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This is the first picture of Sudanese woman Meriam Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death for apostasy, from inside the prison where she's being held. In this pic, Meriam carries her new born baby girl Maya, who was born this week in prison. Her legs were reportedly chained as she gave birth in prison. the 27 year old has been in prison for eight months now and is awaiting execution for doing nothing but marrying a Christian man. Right is Meriam's husband, Daniel Wani, with the new baby. Despite just given birth, it's being reported that Meriam will be given the 100 lashes that are part of her sentence in 2weeks' time unless she wins her appeal. Meriam has refused to renounce Christianity and Sudanese authorities are bent on the barbaric punishment despite mounting international outrage. Daniel with the couple's son

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Malaysian police have arrested at least 13 people, including a father and his two sons, over the alleged gang-rape of two teenage girls, an officer said Friday. The girls — aged 15 and 17 — were raped on May 20 for hours by a group of men in an abandoned hut in the northern state of Kelantan, Lai Yong Heng, the state’s director of crime investigation, said. Police have arrested 13 men, aged from 15 to 38, and are looking for “a few more” in connection with the gang-rape, he added. Lai dismissed early reports that almost 40 people took turns in the rape, saying it was fewer but that some raped the girls more than once. “It’s definitely more than 10. We are still investigating,” he told AFP. All those detained are from the same village, where the assault took place, and some are related, Lai said. Most of them were believed to have been on drugs, and the girls were lured to the hut. Suri Kempe, an official with women’s rights group Sisters in Islam, said the frequen...

The deceased, identified as Adebola Ladoja, was driving a Golf saloon car, marked, AKD 107 CJ, and was said to be on his way to Lagos Island when a Daf truck, with number plate, JJJ 59 XA, driven by one Justice Oseghai, rammed into his car on the Eko Bridge. An eyewitness said tA former Governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, on Thursday lost one of his sons in an auto crash on the Eko Bridge in Lagos.he driver of the Daf truck, who was on top speed, lost control of his vehicle, rammed into the median of the bridge, before he eventually crashed into the deceased’s car. He said, “It took several hours before the victim could be rescued from the wreckage of the vehicle. He was trapped behind the wheels with blood gushing out of his head.” The Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident, added that it occurred at about 3.30pm. She said, “At about 3.30pm on the Eko Bridge, Lagos Island, a Daf truck with number plate, JJJ 59 XA, driven by one Justice Osegh...

23 year old Precious Chineme Nwoko (pictured above) has been sentenced to 27 years imprisonment by a Cambodian Court for drug trafficking in Cambodia. Police sources say Nwoko was a ringleader in a heroin smuggling cartel in Cambodia. He was arrested last month for handing a backpack containing 2.2 kilos (4.8 pounds) of heroin to two women, 41year old Australian Yoshe Ann Taylor and 19 year old French Charlene Savarino, for onward transportation to an unidentified man in Australia. Both women were however caught and arrested.   At their trial last month, it was discovered that 19 year old Savarino was Nwoko's girlfriend and they worked closely in smuggling heroin. 41 year old Taylor had also previously helped to smuggle heroin using the backpack. Judge Kor Vandy at Phnom Penh Municipal Court who presided over their case today said Nwoko and the two women were guilty of 'cross-border smuggling of illegal drugs and thereafter sentenced Nwoko's 19year old girlfriend Savar...

The Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna yesterday May 29th revealed plans by President Jonathan to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram once they lay down their arms and embrace peace. The Minister revealed this while speaking this morning at the national Democracy Day programme tagged A day with young leaders of Nigeria. "President Goodluck Jonathan has also declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. Series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace. Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the Federal Government, to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into the amnesty programme " he said According to the minister, over 300, 000 youths from the Niger Delta region have benefited from the amnesty programme of the Government. He said the beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme have turned from being militants to being wealth ge...

After the Super Eagles pulsating 2-2 draw against the Tartan Army of Scotland at the Craven Cottage in London on Wednesday, players of the World Cup bound team have started to take stock of what may be in the coming days with many of them saying they don’t envy Coach Stephen Keshi at this very difficult period. Team Skipper, Joseph Yobo, said at the post match conference that if he was the coach he will find it difficult to drop any of the players that is presently in the 30-man squad. “Nigeria is blessed with talents and that is why I think all the players here merit to be in Brazil, even when we have some other very good ones still hanging out. If you watch the game against Scotland, you will know that the ‘Big Boss’ needs to be pitied over dropping players and picking those who will make the final 23. It will be tough. Stoke City forward Osaze Odemwingie, on his part said he was happy at the response of his teammates to his return to the national side. “But how do we drop players n...

The Sudanese Christian woman, Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, who was sentenced to death by hanging on May 15th for committing Apostasy, (renouncing ones faith or religion), has given birth to a baby girl in prison. Her husband, Daniel Wani made this known today when he spoke with AFP.   Meriam was heavily pregnant when she was sentenced and taken to the women’s prison in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman. According to BBC, she would be allowed to nurse her new baby for two years before the execution is carried out. Meriam's 2year old son is also in the prison with her

A pregnant Pakistani woman was stoned to death by her own family in front of a Pakistani high court - for marrying the man she loved, UK Daily Mail reports Nearly 20 members of the woman's family, including her father and brothers, attacked her and her husband with batons and bricks in broad daylight. Farzana Parveen, who was three months pregnant, was killed before a crowd of onlookers in front of the high court of Lahore, police have reported. (Her corpse seen above) Continue... Police official Naseem Butt said the 25-year-old had married Mohammad Iqbal, with whom she had been engaged for years against the will of her family.  Her father had filed an abduction case against her husband, which the couple was contesting, her lawyer Mustafa Kharal said.  Kharal said Parveen's relatives waited outside the court, which is located on a main downtown thoroughfare.  As the couple walked up to the court's main gate, the family members fired shots in the air and tried to ...

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi, his assistants Dan Amokachi, Hyauon-donou Valere and Ike Shorunmu on Monday evening took the team through a rigorous training session that was adjudged needful by most of the players. Assistant Captain, Vincent Enyeama, said the team need such a regime because some of the players have been off action for up to a week and need re-awakening. “You don’t play the World Cup every year and time”, he said of the session that lasted from 7:10 to 9:20pm. Central defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe says the World Cup has effectively started for him. “My brother the training was tough and good”, he said of the event that was held at the Fulham training ground under very chilly conditions with temperature reading 13 degrees celcius and the rain drizzling throughout the duration of the training. All the players seemed determined to convince the coach that they were ready for Brazil, but home- based winger, Ejike Uzoenyi shown like a million star, same for Ramon Azeez, Mic...

BY the time the Chibok girls were abducted, it was clear to the whole world that the Nigerian forces, do not have the capacity to contain the Boko Haram insurgents and so, many countries volunteered their assistance. This is not unusual because Nigeria has in the past, been in the vanguard of sending troops to countries requiring stability in their systems – Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Mali, Somali and so on. The response of the whole world to assist us is indeed good. However, we must frown at the methods of the Americans in the Chibok issue. So far, what we have seen is a continuous demystification of the Nigerian armed forces. Every day, they have gone to the press, condemning one aspect of our operations or the other, even in their House of Assembly, this is indeed bad. Even with our poor military capabilities, we are still an independent nation. If we reject their request to assist, they will not be in this country, so since they elected to assist us, it is expected that, they ...

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ruled that in accordance with a 1999 constitutional amendment, the President has no power to approve funds for salaries or any form of expenditure for the judiciary. This ruling was delivered in a suit filed by former president of the Nigeria Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, Vanguard reports. Henceforth, funds for the  judiciary will be released to the National Judicial Council (NJC)  for disbursement for the needs of the various courts across the country. The court stated that “the continued dependence of the judiciary on the Executive Arm of government for its budgeting and release of funds was directly responsible for the present state of under-funding of the judiciary, corruption, poor and inadequate judicial infrastructure and low morale among judicial personnel.”

Kanu's wife of 10 years, Amarachi Kanu, turned a year older today May 27th. Happy birthday to her!

ONITSHA – As the dreaded Boko Haram sects continues to massacre innocent Nigerians in the North Eastern part of the country, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday , for the second time warned Igbo resident there to return home or remain in the north at their own peril Sounding this note of warning in Onitsha, Anambra State, the MASSOB National Red Cross Chairman, Engr. Osondu Okwaraeke recalled that prior to the peak of the killings, the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike had urged Igbo resident in the volatile area of the north to return home, adding that wazuruike even went as far as providing transport and other logistics to them for easier evacuation. According to him, “so, no sympathy for victims of Boko Haram because a stitch in time saves nine”. Commending Uwazuruike for the assistance, Okwaraeke also recalled that Uwazuruike, as a true Igbo leader had equally donated materials and food items to 2012 flood victims at Aguleri, ...

The Igbo community in Jos, Plateau State, has confirmed that 36 Igbo men and women residing in Jos were killed in the twin bomb blast that rocked the city on Tuesday May 20th, with 42 others  injured and many others still missing. The Eze Igbo II of Jos  Prof. Joseph Obilom stated this today Monday May 26th while addressing newsmen at his Palace in Jos.  "Our people were worst hit by the blast. Most of our members are traders, who own shops at the terminus market. Goods worth millions of Naira of our members were destroyed. We are calling on the Federal and State government to come to our aid by sending relief materials to the injured and affected members." he said

The presidency has planned a summit of the nation’s politicians from the various political parties with a view to forging a common goal in the fight against Boko Haram and other forms of insecurity in the country. The Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a press conference, in Abuja, Monday. The ruling Peoples’ Democratic party, PDP, and the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, have been at each other’s throat with accusations and counter-accusations on who is sponsoring the Boko Haram and other forms of insecurity in the nation. For instance, General Muhammadu Buhari has been severally accused of threatening to make the nation ungovernable after losing the 2011 presidential elections and only on Sunday, President Jonathan told the inter-denominational service in Abuja that Boko Haram’s sponsors aimed to stop his government. The late National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen Owoye Azazi, had at a point alleged that PDP was a ...

Welcome to ritawine's blog just change the Blog name from welcome to ritawine's Blog to Welcome to Ritawine's repost Blog.because as from today 26th of May 2014 ,we will start posting other people's blog post as they write it.catch all the gossip here.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said those behind the violence in the country were planning to bring down his government. Jonathan, at the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service with the theme “Love The Lord…and your Neighbour” in Abuja, described them as evil forces. Terror attacks by Boko Haram in some parts of the North, especially the North-East, have led to the death of thousands of people. On April 14, 2014, the sect abducted more than 200 girls from a government college in Chibok, Borno State, a development that brought global attention to the terrorist activities in the country. In Benue State, there have been clashes between the Tiv and Fulani cattle rustlers that have led to bloodshed. Six days ago, suicide bombers struck in Jos, Plateau State, killing over 15o people and on Saturday night another   bomber visited mayhem on football fans in the city. During the service, Jonathan, who touched on several national issues, said despite the security ...

1. Where are the parents of these missing girls? we want to see them? (Wole Soyinka) 2. Why has the government not published pictures of these girls? (Wole Soyinka) 3. You need a lot of vehicles to transport 230 girls, 4. How where they transported? If the girls were made to walk in the bush track, how come no villager saw them? (GodswillAkpabio) 5. The girls were said to have been transported in trucks (Hilux), assuming 10 girls per truck, that means we'll need about 23 trucks for the girls and about 7 trucks for the insurgents. 6. Why were the principal's daughters and female staffers not touched? 7. What was the principal’s reaction when this was going on? 8. The principal has given two opposite/different stories. Initially she said was not in on the fateful night, and had travelled out of chibok. Later she said she was in the school that night. 9. The varying number of girls abducted raises a lot of questions from 270, to 234, to 200, to 170, etc 10. In a s...

     Alyssa Funke, a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, committed suicide after online commenters bombarded her Twitter and Facebook accounts with nasty comments over a porn video she had posted, but police investigators are not treating her case as criminal harassment. “I’m Stella Ann. I’m 18, from Minnesota, and I’m really looking forward to get started,” she said in the video for CastingCouch-X which was posted in March. When some of her former classmates at Stillwater High School found out, a barrage of abusive messages followed, KMSP-TV reported. “Wow, your a thot [prostitute]. Does her dad know?” one tweeted. “Nothing brings a school together like a porn star who graduated last year. I guess you could say news spreads fast here at Stillwater hahah,” another wrote. Many of the comments cannot be published in major media outlets. On April 16, Funke, who reportedly struggled with depression, shot herself on her family’s boat. Her death raises qu...

She didn't attend their wedding but Beyonce took time out of her busy schedule to share a pic of Kim, Kanye and their daughter on  her instagram page and wish them a life time unconditional Love.

Comedians are meant to be funny, right? Yes, the stand-up comedians dominating Nigeria’s humour business landscape are funny quite alright on stage, but very serious in business. With assets running into billions of naira, they are light years apart from the past crops of old comedians who wait on people for meager rations of life. They may look funny and unserious, but they are cavorting to the bank and living their dreams. Ali Baba, the father of stand-up comedians in Nigeria, aptly captured in words, the profitability of comedy business when he said: “comedy is a funny business, a very big business.” After a careful study of the careers of these successful comedians, Showtime came to the conclusion that a number of them are outstanding. Here are the top 10 in this branch of entertainment in terms of their assets, the money they charge per show, the various products or corporate endorsements they did, and their established brands from which they make steady income. Alibaba: With ove...

Bomb blast yesterday at bauchi Road ,Jos.the target of the sucide bomber was the Audience at the viweing center ,where the final match between Real madrid and Atlentico madried took place.God be the glory because only the sucide bomber die,the bomb went off before he could reach his destination.

Osaze Former Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu is confident Stoke City forward Osaze Odemwingie will make his mark at next month’s World Cup in Brazil, africanfootball.com reports. The 32-year-old was named in Nigeria’s 30-man provisional World Cup squad, ending a near two-year absence from the Super Eagles after his Twitter rant against coach Stephen Keshi. Osaze scored five goals in 15 appearances for Stoke after joining the Potters in January following a short spell at Cardiff City. “We need everybody, the team is open. He (Osaze) is a great player, he has great qualities and we are happy that he is flying, that is what we need,” Kanu told africanfootball.com. “That is why he has been invited, we want him to do the same in the World Cup and Keshi knows that. “I will tell him he will make a mark, he will prove a lot of people wrong and make sure he does something special in the World Cup.”

The Founder of Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, in an interview with Saturday Punch said the reason there are so many rich people in 33 year old church is because they know better than others and understand the importance of tithe (Let's not start with this tithe talk abeg, if I start now, we will start fighting here...lol). Anyway below is excerpts from the interview... Why are there so many rich people in Winners? Because they know better than their contemporaries. If you don’t know what you have, you won’t know if you are deprived of it. The Bible is an open chequebook, it is by revelation we access what belongs to us; by faith we take delivery of it. Someone had access to our empowerment programme and she is a pepper seller, while others sell one basket a day, she sells six, seven. I learnt she had become the envy of all the pepper sellers in her area. Such person has an understanding that whatever she does, she prospers and she knows that when she...

THE Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday raised an alarm over what it called a plot by members of the Boko Haram sect to bomb the popular Onitsha main market and some other markets in the South-East geo-political zone. It therefore warned that MASSOB would resist any attempt to perpetrate such terrorism in any part of Igbo land which is also regarded as Biafra land, by all means and with the last drop of their blood. Speaking to newsmen yesterday in a telephone chat, MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, said the Boko Haram’s plot was discovered by the MASSOB intelligence and security groups, adding that it is even possible that some of the Nigerian security agents would have equally perceived such an information. Madu warned that should the insurgents attempt to execute the plot, whether successful or not, MASSOB would have no other option than to remove its non-violence posture and wear the violence garb for a revenge ...

Gaborone – The 2nd African Youth Games kicked off in Gaborone, Botswana on Thursday, with host President Ian Khama describing sports as a unifying factor in the continent. Khama urged the participants to remember the 200 school girls, who were abducted in Nigeria 39 days earlier. ` `Sport is one of the most cross-cutting of all development and peace tools. “Through the 2nd African Youth Games, we are unifying the African Youth, as well as showcasing their talent,’’ President Khama said while opening the Games. “My government fully subscribes to the sport for development and peace, as the international working group for sport recommends, which recognises the role that sport can play in promoting peace and development,’’ he added. Khama urged the athletes and officials to celebrate being selected to become ambassadors at the games. Official statistics indicate that an estimated 120 million watched the official opening, which was televised live by Super Sport and Botswana national televi...

The United Nation Security Council committee yesterday May 22nd blacklisted Islamic sect Boko haram after the Nigerian government on Wednesday May 21st made a request asking for the sect to be blacklisted.   A statement released by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power says the move was to help close all avenue of funding received by Boko Haram members "Today, the Security Council took an important step in support of the government of Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities. By adding Boko Haram to the U.N.’s 1267 (al Qaeda) sanctions list, the Security Council has helped to close off important avenues of funding, travel and weapons to Boko Haram, and shown global unity against their savage actions,” With this blacklisting, it makes it an offence for any country or individual to provide any form of support to Boko Haram. The group is now subject to an international asset freeze, travel ban and arms em...

MAKURDI—A pregnant women (names withheld) and a middle aged man, identified as Barber, were, yesterday, killed by lightning during a downpour in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. Vanguard gathered from eyewitnesses that the deceased persons were both operating a business premises at a popular hotel on Gboko West area of the town when they met their untimely death. According to an eyewitness, the victims had close shop for the day and where locking up their business premises at 7p.m. when they were simultaneously struck. According to one Mr. Haanya Aondoakaa, who claimed he witnessed the incident, “when the rain started we were all happy because we have had scarcity of rains this year, but the thunder and lightning that accompanied the rain scared everyone. “It was not quite long after the rain started that we heard loud screams and wailing which compelled people to scamper for safety. “In the mist of that confusion, we discovered that the two victims were struck to death by t...

52 year old Imo state born Onyejiaju Augustine was arrested yesterday by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for being in possession of 2.605 kilogrammes of cocaine packed as candies. He was arrested at the  Murtala Mohammed International Airport as he was about to smuggle the illegal drug out of the country en-route Etihad, Punch reports.  NDLEA spokesman Michelle Ofoyeju said Onyebuchi had been on the wanted list of the agency  "Augustine, who is a specialist in drug had earlier departed Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the illicit drug disguised as candies. He was, however, caught at the MMIA in Lagos.” Augustine when arrested said he was a supermarket operator in Brazil "I own a supermarket in Brazil where I have lived since 2006. I bought the cocaine and concealed it as candies. It was unfortunate that the trick was discovered." he said NDLEA said the man will be charged to court soon.

A farmer caught a thief who had been stealing his yam and decided to drag him to the village square. Half way to the square, the thief said to the man, "Please, I have forgotten my slippers in the farm, can I go and get them?" The farmer obliged, "Hurry up! I would be waiting for you here." He waited endlessly and realised he had been fooled. He went home and told his elder brother what had happened. His elder brother brutally slapped him and said, "You are extremely dumb! You should have told the thief to wait while you go get his slippers for him!" LooOOOool

Thailand military today Thursday May 22nd announced it has taken over government in Thailand, saying it was “necessary to seize power.” following the six months of political deadlock the country has faced. In a nationwide broadcast this morning, Head of Thai Army, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, made the announcement flanked by senior military officers. "It is necessary for the Peace and Order Maintaining Command – which includes army, navy, armed forces and police – to take control of governing the country," he said Thailand has been under political unrest after its citizens took to the streets in Nov. 2013 demanding that their Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, step down after being accused of being a proxy for her popular billionaire brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was forced out of office in 2006 after a military coup & now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence on corruption charges.

An attack killed 31 people and injured another 94 in China’s restive north-west province of Xinjiang on Thursday, province authorities said online. Two vehicles drove into the crowd at a central market of provincial capital, Urumqi, at 7:50 am on Wednesday and explosives were thrown out of them. The state news agency, Xinhua, reported sighting witnesses. One vehicle then exploded. A vendor reported hearing a dozen loud bangs, the report said. Photos posted by one user on Twitter and picture-sharing site, Tumblr, showed at least four bodies on the ground with flames and heavy smoke in the background. Emergency service vehicles appeared to be tackling the blaze and taking the injured to hospital. Police cordoned off the area on Renmin Road to the south of the city’s People’s Park, Xinhua said. The incident came a day after courts in the far-western region sentenced 39 people to up to 15 years in prison for spreading videos and other content promoting terrorism. They were the first sente...

Wole Soyinka is defending himself on false reports. In an interview with Sahara Reporters, Wole Soyinka who says he has occasionally been compelled to chastise First Lady Patience Jonathan over unacceptable conduct, says he has never called her an “illiterate.” The Noble Laureate released a statement concerning the reports. “It commenced over a year ago, I seem to recollect, as a telephone text, ‘tweet’ or whatever it is called, died away after strong rebuttals, and is now being provided renewed life by some faceless cowards with their own private agenda. Let me state quite clearly that literacy is no indicator of intelligence, even though we all believe (I hope) in universal literacy. From childhood I have interacted with so-called “illiterate” men and women, sipped from their innate intelligence, and learnt much from them outside formal schooling. Your readers may wish to know that when I first encountered the statement, I was sufficiently appalled to send a personal message ...

Following the lingering insurgency in the country by members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boka Haram, former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday said that if the situation was not put under proper control, President Goodluck Jonathan might be the last president Nigeria will ever have. Speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom, Dr. Kalu urged Nigerians to work together to ensure a stabilised internal security system in the country. According to him, the problem of Bokom Haram concerns not only the President but all Nigerians pointing out that one of the major ways of resolving the problem was for Nigeria to collaborate with international organisations and countries in fighting the terrorists. He said”Well, when I was travelling precisely on the 26 of April. I left this airport and I spoke to the airport correspondents and I said there was a need to collaborate with international organi...

According to a report by Channels TV, the Nigerian army has announced the recruitment of volunteer soldiers that will serve in the search for the missing Chibok girls as well as help in the fight against Boko Haram insurgence. In a press briefing today, the Director of Public Affairs said the recruitment exercise will end on June 21st and is open to only able bodied persons.

Be one of 12 lucky Nigerians to enjoy an all expense paid trip to spend 12 nights in Brazil to watch the Super Eagles World Cup Group qualifying matches as TAN (Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria) brings to you ‘‘Fly Me to Brazil 2014’’ Applicants are advised to follow the steps carefully. 1. Visit www.tan.org.ng/brazil/ 2. Click on the Register now tab 3.  Fill the Registration form and submit 4. Go to your email and click on the confirmation link, Log in  5. Click on Apply, Fill the application form and submit. Ensure to answer all questions and complete all fields before submitting. Once you have successfully applied for the promo, Like TAN on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tannigeria, follow on twitter @tanconnectgroup Watch all TAN TV Jingles at www.youtube.com/tanconnectgroup. The first lucky six will be announced on AIT and NTA on Sunday 25th May 2014, while the remaining six will be announced on Wednesday 28th of May 2014.

LAGOS — Residents of Ajegunle area of Lagos were, yesterday, thrown into shock, after a bird was said to have transformed into an old woman who confessed to being a witch. The dark-complexioned nonagenarian with tribal marks, who spoke in Yoruba, told a bewildered crowd that she was on her way back to Ibadan, Oyo State (as a bird) when she missed her track. She was also said to have told the mammoth crowd that her mystical powers disappointed her because it was dawn. Eye-witnesses told Vanguard that three black birds were seen at about 7am, flying side‑by‑side along Old Ojo Road. Then, all of a sudden, one of them landed on a moving pick‑up van owned by Eko Electricity Distribution Company. An eye witness who identified himself simply as Mr Okafor said: “Immediately the bird landed on the van, it transformed into an old woman. “Everyone ran away at first but we later gathered round the woman only to discover that she had a bruise on her forehead with which she landed. ...

Following allegation that he has links with the Boko Haram sect, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday, dragged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh to court. In the libel suit he filed before an Abuja high court sitting at Gudu, El-Rufai, insisted that the defendants should be compelled to pay him the sum of N1.5billion for tarnishing his public image via a press statement that alleged that both himself and the All Progressive Congress, APC, are connected to the Boko Haram insurgents. Nasir-el-Rufai He told the court that Metuh, in another publication that was sponsored by the PDP, alleged that he  (El-Rufai) collected N5bn as consultancy fee from the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Metuh was said to have made the claims in the March 17 and 23 editions of This Day Newspaper. In the suit dated April 2, 2014, El-Rufai, equally joined the news...

According to a report by AFP, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA told them that 118 people have been confirmed dead from today's bomb blast in Jos, with several others still under the debris "The exact figure of the dead bodies recovered as of now is 118 and more bodies may be in the debris of buildings which collapsed due to the intensity of the blasts.” Mohammed Abdulsalam told AFP. He also revealed that 56 people were injured in the twin blasts. Plateau state Police commissioner Chris Olakpe had earlier told reporters that only 46 people were killed and 45 others were injured. He later said "We are saying 46. That’s the number we have in the morgues. But we are not ruling out more bodies.” Well, eye-witnesses insists there are way more bodies. At least 200. Many have not been recovered.

Well known for her skimpy and sexy dress sense, Mercy Johnson Okogie says getting married has influenced her style positively and that she laughs when looks back at some of the dresses she wore before she got married. "Marriage is influencing my dress sense in a more positive way. As I always say my husband is my greatest critic but when it comes to my profession, he understands and has made me grow better than I used to. Sometimes when I look back and see the dresses I wore I laugh real hard and thank God for a blessed and understanding friend, manager and hubby.” she tells Punch The actress also talked about not having any major endorsement deal like her other colleagues "First of all I always remain grateful that I am appreciated and recommended by showbiz personalities and Nigerians. That for me is the biggest endorsement. The other one will come. Keep your fingers crossed. I am humbled, grateful and uplifted and full of gratitude to everyone who ‘Googled’ Mercy Johnson a...

The heavy explosion was heard at about 2:55pm Tuesday afternoon. Casualties is said to be high because the explosion happened at a densely populated areas of Ahmadu Bello Way where the GSM market is located. Sound of the explosion was heard in Bukuru, which is about 20km from Jos city. Details of casualties not yet known as security agencies had condoned off the areas and rescue operation is ongoing. Details later

Abuja -  Miss Yemisi Olowookere, a dietician at the Garki Hospital, Abuja says  consumption of banana is ideal for the maintenance of normal blood pressure and heart function. Olowookere  in Abuja on Tuesday said that bananas were the best source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. According to her, a medium sized banana provides 350g of potassium which helps the body to maintain normal fluid and electrolyte balances in the cells. “Bananas help restore normal bowel activity, rich in non digestible fibres, help with constipation and diarrhoea and normalise the colon’s function to absorb large amounts of water for regular bowel movements. “Bananas have long been recognised for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. They help to neutralise acidity, a great way to get rid of heart burn. “Bananas are a perfect baby food. They are the best solid food to introduce to infants. A mashed ripe banana is...

UGHELLI-FORMER Secretary to the Delta State Government, SSG, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the ongoing Boko Haram insurgence was not a mere distractions but part of  plans to divide Nigerians along religious lines to bring the government of President Jonathan down and abort his transformation agenda in order to retain the many ills that bedevil the Nigeria nation. Delivery in lecture during the annual Major Isaac Adaka Boro memorial public lecture and awards held in Ughelli, Delta State, Omo-Agege said the single goal of the Boko Haram was to bring the government of President GoodluckEbele Jonathan down even if it means taking Nigeria down in the process. He therefore urged Nigerians across the world to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan to jointly transform the country and create a future worthy of the visions and dreams of their founding fathers. He said; “If we let them succeed, we will be setting a dangerous precedent that all it takes is a few unwise and reckless feud...

Three Americans and three Nigerians were travelling by a train to a conference. At the station, the three Americans bought tickets each and watched as the three Nigerians bought only one ticket. One of the Americans asked, "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" One of the Nigerians replied, 'Watch the ride." They all board the train. The Americans took their respective seats, but the three Nigerians cram into a restroom and closed the door behind them. Shortly after the train departed, the conductor came around collecting tickets. He knocked on the restroom door and said, "Ticket, please." The door opened a little and a single arm emerged with a ticket in hand. The conductor collected it and moved on. The Americans saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea. After the conference, the Americans decided to copy the Nigerians on the return trip and save some money. When they got to the station, they bought a single ticket for th...

A 35-year-old man stormed a Chinese primary school on Tuesday, stabbing eight students with a kitchen knife. The man named Chen, reportedly rushed into into the school in Macheng in the central province of Hubei and haphazardly began slashing at students with the knife, AFP reports. Police arrested Chen at the school, and the the eight injured pupils have been hospitalized.

20 year old Delta state born Merrilyn Akpapuna (pictured above) on May 10th 2014 emerged overall Best Graduating Student of Dillard University, an Ivy league school in New Orleans, USA . Merrilyn, the daughter of a dental surgeon, graduated with a first class honors in Psychology. She also won two other awards for highest academic achievements for the College of Arts and Sciences and College of General Studies. Her feat made her share the podium with US First Lady, Michelle Obama, who attended the school's convocation. Merrilyn is pictured above with the President of Dillard University, Dr Walter Kimbrough. Congrats to her. What an inspiration. Continue... Three other Nigerians also shined at the convocation ceremony. Victor Ogburie, Stephen Igwe, and Emole Anyadimgba all graduated with first class honors in their various discipline. Victor Ogburie (left), 24, graduated with first class in Computer Science. Emole Anyadimgba (middle), 27, from Abia state graduated with a first c...

Yesterday, the Northern Elders’ Forum urged the Federal Government to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of abducted Chibo girls. Do you think FG should, or not?

Pls to improve your health this week, I suggest you take this steps. I assure you of some good experience as a result of obedience to this tips, ok! 1. Take a purgative this morning, I recommend 6 sachets of Andrews Liver Salts in a glass of water. Also important is that you de-worm your self today without fail! 2. Make up your mind to eat only food that is close to nature. NB: every processed food including Noodles has adverse effect on health. 3. Replace food with fruits once it is 6.30 or 7pm. The reason is that we don't burn the energy from late-food and we store them as body weight. 4. Increase water intake to constantly hydrate the body mass. NB: our body are about 75% water and can only function properly when hydrated. I have not taken Analgesics for more than 1year now, how? Even when I am stressed and down with head ache, I simply take two sachets of water and rest my head without ta...

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta recently agreed to a statement made by President Jonathan during his May 4th media chat that, stealing is not corruption.   While addressing members of  the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, at the ICPC Headquarters' in Abuja, Mr Nta said there is a difference between stealing and corruption  and it is wrong to classify theft as corruption. He said that we should refer back to what we were taught about stealing and corruption in school "Stealing is erroneously reported as corruption. We must go back to what we were taught at school to show that there are educated people in Nigeria. We must address issues as we were taught in school to do". He likened the misunderstanding of stealing and corruption to the mindset of the ordinary Nigerian who believes a roadside mechanic is also an engineer. Really? These people are strange!!!

That's what a committee at the on-going National Conference is suggesting...for all unemployed graduates in Nigeria to earn a monthly allowance equivalent to the allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps, which is N19,800. Punch reports that the conference’s Committee on Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reform made the recommendation but it can only fall through if it's accepted by the Federal Government. A member of the committee said the recommendation was one of the ways the committee members felt that crime could be reduced in the country. He told Punch; "The recommendation is our own way of finding solutions to the rising wave of crime in the country and to also force the government to do the needful for the increasing number of unemployed graduates in the country. We have done our part and it is left for the delegates to either reject or accept it at plenary.”

Chief Eddie Ugbomah, veteran film maker and Chairman, Board of Trustee of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) has set plans in motion to shoot his very last film, “Cover Up.” And already, a galaxy of A-list actresses are jostling to be part of cast of the movie. Those who have already confirmed their readiness to star in the movie include Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Franca Brown, Ngozi Nwosu, Liz Benson, Mercy Johnson among others. Ugbomah said the actresses willingly agreed to star in the big-budget film without charging any fee as their own little way of saying “Thank You” to him, for the role he played in their careers. Disclosing further, Ugbomah said, the film which will be shot in Lekki, Ajegunle, Abuja and Asaba respectively will commence in the first week of June and ends after nine weeks. “I am going to direct the film myself. It revolves around an influential Nigerian who committed a crime and happened to be the first person to raise alarm. At the end of the day, his attrocitie...