Apo six: Trial of policemen stalled due to absence of judge

The trial of six policemen accused of killing six Abuja auto-spare parts dealers in 2005 suffered yet another setback on Monday due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Ishaq Bello.

Those standing trial are DCP Danjuma Ibrahim, ASP Othman Abdulsalami (at large), Constables Nicholas Zacharia, Emmanuel Baba, Emmanuel Acheneje and Sadiq Salami.
The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is accusing the policemen of killing Ifeanyi Ozo, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwokike and Tina Arebun.
The deceased aged between 21 years and 25 years, were returning from a night party in 2005 when they were allegedly killed by the policemen.
At the resumed sitting of the court, prosecution counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), and counsel to the first accused, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), were told that Justice Bello was on a national assignment.
Bello was recently appointed as the chairman of the Anambra State Election Tribunal.
The court clerk then gave them March 19 for continuation of the hearing.
It will be recalled that on July 8, 2013, Justice Bello granted the request of the prosecution to recall a witness, Ede Ayuba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
The court consequently dismissed the objection of Tarfa against the recall of Ayuba.
Tarfa had challenged the recall of Ayuba, who tendered guns and other weapons allegedly ecovered in connection with the incident because it contradicted section 237 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
But the prosecuting counsel, Uche, urged the court to overrule the objection because the witness only came to give his evidence as well as tender supporting exhibits.
In his ruling, Justice Ishaq Bello held that the recall of the witness was in line with the relevant sections of the law and therefore dismissed the defence counsel’s objection.
Earlier, the judge had admitted certified copies of medical report of the examination conducted on the deceased.

Boko Haram kills 18, sets 100 houses ablaze in Borno

Eighteen persons were feared dead after suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a community along the Alau Da-Alau Ngawo Fate in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday night.

Malam Ibrahim Modu, a village head in the area, told newsmen on the telephone that the attackers invaded the community at about 10pm on Sunday before carrying out their evil act.
Modu said: “They invaded the village at about 10pm and set many houses and shops ablaze within a short time.
“They actually used some explosives and local petrol bombs to set the houses on fire.”
He said the invaders divided themselves into groups, with some attacking residents while others set fire on the houses.
Modu added: “We lost 18 people at the end of the attack.
“We also lost about 100 houses, shops and grain stores to the attack.”
Colonel Mohammad Dole, the spokesman for the 7 Division of Nigerian Army, confirmed the attack.
Dole said: “It is true the insurgents were sighted in that general area by the locals, but we do not have details of what they did yet.
“Our troops have gone there to confirm what happened.”

128 die in Plateau road accidents

The Federal Road Safety Commission in Jos, Plateau State on Sunday said 128 lives were lost in road accidents in the state in 2013.

The Sector Commander in the state, Sunday Maku, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Maku said the deaths were recorded in 325 accidents in the state during the period under review, adding that a total of 891 persons sustained injuries in the accidents.
He added that road accidents in the state increased in 2013 from the 2012 record of 238 cases, where 65 people died and 657 sustained injuries.
The sector commander said 4,934 traffic offenders were arrested in 2013 as against 4,802 arrested in 2012.
He attributed the increase in road accidents in the state in 2013 to motorists’ refusal to adhere to traffic regulations.
Maku said that cases of reckless driving, speeding, overloading were rampant during the period under review, noting that the state also recorded high influx of vehicles during the year.
He, however, assured residents of the state that the command would do its best to control the situation, saying it would intensify its enlightenment programmes through the Churches and Mosques.
“We will introduce a new approach to our campaigns against road accidents by visiting worship centres as against motor parks only,” he said.

Al Ahly board sacked, to be prosecuted

Egypt’s Minister of Sports and former Ahly legend, Taher Abou-Zeid, has sacked the entire Al Ahly board on Saturday.

“After nine years at the Al Ahly helm, Hassan Hamdy’s board has been sacked on Saturday,” the Egyptian Ministry of Sports announced.
According to a new law, a single board should not last for more than eight years.
The board, led by Hassan Hamdy, has been at the Red Castle since December 2004, which prompted Taher Abou-Zeid to sack them.
Things are about to get messy as Hassan Hamdy and his board are going to be taken to court as well.
The new Al Ahly board will feature former Ahly legends Adel Heikal and Taher El Sheikh as president and vice-president respectively and will also feature former captain and Egyptian international, Mostafa Younes.

Mide Martins denies breakup with husband

Mide, daughter of late movie queen, Funmi Martins, who married her heartthrob, Afeez Owo, some years back, woke up a few weeks ago to news running viral on social media that she has dumped her actor cum producer hubby.

Mide recently cleared the air that there is no truth in the news.
She said she is still in love with her hubby.
She had once said she fell in love with Afeez Owo, a man who hardly takes on lead roles in movies, because the diminutive man stood by her when she needed a shoulder to lean on.
Owo is described by colleagues as a cerebral producer even though the man is never to be seen taking on lead roles or even supporting lead roles.
He celebrated his 20th year in the movie industry last year.

Tukur to Obasanjo: Kashamu's issue not my making

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Saturday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo`s fatherly aura and experience in politics were still required by the party.

Tukur said this in reaction to a letter written to him and President Goodluck Jonathan, dated January 7, 2014, by Obasanjo.
Obasanjo had, in the letter, raised some issues related to the PDP in the country’s South West geopolitical zone.
The letter had also conveyed Obasanjo’s decision to withdraw from participating in the party`s politics at all levels.
Tukur said in the reply to Obasanjo: “It is an honour that you deemed it fit and proper to intimate me with an issue important to your mind and our party in the south-west zone.
“It is my wish and prayer that such cordial and positive relationship will continue.”
He stated that Obasanjo’s experiences as one of the party`s founding fathers were required in its drive to get stronger and become more formidable.
Tukur said the PDP had more pressing challenges, bordering most importantly on the coming Ekiti and Osun States’ governorship elections and the 2015 general election.
All these, he said, required strong inputs from the former president.
The PDP national chairman said continuous dialogue was needed for a stronger partnership among the party’s stakeholders.
He maintained that the need for PDP to reclaim lost grounds in the South West required the full support of party leaders like Obasanjo.
Tukur expressed gratitude to Obasanjo for his manner of approach and for presenting his grievances on issues in the PDP South West.
“I thank you for your gesture and I pray that we shall all continue to dialogue and partner, so we can move our party forward,” he said.
Tukur also said there was the need for PDP to attain success in the governorship elections coming up in Ekiti and Osun States and the subsequent elections in 2015.
This, according to him, was critical to reclaiming lost grounds in the South West zone of the country.
On issues raised by Obasonjo in the letter on the state of PDP in the South West, Tukur said the crisis within the PDP in the zone preceded his emergence as the party`s national chairman.
He insisted that the party`s National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee were never part of the problems in the South West PDP.
He said: “We came in when we were threatened with contempt of court charges for not obeying the court’s order to dissolve the south-west zonal executive and remove some officers of the party.
“We complied with the court orders because of our belief in the rule of law and to avoid consequences of disobeying such orders.”
Tukur’s letter reads in full:
“It is an honour that you deemed it fit and proper to intimate me with an issue important to your mind and our party in the South-west zone. It is my wish and prayer that such cordial and positive relationship will continue between your good self; former President and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great party on one hand, and my humble self, the National Chairman of our party on the other hand.
“Buruji Kasamu came to limelight in politics as a result of the role he played in the politics of Ogun state where both of you come from. He later became a rallying point in the South-west following the Courts’ Orders in the series of cases brought about as a result of disagreements among leaders of the party in the South-west, and Ogun State in particular.
“In my opinion, Buruji became a rallying point because of the absence of a zonal executive in the South-west. This vacuum in the South-west has made him the person to whom many members in all the chapters of the party in the zone approach for one form of assistance or the order.
“We came in when we were threatened with contempt of court charges for not obeying the court’s order to dissolve the South-west zonal executive and remove some officers of the party.
“We complied with the court’s orders because of our belief in the rule of law and to avoid consequences of disobeying such orders.”

I'm not a convict, Kashamu replies Obasanjo

Prominent businessman, Buruji Kashamu, has, again, faulted the position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his letter to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, announcing his withdrawal from the party until further notice.
Kashamu said contrary to the position of Obasanjo that he was a wanted criminal abroad, he was yet to be convicted on any case in the United States of America.
He said charges had only been preferred against him and that he had challenged the issue in court.
Kashamu, who was reacting to the letter Obasanjo wrote to Tukur that he could not be subject to the leadership of a known criminal in the South West chapter of the PDP, said the former President was only engaging in a wicked campaign of calumny and blackmail against him because he has lost political relevance in the politics of Ogun State and the South West.
His reaction reads in full:
“Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his latest cocktail of lies having sufficiently addressed the same issue in my response to his letter to the President only a few weeks ago. However, since he has shown that he is too embittered to be assuaged by that response, I am constrained to do another.
“First, it is now clear to all and sundry that why I have become the target of Obasanjo’s wicked campaign of calumny and blackmail is his perceived loss of political relevance in Ogun State and the South West.
“In his 18-page satanic letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, I was the other person – indeed the only one (after the President) – that he singled out for his venomous attack. But if the truth be told, I am not the architect of whatever political woes that he is suffering today. Like David, I am just a tool in the hands of the almighty Allah Subhana wa tala. I am too small to confront a Goliath like him but for the almighty Allah who is the supporter of the suppressed and oppressed.
“In his usual hypocritical manner, he talked about not being able to work with me because of his principles and decency. But the questions Nigerians should ask him are: where were these principles when he used me to fight Gbenga Daniel? Where was his self-righteousness when I took the party structure from Daniel and handed it to Obasanjo? Where was his decency when he brought Gen. Adetunji Olurin to me and asked that I should roll my structure behind his governorship ambition? Where was his morality when he introduced me to South West PDP leaders like Engr. Segun Oni, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd) and a host of others?
“Where was his discipline when he hosted me severally in his Hilltop mansion, taking me into his bedroom and innermost recesses? Where was his decency when he accepted donations from me to his church and other concerns?  Where was his gumption when he mounted the rostrum to sing my praises, praying for me as he did in May 2010 during a reception for the former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye? I can go on and on!
“Let me state from the outset that contrary to Obasanjo’s claim, I am not the leader of the party in the South West. I am just one of the party’s foot soldiers in the zone and it is in that capacity that I am made the chairman  of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee for the party in the zone. It is indeed preposterous for anyone to call me the leader of the party in a zone that parades political juggernauts like Chief Olabode George, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Lekan Balogun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Teslim Folarin, Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo, Senator Clement Awoyelu, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Senator Bode Olajumoke and a host of others. All these leaders know me and can attest to the fact that I defer to them even when we disagree a times.
“Now, on the issue of my so-called indictment in the United States, I wish to state for the umpteenth time that there is NO request for my extradition for any offence whatsoever. I recall that in my earlier response to him, I have challenged him to produce the request for extradition, if there is any. Indeed, contrary to his lies that I am wanted in the United States for some offences, the purported and over-flogged case is that of mistaken identity, for which I had been tried and discharged after my innocence was established by the British courts. I am already in court in the US asking that the earlier accusation (NOT CONVICTION) against me be quashed. That process is ongoing.”

Jonathan not cause of PDP crisis - Olubolade

A politician and retired naval officer, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, is the Minister of Police Affairs. A very close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, Olubolade is of the opinion that President Goodluck Jonathan’s effort in transforming the Nigeria Police Force is yielding good results. He also speaks on why Jonathan should not be blamed for the Peoples Democratic Party crisis and the type of governor Ekiti State people want in 2014. Excerpts:

Would you say that you have really gotten the needed support from the President to effectively run the Police Affairs Ministry?

As far as the Ministry of Police Affairs is concerned, I have been at the helm of affairs for about two years now. We have the regular budget and the reform budgets targeted at making provisions for the Nigeria Police Force. The reform budget is used to boost professionalism in the Police, while the regular budget is mainly managed by the Inspector General of Police and the Police Management Team for capital and recurrent expenditures of the Police. In the last two years, a lot has been accomplished within the resources provided, particularly in the reform budget.

How?

The reform programme is used to enhance professionalism of the Police, by providing logistics and equipment, training, capacity building, community policing and welfare. I want to categorically state that Mr. President’s support has brought a lot of improvement to the Nigeria Police Force. At the moment, the zonal Assistant Inspectors-General and Police Commissioners of various state commands are giving accounts of their achievements within the year, regarding curbing crimes and criminalities in the society, in line with the accountability posture of Mr. President. We thank the populace for giving information to the Police to achieve this and I urge Nigerians to do more in the new year so that the police can serve the society better in 2014 and beyond.

Why the budget reform?

In the case of the reform budget, when it became clear that the releases to the ministry was dwindling as a result of the illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation, Mr. President gave a clear directive to the Vice President, who is the Chairman of the Interim Implementation Committee on Police Reform Programme, to find an alternative way of funding the reform programme. This singular initiative has brought about the needed solution to fund the reform programme. Governors keyed into the contribution of one per cent of federal allocation monthly to the programme. This is a major breakthrough for the Police. Also within the year, Mr. President gave various approvals to fund vital projects and programmes of the Police. It is through such approvals that the payment of acquired helicopters, Armoured Personnel Carriers, utility vehicles, arms and ammunition, including training of helicopter pilots and Special Forces, was made.

What is the state of Police educational institutions?

Mr. President most significantly approved the upgrading of the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano to a degree-awarding institution. The Academy will now function like the Nigerian Defence Academy of the military where professional officers will graduate to take charge of the rank and file of the Police. Similarly, the Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau State was given a face lift where renovation of some buildings and infrastructures, including roads, was carried out. Police Colleges and Training Schools are now receiving attention.

What is the government doing about the re-organisation of the Force?

A few months ago, the Commander-In-Chief constituted a Presidential Committee to re-organise the Nigeria Police Force as part of the transformation agenda of this administration. Another committee was set up for the establishment of a forensic and DNA facility for the Nigeria Police. I chaired the committee. The reports of these committees have been submitted for consideration. One important project that I must not fail to mention is the National Security Public Communication System, which comprises of video conferencing and surveillance equipment and the GOTA system used for communication. The NSPCS have cameras that are fitted in Lagos and Abuja at the moment and will also cover other states of the federation later. The project, which has been on-going, is now operational. These achievements made, as a result of the support of Mr. President, have gone a long way in transforming the Nigeria Police.

Judging from the various supports, as highlighted by you, that the Police must have enjoyed under the present administration, would you say that these have motivated officers and men of the Nigerian Police to be on top of their game in the areas of fighting kidnapping, criminalities and terrorism?

Certainly, if you don’t invest, you get nothing. If you do, there is the likelihood of a tangible result. Mr. President has invested in the Police, we have gotten results in terms of faster response and alertness. Things are changing for the better from available records.

How do you mean?

It is common knowledge that population increase in Nigeria is high and yet we cannot continue to increase the number of police officers and men for policing because the wage will be too high. But by giving quality training and provision of intelligent apparatus to the police, manpower reduction is achievable. We have realised that it is only through continuous training that we can build confidence in the Police to fight crime but the Police needs to partner with the community to assist in intelligence gathering.

When is the setting aside of one per cent of federal allocation to the Nigeria Police taking off?

It is going to take off this January because all the arrangements have been put in place to address inadequate funding of the NPF. Governors will now embrace the reform programme properly as the Chief Security Officers of their states. This will hopefully limit the clamour for State Police.
The introduction of the one per cent of Revenue Allocation will assist to fund the Reform Programme by providing more logistics, equipment, welfare and training, among others.

Nigerians will like to know the problem with the Police carrying out its function effectively. Could it be said that the budgetary allocations for the Force are inadequate or that they are being misappropriated?

At the beginning of this interview, I talked about the need to fund the Police. I am not sure whether funding can be adequate because of other compelling needs in other sectors of government. However, Mr. President has shown the way to improve funding when he noticed the insufficiency. From my experience as a former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, I have realised that the key to our progress as a nation is to prudently utilise available resources that are meant for the people or organisation, before asking for more funds. Secondly, every effort must be made to show leadership by driving the implementation of projects and programmes to a logical conclusion.

What is the relationship between the Force and the Ministry?

In the Ministry of Police Affairs, we are guided by the need of the Police because they are the end users. The interest of the Police is, therefore, paramount in all our considerations and, therefore, the issue of misappropriation is avoided.

As a politician and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, what do you make of the lingering crisis in your party and the birth of a supposedly strong political opposition, the All Progressives Congress?

I must let you know that President Jonathan is not the cause of the crisis in the PDP. The birth of a baby, the APC, should not be a problem because they will still have to manage different interests of various characters in their party before facing the PDP. The unity of the PDP is our focus. The crisis in PDP will be managed and solved. The crisis will become history very soon. I can only appeal to all political leaders, religious leaders and traditional leaders to respect our elected President in the interest of our country. We must think of the implication of our actions at all times to guarantee peace, unity and progress. The international community will accord us more respect.

The governorship election in Ekiti State is holding this year. As a stakeholder in the state, what qualities or attributes would you expect the man that would be emerging as the next governor to have?

Firstly, the man that would govern Ekiti State this time around should be a grassroots person who understands the workings of the state, its people and what their needs are. He must be the listening type who appreciates the peculiarities of the state. He must know the people well and must avoid deceiving his people with unfulfilled promises. He must be a realistic person. The incoming governor of Ekiti State must make sure that he does not plunge the state into debts, by taking loans that he would not be able to repay during his tenure. The next governor of Ekiti State should be a decent, enlightened, experienced and hardworking personality that can work under pressure to achieve tangible results for all to see. He must have a track record of transparency from previous engagements, and office held. He should not be a newcomer who will be learning from first principle, but an experienced, amiable and firm personality. The next governor must not only win the election, he must be an achiever, an intellect, a performer, a respecter of tradition and culture and a man of vision with a mind set to quickly transform the state. It will be an added advantage if he has the requisite skill to do so in collaboration with local and foreign partners.

US declares 16 states in Nigeria unsafe

The United States of America has revised its travel alert on Nigeria, warning its citizens against travelling to 16 states in the country, including Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The three North Eastern states have been under emergency rule after a presidential declaration on May 14, 2013, aimed at restoring safety and security due to insurgent activities in the area.
The revised alert released by the State Department and dated January 8, 2014, advised US citizens to avoid all but essential travels to Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe and Jigawa States.
The other states on the list, which the US said are prone to kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Imo and Rivers States, which were in an earlier list issued in June 2013, are not on the latest travel alert list.
The US described the security situation in Nigeria as “fluid and unpredictable”, warning against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy.
It also advised all US citizens to be particularly vigilant around government security facilities, “places of worship and locations where large crowds may gather”.
The statement added: “Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups.
“Boko Haram, an extremist group based in northeast Nigeria designated as a Foreign Terrorist organisation by the Department of State, has claimed responsibility for many attacks, mainly in northern Nigeria.”
According to the State Department, the Ansaru group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, has carried out several kidnappings targeting foreigners in Nigeria.
It noted that the group also claimed responsibility for other violent acts in the past year.

Apo killing: SSS testifies before NHRC

The Department of State Security on Tuesday gave public testimony with regard to the September 2013 Apo killing, through a 16-year-old suspect held in its custody.

The suspect, popularly called engineer, testified on oath at the uncompleted building in Apo when members of the National Human Rights Commission panel of investigation visited the premises.
He attested to the fact that security agents raided the uncompleted building following a tip off.
The suspect added that the security agents only started shooting when fire was opened on them from the uncompleted building on the day of the raid.
He said: “On the day of the raid, I arrived at the venue with security agents with the intention of arresting Suleiman and other members of the group but unknown to us, Suleiman had noticed our presence and he opened fire on the security agents.
“Suleiman sleeps here sometimes with some of the members and they go out every Friday and Saturday with three of the members, one Ibrahim from Maiduguri, Sada from Katsina and one Abubakar.”
According to the witness, Suleiman, who sometimes sleeps in the building with some members, buried weapons within the vicinity.
The suspect, who hails from Katsina State, however, added that the weapons could not be recovered when he led the team to the area.
He said that he led a team of security agents to the building after he was arrested at a mosque in Garki, Abuja, alongside one Kamal on September 18, 2013.
The suspect, who was an auto rickshaw (Keke NAPEP) rider, said he met Suleiman, a taxi driver, also known as R Kelly, who introduced him to the group in 2013.
He said the group, which was made up of 12 people, including him, often met at the building to discuss how to attack.
The suspect added that the group, which was often in possession of arms and ammunition, had planned to attack before they were raided on September 20, 2013.
The witness said: “Suleiman told me that the meeting was meant to protect Islam and I agreed to join.
“At the meetings, we discussed on how to defend our religion through war and at a point in time Suleiman showed me four AK 47 and a pistol.
“Suleiman told me that he had someone in Maiduguri who would help in fighting the war against government but that the group in Abuja would start its operation before then.
“He, however, warned that I should under no circumstances tell anybody about the meeting or else I would be in trouble.
“Because of this, I was afraid and decided to keep quiet about it.”
The suspect further testified that members had special Globacom numbers, with which they communicated, adding that he was warned not to call indiscriminately with the number.
He added: “On the day I was arrested, I was traced to a mosque in Garki II where I was praying around 1pm by security agents.
“Suleiman gave me a sim card but warned that I should not give the number to anybody.”
He said before he became a member of the group, Suleiman engaged him in transporting members of the group to the building.
He said that upon negotiation, he agreed to collect N5,000 per week, given the fact that he had to convey the people to the venue.
The suspect, who attested to the fact that he could identify the people, said he usually conveyed them to the venue around 8pm three times a week for meeting, which often lasted till 11pm.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, said investigation would be completed within one week and that a decision would be arrived at by February.
Angwe gave assurance that there would be a public hearing to that effect to give Nigerians firsthand information on the outcome of the investigation.
He said: “Today, we are at the site to confirm the premises and to take testimonies of the people involved in the operation.
“We are hoping to round up this week and before the end of February the commission will take a decision and it will be made public.
“We are not conducting anything in secret.
“The DSS made representation and brought one of their witnesses here, who has given evidence publicly.”
Members of the panel of investigation inspected security materials at the DSS headquarters.
It will reconvene on Wednesday to continue with its investigation.

Woman slumps, dies in Governor Aliyu's office

A woman, identified as Hajiya Bilkisu Mahmoud, on Monday slumped and died after waiting for several hours in the office of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The 46-year-old woman was said to have waited several hours to see the governor but suddenly slumped three minutes after she was ushered into the governor’s office.
Mahmoud was immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Minna, with a Government House ambulance.
Doctors at the hospital confirmed her dead on arrival.
The late Mahmoud was a former Staff Officer to the Niger State Deputy Governor.
She was said to be suffering from asthma.
According to sources close to the Government House, Minna, Mahmoud was on a private visit to Aliyu as her name was not among the names on the protocol list to see the governor.
Mahmoud, a mother of three, retired from the state Civil Service three years ago and until her death was a staff of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
There had been no official statement from the government as at the time of filling this report but the governor was said to have hurriedly left his office after the incident.

Rivers bombing: PDP, APC trade words

The Rivers State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress on Monday engaged themselves in verbal war over the bombing of the High Court in Ahoada on Monday.

Both parties blamed the other for the bombing, which threw the country’s political space into chaos once again.
While the PDP put the blame for the bombing at the doorsteps of the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the APC said it was a totally misplaced direction in which to look, as it accused chieftains of the PDPincluding the Supervising Minister for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, of being behind it.
In a statement on Monday, Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser on Media to the state Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, accused Amaechi of being the mastermind of the bombing of the court house.
The party said: “The case that temporarily restrains Hon. Evans Bipi from parading himself as Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly was to come up today at the Ahoada high Court.
“Our team of Lawyers made up of over 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria from Abuja and Lagos arrived the Ahoada High Court this morning to argue for the vacation of the interim order, and saw the senseless and barbaric destruction of the Court.
“The PDP makes bold to suspect that the reported bombing was carried out by agents of the Rivers State Government to prevent the court from sitting, so that the court would not be able to vacate the interim order made by the Ahoada High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Charles Wali, who has turned his court to a ministerial department of the Rivers State Governor’s office to issue all manners of orders, injunctions and judgements in favour of his paymaster, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and subvert the course of justice.
“Their aim also of bombing the Ahoada High Court is to further create a state of insecurity in Rivers State, to justify their continuous call for the removal of the State Commissioner of Police.
“The PDP wishes to remind Rotimi Amaechi and his agents of darkness that the interim Order issued by Justice Charles Wali of the Ahoada High Court lasted for only seven (7) days, and it had since expired.
“Therefore, bombing the Court to prevent it from sitting was a wasted, wicked, callous and shameful exercise by agents of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
”The PDP condemns Rotimi Amaechi’s desperation for power and assures that Amaechi would be held responsible for any break down of law and order in Rivers State.
“PDP urges Rivers people to remain calm and continue to pray for an end to Rotimi Amaechi’s government that has brought so much pains, shame and disgrace to a people he swore to govern.”
In a counter statement, the APC described as very unfortunate and sad the bomb explosion.
It blamed those it tagged undemocratic elements for the bombing.
A statement by the party, signed by Chief Eze chukwuemeka Eze, alleged that those who perpetrated the heinous act may not be far from those who are not comfortable with the ruling of Wali December 16, 2013, barring Bipi, the leader of the G6 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, from parading himself as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The statement reads: “It is on record that the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party sponsored by Chief Nyesom Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, has over the time condemned this ruling of the Ahoada East High Court because it threw a spanner in its plot to use
the rebel lawmakers led by Bipi to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in a House of 32 members. But the question we need to ask is, does the bombing of this court make Hon Bipi the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly? One would have expected this group of misfits to challenge the ruling of the High Court at Ahaoda East in a higher court instead of sponsoring this act that exposes them as agents of violence.
“The record exposing the agenda of this misguided group for Rivers State and her people as violence prone was exhibited few days ago when security agencies in Rivers State caught six youths with various sophisticated and dangerous arms at Ogu the home town of Senator Sekibo and Hon Bipi. The suspects have been linked to Senator George Sekibo and Hon. Evans Bipi, both chieftains of the state chapter of the PDP led by Chief Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, whose determination to destabilise the administration of Governor Amaechi is well known to all and sundry.
“The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress under the leadership of Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya strongly condemns this desperation by the PDP to turn Rivers State into a theatre of violence. Nigeria already has enough trouble to contend with! Dr. Ikanya therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan to use his good offices to call PDP Leadership in Rivers State to order before they plunge Rivers State into a monumental and unprecedented chaos that will disrupt our hard democracy
“Dr Ikanya further states that it is most unfortunate if the report we read in today’s Daily Independent is true that our mother and sister the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Patience Jonathan has ordered the Police Commissioner CP Joseph Mbu to release the six alleged youths that were caught with these illegal arms and that the arms should be also be released to the youths as well.
“Though we know that CP Mbu knowing very well the implication of carrying out such an unfortunate instruction if it is true will have both on the security and lives of Rivers State and her people and the perception of the International Community on our country unless it is proven that we now operate a lawless society. we expect him for the interest of Rivers State and the image of our dear country not only arraign these youths been used by these misguided politicians to terrorise innocent people of Rivers State before a competent court but ensure that those behind them are brought to book accordingly.
“All these notwithstanding, for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that this act of hooliganism and terrorism will not do Rivers State and its citizens any good. We therefore urge the security organs not to treat this issue with kid’s glove but with all amount of seriousness unearth those behind this wicked act as God will not allow these enemies of democracy to turn Rivers State into a war zone.
“Rivers State people based on the wicked acts of the PDP led Federal Government against Rivers State and her people have rejected PDP and they should accept their self-inflicted woes and allow peace to reign in the State!
“We are aware that the present PDP in Rivers State under Chief Wike is violence prone but we wish to reiterate that no amount of violence and intimidation will cause us to surrender the mandate freely given to us by the Rivers State people to a group that have demonstrated total disdain to democratic principles!.
“On behalf of Rivers APC, Dr. Ikanya wishes to plead with the good people of Rivers State not to despair but join Governor Amaechi to fight these misguided elements who have vowed to stop at nothing to bring the state to its knees just because of their personal differences with Governor Amaechi.”

Widows of police officers killed by Boko Haram beg for jobs

Some wives and children of policemen killed by Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday appealed to the government and the Nigerian Police to provide them with vocational training and jobs.

The widows and other members of their families made the appeal in Kaduna during the distribution of bags of rice, vegetable oil and a cow by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.
Margaret Ishaya, the wife of one of the deceased officers, said the widows were ready to accept job as cleaners.
Ishaya said that it would go a long way to enable them fend for their families and appealed to the police authorities to consider members of their families during recruitment.
The wife of late Inspector Sunday Badeh, who died in the process of detonating a bomb, urged the police to fast track the payment of benefits to the affected families.
Badeh, however, commended the support from the police authorities following the demise of her husband.
Also speaking, the widow of Sergeant Yakubu Musa, who was killed on April 18, 2012 at Rigasa, said some of them needed jobs to have a steady income.
Abubakar assured the widows and other families of deceased officers of the Police continuous support for them.
Abubakar, represented by the Commissioner of Police, Welfare, Usman Yakubu, said the distribution of food items was aimed at alleviating the hardship the families of the deceased officers were facing.
Abubakar said that the police had so far distributed food items to families of deceased and injured officers affected by the insurgency in 10 states.
“Though they have paid the supreme price so that Nigeria and Nigerians can live in peace, you will continue to be regarded as active members of the Nigeria police family,” he said.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Adenaike, said that the command recently distributed N10,000 each to families of the 29 policemen killed between 2011 and 2013.
Adenaike said that the effort was aimed at providing them with succour during the yuletide and New Year.

Two die in road accident in Benue

Two persons died in a motor accident that occurred on Friday in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State

Daniel Ezeala, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Saturday.
The PPRO said that the accident occurred when a lorry conveying members of the NKST Church, travelling from Ukum to Makurdi, fell off the road after hitting another vehicle, killing two persons with others sustaining injuries.
“The vehicle, which tried to avoid a speed bump, ran into another vehicle in front, thereby causing it to fall into a ditch, which resulted into the death of the two passengers,’’ he said.
Ezeala said that the passengers were travelling for a conference of the NKST Church in Makurdi,
He said that the injured passengers were currently receiving treatment at the Wannune General Hospital, while the two corpses had been deposited in the hospital’s morgue. (NAN)

Nollywood Actress, Afrocandy Releases Porn Movie

Nigeria’s X-rated singer, producer as well as major act in the much talked about Nollywood movie, Destructive Instinct, Judith Mazagwu, popularly known as Afrocandy, has announced the release of the movie into the Nigerian market describing it as “the bomb.”

Thousands of Nigerians have been looking forward to the full length movie which has four parts after the first two parts of the movie were released online since last year.

They contained adult scenes mostly seen in porn movies. There is a scene where Afrocandy, fully naked, performed blow job on one of the actors in the movie with the actor’s penis fully shown.

It also shows different scenes of the actor, an unpopular face within the Nollywood industry, fondling and sucking Afrocandy’s breasts while having sex with her.

In another scene, Afrocandy, who also played the role of an occultist, stood before a mirror starkly naked and performs some rituals on her bare breasts, pulling the nipples with her hands and chanting incantations.

The actress, who has now launched a website to scout for young men and women, especially from Nigeria, who could be courageous enough to act in porn movies, said the movie can now be found at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos..

Announcing this through her Twitter handle, she told thousands of her excited fans that circulation of the movie to retailers would begin once the distributors at the Alaba International Market resume from the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Alaba Market will resume distribution of my movie once de holidays are over,” she said without mentioning the distributors.

There had been serious battle among the marketers for rights to distribute the movie. This may have accounted for her refusal to mention the eventual winners of the contract.

To further excite her expectant fans, she posted a lengthier part of the first two parts of the movie while urging them to buy the full length of movie recorded on DVD.

“This is a continuation of Destructive Instinct and the whole parts are sold as a pack of 4 parts. So you must buy all to get the whole picture,” the US-based Nigerian-born actress from Owerri, Imo state and mother of two, said of the movie she directed with Theo Afe.

The movie also came with a lot of controversies while it was being shot. One of the actors who was stark nakedness in the movie, later came out to announce that he was pulling out. He also asked that his roles be deleted, a demand Afrocandy opposed, saying she secured an agreement from the actor before shooting with him.

Judith also announced a campaign for men who wanted roles in the movie and other adult movies in the future to send pictures of their penis with their pubic hair shaved.

She extended invitation to some Nollywood bad girls including Cossy Orjiakor, Anita Joseph, Uche Ogbodo and a housemate in one of the Big Brother (The Chase), Beverly Osu. It is not known yet if these actresses later accepted her offer which they rejected earlier.

Afrocandy, who had featured in many movies such as Dangerous Sisters acting along with Dakore Egbuson, Genevieve Nnaji, Tony Umez, Alex Usifo, Tina Amuziam and others, however often argues that she is into soft pornography as against hardcore.

“I, Afrocandy, solemnly want to clear the air here and now that I do not act porn movies, never acted in any porn movie and I am not a porn star. I act in regular movies, not afraid to go naked but that doesn’t make one a porn star. I am a boss and I know where I invest my money.

“…What I do is not different from what the soft porn Hollywood does, (that is) regular movies with some nudity, but because Nigerians are so backward they term it porn,” she recently said in an interview.

Her marriage crashed two years after she joined her husband in the United States.

Thrills And Frills Of 2013 Calabar Carnival

YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE CALABAR CARNIVAL SEEMS TO BLOSSOM WITH EVERY EDITION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2004, IT HAS GONE PAST BECOMING ONE OF AFRICA’S MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS TO ONE WITH STRONG ECONOMIC VALUES AND POTENTIALS. OMOLOLA ITAYEMI WHO WAS PART OF THIS YEAR’S CARNIVAL WRITES ON THE ALLURE OF THE 2013 CALABAR CARNIVAL

On 27 December, the 12-kilometre route starting from the muster point of the Millennium Park in Calabar through Mary Slessor – Marian Road – Efio Ette Junction – MCC Road to the U. J. Esuene Stadium was a beehive of activities. The event was the adult carnival of 2013 Calabar Carnival. And for almost 18 hours, there was no stopping the thousands of fun seekers on this corridor. Hundreds of thousands of people engaged in one activity or the other – dancing and singing – with other people watching, buying and selling.

As the city of Calabar came to a standstill with offices and business premise under lock and key; hot hues of colour, exotic and stage-like costumes, sequins, music and choreography unseen in this part of the world took over. Welcome to what is reputed to be Africa’s biggest street party.

The adult carnival, however, was just a climax of the one-month event for residents and tourists every year-end. This year’s event like the previous ones featured cultural and musical shows, freestyle parade, international heritage parade, children carnival and beauty pageant. Other top events include Christmas carols from both local and international bands, performances from the Rwandan band, the Governor’s Ball and others, a further testament to Calabar’s sobriquet as the emerging entertaining capital of Nigeria.

The high point of the carnival was the various bands interpreting the carnival theme in their floats, dance and songs and performance by Kcee of Limpopo fame.

These bands - Bayside, Passion4, Masta Blasta, Seagull and Freedom - translated, interpreted and conceptualized the carnival theme into dance, costumes and floats in the spirit of the carnival.

Calabar lived up to its reputation as one of the cleanest cities in Nigeria during the festival as attested to by participants who couldn’t contain their disbelief on sighting  immediate evacuation of refuse.

The Bands of Parade...

The five bands left no stone unturned in interpreting the theme of the carnival. Creativity, acrobatics display and illusion were employed in no small measure as they competed for the star prize of N10 million.

After the road show, the revelry continued at the stadium. From Bayside Band (the first to perform) to Masta Blasta, the audience were captivated. Former governor, Donald Duke and wife, Onari (patrons) ushered in the Bayside Band dressed in electric blue and silver on bike (who performed for the first time since he left office). An avid biker, they kept the audience excited as they gave deft bikers stunt.

Freedom Band followed with their Illumantes (illumination of the mind) theme which encompassed great acrobatic displays and float designs that captivated the audience.

Passion4 was all about Pan Africanism and it showed in its Fela and Wole Soyinka-like group of choreographers. Costumes reminiscent of ancient zulu warriors, Akabaulam of Egypt and Mousa Mousa of Mali.

Seagull Band made good use of colour, style and creativity. Exotic floats and good use of Nollywood actors. Actor Emeka Enyiocha was the king of the band. Other Nollywood actors such as Osuofia, Mr Ibu, Fred Amata, Funke Akindele stepped out with Senator Florence Ita-Giwa (the patron) and the audience exploded.

Lastly, Masta Blasta, the current champions didn’t take it for granted that they were winners. With their olives and doves themes, magic, fantasy and illusion were the order of the day. Obioma Liyel-Imoke dressed in the American seal-like military uniform with her team members that included Omoni Oboli, Ini Edo, Oge Okoye, Shan George. OC Ukeje and others gave a brilliant dance.

And Nollywood Came...

A far departure from the past, Carnival Calabar invested in Nollywood stars and the crowd went berserk. From the road show to the performance at the stadium, Nollywood stars were definitely the audience favourite.

Masta Blasta Again...

Masta Blasta, the largest and most populated band won the N10 million prize, Passion4 came second and Seagull came third. This is Masta Blasta’s second time winning in a row.

Carnival Rebirth…

Though Carnival Calabar is not the first carnival in Nigeria, it has become the most popular, giving rise to the birth and rebirth of carnivals all over the country. From the ancient city of Lagos where Fanti Carnival provided succor and entertainment for the slave returnees decades ago to the city of Port Harcourt with RIVIFEST in 1988, carnivals have been a part and parcel of our culture.

The Calabar Carnival has gone a long way since its inception in 2004, when the then governor, Donald Duke had a vision of making the state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigerian and in Africa. The Carnival also presents a perfect platform for brand visibility and market awareness.

Calabar Carnival is a unique display of African heritage, showcased through music, dance, drama and visual creativity, which is reflected in the design of floats, costumes and make up. Since inception, this festival, which has become one of the biggest tourism and leisure attractions in West Africa, has grown tremendously in popularity and scope.

Over the past years, the Cross River State Government has used this carnival to drive its tourism sector and provide exposure for its citizens, as well as develop its vast tourism sites and infrastructure such as the Obudu Ranch Resort, the Tinapa Business Resort and Marina Resort.

Economic Booster…

Carnival Calabar was conceptualized nine years ago and it is still going strong with almost all the hotels in the city booked to the hilt and residents leasing out their homes and vehicles for extra cash during this season. This is definitely one festival with economic value. Restaurants and other entertainment holes are not left out as they are all smiling to the banks. So fully booked were major airlines plying this route that travelers had to fly in through Uyo International Airport and brave the over one-hour journey to Calabar.

Travel and tourism generates jobs through companies/agencies directly involved in the business and in related supplier industries such as retail, construction, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors of the economy and all these came into fore in Calabar. The five bands had in their employ fashion designers, make-up artists, hair dressers, ushers and professional choreographers who helped get the participants in top gear. Kaffy, one of Nigeria’s top choreographers was in town to help perfect Masta Blasta’s dancing and choreography. Nikky Khiran, another top Lagos-based designer was in town to help with costumes.

With each band guarding their designs and other props, its hard to deduce which designer or choreographer worked with who, well except for Kaffy, despite being heavily pregnant walked along with other members and partners of Masta Blasta band.

Community participation (which can mean a level of control, ownership or influence) in a tourism initiative appears to be closely linked to the derivation of livelihood and other benefits from the initiative to the same people. Such was evident with a large number of the local population of food vendors, hawkers of assorted drinks selling along the 12 kilometers stretch where soft drinks peaked at 50% increase from N100 to N150 per bottle. Both residents and guests took out time to cool off from the hot blistering heat to eat, drink or just relax. Photographers snapped and printed pictures at the rate of N200 to N400 per copy depending on what was taken.

Hawkers of memorabilia and band members were not left out as they smiled to the bank. Slim, dark-skinned and tall Justice, a 300 level Computer Science undergraduate of the Cross River state university said she was paid N20,000 to participate in the carnival. While it took others two weeks to rehearse, the 4th time participant who is resident in Calabar (she won’t be returning next year) said she got her dance routine in just one week. According to Justice, costumes cost up to N300,000 per person and have to be returned after the carnival. When we asked if there is any special criteria for picking participants, she said, ‘’one just needs to be fit, confident and enjoy dancing.’’

According to Gab Onar, the DG of the Calabar Carnival Commission, “What makes Carnival Calabar tick is the warmth and welcoming smile of our people. But above all, what stands our carnival out is the dance and choreography segment, which is not common in other carnivals.

The crowd appeal and opportunities open to sponsors along the territory of performance make it a unique avenue and domain for merchandising goods and services. And lastly, it’s a place to let your hair down and dance.’’

The 2013 carnival commenced with a tree lighting ceremony on November 30 at the Millennium Park, Calabar and ended with a thanksgiving ceremony on January 1.