Akpabio Forces Ibeno Community To Accept Mobil’s “Insulting Relief Material” Sahara Report

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom this
week summoned the paramount traditional
ruler of Ibeno community, Effiong Archianga,
and the area’s local government chairman,
Henry Nko, and ordered them to reverse the
community’s decision to reject relief material
provided by ExxonMobil.
SaharaReporters gathered that an infuriated
Akpabio, who has acquired significant
business interests in Mobil’s oil fields in
exchange for ‘protecting’ the oil firm, forced
the community to accept and distribute the
relief material or face his wrath.
The Ibeno community hosts Mobil Producing
Nigeria (MPN), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. The
community had turned down relief material
from the oil firm meant to cushion the effects
of the recent oil spill that ravaged the area.
Members of the community were irked by a
clause in the firm’s letter accompanying the
material. The clause stated that the items did
not mean that the oil firm was liable for the
spill.
Following Mr. Akpabio’s stern directive, the
traditional ruler of Ibeno as well as the area’s
council boss immediately complied. They gave
directives to their aides to distribute the items
to the 26 villages in the Ibeno community.
John Etim, a community leader in the
Iwuokpom fishing settlement, said many
members of the community were dismayed
by the order to accept and distribute items
against their wish.
“We returned these things on many grounds,
but we learnt that our leaders were forced to
accept them by the state government,” said
Mr. Etim. He added: “That is our handicap as
minorities that provide wealth to the state
and country.” The community leader
disclosed that his village “received two bags
of rice, one quarter bag of rice, six packets of
biscuits, 10 pieces of wax cloth, and 48 tins of
milk.” He asked, “Given the size of this
community where do you start from?”
ExxonMobil provided the relief items following
an oil spill on November 9 that devastated the
community. One source told SaharaReporters
that several thousand barrels of crude oil were
discharged into the Atlantic, but that the
extent of the spill was grossly under-reported
to Nigeria’s oil industry regulators who
depend on the operators for data.
The oil firm’s cover-up caused a stir at the
National Assembly when an ExxonMobil
executive, Mark Ward, appeared last week
before the House of Representatives
committee on the environment. An embattled
Mr. Ward was confronted with testimonies
from the host communities contradicting his
report of minimal spillage. He had to apologize
on live television for the firm’s shortcomings
in handling the spill and misinforming the
legislature.
Sam Ayadi, chairman of the Akwa Ibom
chapter of the Artisan Fishermen Association,
told SaharaReporters that the fishermen had
nothing to do with the so-called relief
material.
“The so-called relief materials sent to the
communities had no room to accommodate
non-indigenes of the communities who were
also affected by the spill. We have indigenes
and non-indigenes of Ibeno in our midst. So
what happens to non-indigenes when the
materials were to be shared amongst the
villages?
“Moreover the materials they sent did not
include fishing implements and accessories to
offer relief for our losses not to talk of the
deprivation we have suffered for the past one
month since the spill occurred,” said Mr.
Ayadi.
Several traditional rulers in the area had
mandated the paramount ruler to call Paul
Arinze, ExxonMobil’s General Manager in
charge of Public and Government Affairs, and
express the community’s reservations about
the firm’s so-called relief offer. Several of
those traditional rulers told SaharaReporters
that they were dismayed about the state
governor’s pressure on them to accept the
firm’s insulting and inadequate provisions.
One angry village leader said that the
governor’s use of crude threat and
intimidation on the community “has pushed
us to the wall.”
“It has become abundantly clear that Akwa
Ibom government led by Akpabio has taken
sides with the oil company against the oil-
bearing communities. Otherwise what is the
point of using force and threat to force us to
accept a so-called gift?” he said.
“The conspiracy between the government
and the management of Mobil against us will
not stand and we shall one day take our
destinies in our hands. With God on our side,
it shall not be long from now,” said the village
head. He added: “If they are claiming that
they are not liable for the spill, why then are
they doing this?”

President Jonathan, Nigeria Navy Confirm Crash, Offer Details About Helicopter Crash. Sahara Reporters

Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati and a
spokesman of the Nigerian Navy have
confirmed the crash of a helicopter in the
Nembe-Okoroba area of Bayelsa State that
claimed the lives of Kaduna state Governor
Patrick Yakowa and former NSA, Andrew
Owoye Azazi this afternoon Nigerian time.
In his statement, Mr. Abati disclosed that two
Nigerian navy pilots as well aides of Governor
Yakowa and Mr. Azazi also died in the crash.
Apart from Azazi and Yakowa, four other
persons died in the crash, they include:
Governor Yakowa’s special adviser, Dauda
Tsoho and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal
who was Azazi bodyguard as well as two naval
pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba
and Lt. Adeyemi O. Sowole.
Also, Commodore Kabir Aliyu of the Nigerian
Navy disclosed that a Navy’s Agusta
helicopter crashed, even though he would not
confirm the identities of the passengers who
died.
The spokesman was willing to state only that
the ill-fated Agusta helicopter “was conveying
Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to Port
Harcourt from Okoroba village.”
In his statement, the naval officer disclosed:
“A Nigerian Navy Agusta helicopter (Helo 07)
crashed today, Saturday 15 December 2012
at about 3:30 p.m. around Nembe-Okoroba
area in Bayelsa State. The helicopter was
conveying some VIPs to Port Harcourt from
Okoroba Village also in Bayelsa State.”
Another military source told SaharaReporters
that the helicopter caught fire on impact. The
source disclosed that some of the passengers
on board were burnt beyond recognition.
The Nigerian Navy had two helicopters at the
scene of the burial of the father of presidential
aide, Oronto Douglas. SaharaReporters
determined that Governor Patrick Ibrahim
Yakowa of Kaduna state and former National
Security Adviser, Andrew Owoye Azazi, were
on board the doomed helicopter.
A source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Azazi,
a retired general, had invited Governor
Yakowa to fly with him on the helicopter to
the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt. The
governor’s flight was reportedly late in
arriving in Yenogoa, the capital of Bayelsa
State.

33-Year-Old-Man Kicked Out Of Competition Finals For Looking Like Jesus

Bearded Nathan Grindal, 33, was enjoying the
match between star champ Phil Taylor and Kim
Huybrechts when some of the 4,500-strong
audience spotted his likeness to the son of God.
Chants of “Jesus” quickly spread through the
rowdy crowd, interrupting play at Butlins in
Minehead, Somerset. Security was called before
six bouncers escorted upset Nathan from the
Cash Converters Players’ Championship, being
shown on ITV4.
As he left a chant of ‘Stand up if you love Jesus’
broke out, with many of the boozed-up crowd
getting to their feet. Nathan, a labourer, was
escorted to a nearby bar where security staff
bought him a pint and told him to watch the rest
of the final on the telly.
He saw the legendary Taylor win then found
himself being asked to pose for signed photos
with fans as they left the arena. Nathan, who
emigrated from his native Australia to Oxford six
years ago, said: “I didn’t go to the darts dressed
as Jesus – I went as me. It was all very weird and
distressing. I didn’t break down crying but I did
get emotionally distraught. They were bullying
me and picking on me, saying that I was
someone else. It would have been okay if the
security hadn’t made a fuss getting me out of the
arena.”
Nathan, who began growing his beard four
months ago, had booked a three-day stay at
Butlins earlier this month with five pals to watch
the darts.
He added: “In his post-match interview, Phil
Taylor said something like ‘if I ever see Jesus
again, I’ll crucify him myself.’ Now that’s just
hurtful. I love darts, but I’m worried about ever
going to see it live again, just in case the crowd
turns on me like they did last time.”
Dave Allen, spokesman for the Professional Darts
Corporation, said Nathan was ejected to prevent
his presence becoming a nuisance to the players.
He said: “There was a lot of chanting of Jesus and
I think to avoid it becoming too much of a
distraction for the players he was taken by
security to another part of the complex. There is
plenty of audience participation. They are
encouraged to support the players within certain
boundaries. The fact they can buy four-pint
pitchers certainly helps.”

40-Year-Old Woman Breastfeeds Tiger Cubs (Photo)

Two tiger cubs, one male, one female were
taken from her mother when she killed the
third one in her litter.
They are now been breast fed by a wet nurse, Hla
Htay, at the Yangon Zoological Gardens in Burma
and by breastfed, straight from her mammary
glands.
Ms Htay, 40, the partner of an employee at the
zoo, told local newspapers that she felt sorry for
the animals and offered her services, at least until
the cubs grew teeth.
The two are now being raised on bottled milk as
well as Hla Htay's milk four times a day.

Wife Burns Sleeping Husband With Hot Water As Punishment For Cheating

The man, Gilbert Khoza, was allegedly
accused of by his wife Siphiwe Khoza. This
was after his wife answered his cellphone in
the middle of the night and discovered that
it was from a suspected girlfriend. Gilbert
was asleep and could not respond to his
suspected lover's call.
According to a source close to the family, Gilbert
arrived home drunk on the day in question. He
did not switch off his mobile phone before retiring
to bed.
"During the night, the phone rang and was
answered by his wife who later learnt it was her
husband's mistress," said the source.
The 'small house', seemingly revealed her affair
after being subjected to tough questioning by
Siphile. It was not good news for the woman as it
seemed it was something she least expected from
her husband.
"Siphiwe, acting out of fury, boiled water and
scalded her husband waking him up in the
process. Gilbert was burnt all over the body," said
the source.
The fuming woman told Gilbert about the phone
call that had got him into trouble.
"I understand Gilbert was in serious pain to try
and defend himself. On the following day, he even
refused to go to the hospital citing that by so
doing it would be as good as reporting his wife to
the police," said the source.
Gilbert is nursing his wounds at home, according
to sources. When reached for comment, the
'boiled man' could neither confirm nor deny the
allegations.
"We had a small misunderstanding with my wife,
but now everything is back to normal," he said.

Boy Who Celebrated His 12th Birthday At 12 Midnight On 12:12:12 Is The Antichrist

Yes, it is no longer Barack Obama. As some
already know, the American President had
been recently fingered as the "Antichrist"
by some people for some reasons best
known to them.
However, there is apparently a new
candidate for the post!
Well, the number 12 has been a
recurring figure in young Kiam Moriya's life. Thus,
it had been noted that when he turns 12, the
whole world would be watching! The Alabama boy
- who loves Krispy Kreme donuts and BMX biking -
was born at 12:12 p.m. on December 12, 2000.
His twelfth birthday fell on Wednesday, 12/12/12.
And his father had this to say: "We've joked
around that he's the chosen one," Kiam's father,
Kazuo Moriya, told Today.com.
While some say his son is lucky, others fear the
boy is a sign of a pending apocalypse. "There are
these weirdoes out there online, all these
doomsday people, saying he needs to be killed
and that he's the Antichrist," Moriya said. "We're
trying to tone it down because it's a little freaky.
It's just a fun little story."
The numerically bizarre date has swept the nation
into frenzy, as luck-seekers scoop up lottery
tickets and couples seek marriage licenses to wed
on Wednesday. Real weirdoes, isn't it? No wonder
nothing will come out of their stories

Pastor Bimbo Odukoya's Daughter (Tolu Odukoya) Engaged: White Wedding Set for November 3rd, 2012

Tolu Odukoya is the daughter of late Pastor
Mrs. Bimbo Odukoya of Fountain of Life
Church. Her engagement ceremony to
Olumide Ijogun held yesterday Thursday
November 1.Their white wedding will hold
tomorrow November 3rd at Fountain of Life
Church by 11 am. Reception will hold
immediately at Haven Event Centre, GRA,
Ikeja.

Ex-Councillor Stabs Teenager for Refusing Advances

A former councillor of Amuwo-Odofin Local
Government Area of Lagos State, Onimole
Babatunde, is currently being detained at the
Area E Police Command, Festac, Lagos for
allegedly stabbing an 18-year-old girl in the
neck after she refused his advances at a
night club.
On October 26, Mariam Abubakar (pictured
above) went to Pearl Habour Night Club in
Rochester Garden Hotel, Festac to “catch
weekend fun.” Her friend, who pleaded
anonymity, said they only went there “to
hang out” when Babatunde, who was
obviously drunk, started to make advances to
Abubakar.
She said, “She was not interested in him so
she did not answer when he called her. He
was dancing and Mariam (Abubakar) was
sitting at a table. He was obviously drunk and
he came to pull her.
“He was manhandling her and she insisted he
should leave her alone. This did not go down
well with Babatunde and he was really angry.
He went to a corner, took a bottle, broke it
and stabbed Mariam in the neck.”
According to the source, Babatunde fled the
scene immediately.
A police source at Area E told our
correspondent that the preliminary report
obtained indicated that the incident occurred
at about 1:30am. He said Abubakar bled
profusely at the scene before she was taken
to Naval Hospital, Ojo by sympathisers at the
night club.
The source said she was not admitted
because those who took her there could not
produce a police report.
“That was when someone notified our station
(Area E Command) and we went to take her
to Ajeromi General Hospital,” he said.
It was learnt that as Abubakar was being
taken to the general hospital, she went into a
coma.
She was said to have been revived at the
general hospital. A nurse at the hospital, who
craved anonymity, told our correspondent
that she had lost about 20 per cent of her
blood.
Abubakar is currently under intensive care at
the hospital.
However, the police said the night club
workers destroyed evidence at the scene of
the alleged crime by cleaning up Abubakar’s
blood on the floor.
The hotel has currently been sealed off by the
police because the management did not
report the incident.
It was learnt that the police got wind of
Babatunde’s whereabouts, said to be holing
up somewhere in Ikoyi and called him to
simply come and write a statement. But he
was detained immediately he got to the
station.
The police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said
she had not been briefed on the case.


Source: Punch

Boy, 21, Develops Four Penis After Sex With Gay Partner

After the widely vilified Aluu 4 massacre and
the shooting of some students of the institution
by rampaging gun-men, another student seems
to have fallen victim to some diabolical
machinations.
Obinna,21, a 200 level student of UNIPORT was
reported to have developed multiple sex organs
after an intensive 2 night "sexcapade" with his
gay lover in a popular hotel in Ifako
Gbagada,Lagos. He was alleged to have met the
man on social networking site, Hi5 after which he
was paid N20,000 for transportation to Lagos. He
came and after the rendevous was paid the
agreed sum of N150,000 only for him to discover
in a jiffy that his penis was developing branches
but lo and behold the partner was no where to
be found!
He raised alarm which attracted people to the
scene. It seems youths have not learnt from the
recent murder of Cynthia who was lured into her
death through the social media.
Guess this will teach some dudes who have
converted gay escapades to a means of making
fast money a lesson. You just might the next
victim, desist from such acts before its too late
Nigerian with 4 penis

Lagos High Court Gives Four Policemen, Accomplice 250 Years For Robbery

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja, on Thursday
sentenced four policemen and a civilian
accomplice to a total of 250 years
imprisonment for robbery.
The convicts are Bestman Dennar, Musa
Mohammed, Peter Enidiok, Godwin Williams
and Emmanuel Ajogbor.
Justice Joseph Oyewole found the accused
guilty on two counts of robbery and
conspiracy to commit robbery.
He sentenced each of them to 25 years of
imprisonment for conspiracy and another 25
years each for robbery.
He, however, said the jail terms would run
concurrently.
The convicts were said to have in November
2002 robbed a lorry loaded with lace and
George fabrics along Ikorodu-Ijebu-Ode
Expressway, where they mounted a
roadblock.
They were said to have forced the occupants
of the lorry out of the truck and drove off
with it.

Governor Godswill Akpabio Of Akwa Ibom State Buys A $45 Million "Private" Jet

The government of Akwa Ibom State has
confirmed that Godswill Akpabio like his
Rivers State counterpart, Governor Rotimi
Amaechi, also owns a brand new jet.
Akpabio took possession of the $45 million
jet in June 2012.
Responding to SaharaReporters inquiries,
Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information,
Aniekan Ummanah, confirmed that Mr.
Akpabio bought the Gulfstream jet
manufactured in 2011, but insisted that that
it is Akwa Ibom State property.
As already published by SaharaReporters,
Governor Amaechi’s gleaming new toy is a
Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS), which he
acquired for his exclusive use.
Governor Akpabio’s state of the art jet, which
carries FAA registration number N224BH,
was interestingly purchased by the same
Bank of Utah Trust account used by the
Rivers state government. The deal was
handled by a trust attorney at the bank and
delivered to Mr. Akpabio.
Records show that Governor Akpabio, whose
deputy resigned yesterday, has travelled
abroad in the jet regularly, especially to and
within the United States, since the
acquisition.
A flight tracking website provided the
following information regarding Mr. Akpabio's
penchant for traveling on the jet. These
flights do not show Nigeria movements:
Origin Destination
Departed
Arrival
28-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Westchester
County (KHPN) Cologne Bonn (EDDK /
CGN) 11:50AM EDT 12:28AM CEST (+1)
(?) 6:38
28-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Savannah/Hilton
Head Intl (KSAV) Westchester County
(KHPN) 07:00AM EDT 08:42AM EDT
1:42
24-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Westchester
County (KHPN) Savannah/Hilton Head Intl
(KSAV) 11:23PM EDT 01:05AM EDT
(+1) 1:42
24-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Dusseldorf Int'l
(EDDL / DUS) Westchester County
(KHPN) 08:20PM CEST 10:21PM EDT
8:01
06-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q Westchester
County (KHPN) Malaga (LEMG / AGP)
01:49PM EDT 02:42AM CEST (+1) (?)
6:53
05-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q William P Hobby
(KHOU) Westchester County (KHPN)
08:01PM CDT 12:06AM EDT (+1) 3:05
03-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q Dallas Love Field
(KDAL) William P Hobby (KHOU) 08:48AM
CDT 09:25AM CDT 0:37
01-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q William P Hobby
(KHOU) Dallas Love Field (KDAL) 03:53PM
CDT 04:35PM CDT 0:42
01-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q Dallas Love Field
(KDAL) William P Hobby (KHOU) 10:49AM
CDT 11:26AM CDT 0:37
29-Jul-2012 GLF4/Q William P Hobby
(KHOU) Dallas Love Field (KDAL) 10:05AM
CDT 10:47AM CDT 0:42
28-Jul-2012 GLF4/Q Bangor Intl (KBGR)
William P Hobby (KHOU) 01:40PM EDT
04:30PM CDT 3:50
28-Jul-2012 GLF4/Q Dusseldorf Int'l (EDDL /
DUS) Bangor Intl (KBGR) 11:44AM CEST
12:44PM EDT 7:00
It would be recalled that one week ago in Yola,
Adamawa State, Governor Danbaba Suntai of
Taraba State crashed a Cessna 208, 5N-BMJ, he
was flying personally at the time. He has since
been airlifted to Germany for treatment, his
injured passengers left in a local hospital.
These expensive jet-buying and flying stories
concerning Nigeria state governors provide
greater proof of muddled priorities, and
sometimes, outright corruption, in the
administration of the States, where the chief
executives and their inner circles live in
insensitive luxury despite the despicable general
condition of the average citizen. When they get
off their jets, they usually have waiting for them
all kinds of exotic cars and long convoys.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Mr. Suntai, an
aviation enthusiast, owns two aircraft and a
helicopter. Aviation sources also said he also owns
an airstrip in his village which he built with
embezzled state funds.
Governor Akpabio’s new jet puts him squarely
among Nigeria’s new jet set of top government
officials, connected businessmen and lavish-
spending pastors, among whom luxury private
jets are the new status symbol.

'Choa!': Asian elephant can talk

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Korean is
considered one of the hardest languages in the
world to master, but an elephant in a South
Korean zoo is making a good start.
Koshik, a 22-year-old Asian elephant has stunned
experts and his keepers at Everland Zoo near
Seoul by imitating human speech. Koshik can say
the Korean words for "hello," "sit down," "no," "lie
down" and "good." His trainer, Kim Jong Gap, first
started to realize Koshik was mimicking him
several years ago.
""In 2004 and 2005, Kim didn't even know that
the human voice he heard at the zoo was actually
from Koshik," zoo spokesman In Cherl Kim said.
"But in 2006, he started to realize that Koshik
had been imitating his voice and mentioned it to
his boss."
His boss initially called him "crazy."
Koshik's remarkable antics grabbed the interest of
an elephant vocalization expert thousands of
kilometers away at the University of Vienna in
Austria.
""There was a YouTube video about Koshik
vocalizing, and I was not sure if it was a fake, or if
it was real," Dr. Angela Stoeger-Horwath said. She
traveled with fellow expert Dr. Daniel Mietchen to
South Korea in 2010 to test the elephant's ability.
They recorded Koshik repeating certain words his
keeper said and then played them for native
Korean speakers to see, if they were recognizable.
"It is, for some of the sounds he makes, quite
astonishing for how similar they are," said
Mietchen of the University of Jena in Germany.
"For instance the word 'choa' (meaning good) -- if
you hear it right after what the keeper says -- it's
quite similar."
The findings have been published in the journal
Current Biology this week and describe how
Koshik places the tip of his trunk into his mouth
to produce his convincing impression of a human
voice.
Koshik was born in captivity in 1990 and was
transferred to Everland Zoo a few years later.
From the age of 5 to 12 there were no other
elephants with Koshik at the zoo, and his only
interaction was with humans. The researchers
believe Koshik may have learned certain words
out of necessity "to cement social bonds."
Koshik is expected to draw quite a crowd when
the public sees him in the spring after
construction at the zoo is completed.

Are Boko Haram’s Conditions for Ceasefire Realistic? Arrest of Former Borno Governor | Selects Members of Mediation Group | Dialogue in Saudi Arabia

Just a few days after unleashing a blood attack on a Catholic Church in Kaduna state, members of the radical Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, say they are ready to ceasefire and have
listed some conditions.
They include the arrest and prosecution of the
former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali
Modu Sheriff. Channels TV reports that one Abu
Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz who claimed to be one
of the leaders of the Islamic sect, made it known
that the group will call for a ceasefire if the federal
government arrests and prosecutes the
immediate past governor of Borno State.
The group also insisted that the dialogue must
not take place in Nigeria, but Saudi
Arabia. According to him, the choice of Saudi
Arabia was informed by the insincerity of the
Nigeria government for dialogue and its betrayal
in the past.
The Boko Haram spokesman further demanded
that, all their members, who were arrested and
are under the custody of security agencies must
be released immediately, just as their wives and
children who were displaced following the crises
should be rehabilitated into the society to allow
room for the much talked about dialogue with the
Federal Government.
He also mentioned that five of its members have
been mandated to liaise with five members of
Borno Elders to find ways of meeting the federal
Government to end the insurgency.
He listed the Nigerian mediators to include Alhaji
Shettima Ali Mongonu, General Muhammadu
Buhari (Rtd), Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim,
Ambassador Gaji Galtimari and Barrister Aisha
Wakil and her husband.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to President
Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Reuben Abati told
Channels TV that the President has gotten their
offer and said it was a welcome development.
Now let’s recap their demands again: They want
the former Governor of Borno state arrested
because they claim that while he was in office, he
sent securities to arrest and kill most of their
members while practising their religion; they
want the release of all their members in prison.
They also want the mediation to take place in
Saudi Arabia and they have listed the names of
those they want present at the mediation.
It is understandable that a lot of blood has been
shed and as Nigerians, we just want this over and
done with. But what do you think about their
demands? Are they realistic? Should the Federal
Government succumb to their demands in order
to stop the bloodshed?

Terry G and Fiancee Mimi Welcome a Bouncing Baby Boy!!!

Terry G's UK based fiancee, Mimi Omoregbe
gave birth to baby boy in the UK yesterday.
We say congrats to them as they welcome Prince of Swagger.

Terry G's UK based fiancee, Mimi Omoregbe
gave birth to baby boy in the UK yesterday.
We say congrats to them as they welcome Prince of Swagger.

New Music: Donna Diva - Go Gaga

Donna Diva real name Donna Adja is
Nigeria’s first female artiste and producer,
she started off her professional career as the
leader of an in- house band at the Sheraton
Hotel Ikeja, Lagos in 2006. But in 2011 she
left the job to go solo as a recording and
performing artiste.
A model, actress and a fashion designer,
Donna is also a successful clothing label
owner. With her blend of reggae, pop, soul,
r&b, rap and African musical flavour.
GO GAGA is the second official single of this
multi- talented artiste. Its a feel good song
that would make everyone dance.

A commercial motorcyclist, identified simply
as Ifeanyi, has been arrested for allegedly
handing over a nurse, Mrs. Helen Ilonge
(picture above), to ritual killers after
collecting N10, 000.
Punch Metro learnt that Ilonge had on
Tuesday last week took Ifeanyi’s motorcycle
on her way to Igoli along the Ogoja-Ikom
Highway in Ogoja LGA. Ilonge, the
coordinator of Primary Health Care in
Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross
River State, was coming from a programme
at the Assemblies of God Church, Abakaliki in
Ebonyi State, and had alighted from a vehicle
at Okpongrinya junction before taking the
bike.
It was gathered that Ilonge (51) was
beheaded while her other vital reproductive
parts such as breast and vagina were
removed for ritual purposes.
Ilonge’s neighbour, Mrs. Theresa Idagwu, on
Sunday said, “Ifeanyi took the lady from
Okpogrinya Junction on the pretence that he
was taking her to the village, which is 10
minutes drive from the point. But along the
way, he stopped and handed her over to
kidnappers at Ukpe. Meanwhile, the woman
had called her daughter, Victoria, around
9pm that she had taken a bike at Okpogrinya
Junction on her way to Igoli.
She said when she gets to her destination;
she would call again so that Victoria would
boil water for her to take her bath. That was
Ilonge’s last call.” Repeated calls made to the
woman’s line, according to Idagwu, indicated
that it was switched off. She said Ilonge’s
family became worried when the woman did
not return home. “We went everywhere-
police stations, hospitals and even her friends
in Igoli, thinking that may be an accident had
occurred along the road but we got nothing,”
Idagwu added. Two days later, Idagwu said
someone called Victoria on her phone and
informed her that her mother had been
kidnapped. The caller demanded a ransom of
N50, 000 to be remitted in form of recharge
cards.
She said, “Since her daughter could not raise
the money, she rushed to the Bekwarra LGA
headquarters where the head of
administration, Mr. Bisong Bogbo, and the
chairman, Mr. Linus Edeh, provided the
money with which she bought recharge
cards and sent to the caller. “The voice
claimed that he needed the recharge cards
so he could sell and run away from his master
who is a ritual killer. He claimed that he had
been serving his master for a long time and
wanted to run away. He said once he gets
the cards, he will break the door where the
nurse is being kept and release her.” The
LGA’s head of administration, Bogbo,
confirmed that the cards were sent to the
kidnapper through Victoria’s telephone.
He said immediately the alleged kidnapper
confirmed receipt of the cards; he switched
off his telephone. Luck, however, ran out of
Ifeanyi. Policemen tracked his telephone line
and discovered that he called Victoria from
Abuochiche. Further investigations, it was
gathered, showed that Ifeanyi had been
selling the cards in the village immediately he
got them. When he was arrested, Bogbo told
our correspondent that Ifeanyi led the police
to one of the ritual killers identified simply as
Elvis. Elvis, according to Bogbo, confessed
that the nurse had already been killed and
some of her vital organs removed before
Ifeanyi asked for the recharge cards. Elvis
also said the remains of the woman were
buried in a swamp. At the council
headquarters, one of the late nurse’s
colleagues, Mr. Gabriel Ogar, said she was
probably the kindest woman he ever worked
with.
Ogar said, “I have worked with five
coordinators, but I know that she is just the
best so far. She worked to the admiration of
Governor Liyel Imoke and now she has been
killed leaving her five children without a
helper. “Her husband died 12 years ago and
since then she has been the one taking care
of the children and only one has graduated.
Please let the government do something for
those poor children.” When contacted on
Monday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Osita Ezechukwu, said the police were still
investigating the matter. He said four
suspects had been apprehended by the anti-
homicide unit, adding that when the
investigation was completed the suspects
would be prosecuted. “We have taken
confessional statement from them. Those
who are not involved have been allowed to go
while those who are involved are still in
detention,” Ezechukwu said.


Culled from Punch

Motorcyclist Sells Nurse to Ritual killers for N10,000

A commercial motorcyclist, identified simply
as Ifeanyi, has been arrested for allegedly
handing over a nurse, Mrs. Helen Ilonge
(picture above), to ritual killers after
collecting N10, 000.
Punch Metro learnt that Ilonge had on
Tuesday last week took Ifeanyi’s motorcycle
on her way to Igoli along the Ogoja-Ikom
Highway in Ogoja LGA. Ilonge, the
coordinator of Primary Health Care in
Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross
River State, was coming from a programme
at the Assemblies of God Church, Abakaliki in
Ebonyi State, and had alighted from a vehicle
at Okpongrinya junction before taking the
bike.
It was gathered that Ilonge (51) was
beheaded while her other vital reproductive
parts such as breast and vagina were
removed for ritual purposes.
Ilonge’s neighbour, Mrs. Theresa Idagwu, on
Sunday said, “Ifeanyi took the lady from
Okpogrinya Junction on the pretence that he
was taking her to the village, which is 10
minutes drive from the point. But along the
way, he stopped and handed her over to
kidnappers at Ukpe. Meanwhile, the woman
had called her daughter, Victoria, around
9pm that she had taken a bike at Okpogrinya
Junction on her way to Igoli.
She said when she gets to her destination;
she would call again so that Victoria would
boil water for her to take her bath. That was
Ilonge’s last call.” Repeated calls made to the
woman’s line, according to Idagwu, indicated
that it was switched off. She said Ilonge’s
family became worried when the woman did
not return home. “We went everywhere-
police stations, hospitals and even her friends
in Igoli, thinking that may be an accident had
occurred along the road but we got nothing,”
Idagwu added. Two days later, Idagwu said
someone called Victoria on her phone and
informed her that her mother had been
kidnapped. The caller demanded a ransom of
N50, 000 to be remitted in form of recharge
cards.
She said, “Since her daughter could not raise
the money, she rushed to the Bekwarra LGA
headquarters where the head of
administration, Mr. Bisong Bogbo, and the
chairman, Mr. Linus Edeh, provided the
money with which she bought recharge
cards and sent to the caller. “The voice
claimed that he needed the recharge cards
so he could sell and run away from his master
who is a ritual killer. He claimed that he had
been serving his master for a long time and
wanted to run away. He said once he gets
the cards, he will break the door where the
nurse is being kept and release her.” The
LGA’s head of administration, Bogbo,
confirmed that the cards were sent to the
kidnapper through Victoria’s telephone.
He said immediately the alleged kidnapper
confirmed receipt of the cards; he switched
off his telephone. Luck, however, ran out of
Ifeanyi. Policemen tracked his telephone line
and discovered that he called Victoria from
Abuochiche. Further investigations, it was
gathered, showed that Ifeanyi had been
selling the cards in the village immediately he
got them. When he was arrested, Bogbo told
our correspondent that Ifeanyi led the police
to one of the ritual killers identified simply as
Elvis. Elvis, according to Bogbo, confessed
that the nurse had already been killed and
some of her vital organs removed before
Ifeanyi asked for the recharge cards. Elvis
also said the remains of the woman were
buried in a swamp. At the council
headquarters, one of the late nurse’s
colleagues, Mr. Gabriel Ogar, said she was
probably the kindest woman he ever worked
with.
Ogar said, “I have worked with five
coordinators, but I know that she is just the
best so far. She worked to the admiration of
Governor Liyel Imoke and now she has been
killed leaving her five children without a
helper. “Her husband died 12 years ago and
since then she has been the one taking care
of the children and only one has graduated.
Please let the government do something for
those poor children.” When contacted on
Monday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Osita Ezechukwu, said the police were still
investigating the matter. He said four
suspects had been apprehended by the anti-
homicide unit, adding that when the
investigation was completed the suspects
would be prosecuted. “We have taken
confessional statement from them. Those
who are not involved have been allowed to go
while those who are involved are still in
detention,” Ezechukwu said.


Culled from Punch

I Am Ready To Fall In Love Again – Kate Henshaw Opens Up At Last

Face of Onga, ex-Glo ambassador and now, a
judge for Nigeria’s Got Talent reality show,
actress Kate Henshaw can be rightly referred to
as multi-faceted and successful.
In this exclusive chat with NET, Henshaw talks
about her passion for acting and the many
challenges she has dealt with, including her
broken marriage.
It’s been a while, where have you been?
I’ve been around in Nigeria. You don’t have to
come out all the time. I can’t do that because it
will water down my brand and I want people to
have an expectation when they see my face on
posters. That ‘Oh I have not see Kate in a while,
for her to be in the movie, I must see it’ feeling
and that alone is enough for me.
You are an actress with an appeal that cuts
across different generations. What do you
think is responsible for your relevance after
almost 20 years in the business? I just try to
be myself and I do a few other things; I don’t
only act, I MC and I have business that I do on
the side, because acting alone cannot sustain
you. Again, I think my ability to smile and laugh
at every situation. People tell me when I smile,
it’s as though I don’t have any problems, some
even ask if I ever get angry but I tell them I
choose to be happy, and that is the most positive
attitude to grow through life. Life is hard,
especially in Nigeria, things are hard, [but
there's] no need carrying it on our faces as
though the world is on your shoulders. A lot is
happening and I ought to be grateful.
Now that you are over 40 and have spent
over 19 years in the industry, how many
more years do you plan to continue acting?
If I can reach 100, it won’t be bad. Besides, 40 is
a number and people say life begins at 40, which
means I am only a baby, and life has just begun
for me.
Still on your acting career, as someone who
has been in several movies and played
diverse roles, are there roles you still wish
to play? A mad woman. Someone who is
impaired physically or mentally. I want a case
where people will see the movie and ask
themselves if I really am the one in the movie.
What’s the most memorable movie you’ve
done?
My very first movie, When the Sunset. I also
loved the role I played in Stronger Than Pain,
with Nkem Owoh. That role was different for me.
In the beginning, I was really doubtful if I could
play it well, but I did it and it worked out.
As someone who had a medical
background, how easy was it for you to
blend into the movie industry at first? It was
hard. I was scared. The script was as thick as a
bible. I was with Franca Brown, Bob Manuel, the
late Funmi Martins, and Sandra Achums. I didn’t
think I could do it, but they were all so nice. That
was when we really treasured doing movies
properly, we paid attention to detail, countless
rehearsals. I remember spending a lot of time
with Bob Manuel, people thought we were going
out.
Having spent considerable time as an
actor, what’s next? Are you considering
going into music?
You people should leave me. I don’t want to
disgrace myself. Acting is my stronghold, I will
stay there. I don’t want to veer into something
and get stuck in it. I might do a collaboration
soon, you never can tell.
A lot of your colleagues are beginning to go
into roles behind the scenes. Will you be
doing the same anytime soon?
Everyone doesn’t have to produce or direct
movies, some people just want to remain in front
of the camera. I have tried my hands in
production. I produced a documentary for the
Lagos State tax advert, I shot that one as my
own contribution for them to help conscientious
Lagosians on the need to pay their taxes. I also
did one for the Akwa Ibom State government. I
am more of someone who can plan and all that,
but movie is plenty money.
Was acting something you always wanted
to do?
Funny enough, I have always wanted to be a
musician. I wanted to sing but my father
objected strongly.
So when did acting set in?
It just happened. It’s just few years ago that I
started doing it professionally; when I started it
was just a case of trying to see what it will bring
out for me. The late JT Tom West, I will always be
grateful to him for taking me to my first audition.
After my first movie, different people started
coming with different jobs and I was like ‘Yeah,
money is coming.’
Nollywood producers have a knack for
stereotyping actors. How did you manage
to avoid this?
You have to be picky. If the script comes and it’s
the same thing, you ask if they can change it,
because nobody will do it for you. However, if it is
a case where the director has foresight and
wants to see how the actor can manage the role,
only then will they call you back, otherwise, the
typical Nollywood producer will give you what
they think people like you for.
What challenges did you face as a young
actor in a budding industry?
For me, my first audition got me so many roles,
so I won’t say I had lots of challenges. Once I
surmounted working with the various stars on
set, I started learning and heeded to advice I got
from some people. I also made a promise to
myself to be professional about everything and
always be on time. I don’t do lateness at all. This
is because Uche Obi Osotule and I were up for
the same role from Opa Williams in the movie
Onome. He said he was going to give it to the
first person that arrived. I got there ten minutes
past eight and lost the role because Uche got
there before me.
Having spent almost two decades in the
industry, what would you say are the
challenges faced by players in the
industry? Money. Lack of cohesion between
guilds and associations. Inability to use certain
structures to be able to shoot our films; for
instance, getting the airport is not easy, and
other places, they charge. We pay taxes as
citizens of this country, and as film makers, we
should have a deduction or access to places.
While Dora was the Information minister, she
complained we were portraying the police in the
bad light, wearing slippers and all, but when
they did not give us the needed thing, what
were we to do? They need to give us the right
support to achieve this.
The trend in the industry is cinematic
movies and home videos. This has
negatively affected soap operas, for which
you are popular. What is your take on this?
There will always be a place for the different
aspects of the entertainment industry. Whether
you go to the cinemas or you buy a DVD. I have
not done soaps in a while, it remains something I
love doing, but because of the frequency, you
have to be available to do a lot of recording.
There is always room for soaps, but it has to be
something that will attract people like Check
Mate, or Candle Light. I can’t pick just one. I
have done TV, soap, and stage, and I love all of
it. I wanna do everything.
You strike people as a happy-go-lucky
individual. Share with us some low
moments in your life.
Generally, when life gets you down. The issue of
the break-up of my marriage will get any one
down, having being through 12 years and you
had plans for the marriage and all of a sudden,
everything stops, but then, that’s life. It hits you
with a lot of things but you shouldn’t let it get
you down.
Tell us more about your former marriage.
How were you able to deal with it?
It’s God. He makes things beautiful in His own
time. The slightest bit of strength is all is needed
to rise up. People have died in marriages, some
have lost body parts while in it, and others have
spent years in it. It all depends on individual, it’s
just to make the most of every situation and
move on. I have so much that I want to do. I
have no time to be wallowing in self pity.
Marriage does not define who I am, neither does
it define anybody. I came into this world as an
individual, two people meet and decide to make
it work but if it doesn’t, let it go. I wish you well,
you do same, especially when there are children
involved, because they are the worst hit. My plan
now is to ensure that my daughter has the best
in life, no matter what.
Why did you break up?
It wasn’t working anymore. It’s good to leave,
rather than continue to manage it and live in
strife and rancour.
A lot of Nigerian women have recently
shared their stories of physical violence in
the hands of their husbands. Did you
experience this? No, not at all.
What then was the cause of the break up?
Personal.
Any regrets?
No regrets at all. My daughter came out of it and
she is the most beautiful thing ever.
Any possibility of reconciliation?
No. My daughter is the most important person
and she has to be taken care of. As far as she is
concerned, we are for better, for worse.
Are you making plans to give love a chance
again?
I don’t have anything against love. I want to love
again, after all, God gave us his son to love us.
Away from your marriage, let’s talk about
the new leadership of the Actors Guild of
Nigeria. What is your take on this? Hopefully,
Ibinabo Fiberisima will turn things around for
AGN. Basically, without the actors, there will be
no films. We are like the biggest body ever, so I
am praying she can turn things around and
make us more unified, because the division is
what has caused us to not to be where we ought
to be. We have a lot more to do to better
ourselves as a body. We need to get our acts
together and pull this through together.
What’s your opinion on Emeka Ike, who
seems displeased about the election?
Emeka should join forces with I.B and stop all this
rancour because it doesn’t make us serious at all,
which is unnecessary. He should drop whatever
suit or case he has, marry his plans and support
IB. Enough is enough!
What is your beauty regimen?
I work out regularly, everyday. I have my facials,
massages. I love to rest, travel and I eat right. I
do exercises too. I do aerobics, weight lifting,
dancing; everything that will make me look good,
I do it, and am very diligent with my exercises.
How do you unwind?
I relax, I go out with friends, I travel on holidays
and take a rest.
Where was your last vacation spot?
Miami, and it was great, because the weather
was just like what it is in Nigeria..
Let’s end this conversation with this. Tell
us what you think of Aluu 4 murder…
It should be condemned. It’s like every day, we
sink lower into the ground as human beings as
Nigerians. Our humanity is totally lost. There are
no longer the days when we see someone in
trouble and we play the good Samaritan and try
to help. These days, everybody will just stand
and look, nobody wants to help. The security
level is so low and a lot of similar killings have
happened in Mubi, Boko Haram attacks and all. It
is terrible.

‘I Want To Keep Doing Dirty Characters’ - Rita Dominic

Petite in stature yet a powerhouse in her field,
actress Rita Dominic tells NET about her
experience as a first time producer, the many
challenges she has had to face since becoming
an actress, and how she feels about the growth
of Nollywood.
You’ve been off the scene for a while now.
Where have you been?
Rita Dominic: I was working, re-inventing myself,
shooting my films and starring in different films
for other people, and now is my comeback.
You have spent over 12 years in the
industry, building a reputation as an
actress, what made you decide to veer into
production?
Rita Dominic: I just wanted to give something
back to an industry that has done so much for
me; that’s why in the movie, I didn’t play the
major role. We have Linda Ejiofor and Femi
Jacobs, two up and coming actors, who played
the lead roles. These are people who are very
talented and need to be encouraged. Again, after
acting for so many years in the industry, one
wants to try other aspects of film making. I knew
I always wanted to try production and I felt last
year was the best time to.
How do you respond to speculation that
you went into production because acting
roles weren’t coming as they used to?
Rita Dominic: No. If I was going into production
to make sure people keep seeing me, I would
have cast myself as the lead role in the movie. I
have a passion for the arts, I have always wanted
to try out all the aspects of production. It is my
way of giving back to the industry by
encouraging new talent. A lot of people have the
notion that people in the industry don’t want to
give the new people an opportunity, but that is
not true.
What was it like, producing and acting in a
film?
Rita Dominic: Difficult. Very difficult, and this was
made worse because I also played a complex
character in the movie. I didn’t want to do it. I
argued with my business partners, because I
didn’t understand how I was going to play a
character that was that complex, and at the
same time, concentrate on making sure the
production was of standard, but I sat down and
thought about it, and decided to do it.
With the success of your movie, are you
likely to dump acting for production?
Rita Dominic: I will produce more films and I will
act in more films as well, but I will still be picky
with the kinds of scripts I do.
Is the next thing on your plate directing a
movie, maybe?
Rita Dominic: I am not sure, but who knows?
Never say never
Or perhaps, singing?
Rita Dominic: Never. I am not a singer but all the
parts of production, I might try.
Both your parents are medical practitioners
as parents. How easy was it convincing
them about acting as your choice of
profession?
Rita Dominic: Funny enough, I had all the
encouragement I needed since I was a kid,
because I started this since I was like five or six
years old. I remember her [my mother] getting
me prepared for all the variety shows for the
weekend.
The teaser and poster of your upcoming
movie shows that you went through a lot.
Would you say this is your most
challenging role yet?
Rita Dominic: In the last year, I have done a lot of
challenging roles, one of which was the Kenyan
film that won me the award of Best actress in
Africa. Before I shot that film, I had never been
challenged like that in my 12 years in Nollywood.
I played a woman who was a drug addict, and
had mental degradation. I had to learn to speak
a little bit of Swahili and speak like a Kenyan and
not a Nigerian. Another one is the film, Streets of
Calabar, which I won’t say much about. My role
in the movie, The Meeting is also a very
challenging one, a fifty year old woman. What I
have been doing in the last two years is to
concentrate on my career and do certain kinds of
films. I just needed to show the ugly side, I think
I have played the beautiful side of life for years,
and I wanted to show people this side exists, and
do something completely different. I hope I
succeeded in doing that.
What is your dream role?
Rita Dominic: I just want to keep doing dirty
characters. I want to keep dirtying myself as an
actor. I want to keep pushing the box.
When you say dirty, what do you mean?
Rita Dominic: When I say dirty, I advise you
watch the movie Shattered, and you will
understand. I’m talking about the characters
people in the society look at with a feeling of
disgust.
Looking at you and the way you have been
responding, you strike me as an introvert.
Am I wrong?
Rita Dominic: That is me o. What you see in the
movies is totally different. I am a very shy
person, people don’t believe it because I am an
actor. Even the biggest actors are shy people,
and I feel it is because they can hide behind the
characters they play, but when it is time for
them to be themselves, they are very shy. When
I am on the red carpet, I am a different person
and I just wear that character.
You were quoted to have once said that
you never thought you would be still
relevant. Did you actually think so?
Rita Dominic: I don’t actually remember that
interview but it’s actually true. I never really
believed I could still be relevant in the industry,
because if we look at what makes me and my
colleagues special, it’s the grace of God. There
are people who are talented around, and we are
still relevant. It’s God’s grace. We have people
like Linda Ejiofor, Tonto Dike and others who are
talented, but still I’m here and still relevant, it is
the grace of God.
Does that mean you planned a short stay in
the industry?
Rita Dominic: I didn’t, I just felt I was going to do
my job as an actor and leave the rest to God. To
be honest, there are many actors and actresses
who are more talented than I am, may be they
are not relevant anymore, so what makes me
different?
After spending over 10 years acting in
Nollywood, your first Kenyan film won you
‘Best Actress’ at the AMAA; does this
bother you?
Rita Dominic: I am not surprised, because of how
thorough AMAA is with the criteria. I always felt
when you do a good film, you will be recognised
for it, be it in Nigeria or anywhere else. The only
thing I would say is, I put a lot of work in that
film because of the character and the story, so it
could have actually been a Nigerian movie, I just
felt that at that point in time, that was the first
film I had done after my hibernation, and AMAA
thought it was time to award me, and I am
grateful for that.
But do you not feel cheated, spending over
10 years without an award?
Rita Dominic: I have always been nominated for
AMAA, but I don’t even mind. I always said to
myself I want to win AMAA for a film I worked
hard for, and Shattered was one of such films, so
I was elated when I was announced winner. I felt
like I was given a pat on the back for a job well
done.
Does being Africa’s best actress put you
under pressure in anyway?
Rita Dominic: Yes it does, because I am
constantly looking to do a better film than the
film that won me the award.
After a long time, there is a female
president for the AGN. How do you feel
about this?
Rita Dominic: I feel really excited, she is a friend
of mine. She is the first female president, maybe
we just needed to have the change and see what
the change can do.
How about the controversy going on about
the election being unconstitutional?
Rita Dominic: I don’t know about that. All I know
is IB won it and I am willing to support her.
You are on top of the list of celebrities
expected to get married this year, but you
still haven’t said anything till date. When
do you plan to get married, Rita?
Rita Dominic: Very soon.
How soon?
Rita Dominic: Don’t worry, very soon.
Has it been difficult finding the right
person or you have found the right person
Rita Dominic: Leave it like that. You are not
getting that answer.
What is your take on Nollywood actors who
see Hollywood as the next thing and aim to
be part of it?
Rita Dominic: I feel it is important that we build
our industry to a point where the international
colleagues are tempted to want to come to
yours. We should also give it that respect, so it
gains respect from other international film
industries. Now Hollywood has built theirs to
attract other people to their industry, I feel we
should do the same.
Finally, what is your own evaluation of
Nollywood?
Rita Dominic: We have what we call the new
Nollywood, which tends to shoot very high
quality films. It started with the movies of Kunle
Afolayan, Ego Boyo, Emem Isong, Obi Emelonye.
It can only get better from here on. The quality
has improved. You will be surprised at the quality
of films that will be released next year.

Picture Of the Day- Osita Iheme (Paw Paw) In A Bathtub

The picture just surfaced online and it is said to
be from the photoshoot by South African based
TV network, VUZU TV to announce Osita Iheme
as her new ambassador.
The actor popularly known as Paw Paw would be
making a reported sum of eleven million naira
($70,000) from the deal. Small man with big
money.....

Tonto Dike Fires Back At Burna Boy

For those who don't understand why Tonto
would Tweet and mention Burna Boy, read
below.
The day Tonto released her two
singles, Burna Boy Tweeted that all
wack artists deserve death, though
he specifically said he wasn't referring to Ms Dike.
Well, Tonto apparently didn't believe him, and
after watching Burna Boy's fall from the stage at
the Headies, the vivacious actress/singer fired
back and in true Tonto Dike fashion, she
mentioned his name.

Nigerian Couple In UK Allowed By High Court To Keep Alleged Stolen Baby

A couple, who could not have children, have
been told by the High Court in United
Kingdom they can keep a baby born in
Nigeria, despite tests showing they were not
the child’s biological parents.
The mother said she was tricked by a doctor
into believing she had given birth while
sedated, after she went to Nigeria for fertility
treatment.
But the judge ruled they were victims of an
“appalling scam.”
The presiding judge Mr. Justice Coleridge
added the case was “extraordinary, bizarre
and worrying.”
Charities meanwhile have raised concerns
about the judgement, warning it may
encourage trafficking.
At the High Court on Thursday, Mr. Justice
Coleridge ruled that the pair, who he
described as people of the “highest calibre”,
should be given custody of the girl who is
nearly two years old.
The couple – who live in London but cannot
be named for legal reasons – failed to
conceive a child despite undergoing IVF
treatment in the UK.
They were said to be “desperate and
distressed”.
In 2010, the couple travelled to Nigeria
where the woman received fertility
treatment at a private clinic.
She told the court that when she returned to
the clinic months later she was sedated.
When she regained consciousness she was
handed a baby and told she had given birth.
On her return to London, a GP raised
concerns. The child was taken into care and
a DNA test proved the child was not related
to the couple.
They then launched legal proceedings to get
custody.
The court was told that such “baby
exchange” frauds were common in Nigeria.

Muslim Herdsmen Attack Christain Village In Benue State Killing 30 People

Nomadic Muslim herdsmen attacked a
Christian village in central Nigeria over long-
running land disputes, killing at least 30
people in their latest assault, police said
Wednesday.
The attack in Benue state comes as a bomb
exploded Wednesday in northeast Nigeria,
apparently killing a police officer and
sparking reprisal attacks by the military in
the region, residents said.
In Benue state, the attack Sunday targeted
a rural village of Christian Tiv people called
Yogbo in the state, police spokesman Daniel
Ezeala said. After the attack, those living
there fled, community leader Daniel
Tsenghul said.
The Tiv are one the largest of the minority
ethnic groups in Nigeria, a nation of more
than 160 million people and more than 250
different ethnicities.
The Tiv and the Hausa-Fulani herdsmen have
previously fought over land in Benue. In
December, authorities said fighting between
the two groups displaced some 5,000
people.
Meanwhile, a bomb detonated Wednesday
morning in Potiskum, Yobe state, which
targeted soldiers in the city trying to fight
the radical Islamist sect known as Boko
Haram.
Security forces later cordoned off large
portions of the city and began a door-to-door
search, state police commissioner Patrick
Egbuniwe said. Residents there said they
heard gunshots throughout the day as
soldiers raided civilian homes. At least four
homes were set ablaze by soldiers, the
residents said.

British Engineers Produce Amazing 'Petrol from Air' Technology

A small company in the north of England has
developed the “air capture” technology to
create synthetic petrol using only air and
electricity. Experts last night hailed the
astonishing breakthrough as a potential
“game-changer” in the battle against climate
change and a saviour for the world’s energy
crisis.
The technology, presented to a London
engineering conference this week, removes
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The
“petrol from air” technology involves taking
sodium hydroxide and mixing it with carbon
dioxide before "electrolysing" the sodium
carbonate that it produces to form pure
carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is then produced
by electrolysing water vapour captured with
a dehumidifier.
The company, Air Fuel Syndication, then
uses the carbon dioxide and hydrogen to
produce methanol which in turn is passed
through a gasoline fuel reactor, creating
petrol.
Company officials say they had produced five
litres of petrol in less than three months from
a small refinery in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside.
The fuel that is produced can be used in any
regular petrol tank and, if renewable energy
is used to provide the electricity it could
become “completely carbon neutral”.
The £1.1m project, in development for the
past two years, is being funded by a group of
unnamed philanthropists who believe the
technology could prove to be a lucrative way
of creating renewable energy.
While the technology has the backing of
Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers,
it has yet to capture the interest of major oil
companies.
But company executives hope to build a large
plant, which could produce more than a
tonne of petrol every day, within two years
and a refinery size operation within the next
15 years.
Tonight Institution of Mechanical Engineers
(IMechE) officials admitted that while the
described the technology as being “too good
to be true but it is true”, it could prove to be
a “game-changer” in the battle against
climate change.
Stephen Tetlow, the IMechE chief executive,
hailed the breakthrough as “truly
groundbreaking”.
“It has the potential to become a great British
success story, which opens up a crucial
opportunity to reduce carbon emissions,” he
said.
“It also has the potential to reduce our
exposure to an increasingly volatile global
energy market.
“The potential to provide a variety of
sustainable fuels for today’s vehicles and
infrastructure is especially exciting.”
Dr Tim Fox, the organisation's head of energy
and environment, added: “Air capture
technology ultimately has the potential to
become a game-changer in our quest to
avoid dangerous climate change.”
Peter Harrison, the company’s 58 year-old
chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph that
he was “excited” about the technology’s
potential, which “uses renewable energy in a
slightly different way”.
“People do find it unusual when I tell them
what we are working on and realise what it
means,” said Mr Harrison, a civil engineer
from Darlington, Co Durham.
“It is an opportunity for a technology to make
an impact on climate change and make an
impact on the energy crisis facing this
country and the world.
"It looks and smells like petrol but it is much
cleaner and we don't have any nasty bits."

The Richest Man That Ever Lived Was A Black Man (Mansa Musa)

King Mansa Musa's astounding wealth came
from his country Mali's production of more
than half the world's gold and salt,
Celebrity Net Worth said.
A photograph of Mansa Musa on a map of North
Africa circa 1375.
King Mansa Musa wasn't just the 1% of the 14th
century he may be the richest person of all time.
As the obscure ruler of West Africa's Mali Empire,
Musa amassed a jaw-dropping $400 billion during
his reign from 1312 to 1337, according to a new
inflation-adjusted list by celebritynetworth.com.
As for Musa's moolah, his "shocking wealth came
from his country's vast production of more than
half the world's supply of salt and gold,"
according to the Celebrity Net Worth survey,
which converted each billionaire's fortunes into
2012 dollars.
Musa was a devout Muslim who spearheaded an
extensive building program of palaces and
mosques.
But his money was eventually lost after his death
in 1337, when he was believed to be in his late
50s.
"His heirs were not able to fend off civil war and
invading conquerors. Just two generations later,
his world record net worth was gone," Celebrity
Net Worth said.
Of the list's top 25, 14 are Americans, including
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, whose inflation-
adjusted worth is about $136 billion.
The 25 billionaires and families listed have
made some megabucks, with a combined
worth of $4.3 trillion.
Celebrity Net Worth's list
1. Mansa Musa I, (Ruler of Malian Empire,
1280-1331) $400 billion
2. Rothschild family (banking dynasty, 1740- )
$350 billion
3. John D. Rockefeller (industrialist, 1839-1937)
$340 billion
4. Andrew Carnegie (industrialist, 1835-1919)
$310 billion
5. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (last Emperor of
Russia, 1868-1918) $300 billion
6. Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (last ruler of
Hyderabad, 1886-1967) $236 billion
7. William the Conqueror (King of England,
1028-1087) $229.5 billion
8. Moammar Khadafy (former Libyan leader,
1942-2011) $200 billion
9. Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company founder,
1863-1947) $199 billion
10. Cornelius Vanderbilt (industrialist,
1794-1877) $185 billion
11. Alan Rufus (Fighting companion of William the
Conqueror, 1040-1093) $178.65
12. Bill Gates (Founder of Microsoft, 1955- ) $136
billion
13. William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
(Norman nobleman, ??-1088) $146.13 billion
14. John Jacob Astor (businessman, 1864-1912)
$121 billion
15. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel (English
nobleman, 1306-1376) £118.6 billion
16. John of Gaunt (son of Edward III, 1330-1399)
£110 billion
17. Stephen Girard (shipping and banking mogul,
1750-1831) $105 billion
18. Alexander Turney Stewart (entrepreneur,
1803-1876) $90 billion
19. Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster (English noble,
1310-1361) $85.1 billion
20. Friedrich Weyerhaeuser (timber mogul,
1834-1914) $80 billion
21. Jay Gould (railroad tycoon, 1836-1892) $71
billion
22. Carlos Slim (business magnate, 1940- ) $68
billion (TIE)
22. Stephen Van Rensselaer (land owner, 1764-
1839) $68 billion (TIE)
23. Marshall Field (Marshall Field & Company
founder, 1834-1906) $66 billion
24. Sam Walton (Walmart founder, 1918-1992)
$65 billion
25. Warren Buffett (investor, 1930- ) $64 billion

Tonto Dikeh Disappoints with Debut Single

In the last 48 hrs, Tonto Dikeh’s latest
singles, Hi and Itz Ova, have become two of the
most listened and downloaded tracks, with over
500,000 views.
Dikeh, who joined the bandwagon of other actors
who succumbed to the moonlighting itch to
delve into singing, has been lampooned and
criticised for the lack lustre quality and
uninspiring singles which went viral shortly after
its release on Wednesday.
After announcing the planned release of singles
last week, the actress was advised by fans and
critics to forget music and concentrate on
acting.
Ironically, Hi and Itz Ova have caused a Twitter
disaster and left in its trail criticisms and knocks,
mostly from disappointed fans over the ‘auto-
tune’ assisted tracks.
As if coming from an ill-advised artiste, the song
which lacks cohesion from start, ends up losing
the listener at some point, as the singer also
sounds unsure of her lyrics. The over-use of lewd
lines is also a cause for concern, especially for
younger listeners.
Not surprising, the first set of jabs emanated
from Twitter and in an instant the sultry star
became a trending topic. Chocolate City artiste,
M.I sparked off a stream of tweets, when he
wrote, “That new Tonto song tho…”
Other comments came from followers like
@ifyliciouss who wrote, “Are u tired of living? Do
you want to die? Put on your earpiece and listen
to Tonto Dike’s new single.
@iAmBigMitch said, “Tonto Dikeh sang that song
for psychiatric patients” while @kayc sugarboy
wrote, “Tonto Dikeh’s new single is good but I
think she better as an actress.So, please pass the
Mic!!!”
For @walesleek, it was humour unlimited with
the tweet, “Tonto Dikeh just dropped her new
single, be very afraid! “
For a smart few, complimenting Dikeh was all it
took to get a follow back, mention or re-tweet by
the budding singer. This ploy did not however go
unnoticed by a smart follower who mentioned
that God was watching all those who
were hyping her to get noticed.
But just when one was about to conclude that
none of her colleagues was yet to speak in favour
of the tracks or otherwise, controversial
filmmaker, Charles Novia, who was lashed by e
Dikeh on Twitter ,after he criticised the soft porn
film she starred in two years ago, penned a
worded article on his Facebook page
titled, Tonto’s Tremolo.
It partly read, “I’m a music label owner
(November Records) and have produced and
acts like Majek Fashek, Terry tha Rapman, Zubby
Enebeli etc. I know much about music and the
slant of commercial music. But after listening to
Miss Dike’s songs, I’m inclined to align with the
majorly negative comments about them on
cyberspace. Ah-ah! Whoever produced her knew
she has a bad voice for singing and masked our
listening torture with the autotune effect. But
even the autotune rejected any attempt to make
a bad voice worse and Miss Dike came out
sounding like she was in mid-stream orgasm
instead of singing! Her anguished tremolos would
have been better reserved for a horror movie
sound effect than an attempt at joining the
revered profession of music. If Omotola got away
with her last two terrible attempts at singing, it
was because Omotola is a fantastic actress and
her fans could forgive her musical failings after
back-tracking her body of work in Nollywood.
With Tonto, I can’t say much either for her
acting depth. She’s a one-dimensional actress in
my opinion, who mistakes notoriety for fame.”
Although Dikeh is not the first Nollywood actor to
have delved into music, the many controversies
she has courted, coupled with how much she
boasted about the tracks before its release, made
her plight worse.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, for instance made
several attempts in music despite two albums;
the actress who claims that her music is not for
everyone is yet to make an impact.
After she was suspended by the Actors’ Guild in
2005, Genevieve Nnaji also took a shot at music
with the release of the song No More, after
clinching a mouth-watering recording deal in
Ghana.Yet this was not even enough to make her
a force to reckon with in the music industry.
Also, Anita Joseph, who recently announced that
she is born again, is yet to make any spectacular
statement as a singer despite several singles and
colourful videos.
Other Nollywood stars who have gone into music
include Nkem Owoh, Shan George, Zack Orji, Pat
Attah, Desmond Elliot and Kate Henshaw.