Wike’s threat forces contractors to end strike

Rivers State Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike
Rivers State Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike
BARELY two days after the Rivers State Government threatened to sack refuse contractors over the prevalence of garbage in Port Harcourt, the striking contractors have resumed work.

The Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Authority, Chief Felix Obuah, had on Friday warned the refuse contractors and other service providers (sweepers) to clear the garbage and keep the state capital clean or risk losing their jobs.

Residents in Port Harcourt had been worried over the stench from refuse dumps in Port Harcourt and other places in the state.

The refuse contractors had been on strike in reaction to the non-payment of their four months salaries by the immediate past administration.

In reaction, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, appointed Obuah as a sole administrator for the State Waste Management Authority, charging him to ensure that refuse heaps in the state capital were cleared within 72 hours.

Speaking on how they were able to surmount the heap of refuse in Port Harcourt, a contractor, who identified himself as John, said they had been working round the clock in order to beat the deadline given to them by the governor and the sole administrator.

Another contractor, who works for Snowview Nigeria Limited, told Southern City News that though they were facing challenges in trying to beat the deadline given to them by government, they would work to ensure the heaps were cleared.

The contractor, who does not want his name mentioned in print, said, “Our biggest challenge is funds to buy fuel. Some of us have gone to borrow in order to buy fuel and also mobilise our workers so that the job can be done.

Cov: Punch 

SMILE4 CANCER

Heyyyyyyy!!!
Hurrayyyyyy!!!
Ladies SMILE we have a ☆WINNER☆ in the SMILE4 CANCER online picture contest.
》Ugonma Shawntel Ekebike《 has emerged winner with the picture with the highest number of votes.
So she goes home with a lovely pink prize from us and a voucher for a free counselling and screening session at Optimal Cancer Care all courtesy of The Pearls Networks.

1st Runner up 》》Omoye Okoniha《《

Watch this space for updates and more.
Keep SMILING. Cancer is not beyond us.
Visit www.facebook.com/pages/the-pearls-network/1516055905278957

Jega Finally Bows Out Of INEC…Gov. Mimiko’s Brother, Prof. Nasim Olufemi As New Chairman

Having successfully triumphed in its bid to secure a
later date for the 2015 general elections originally
scheduled for February 14 and 28 respectively, it has
emerged that the presidency’s move to place
supporters of his cause to sensitive positions has
eventually worked out well as the chairman of
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
has been asked to go on compulsory leave starting
from March, 1, 2015.
President Jonathan and his closest associates, it was
gathered, have been desperate to postpone the
elections to enable them re-strategize in the face of
imminent pointers that Mr. Jonathan and his party,
the PDP were on the verge of losing the election to
the opposition APC Presidential candidate,
Muhammadu Buhari with a wide margin should the
election proceed as planned under Jega who had
reportedly turned down several invitations to go and
see President Jonathan at Aso Rock.
Now that INEC has officially announced the
postponement of the elections by six week, Mr.
Jonathan and his associates are now set to appoint,
Professor Nazim Olufemi Mimiko, a professor of
Political Science and International Relations and a
former VC of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo
State.
The in-coming chairman will be resuming from the
1 st day of March, 2015. Prof. Nazim is a close
relative of the Ondo State governor, Raman Mimiko,
a strong supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan’s
re-election bid.
The embattled professor Jega, as we gathered, will
be officially proceeding on his three months
terminal leave with effect from March 1, 2015 in
compliance with the Civil Service procedure.
Mr. Jega’s tenure is schedule to end in June, 2015 but
with this new development, that is not going to
happen because of the series of attacks and
allegations the amiable personality has been
receiving. One of those allegations is that he’s
working with some powers in the North to install
Buhari as a Northern man. According to them, Jega
is trying to compromise the polls against Jonathan
for Buhari to emerge.
PDP and some elements of people led by Chief Edwin
Clark are being threatened by this move so the
earlier they remove him, the better.
Last Thursday, Jega was quoted to have told the
council that the commission was ready for the
conduct of the election but the military chiefs were
quoted to have said they could not guarantee the
security of electoral officers, materials and the
electorate should the commission go ahead with the
earlier schedule.
Same Thursday, Jonathan’s supporters under the
aegis of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly led
by Ijaw leader and ex-Minister of Information, Chief
Edwin Clark, called for the postponement of the polls
and Jega’s resignation.
Despite calls for his resignation by some supporters
of President Goodluck Jonathan, Jega had during his
press conference two nights ago said he would not
resign.
“I will not resign because my conscience does not
say so. I have never met with anyone on how one
candidate could win and the other could lose. If
there are legitimate reasons for me to resign, I
would leave. “jega told newsmen.
Well, with six more weeks for more political
scheming and rigmaroles that create more
uncertainty of what lies in it for Nigerians, the
country can only look forward to what unfolds
ahead of us.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that during the
national conference, Prof. Olufemi Mimiko, as an
Ondo State delegate at the last national conference
held in Abuja, has recommended that Nigerians
should be allowed to carry arms to protect
themselves given the present spate of insecurity in
the country.

Source:
Mikeangelonews.Com

SMILE FOR CANCER

Hey! Ladies, Smile For Cancer online contest is still ON!!!. Yeah you heard right.

Earlier on in the week we told you that the online picture contest in commemoration of World Cancer Day 2015 ends midnight Sunday 8th of February while winner (picture with the most likes) would be announced Monday. Fortunately we had ladies who called in to say they dint know people were supposed to be asked to vote for thier pictures. And you know we are very considerate at the Pearls Network so we decided to put in two (2) extra days of contest and re-echoe that while the contest is on for two (2) extra days, you should ask your loved ones, families and friends to visit our facebook page The Pearls Network - @[1516055905278957:www.facebook.com/pages/The-pearls-network/1516055905278957] and like your picture entry to earn you votes. SOOOO LIKE YOUR PICTURE OOOOOO. 
By this, voting has been extended by two(2) extra days
(after all Jega extended the elections by 6 weeks. Lol).

New entries are welcome. All you need to do is put on a pink lips, take a selfie, send it to us on thepearlsmail.network@gmail.com and we'll post it on our Facebook page where you'll need to go and like,like,like until you win. That simple.

So smile, snap, post, like and win. Lovely prize to be won including free cancer counselling and screening session.
Remember Cancer is NOT BEYOND US.

For the guys just share the post for more ladies to get involved.

Pawad by The Pearls Network👄, Groove Media Concepts, BM INSPIRED  & Rugged Boots Production.

THINK POLITICS. THINK PEOPLE

Think Politics, Think People !: http://youtu.be/3GsjAxIY9kc

INEC postpones election

THINK POLITICS. THINK PEOPLE

What is happening in Nigeria? INEC postpones February 14th and 28th elections to March 28th and April 11th. Is this a shame or what? How are we looking as a nation to the international community? And how are Nigerians taking this?

Your thoughts please.

Also see GROOVE PLUS+  on www.groovemediaconcepts.blogspot.com

Audio file on Sahara Reporters alleged rigging of Ekiti Guber elections

Explosive audio surfaces detailing how Ekiti state Guber election was 'allegedly' rigged - Explosive audio surfaces detailing how Ekiti state Guber election was 'allegedly' rigged listen here》》》 http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU2Ap8dOxVc

How Obanikoro, Fayose, Chris Uba And Brig. General Momoh Rigged Ekiti Governorship Election In Collusion With The Nigerian Army

This is horrible. I have avoided reporting news stories that appear somewhat partisan in order not to be indirectly labeled partisan myself but this story got to me and considering I have been preaching a violence free election on my 'THINK POLITICS, THINK PEOPLE ' campaign, I felt really obligated to take this one public. This is realy absurd.
Find story from Sahara Reporters below:

The 37-minute recording details the conversation between these PDP leaders and politicians as they bribed Brigadier General Momoh with a promotion for his assistance in carrying out election fraud in Ekiti. In it, Obanikoro is clearly heard informing the group of men, “[I] am not here for a tea party, am on special assignment by the President.”

SaharaReporters has received unimpeachable documents and audio recordings providing substantial evidence that major Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders planned and successfully rigged the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State, and plotted a similar scenario in Osun in 2014. 

The audio recordings and affidavit were provided by Sagir Koli, a Captain in the 32nd Artillery Brigade stationed in Ekiti State, who has since fled the country for fear of retaliation. Capt. Koli recorded the conversation on 20th June 2014 when he was asked to accompany his Commanding Officer, Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, to the meeting.  The venue was held at Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti.

The audio recordings depict the meeting as being attended by the eventual “winner” of the election, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti; Senator Iyiola Omisore; a man identified as Honorable Abdulkareem; the Minister for Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade; and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who was at the time the Minister of State for Defence. Mr. Chris Uba came to Ekiti with huge stash cash and soldiers from the East to carry out the assignment.

The 37-minute recording details the conversation between these men as they bribed Brigadier General Momoh with a promotion for his assistance in carrying out election fraud in Ekiti. In it, Obanikoro is clearly heard informing the group of men, “[I] am not here for a tea party, am on special assignment by the President.”

SaharaReporters further received credible intelligence that President Goodluck Jonathan had instructed the Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Badeh, to use the army in arresting and intimidating opposition politicians before and during the election. The audio recording provides exact details of the plot, with the collaborators almost degenerating into physical combat.

Authentication of Audio Recordings and Proof of Election Fraud

The audio recordings were analyzed and authenticated by Guardian Consulting, an independent US-based security consulting company. According to a report authored by Guardian Consulting, also in the possession of SaharaReporters, the independent company used Forensic Voice Frequency Comparison technology to identify all voices on the recording with audio available in the public domain.

The then Deputy Defense Minister, Obanikoro clearly states to General Momoh that he was not only sent to the meeting by President Jonathan, but “you can’t get a promotion without me sitting on top of your military council.  If I am happy tomorrow night, the sky is your limit.” 

Governor Fayose revealed that he had already bribed an official of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), the non-political commission charged with organizing elections in Nigeria, to bring copies of voter ballots with the INEC logo to him that day. Fayose, upset that his INEC contact was caught in traffic, narrated his day’s frustrations: “Where are we supposed to be collating the thing INEC gave to us? Soft copies we now printed? Why is my [INEC] contact not with [the ballots]…my contact man [was] sitting in the check point…it took me more than two hours to get this man.” 

As the plotters began to argue, Omisore, who was running for Governor of Osun State on the PDP ticket, tried to calm the room: “I would just say that we don’t have to argue so much, we have seen some lapses [today] yes. It’s just this evening, there is nothing happening now that we cannot contain before tomorrow morning.”

Plans to Rig Elections in Favor of PDP

The eyewitness testimony and sworn affidavit by Capt. Koli corroborates the audio recordings of the PDP officials’ plans to manipulate the Ekiti elections. The plotters devised several plans intended to bring about an unlawful victory for PDP candidates in Ekiti State races, including the forging of INEC ballots, the use of the military to facilitate access for PDP operatives and supporters, the creation of a list of APC members to be arrested, and the deployment of a Special Team of military personnel to prevent APC voters from reaching the polls.

The PDP officials told General Momoh that those soldiers on election duty “must work hand-in-hand with the PDP agents” and ordered the arrest of selected APC stalwarts as that could “greatly assist the party during the election including DG campaign organization for Dr. Fayemi, Mr. Bimbo Daramola,” Capt. Koli said in his affidavit.

General Momoh, confronted with criticism by the group, defended himself by saying that “we have done a lot of [APC] arrests.”  It would be recalled that there were arrests of APC members in Ekiti during the period.  It would also be recalled that many members of the security offices paraded around Ekiti in disguise.

The PDP collaborators also demanded that the military block APC members’ access to the electorate and that moles should “be careful because the consequence will be severe.”

Soldiers were instructed set up roadblocks leading to the polling stations and prevent APC supporters’ access.  Additionally, vehicles and individuals with a special sticker labeled “National Security Task” were allowed movement anywhere, and were only distributed to PDP agents.

General Momoh informed the group that there were “about 6 special teams. I have one strike force. I have almost forty soldiers after deployment,” evidently an organized system being used to manipulate voter turnout. 

Capt. Koli’s statement explained that based on these strategies, “they succeeded in rigging the Ekiti State election with victory in all the 16 Local Governing Authorities (LGAs). These really inspired them and they were with the euphoria that same would happen in Osun State.”

Indeed, leading into the Osun State elections the Brigadier General posted there was told to take a three-week leave during the elections.  His position was temporarily filled by General Momoh, who then repeated the same fraudulent tactics in Osun.

Retaliation Against Captain Sagir Koli

SaharaReporters was provided with additional evidence that proves the military retaliated against Capt. Koli when he released this information. Capt. Koli fled before he was arrested, but the military arrested, secretly detained, and chained his brother Adamu to a bed for nearly five months at the Adekunle Fanjuyi’s Cantonment.

In an exclusive phone interview with from his hideout outside Nigeria, Capt. Koli told SaharaReporters that his brother was starved for periods of time and sometimes “fed worms.” Adamu was only released after a petition, which is also in possession of SaharaReporters, was submitted to the National Human Rights Commission by Barrister Chief K. Akinola Ajayi.

The treatment of Capt. Koli’s brother was so poor during his illegal confinement that he had to be hospitalized due to malnutrition. 

SaharaReporters contacted Nigerian Defense spokesperson, General Chris Olukolade as well as Nigerian Army spokesperson, Col. SK Usman, for comment on this story.  Both officials promised to get back to us but never did.

Sahara Reporters

Billionaire philanthropist, Molade Okoya-Thomas, dies at 79

THE Asoju-Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, is dead.

Aged 79, he died on Monday, according to the announcement by the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation.

He was the sponsor of the annual Asoju Oba of Lagos Table Tennis Championship.

The late Chief Okoya-Thomas, an accountant and industrialist par excellence, was born on June 8, 1935 in Lagos.

He had his early education, both the primary and secondary, at Princess School, Lagos (1942-1946) and Baptist Academy, Lagos (1956-1956) respectively, before proceeding to the Balham and Tooting College of Commerce, London, between 1956 and 1959.

In 1981, he studied at the Columbia University, in the United States of America.

The late Okoya-Thomas started work as an accountant at CFAO, Lagos, upon his return to Nigeria, before rising to become the director of the company in 1975, as well as the chairman in 1987.

He was also a director in several other business organisations like Transcorp, Nigerian Motors Industries Limited, Nigex Limited, Commercial Bank (Credit Lyonnais) Nigeria, Studio Press Nigeria Limited, among others.

The late Okoya-Thomas was also a member of many development organisations and Chambers of Commerce.

Okoya-Thomas, a philanthropist of note, was an ardent lover of sports, and he promoted several sports, especially table tennis and lawn tennis, which were his hobbies, with his resources.

Okoya-Thomas held different traditional titles, including the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Odofin of Ile-Ife, Babasuwa of Remoland, among others.

He also held the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), a national honour given to outstanding people in the country.

Jonathan receives forensic report on NNPC accounts

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, received the report of the forensic investigation he ordered into the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Jonathan had ordered the investigation in March last year, following allegations of missing funds from the corporation’s accounts made by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.

The firm engaged for the job, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, has concluded its assignment and, led by its country Senior Partner, Uyi Akpata, presented its report to the president at the State House, Abuja, with Jonathan promising that he would get experts to look at it as quickly as possible.

Akpata told the president that “it is a privilege for us to have carried this exercise out on behalf of the government and I hope that you will find this report useful.”

Receiving the voluminous document, President Jonathan acknowledged the controversy which surrounded the accounts of the NNPC, saying that Nigerians were eager to know the exact position.

“There has been so much of controversy over this NNPC and leakages or no leakages. I remember the Senate have also looked into it. It is also good that you professionals have also looked into it.

“What appears in the papers and the speculations is also very high. The figures that I cannot even imagine the country will make is being bandied in the newspapers.

“So I am quite pleased that you have taken the forensic audit. Though it is voluminous, I will give it to the professionals.

“In government work, there are people that have the statutory responsibilities to handle such assignments which is the Auditor General of the Federation.

“So, the Auditor General will look at it and within the week, let us have key highlights, because the media will want to know the key findings vis a vis the Senate findings and figures being bandied in the newspaper.

“By the time we go through the Petroleum Industry Bill and pass it into a law, most of this lapses will be corrected and the misconception will be properly addressed.

“I thank you for the good work you have done and I believe it will help us to move things forward and set things right and I promise we will handle it decisively.

“I hope we will not call them back, but where the need be, we will call them back if there are issues that are not so clear, but we are happy with what we have done so far,” he said.

Gombe rally: Jonathan’s convoy narrowly escapes bomb blast

THREE minutes after the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan left the Pantami Stadium in Gombe on Monday, explosion rocked the Water Board area of the state, leading to the death of three persons.

This came almost 25 hours after five people, including two suspected suicide bombers, lost their lives in twin-bomb explosions in the state.

The Monday incident occurred at 3.30 p.m., shortly after President Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 14 election, concluded his campaign rally held at the Pantami Stadium.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that pandemonium occurred when a car exploded, leading to the death of the suspected bomber and two other person, while 18 people were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury in the explosion.

According to an eyewitness, the suicide bomber, suspected to be a female, might have been denied access into the stadium, where President Jonathan urged Gombe people to vote for his re-election in the forthcoming presidential election, forcing her to detonate the explosive few metres away from the venue.

As of the time of filing this report, no individual or group had accepted responsibility for the explosion, while it was unclear whether the presidential campaign was the target of the suicide bomber.

Sunday twin explosions, which rocked the old Gombe market and the Kasuwan Katako, behind the 301 Artillery Regiment Quarter Guard of the Nigerian Army in the capital, forced the state police command to ban the use of motorcycle in the metropolis until after the presidential campaign on Monday.

This, the source said, could have informed the use of car by the suicide bomber.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Fwaje Atajiri, confirmed the explosion, saying, however, that it took place after President Jonathan had left the venue of the presidential campaign.

Atajiri stated that the explosion occurred some distance away from the Pantami Stadium, informing that two persons lost their lives in the explosion, while 18 others got injured.

Members of the Gombe State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were attacked by some thugs immediately after the blast occurred.

Chairman of the chapel, Mr Timothy Choji, informed the Nigerian Tribune that as they were trying to escape the scene of the incident, their bus was damaged by some thugs, adding that five members were injured.

Father, daughter from Chinese cult executed for beating woman to death

A father and daughter who belonged to a Chinese cult have been executed for beating a woman to death with an iron bar at a McDonald’s restaurant as customers watched.

Zhang Fan, 29, and Zhang Lidong, 54, were among five members of the banned Quannengshen cult convicted of attacking the woman after she reportedly rebuffed their attempts to recruit her.

The pair ‘were put to death by the Intermediate People’s Court of Yantai city’, China’s official news agency Xinhua said.

China uses both lethal injection and shooting for executions, but the method was not specified.

State media gave the executions prominent coverage on Monday, broadcasting CCTV showing the Zhangs in court, as well as replaying a film of the attack.

Shortly after the brutal attack in May last year, a three-minute video circulated online showing the incident at a McDonald’s in Zhaoyuan, in China’s Shandong province.

At the time, the clip caused uproar as it showed customers watch while the woman screamed in agony as she was beaten to death. No-one was reported to have tried to help her.

The footage, apparently shot on a mobile phone, only included a fraction of a second showing the person thought to be the victim, only known as Miss Wu.

Reports said the victim was having dinner at the fast food restaurant when a man, identified as Mr Zhang, asked for her phone number.

When she refused, the violence unfolded over a brief 20-minute period - and Zhang used an iron bar to beat Miss Wu to death right in the middle of the restaurant.

Chinese media reported Zhang’s friends joined in and also beat Miss Wu, kicking her in the head as she lay on the ground in a pool of her own blood.

They then proceeded to use an iron-handled mop to strike her in the head and continued to do so until the handle broke.

Miss Wu, 37, who was a mother, died at the scene.

Three others convicted over the attack -- including another daughter of Zhang Lidong’s - were given prison sentences, ranging from seven years to life, for offences including ‘undermining law enforcement using heresy’.

In the wake of the killing, state media said 1,000 Quannengshen members had been arrested including ‘high-level organisers and backbone members’. 

WORLD CANCER DAY 2015

SMILE4 CANCER;
The Pearls network
in conjunction with BM.Inspired
presents

SMILE FOR CANCER social media contest/campaign
In commemoration of WORLD CANCER DAY 2015
Theme: 'NOT BEYOND US'

All you need to do is
1- Put on a pink lip stick with a pink ribbon on the left side of ur chest.

2- take a selfie or studio pix or urself

3- Send it to us on thepearlsmail.network@gmail.com and we will publish it as ur support for cancer wk 2015.

The picture with the most likes on our Fb page /the pearls network  would attract a prize.

Show ur support, join the fight against cancer bcoz  it is 'Not Beyond Us' to conquer.

Remeber early detection is still d best way to defeat cancer.

Smile😊

Bomb attack at mosque kills nearly 50

A powerful bomb tore through a busy Shiite mosque in southern Pakistan on Friday, killing close to 50 people in the country’s deadliest sectarian attack in nearly two years.
The blast hit the mosque in Shikarpur in Sindh province, around 470 kilometres (300 miles) north of Karachi, as hundreds of worshippers attended Friday prayers.
Pakistan has suffered a rising tide of sectarian violence in recent years, most of it perpetrated by hardline Sunni Muslim groups against minority Shiite Muslims, who make up around one in five of the population.
Shaukat Ali Memon, the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital in Shikarpur, gave a death toll of 48.
Earlier, Sindh health minister Jam Mehtab Daher told AFP that “a total of 40 have been killed in the attack, 46 others have been wounded”.
Hundreds of people rushed to the scene after the blast to try to dig out survivors trapped under the roof of the mosque, which collapsed in the explosion, witness Zahid Noon said.
Television footage of the aftermath showed chaotic rescue scenes as people piled the wounded into cars, motorbikes and rickshaws to take them for treatment.
“The area is scattered with blood and flesh and it smells of burnt meat, people are screaming at each other… it is chaos,” Noon told AFP.
“A huge contingent of police and rangers is present here and ambulances from the nearby towns have started to arrive.”
Local resident Mohammad Jehangir told AFP he had “felt the earth move beneath my feet” as he prayed at another mosque around 1.5 kilometres away.
An official with a national Shiite organisation, Rahat Kazmi, told AFP that up to 400 people were worshipping in the mosque when the blast struck.

Widow, 50, bags 3 years imprisonment for drug peddling

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced a 50-year-old widow, Nwakpa Nwore, to three years imprisonment for dealing in Cannabis Sativa, also known as Indian hemp.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke sentenced the accused after she had pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of drug trafficking preferred against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The accused was arraigned on Oct. 10, 2014 and had pleaded guilty to the charge.
Justice Aneke had then adjourned the case for a review of facts and judgment.
When the case was called on Friday, a prosecution witness, Mr Lawrence Odede, who is a Superintendent of Narcotics with the NDLEA, gave his testimony before the court.
“On Sept. 11, 2014 when the accused was arrested, two officers of the NDLEA, Mr Safianu Abdulsalam and Mr Iluobe Frank, came to my office with nine sacks of a substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
“I conducted a preliminary test on the substance and it turned out to be Cannabis Sativa. I also weighed the substance and found it to be 59.15 kilograms,” Odede said.
He then tendered the nine sacks before the court as evidence and they were accordingly admitted and marked as exhibits.
The prosecutor, Mr Kalu Orji, urged the court to convict and sentence the accused accordingly.
“My Lord, in view of the plea of the accused and all the exhibits tendered by the prosecution in this matter, we pray this honourable court to convict her in line with Section 218 and 285(2) of the Criminal Procedural Act,” Orji said
Aneke, thereafter, convicted the accused as charged and sentenced her to three years imprisonment.
The judge said he was inclined to temper justice with mercy because the accused had pleaded guilty without wasting the time of the court and also considering the fact that she was a first offender.
The judge also said he believed that the widow, who had been in detention since her arrest in September 2014, deserved a second chance, as she would have learnt her lessons.
“This court is mindful of the evil effect of a hard drug such as Cannabis Sativa on the society, especially as regards the young and innocent members of the society.
“Consequently, the convict is hereby sentenced to three years imprisonment, starting from the day of her arrest,” Aneke said
The court also ordered the NDLEA to destroy the illegal substance, if there was no appeal against the judgment within 30 days.
The accused was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA, on Sept. 11, 2014 at Isiu Village in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The prosecutor had told the court that Nwore was caught in possession of nine sacks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 59.15 kilogrammes, which she intended to sell to touts.
According to Kalu, the accused violated Section 11 (c) of the NDLEAa Act Cap. 30, Laws of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)

Apologise or face disgrace, Boyloaf tells Danjuma

FORMER Commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, Victor Ebikabowei Ben, alias General Boyloaf, has asked the former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), who called for the arrest of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, himself (Boyloaf) and others to apologize for his scandalous demand.

Boyloaf, who said he would not have dignified Danjuma with a response because of his age, said since he elected to make the infamous call in a political event to score cheap political point and further denigrate the Niger Delta, he should say sorry not only to the three ex-militant leaders, but to  Niger-Deltans.

Stating that Danjuma should have been arrested and prosecuted… if not that successive governments were compromised, he said, “ My best advice for the famed general is to keep quiet and hide his head in shame or else he will be disgraced.”

Boyloaf said, “My brothers and I only intervened when we saw an emerging trend that has consequences on the life of the President, and we thought we should be commended for drawing strong attention to this ugly scenario where the President of our country is pummeled with stones.”

SA apartheid assassin given parole

South African apartheid-era death squad commander Eugene de Kock has been granted parole after 20 years in jail.

He was nicknamed "Prime Evil" for his role in the killing and maiming of activists fighting white minority rule in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Justice Minister Michael Masutha said De Kock would be released "in the interests of nation-building".

De Kock, 66, was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms in prison and a further 212 years for the crimes he committed.

Mr Masutha said the time and place of De Kock's release would not be made public.

The justice minister stressed that his decision was guided by South Africa's constitution.

'Close a chapter'

Sandra Mama, widow of Glenack Mama who was killed by De Kock in 1992, said she thought the minister was right in granting parole.

"I think it will actually close a chapter in our history because we've come a long way and I think his release will just once again help with the reconciliation process because there's still a lot of things that we need to do as a country," she told the BBC.

The former colonel was head of the notorious Vlakplaas police unit.

He appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which was established a year after South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

De Kock confessed to more than 100 acts of murder, torture and fraud, taking full responsibility for the activities of his undercover unit.

Anti Gay Law: Nigerian Tobechukwu Ike Nwachukwu Persecuted For Advocating Gay Rights

No doubt, the
Nigerian’s gay right
is still waxing
stronger. Several
parts of Nigeria has
witnessed arrests of
increase numbers
of gay men in
Nigeria under a
draconian anti-gay
law that makes
same-sex marriage
a crime punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
The law was signed in secret by members of
Nigeria’s House of Representatives in Abuja on
December 17, 2013 and by the president on January
7, 2014, although there was no public announcement.
The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act criminalizes
same-sex marriage and provides for up to 14 years
in jail. Membership or supporters of gay
organizations, associations or clubs carries a penalty
of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The new law reflects a highly religious and
conservative society that largely considers
homosexuality a deviation. In areas of northern
Nigeria the law is enforced by Islamic Shariah courts
and homosexuals can be stoned to death.
As at January 2014 after the signing of the bill into
law, Dorothy Aken’Ova of Nigeria’s International
Center for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights
said that police in Bauchi state have drawn up a list
of 168 allegedly gay men, 38 of whom have been
taken into custody so far.
The law has drawn widespread international
condemnation from countries including the United
States, Canada and Britain, Nigeria’s former colonial
power, as well as by a host of non-governmental
organizations such as AIDS-Free World, which in an
open letter appealed to United Nations Secretary-
General Ban Ki-Moon for “guidance and leadership”
to ensure that “the global response to HIV is neither
paralyzed at this critical time, nor set on a
disastrous reverse course”.
Dr Heather Collister of the Geneva-based
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) said
in a statement that the law “was manifestly
incompatible with international human rights
standards and must be repealed”. “In addition to
targeting same-sex relations, the law targets the
work of human rights defenders, effectively
criminalising their work,” she added.
One of such people who have been incarcerated by
local authorities and has face several forms of
threat to life by even family members is
Tobechukwu Ike Nwachukwu who is an active
member of a ‘Our Fathers Love’, a non-
governmental organisation which seeks to empower
the less privileged in the society.
In previous interviews, Ike Nwachukwu, who is not
gay and married with children but had tried to
intervene in conflicts relating to matters of violence
against gay persons, had narrated how he was
implicated, tortured and had his rights violated by
both local authorities and some members of the
public. He had previously gone on several other
media to decry his circumstance. He recently spoke
again to our correspondent but this time from
hideout explaining how he was forced to go into
hiding because his life was being threatened as he
gets confronted by people on a daily basis even from
his immediate community.
His wife has similarly suffered severe attacks on
social media by people who are claiming to wanting
her husband dead simply because he had appeared
to speak for the gay community.
“Not only on Facebook even my colleagues at my
work place come up to threaten me right in front of
me. They no longer hold anything back to express
how badly they feel about my husband’s advocacy
for these people who sometimes have their rights
violated”, she says.
“We are only living in fear and don’t even know
who to turn to as the authorities might not even
help when you go to them with cases of threats to
life. You would even be making matters worse” she
adds.
In December, the International Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Assocation (ILGA) said
that Nigeria’s law will not only incite increased
violence against LGBT people, but it will also justify
and legalize that violence even against people who
might be perceived to support or advocate against
the law.
Some observers have suggested the anti-gay law is
being used to draw attention away from Nigeria’s
multiple armed conflicts, religious tensions,
corruption and under-development, as well as to
draw public favour ahead of Jonathan’s expected
2015 re-election bid.
study from 39 nations around the world by the U.S.
Pew Research Center found that 98% of Nigerians
believe society should not accept homosexuality,
making the country the world’s least tolerant when
it comes to LGBT issues.
Nigeria is one of 38 African countries – about 70%t
of the continent – that have adopted anti-gay
legislation, and several African leaders have publicly
warned that they would not let foreign powers
dictate to them on the matter.
Among the countries still considering similar
legislation is Uganda, where in December 2013, the
national parliament passed a bill which would
punish “aggravated” homosexual acts with life
sentences, as well as penalize those who do not
report gay activity. The law currently awaits the
signature of the country’s long-serving president,
Yoweri Museveni.
Shawn Gaylord, advocacy counsel at the Washington-
based Human Rights First, said that “government
leaders around the world, including President
Musaveni…will be watching to see how the
international community responds to legislation
thact discriminates against the LGBT community”.

AU reviews counter-terrorism strategies

The African Union member states have commenced a review of counter-terrorism measures as threats escalate in the horn and the Sahel region, a senior official said on Friday

Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the AU chairperson’s special representative for counter-terrorism cooperation told reporters that African governments have resolved to reorganize legal, policy and institutional frameworks to respond effectively to extremism and violence.

“The AU views terrorism as a serious threat to peace, security and long-term development in the continent. We have resolved to adopt new strategies to revitalize the fight against radicalization,” Madeira remarked.

He spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the AU Heads of state summit in Addis Ababa which devoted attention to new security challenges in the continent like terrorism, civil strife and cross- border crimes.

The AU has passed sweeping resolutions to enhance the capacity of member states to respond to terrorism.

Madeira noted that existing counter-terrorism measures had minimal success as jihadist groups in the Sahel and the horn of Africa commits acts of terror with abandon.

“Terrorism will not disappear overnight in the region. It is a protracted battle that demands a combination of force, persuasion and continuous education to root out,” Madeira said at the press briefing.

Terrorist networks have spread tentacles across the African continent thanks to weak border surveillance, governance lapses and poverty.

Madeira regretted that foreign terrorist groups are recruiting unemployed African youth with promise of a better life.

“Jihadists are cleverly exploiting weak internal systems to spread their wings. Their propaganda has convinced vulnerable youth that legitimate governments are to blame for their alienation,” Madeira intoned.

He revealed that powerful donors are financing terror in Africa while ethnic and religious strife has only worsened the challenge.

The AU member states have focused on strategic approaches to slay the dragon of terror from the source.

Madeira said the Pan African bloc has invested in deradicalization programs for the youth alongside equipping security forces with new counter terrorism strategies.

“We have encouraged member states to adopt regional counter- terrorism strategies that focus on keeping a database on terror groups and their activities, reorganization of intelligence gathering and public education,” said Madeira.

He added that countries have been encouraged to invest in youth empowerment programs to lure them away from joining radical groups.

African states must strengthen governance, law enforcement and establish healthy linkages with the civil society to nip terrorism in the bud.

Madeira challenged governments to strengthen border surveillance and invest in social amenities like education and health in marginalized regions that are bleeding grounds for terrorism.

“A comprehensive approach to fight terrorism must factor inclusion, poverty alleviation and dialogue with disgruntled groups,” Madeira told Xinhua.

African countries must invest in technical capacity to enable them detect sources of terrorism funds.

Madeira noted that terror networks are engaging in illegal activities to obtain money.

“Kidnappings for ransom, drugs and human trafficking and black market are steady revenue sources for terrorists. Countries must invest in technical and human capacity to disrupt conduits of terrorists’ finances,” Madeira remarked.

He added that a joint military intervention is required to root out terror networks in Africa.

“The combined military intervention involving Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon has weakened Boko Haram,” said Madeira.

Buhari was never stoned in Lagos - APC

Press release from APC regarding the alleged stoning of Buhari at his Lagos rally today...
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the concocted story by former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro that the party's presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was pelted with stone during the party's rally in Lagos, saying a lie has never worn a bolder face.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Gen. Buhari and other top leaders of the APC rode in a open bus from the Palace of the Oba of Lagos to the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the rally, to great cheers from Lagosians who lined the route.

''Not once was he pelted with stone during the almost two-hour ride. It is obvious that those who were paid by Mr. Obanikoro to stone the General failed to deliver. We therefore urge him to seek a refund of whatever money he paid to his hired hands to pelt Gen. Buhari with stones,'' it said.

APC said Obanikoro's statement on an imaginary attack on Gen. Buhari in Lagos must be his own way of saying 'thank you' to his masters for nominating him as Minister on Friday, as his reward for ceding the gubernatorial ticket he claimed to have won to Jimi Agbaje.

The party thanked the good people of Lagos for turning out in unprecedented numbers to welcome Gen. Buhari to Lagos, saying the Centre of Excellence has never witnessed such a huge and cheery crowd.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Jan. 30th 2015