Just a day after Australian hostage negotiator, Stephen Davis claimed that former Borno state governor, Ali Modu Sheriff and an unnamed retired army chief are sponsors of Boko Haram, he now claims that the insurgent group is funded through the CBN. In an interview with TheCable, Stephen claimed a senior official of the CBN handles the financial transactions of the sect group. Find his statement below...
"One of the biggest of suppliers of arms and military uniforms to the JAS (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, better known as Boko Haram) currently lives in Cairo, Egypt. He is the recipient of money sent by political sponsors from Nigeria. The funds go through the CBN’s financial system and appear to be a legal transaction. Meanwhile, the CBN official who handles the funding is an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the Nyanya bombings. The three boys lived with him. They were arrested by the SSS (Department of State Security) after the bombings but they do not seem to have been interrogated about their uncle in CBN. Or if they have given up information about their uncle then the SSS has not moved against him." Stephen said.
"Also, a senior official of CBN, who recently left the bank, was very close to Sodiq Aminu Ogwuche, the mastermind of the Nyanya bombings who also schooled in Sudan. Boko Haram commanders said Ogwuche’s wife used to visit this top official in his office at the headquarters of the bank in Abuja before the Nyanya bombings. They were very close,” Davis said. He said he is speaking out now because he feels the Federal government is doing little in the rescue of the missing Chibok girls "I have three daughters. I just cannot stand the thought of what those girls are passing through. I have spoken to an escapee who described how she was being raped for 40 days by militants. I can’t stand it. It is heart-breaking. Nigerian authorities must act decisively now,” he said
In Hausa language, it is called Mijingoro - male Kola. Some call it bitter kola. Well I saw this on a friend's facebook wall and I've been trying not to give it a caption, so I present to you this siamese bitter kola. But I wonder why it is called male kola. What do you think is happening here?
A blog visitor sent this to me earlier today and I wonder if anyone in Nigeria can be spotted clad in a jalabiya made in Nigeria national team colours.
The length we go at 'repping' (supporting) European teams make one wonder if there are club sides in Nigeria in particular and Africa at large.
Can you go this extent to show support for your club?
At least 10 people died when a boat carrying 35 passengers bound for Port Harcourt capsized and sank today. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) co-ordinator Onimode Bandele told AFP:
“We can confirm that 10 persons died early today when a Port Harcourt-bound passenger boat sank. Rescue efforts are ongoing and the agency is already working with other bodies and security agencies in the rescue efforts.”
The chairman of Bonny local government council, Adonye Wilcox, also confirmed the accident, which he said occurred at 7:45 am (0645 GMT).
“Information available… indicates that the boat hit an object on the way and sank. Local divers have rescued 17 persons, including four members of the National Youth Service Corps, while 10 persons died as a result of the accident”.
A search was being conducted for the eight people unaccounted for, Wilcox added. Boat accidents in Nigeria occur frequently and are often caused by overloading, poor vessel maintenance, speeding and poor lighting.
According to The Cable, the dissolution of the marriage between Christ Embassy Church founder, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Rev. Anita Odegwa Oyakhilome, has entered the final phase.
The wife is seeking divorce on the grounds of “unreasonable behaviour” and “adultery”. She outlined several allegations against the pastor which cannot publish for legal reasons. The divorce case, with Suit No FD14D01650, was filed on April 9, 2014 at Divorce Section A, Central Family Court, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London, UK, on Anita’s behalf by Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, a full-service law firm with expertise in commercial law and a strong consumer focus in family, wills and estate, personal injury law and medical negligence.
Efforts to reconcile the popular couple, whose church is one of the biggest denominations in Nigeria and has branches all over world, have failed. They have two teenage daughters, Sharon and Charlyn."
Oyakhilome is the president of Believers’ Love World Inc, the registered name of the Christian ministry, while his wife is the vice-president. The pastor, according to an elder of the church, has denied allegations of adultery and believes his wife is being influenced by “bad friends” who are intent on destroying their home. While Anita believes she has been relegated in the scheme of things in the church, her husband has reportedly accused her of trying to usurp power and authority above her seniors in the ministry. Sources told TheCable that the pastor had been making efforts to avoid divorce in the hope that the wife would eventually have a change of mind. However, the decree nissi was served on the charismatic pastor in his hotel room during a recent visit to the UK. Decree nissi, in legal terms, is like a yellow card in a football match which is a precursor to a red card (“decree absolute”) if no new evidence is provided to stall proceedings. Church insiders said Oyakhilome had been hoping for rapprochement, but he was left with no option than to receive the papers when the lawyers cornered him at his hotel in London. The decree absolute, which will effectively end the marriage, is expected to be issued soon while terms of the divorce will be worked out by the lawyers on both sides.
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and APC chieftain, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has named former Borno State governor Modu Sheriff (recently defected to PDP) and Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, a former chief of army staff as Boko Haram kingpins.
IHEJIRIKA
Posting the statement on his Facebook and Twitter pages, the former minister cited Australian hostage and crisis negotiator Stephen Davis, who alleged on Arise News that the duo are key to insurgency in Nigeria.
Davis claims the information was disclosed by Boko Haram commanders, who claim the pair has targeted individuals for assassination and execution.
President Jonathan today August 28th launched the new national e-ID card at the Villa in Abuja. The new e-ID card is powered by MasterCard and as such, it can be used for financial transactions. Meaning it's a two-in-one, ID card and ATM card. The first phase of the project will see 13million Nigerians issued the card while the next phase will target 100million Nigerians. The project is a partnership with MasterCard, the Nigerian National Identity Management Commission and Access bank. See more photos below...
Unknown gunmen at about 5.20 this morning August 28th attacked an Army camp manned by six armed soldiers at Wunti -Dada, a suburb of Bauchi state, killing the commander of the camp and a soldier.
According to reports by The Nation, the unknown gunmen arrived the camp in two motorcycles immediately after the early morning Muslim prayers and opened fire, killing the commander and the soldier.
Wunti-Dada has been one of the known security challenge points within the state capital with a lot of unusual incidents. Both the Bauchi state Police Public Relations Officer and the the 33 Artillery Brigade spokesman are yet to comment.
Detained NFF president Aminu Maigari has finally regained his freedom along with fellow executive committee member Chris Green. He was released yesterday a day after he was arrested on Aug 26th.
“Maigari has been released by the security operatives. He was released in the morning from the special anti-robbery squad after he was handed to them by the Directorate of State Security Service. No charges were pressed against him, neither was he or Green questioned on anything. It was clearly to prevent them from attending the general assembly of Tuesday, which FIFA insisted be presided by Maigari" said an aide of the NFF boss.
Maigari, it was further learnt, was detained on orders of controversial former Rivers State police commissioner Joseph Mbu, who is now an assistant Inspector General of police.
Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, says she's taking a break from acting to join politics for just eight years. In a chat with SaharaTV, the actress cited lengthy stay in politics as reason for much of the problems in Nigeria, on top of corruption on the part of government officials. Though she also said she had no money to share, she states that she will not enter politics for the purpose of financial gain, instead she will "push" herself to better the country. Kate told SaharaTV:
Are you quitting acting for politics?
“Well, well, I will take a break to serve the larger population of Nigeria. I won’t quit. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a governor and he’s back to acting again. You take time off, you serve your people. I don’t hope to be there forever. I just want to do, make noise, leave when the ovation is loudest. That’s the best way. I don’t want to be there for 10 years, 12 years, 16 years, that’s the best way. I want to do other things.”
You won't exceed 4 to 8 years?
“4- 8 years. That’s the limit…you can hold me to my word. There has to be another person, who will go through the process, who would want to try. That’s the problem. Too many people stay in one place for so long and other people just lose hope and say why would I even bother.”
On how much money she has and is willing to dole out:
“There’s no money. I can't match the people who have been in the system for 20 to 30 years. I’m going with God and my heart. I’m not sharing money. If you continue sharing money it will never stop. If you want a change, a true change, then vote for me and you’ll see the change. But if you want money, hey, go for money and stay where you are and don't ever complain".
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja today, the Minister said the doctor died on Friday Aug. 22nd after treating a diplomat who had direct contact with Patrick Sawyer, the first case of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. He said laboratory analysis on his corpse showed he died from Ebola.
"Following the report of his death by the doctor's widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD (Ebola Virus Disease" the Minister told reporters in Abuja
He also confirmed to reporters that two people in Port Harcourt have contracted the Ebola Virus disease. It will be recalled that on Tuesday August 26th, Nigeria's Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said there was only one case of Ebola in Nigeria, now he's confirmed that a doctor indeed died in Port Harcourt from Ebola.
Federal Government has announced a new date of resumption for all private and public schools in the country as a way of containing the spread of Ebola amongst school pupils. Schools in the country are expected to resume October 14, 2014.
Also, all summer lessons by private schools are suspended for the same purpose.
Embattled President of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari has reportedly been arrested by the Directorate of State Security agents in Abuja.
Mr Maigari is said to have been arrested today August 26th alongside Musa Amadu the NFF Secretary General and Chris Green, a board member, as proceedings for the General meeting of the NFF began at Chida Hotel in Abuja. Reason for their arrest has not yet been disclosed.
Maigari was recently reinstated as Chairman of the NFF by FIFA after being impeached by the NFF Board members in July.
The Japanese government has offered to release an anti-influenza drug called Favipiravir, which they claim they developed for the treatment of new and re-emerging viral diseases, including Ebola. They say the drug can treat Ebola and other influenza viral diseases.
Announcing the offer to newsmen yesterday August 25th in Tokyo, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Japanese government, Yoshihide Suga said the Japanese government is waiting for the World Health Organization to request for the drug and it will be dispatched immediately. He however said that pending the time WHO will approve and request for the drug, any emergency request by any individual may be responded to by Japan.
Spokesperson of Fujifilm, the company that developed the drug, Takao Aoki, said they have more than enough of the drug to cater for over 20,000 patients and are in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical testing of the drug
"Fujifilm is in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration on clinical testing of the drug in treating Ebola, The company has Favipiravir stock for more than 20,000 patients. Ebola and influenza viruses are the same type and theoretically similar effects can be expected on Ebola,” he said.
Nigeria's Health ministry had last week Thursday August 21st announced that it had requested for another type of Anti-Ebola viral drugs but its not certain if it was Favipiravir.
The Dutsen Alhaji Police Division of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Abuja, has arrested a woman, Mrs. Roseline Uzoamaka, after she brutalised her 14-year-old relative, identified simply as Sarah, because she was bed-wetting.
Uzoamaka allegedly forced the teenager to sit on a burning electric cooker until the girl sustained severe burns in her private parts as a punishment for urinating on the bed. The incident occurred last Saturday, August 23, at the family’s residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja. Sarah, it was gathered, was Uzoamaka’s sister-in-law, being a younger sister to her husband. On the fateful day, Roseline Uzoamaka had scolded Sarah for continuously bedwetting, and asked her to sit on the burning stove until her genitals were cooked by the heat.
It was gathered that Uzoamaka confessed in her statement to the police that she did this because some friends had advised her that the way to make her bedwetting sister-in-law recover from the problem was to make her sit on a hot stove. After the girl’s privates were affected by the heat, she was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment the same day. The girl is still recuperating in the hospital.
The Abuja Police Command Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, confirmed the arrest to Punch on the telephone.Adding that due to the severity of the case, the case had been transferred to the FCT Criminal Investigation Department. She said:
“Yes, the woman has been arrested. She told the police that the reason she did that was because the girl was bedwetting. She said it was some of her friends who advised her to try that as a solution. The girl is related to her husband. She is not her housemaid. The case has been transferred from the division to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.”
UK Guardian columnist Michelle Hanson wrote this article that has sparked quite a debate on social media about God and why He saved an American doctor and let 1,200 Africans die of the Ebola virus. The writer, who said she gave up on God many years ago, wondered how God works. Read the article below...
"Lucky Dr Kent Brantly, the American doctor who has recovered from Ebola, having been given a dose of the experimental antibody serum Zmapp, whizzed home to the US, and given another dose. He is now thanking God for saving his life. Through the medical team and drugs, he admits, but ultimately, it seems, God was in charge. And he chose Brantly, not the other 1,200 mainly west African people who have died horribly, which seems a bit picky."
It must be lovely for Brantly to be so sure of things. I tried, aged 10, to work out whether God was around or not, but couldn't. "What was his actual shape?" I wondered. And how could he be everywhere, all at once? How big, for example, was his toenail? Did it cover Ruislip, where I lived? I imagined him constantly on the go, distant enough for an effective overview and able to home in on catastrophes and act. But it was very hit and miss. Would he be on the spot when you needed him, like Brantly did? On and on I went for years, trying to believe in him. I even went camping with a tremendously religious youth organisation, but despite the prayers and observances, even the devout did some frightfully rude things in their tents. And there was no divine retribution. I gave up on God, for ever.
Millions didn't. They seem to be obeying his instructions to the letter, which isn't doing the world any favours. But at last, a bit of good news. The Jehovah's Witnesses are mellowing. They have a new tactic. Instead of just knocking on doors, they're also allowed to stand beside their literature, smiling, near shops and stations, letting us approach voluntarily. Marvelous. It's a shame they didn't do this years ago, when my old friend was a Jehovah's Witness. She was terrified sick of being sent to knock on our door. Luckily it never happened.
If only all religions would take this hands-off approach and let us all believe whatever we like. No pressure. I hope that one day, that will happen. I would say "Please, God," but I can't.
Some perhaps may not have played the most comely and Godly roles in their movies, but this celebrities now seem to have found a calling in the vineyard of God. Whether this is genuine or not, that is between them and God. So here is a list of the Top 5 Celebrities-turned-Pastors.
5. Zack Orji
Ex-President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Zack Orji can be described as “a gentleman without blemish.” This, no doubt informed his decision to become a worker in the Vineyard of God. Zack Orji ordained a full-time evangelist by Bishop Emma Isong of Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI).
He is said to have dedicated his time to preaching the gospel of good tidings across the nations of the world. The veteran actor has been spotted in such cities as Abuja, Nasarawa and Makurdi where he is engaged in various evangelical activities. But this, however, has not stopped him from storming the celebrity hangout, in Surulere to fraternize with his friends and colleagues in the movie industry.
4. Pat Attah
Pat Attah? That play boy actor who broke the hearts of many ‘Nollywood babes’ during his time, and left as soon as the ovation was loud. The once-upon-a-dreadlock-turned clean cut actor, is currently based in Hamburg, Germany where he’s winning souls for Christ. Those in the know said, he does not preach in churches, rather he is now very much a born-again.
Many knew him before he left the shores of the country as one who was close to the ladies and in love with the bottle. Today, reading his posts online, one would acknowledge the fact that Pat is a new creature in Christ. He often uses social network sites including Facebook to deliver his sermon and messages to those who care to read them. But what we don’t know is how he has been faring over there.
3. Pastor West
Capped 41 times for Nigeria, Taribo had an illustrious spell as a player, plying his trade for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Auxerre, Derby County, Kaiserslautern, Partisan Belgrade and Plymouth Argyle among others. He went to two World Cups with Nigeria in 1998 and 2002 and was a member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal winning team.
A man of deep religious convictions, Taribo spent the twilight of his playing career preparing to be a full-time man of God. He said he received the original calling to become an pastor in Atlanta in 1996 when a female Nigerian evangelist in the US called Patience Ikemefuna approached him with a message from God.
He then went back to Milan where he was based and opened a church called Shelter From the Storm Ministry, that catered after African migrants. Since retiring, Taribo has been working as a pastor in Nigeria preaching up and down the country.
Nigerian elections are due in 2015 when the term of current President Goodluck Jonathan expires. Taribo, who is from the Niger Delta like the president, is yet to announce on what platform he will run, but what we do know is that he intends to run.
2. Patience Ozokwor
This is perhaps the most shocking of turnarounds. Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama Gee, is one of the Nollywood superstars with a flair for “HARDNESS”. The veteran actress very rarely plays the role of a nice woman or the good mother(in-law) in her movies and very often it’s been said that her attitude towards fellow acts especially the junior acts, on set, can be describes as “not-so-good”. (that’s to put it mildly). Well this hardballing African was spotted on a Dominion City advert bill sometime in 2013 as one of the ministers to minister at the programme as she was introduced as “Evangelist Patience Ozokwor”. Wow!!! Could this mean that she has received the call of God to be a minister too, or was this just a one-off thing? That we’ll know in the very near future we hope.
1. Eucharia Anunobi
In fact, Eucheria Anunobi’s conversion was the most talked about conversion to Christ in recent times. The actress who ruled the screen in the early 90s with her role in the film “Glamour Girls” has been trailed with many controversies and scandals, most of which bothered on her relationships and crashed marriage. But after many years of being in the news for the wrong reasons, Eucheria shocked her fans when she announced she had given her life to Christ. Few months after the announcement, UK was ordained at the Fresh Oil Ministry, Egbeda, Lagos, as an evangelist.
Interestingly, with her ordination which was performed by Pastor Psalm Okpe, Eucharia willed the power to preach as a pastor and she’s doing so, without looking back. Those in the know said, she already counsels youths in the church and travels at random to spread the gospel of salvation.
This, however, has not taken away some of the traits that made her fans term her “a bad girl” before her transformation. She is still flashy and daring. Just weeks after the ordination, Eucheria bought a brand new BMW X5. Severally, she has refuted reports that she has abandoned her acting career for the work of God. Instead, she pointed out that she would be choosier in accepting roles in movies.
This 12-year-old girl is in Primary 3. A scan was done and the doctor confirmed that she is about seven (7) months pregnant. He thinks there could be a problem with the legs of the child, but he wasn’t sure. The Police have arrested the family of the lady and the family of the man (who is 20 years old). The man himself has eloped. Naijacamera on facebook
Tuface Idibia lost his father yesterday August 23 to cancer. Read the statement released by the family below...
With sadness in our hearts, but with gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing on of our father, brother, uncle and in-law, Michael Agbo Idibia, a native of Okpokwu Idumoga in Benue State. Born on July 25, 1946, Mr. Idibia is an alumnus of Kansas State University, USA, and retired from the Ministry of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Survived by wife, Mrs. Rose Owoyi Idibia, children: Steven Idibia, Innocent '2face' Idibia, Hyacinth Idibia and Oche Idibia, grand-children, and siblings. Burial arrangements will be announced by the family. We plead with the media and the general public to respect the privacy of the family in this difficult time. Thank you.
This little girl was rushed to the hospital yesterday after her madam asked her to sit on a burning electric cooker because she allegedly urinated in bed. Evil!
The MTV Video Music Awards will take place on Sunday night and as usual, it’s bound to see some controversial performances. But things took a sour turn for Nicki Minaj on Friday when a 6ft long snake apparently bit one of her dancers.
TMZ reports that the singer was rehearsing her latest song Anaconda and a snake was part of the planned performance at the upcoming ceremony. It is believed the snake was an anaconda, a non-venomous reptile that can still cause dangerous infections by spreading bacteria.
The dancer was rushed to hospital after being bitten and is currently receiving medical treatment. It is unknown if the snake will still be used in the performance, but TMZ reports it was taken away from the run-through in a container after biting Nicki’s dancer.
Nicki debuted the very raunchy video for Anaconda earlier this week, and no doubt has been planning a performance that's just as shocking.
The Department of State of State Service (DSS) has warned that terrorists may be planning to attack in a different way after 13 pieces of Catholic Reverend Sisters’ regalia were stolen from a shop in Kano state purportedly for suicide bombing.
In a statement released by Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson for the DSS, Nigerians are advised to look out for persons, especially female suicide bombers who may disguise in this regalia. The DSS believes that it might a new tactic adopted by suicide bombers following the awareness of Nigerians to the use of hijab.
On 20 August 2014, about 4:00 a.m., some yet to be identified persons broke into a tailoring shop located at No. 55 Odutola Street, Sabon Gari, Kano, and stole about thirteen (13) pieces of Reverend Sisters’ regalia of the Catholic Church. With the recent trend in female suicide bombings in the country, the removal of these regalia may be the handiwork of terrorists’ elements that may want to perpetrate acts of terror using such garments.
Consequently, this Service has taken necessary pre-emptive measures to thwart the exploitation of distinct religious wears for terrorist purposes. We also wish to draw public attention to this development and call on all citizens to be more circumspect and exercise greater vigilance with users of such peculiar attires.
The DSS then encouraged Nigerians to report any suspicious movement by anyone to the security operatives.
“We enjoin all and sundry to continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies through the provision of useful information on suspicious activities within their immediate environment. This Service will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders as we strive to keep our country safe.”
Parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped have urged the Nigerian government to confirm if their daughters are already dead, and hand over their bodies for burial.
The solemn call came Friday, more than four months after armed insurgents stormed Government Secondary School in Chibok, loaded more than 200 girls on to trucks, and drove them away in the dead of the night. According to the heartbroken parents, they would rather welcome such news and prepare for the funeral than wait endlessly for update on the fate of their children abducted by Boko Haram April 14.
On Friday, marking 130 day of the girls’ abduction, over 50 protesters marched from the Unity Fountain to the National Secretariat demanding that the girls be returned alive. The demonstrators distributed flyers and stickers. They chanted:
“What are we demanding for? Bring our girls back and alive” as they marched.
One of the leaders of the march, Hadiza Bala-Usman, told PREMIUM TIMES:
“The parents said they would rather know that theirs daughters are dead and their bodies brought back and buried so as to put an end to this endless wondering about the status of their children. They are calling on the Federal Government to help them search for the bodies of their children; that’s if they are dead. It’s better for them to know that their kids are dead and the bodies are brought back.”
An official of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Jibrin Ibrahim, who was also at the protest ground, told PREMIUM TIMES that the march was to remind the Federal Government of its responsibilities. Mr. Ibrahim said:
“Today is 130 days since the abduction of the girls. Since they were abducted, our government promised us swift action, to search and rescue them; that, has not happened. We are therefore out on the street to remind the government that they have a responsibility to rescue these girls and return them to their parents and homes.”
