LIB exclusive: See Genevieve Nnaji's N4million Rolex Watch

Calm down and hear me out first before you start saying it's not true. Lol. Iyanya, Davido and Wizkid are not the celebs who own Rolex watches worth millions of Naira. Star actress Genevieve Nnaji also owns one. The one she's wearing in the pics above. Now here's how I know. When I was in Dubai recently, I went into a Rolex store...just to window shop. (Can't afford one :-)) and while looking around I saw this particular watch that fell in love with. Asked how much it was and they told me $25, 000. (That's N4million). Nah, that's way too much for me, so I left the store and settled for something far less expensive.

So anyway, here I was minding my own business as usual *cough* when I spotted the exact same watch on Genny's wrist. I know some of you will be like, yeah right, N4m my ass! But please trust me, that's a Rolex watch. Now I don't know where she got hers and how much she paid for it, but if you enter any Rolex store, that watch you see above is valued at $25, 000 and it's not even one of their best pieces.

She's obviously had that watch for a long time, because if you check some of her pics from last year, she was rocking that Rolex. Dear Genevieve, I want to be like you when I grow up. Hehe.

OMG! This is sick! Woman pierces her cervix (Photo)

Piercing boobs, vaginas and clits is no longer good enough for some crazies, now they are piercing the cervix. (The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina). A 26 year old UK woman named Ashley Crawford, who is described as a body modification artist and sex worker, is the first woman (and hopefully the only one) to pierce her cervix.

Be prepared to be shocked. See it HERE

Graphic video: Nigerian man beaten almost to death in India

Locals seem to be targeting Nigerians in India for no good reason. On October 30, a 37 year old man Obado Uzoma Simeon was murdered in Parra village, North Goa, India. Aside from Uzoma, several other Nigerians have been harassed, assaulted and beaten by the locals and Indian police isn't doing anything about the targeted violence. Locals claim the Nigerians being targeted are drug dealers.

Angry Nigerians staged a protest in India last week over Uzoma's killing. They attacked the police vehicle carrying his body, removed the body from the van and kept it on the road, blocking traffic in the area (pic above ). The protest led to the arrest of several Nigerians who have since been released.

 

Nigerians in India have been complaining bitterly about how the locals are maltreating them. And there's actually a directive from Goa's Chief Minister to police to track down Nigerians living illegally in the state and deport them. A few days after the protest, a minister in the state added fuel to the fire by refering to Nigerians as cancer.

The video below shows the beating of a Nigerian man in India. Watch...

Star Lager introduces first of its kind limited edition bottle

After weeks of expectation fueled by an exciting first of its kind worldwide digital media campaign (#musicinabottle), which had millions of young Nigerians engaged and interacting throughout the Social Media empire, STAR, Nigeria’s premium quality lager has unveiled its first ever limited edition of Star MusicBottle.

The launch of the unique blue 60cl bottle held at the Marquee of the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island Lagos and attracted a select attendance from the business, entertainment and media industries. Continue...

 

The exciting new bottle with a bright blue sleeve depicts exciting photos of the city landscape with a special QR code which when scanned, immediately takes the viewer through a delightful visual journey- a television commercial based on the limited edition bottle with superstars Wizkid and 2face Idibia.

Noting the unique appellation of the bottle and the enthusiastic response to the new Star Sleeve, Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc said “It’s obvious that a lot of time and effort went into this, from conceptualization to execution we’ve been thrilled by the promise of offering once again-in a new unique from- a product that has always resonated strongly with our loyal consumer base.”

“The response has been overwhelming and an indicator that Nigerians embrace exciting change. However, more than just introducing this limited edition bottle, it’s also a commitment from us to continue delivering outstanding premium entertainment to our loyal consumers on various innovative platforms.”

Other guests at the event included DJ Xclusive, Kelechi Amadi Obi, Yaw, Toke Makinwa, Ebuka Obi Uchendu, OC Ukeje, Kelvin Orifa, Toni Kan, Bez, Tunde Ednut, Uru Eke, Beverly Naya, Henry Ekechukwu and many more.

The limited edition of STAR MUSIC Bottle is available to consumers from 1st November to 31st December 2013 at selected outlets across the country.

'How I caught 2 actresses having sex' - actress exposes lesbianism in Nollywood

In a recent interview with Vanguard, married Yoruba actress Bose Arowosegbe exposed lesbianism in the movie industry by talking about the day two of her female colleagues had sex in a bed she shared with them. Kinda bizarre. Read below...

I have heard about it and I have seen one with my own very eyes. It happened when two friends came to visit, then three of us had to share a bed. As we were on the bed with my back turned to the other two, I felt some movements and I turned, alas, the two other girls were at it, doing it. I was simply aghast and dumbfounded. I watched them transfixed for about two minutes and then gave one of them a slap. She looked at me and asked if she had touched me or what. I was so mad that I started shouting at them.
The other one was just laying down while the one I slapped was working on her. she said she didn’t know and thought I was also part of it but I shouted ‘God forbid’. She then started crying and I told her to desist from associating with the other girl again.

Nigerian man convicted of killing his 3yr old nephew for wetting bed

Ben Igbinedion, 43, has been found guilty of killing his 3 year old nephew, Daniel Evbuowman after they shared bed.

Ben, of Bromley, southeast London, reportedly assaulted the little child in the early hours of March 2, 2013, after discovering Daniel wet the bed he and his uncle were sharing. After the assault Igbinedion put the child in a different bed, but when other family members tried to wake Daniel in the morning, they found him unresponsive. Daniel was taken to a hospital where he died.

During his trial, the court heard that Daniel was put in the care of Igbinedion, who was also left in charge of his three children while his wife was at work. He told Daniel and his youngest son that they should sleep in his room, while his other two children sleep in their own room. One of Igbinedion’s children was woken by him telling off Daniel for wetting the bed, the jury was told.

A post-mortem found that Daniel died from major trauma to his ribs and pelvis, and established the injuries could not have been caused by a fall from a bed.

He was convicted yesterday November 7th for the little boy's murder 



Igbinedion’s testimony of the events of that night were contradicted by the accounts his children gave to police.

Speaking after the guilty verdict, detective chief inspector Graeme Gwyn said: “Ben Igbinedion's violent actions resulted in the death of a three-year-old boy who had no chance of defending himself and devastated the lives of two families.

“Throughout the time since Daniel's death, Igbinedion has continued to deny any involvement. However, a jury has seen through his story and convicted him of murder.”
In a statement read to the court, Daniel’s mother Augustina Kunu said: “How do I describe the loss of my only child Daniel? Daniel’s death has left me empty, heartbroken, lonely, lost, devastated and confused.
“I cannot concentrate or focus on my studies, I am unable to sleep and when I am able I wake up in tears because I can no longer see him lying by my side. I cannot get over Daniel’s death because of the bond we had.”

She added: “He was a brilliant son, a friend, a star, a hero and a help-mate. He would look into my eyes and say, ‘Mummy how are you?’ His death has affected my marriage, leaving it empty because Daniel was our dream, the pride and crown of our marriage.
“His dad, Victor, has been left broken-hearted, confused, lonely and empty. This whole matter has pulled our family apart. My prayer is that God will restore peace to our families.”

Igbinedion will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on November 22.

Fulani mercenaries invade communities kill seven, displace many -

Seven persons have been reportedly killed while over six thousand others have also been displaced in Ikpele and Okpopolo communities following the invasion of parts of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue state by suspected  Fulani mercenaries.

Saturday Vanguard gathered from sources that “the marauders who invaded the communities two days ago from Omola Local Government Area of Kogi state also burnt down several houses, huts and economic trees after killing seven persons in the affected communities.”

Confirming the development, renown leader of Agatu and Benue state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. John Ngbede said, that his people in Ikpele and Okpopolo were attacked again on Tuesday, morning by the Fulanis when most of the people had gone to their farms.

”They stormed the communities in a guerrilla fashion, burnt down houses and economic trees and while on their way out they killed two persons and injured two others who are currently in critical condition in a public hospital.

”As I talk to you, there are rumours that the mercenaries are marching towards Iwarri village for further attacks. Our findings revealed that they stormed our communities from Loco in Nasarawa state from where they boarded speed boats to Omola Local Government Area of Kogi state, and from that point they launched attacks on our communities.

”It is saddening that these incessant attacks have forced over 6,000 inhabitants of the affected communities and Agatu west to flee their homes for fear of being killed; most of them are now taking refuge at neighboring Apa Local Government Area and at Obagaji.

”We are tired of these unending bloodbath, the Fulanis should come out and tell us their problem with Agatu people, and if they have a different agenda they should also let us know.

”Moreover we would also want the Federal government to step into the matter by beefing up security and extending assistance  to the victims of these attacks in the affected communities.”

Meantime, Mr. Ngbede has also pleaded with the Omola local government council chairman in Kogi state to beef up security around he communities bordering Agatu Local Government Area in order to stem the unrestrained incursion of the marauders.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, for Benue state, Deputy Superintendent, Daniel Ezeala said “the suspected Fulanis invaded the communities on Tuesday, burning down houses and also killed one person while two others were seriously injured but security has been beefed up in the affected communities.

5-yr old girl burnt to death in Bayelsa

The sleepy riverside settlement of Ogbogoro in the outskirts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital was Thursday night thrown into mourning following the burning to death of a five year old girl in an inferno.

The deceased child, simply identified as Princess, eyewitnesses told Saturday Vanguard, was a daughter of a policeman attached to the Osiama Division of the State Police Command in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the inferno which occurred at about 7.30pm was caused by a burning candle.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that at the time of the incident, the mother of the deceased was in the market selling crayfish while the father was away at his duty post in the creek of the state.

It was learnt that the sister to the deceased, who is a Junior Secondary School (JSS) student, had made use of the candle light in  solving her school homework.

She was said to have left the candle burning and went out to get some foodstuff for  her siblings.

”While she was away, the candle fell and set ablaze the fabrics on the floor of the room. The deceased and her 7-year old brother, Henry, were in the room but attempt by the latter to wake the sister proved abortive,” the source said.

Fish out killers of my husband – Widow of slain police officer

Two years ago, the trio of Divisional Police Officer, DPO; Divisional Crime Officer, DCO and the Operational Officer of Badagry police division, Lagos were  murdered in cold blood by people suspected to be soldiers at the Recce Battalion Barrack, Bereko, Badagry, Lagos while on their way to honour alleged official invitation by the Commanding officer.

In spite of the dust raised by the killing which many considered uncalled for, nothing has been heard again about the ugly incident.  Worse still, widows of the slain officers have been left to bear their agonizing pains all alone while those that perpetrated the heinous crime are yet to be tried.

Wife of one of the dead officers, DCO, Sampson Okeduisi who was still in mourning mood spoke with Crime Guard at Magbon, near Badagry.  The widow, Omotayo Okeduisi decried government’s alleged insincerity and failure to investigate and prosecute killers of the superior cops.

Excerpts:

“My name is Omotayo Okeduisi, widow of the late Divisional Crime Officer of Badagry Police Division who was killed while on active duty.

How he was killed.

My husband was among the three police officers that were  murdered by soldiers at the Recce Battalion, Barrack, Bereko, two years ago, precisely on May 24, 2011 while on official duty. He went along side with his late DPO, Mr. Samuel Salusi and Officer in charge of Operation, Mr. Taofeek Afolabi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, to the Barrack to negotiate for peace as well as  lasting mutual co-existence between the police and their Army counterparts.

*Late Okeduisi & widow Omotayo

I was told that there was an earlier misunderstanding between the soldiers and the Police over alleged killing of a soldier by  Lagos State  Rapid Response Squad, RRS, for a yet–to-be disclosed issue. The RRS men were taken hostage to the barrack and purportedly detained. The soldiers, apparently, in what appeared to be a revenge mission, decided to attack any policeman on sight, thereby causing commotion and panic in the state. My husband and the two others went to the barrack on the invitation of the General Officer, Commanding, GOC, but they never returned.

Life without bread winner.

Since my husband died, the family has been subjected to untold hardship as a result of the killing of the bread winner. We have been living from hand to mouth because we do not receive any assistance from any body, including the police, where he spent his active years, the Army that killed him or the government.

Gratuity and other benefits

My husband had only six months to retire before he met his untimely death. We have gone to all places for his gratuity and filled several  forms with witnesses but nothing has happened. I even learnt from his colleagues that some have been paid but nothing has been paid to us .It was as a result of these hardships that my husband’s aged mother died recently. We have been surviving on charity. I don’t know whether it is a crime to be a police man or marry one because the police are suffering. If our husbands die, no one cares about the widow, children and families. This kind of treatment do not happen in sister agencies such as the Navy, Army or Air force.

Why?I think police hate themselves. Could you believe that even those that worked with my husband in same office before the incident have not come to see us, talk of his colleagues from other stations. Even the D.P.O that took over the station, same day, my husband was buried, has never find time to come and ask us how far. Police are outdated in all things. They don’t have plans for themselves. My husband did not die a natural death or killed by armed robbery suspects but died in active service while negotiating for peace for the unity and corporate existence of this country and yet, he was abandoned and neglected by his immediate constituency.

Contact with the authorities?

No. I have not met any of them because when the incident occurred, both the Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos and the Army Commander came here to console us. The State government gave N1million each to the deceased families but you and I know that one million naira was not enough to bury him. We borrowed money to add to the amount to give him a befitting burial. But we have been writing several letters to the police, Army and government but there has not been any reply. It is unfortunate that despite our letters and appeals to the authorities over the brutal killing of my husband and Federal Government’s assurance to look into the matter when it happened, two years now, nothing has been done to fish out the killers.

Content of the letters?

I want justice for my late husband. The soldiers that killed him are not above the law and therefore, they should be investigated and brought to face the law.  Also, I want government to come to our aid by compensating us adequately. I have four graduates but there is no job for them. It is not too much for the police or government to employ his children to help the family. Again, I want the government to establish a hall of fame to honour my husband and others as a mark of respect for them as done by their Army counterparts.

*ASP Afolabi Taofek battling to survive at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos, few minutes before he died.

Relationship with late husband

I am his only wife, married legally in court. He has other women that had children for him, but I am the real wife.  He even wrote it in his police form. In the morning of the day he died, I bathed with him. I prepared tea for him in the morning of that fateful day but he did not drink the tea because he was in a hurry. I had to pour the tea inside his office flask but he didn’t take the tea before he died.

In fact, he died on empty stomach because after the incident, I discovered that he did not drink it before his demise and I poured the tea away. I served him amala and ewedu the night before he died. He was my daddy, husband, friend and child. We never carried over any quarrel to the next day. We were role models to many couples and many brought their marital problems for us to settle.  We courted for five years before we got married for 18 years, which, if added together, make a total of 23 years. No man can be like Sam. No man can replace him in my life.

Other wives/concubines, children and relations

I have not been seeing any of them. No body has been asking after us or how I do cope with my children. Even his children, from other women, have not been showing concern. They argued that the man lived and died with me and willed all his properties to me so I should be the one to bear his loss. But they are waiting to grab his compensation and gratuity and that was why I‘ve stopped processing the gratuity. Let them go for it so that my children and I would live in peace.

Police neglect

Police has never done anything good before. They neglected and abandoned us. They don’t care for themselves. Even the friends of my husband have not cared for us. They are supposed to show love to us. I think, police should change their method of administration to enable them give their best in the discharge of their duties. If a police man knows that, even in death, he would be honoured, he/her must put his/her best. Perhaps, that is why most of them misbehave. Could you imagine that after two years, we are yet to get any of his rights?

Advise to police /wives

Police men should first and foremost, establish their wives in any business, trade or craft of choice so that they would have something to rely on, in the case of eventualities. This is necessary, because, if not for the business I am managing, my children would have dropped out of schools and my family would have been a laughing stock. It is difficult for dead policemen to be treated with respect as one that had served the country faithfully. I advise their wives not to totally rely on their husband’s income but lay their hands on something.

Waiting for implosion of APC

The All Progressives Congress seems to be having an owambe party all over Nigeria; from the North to the South and is getting all the media attention required. The party also appears to be mocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and celebrating the implosion of the ruling party.

But somehow, there is always this nagging feeling that just like the PDP, the APC is also an accident waiting to happen. The opposition party seems to be disappointing in many fronts and some nagging questions are beginning to come to mind.

If PDP is such a bad party and APC has the right answer, why won’t it leave PDP alone and do it’s own thing? Why is APC looking for the living in the land of the dead? What is responsible for this frantic efforts to lure aggrieved PDP members into APC? Is APC hoping the best people to run for elections still belong to  the corrupt and ‘dead’ PDP? Would champions of corruption rebuild Nigeria?  A dog should not go back to it’s own vomit. So why would opposition be looking for ‘corrupt and incredible’ PDP members to fill up their numbers?!

R-L Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Former Governor of Lagos State/APC Leader and Engr Tele Ikuru, Rivers State Deputy Governor yesterday at the Rivers State Government House during a visit of the APC Leadership to Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

The last time I checked, APC leaders were begging Gov Rotimi Amaechi to join their party. This is not a surprise though as Amaechi  inadvertently became a leader of opposition from the South-South against his will. Well, that leadership was bestowed on him by circumstances even though he still needs to consult with his people and ‘brother’ Jonathan before deciding to join APC.

But what is really baffling is the fact that opposition is contradicting itself. How can it be courting the friendship of  members of a party it considered so bad? The way I see things, APC will implode in the nearest future considering the way things are going.

Come to think of it, will the G-7 governors, majority of whom are former President Obasanjo’s men, go contrary to the way of their master? Or is OBJ using them to let certain things sink in the psyche of the  powers that be?

Before the APC leaders visited Port-Harcourt, there was the burial of Dame Patience Jonathan’s foster mother and Amaechi was there! Before the burial, Gov Amaechi reportedly flew in the same helicopter with President Jonathan and Bayelsa governor and I imagined, would the three of them just have sat in the same helicopter without talking or discussing their political differences? What transpired between them? Is it not possible that a form of reconciliation was initiated during the flight? Could it be the beginning of the end of the lingering crisis in the PDP?

Obviously, the  ongoing feud between the PDP and the seven ‘rebel’ governors loyal to Baraje must have been part of their discussion.

Or why else would Amaechi tell APC leaders that he would consult widely, including with Mr President  if a kind of reconciliation was not discussed ab initio? Wouldn’t  the secret meeting  have been an avenue for Jonathan and Amaechi to talk over their differences and find a possible solution to the crisis that has divided the political class in Rivers State and Nigeria in general?

Did  APC imagine that Amaechi would just have accepted to join the opposition just like that?

Before the visit to Amaechi, the APC leaders visited  Gov Nyako of Adamawa. General Buhari told Nigerians after the visit that G-7 governors have unofficially joined APC! Buhari said  the G-7  governors had accepted the party’s invitation to join it. “We now have the G-7 governors in our fold, our tour is yielding positive result for the party,” Buhari said.

What is really baffling is why the leaders of a party formed to save the masses from PDP bondage would be junketing all over the federation trying to win over members of the same party that has held Nigeria in bondage? And to imagine Nyako saying afterward that he is still in PDP is another thing.

Will he ever dump PDP?

Going back to history, Nigerians were once upon a time swayed by the politicking going on in Adamawa between Murtala Nyako and Muhammed Buba Marwa,  a top notcher of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and now merged into APC.

Governor Murtala Nyako has had brushes with some top politicians within the Adamawa political landscape.

Would Nyako who was into rivalry with General Buba Marwa want to belong in the same party with Marwa? How will the APC leaders reconcile the interests of this former governorship candidate of the  defunct CPC, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) with Nyako’s? General Buba Marwa is allegedly leading the campaign against Governor Nyako’s bid to join APC. Yet, he was at the airport to welcome APC leaders!

In Sokoto State, one is not sure how APC would fare as  the former  Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, rejected any possibility of the party structure being handed over to Governor Aliyu Wamakko?

One  doesn’t need to dig deeper to realise  that the succession game in Adamawa in the forthcoming  elections is the root of  the face-off between Nyako and the PDP.

How far will APC leaders go? Do they really think these aggrieved PDP Governors would eventually join APC or are they just on a merry-go-round across the federation?

Everywhere they went, the pattern of the response of the G-7 governors was ultimately the same. ‘We will consult!’ And nobody ever hears anything from them!

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State spoke his mind. He would remain in PDP despite the party’s internal crisis.

But would  it be possible for G7 governors to convince their supporters to embrace APC? There have been reports that some members of the faction in the Senate and the House of Representatives are prepared to let by-gone be by-gone and reintegrate themselves into the mainstream PDP because their  2015 can only be achieved if they remain with the PDP rather than joining a new political platform.

Would Shekarau of APC be able to work in tandem with his political rival, Kwankwaso, in Kano State? Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had reportedly rejected Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s bid to join the APC and described them as rebels and trouble makers. If APC succeeds in Kwara,where will that leave the governor’s godfather, former Gov Saraki?

Will he still have the control of the party in Kwara?

It is not hidden that apart from the G-7 governors, the APC is also targeting to have the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal into their fold and even aspiring to have him as their presidential candidate in the forthcoming election! If this is true, my question is, will the APC, which before now had painted PDP and its members in black, not be painting itself black by allowing leading members of the same “dirty PDP” to join them?

The way things are going, these desperate moves by APC to lure the aggrieved PDP top notchers into its fold may spell doom for the opposition party. In the same vein, I don’t see any of these governors joining the APC.

The clock ticks for Anambra

Exactly a week from today, gladiators from various political parties in Anambra  state will be voted for and against to decide who will take over after Peter Obi’s exit in March 2014. I have never seen a state with so much political mudslinging like Anambra. Shouldn’t electioneering campaigns be about  convincing the electorate why they should vote for a particular candidate? But the case of Anambra is something else. Every candidate wants to out mudsling the other and it’s really scary! Everything at a candidate’s disposal is used as a weapon of  blackmail and newspapers are aghast with the manner of materials being sent for publication.

The one nagging allegation  is the  perceived shoddy manner of the election body in registering voters, compiling, maintaining, revising and updating voters register on continuous basis.

A group had claimed that some voters didn’t know when, how, and where INEC conducted its continuous voters registration and revalidation exercise as ordered by Section 9(1) and 10(1) of the Nigeria’s Electoral act of 2010.

The number of polling centers and registered voters which are given as 4, 608 and 1,711,061 respectively could not allegedly be verified .

It was also alleged that a total of 300,685 names were altered  from the list of voters while the 93,000 double registrants alleged  to be in the state’s voters’ register could not be ascertained.

As if that wasn’t enough, further allegation claimed that stringent conditions were imposed  on those that lost their voters cards and those that relocated from their previous residences. These had to fill certain  forms, get police extracts, or court affidavits before re-registration. Was their re-registration process successful?

INEC at one time allegedly announced   that 53 polling centers were missing in the voters register which included 34 in Awka South LGA; one in Ayamelum LGA; two in Anambra East LGA; two in Ihiala LGA; one in Idemmili  North LGA; four in Nnewi South LGA and five in Nnewi North LGA. Have these missing centres been replaced?

It would be shocking for these allegations to crop up without getting due attention. Why should the electoral body not be able to secure its data with effective anti-virus or back-up devices which are available and affordable at open markets? Were the causes of these lapses  investigated? Did the end exercise really capture as many eligible voters as ordered by the Constitution and the Electoral Act at the end of the day?

November 16 is only a week away and the people are praying and waiting for a miracle of fair and free election. Will this miracle happen?

Enugu PDP blames NASS for orchestrating allegation by Chime’s wife

Top officials of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State are now blaming some members of the National Assembly, NASS, from the state for orchestrating the alleged claims that Governor Sullivan Chime had illegally detained his wife, Mrs Clara Chime at Government House.

Some of the PDP leaders who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said that some NASS members had been fighting Governor Chime since he made a public announcement that most of them would not go back to their positions, having served for over three tenures because of the internal zoning policy of the party.

Clara Chime, Sullivan Chime and Mr Femi Falana, SAN

Chime was quoted as having said at a PDP rally that there was an agreement with NASS members that those who had represented their people for two or three tenures (between eight and 12 years) should give way for fresh blood just as he ceded the forthcoming 2015 governorship seat in the state to the Nsukka zone.

Chime who hails from Enugu West Senatorial zone where the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu also hails from, would be completing his two terms of four years each in 2015 after his predecessor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani who is from Enugu East Senatorial District also spent eight years in office, bringing the total to 16 years.

Tanker accident kills 2, destroys over 10 houses in Kogi

A petrol tanker in the early hour of Friday lost control and ran off -road, into many houses in Iffe, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, destroying nothing less than ten houses at a go.

The accident also resulted in the death of two persons, one Segun Bello who is a primary school teacher, and a yet to be identified person.

A source from the community said the petrol tanker’s driver who was driving at high speed overtook a small passenger vehicle and in the process diverted away from the main road, collapsed into some residential buildings along the road and burst into flame.

The split fuel from the petrol tanker was said to have aided in spreading the raging fire that also consumed many of the buildings aside those brought down by the tanker itself.

The teacher, Segun Bello, who died in the raging inferno in an attempt to run out of the destroyed building unfortunately jumped into the raging fire already spreading outside house, the source said.

Many other persons were said to have also been injured from the collapsed building and the fire from the petrol tanker.
For hours, the Iffe – Kabba road, which is a link between the south – west and Lokoja the Kogi State capital was sealed off as a result of heavy gridlocked caused by the accident.It took spirited efforts from the communities to subdue the fire and a lot of efforts from the officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to ensure the road become passable again.

Blatter insistent on November start for Qatar World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed on Friday that he would favour playing the controversial 2022 Qatar World Cup in November and December.

“We are starting the consultations to bring it to the winter time. It can only be done in November-December, not January-February,” Blatter told reporters in Abu Dhabi, where he will attend this weekend’s under-17 World Cup final between Nigeria and Mexico.

The prospect of moving the 2022 World Cup from its traditional June and July slot has angered winter sports federations because of a possible clash with that year’s Winter Olympics.

Winter sports federations and broadcasters argue that a high-profile football event clashing with their own seasons would dent television audiences and revenues.

Dele Alampasu of Nigeria recieves the Golden Glove awards from FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter during the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 Final between Nigeria and Mexico at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium on November 8, 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (FIFA)

But putting the staging of the World Cup back to the end of the year would appease them, while also meaning that the tournament would interfere with the 2022-23 football season rather than 2021-22.

The world of football is already split, with critics saying the climate issue could hardly have escaped FIFA’s notice when Qatar initially bid for the hosting of the tournament.

However, England’s Premier League has led the opposition to moving the start date of the tournament.

Governor Chime admits detaining his wife..but says its in her interest

This report from Sahara Reporters contradicts reports yesterday that Gov Chime denied detaining his wife. This report has more details about the press conference that took place in Enugu on Tuesday

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has confirmed reports that he is keeping his wife incarcerated, but that he is doing so in her interest.

“I wanted the best for her and that’s why I pleaded with the doctors to have her treated at home,” he stated during a press conference in Enugu.  “That’s also why I allowed her access to her telephone and laptop which unfortunately led to the stage where I’m now being falsely accused of imprisoning or detaining my own wife.”

Offering an explanation about his decision, the governor said, “My wife has some medical challenges and it would be very unkind for me to talk about her condition on the pages of newspapers,” the governor said at a strange press conference in Govt House.

 “I’ve done everything to protect her integrity and I’m not now going to expose her to ridicule because some people want to exploit her situation to drag me into a needless war of words.
With Clara Chime by his side at the conference, he disclosed that the battle concerning his wife’s health situation commenced even before his inauguration in 2011.

“It was so bad at a time that she had to be taken out of here (Governor’s Lodge) for treatment. When she stabilized, I pleaded with her doctors if she could be brought back here to be receiving her treatment at home and they graciously accepted.

“There was a time she was confined indoors and that was strictly on her doctors’ advice. She’s here and she can confirm or deny it.  Also, the doctors then advised against allowing her access to telephones and laptop.”

Asserting that he would never say or do anything to undermine the dignity of his wife, he said his “big blunder” was to have allowed her access to the telephone and her laptop, against the advice of her doctor, a mistake for which he is paying dearly.

“Her brother is here, her doctor is here with us too. You people (journalists) can confirm anything you want from them, either here and at your convenience. Would I have been a better husband if I asked her to leave the Lodge because of her medical challenge? Would it not have been more convenient for me if I allowed her to stay and be treated in the hospital?”

In a story broken by SaharaReporters one week ago in which she begged human rights bodies to come to her rescue, Mrs. Chime complained bitterly that two psychiatrists, Dr. Onwukwe and Dr. Agumuo, had prescribed “all kinds of drugs that ends up keeping me acute depressed and also drives me into hallucinations.”

Dr. Aham Agumuo, identified as Mrs. Chime’s neuro-psychiatric doctor, was present at the conference along with Tony Igwe, her elder brother; as well as Mrs. May Oji and Dr. Jide Chime, the governor’s siblings.

Following that first complaint, human rights lawyer Femi Falana wrote a letter to the Inspector-General of Police on her behalf urging him to have her released.  She then wrote to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the same complaint of unlawful detention by her husband.
Offered a chance to speak at the press conference, for a long time Mrs. Chime was silent, ignoring persuasion from her husband and her brother.  At a point, her brother Tony took her to an adjacent room where they spent a few minutes together before returning to the table.  Tony then declared that she was willing to talk but Mrs. Chime dramatically delivered only another round of silence.
Eventually, the First Lady said: “You (referring to the governor) and my doctor can speak on my behalf.”

To that, the governor politely replied: “Yes, I’m your husband and should ordinarily do so but you know I’m the one being accused of detaining you. This way, I’ve lost that privilege to speak for you, at least on this case. The story out there also is that your doctor is probably scared of me and gives you all kinds of drugs, sometimes against your wish.”

Mrs. Chime merely said: “My doctor and I don’t have any problem.”
Concerning the petition to the NHRC, she corroborated an earlier text message she had sent to her husband that she had not met Falana or engaged him to seek her release from a purported unlawful custody.  But she admitted that she wrote a letter to Dr. Agumuo and another doctor overseas to whom she was introduced, but said she did not know how the letter leaked to the public.
She also admitted that she was once confined to a room without access to her telephone and laptop. “That was when I had a serious crisis,” she said.

Mrs. Chime also confirmed that she has the key to her room and controls her entry and exit, contrary to the claim in the petition that she had been locked up for asking to be allowed to leave. Her grouse was that she had not been allowed to leave the premises, but it was learned that she attended Mass last Sunday.

Governor Chime chipped in: “All I want to reassure you is that she is safe here. Her confinement within the premises for now is at the instance of her doctor who is here. Why would I want my wife locked up? If it had been that I had issues with her, there are many ways to resolve them. But that’s not the case. She is not well and I’m willing to do anything to support and protect her.
“It was always more convenient for me to have taken the easier route but that would have been very callous and ungodly. When I had my own health challenge, I was receiving treatment in London and thinking about her, making sure she received the right treatment. I’m forever grateful to her doctors who have done a great job. Both families are billed to meet very soon and after that, I’ll take a decision which will be in the interest of both parties.”

Challenging the petition to the IGP by Mr. Falana, the governor said: “He’s my professional colleague but sometimes you leave people to their conscience.  I won’t join words with him. Has he met this client of his as he claimed to assess her state of mind and determine if she can give him the right brief to guide his case? Did he ask for access to her or to me and was denied? I leave it at that.”
He described the development as the penalty a public officer faces, adding that when he was receiving treatment in London, some of the newspapers reported that I had died in India.
“I’ve never been to India and had never applied for an Indian visa,” he stated.  “Today, the story is that I’ve imprisoned my own wife in my residence. I know their motives but I wish those behind such wicked tales well.”

He did not identify the people or their motives.