, a lot of the ladies missed the whole point by a mile or 2. They need to read STELLA DAMASUS' piece.

It's easy for a lady to say, a guy was not serious that's why the relationship broke up. Or to say, he used her and dumped her for another lady. Fine. That is what they think made the guy leave. But to be honest, was that all there was to it?

I would like you to know that, that is not entirely the truth. A guy would always weigh his options. He would want to know if he is getting the best. Or if he can see the best coming soon.

ABEG OOO

Before a lot of ladies eat me raw, let me explain. I do agree that it's a two way street, but I can only speak for the WAY I HAVE BEEN ON. I AM AS STRAIGHT AS THEY COME. I KNOW AND HAVE KNOWN ONLY WOMEN.

Have you as a babe listed some CORE 10 things that you think you have that will make a guy not want to leave you? Do you also have some other unique things that a guy will not get anywhere else? Ok, lets agree he likes your breast, your bum bum and your soft body. What has any of those got to do with respect, the tone with which you talk to him, showing you are happy to be the one he chose, supporting his dreams... Does he like blowjobs? Do you give him same? Does he like talking? Do you listen? Some girls are funny, they will admit to knowing that the other girl bests them in several departments, yet still say, they don't know why he moved on to her. Really???

There several things that makes a man make up his mind that it is you or otherwise. DONT get it twisted... If he finds out that someone has 15 CORE things that you have only 3 of and even the 3 are sometimes canceled out by the bad things like nagging, pride, greed...that have formed your character. Your own don set. You are sitting there comparing yourself to someone who has 13 things, more than you and is willing to tolerate his weaknesses and learn more. Yet you are quick to say, you don't know what he sees in "that girl". Hey girlfriend, your beauty stands no where near the towering personality and good heart "that girl" has. Better recognize.

I know I have stepped on that last nerve you have been tolerating me with. OYA delete me. I even need space to add people who tolerate and think like I do.

I rest my case.