Monday 9 September 2013

CONGRATS- Serena Williams becomes the oldest woman to lift the US Open title!!!

Serena Williams yesterday Sunday September 8th lifted her fifth US Open title and 17th career grand slam singles title after beating world Victoria Azarenka with a 7-5 6-7(6) 6-1.

This victory makes Serena the oldest US Open women's winner since tennis turned professional 45 years ago, eclipsing Australian Margaret Court, who was 31 years when she won the title in 1973. Big congrats to Serena.

Miss Kedike Chidinma Emi ni Baller Engaged To Nigeran Rapper Vector?

Miss Kedike who won the MTN Project Fame 2010, She have been doing great in the music Industry, Her Latest Video "Emi ni Baller" Topped MTV Base Chart last weekend.

"Lol" This Picture was Snapped inside the plane with some friends on their way to Hennessy Artistry in Abuja.

But wait a minute........." Is this Really a joke or Reality"?

SHOCKER!!!!!!! Wife Sues Husband Of 86 Wives For Besting her!!!!

A former wife of Mallam Mohammed Bello Masaba, the man who marries 86 wives, Azatu Adamu, has sued the polygamist for assault and attack. In the suit she filed before a magistrate court II in Bida, Niger State, she alleged that Mashaba and 15 other persons were involved in the attack.

 Consequently, the court ordered the police area command in Bida to investigate her claim that on August 4, 2013, Mallam Masaba and 15 other persons beat her up with electric cables which caused her and her baby serious injuries.
Masaba was arraigned with the other accused persons before the court on Thursday on a two-count charge of criminal assault and causing grievous hurt on the victim in contravention of sections 246 and 265 of the Penal Code.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Olu Oluwole, had challenged the jurisdiction of the court on the grounds that it would be biased against his client because there was a civil case before a Bida high court against his client which involved a relation of the husband of the presiding magistrate.
"My client will not get justice in this court. I want you to disqualify yourself from this case on the ground that a civil case against my client filed before a Bida High Court involves a brother to your husband. Justice will not be given to my client as a result of this reason. There is a likelihood of bias in this court against my client," he said.
On August 28, Oluwole raised the same grouse, which made presiding magistrate Hajiya Sa'adatu Abubakar Gambo  adjourn the matter to last Thursday.
At the resumed sitting, she ruled that the defence counsel had failed to prove the issues raised in the application challenging the competence of the court and the likelihood of her being biased.
She therefore ruled that the court was competent to hear the case and assured that it would not favour anybody in the dispensation of justice. "No right-thinking person will contemplate the probability of this honourable court favouring unfairly Azatu Adamu (the complaint) or the other party (Bello Masaba)," she stated. "It is now obvious that in the light of all the authorities cited that the applicant before this court seeking disqualification of this court on a likelihood of bias is baseless, mere suspicious of unreasonable people to build on vague, trivial and frivolous issues without merit in the application."
Magistrate Gambo therefore ruled that the court would assume jurisdiction on the criminal case against the 16 persons and adjoined the case to October 30, 2013, for further hearing.


Culled from LEADERSHIP

Miss Kedike Chidinma Emi ni Baller Engaged?

Miss Kedike who won the MTN Project Fame 2010, She have been doing great in the music Industry, Her Latest Video "Emi ni Baller" Topped MTV Base Chart last weekend.

"Lol" This Picture was Snapped inside the plane with some friends on their way to Hennessy Artistry in Abuja.

But wait a minute........." Is this Really a joke or Reality"?

SHOCKER!!! Nollywood Popular Actress Ayo Adesanya fires back at acclaimed husband- "We were never married!!"

               
In a recent interview with Mr. Goriola Hassan, he mentioned that he regret marrying Ayo Adesanya, I was never married to Goriola Hassan. We lived together and had a child. That's all!

EXPOSED: How Policemen & A Popular Alhaji Are Romancing Yahoo Boys In Lagos

I got this message from a Yahoo boy who said he was pushed into the trade by circumstances and because he doesn't want to go into armed robbery. He exposed a lot in the letter and disclosed how policemen are using the name of the Inspector General of Police to "deal" with them:

My name is Ibrahim Dipo, a final year student at the Leads City University, although I admit what I was doing with my friends was wrong but no other means of survival. I drive a Range Sport...

ON THE 15TH OF DECEMBER LAST YEAR 2012, SOME POLICE MEN AND EFCC OFFICIAL CAME TO MY HOUSE ALONG SIDE WITH THE POPULAR EX-CONVICT MAN NOW POLICE FAKE INFORMANT [Alhaji Rasaq Tunji Alaso] CALLED ALHAJI GAY.

HE WAS ARRESTED SO MANY TIMES BUT RELEASED BECAUSE HE USED TO SETTLE THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN LAGOS AND IBADAN.

THEY CAME AT 7AM AND JUMPED INTO MY COMPOUND, THEY SHOWED ME A FAKE PETITION WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REAL WITH THE SIGNATURE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE [IG MD ABUBAKAR]. THEY ARRESTED ME AND TOOK MY RANGE SPORT, WRIST WATCH, JEWELRIS WORTH 590K, $3900 IN CASH, LAPTOP, AND TOOK ME IN THE DANFO BUS TO AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION.

THEY TOOK ME TO AN EMPTY HOUSE IN IJEBU WHERE I SAW SOME OTHER BOYS TOO WHO WAS DETAINED THERE. THE ALHAJI GAY (PICTURE ABOVE) ASKED HOW MUCH I HAD IN MY BANK ACCOUNT, I HAVE IN TOTAL OF N3.2 MILLION NAIRA IN MY FIRST BANK ACCOUNT. HE WAS ORDERING THE FAKE EFCC AND POLICE MEN BECAUSE HE IS IN CHARGE. THE ALHAJI GAY TOLD ME TO GO AND WITHDRAW ALL AND WAS HOLDING ALL MY STUFFS AND ALSO THE FAKE EFCC MEN TOLD ME IF I NOTIFY ANYONE THEY WILL USE THE PETITION AGAINST ME.

OUT OF FEAR, I WENT TO THE BANK AND WITHDRAW THE MONEY FOR ALHAJI WITH 10,000 NAIRA BALANCE. HE ALSO COLLECTED MY ORIGINAL CAR PAPERS, HE RELEASED ME AND DIDN'T GIVE ME MY CAR BACK AFTER THEY COLLECTED ALL MY MONEY. I KEEP CALLING HIS PRIVATE LINE {08039111480} HE LATER TOLD ME MY CAR IS BEEN SOLD AND IF I WANT TO USE POWER THEN THE IG WILL RELEASE ANOTHER PETITION AND THE EFCC WILL ARREST ME AGAIN.

A MONTH'S AFTER I LOST MY MUM AND LIFE HAS BEEN ROUGH FOR ME, PLEASE THE IG OF POLICE CAN LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE OF ALHAJI GAY. WHY ARE FAKE POLICEMEN AND FAKE EFCC EXTORTING MONEY FROM YAHOO BOYS? IS REALLY SAD, THIS KIND OF FRUSTRATION CAN LEAD SOMEONE TO ARM ROBBERY.

IF TRULY IG OF POLICE IS AWARE OF THIS THEN THIS IS REALLY BAD. FEW DAYS AFTER, HE ARRESTED 5 OF MY FRIENDS TOO AT UNILAG AND TOOK ALL THERE CARS WITH SOME POLICE MEN FROM ALAGBON. THE TOTAL MONEY HE GOT FROM THEM WAS IN TOTAL OF 7 MILLION NAIRA AND 3 RANGE SPORT AND 2 LR3.

NOW HE IS CALLING ME AND LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY AFTER HE COLLECTED EVERYTHING I HAD.... THE POLICE MEN FROM ALAGBON WAS EVEN ARGUING WITH ALHAJI GAY THAT THE SHARE OF THE MONEY HE GAVE THEM WAS SMALL, WHAT A SHAME TO THE NIGERIAN POLICE AND EFCC !!!!

Please, the authorities should look into these allegations by Ibrahim Dipo and take appropriate actions.

8-year-old Bride Dies After Sex With 40years old Hubby On Wedding Night

An eight year old bride, Rawan, in Yemen died from internal injuries on her wedding night, bleeding to death after deep vaginal tearing caused by sex with her 40 year old husband. She died in Hardh in the governorate of Hajjah in northwestern Yemen, according to a report issued by UPI on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Yemeni activists urged the local police to arrest the "beastly groom" and the girl's family and transfer them to a court where justice would be served and the case would be used to help put an end to the practice of marrying very young girls in the impoverished country, the daily said. 
In Kuwait, bloggers offered their prayers for the "bride", but lashed out at the "groom", saying that he was a beast who should be severely punished

‘Expect everything’ if US attacks Syria, Assad warns

(AFP) – President Bashar al-Assad warned Washington "you can expect everything" in response if US forces attack Syria.

"You should expect everything… The government's not the only player in this region. You have different parties, different factions, different ideologies. You have everything in this decision now," Assad told CBS television's "This Morning."

Breaking- Eto’o Quits International Football

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o has announced his retirement from international football.

French sports daily L'Equipe reports that the four-time African player of the year winner has quit the Indomitable Lions citing personal reasons.

Eto'o reportedly quit after Cameroon's 1-0 home win over Libya in Sunday's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Yaoundé.

MTNFootball .com reports that the striker played in that match before he was substituted on the hour mark by Jacques Zoua.

Meanwhile, Eto'o had trained very little the week preceding the game and his presence in the starting line-up was only confirmed few hours before kick-off.

While Cameroon's officials said the striker had a cold, close sources disclosed that Eto'o and coach Volker Finke clashed over the starting line-up, with the player allegedly demanding the inclusion of veteran keeper Carlos Kameni and forward Achille Webo.

Finke reportedly refused to please the player and a top official had to convince Eto'o to participate in the crucial match.

[Photos] : Nollywood Actress Funke Akindele now owns a perfume brand?

How True Is This?

“My Dream Is To Be A Lawyer” – 9ice Aka Adigun Alapomeji Goes Back To School

After having one of the most successful albums of all time, 9nice has decided to go back and pursue his career as a lawyer.

In a recent interview with Nigerian Tribune, the "Gongo Aso" crooner clearly stated that Being a lawyer was his biggest dream.

See excerpts below:

Your decision to leave school wouldn't have gone down well with your parents, how did they react to it and what was constantly coming to your mind back then?


It was not an easy decision to make. There were days that I had to live in the studio. Talking about my parents' reaction, I had to lie for a while, pretended as if all was well. Before my parents knew I wasn't in school, it was too late to complain because I was already on TVs, making money and rocking shows all around.



Would you consider going back to school someday?

I'm in school already, studying public safety and Common Law at Capella university. It is an online programme. I can't think of any other course except law.

Would you trade your being famous for something else if you look at some of the bad side of fame that you have experienced over time?

Yes, I will love to trade fame with some silent life that does not arrogate too much attention to one, but it has got nothing to do with any bad experience. No matter what you do or who you are, there's always a difficult time and life challenges that you can't run away from. But I will really love to trade because I wish to be a lawyer.That has always been my dream.

Do you think life would have been different for you should you have been a lawyer?

Honestly, life as a normal person is fine and more wonderful, free, fair and peaceful. But as a public figure, you enjoy more and you pay more in terms of the price you pay for being famous. If I come to this world again, I would prefer normal life.

Baby Factory Operation: Hairdresser, 3 others nabbed in Enugu

An Enugu-based female hairdresser, Ifeoma Obike, who allegedly combined her business with the illicit trade of baby factory, has been arrested by operatives of Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department of Enugu State Police Command.

Ifeoma, who claimed to be a native of Oguta in Imo State and a popular hairstylist in New Haven, Enugu, according to the police, allegedly tried to augment her earnings from her legitimate business by engaging in the "baby for sale" trade which had been thriving in many parts of the South-East for some time.


Ujunwa (middle), Ifeoma (2nd right) with the baby and suspected members of the syndicate

Ifeoma who claimed to have five children out of wedlock, however, denied being involved in child trafficking but she was found with a baby, which she claimed belonged to her sister in Lagos.

The police said she would be taken to Lagos to confirm her claim though the operatives doubted her because the baby was too tender to be cared for by any person other than her mother.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who announced the arrest of Ifeoma and three members of the syndicate, weekend, said the long arm of the law caught up with them last Thursday when men of the Anti Human Trafficking squad, acting on a tip off, swooped on them.

He said: "On September 5, 2013, the long arm of the law visited Ifeoma as the operatives of the Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the state Criminal and Investigation Department of the Enugu State police command, acting on information received that Ifeoma combines the newly discovered lucrative business of baby factory with the saloon business, arrested her and someone whom she identified as a would-be husband.

"The alleged fiancé, a patent medicine dealer and self-acclaimed doctor and the pregnant girl, who was on the verge of delivery, Ujunwa, were apprehended and are now being interrogated."

He said Ifeoma had taken Ujunwa into custody to enable her deliver her baby from an unwanted pregnancy with the intention of taking the baby, adding that they had agreed that Ujunwa would upon delivery be settled with N100,000 to forfeit her baby.

My ordeal, by Ujunwa

Ujunwa, who narrated her ordeal to the police, said she was impregnated by someone and had wanted to abort the pregnancy.

Confused about what to do with the pregnancy, Ujunwa who hails from Ituku in Awgu Local Government Area of the state, went to a patent medicine dealer identified as Obinna of Obofia Awkunanaw but resides in New Haven Extension, Enugu, to abort it but was advised to keep the baby.

Before then, she had made attempts to get rid of the baby to no avail.

"Obinna, however, linked Ujunwa with Ifeoma who would take care of her pregnancy and later be given N100,000 after delivery to forfeit the baby which Ifeoma will at the appropriate time, sell to couples desirous of baby," the police spokesman said.

According to him, Ujunwa further disclosed that while she was with Ifeoma, "the woman insisted that if her financial condition dwindles, that the initial agreed amount of N100,000 could be reduced to an amount that she can afford.

"One of the accomplices, a native of Ezeagu, who was also apprehended, denied being part of the syndicate. But he revealed that there was a certain time a pregnant girl was brought to him to be delivered of a baby, which he carried out and later the baby was released to someone identified as a sister to the girl and that he also issued a receipt for the hospital expenses incurred."

On his part, Obike from Isiukwuato, Abia State, whom Ifeoma described as her fiancé, revealed that he was yet to marry Ifeoma even though they have five children, whose whereabouts could not be explained.

Obike, who claimed to be a businessman dealing on wears, however, declined to give further details about the baby found in possession of his alleged fiancée.

Amaraizu said that full investigations into the matter had already commenced with a view to ascertaining further details of the illicit activities of the syndicate.

I would have joined Arsenal for free-Ozil Reveals

Mesut Ozil claims he would have joined Arsenal for free and admits he lost the "transparency, trust and respect" at Real Madrid.

The Germany international sealed his deadline day switch to Arsene Wenger's side in a £40 million deal, signing a five-year contract with the club.

Ozil revealed that discussions with the Arsenal manager prompted him to consider his squad status at Madrid and influenced his move to the Premier League.

"In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid: transparency, trust, respect," Ozil told Die Welt.

"He [Wenger] told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me."I can not do anything about the transfer fee. I would have come for free, too.

"Ozil, a club-record purchase for the Gunners, scored or assisted 108 goals in 159 appearances in all competitions for Madrid.

Police Arrest Suspected Ritualists With Human Head In Niger [Photo]

When three young farmers of Gwari extraction in Niger state conspired to source for human head in their neighbourhood for money-making rituals purposes, hardly did it occur to them that the long arm of the law might soon catch up with them.

The three suspects, whose names were given as Saleh Ibrahim (35), Usman Lashi Sarki (30) and Dantala Doma, a.k.a. Operator, (25) years had conspired with other people which included a Fulani man simply identified as Gajere, now at large, who had allegedly given them a dried human skull to go and grind.

It was further learnt that another unidentified PHCN employee who is also on the run had promised to get the three suspects mercury to accomplish their aim.

Nemesis however caught up with them on Monday August 26, few hours after Ibrahim lured a 10-year-old boy, Ishaya Segi, from his father's farm at Amale village in Shiroro Local Government of the state, put him on his motorcycle and abducted him to Lashi village, also within the council area where his two other accomplices were waiting for him.

Saleh was said to have urged the boy to accompany him to his friend's place in the neighbourhood, after which he would bring him back to the same spot where he had picked him. The victim was said to have followed Saleh, unknown to him that he would never return alive.

A police source at the homicide section of the Criminal Investigation Department, Minna informed Crime Reports that no sooner was the victim brought to Lashi village than the third suspect, Doma, brought out a very sharp cutlass and cut off the head. The head was removed from his body by Sarki who is said to be a son to the late village head of Lashi.

The source added that during interrogation, Sarki confessed that he was contracted to bring the 10-year-old boy's head by Gajere for money-making ritual.

It was further learnt that during police investigation, the boy's head was traced to Saleh's residence of Saleh while he later took the police to two other accomplices. The police were taken near river Erena in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state where the headless body of the boy was buried in a shallow grave.

According to Saleh, he initially resisted when Sarki informed him that one Gajere contacted him to bring a head of the little boy, but after convincing him, he decided to go out in search of a boy.

Efforts towards apprehending Gajere who contacted the three suspects for the job had not yielded any result as at the time of filing this report.

Confirming the incident, the state's Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Adamu Oguche, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said investigation into the matter had since commenced, after which the three suspects would be arraigned in court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution on charges of conspiracy and culpable homicide.

He revealed that the command directed all police outposts within Kaffin-Koro Division and the DPO in Kaffin-Koro to reach out to the community leaders in the area to know if there was a reported case of missing child, an effort which yielded result on Friday 30 August 2013, when an Amale village-based farmer, Pa Segi Gayaga appeared at the state's police headquarters to identify the 10-year-old victim as his son.

Wife Pours Hot Water On Husband Over Sex

A newly wedded wife, Jamila Saidu Umar is now cooling her heels in police cell in Katsina State after being arrested for pouring hot water on her husband, Aminu Umar, during an argument over sex.

It was gathered that Umar incurred his wife's wrath when he accused her of not performing to his expectation in bed.

The suspect, Jamila Saidu Umar who spoke to Sunday Sun said "I have confessed my sin to the police at the State CID. I got married to my husband five days before the incident happened and I am his sixth wife.

"My husband had sex with me many times and on each occasion after the act, I would have to use hot water to treat the wound I sustained during the sex.

"My husband loves sex too much and there is no day he would have sex with me that I would not be treating wounds in my body with hot water.

"He complained that I didn't satisfy him in the bed and that if I must remain with him I must agree to have sex and satisfy him always. I don't know why he loves sex so much."

Jamila further explained that an argument ensued between her and her husband on the day of the incident over sex.

"He kept accusing me of not performing to his satisfaction in bed and he started beating me.

"Suddenly I remembered that I had hot water on fire, which I was preparing for his bath. I rushed to the kitchen in annoyance and carried the hot water and poured all on him."

"Neighbours who were nearby rushed in and rescued him and took him to the General Hospital in Katsina where he is receiving treatment."

Narrating his ordeal, the victim, Aminu Umar said, "I instructed my wife to prepare hot water for me to bathe and we had a quarrel. My wife suddenly rushed into the kitchen and carried the hot water and before I knew what was happening, poured the hot water on me. I began to shout for help but she continued pouring the hot water on me.

"As I was shouting for help, the good people in the neighbourhood came to my rescue."

Speaking on the incident, the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hurdi , said the ugly incident occurred about 10.00am in the Quarter Area of Katsina.

According to the commissioner, the suspect poured the hot water she was preparing for her husband's bath due to the cold weather, on him during an argument, which resulted in a fight.

"The couple were just five days into their marriage when the incident occurred," Hurdi said.

He said it was the husband's cry for help that attracted good Samaritans who rescued and rushed him to the General Hospital in Katsina where he is receiving treatment.

The police commissioner said the suspect was in police custody and would soon be charged to court.

Kenya offers 46 oil blocs to Nigerian investors

(NAN) – Kenya has offered its 46 newly-discovered oil blocs for interested Nigerian investors in the oil and gas industry to develop.

Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke announced this on Saturday in Nairobi.

The minister said that the offer was part of the outcome of the dialogue group preceding the Nigeria-Kenya Investment Forum held on Friday in Nairobi.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who concluded a three-day state visit to Kenya on Saturday, and his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta, presided over the forum.

The forum had in attendance more than 500 prominent investors from both countries.

Among the delegates were influential Nigerian business magnates who flew into Nairobi, aboard a fleet of seven private jets.

The Minister said that beyond giving the opportunity to Nigerian investors to acquire the oil wells, Kenya also sought Nigeria's assistance in the formulation of right policies and framework to manage the sector.

"It is well known now that Kenya had recently discovered hydro-carbon reserves and they are very keen to move quite aggressively in terms of exploration activities.

"They felt as sister African country, Nigeria, having many years of oil exploration and production, that it only makes sense that we exchange agreement in cooperation to hand over knowledge, capabilities and experience learnt.

"They seek various templates that we have formulated including policies, processes and a sort of templates that form Petroleum Industry Bill, among others.

"We also looked at areas surrounding Nigeria's investments possibilities where we think that Nigerian business men and women could come into the oil and gas sector in Kenya.

"They are very keen that Nigerian operators in the upstream, midstream and downstream service sectors of the oil and gas industry look to Kenya as a burgeonis frontier for investments in the oil and gas sector.

"They are also very keen that we robustly support them in setting up the right framework, policies and processes and technology to help them drive the exploration activities," she said.

The minister said that among the seven MoUs and bilateral Agreements signed by both countries was that on Oil and Gas which spelt out details of the co-operation.

Kenya recently announced that its oil resources met the threshold for commercial exploitation, raising the country's hope of joining the league of oil-producing nations.

Specifically, Africa Oil, a Canadian oil and gas company, together with British explorer, Tullow Oil Plc, had estimated Kenyan oil reserves at 368 million barrels, a level capable of commercial exploitation.

Minister of Trade and Investments Olusegun Aganga said the maiden economic forum between Nigeria and Kenya had recorded a huge success in terms of trade and economic development between both countries.

He said the forum was a door opener to new range of opportunities that would increase the volume of trade and value of investments between Nigeria and Kenya, which had hitherto so low.

Nigerian business mogul and Forbes Magazine richest black person in the world, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who led the Nigerian delegation and chaired the dialogue group, said a number of Nigerian investors would be willing to invest in the oil sector in Kenya.

Dangote, at the forum, announced the decision of his conglomerate to invest 400 million dollars (about N64 billion) in cement production in Kenya

The CEO of Forte Oil and Zenon Oil, Femi Otedola, Forbes Magazine's 26th richest African and Chairman of

Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, prominent bankers and investors, Jim Ovia and Tony Elumelu were in the Nigerian delegation to the forum.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke said more than 70 per cent of interest by the Kenyan business men at the forum was focussed on tourism.

He said the sector, a greenfield and new frontier with low entry barrier, aroused the interest on many Kenyan business men and women.

According to him, the area of focus would be wild life development, horticulture, hospitality, training, leisure and entertainment facilities.

Tension In Borno As Govt Moves To Demolish Churches, Schools

Borno State Governor- Kashim-Shetima

There is tension in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as the state government has intensified efforts to demolish about 25 churches and schools, Vanguard has learnt.
The proposed demolition, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, told Vanguard might heighten insecurity challenges created by the Boko Haram.

The development has, therefore, continued to fuel speculations to Islamize the country, beginning from Northern Nigeria.

Vanguard reliably gathered that "the state government will embark on the demolition any moment from now."

Although there are conflicting figures of the number of churches and schools to be affected, sources confirmed that it would be close to 25.

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and owners of farmlands in the area had been served quit notices by the state government, intimating them of the plan to acquire the structures to construct 1,000 housing units.

A leaflet from the office of Borno State Ministry of Lands and Survey, dated August 20, and signed by one Musa Ummate (O/C Land Administration) on behalf of the commissioner, was obtained by newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja.

The leaflet is entitled, "Notice of acquisition and assessment/valuation of structures on proposed site for 1,000 housing units along Gubio road."

It read: "I am directed to refer to you farmers and holders of structures on the proposed site for caption matter above and regret to inform you that the executive governor has on the power conferred on him by Section (2)b of the Land Use Act 1978 has directed through high powered committee on Construction Ref. no: HPCC/2500/HE/S/TEC/1 to notify you of his intention to acquire your farmlands and assessment/valuation of the structures on the proposed site situated along Gubio road, Maiduguri.

"The acquisition is necessary, in view of requirements of the land by the state government for overriding public interest to construct housing estate. The affected farmers and holders of structures are to take note and appear on site for the above exercise, please."

However, investigation revealed that the state government had no plan to develop any housing estate, but to destroy the churches and over 20 private schools built by the churches.

A source told Vanguard: "Over 20 churches and many schools will be affected. The lands on which the churches were built were bought from farmers and have the authority and certificate of the District Head in Maiduguri, popularly called Bulama. The land was not under the ministry when it was bought.

"The Christians went for the meeting called by the governor and for several hours, the governor didn't come out to see them. It is always difficult for Christians to get a land in Maiduguri. Even after getting the land, the government won't give you Certificate of Occupancy. They compensated Borno Muslims who are victims of Boko Haram. But how many Christians were compensated?"

It's a ploy to persecute Christians — CAN
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday, said the demolition was another plot under the guise of public interest to persecute Christians in the state, saying it would not take it lightly.

The General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, who confirmed the development when contacted, called on Borno State government to have a rethink.

Dr. Asake said: "We have seen the eviction notice from Borno State government. We are Nigerians and there are other places where the state government can develop. The areas being earmarked for demolition are already developed with churches and schools.

"We condemn the action and I think government should be sensitive to what the Christians in that state are going through not to come and add another problem, through demolition.

"Christians have suffered enough in Borno State. If the state government wants to destroy churches and build any housing estate, no Christian will see it as a sign of progress."

Although, Asake disclosed that they had not been able to authenticate the source of the letter, he added "we are going to reach out to the state government to make sure that Christians don't lose their churches and lands.

"But we have no reason to doubt the source of the letter. We have suffered enough in Borno State and enough of all these things which are coming in another disguise.

"Borno State government should reconsider the decision to demolish churches and property because in Borno State, there are many vast lands. They should do that instead of going to these areas where Christians have settled. We are asking the Borno State government not to try it."

Controversial Statement: Protest Against Olu Of Warri Rages, Governor Uduaghan Intervenes

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has appealed to thousands of Itsekiri protesting the bid by their monarch to jettison their traditional beliefs to remain calm, saying he was already meeting with stakeholders to resolve the matter.

Uduaghan, who arrived the palace at about 3.45pm on Sunday, was met by the surging protesters, who appealed to him to mediate in the crisis.

An online news portal, THE WILL, reported that the governor, was allowed into the palace without his security aides, came out after about 15 minutes to address the protesters.

Urging the protesters to exercise restraint, he said he had discussed with Atunwase II, the chiefs and the youth over the issue and expressed gratitude to the protesters for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

The palace of the Olu of Warri was barricaded for the third day by the protesters who erected canopies in the front gate.

Some women and youths also erected canopies by the side fence of the palace where they cooked and danced.

Itshekiri masquerades were also brought in to spice up the protest as they banged the gate of the palace while the protest lasted.

The protest was sparked off by the monarch's decision to, among others, abolish the ancient Itshekiri masquerades which are paraded during traditional festivals.

While the monarch was inside the palace as the scene was playing out, only a few chiefs, leaders and youth representatives were allowed to enter the palace by the protesters.

Several meetings were held by groups who adjourned and reconvened after some hours. The groups were said to have also met with the monarch.

Atunwatse II had few days ago declared in a document titled "The New Order of Iwere Kingdom," that the "Ogiame" title which had been in existence for over 500 years would cease to exist following the recent consecration of the kingdom to God.

"Ogiame" means "King of the River," according to the history behind the Itsekiri throne.

The monarch, in the document, said he had renounced his allegiance to the "Umalokun" (goddess of the sea), land and sky as well as the "Ogiame" title to which his ancestors had pledged allegiance to "Umalokun" and other deities.

Kidnapped APC Chief Freed, Ozekhome’s Release Unconfirmed

The kidnapped All Progressive Congress chief in Edo North, Mr. Athanasius Ugbome, was on Sunday morning set free by his abductors.

Ugbome was seized same day with the human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, along the Benin-Auchi Road on August 23.

Though there were speculations that Ozekhome was also set free, there was however no confirmation of the lawyer's release as at the time of this report.

A source at the Edo State Police Command confirmed that Ugbome was released around 1am.

Confirming Ugbome's release, his elder brother, Paschal, in an SMS to our correspondent, said, "Praise be to God, he has been released."

Ugbome's release came barely 24 hours after reported collaborative plans by the Edo State Police Command, led by Mr. Fuluso Adebanjo and his counterpart in Delta State, Ikechukwu Aduba, to secure the victims' release unhurt.

Meanwhile, there was jubilation in Ozekhome's home community, Oviukwe, in Etsako East Local Government Area, on Sunday over rumoured release of the lawyer.

The jubilation followed a news item on the radio that the lawyer had been released but a competent source in the police command headquarters told The PUNCH that Ozekhome had not been released.

The Edo police denied knowledge of any ransom paid to secure the release of Ugbome but a source close to the family of the politician said the kidnappers collected N10m to set free their captive.

Meanwhile, the Zonal Coordinator of the North East Bishopric of the Church of God Mission International Incorporated, Rev. Great Nkem, has said that the Federal Government has the capacity to put a stop to the spate of kidnapping in the country.

Nkem who spoke in Jos on Sunday during the celebration of his 20 years in the pulpit and the presentation of his book, 'The emergence of True Worshippers,' however said what the government lacked to stop the menace was the determination.

He condemned the kidnapping of prominent Nigerians, including the recent seizure of the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey and his wife.

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David Mark, Governor Suswam Seek Spiritual Solution To FG/ASUU Face-off

Senate President David Mark and the governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam have jointly pleaded with religious leaders to intervene in the lingering face-off between the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has resulted in the closure of universities nationwide.

Addressing the 2nd plenary session of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Otukpo, Benue State yesterday, Senator Mark said the differences between the federal government and ASUU required spiritual intervention in order to end the unending imbroglio.

Leadership reports that dialogue between the Suswam-led federal government negotiating team and ASUU recently collapsed over the latter's demand.

Mark lamented the plight of the students who have been deprived of the stable academic calender and the consequences of the strike, pointing out that "the culture of confrontation and conflict does not build harmony between and among people, therefore, we must always seek the culture of dialogue, reconciliation and forgiveness. We have a duty to work hard to overcome all barriers to peace."

On the issue of insecurity in the country, the Senate President stated that the present state of insecurity in Nigeria is worrisome considering the high number of innocent Nigerians that die everyday as a result of bombing, armed robbery, road accident, pagan ritual activities and cultism.

He charged Nigerians not to use religion for negative purposes, saying that "religion is to unite and not to divide, to love and not to hate, to gather and not to scatter, to be just and not to be unjust."

Senator Mark also frowned at provocative utterances by some highly placed people which, according to him, are capable of heating up the polity. The Senate President said such utterances must be curtailed.

Earlier, the Benue State governor, Suswam called for partnership between the church, government and the people in order to fast-track political development and stability in the country.

Suswam urged the bishops to use the session to appeal to ASUU to shift ground as the federal government had made reasonable concessions to their demands to give peace a chance and return students to school.

In his welcome address, the President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama urged Christians to be loyal to biblical teachings in all their dealings.

Kaigama called for interior purifications among Nigerians adding that with renewed commitment to the task of teaching and sanctifying, Nigeria will overcome her travails.

He charged governments at all levels to channel resources towards the welfare and security of the citizenry even as he urged the clergy to pray for leaders at all levels.