2013 NEA Awards Winners List Out As Olamide Grabbed The Big Seat

Nigerian Entertainment Awards took place in New York yesterday September 1st and hosted by Basket Mouth. The Nigerian entertainment personalities were in attendance as the event kicked starts with performance from Sean Tizzle, Dammy Krane, Olamide, Phyno and more.
Here is the winners list of NEA 2013!
BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR
YBNL – Olamide
HOTTEST SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Kukere – Iyanya
BEST NEW ACT OF THE YEAR
Burna Boy
GOSPEL ARTIST/GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sammy Okposo
BEST POP/R&B ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Davido
BEST RAP ACT OF THE YEAR
Ice Prince
MUSIC PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Spellz
MOST PROMISING MALE ACT
Endia
MOST PROMISING FEMALE ACT TO WATCH
Emma Nyra
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
JJC
BEST INDIGENOUS ARTIST/GROUP
Olamide
BEST COLLABO
Ghost Mode – Phyno & Olamide
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN FILM
Rita Dominic
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN FILM
Ali Nuhu
BEST FILM DIRECTOR
Tunde Kelani (Maami)
BEST TV SHOW
Big Brother Africa
PAN AFRICAN ACTOR
John Dumelo
PAN AFRICAN ACTRESS
Nadia Buhari
WORLD DJ
DJ Bayo (UK)
BEST COMEDIAN
Basket Mouth
ENTERTAINMENT PROMOTER
Coko Bar
RADIO ON AIR/TV PERSONALITY
Freeze – Cool FM
TV PERSONALITY
Labi Layori
ENTERTAINMENT BLOG
NotJustOk

Zen Magazine Exclusive Interview With Model, Vanessa Agyemang

Zen Magazine has released its exclusive interview with Top model of Colour 2013 winner Vanessa Agyemang, the beautiful model who graced the cover of the August issue. It’s an inspirational interview and here are all the exclusives.
Enjoy!!

Ini Edo Covers September Issue of City People Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine

Nollywood actress Ine Edo completely rocks the socks off on the cover of the September issue of City People Fashion & Lifestyle magazine. Check it out.

Wande Coal Cops New Mercedes Benz GL 450

hj
Black Diamond ent must be working well for Wande Coal as he’s copped himself a new Mercedes Benz GL 450 which is estimated to be worth about $63,000 (N10 million).
Must be nice yo. Nice one.

Davido reacts to 'rich dad' comments

More Tweets when you continue...

Blinded By The Police

Chinonso Ozoemena

 

Chiemelie Ezeobi recently spoke with 28-year-old Chinonso Ozoemena, who was shot in the eye by an alleged drunken police corporal, Mohammed Abubakar, and abandoned to his fate despite his pains

When Chinonso Ozoemena came to Lagos exactly three years ago from Idemili, his hometown in Anambra State, he was brimming with hopes and aspirations. His goal was to make enough money to cater for his family, get married and enjoy life.

And burdened with that responsibility of caring for his six siblings and his widow mother after the death of his father in 1999, Ozoemena was determined to be fulfilled in Lagos, his new found environment.

So within three years after coming to Lagos, he had a bustling restaurant at the Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Expressway.  The restaurant has provided Ozoemena with financial independence and he was able to support his family until Monday, August 5, 2013, when he was assaulted and left blinded by a drunken Police Corporal identified as Mohammed Abubakar.
Ozoemena's Ordeal

When Ozoemena closed from work on August 5, he had no inkling what fate had in store for him. After battling the usual traffic snarl along the Mile 2/Badagry Expressway, his simple thought was to get home and rest in preparation for the next day's work.

But as he was approaching his residence at Diamond Estate, FESTAC Town on that fateful day, he saw a crowd trying to disperse an alleged drunken policeman, one Corporal Mohammed Abubakar allegedly attached to Ashaka Security Company Limited (ASCON), Diamond Estate, FESTAC Town, who had engaged a civilian in a brawl.

Narrating the chain of events that led to his partial blindness, Ozoemema said, "People were begging the policeman to stop as he was drunk. He left and we all breathed a sigh of relief but the next thing we knew was that he came back with a gun. He started shooting sporadically and indiscriminately and one of the bullets hit my right eye."

John Bright, a barber who was on location when the incident happened was not so lucky.  The bullet from the drunken policeman hit him and he died.
Ozoemena confirmed Bright’s death saying,"one of the people that died in when the policeman fired the shot was John Bright, a barber in the neighbourhood. Some others were also fatally injured in that gun fire.

"I was rushed to the Accident and Emergency unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos State, where the medical doctors battled for hours to salvage what was left of my right eye," he said.

However, despite the concerted efforts of the doctors to save his eyes, Ozoemena is still permanently disfigured and clinically blind on the right eye and virtually disabled as the doctors had to disgorge the entire socket in his eye to be able to remove hot lead and bullet shrapnel from his eye.

In an emotion-laden voice, he told THISDAY that he was going through excruciating pains at the moment from the hot lead which was pumped into his eye by the drunken policeman.

Now, Ozoemena's restaurant is a shadow of itself. Due to his challenge, he had to close down his shop as customers were turned off by the condition of his eye which has gone terribly bad with pus seeping out of the battered eye and streaming down his cheek continuously.
To make matters worse, he said he does not know how to inform his mother of his present condition because of her failing health.
He said: "How do I tell my mother what happened?  She’s presently not in good health and this will just compound the problem. She is all we have now. I need my eye back so that I can continue to take care of my family.

To compound his woe  Ozoemena was hit by a vehicle on Sunday, August 18, while attempting to cross the road near his house, because of his condition.

Quest for Justice
For justice, the victim took the matter to the chambers of Greystone Law and Risk Incorporate, a law consulting firm in Nigeria but with branches in the United Kingdom.

Speaking to THISDAY, the solicitors, Messrs  George Nwahajioke (esquire) and Kingsley Ughe, decried the manner in which the police and Ashaka Company had treated their client.

They noted that beside the sum of N146,000 ASCON sent to settle part of his medical bills, they have since neglected and abandoned their client in the hospital despite the emotional trauma they caused him.

They said:  "It is curious that the IG has kept mute despite our letter to him demanding amongst others, due compensation to enable Mr. Ozoemena travel to India for proper medical treatment. It is equally distressing that ASCON to which the killer police was attached as a guard duty at the time  when the incident happened has wickedly refused to live up to its corporate responsibility and duty owed to our client  in this situation.

"It is instructive that the killer corporal was one of the armed policemen employed by ASCON within the Diamond Estate for its private business. At the relevant times, the control and responsibility of Corporal Mohammed Abubakar rests in part on the shoulder of the company but they have abandoned him in the hospital.

"In view of the above, we are demanding N100,000,000 as compensation from the police and the errant company, jointly and severally to enable our client get the urgent medical attention he needs. In the unlikely event of the repos dents herein failing to meet our demands in the next working seven days, we shall have no choice but to resort to court action to compel the compensation."

Unanswered Questions
THISDAY gathered that although the corporal was employed by Ashaka Security Company Limited within the Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, he was in the state without the knowledge of the state police command.

According to investigations Abubakar as a mobile police officer was attached to Mopol 17 Akure and therefore had no business being in Lagos or attached to a private security company.

Police sources who would not want to be mentioned alleged that the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, is currently trying to unravel who posted the suspect to his command without his knowledge.

To this anomaly, Nwahajioke said, "Nigeria is a country of about 150million people and the police force has resource strength of about 300,000 rank and files. However, 100,000 of the 300,000 are being employed as VIP escorts, body guards and private security details in residential and business premises.”

Interestingly, the whereabouts of the Abubakar is yet unknown as ASCON  and police authorities could not give account as to his location after the said act.

Lagos Police Reacts
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigations are ongoing into the matter.

She said: "Our stance is that we are currently investigating all the grey areas in the case. I cannot tell you everything that I know but be rest assured that the police is on top of the matter."

Braide said her command is yet to get a letter seeking compensation from the police from the victim’s lawyers.
Attempts to reach the said security company proved abortive as they neither picked calls put across to them or returned the text messages and email sent to their number as at press time.

Hawking on Abuja’s Fast-lane

Hawking is a prohibited practice within Abuja metropolis, but it has become a burgeoning part of its every day life,

Clearly, street hawking indicates deep-seated social malaise. To a large extent, it tells of how much of concern a society exerts on the socio-economic status and welfare of its inhabitants, especially when a good fraction of its younger generation are mostly involved in the practice.

Drawing from informal conversations at various times and places with some of Abuja’s street hawkers who are mostly adolescent boys and girls of school age, the reality that some natural choices of life may have been reserved for some people may become a little hard to contest, otherwise, how justifiable is a young life spent daily on the fast-lane of Abuja seeking survival against obvious human-created odds, when considered with the possibilities of a better livelihood from conscious state-aided social welfare policies.

No doubt, street hawking has found a new home in Abuja, Nigeria’s burgeoning federal capital, the trade which now bears the “prohibition tag” from city’s administration, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is been implemented through its agent, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), albeit, with certain evident irregular sentiments which AEPB has keenly denied. While some of Nigeria’s children of school age have continually become vulnerable to unpleasant social acts like rape, torture, infanticide, forced child labour and prostitution, and of course modern day slavery through street hawking, it is certain that the drive to pull through the harsh times of life has continued to serve as the platform upon which most of these acts are regularly perpetrated. “No young person, not even I would prefer to live through this experience.

It is a tough thing to go through every day. You’ve been here for almost 45 minutes and seen what we go through; they come here every day at this time to collect money from me, otherwise, I won’t be allowed to stay here and sell my corn,” a teenage boy simply identified as Mustapha who sits every day at a part of Maitama District to roast and sell corn under Abuja’s hot scorching sun told THISDAY. Mustapha’s narration is not so much different from the experience of most other young hawkers on the streets of Abuja who variously explained to THISDAY their daily experience from the enforcement unit of AEPB; although, they admitted to knowing the legal status of their trade, their complaints however, revolve around allegations of financial extortion and physical abuse by enforcement officials of AEPB who are almost short of anything but urchins taken off the streets perhaps by AEPB to enforce the hawking prohibition policy. “The crackdown mechanism adopted by AEPB for the arrest of hawkers and street traders is in order; these traders defy the standing order and they know it, that is why they take to their heels on sighting any vehicle that looks like an AEPB vehicle whether the vehicle is after them or not.

They do that at their own risk,” Head, information and outreach programme unit of AEPB, Joe Ukairo told THISDAY in defence of the prohibition policy. Ukairo who described street hawking as a nagging social malaise, explained that that there was no way Abuja would have expected to be free from such with the rapid increase in its population, hence, the policy to control its practice. “There is a limit to what the environment can carry just like any other living thing. So we stand in for the environment to speak for it, protect it, nourish it and fight for it where necessary.  Street trading or hawking is a social problem that is gradually increasing in the city as a result of population explosion being experienced in Abuja. The influx of people into the FCT must not be interpreted from the negative point of view only. It is also a sign that Abuja is working.

It depicts a thriving society,” he said. Just like Mustapha, another of the street hawker, Meg told THISDAY in a 30 minutes long conversation that with the surge to urban cities, continuous inflation, unabated unemployment and underemployment rates as well as seeming absence of good governance, street hawkers in Abuja may likely not bulge under any of government’s prohibition policies. Meg said: “How do they want us to quit our source of livelihood when they haven’t provided alternatives to us.

The government is insensitive and officials of AEPB have continued to add to the pain; they extort from us, seize our wares when we fail to pay them and most times physically harass us. You can imagine me running with my tray of banana every now and then.” THISDAY indeed witnessed one of the routine “catching” games between hawkers and AEPB enforcement officers when this reporter unknowingly ran into a hot pursuit for a child hawker by an enforcement officer; also naively, this reporter attempted to cut short the pursuit but was violently resisted by the pursuing officer.

From every indication, street hawking has become both an economic and environmental issue to the government to the extent that the FCTA has intensified efforts to get rid of it but its adopted strategy is burdened with inconsistencies which is the hallmark of most government policies in Nigeria; attempt by the AEPB to clamp down on hawkers on Abuja’s streets continues to elicit reactions. It was reported in November 2011 that a protest by a group of about 250 hawkers was initiated and expressed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the incessant harassments by officials of AEPB who take advantage of the prohibition status of the trade to extort and abuse hawkers.

Residents of the city have equally condemned AEPB’s adopted strategies but it says that its job as ensconced in its establishment Act is to ensure that there is a balance between human needs against the carrying capacity of the environment. Ukairo said: “The issue of hawking and the control of same has been a challenge; but the AEPB is equal to the task. Hawking is illegal under the AEPB Act of 1997, especially in the city centre and there is no amount of sentiment or “pity party” that can legalise hawking in prohibited areas apart from another Act of the parliament. The public sees us as inhumane and insensitive but that is not true.

We are here for the good of every resident and visitors alike; to regulate the environment and make it safe and habitable and to ensure that whatever activity that is going on in our environment is done within the provisions of the law and the carrying capacity of the environment.” “The overriding public interest principle is employed to balance individuals quest to make ends meet vis-a-vis ensuring compliance to environmental regulation. We are not against small businesses but government through its relevant agencies can only support those businesses been carried out within the authorised location or premises. In any civilised society, law and order must be observed in all human endeavours,” He added.

Describing AEPB’s roles as both regulatory and advocacy, Ukairo stated that the agency remains in touch with the socio-economic realities of the time and has through its acting Director Mrs. Aishat Adebayo sort and obtained the consent of the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed for the establishment of occasional markets in the city to checkmate the menace of street trading and hawking. “The minister graciously granted her request and approved for the take off of occasional markets; a technical committee comprising relevant agencies of government are putting finishing touches to implementation strategies. We believe that this platform will provide a decent and “rent free” platform for hawkers to sell their wares.  The allegation that AEPB enforcement squad members have often resorted to “unofficial settlement” with arrested hawkers is baseless.

However, there may be some bad eggs in the bunch and that's why we had to change their uniform to a new one that has an identification number on each staff. We charge the public not to give any form of bribe to the staff rather be on the watch to report any one of them involved in unethical practices; all we need from the public to fish out the bad eggs are the identification number on the staff uniform, the registration number of the operational vehicle used and the time of operation,” But this reporter observed that some of the enforcement officers encountered neither had a tagged uniform on or a registered official vehicle; the teams have often operated anonymously without any form of identification and would rather avoid any form of confrontation from residents who feel uncomfortable with their practice mode.

But Ukairo said that the AEPB is open to innovations, ideas and suggestions from the public on its implementation strategy, adding: “On the 6th of July, 2013, we convened the FCT residents sanitation forum, a town hall meeting between residents and the board to discuss issues relating to government policies on the environment, the services we provide and what the residents need to do to ensure environmental sustainability in the FCT. Residents and stakeholders are free to participate in this quarterly window of opportunity and make their voice to be heard but like I said earlier the enormous influx of people into the FCT has put a stretch on existing infrastructure that’s why you see some of the existing environmental infrastructure break down.” “The city should be expanding in infrastructure in line with the population. The present administration is not just concerned about these issues but has equally put some strategies in place to combat them through the provision of basic infrastructure in the area council jurisdictions under the Satellite Town Development Agency (STDA) to relieve the city centre,” Ukairo further said.

He stressed that the AEPB will go ahead with its crackdown on street hawking until it seizes to exist in the city, but how feasible this will be with the rising tides of harsh socio-economic state remains to be seen, perhaps, the “rat race” game between hawkers and AEPB enforcement team might then continue for a long in satisfaction of the typical “Nigerian factor”.

57 House Members Cross over to New PDP

House of Representatives

•Tambuwal, others expected to follow as defection spreads to Kebbi, Plateau, Abia  
•Anenih: Peace talks continue next week    

Chuks Okocha, Muhammad Bello, Omololu Ogunmade and Onwuka Nzeshi

The crack in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be widening by the day as no fewer than 57 members of the party in the House of Representatives have declared their support for the splinter group of the party.

The defectors, in a statement obtained by THISDAY Tuesday, appended their signatures to a declaration of loyalty to the New PDP.
It was however learnt that the number might swell soon as other House members, including the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, were expected to switch loyalty.

The defectors said some lawmakers who ought to have signed the allegiance document, were not in town as the House is on recess, and would do so when they return.

The faction, whose birth was announced on Saturday, originally had in its fold former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors elected on the platform of the crisis-torn party.

The governors are Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). Others are Mr. Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
The House of Representatives lawmakers jumped ship a day after 22 of their colleagues in the Senate took a similar step.

Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, however expressed optimism yesterday that the party would emerge from the crisis stronger as peace talks with the aggrieved party members, whom he said had genuine grievances, would now continue next Tuesday.

THISDAY had exclusively reported yesterday that the governors aligned with the New PDP had elected to withdraw from a peace meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday with President Goodluck Jonathan, other PDP governors and party stalwarts.
It was further learnt that the defecting lawmakers in the House were essentially drawn from the seven states whose governors led the revolt against the leadership of the ruling party last Saturday.

It was also gathered that some lawmakers from Kogi, Kebbi, Plateau and Abia States have also jumped on the bandwagon.
A review of the 57 lawmakers who appended their signatures to the document yesterday showed that in Sokoto State, all the 11 House members elected on the platform of the PDP, including Tambuwal, have pitched their tent with the faction led by former acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

Although Tambuwal did not join in the walkout staged by the aggrieved group last Saturday, sources said he has sympathy for the Baraje faction.

“Do you need to ask? Don't you know that from time he has not been with the mainstream PDP, hence he defied their directive and took the speakership seat that the party had earlier zoned to the South-west?
“Tambuwal is always with his governor (Wamakko) and you don't expect him to change at this time,” a source said.
In Rivers State, all the 13 lawmakers, except the two opposed to Amaechi have also joined the new group. The only two lawmakers left in the old boat are Hon. Ogundu Chinda, Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency and Hon. Kenneth Chikere of Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency.

Similarly, all the 14 PDP lawmakers in Kano State have joined the new group.
In Adamawa State, all the five federal lawmakers have crossed the carpet, just as seven of their counterparts in Niger State. It was also a clean sweep in Jigawa and Kwara States, both of which have 11 and six legislators respectively.

Kogi presented a similar result, as five out of the seven federal lawmakers have joined the new group. The remaining two – Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen (Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency) and Hon. Steve Karimu (Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency) – were said to have declined support for the emerging group due to the influence of a prominent politician from the Kogi West Senatorial District.

Although the picture was not clear with respect to the fate of the PDP in Kebbi, Plateau and Abia States, it was reliably gathered that the New PDP was making inroad into the three states.

In the statement endorsed by 57 House members last night, the lawmakers hailed the emergence of the faction and congratulated the   Baraje-led National Executive Committee of the party.

The statement read thus: “We, the members of the House of Representatives under the platform of the New PDP, hereby congratulate our leaders on the emergence of the new party.

“Although a sizeable number of our members who could not append their signatures because of their unavailability in the country will do so immediately on arrival, we, the undersigned, salute and appreciate the courage, sacrifice and resilience and patriotism of our leaders namely: former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, GCON, and the Governors of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko, (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), and other well-meaning and eminent Nigerians for leading the way for the emergence of the New PDP.

“We are also using this opportunity to condemn in strong terms attempts by some agents of the federal government to use the state apparatus to witch-hunt some of these patriots for taking this bold and courageous step.

“As members of the House of Representatives, we call on the security agencies and other anti-graft bodies to be professional in their activities and not allow themselves to be used by anybody no matter how highly placed for their political ambitions. Remember how you want history to judge your tenures.

“We won't hesitate however to use all instruments of law within our powers as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to stop this and bring anybody found wanting to book.
“We wish to state that by this statement, we pledge our loyalty and support to the New PDP under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and other members of the National Executive Committee.

“We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide a level playing field for all Nigerians.”
It was also gathered that the New PDP House members might soon put pressure on the principal officers of the House to declare their stand or face removal.

This, a source said, was because with their numerical strength, as the majority the PDP once held in the House no longer exists.
At the moment, PDP has 204 members in the House, All Progressives Congress (APC) has 137, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord Party have five members each. The Labour Party has eight, while the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has five members.

But with the defection of 57 members to the New PDP and more expected to join their ranks, they could combine with the 137 members of the APC to effect a change of leadership in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

One of the defected lawmakers said the massive crossover of his colleagues to the New PDP was indicative that many members of the party were dissatisfied with the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

The lawmaker, who did not want to be named, added that the “real politicians” are the ones leaving the mainstream party to form the New PDP.

According to him, the factionalisation of the party was a signal to Jonathan to halt his ambition to run for a second term in 2015.
Announcing the postponement of the peace meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday, Anenih said the meeting would now hold next Tuesday.

He also added that the seven governors that stormed out of the special national convention to form the New PDP have genuine reasons for their action.

He said yesterday’s meeting was postponed at the request of the aggrieved governors.
In a statement, the PDP BoT chairman said: “I believe some of them have genuine grievances; but I have hope that once the grievances are addressed, they will come back.

“I am happy that the PDP has an internal mechanism for effective conflict resolution, and at the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger.”

According to him, the planned reconciliation meeting with the PDP governors was put off and would continue next Tuesday after selected party leaders would have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

He explained that the aggrieved governors had informed the presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations.

He added that the presidency and PDP leadership were taking advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis.
“Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week,” he added.

In the absence of the splinter group, the president however met with other governors of the party, Tukur and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pium Anyim, at about 9 pm yesterday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A roll call of attendees comprised Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak and PDP Deputy Chairman, Uche Secondus.

Others included Governors Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia), Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Capt. Idris Wada (Kogi) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

On the defection of the 22 senators to the New PDP, Senate Committee Chairman, Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, told THISDAY yesterday that they would eventually bow to superior authority of the upper chamber and reverse their decision.
Enang, in a telephone interview, dismissed insinuations that things have fallen apart in the PDP caucus in the Senate, adding that the red chamber has a family spirit through which it resolves its differences.

On the issue of Senate Whip, Senator Bello Gwarzo, joining the aggrieved senators by defecting to the faction, despite being a principal officer of the chamber, Enang said come what may, Gwarzo would remain in PDP.
Enang also advised against what he described as inflammatory statements on the split of the party, noting that it has continued to fuel the crisis instead of resolving it.

Several efforts to speak with the leadership of the Senate yesterday proved abortive, as the Special Adviser to the Senate President, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said his boss does not comment on contentious issues such as the decision of some senators to join a group of dissident party men.

He also said such issues do not usually generate spontaneous reactions but would be properly addressed on the floor of the Senate when it reconvenes later this month.

Meanwhile, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), after its meeting yesterday, has directed that the inauguration of the National Financial Committee of the party, earlier scheduled for today, be suspended.

A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said a new date would be announced for the inauguration.
The NWC also invited all state and zonal youth and women leaders for a seminar to take place tomorrow in Abuja.

New PDP House Members
1. Abdullahi Balarabe
2. Abdulmumin Jibrin
3. Ali Ahmad
4. Abdullahi M. Wamakko
5. Abdullahi Muhammed Rico
6. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche
7. Adamu Bashir
8. Ahman-Patigi Aliyu
9. Ahmed Zerewa
10. Aishatu Ahmed Binani
11. Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka
12. Alhassan Ado Garba
13. Aliyu Madaki
14. Aliyu Shehu
15. Aminu Shagari
16. Aminu Sulyman
17. Aminu Tukur
18. Andrew Uchendu
19. Asita Honourable
20. Bashir Baballe
21. Blessing Nsiegbe
22. Dakuku Peterside
23. Dawari George
24. Faruq Muhammed Lawan
25. Gibson Nathaniel
26. Gogo Bright Tamunu
27. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro
28. Hassan Adamu
29. Hussain Namadi
30. Ibrahim Ebbo
31. Ibrahim Tijjani Kivawa
32. Issa Bashir
33. Kabiru Achida
34. Khabeeb Mustapha
35. Maurice Pronen
36. Mohammed Sabo
37. Mpigi Barinada
38. Muhammad Ahmed Mukhtar
39. Muhammad Ibrahim
40. Muhammad Sani Kutigi
41. Mukhtari Muhammad
42. Musa Ado
43. Musa Sarkin-Adar
44. Mustapha Bala Dawaki
45. Mustapha Mashood
46. Ogbonna Nwuke
47. Rafiu Ibrahim
48. Sa’ad Nabunkari
49. Sani Muhammed Aliyu
50. Shuaibu Gobir
51. Sokonte Davies
52. Sufiyanu Ubale
53. Umar Bature
54. Usman Wada
55. Yusuph Dunari Sule
56. Yusuph Galambi
57. Zakari Muhammed

Ice Prince, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid nominated for 2013 Mobo Awards

Yay! Big congrats to Tiwa...and Ice Prince and Wizkid. Nominated in the Best African Act category at the 2013 Mobo Awards.

Boy orphaned at nine wins Shell varsity scholarship

Ayolu

At nine years, Master Lucky Ayolu, from Ekeni in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State, lost his father and mother.

Expectedly, life became cruel to him as he learnt to fend for himself. He told our correspondent that he took to fishing to pay for his fees in primary and secondary schools, as his grandmother, whom he stayed with, did not have enough.

However, as someone who is destined to succeed in life, Ayolu, now 17 years, has become a beneficiary of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s overseas scholarship.

The scholarship scheme, whose yearly budget is about N120m, and managed by Bassan West Cluster Development Board, saw Ayolu as one of the 14 beneficiaries.

Ayolu, who spoke to PUNCH Metro, said his life was a testimony that “absolute faith in God and hard work are very important in life.”

He said, “Life has been unkind to me. But today, I have every cause to glorify God for lifting me up beyond my imagination.

“At a point, I lost hope completely and started nursing the idea of taking my life. It was so bad that when I heard about this scholarship, I could not raise transport fare to the venue of the examination.”

Ayolu said one of his cousins assisted him financially to obtain the scholarship form and also gave him transport fare from Ekene to Yenagoa where the test took place.

“At the end of the test, I was successful. I am going to read Computer Science at Wisconsin University, Ghana. The discipline has been my lifelong ambition and I am grateful that God has used my community and Shell to make the dream a reality.”

He advised other youths in difficult situation not to give up, saying that with hard work and trust in God, they would achieve their desires.

He also urged the governments at all levels to look into the plight of the orphans in the country.

“Governments should look into the plight of orphaned children in the country. They should not abandon them. The government should institute a scholarship scheme for the orphaned,” Ayolu said.

We’re not vandals, we only assisted them – Suspects

The suspects

The Nigerian Navy has arrested five suspected pipeline vandals in Makoko area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that naval operatives from NNS BEECROFT, arrested the suspects while they were transporting fuel allegedly siphoned from ruptured pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Naval authorities said 13,500 litres of petrol contained in 270 jerry cans and two canoes were recovered from the suspects who claimed that they were only helping a man to convey the items for a fee of N3,000 each.

Among the suspects were two nationals of Benin Republic, Juten Seiki and Joseph Logbo, and three others – Bababo Oritshebinomi, Segun Okimiji and Victor Sopha.

Parading the suspects, the Commanding Officer, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, stated that the suspects were arrested based on an intelligence report about their activities in the area.

He said, “Based on the information, a naval patrol vessel from Atlas Cove was deployed in the area and at the time of the arrest, about 270 fifty litres of plastic jerry-cans filled with PMS, and 40 empty ones were found in their possession.”

Ezekobe, who stated that the war against pipeline vandals was an ongoing one, vowed to bring all those arrested to book.

He said the suspects would soon be handed over to the security agency with the constitutional mandate to prosecute them.

The suspects however denied being pipeline vandals, saying they ignorantly helped the vandals to convey the products.

Logbo, who claimed to be a canoe operator, said, “I have been using the canoe to earn a living to take care of my wife and child.

“Like all paying passengers, one man approached me and asked for the use of my boat for an agreed fee. Since I did not know him well enough to give out my boat, I opted to convey them.

“That was what I was doing when the navy apprehended me and brought me here. I don’t know anything about the act. I didn’t know the products were stolen.”

Another suspect, Sopha, said he was paid N3,000 by the vandals, who are presently at large, to transport the products.

He said, “I really don’t have anything to say except that some people paid me to convey the kegs. I don’t even know them.  I was paid N3, 000.

“I met them in the middle of the lagoon. They said their boat was about to sink from the weight of the cargo and they needed help.”

Timothy, on his part, said this was his first time of attempting to help the vandals. He said, “I have a fishing boat which I rent for N5, 000. I was fishing when I came upon them and they asked me to help them with the cargo.

 “I told them I could not rent my boat out to strangers, so I joined them load the products in my boat. It was then we were arrested.”

Stowaway teen returns to Edo

Daniel’s dad Ohikhena speaking to reporters...yesterday

For the first time since August 24 when he made a daring flight in the tyre compartment of an Arik Air flight from Benin to Lagos, Daniel Oikhena, saw his mother, Evelyn, at the State headquarters of the Directorate of the State Security Services (DSS).

Daniel, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) I pupil in Benin, Edo State capital, was released from DSS custody yesterday morning to officials of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development.
Mrs. Oikhena was informed of the processes her son would go through and later asked to go to the ministry for further briefing.
It was gathered that the government planned to send Daniel to a correctional facility before being allowed to return to school. Several efforts to see him and his mother failed until information filtered in that Governor Adams Oshiomhole would meet with Daniel at 3:30pm.
Daniel’s celebrity status was tested yesterday as government officials left their offices to catch a glimpse of the stowaway kid.
He rode into the Government House in the same car with the DSS State Director, Bakori Tukur.
Reporters were barred from recording Daniel’s entry as he was taken inside through a back door.
Daniel’s father, Osaigbovo, made a surprise appearance at the Government House shortly after his son and wife were taken inside.
He was not invited to join the meeting.
Osaigbovo said he was a commercial bus driver and that he was told about the scholarship offer by his wife.
The father, who was accompanied by some of his relatives, denied allegations that they showed up because of the scholarship offer.
He said he has been taking care of his children contrary to the uncaring attitude of his wife.
Osaigbovo (44) said he had a problem with his wife to whom he had been married for the past 20 years.
He displayed a photograph of himself and two of his children during a family outing.
“I came to tell the world that I am Daniel’s father. His mother and I had a misunderstanding last year. I did not leave my home. I invited my wife to join me but she said where I was staying was too far and she decided to stay away. It is a lie that I have not been taking care of my four children. We are not divorced.”
On why he has been quiet about his son’s predicament, Osaigbovo said his wife asked him to calm down that she would take care of everything.
“I went with her to the police station but she said I should keep quiet.
“I was shocked when I heard the news. Initially, I thought my son was kidnapped but I thank God he is alive. I am here to make sure my son is really alive. I am not married to another woman. My wife refused to give my number to the DSS when they asked for it .
“My son likes movies. He is quiet and easy going.”
A volunteer group, De RAUFs, which had indicated interest in Daniel’s welfare was at the Government House.
Represented by Yinka Muyiwa, head of its legal team, De RAUFs said it came to Edo State to reaffirm the scholarship it earlier gave the lad to continue his education up to university level.
Muyiwa said: “The boy did not commit any offence and as such should not be detained any longer.
“The boy had to do what he did because the system failed him. There was no crime involved in what he did as far as we are concerned.”

Rihanna shades your favourite pop stars...hehe

After passing the 4 billion views mark on Youtube, Rihanna boasted about her latest accomplishment by shading the heck out of other pop stars. Bad gal RiRi branded her pop star peers basic. Lol. Queen Bee is not basic tho!

Guards help robbers to steal from pharmaceutical firm

The suspects

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two security guards, Ali Salifu and Eno Kela, with seven others for allegedly robbing pharmaceutical company, May and Baker, in Ikeja Indusrial Estate.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, told PUNCH Metro that the arrested guards gave other security men in the company some packs of juice laced with a banned drug, Rohypnol, to make them sleep when the robbery was taking place.

She added that policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were, however, able to foil the operation after some hours of surveillance.

She said, “On August 24, 2013, SARS operatives received information that some robbers were planning to rob May and Baker at Ikeja. Around 9pm, the robbers had duplicated a key to the warehouse where the company’s products were kept. We learnt that some of the security guards had connived with the robbers after being promised N200,000.

“The robbers also gave the security men laced juice and told them to give it to other security men at the company to make them sleep. The robbers came in two trucks and were loading cartons of two expensive drugs, Sulphatride and Thyzamide, into the trucks when they were apprehended.

“Policemen from SARS stormed the place and foiled the robbery. The robbers, who were in possession of two AK-47 rifles, immediately threw their guns into the warehouse when they saw the policemen.

“The robbers and the prospective buyer of the stolen goods have all been arrested.”

The suspects, however, said they were not armed during the robbery.

The security guards also denied complicity. They said they did not know that a robbery was taking place on the premises until policemen arrived at the scene.

Salifu said, “They had approached me before, saying they wanted to rob and they would give me N200, 000 but I refused. On the day they came, they told me they were going to another company. I did not know they came to rob.”

The suspect accused of masterminding the operation, Olanrewaju Simeon, said this was his second time of robbing the company.

Simeon, who claimed to have been in charge of the company’s security before his dismissal in 2011, said he was expecting N1m from the operation.

He said, “I have been jobless since I was asked to leave the company in 2011. But I understand how things are done at the company. Last year, I successfully robbed the place and made N1m. This year, I got in touch with another security guard at the company, Richard, who gave me the go ahead to rob.

“May and Baker shares the compound with five other companies, so the security guards at the main gate are different from those attached to May and Baker. I understood this very well and Richard told me that he would get some drinks, inject them with Rohypnol and give them to the security guards at May and Baker, telling them that he was celebrating his birthday.

“Richard demanded N50, 000 from me and then introduced me to the other guards (Salifu and Kela). I gave them N50,000 and they remained at the main gate to ensure that the robbery was successful. Unfortunately, policemen caught and arrested us. Richard however managed to escape.”

The proposed buyer, Ejike Ehiri, 62, said he did not know he was buying stolen goods since Simeon had pretended to be a medical sales representative.

The father of nine said, “I bought drugs from him (Simeon) last year at the cost of N400,000. I did not know the goods were stolen. It was not until SARS operatives arrived at my house that I knew he was a robber.”

Another suspect, James Imoha, who claimed to be a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Auchi Polytechnic, said he did not know that he was engaging in a robbery operation.

He said he had only been invited by a friend to convey the goods from the warehouse to a truck at midnight

Stunning celebrity brides: which wedding dress do you prefer?

Munachi Abii and Sasha P modeling bridal dresses at the Imani Swank Pink Champagne Soiree a few weeks back. Which wedding dress do you prefer the most? See more celebrity brides after the cut...

Miss Nigeria - Ezinne Akudo

 

Actress Ufuoma Ejenobor

 

Temi Dollface