Brazilian Man Buries His Bentley To Use In Afterlife

He has all the riches he could ever dream for in this life. But to avoid any risk of missing out in the afterlife, wealthy entrepreneur 'Count Scarpa' is burying his greatest treasure - his new £310,000 Bentley convertible.

In a bizarre announcement on his Facebook page the 62-year-old declared that he plans to do as the Pharaohs of Egypt did and take his riches with him when he dies by burying them.

So tomorrow, he will entomb his brand new Bentley Continental worth over £310,000 to make sure he has a comfortable journey into the ‘other side’. The funeral ceremony, he promises, will be at 11am.

In a photo on his social network site Count Scarpa stands beside his black Flying Spur, the latest model on the market, with a cockatoo on his arm and writes: 'I decided to do as the Pharaohs: this week I will bury my favourite car, the Bentley here in the home garden! Bury my treasure in my palace rssss !!!'

He says he’s digging the grave in the back garden of his mansion in Jardins, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Sao Paulo.

On Tuesday, in another photo, sporting a pink tie, with his foot on a shovel, he stands in front of a deep hole with his shining Bentley parked behind him and warns: 'For those who doubt me, yesterday I already started making the hole in the garden to bury my Bentley! By the end of the week I will bury it'

The self-made businessman, who has a degree in economics and is a black belt instructor and owner of the Institute Maruyama Aikido, a Japanese martial arts academy, explains that his decision to start storing up his treasures for the life beyond came after watching a programme on Ancient Egypt on Sunday.

'I was watching a documentary about the pharaohs of Egypt, very interesting. They buried his entire fortune to have a comfortable life "the other side"!' he says.

Buhari Threatens To Quit Apc Over National Publicity Secretary Position

Nigerian former Head of state and APC stalwart, General Mohammed Buhari is facing another test of his political career as the All Progressive Congress; APC now remains divided over his nomination of Rotimi Fashakin as the party’s new Publicity secretary.

Speculations are now rife that contrary to the wish of other members of the party that, Lai Mohammed deserves to remain in the said position, Buhari is of the opinion that Fashakin ho was the Publicity secretary under his defunct CPC takes over from Lai Mohammed who is now the interim National Publicity Secretary of the party.

It would be recalled that the interim national Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande has been agreeing and disagreeing with Buhari over several party matters, especially with regards to the ideological differences noticed after the merger. The former leader was stopped from answering questions directed to him by the press on several occasions by Akande, all in an attempt to regulate his superiority in the party.

An inside source has revealed to DailyPost political correspondent that even though, a convention to elect the party’s National Working Committee has not been held yet, Buhari has requested that Fashakin one of his foot soldiers be considered for the position of the party’s National publicity secretary, a request that is said to be opposed by the Tinubu group who sees Lai mohammed as most suitable for the sensitive position .This scenario appears to have unsettled the party as Buhari’s loyalists insist that Lai should conceal the position to CPC group.

Buhari, whose hope of becoming the party’s flag bearer is almost dashed, as the party has resolved to pick a younger person from the North, is asking that his trusted ally, Fashakin be considered for the position, or he pulls out of the party as the request was the first major one he had made since the merger became successful.

The source had further revealed that the party leadership has already arrived at an agreement to retain the service of Lai Mohammed, whom most of them have said was brilliant enough for the job, but Buhari argued that Fashakin was as good as Lai, hence his interest must also be regarded if he must give up his ambition for a younger person, come 2015.

Our checks have revealed that the disagreement over the Publicity Secretary position has created different tents in the party, as most of the party leaders from the Southwest are beginning to doubt Buhari’s sincerity towards keeping to the terms of their initial agreement.

However, both Lai and Fashakin have refuted the rumour, asserting that there is no such in-fight in the fold of the APC. Speaking with our content Editor, Adoyi Ali, the APC media officer who pleaded anonymity said ‘’Buhari himself wrote a letter commending Lai Mohammed’s handling of the defunct A C N publicity , urging him to continue as the publicity secretary for the APC. I would have shown you a copy of the letter if not that my office is locked, so there is no disagreement over the position of the interim national publicity secretary of the party because the position was zoned to the defunct A C N”

While speaking with Engr. Fashakin on the phone in confirmation of the story, he said ‘’ Me, I don’t know. I don’t know anything about that at all. That is a rumour to me. My brother, it’s all rumour. There is no truth to it.’’

Your Thoughts On D'banj's "Top Of The World" Music Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFzEEETG4VU

The video doesn't give u the "goosebumps" it ought to but it's still pretty decent and brings back memories of the triumphant Super Eagles.

You can download the song and video here - http://www.360nobs.com/2013/09/video-premiere-dbanj-top-of-the-world/



Your thoughts?

The List Of Tecno Phones That Would Have BBM

Yes, Tecno phones are not left out. BBM would be available on Tecno phones from September 21st (tomorrow) via Google Play. The BBM app would be available for tecno phones that run Android 4.0 and above. See the list below;

Tecno Phantom A2
Tecno Phantom A+
Tecno Phantom A
Tecno D1
Tecno Q1
Tecno M3
Tecno L3
Tecno D5
Tecno N7

19 killed in Owerri autocrash

A morbid spectacle played out yesterday along the ever busy Owerri-Aba federal highway as no fewer than 19 persons lost their lives in a ghastly road traffic crash.

Vanguard investigations revealed that that the two vehicles in the crash, a commuter bus and a Nissan Xstra, were moving in opposite directions.

While the commuter bus, which loaded in Owerri, was heading to Aba, it was not clear where the Nissan vehicle was coming from or heading to as at press time.

An eye witness account, which had it that the crash occurred at about noon yesterday, between Umuowa and Ihitte, Ngor Okpalaeke local council area of Imo State.

According to the badly shaken woman, all the 19 passengers, including the bus driver and conductor, died on the spot, but the Nissan driver survived the crash

“The only survivor, a pregnant woman that had her two legs chopped off, was bleeding profusely. Her fate obviously hung in the balance. She was in a very critical situation and I pray God will see her through the ordeal”, a woman said amidst sobs.

On what led to the crash, most of the sympathizers were of the opinion that the two vehicles were on top speed and eventually ran into each other while trying to avoid a pothole along the road.

As at the time Vanguard visited the scene of the crash, the remains of the accident victims had been moved to an undisclosed morgue by officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.

PDP crises divide Jonathan’s loyalists

The crises in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the resulting spill over into the National Assembly have led to a sharp division among loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan over how to contain the political insurrection.

This was even as Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu has confirmed that more governors were ready to join the G-7 Governors when the alarm was finally blown.

Aliyu spoke when members of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation paid him a courtesy visit in his residence in Minna yesterday, adding that their identities would be known at the appropriate time.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has meanwhile fixed September 30, to continue hearing on a suit seeking to stop the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje led faction of the party from operating in the country.

The PDP however, yesterday lampooned the new PDP as well as the G-7 governors, saying it was not in anyway afraid of them.

The National Publicity Secretary, of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh who spoke to newsmen noted that the party was only treading the path of caution because of its respect for the agreement reached between President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors of Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Rivers, Kano, Kwara and Jigawa states, calling for a truce, pointing out that it had endured enough of what it termed the macabre dance from its estranged members.

The Baraje led faction of the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, on its part also raised an alarm over alleged moves by the presidency to engage in massive bribing of members of the National Assembly, NASS, and asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call his men to order in order not to plunge the country into ‘’avoidable chaos.’’
According to the nPDP, the presidency should also stop the moves to bribe NASS members so as not to portray his administration as promoting corruption to the high heavens.

However, on the division in the presidency, it was learnt that while some elements led by two powerful female ministers and some presidential aides have erected a parallel structure outside the National Assembly leadership for engaging the legislators, some others also in the presidency are pulling back from that direction warning that it could boomerang to hurt the presidency.

The decision to identify alternative legislators outside the recognised leadership, it was learnt, is already breeding tension between the presidency and the leadership of the two houses. The situation is said to be especially grave in the House of Representatives where the deputy speaker, Chief Emeka Ihedioha is said to have been left sour with the determination of the presidential aides to sidestep the House leadership in resolving the problems caused by the emergence of the nPDP in the House.

Ihedioha had in the past bent backwards to accommodate the interests of the presidency and the PDP, but is now according to sources “seriously unhappy” after the power bloc in the presidency picked Rep. Bethel Amadi, also from ImoState as the contact man of the presidency.

Reflective of the development was the power show on Wednesday and Thursday on the floor of the House of Representatives when members supportive of the Kawu Baraje faction of the PDP teamed up with opposition legislators to frustrate the presentation of all bills forwarded to the legislature by the president or supported by members of the PDP loyal to the president. It took the shrewd intervention of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to rescue a bill to amend the bill establishing the National Communications Commission from premature death by stepping it down instead of allowing it go for consideration and assured death.

Besides the situation in the House of Representatives, the decision of the powerful caucus in the presidential villa to also prop up Gen. Lawrence Onoja as a potential domestic rival to the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark in Benue State, is already leading to concerns that the Senate leadership could decide like that of the House to be radicalised.

The decision of the Senate President to receive Baraje earlier this week was given as an indication of the growing unease between the Senate leadership and the presidential villa.

The two power blocs in the presidency it was learnt were divided over how to approach the crisis. While one group powered by the two influential female ministers was said to have inclined itself towards creating an alternative channels among floor members to boost support for the presidency, the other group still within the presidency is said to be inclined towards working within the existing leadership structure in the two houses.
In proposing the use of the leadership, the later group it was learnt, is arguing that the presiding officers Mark and Ike Ekweremadu in the Senate; Aminu Tambuwal and Ihedioha in the House of Representatives, were still popular and were in better position to manage their members. That they said, is better than creating alternative power blocs to push support for the presidency.

“They don’t know how senators love and also fear Mark,” one concerned PDP member told Saturday Vanguard.
Before his ascent as Senate president, Senator Mark led one of the most cohesive groups in the Senate but since his emergence as Senate president, political caucus groups outside the recognised geopolitical and party platforms have disappeared.

However, the hawkish group in the presidency, it was learnt is arguing against entrusting the fate of the president in the hands of Mark and Tambuwal, both of whom some presidential minders have in the past accused of harbouring presidential ambitions.

The lack of trust in Tambuwal is further driven by the strong relationship between the speaker and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of SokotoState, one of the seven rebel governors that are backing the nPDP.
The concerns about Tambuwal nonetheless, many loyal members in the House and in the presidency, it was learnt were arguing that sustaining the relationship with the speaker and his deputy was better than causing confusion through the mobilisation of other focus persons who at best cannot help the president push through his legislative agenda.

Some members and stakeholders were also concerned that the choice of Amadi as the leader of the group to bolster support for the president was bad politics.

Amadi is leader of the Pan African parliament, a job that makes him to be outside of the House and the country most times.

Besides his continental duties, is the rival political rivalry between Ihedioha and Amadi both of whom are three term members and are believed to have gubernatorial ambitions in their native Imo State.
“You can understand that Ihedioha is feeling very bad that after all he has staked for the presidency that they could undermine his authority in the House, and even worse, by picking his rival to undermine him,” a source privy to the development told Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity.

Besides the bad politics, there is also unease that money has become the central issue in mobilising legislators creating ill-feeling among concerned members of the public; that money that otherwise could have been used to push governance is being used to compromise legislators.

We are not of Baraje, G-7 Gov. — Tukur

Meanwhile, Metuh in his address entitled, ‘’We are not afraid’’ said that the PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was not afraid to respond to the propaganda and criticisms of Baraje- led nPDP, but decided to show decorum following the respect and regard for President Jonathan, the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief  Tony Anenih and other leaders of the party that have waded into the crisis, in a bid to nipping the political quagmire in the bud.

He said that the aggrieved PDP have used the party to get to where they are now and should allow the party to use them.

Metuh who described the crisis as a family one, however advised others that, “We must not dance naked in the streets,” as a result of the “implications of cascading developments arising from the challenges posed by the actions and utterances of our estranged brothers in our membership… We have seriously, taken into account, steps taken as well as the gravity of utterances credited to our brothers, especially in the wake of our last reconciliation meeting.

”The PDP has taken a critical look at the implications of cascading developments arising from the challenges posed by the actions and utterances of our estranged brothers in our membership. We have seriously, taken into account, steps taken as well as the gravity of utterances credited to our brothers, especially in the wake of our last reconciliation meeting. We therefore wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that the fact that our leaders are wisely decided on the path of caution and decorum, does not in any way suggest that we are afraid of the consequences of doing otherwise. We have only applied a common African wisdom that yes, we have the strength of a lion but better, when not applied needlessly.

”As leaders of our great party, we have implicit faith that the present challenges facing us will be amicably resolved, hence our commitment to caution and decorum in order to avoid jeopardizing the peace process and fall prey to those who do not wish the PDP well.

”The constitution of the PDP has adequately laid down procedures for the settlement of disputes. We therefore hold that it is absolutely unnecessary to make a public theatre of these challenges and the process of resolving them. Unwarranted utterances and actions are only capable of generating further ill feelings.
”The provisions of the constitution of our great party must therefore be held sacrosanct by all members. We the leaders, even have a greater responsibility to show worthy examples.

”Similarly, party members ought not carry on as if hierarchy of leadership amounts to nothing. We have a President who is the leader and the symbol of our great party in government. We also have the Chairman of Board of Trustees as well as former Presidents who have volunteered efforts to the peaceful resolution of these family challenges. We owe them every respect in their determination to achieve genuine reconciliation among us.

”While we concede that some of the leaders of this estranged group are notable members of the PDP, the same cannot be said of vacuous quantities who are bereft of the core values of PDP and are unknown to the ranks of different levels of our great party, but to whom photo-opportunity has been provided to flaunt nuisance values. To leaders among them, we say once more; this macabre dance is unnecessary. This grotesque dance in the manner of an avant-garde Nollywood actor will surely satisfy emotions but will incredibly lead to loss of faith and throw up anti-heroes instead of heroes.

”The differences for now remain challenges of intepretation of process, procedures and trust. It must neither be blown out of proportion nor be allowed to obstruct the cause and course of good governance. We must bear in mind that what makes or mars our strenght is our ultimate performance as a ruling party.”
Speaking further, Metuh who noted that the differences for now remain challenges of interpretation of process, procedures and trust, however said that the crisis must neither be blown out of proportion nor allowed to obstruct the cause and course of good governance, adding, “We must bear in mind that what makes or mars our strength is our ultimate performance as a ruling party”.

On the call for the resignation of Tukur by the nPDP, the PDP spokesperson said, “we the members of the NWC and PDP as a family have absolute confidence on the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur”.

Federal Govt  plans to bribe NASS memebers massively — Baraje faction

Also, in a statement yesterday by the nPDP National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said, “information reaching us indicates that the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur faction of PDP working in concert with some Presidency officials have set about to induce members of the House of Representatives with a view to passing a vote of confidence on President Jonathan and impeaching their principal officers. Part of their strategy is to place advertisements in major national newspapers in the country starting from next week, praising a non-performing Presidency to the high heavens so as to water the ground for President Jonathan’s expected declaration for the 2015 presidential contest.
”Each member is expected to receive $25,000 (about N2.5million) to sign the advertorial endorsing the President. The plan is to commence the impeachment of principal officers of the House after the publication of these advertisements. We are aware of the identities of those involved in this shady business being coordinated by an influential member of the discredited Tukur faction from the Southern part of the country.
”Sadly, this is happening at a time when poverty is ravaging the land and our children are kept at home because of the refusal of the Federal Government to keep to the agreement it reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, since 2009. Passing a vote of confidence on President Jonathan and celebrating him in the papers as these undemocratic elements plan to do is not only insensitive but also amounts to celebrating the death traps called federal roads and celebrating darkness after the billions of naira squandered on a non-functional power sector.

”The impunity associated with the Tukur-led PDP is yet another proof that we are now in a desperate situation where these failed politicians are capable of doing anything in order to achieve their evil aims. But they will surely fail.
”We urge our members all over the world to continue with fasting and prayers as we collectively seek God’s face on how to resolve the orchestrated crisis in our great party and thus minimize the heavy toll which it is taking on the Jonathan administration.
”The general public is hereby urged to ignore the advertorials when it starts to come out by Monday as there is no substance in most of the contents.

More Govs plan to join us — Aliyu

Governor Aliyu said, “a lot of people identify us as the G7 only because we are the ones visible but I can assure you some of us are operating silently for now because of their political ambition.’’

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr. Shettima Haji Aliyu disclosed that the foundation has trained 350 women and youths in vocational and entrepreneurship programmes adding that most of the trainees had started their own businesses.

He also said that the foundation have been able to reach out to some northern states affected with insecurity and have been able to give some form of compensations to them.

Shoot out in Abuja: DSS, Army kill 8 Boko Haram suspects, others sustain gunshot wounds

Eight suspected members of Boko Haram were yesterday allegedly killed in Abuja, during a shoot out with a combined team of security forces.

Security sources told Saturday Vanguard that the suspected terrorists were killed in an uncompleted building located at the Kyari close, Zone E Apo Legislative Quarters, near the Gudu Cemetery in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The house allegedly belongs to a retired military officer.

A combined team of security men from the Department of State Services, DSS, and soldiers from the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, reportedly carried out the operation against the Boko Haram members inside the uncompleted building where the suspects were said to have been allegedly hiding.

However, a national officer of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Prince Adeoso, who spoke to newsmen near the morgue at the Asokoro Hospital said the suspects were extra-judicially executed. Adeoso described the incident as a massacre, pointing out that ‘’the Apo- seven were able-bodied youths who could not be provided jobs by the government.’’

*SSS Raid Boko Haram in Abuja: Uncompleted building where Boko Haram members reside behind Apo Legislative Quarter in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan .

The shoot out which was carried out about 100 metres from the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, lasted several hours. The operation was led by the DSS as the soldiers from the Guards Brigade provided back up support.

Seven corpses of the suspects have already been taken to the Asokoro District Hospital, The corpses were conveyed to the hospital in two ambulances belonging to the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps respectively.

The attack by the security operatives followed intelligence reports which showed that the uncompleted building had over time became a venue for the meetings of the Boko Haram suspects.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that an undisclosed cache of arms and ammunition were recovered by the security agencies after the operation which saw several other suspects sustaining gunshot wounds.

Spokesperson for the DSS, Marilyn Orgar who conducted journalists round the property, said that the team came under gun attack from the building as they approached it, adding that the security men returned fire-for-fire, 12 injured on the side of the suspected Book Haram insurgents.

Orgar did not say whether there was any casualties during the confrontation that ensued between the suspected Boko Haram members and men of the security agencies. She said that 12 suspects were injured even as some others ran into the bush. The DSS paraded two young men whose names were given simply as Kaman Abdullahi and Adamu, as those who provided the the information on the presence of the Boko Haram suspects which they said posed serious threat to peace and security at the Apo District.

But, the operation which commenced at about 2. 30am in the early hours of yesterday, caused fear and uncertainty which enveloped residents of Apo District, especially the nearby Apo Legislative Quarters in the FCT yesterday.

Sources further told Saturday Vanguard that the shooting which was not far from the Legislative Quarters led to pande-monium in the district as some members of the National Assembly in the quarters reportedly fled following false rumours that some Senators and members of the House of Representatives that were the ones actually killed.

Witnesses who however spoke on the issue told Saturday Vanguard that the Zone ‘E’ location of the uncompleted building houses scores of Keke NAPAP operators and some petty traders, who usually retire to the place after their day’s activities after payment of a token fee of N200 to the mai-guard (local security guards) in the building.

It was further said that the owner of the uncompleted building who resides outside the country, had earlier ordered his appointed caretaker to stop the tricycle operators and the traders from sleeping in the building but the order was disregarded by both the Hausa operators and the traders before the operation.

Meanwhile, soldiers, DSS operatives as well as policemen from the FCT Police Command, have cordoned off the area, while detailed investigations had commenced over the incident.

Why Jonathan fired Emordi, Olagunju

Indications emerged last night President Goodluck Jonathan was uncomfortable with his dwindling political fortunes in the National Assembly despite the control of the two chambers of the national legislature by his party.

Presidential sources hinted Saturday Vanguard that Jonathan was particularly irked by the show of shame that erupted on the floor of the House of Representatives earlier in the week as a result of the face off between his supporters and opponents in the PDP, which broke into two last month.

Senator Joy Emodi

There have been reports that a fat sum of money, which was meant to be disbursed to sympathetic lawmakers was not properly distributed thereby infuriating those who made the money available.

Some lawmakers were said to have receive a paltry $25,000 instead of $100,000 said to have been earmarked for them.

The wrong application of the money is said to have been partly responsible for the free-for-all on the floor of the House of Representatives during the week.

The source said that Jonathan was compelled to fire his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Joy Emordi, because of her perceived weakness and inability to influence the lawmakers in his favour.

The Presidency is said to have complained that Emordi had not been able to exert her position on the legislature and attract the requisite respect and support from majority of the members for Jonathan since her engagement about two years ago.

Presidential strategists pondered why the ‘opponents’ of the President appeared to be gaining more attention in the NASS in spite of the position of Emordi and hordes of other officials working for the President.

A source said, “It is clear to Mr. President that Emordi’s presence has not earned him the needed leverage in the legislature as many members continue to work against his interest despite the fact that they are from the dame party.
“She (Emordi) has clearly demonstrated through a lack-lustre perforce that she cannot build the required bridge between the President and the lawmakers and she had to go,” the source said.

It was learnt last night that the Presidency was already shopping for a more fiery northern politician, who would not only be able to attract the necessary political clout but also be able to mobilise support for the President.

Olagunju on the other hand is said to have failed to move NEPAD from its precarious state since his appointment and had to be booted out by the Presidency.

“NEPAD under Olagunju was dead and was only waiting for its final burial,” a source in the agency lamented, saying that the man had even outlived his usefulness.

Reacting to the development yesterday, Senator Joy Emodi in between receiving calls from serving legislators and well wishers expressed thanks to the president and the legislators for the support given her in the course of her assignment.

“I thank the president and all the legislators for the opportunity given to me to work with them.”

Senator Emodi was appointed to the position in 2011 and walked the difficult path of forging cordiality between the administration and the often skeptical National Assembly. 

She was able to win the confidence of the legislators despite the hard feelings felt towards some elements in the administration.

Reverend Pat Storey first woman Anglican bishop in Ireland

The Anglican church has appointed the UK and Ireland's first woman bishop.

The Reverend Pat Storey, a rector in Londonderry, was elected by the Church of Ireland as Bishop of Meath and Kildare, in the Republic of Ireland.

The married mother of two, who grew up in Belfast, said she was "excited and daunted" by the historic appointment.

"I have had an extraordinarily happy experience in St Augustine's and in this wonderful city, which I will be sad to leave," she said.

"However, I count it an enormous privilege to begin a new phase of my ministry with the people of Meath and Kildare, and I look forward to working with the team of clergy who are already there.

"I would sincerely ask for your prayers for myself and my family, who are the best family in the world."

Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, said the appointment brought delight to many across the Church of Ireland and throughout the Anglican Communion.

"Pat herself brings to this work of God a warm personality and a breadth of spiritual gifts to share generously in the church and in the community," he said.

Welcome

Mrs Storey, who is 53, has been rector of St Augustine's in Derry since 2004.

She is married to Reverend Earl Storey and they have two adult children.

She studied French and English at Trinity College in Dublin, trained at the Church of Ireland Theological College and was ordained deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998.

She worked as a youth worker with the Church of Ireland youth department.

The appointment of Mrs Storey was welcomed by Watch, a group that campaigns for the appointment of women bishops.

"We're delighted and thrilled and we warmly congratulate her," the Reverend Lindsay Southern, a spokeswoman for the group said.

The Anglican churches in Wales and Scotland have the power to appoint woman bishops but have not yet done so. The church in England is expected to discuss permitting the appointment of women bishops next year or in 2015.

Rape: Ogun govt vows to deal with rapists

Following the  incessant raping of minors in OgunState, the  State government  has pledged to ensure  that all  rapists are brought to book, warning  ambitious rapists to desist from the criminal act  or face the full wrath of the law.

The  state government however begged  media to continue to  protect the identity of rape  victims in their reportage,saying that, their exposure  would affect them in the future.

The   state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth  Sonubi  who stated this, during a press conference held in Abeokuta, yesterday,  described the development as  unfortunate.

Sonubi while reacting to the recent alleged rape of two minors at the Light of Hope Orphanage, Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of the state, she
explained that the state government returned the affected girls  to the home on their  request.

The commissioner who stated that the state government was not taking side  on the issue said ‘’we are not taking sides on the issue, but we
are concerned about their welfare and future and that was why we allowed them  to return to the orphanage”.

Jonathan appoints Onyeka Onwenu Executive Director, NCWD

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of a legendary singer, Onyeka Onwenu, as the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, Abuja.

*Onyeka Onwenu

She was born in Onitsha, Anambra State on May 17, 1961. Onyeka Onwenu is a Nigerian singer, actress and politician.  In 2006, she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a supporting role.

Previously, she was the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts.

She is expected to assume duties immediately.

Court remands pastor for defiling 2 under-age girls

An Upper Area Court in Jos Friday remanded a 35-year-old Pastor, Yakubu Izang, in prison for allegedly defiling two under age girls.

The accused, who resides at Yan-trailer area of Jos, was arraigned for allegedly defiling the minors, who were entrusted to his care for special prayers.

He had told girls’ elder brother, Victor Dabang, that the girls had demons in them and needed special prayers to cast out them.

According to the police First Information Report (FIR), the accused committed the offence on June 12. The report said that on Sept. 17 at about 1.30 p.m. Victor Dabang of Gwafang village near Jos, reported the matter at the Nasarawa Gwom Police Station.

It said the accused convinced the complainant to hand over his sisters to him for special prayers.

“The pastor told the complainant that there is oil he will rob on the girls’ bodies and the demons will cast out.

“Luck, however, ran out on the accused when the elder sister of the minors visited them in the house of the pastor to see how they were faring.

“The pastor made love advances to the elder of the sisters, who turned him down and reported the matter to her elder brother,” the report said.

It stated that when the elder brother became suspicious of the activities of the pastor, he quizzed the minors, who confessed that he had been making love to them.

The report said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 275 of the Penal Code, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail.

The police prosecutor, Mr Gokwat Ibrahim, objected to the bail application on the grounds that the matter was still under investigation.

Ibrahim said that if granted bail, the accused would tamper with police investigation.

The presiding officer, Malam Mustapha Hassan, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to Oct. 4 for hearing.

Nigeria spends N25bn annually on generators—Group

LAGOS—Worried by the epileptic power supply in the country, a pressure group, Good Governance Initiative, GGI, has disclosed that aside from being a dumping ground for power generating sets, Nigerians spent over N25 billion importing same in 2012, the highest in the world.

President of the initiative, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, called on Nigerians to extract a promise from the preferred bidders of the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, assets to improve on the current generation of power to grow the economy.

He said: “The epileptic power supply has remained a cog in the wheel of the nation’s progress and is eating deep into the profits of businesses, particularly of companies that incur huge expenses in powering their businesses.

“The insufficient public power supply has led to the relocation of most multinational companies to other African countries, those who decided to stay back rely on generators, while those that can’t afford such have closed shop.
“It is not surprising that in 2012 alone, Nigerians spent N25 billion in importing generators and this figure is sure to increase if drastic measures are not taken.

“Ghana recently celebrated 10 years of uninterrupted power supply; South Africa, with a population of over 50 million, generates 40,000MW; Brazil has 100,000MW with a population of 192 million, while Nigeria still struggles to generate 4,000MW for its over 160 million strong people.”

“Statistics from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, revealed that most companies spent over N800 billion in 2012 to power their industrial generating sets, while other small scale business, banks and traders in various markets spent over N2 trillion to power theirs.

“The average residential expenditure (an estimated 60 million residents use generators of varying sizes) on fueling power generators had climbed to an all time high of N1.56 trillion.”

The GGI President called on the preferred bidders to meet their contractual obligations by improving on power generation and supply so as to open new opportunities for investment and growth of all sectors of the economy.

HIV/AIDS kills 300,000 Nigerians, orphans 1.5m children annually

MAKURDI — Over 300,000 Nigerians die annually from complications arising from HIV/AIDS, while no fewer than 1.5 million children are orphaned yearly by the deadly virus in the country.

Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHDA, Dr. Ado Mohammad, disclosed this yesterday at a week-long Integrated Service Delivery Training for community health workers, organized by the Programme for HIV/AIDS Integration and Decentralization, PHAID, in Makurdi.

Dr. Mohammad said:  “HIV/AIDS continues to be a major burden in our country, with well over 1.5million children orphaned annually by the virus which also claims over 300,000 Nigerian lives yearly.”

Represented by Dr. Bakunawa Bello, the NPHDA Executive Director warned that the “devastation and dangers posed by the virus in our country calls for concerted effort by all Nigerians, including health workers, to ensure that we drive down the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

”This accounts for the various strategic trainings and programmes initiated by the NPHDA in states across the country and high HIV/AIDS endemic states in the country in particular.”

In her speech, the Project Officer, PHAID, Hyeladzirah Shalangwa, said “the training  programme, which is in five categories is intended to further equip healthcare providers with the wherewithal to provide one stop shop services to victims of HIV/AIDS in parts of Benue state.”

Executive Secretary of the Benue State Action Committee on AIDS, BENSACA, Mrs. Ashi Wende, who was represented by Ado Ihuman, urged participants to put what they gathered from the training to good use in the fight against the the dreaded virus in the state.

23 killed, 100 houses, shops burnt in Borno

MAIDUGURI — Barely a day after the military authorities claimed that its troops had killed more than 150 Boko Haram terrorists and lost 16 of its personnel in an encounter in Maiduguri, no fewer than 23 persons were, yesterday, slaughtered in separate attacks in Kaga town, headquarters of Beneshiek Local Government Area of Borno State, as well as along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road by suspected Boko Haram terrorists who disguised in military camouflage uniforms.

Also, during the deadly attacks, several passengers including, women were abducted by the gunmen, while the Beneshiekh council secretariat, schools, more than 100 shops, residential and public buildings, as well as eight trucks and 12 vehicles were set ablaze.

Similarly, during a separate attack in Limanti village in Konduga Council area along Maiduguri-Biu road, three vehicles were snatched from their owners, while 11 passengers and motorists were abducted by a group of terrorists.

File: Burnt school buildings in Maiduguri following Islamist attacks

Several people abducted as suspected terrorists dressed in military camouflage

The incident took place at about 6:30 pm on Tuesday, which led to pandemonium as residents of Beneshiekh and the neighbouring villages fled the area in hundreds.

Beneshiekh is about 72 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital, which had witnessed series of attacks and killings.

It was gathered that in the latest attack on Beneshiekh, the terrorists in military uniform numbering more than 100 in a convoy of about 30 vehicles stormed the town, burnt down the Federal Road Safety Corps office, and set some security check-points ablaze. This was after they barricaded the highway, where they stopped motorists mostly coming out of Maiduguri and forced them to follow them, while those who refused to do so, were killed instantly.

It was gathered that many of the motorists and passengers, including women heeded the terrorists’ instructions by following them into their camps for initiation.

Survivor narrates ordeal

A lucky survivor who was abducted but escaped into the bush from the camps of the terrorists said, “I have to give my thanks giving to Almighty God in my Church on Sunday for sparing my life. I was abducted but as my living God would have it, I escaped from where the terrorists took us at about 2am. It was this morning that when I was walking in the bush, I saw a good Samaritan who led me to the same highway from where I was brought back to Maiduguri in one of the security vehicles patrolling the area.

He said: “In fact, many people were abducted and they are still with them in a bush which I cannot locate again.”

In an interview with the Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on Labour Matters, who is also from Beneshiekh, Comrade Garba Ngamdu said, “we are here to see the governor with some of my people over the incident. It is unfortunate that in Benesheikh town, the terrorists slaughtered five residents and burnt down several residential and public buildings, this is apart from the motorists and passengers that were killed and abducted on the busy Maiduguri- Damaturu highway which I don’t have the actual figure.”

Meanwhile, another group of terrorists, yesterday, disrupted the Maiduguri-Biu road by barricading the road in Limanti village in Konduga Local Government Area where they abducted some motorists and passengers, while three vehicles were also snatched from their owners.

The incident, Vanguard gathered happened at about 9:30am. No life was lost in the attack, but the whereabout of those abducted is yet to be known, as they were taken away by the terrorists to one of their camps along the Samisa Game Reserve/Forests.

The Police Commissioner in Borno State, Mr. Lawal Tanko confirmed the incidents to newsmen in Maiduguri.

He, however said, his command was still gathering facts on the number of casualties before briefing the press on the unfortunate incident.

Tanko said: “Yes there was a deadly attack in Benesheikh and other villages in Borno, we are working tirelessly with some of my teams to go to Beneshiekh and see the extent of damage, but right now, I cannot tell you the official number of people killed, or abducted, nor the number of shops and houses burnt down in the attack, because we are still compiling our facts.”

He, therefore, assured the general public that the security agencies have since been deployed in the affected communities to restore peace and also make sure that those who perpetrated such act are arrested and brought to book.

Two Chinese nationals in court for attempted rape

Two Chinese nationals, Chen Gang and Zhao Weidong, who allegedly attempted to rape their 20-year-old cook, were, yesterday, charged before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

Gang, 47, is facing a four-count charge bordering on attempted rape, sexual harassment and indecent assault, while Weidong, 31, is being tried for willful damage and attempt to pervert justice.

The duo, however, entered a plea of not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Moses Uaedmevbo, told the court that the Chinese nationals committed the offences on September 15 at 8a.m. at China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, Nigeria Railway Compound, Ebute Meta.

He said Gang harassed the cook sexually and also attempted to have carnal knowledge of her.

Uaedmevbo said: “Gang assaulted the woman by removing her bum shorts forcefully and touching her without her consent.”

Uaedmevbo alleged that Weidong also destroyed a Nokia mobile phone belonging to the woman by throwing it into the toilet.

He said: “The woman shouted for help and the policemen on duty in the compound came to rescue her.”

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Fidelis Osordi, urged the court to grant them bail.

Prosecutor opposed the bail application, saying that the Chinese nationals may run away.

He said the offences contravened Sections 91, 134, 170, 260, 262 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs M. Tanimola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,000 each, with two sureties, each in like sum.

14-yr-old docked for defiling 5-yr old girl

The police, yesterday, arraigned a 14-year-old student before an Abule Egba magistrate’s court, Lagos, for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.

The teenager is facing a charge of defilement of a child.

The prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams, told the court that the offence was committed on September 9, at Iyalode Street, Agege, Lagos.

The prosecutor said: “The accused inserted his finger into the private part of a five-year-old girl with the intent to have carnal knowledge of her.”

Williams said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 137 provides that any person who has sexual intercourse with a child is guilty of a felony and is liable to life imprisonment, but the accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case till October 8 for hearing.

33-yr-old man allegedly beats BB girlfriend to stupor, attempts rape

An Abeokuta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ogun State, yesterday, remanded a 33-year-old man, Olasunkanmi Ikuomola, in prison custody for beating his girlfriend to a state of stupor.

The accused, Ikuomola, of 28 Ori-Iyarin Agbeloba in Abeokuta, was arraigned on a two-count charge of attempted rape and assault, but no plea was taken.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Banji Sangotokun, told the court that the offence was committed on August 5 at 6:18p.m. at the accused residence.

He said that the accused attempted to rape the woman and in the process beat the said girlfriend (names withheld) to stupor.

Sangotokun said: “The accused and the lady had been chatting on Black Berry for a while and had been intimate.

“Ikuomola invited her to his house and when she got there, he locked the door and started beating her mercilessly, forcefully removing her pants and bra.

“It was the neighbours that heard her screams and came to her rescue. They broke the door of the accused apartment.”

According to the prosecutor, neighbours met the lady badly beaten, lying nude and unconscious on the floor.

Arik: Expectant Woman Concealed Her Pregnancy

Arik Airline

By Chinedu Eze
The circumstances surrounding the emergency landing of an Arik Air flight at Palma, Mallorca, Spain, on Sunday got murkier Monday when the airline’s authorities claimed that the pregnant woman said to have given birth aboard the Lagos-London bound Flight W3 101, had indeed concealed her pregnancy from the airline’s staff.

A statement from the airline said the pregnancy was just 12 weeks old, and so was not noticeable. It added further that no medical report was required from the woman in the first trimester of her pregnancy. The airline explained that the pregnancy was not big enough for the airline profiling officials to have stopped her from boarding the flight.

“This particular guest did not indicate her pregnancy status to the airline’s Passenger Service Agents (PSA) at check-in and because her pregnancy was 12 weeks old, the team didn't notice her status,” the airline alleged.

It is suspected that if indeed the pregnancy was 12 weeks old, then what occurred may have been a spontaneous abortion (better known as a miscarriage) of the pregnancy. But this could not be confirmed by the airline.

Arik said the flight with 216 passengers on board was forced to land in Palma, Mallorca, Spain, for the safety of the woman and other passengers, the airline had to pay 15,000 euros (about N3.2 million) for diverting the flight to another airport.

It was also gathered that the captain of the flight had to take off immediately to London after the woman was admitted in a hospital, so that the airline would not miss its landing slot at London Heathrow Airport.

Arik, in the statement, said the flight was diverted to Palma, Mallorca Airport, Spain at 5.44 pm, adding, “The passenger reportedly developed severe pains during the course of the flight. The pain was later coupled with bleeding from a suspected miscarriage.

“The passenger, who was initially attended to by two medical doctors on board the flight, was 12 weeks pregnant. She was later transferred to a hospital in Mallorca for further medical attention. The Arik flight later departed Mallorca at 8.00 pm for London Heathrow Airport.”

According to the airline, “This singular act further demonstrates that Arik Air is passionate about meeting individual needs of its guests and is ready to go the extra mile to ensure that safety is not compromised, no matter the cost.”

The airline said it would continue to investigate the incident to get more details of what happened to the passenger.

THISDAY, however, was unable to confirm if it was a medical doctor who had confirmed that the woman was 12 weeks pregnant or the airline plucked the tenure of the pregnancy from the air.

The airline’s statement also conflicted with initial reports from its own staff on Sunday that a delivery did indeed occur while the flight was airborne and that mother and child, who were left in the care of medical personnel at Palma, were stable. It is suspected that Arik decided to play safe to absolve itself of any possible liability in the event of a probe.

Women with full term pregnancies are not allowed to travel by air, according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations. As such, intending pregnant passengers are required to present medical reports certifying that they are less than 32 weeks pregnant before they are allowed to fly.

All efforts by THISDAY to contact passengers who were on board the flight, the relations of the mother, and the two doctors who had assisted her, met a brick wall Monday.