Friday 31 October 2014

Santa Claus dies at 86

Y'all know that Santa Claus used in a lot of Coca-Cola adverts? Well, he has died. His name was John Moore and he was the famous "Father Christmas" who inspired Coca Cola’s character and appeared in many ads for the brand. He died recently at the age of 86 and is being buried today in Burgess Hill, Sussex,UK.

When he was not shooting for Coca-Cola, he spent the rest of the year working as a taxi driver and barman. RIP, Mr Moore.

EFCC arraigns UNIBEN undergraduate over $12,000 internet scam

Find the EFCC press statement below...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, October 30, 2014 arraigned an undergraduate of the University of Benin, Kenneth Rukewe Ebule before Justice E. F Ikponmwen of an Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin- City on a 6- count charge bordering on forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents.The accused person allegedly duped Sabine Albert, a German, of the sum of $12, 088, 75 through fraudulent claims.
Rukewe, 30, a final year student of Computer and Statistics at the University of Benin, was arrested by officials of a new generation bank on May 28, 2014 in Benin City and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.

Girl's present from dad turns her into a multimillionaire on her 19th birthday


19 year old Deisi Ocampo from Chicago is now a multimillionaire after accepting and scratching two lottery tickets her dad gave her as birthday present on October 6th.

Deisi told ABC News exactly what happened
"I rarely play the lottery. My dad buys tickets once in a while and thought it would fun to get me two tickets for my birthday. The following day, I didn’t think much of it when I scratched off the first set of numbers. But when I finished scratching the second ticket, I began to shake and sweat out of nervousness. I just couldn’t believe it was real.”
 The birthday girl had won $4 million dollars.

Pics: Bomb blast reported at Gombe Line motor park this morning

A bomb went off at the Gombe Line motor park in Gombe state around 9am this morning which has resulted in the death of at least 30 people. Eye witnesses say the bomb was planted by a man who came and dropped his bag in a Kano line bus and left. NEMA officials are said to be at the scene right now removing the dead bodies and taking the injured to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital. Hoping to get more info from the blast later. See more photos after the cut...

Its Seems they may seek the death penalty for Kano child-bride

Looks like the Kano State govt is really seeking the death penalty for 14-year-old child bride Wasila Tasi'u, who allegedly killed her 35 year old husband, Umar Sani and 3 of his friends with rat poison in the village of Unguwar Yansoro in Kano, 17 days after she was forced to marry him in April 2014.

The case was heard in court yesterday Oct. 30th and AFP's Aminu Abubakar writes that prosecutors at the High Court in Gezawa, have filed an amended complaint that charged the young girl with one count of murder over the killing. Lead prosecutor Lamido Abba Soron-Dinki said that if convicted, the charge is "punishable with death" and indicated the state would seek the maximum penalty.

Above is Sani Garba, holding a picture of his 14-year-old daughter-in-law, Wasila Tasi'u
 From AFP

Chibok Girls May Be Coming Home Today - Officials Disclose

It appears the abducted Chibok girls may be coming home very soon, following positive talks with the insurgents in Chad. Report filtered in yesterday, that the Chibok schoolgirls might be released anytime between yesterday and today, filling the residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital with excitement.

Leadership reports that a government official and native of Chibok who pleaded anonymity said: “We are all in high spirit, I just returned from Chibok and from the information reaching us so far, we may very soon – in fact between now and tomorrow (Friday), have our girls freed”.


Some top security officials in the state who were also in a happy mood confirmed that the dreaded Boko Haram sect might release the schoolgirls within 48 hours.
One of the security sources said: “From what we have received so far, the negotiation going on in Chad have recorded tremendous progress and we are looking forward to receiving the girls anytime soon”.

Nollywood twins, Tracy & Treasure celebrate birthday with friends

Nollywood twin divas, Tracy and Treasure Daniels, also known as Golden Girlz, celebrated their birthday recently with friends at Elias Lounge in VI. See more photos after the cut...

Drama, as 14-yr-old suspected killer bride goes ‘dumb’ in court


There was a mild drama at Gezawa High Court, Kano, yesterday as a girl-bride, Wasila Tasi, suspected to have killed her husband
14-year-old aw Wasila Tasi'u
14-year-old aw Wasila Tasi’u
and three others in April, failed to utter a word in court during her trial.
The high profile culpable homicide case that attracted the attention of the human rights community was nearly stalled by refusal of the 14-year-old suspect to speak.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya was compelled to enter a plea of ‘not guilty’ on her behalf shortly after the charged sheet was read and explained to her in the local dialect.
Wasila, looking perturbed at the dock, was repeatedly asked whether she understood the content of what was read before her, but each time she failed to utter a word as the court registrar ran through the four-count charge of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 A of the Penal Code.

The decision of the court to enter a plea of not guilty on her behalf revived the case as the prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, offered to line up five witnesses to prove the merit of the case.
The presiding judge, therefore, adjourned the matter to November 26 and 27 to continue hearing and also ordered that the suspect be returned to remand home.

Source: Vanguard

This man says Lagos is the worst place to visit on earth

In an article titled 'Worst Places I've Ever Visited, From A Man Who Has Visited Everywhere', Yahoo Travel expert/writer Lee Abbamonte, ranked Lagos, Nigeria as the No. 1 worst city to visit on earth.

Above (right) is the picture he shared of Lagos and below is what he wrote about Lagos
As far as I am concerned, Lagos, Nigeria, is the worst place on planet Earth. I’ve never experienced so much corruption in my life. It was just a horrific experience getting into the country. Crossing in from Benin, we got shaken down by the border guards. In addition to the multiple police shakedowns, the multiple ATM issues were enough for me; three times in two days, the machines dispensed the wrong amount of money. It was oppressive and hot. I couldn’t tell you one good thing about that place."
Here's the article. Anyone who reads this garbage and has never been to Lagos would really think this city is that horrible. Not nice! Continue..

Exclusive photos: Kcee acquires customized 2014 Cadillac Escalade

Music star Kcee just added to his fleet of cars a 2014 fully pimped gold colored Cadillac Escalade. See more photos after the cut...

Footballer Neymar sends private jet to bring model he met in Ibiza to Barcelona

28yr old Serbian model and reality star Soraja Vucelic (pictured) claimed in a recent interview with a Serbian newspaper that 22 year old Barcelona and Brazilian footballer Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, sent a private jet to pick her up to visit him in Barcelona after the pair met in Ibiza...and she shared a pic of herself in the jet in Neymar's jersey to prove she was not lying.
Soraja told Kurir newspaper that she met Neymar in Ibiza in July and they exchanged contact and frequently chatted via Skype. One day he told her he wanted to see her and sent a private plane to pick her and her friend up. Soraja was in Barcelona for many days with Neymar. This happened this October but Soraja refused to say when exactly and what happened between them. Well, if a man sends you a private jet...ahn! Pic of the two after the cut...

Nigerian billionaire's scorned ex-wife ordered to pay his legal fees by UK court

45 year old Mercy Ogbedo has been told by a London court that she must pay her Nigerian billionaire ex-husband's £100,000 legal costs after she failed in court to get financial support from him...

From UK Daily Mail 
A scorned woman who claims she was 'duped' into marrying a billionaire with a secret wife has been told she must pay the tycoon £100,000 by the divorce courts.
Mercy Ogbedo, 45, thought her dreams had come true in 2002 when she went through a picturesque marriage ceremony with Nigerian shipping magnate Moses Taiga. Her feet were washed by village elders and a 'bride price' was paid for her, before the couple drank from the same cup, danced and cut an exotic wedding cake.

Ayo Fayose reveals he goes to beer palour every Friday

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state says he goes to the beer parlour every Friday to meet with the commoners in his state. Fayose said this yesterday in Abuja while explaining to newsmen the concept of the 'stomach infrastructure' he initiated in his state, saying it doesn't only mean sharing of food and money to the people..
"I go to beer parlour on Friday to stay with the common men there. Governance is not church;  it is about diverse characters and you must relate with them as such. Christmas is coming. Why do people go out of their ways to be shopping or doing other things if it is not just to make people merry? So, I’m grooming chicken, buying rice, yams, plantain, and the rest of them. I am sure if I give it to families during the festive period, they will be happy. So, stomach infrastructure is a way of life.” he said

Photos: Burkina Faso Parliament set ablaze after members tried to elongate president's stay in office

Anti-government protesters in Burkina Faso yesterday set their National parliament ablaze following a decision by members of parliament to review the country's constitution to allow President Blaise Compaore extend his 27-year rule. The parliament members were due to vote on a change on their constitution which would allow the sitting president, Blaise Compaore - who took power in a coup in 1987 - to stand for re-election again next year, when he was due to stand down.

Atiku reacts to Mubi attack, says some of the dead are people he knew personally

Former VP Atiku Abubakar says some of the people that were killed in the Mubi attack in Adamawa state by Boko Haram members on October 29th were people he knew personally. Above is what he posted on his Facebook page.

See Photos: Has footballer Joseph Yobo joined politics? See photos

Looks like joining politics is the new trend among our famous folks. Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo is the new ambassador of the PDP Ward 2 Ward Initiative. He is pictured above with other members of the group while on a courtesy call on the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, on Wednesday October 29th. See another pic after the cut...

Photos: Ikeja City Mall hosts 2face Idibia in autograph session


For the first time at the Ikeja City Mall, fondly​ called the ICM, an autograph session was held with none other than the living musical legend himself, 2Face Idibia, headlining the event. He was accompanied by his entourage including his protégé, Dammy Krane and a host of other recording artistes from his label Hypertek Digital.

He is currently embarking on a nationwide tour promoting his erstwhile LP, ‘The Ascension’, and the two forthcoming releases 'Face2Face 10.0' and ‘Rewindselectuptodate’.

Photos: President Jonathan picks up PDP Nomination form

President Jonathan picked up the PDP Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination form yesterday October 30th at the party's national headquarters in Abuja. See more photos after the cut...

The Dream releases photos from his 3rd wedding to his 4th baby mama

37 year old music producer, singer and song writer Terius Youngdell Nash popularly known as The Dream got married for the 3rd time in July this year but only released some pics from the wedding yesterday. Dream and his new wife Lalonne Martinez are expecting a child together which will make it his 6th child. He has 3 with first wife, Nivea, one with second wife Christina Milian, another one with an ex-girlfriend and expecting another with Lalonne, who he says is his last bus stop. Amen!

Photos from Sarah Ofili's birthday party


The sexy model turned a year older last week & her close friends including ex-beauty queen Munachi Abii threw her a birthday party at Lacampaign Tropical Beach Resort. See more pics after the cut...

'My boyfriend said I was too fat for sex so I dropped 30 stone - and him'

A cruel comment from her boyfriend during a romantic getaway made 22 year old Paige Way to drop from a whopping size 28 to a size 12. Paige said her boyfriend told her that belly was too fat for them to have sex. The comment from her boyfriend shamed her into shedding a lot of weight.
"It was absolutely mortifying when my boyfriend told me that my belly was getting in the way, but it gave me the push I needed to finally do something about my weight. I'd always been big as a child, and then I was 'the fat one' in my bunch of friends. Men would say horrible things about me on nights out, like "God, look at the size of her."

Pics: Soldier dies in accident while conveying colleagues injured by BH to hospital

The man pictured above with his wife and son died recently while conveying some of his colleagues who had been injured in a battle with Boko Haram, to a hospital in the North. He leaves behind a young wife and a son. May his soul rest in peace Amen...

First photos of Beyonce’s half-sister...and she looks like the singer

Here are the first photos of Beyonce's half-sister (right). Her mum is former lingerie model, Taqoya Branscomb, the second woman who came out recently saying Matthew Knowles is the father of her daughter born in 2010.

Taqoya revealed photos of her child in a recent interview with Inside Edition, saying the little girl has already shown a passion for singing and dancing...and she kinda looks like Beyonce...or doesn't she? See more photos after the cut...

Thursday 30 October 2014

Apple CEO Tim Cook confesses he's a gay

Apple Inc CEO, Tim Cook, 53, revealed today October 30th that he is gay. Tim, who became CEO when he succeeded Steve Jobs on August 24th 2011, has never discussed his sexual preference in public before today but said that many of his colleagues knew he was gay.

Tim, who is worth an estimated $500million, came out as gay in an editorial for Bloomberg Business Week, stating: "Let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me". See what he wrote after the cut...



Tim Cook writes for Business Week
Throughout my professional life, I’ve tried to maintain a basic level of privacy. I come from humble roots, and I don’t seek to draw attention to myself. Apple is already one of the most closely watched companies in the world, and I like keeping the focus on our products and the incredible things our customers achieve with them.
At the same time, I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” I often challenge myself with that question, and I’ve come to realize that my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That’s what has led me to today.
For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation. Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I’ve had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people’s differences. Not everyone is so lucky.
While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.
Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day. It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.
The world has changed so much since I was a kid. America is moving toward marriage equality, and the public figures who have bravely come out have helped change perceptions and made our culture more tolerant. Still, there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict tenants for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation.
I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy.
I’ll admit that this wasn’t an easy choice. Privacy remains important to me, and I’d like to hold on to a small amount of it. I’ve made Apple my life’s work, and I will continue to spend virtually all of my waking time focused on being the best CEO I can be. That’s what our employees deserve—and our customers, developers, shareholders, and supplier partners deserve it, too. Part of social progress is understanding that a person is not defined only by one’s sexuality, race, or gender. I’m an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a fitness nut, a son of the South, a sports fanatic, and many other things. I hope that people will respect my desire to focus on the things I’m best suited for and the work that brings me joy.
The company I am so fortunate to lead has long advocated for human rights and equality for all. We’ve taken a strong stand in support of a workplace equality bill before Congress, just as we stood for marriage equality in our home state of California. And we spoke up in Arizona when that state’s legislature passed a discriminatory bill targeting the gay community. We’ll continue to fight for our values, and I believe that any CEO of this incredible company, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, would do the same. And I will personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up.
When I arrive in my office each morning, I’m greeted by framed photos of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy. I don’t pretend that writing this puts me in their league. All it does is allow me to look at those pictures and know that I’m doing my part, however small, to help others. We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick.
Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple

Photos: Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi visits Pres. Jonathan again

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi II, in company of members of The Kano Emirate visited President Jonathan at Aso Rock Villa earlier today October 30th.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was reportedly at the Villa to reconcile with President Jonathan after the rift between them following Sanusi's sack from office as CBN governor. See more photos after the cut...

Police withdraws security men attached to Speaker, Tambuwal

The Nigerian Police Force have withdrawn the security detail of the Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal, who recently defected from the PDP to APC. In a statement released few minutes ago on their official website, the Police said they withdrew Tambuwal's security because his recent defection flouts the 1999 constitution. Find the statement after the cut...

Photo: Nigerian girl dies after failed Butt enlargement surgery in Thailand


24yr old British-Nigerian lady, Joy Williams (pictured above) has died after a failed £2,000 butt enlargement surgery in Bangkok, Thailand. The young lady's older brother, Anietie, who lives in Nigeria, said the family didn't even know she'd traveled to Thailand.
"We don't really know what went wrong, we only know what is in reports in the media." Anietie said
He also said that the family is making preparations to bring her body home. According to the Daily Mail, Joy, who relocated to the UK from Nigeria in 2007 and lives with her mother in Thamesmead, died on October 23rd after visiting a clinic called SP Clinic in Thailand which she had found on the internet.

Pics: Disabled people storm Lagos court this morning for Coroner's inquest on the synagogue building collapse

Many disabled individuals stormed the Ikeja High Court this morning October 30th for the Coroner's Inquest into the Synagogue church building collapse. The supporters carried signs that read "Don't push Joshua out of Nigeria by your actions in the matter", another read "Lagos State handle this matter with caution", and another read "People are not stupid, it was controlled demolition" etc

The judge in charge of the inquest, Magistrate Komolafe is trying to find out what was responsible for the building collapse. 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Toyin Ayinde, who was at the inquest, said that the collapsed building was illegal, that the church didn't get any approval for the building. He also said that the main church currently has three additional illegal floors. See more photos from the event today after the cut...

This Girl goes missing after leaving club with man

This is a story about a 300 level English Language student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Annabel Nzubechukwu Edeh, who has not been seen since she left a night club with an unknown man many weeks ago in Awka, Anambra state.

Annabel had gone to the night club with friends on September 17th and as the group of girls prepared to leave, Annabel told her friends she was in need of money so would go home with a guy she'd met at the club and would return to school the following morning. It's been 6 weeks and Annabel hasn't been seen.

Read the full story as told my Oluchukwu Igwe, a 500l Chemical Engineering student of same school, after the cut...

Diezani Madueke's sister rescued after 8 days in kidnapper's den

The sister of Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, Osiya Agama has been rescued by police in Port Harcourt eight days after she was kidnapped.

Mrs Agama was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on her way from an evening church on Tuesday October 21, at Leventis Bus-Stop along Port Harcourt-Aba Road, as she approached her car.  

Pics: 9ice brands bus, palm oil, palm wine, soft drinks to campaign in Ogbomosho

Abolore Akande aka 9ice, who is going for House of Reps in Ogbomosho South/North and Orire Constituency Federal 1, branded buses and soft drinks to campaign in Ogbomosho. He also branded palm oil, palm wine and water to give to his supporters. See more photos after the cut...

Malala donates $50,000 to reconstruction of schools in Gaza

Nobel Prize winner and Pakistani education campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, has donated $50,000 towards the reconstruction of schools in war-torn Gaza in Palestine. Many public buildings and schools in the Gaza Strip were destroyed by Israeli warplanes and tanks during Gaza's recent conflict with Israel.

Malala made the donation yesterday Wednesday October 29th after receiving the World Children’s Prize for the rights of the child in Marienfred, Sweden. Speaking at the event, Malala said the money will be channeled through the United Nations relief agency UNRWA to help rebuild 65 schools in the Palestinian territory.

The man that was allegedly shot by police in Delta state finally dead

 A guys about a man, 25yr old Moses Onianwa (pictured) that was posted few days ago, who worked with Oshimili North LGA, and was allegedly shot by policemen attached to Ibusa Police Station in Delta State during last Saturday's Local Government Area elections, unfortunately, he's passed. He died in the early hours of this morning October 30th at the FMC Hospital in Asaba. 

Health of boy attacked by dogs gets more worse



Omonigho
Omonigho

It appears the condition of four-year-old Omonigho Abraham, who was attacked by two dogs in the Igando area of Lagos State about a month ago, has worsened in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja where he is currently receiving treatment.

PUNCH Metro learnt from his father, Odia, that Omonigho’s scalp which was torn off by the German shepherd dogs during the gruesome attack, had not healed and had been giving off an offensive odour.
He said this had given the family serious concern.

Odia told our correspondent on Wednesday that attempts to get the medical report of his condition had also been frustrated by some medical officers in the hospital.

"I Don't Expose My Cleavage"- Actress Yvonne Jegede

Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegeda who resumed back to acting after leaving the country for a while to pursue her educational goals has revealed many things about her that will interest you.
Yvonne Jegede
Yvonne Jegede
Yvonne, who has been around for a while now has made it known in a recent interview with Encomium magazine that she doesn’t expose her boobs like her colleagues in the movie industry.
I don’t expose my cleavage, it was a photo shoot. You don’t see me walking on the street with my cleavage hanging out. It was a photo shoot. I felt I have some features that people should know of. Even with that, some people still believe that she has a lot of boobs but no behind, that is wrong.
I am coming out to showcase. I think the older I get, the more comfortable I am in my skin. You get secured, more confident with age. If I feel very comfortable showing off my curves, my cleavage, excuse me, it is my body. But I will not walk around naked. I wear whatever I am comfortable with.

Fear at MMIA as Ebola victim arrives Nigeria



There was panic yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos as a Nigerian, who had already been cured of Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone arrived aboard Royal Air Maroc.
The ebola victim, Mr. Theophilus Onnakhinon, was flown from Sierra Leone by the airline while his younger brother, Mr. Chinedu Eroka was said to have absconded from the Sierra Leonean authorities. It was not however clear why Eroka absconded.
 
A source close to the Port Health at the Lagos Airport confided in aviation reporters yesterday that the victim had already been treated of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and cured of the disease by the health authorities of that country after some weeks in their custody.

The source who doesn’t want to be named as he was not allowed to talk to the media on the issue said that the victim was assisted into the country by the Nigeria’s consular officer, Mrs. T. Mohammed.
According to the source, the consular officer accompanied the victim into the country in order to avoid stigmatization by the Nigerian health officials and other authorities at the airport.

Photos: Actor Osita Iheme Also Known As 'Paw Paw' tries his hands on golfing

The comic act is learning how to golf and shared photos from his practice on his instagram page. See more photos after the cut...

Zambia gets a White President...

Guy Scott (pictured above with his wife and the Obamas) was sworn in yesterday as the interim president of Zambia following the death of Zambian president Michael Sata on Oct. 28th. This makes Mr Scott, who is of Scottish descent but born in Zambia, the first white president in Africa since apartheid.

Guy Scott, 70, became vice-president of Zambia in 2011 and will serve as interim-president pending when the country holds fresh elections for a new president within 90 days. The Zambian constitution makes it impossible for Scott to be president because his parents were not born in Zambia.

Photos: Stella Damasus, Daniel Adenimokun, Ini Edo, other stars at Giama Awards


Here are some red carpet photos from the GIAMA Awards which held this past Saturday Oct. 25th in Houston, Texas. Pictured above, Stella Damasus and her man Daniel Adenimokun, and Ini Edo. See more photos after the cut...