Motorcyclist rapes two-year-old, assaults pregnant aunt

Rape illustration
| credits: Chukky Nwakky

The police have arrested a 30-year-old motorcycle rider, Garuba Abdulraman, for allegedly defiling a two-year-old, Pat, (pseudonym) in the Somolu area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Abdulraman, an indigene of Niger State, also kicked the minor’s pregnant aunty, Alimat Muazu, when the later quizzed him on the child’s whereabouts.

The incident happened on Saturday on Ofor Street.

A relative of the victim, who did not identify himself, said the family did a medical test on her and it was discovered that her hymen had been broken.

He added that the hospital subsequently placed her on medication.

He said, “It happened on Saturday, February 21, 2015 around 11.30am.

“Pat’s mother lives in Gbagada, while her sister, Muazu, stays at Somolu. She decided to visit Muazu that day.

“It was during the visit that the girl suddenly went missing and everybody started looking for her.

“But somebody said he sighted Abdulraman, a motorcyclist, taking her away. So, some women trailed the child to an uncompleted building where he lives. When they got there, they met him and he didn’t tell them where the child was.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that there was an exchange of words between the women and the suspect, and in the ensuing scuffle, the suspect kicked Muazu in the stomach.

He was also said to have threatened to use cutlass to hack them if they moved closer.

Our correspondent was told that Abdulraman dared the family to report to the police after which policemen from the Somolu Division were alerted.

A police source told our correspondent that a case of assault was reported at the station.

He said, “When we got there, we found the girl in one of the rooms, in a big bowl of water.

“She could barely move and when she tried, she fell down. She began to cry. We didn’t suspect anything until we saw that her pants and clothes had been washed and hung on the line to dry. The suspect was also not putting on any clothes.”

The police were said to have taken the victim to the hospital where it was confirmed that there was penetration.

Abdulraman was arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on four counts of rape and assault.

The suspect, who spoke through an interpreter to the court, confirmed that he assaulted Muazu and threatened to use cutlass on them.

He, however, denied raping the victim.

He said, “I don’t know these people from anywhere. I had gone to their compound when someone said he needed to buy plywoods.

“Pat came near my okada and started playing with it, and those people said I should help them carry her, which I did.

“After they finished buying the plywoods, they said they could still not carry her, because they had a lot of load to carry. They asked me to help them.

“It was while carrying her that she soiled her clothes and I decided to wash it for her. I never had sex with her.”

He added that he was forced to threaten the women with cutlass after they stoned him.

The police prosecutor, Richard Odige, told the court that the offence was punishable under sections 267, 137, 170 and 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

His defence counsel, F.S. Osordi, applied for bail, for the defendant, asking the court to overlook Abdulraman’s guilty plea to charges of assault and threat to injure with cutlass.

“I am not really sure he understood what he was saying because he told me a different thing before this court sat. We apply that the court should order that count three be read to him again,” he added.

The Chief Magistrate, O. I. Adelaja, however, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said, “The sureties must show proofs of employment, tax payment, and their addresses must be verified.”

The matter was adjourned till April 8, 2015.

Produce the real Shekau, Governor challenges APC

Fayose stated this in response to a statement made by the party that the Federal Government was planning to produce a fake Shekau to deceive Nigerians into thinking that the war against terror had been won.

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC), to produce the real Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Fayose stated this in response to a statement made by the party that the Federal Government was planning to produce a fake Shekau to deceive Nigerians into thinking that the war against terror had been won.

The Ekiti State governor also accused the opposition party of showing hatred towards Nigeria and its people.

Fayose made the comments via a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

It reads:

“It is obvious that APC does not want the insurgency to end.”

“Up till today, the APC has not made any statement, commending our gallant soldiers that are laying down their lives to save Nigerians from the Boko Haram insurgents.

‪”Instead of commending the soldiers and encouraging them, what the APC people are doing is to blackmail the military and one wonders why a party will want to take over power by supporting killing of innocent Nigerians.”

‪Speaking further, the governor said; “With the onslaught on the Boko Haram by our gallant soldiers, the APC appears to have lost the game of using the insurgency to campaign against President Goodluck Jonathan.

‪”Instead of them to face this reality, they have come up with this criminal assertion that a fake leader of Boko Haram, Ibrahim Shekau, was being presented before Nigerians by the government, in order to claim winning the war on terrorism.

‪”They are also claiming the fake Shekau might become a tool to blackmail members of the opposition, by coaching the phantom terror chief to say he was working for its presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, in order to link him to terrorism.

“With this statement coming from the APC, it is clear that the party knows what we don’t know about Boko Haram.”

“It also indicates that the APC people do not want the Boko Haram insurgency to end so that they can continue to make political gains from it.”

“Therefore, APC should simply produce the original Shekau that they know because you can only recognise fake when you know the original.”

President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians, during a recent interview, that Shekau would be arrested before the March 28 elections.

100 Boko Haram fighters killed by Chadian troops

Soldiers from Chad killed 207 Boko Haram fighters in clashes near a Nigerian town close to the border with Cameroon, Chad’s army announced in a statement. One Chadian soldier was killed and another nine were wounded in Gambaru, the scene of regular attacks by the group in recent months. There was no immediate independent verification of the Chadian army’s announcement, reports a news agency.
Chad’s military also claimed to have seized large quantities of small arms and ammunition and two pick-up trucks on Tuesday.
Niger, Cameroon and Chad have launched a regional military campaign to help Nigeria defeat the Boko Haram insurgency, which aims to carve an Islamic emirate out of northeastern Nigeria.
Chad deployed troops last month in support of Cameroonian efforts to stop repeated cross-border raids by the fighters, whose operations increasingly threaten Nigeria’s neighbours.
The African Union last month authorised the creation of the regional force, which will also include Benin, and is pushing for a United Nations Security Council mandate for the operation.

Kidnappers demanding $300,000 from America's Missionary

Kidnappers, who took an American missionary on Monday in Kogi State, are demanding a ransom of nearly $300,000, authorities have said.

The Rev. Phyllis Sortor, 70, was abducted while she was at the Hope Academy, where she works as a financial administrator in Emiworo, Kogi State, officials from her Seattle church said on Tuesday.
Friend of Sortor were later contacted by the hoodlums, who are demanding N60m (or nearly $300,000), for her safe return, said Kogi Police Commissioner Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi.

INEC must probe Ekiti ‘rigging’ tape – Soyinka Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says the audio file which purportedly captured some Peoples Democratic Party leaders giving orders to a general to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti State must be investigated by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Soyinka said this in a statement while reacting to a front page advert in the PUNCH sponsored by Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in which the governor discredited the authenticity of the tape based on a report by the US that the Ekiti governorship poll was transparent.

The playwright said the issue was too weighty to be dismissed without being investigated.

He said since Fayose had referenced the US report, the Federal Government could also call on the US to assist in investigating the tape.

Soyinka said no one would lose anything by investigating the tape since it was the job of law enforcement agencies to investigate matters of state.

He said, “For those who have nothing to hide, disrobing lies and forgeries and reinforcing truth is regarded as part and parcel of the obligations we owe democracy. The audio could well be one of such forgeries. We are daily inundated with allegations, evasions, distortions, image plundering and image laundering, all under the permissive canopy of electoral proceeding.

“Once in a while, however, we encounter exposure of an exceptional dimension that appears to strike at the very root of democracy, questions the validity of an entire electoral system and even erodes confidence in the integrity of the state. Such an event need not be regarded as a repudiation of the formal mechanics put in place by an electioneering agency such as INEC, but nonetheless extends the scope of its responsibilities, including its projection of looming hazards of future electoral exercises.

“This is why, in the absence of a Constitutional Court or its equivalent, one is left with no other course than to call on INEC to also take formal charge of the recorded incident of this alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of democracy. For those ‘who have nothing to hide,’ it is a call that deserves unstinting support. They should not hesitate to assist in calling on the same US expertise to assist us in exposing a forgery.

“We are speaking here of a development that implicates not only products, beneficiaries or would-be constitutional guardians of the electoral process – that is, an elected governor, a governorship aspirant, but also state agencies – the military, two serving ministers – that is, members of the Executive arm of government, one of them in charge of the nation’s defence portfolio – and others.

“In addition to the logical role of the police, the nation’s electoral commission should undertake an independent investigation and make its findings known to the nation. Is this perhaps something INEC can undertake while the nation waits out its suspended electoral sentence? It only requires repudiation – or validation – of the findings of an already advanced forensic enquiry.”

Obasanjo’s membership card had expired, says PDP

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Two weeks after former President Olusegun Obasanjo tore his Peoples Democratic Party membership card, the party claimed on Tuesday that the card being held by the former President had expired.

It said that the card hitherto owned by Obasanjo was signed by the party’s former Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

Baraje has since left the party and he is now a chieftain of the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.

While declaring his leaving the party, Obasanjo had asked the Chairman of the PDP in his ward at Abeokuta, Mr. Usman Oladunjoye, to tear his membership card.

Commenting on Obasanjo’s action, the National Secretary of the party, Dr. Wale Oladipo, said the card had been changed.

Oladipo spoke during a courtesy call on him by some students, who claimed to be working for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and himself signed the current cards being used by the party members.

He said, “Baba (Obasanjo) is over 80 years and my mother is around Obasanjo’s age and when you reach that age, you do things that only you can explain.

“Secondly, you will see that Baba did not tear our card. He asked somebody ostensibly to do the tearing and I am assuring you that the card that was torn was not the current PDP card.

“The current PDP card is signed by Mu’azu and Oladipo. So, the card he tore was a Baraje card which we were going to destroy anyway. So, I think Baba started it.”

He added that Obasanjo might have left the party in order for it to have more followers.

Oladipo said, “Lastly, Baba is a very intelligent man. When Baba was helping us, he knows that a lot of people could have complained that they could have voted for the PDP but Baba is there.

“You know when a big tree thrives in a big forest, smaller trees cannot grow. If that big tree leaves, 10 to 20 smaller trees will grow.

“In politics, one big tree has a vote while 20 small trees have 20 votes. If you do the arithmetic, I am a scientist, I know that head or tail, it is a win-win situation for the PDP.”

The party also vowed to shock the APC in the South-West, where it said it would spring surprises.

The Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said with the support which he said was coming for the party, there was no way the party would not win the presidential election.

Secondus said this was where the confidence was coming from for the party and the President.

He said, “Look at our pedigree. A party that was formed less than one year ago can’t win elections with media vibes.

“Elections are won at polling units and we have the pedigree and statistics that have shown from 1999 till date that we have been consistent.”

Buhari’s UK visit becomes an item

Much has been made of Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate’s visit to the United Kingdom but more images from his trip reveals that he is not bed-ridden has some people have claimed.
Here are more pictures of his visit to UK posted on Twitter by his daughter Zahra

Muhammadu Buhari at an interactive session with Nigerians in London

L-R: Zahra Buhari, Mrs Osibajo and Mrs Aisha Buhari at the interactive session in London

Kayode Fayemi (L) with Muhammadu Buhari, (2nd R) at Fayose’s phantom ‘hospital’

Monaco shocks Arsenal at the Emirates

 

Berbatov celebrates scoring Monaco’s second

Arsenal are in danger of an embarrassing exit from the Champions League after Monaco romped to a stunning 3-1 win in the last 16 first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger’s team were left shell-shocked as Geoffrey Kondogbia put the French club ahead with a deflected first half strike before former Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov marked his return to north London with the second goal after the interval.
Berbatov’s cool finish was a hammer blow to the Arsenal fans who had jeered him for his past allegiance to their bitter rivals and there was worse to come.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had just given Arsenal renewed hope with a 90th minute goal when Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco galloped clear to score Monaco’s third and leave the Premier League team needing a herculean effort in the second leg on March 17 to avoid last 16 elimination for a fifth successive season.
It was an especially chastening evening for Wenger, who made his managerial reputation during a seven-year spell at Monaco and was renewing acquaintances with his old club in a competitive match for the first time.
After losing to Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AC Milan at this stage, a Monaco side only fourth in Ligue 1 seemed to represent a good opportunity for Arsenal to advance to the last eight at last.
But Monaco had conceded just one goal in their six group matches and Leonardo Jardim’s side produced a counter-attacking masterclass to leave Arsenal impotent in attack and incompetent in defence.
After a frenetic opening, Arsenal found themselves entangled in Monaco’s defensive web.
Alexis Sanchez has emerged as Arsenal’s creative fulcrum in his debut season and the Chile winger almost found the key to unlocking the obdurate Monaco rearguard when he exchanged passes with Mesut Ozil before flicking his shot just over.
But, emboldened by the ease with which they had kept Arsenal at bay, Jardim’s team began to push forward with more confidence and Joao Moutinho found space for an acrobatic volley that sailed over.
– Perilous situation –
It was a warning that Arsenal failed to heed and the visitors went ahead in the 38th minute.
Danny Welbeck lost possession inside his own half and Moutinho quickly moved the ball onto Kondogbia, who had been left unmarked 30 yards from goal.
The French midfielder advanced unchecked before lashing a fierce drive that took a big deflection off Per Mertesacker and flashed past wrong-footed Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina.
Arsenal still had time to remedy their perilous situation and Olivier Giroud should have equalised early in the second half when he met Sanchez’s cross, only to scuff his shot wide from close-range.
Giroud was presented with an even better opportunity moments later but ended up pounding the turf in frustration after ballooning a header well over from Santi Cazorla’s inswinging free-kick.
And Giroud’s angry reaction was emulated by the entire Emirates Stadium in the 53rd minute when Berbatov doubled Monaco’s lead in stunning fashion.
With Wenger’s side pouring forward in an undisciplined and panicked search for an equaliser, Anthony Martial made them pay, sweeping away down the right before squaring a pass to the unmarked Berbatov, who had time and space to drive a powerful finish past Ospina.
Arsenal needed an immediate response but Giroud’s nightmare continued as he blazed over from close-range after a Sanchez shot was well saved by Danijel Subasic.
Wenger had seen enough and hauled off Giroud, with Theo Walcott on in his place.
Walcott fared no better than Giroud as he failed to beat Subasic from close-range before stumbling and getting in the way of Welbeck’s attempt to convert the rebound.
Oxlade-Chamberlain got one back in the 90th minute when the substitute curled a fine finish beyond Subasic from the edge of the area.
But it was a false dawn as Ferreira-Carrasco was granted the freedom of the right flank to advance and drive a dagger into Arsenal hearts.

Leverkusen beat ten-man Atletico

Bayer Leverkusen have one foot in the Champions League’s quarter-finals following their shock 1-0 home win over last season’s finalists Atletico Madrid, who finished with ten men on Wednesday.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s superb second-half goal in the last 16, first-leg clash means Bayer take a slender advantage to Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium for the return leg on March 17.
Reigning Spanish league champions Atletico played the last quarter of an hour with ten men after defensive midfielder Tiago was sent off for a second booking.
Bayer, the 2002 Champions League finalists, edge closer to breaking their last 16 jinx having failed to pass this stage of the competition in their last three previous attempts.
Roger Schmidt’s Leverkusen ended their three-match winless streak in the Bundesliga in style by stunning the 2014 finalists.
Having been humiliated 4-0 at home by Paris Saint Germain last season at the same stage in the competition, Leverkusen produced a spirited performance.
Their potent pressing game nullified the threat of Atletico striker Mario Mandzukic and attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann, who have scored 37 goals between them this season.
The hosts controlled the early stages as Mandzukic found himself in the unusual position of clearing a 12th-minute shot off the line from Leverkusen centre-back Emir Spahic.
The Bosnia captain then rattled the top-left corner of the goal post with a long-range strike on 26 minutes with Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya beaten.
Madrid’s best chance of the first-half came when Juanfran’s shot was blocked and Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno out-jumped the waiting Griezmann to deny the Frenchman an easy header right in front of goal on 39 minutes.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone was forced into two changes before the break as both right winger Saul Niguez and right-back Guilherme Siqueira came off injured.
Leno kept Atletico out with a superb diving reflex save to deny Tiago just before the half-time whistle.
Leverkusen took the lead when Karim Bellarabi cut across the face of the goal, then his back-heeled pass found Calhanoglu, who blasted his shot past Moya from a tight angle on 57 minutes.
Simeone brought on Spain’s ex-Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres for the final 25 minutes in a bid to get Atletico a crucial away goal.
Having already been booked early in the first-half, Tiago’s dismissal for his second yellow gave Leverkusen the numerical advantage, but Atletico kept up the pressure as Leno endured a busy final 20 minutes.

FG begins rehabilitation of Wharf, Apapa Road

Godwin Eke, Federal Controller of Works

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Godwin Eke, said on Wednesday that remedial work was being carried out on Wharf Road in Apapa to reduce the rate of accident.
Eke told NAN in Lagos that the road was being rehabilitated as part of ongoing emergency repair of roads in Apapa.
“We received reports that trucks have been falling there. We now decided to do something remedial, something temporary to reduce the rate of accident there.
“That is part of our plan for the permanent works on Apapa-Tin Can Road.
“It is included in our quantities; there is no contravention; it is part of the emergency repairs that we are carrying out.
“We are using what we call ripraps that is those big stones, those depressed sections, we put the ripraps there, then we put stone base to level it.
“We have done Creek Road, we have done part of that Wharf Road, we have done Liverpool round about, we have done up to Tin Can, we have done Coconut Bridge, we have done even from Beach land to Tin Can.
“We have also done from Cele to Ilasa, also towards Sango Otta, we have repaired Ile Epo and environs.”

Special promotion for soldiers fighting Boko Haram – Minimah

 

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday announced a special promotion for all soldiers involved in liberating Baga in Borno from Boko Haram insurgents.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, announced the promotion while addressing the soldiers during an official visit to Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area.
Minimah said the promotion was to reward the soldiers for their gallant effort in flushing out the insurgents.
He added that soldiers who died in the battle with the insurgents would also be promoted posthumously.
“The entire country is singing praises of Nigerian soldiers for the bravery exhibited in the fight against the insurgents.
“I urge you to keep the tempo by striving hard to record more successes,” Minimah said.
He expressed optimism that insurgency would end in the next couple of weeks. “Never again will Nigerians suffer this kind of large scale destruction in the name of insurgency,” Minimah said.
He said his visit was aimed at boosting the soldiers’ morale and building more confidence in them.
“The war is almost ended, we will liberate Dikwa, Bama, Gwoza, Marte and other places in a few days time,” Minimah said.
He advised Nigerians to support the military in its quest to end the insurgency.
“Nigerians should maintain confidence with Nigerian armed forces. They should support our military because there is no other.
“War is war. War does not often come out in favour of any one. In fact, it is the end that justifies the means.
“The war, as it stands, has turned out for the good of Nigerian Armed Forces, and God willing, in a matter of time, it will be over.
“So, I encourage Nigerians to support their military,” Minimah emphasised.
He said that the six weeks offered by the Federal Government for the military to clear the insurgents was achievable, going by the recent developments.
“It is achievable; we are still within the time frame. But six weeks should not be taken that everything must be attained because this is war,” he added.
Minimah assured that the military would strive harder to ensure the return of peace to all the affected areas in a short while.

Two Nigerian Writers Win Prestigious Literature Prizes

 

Teju Cole

Teju Cole and Helon Habila have won the 2015 Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prizes in the fiction category. The duo are joined by seven other writers from across the globe.
The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library announced the winners of the Literature Prizes at Yale. The writers, who hail from nine countries, were chosen confidentially in three categories — fiction, non-fiction and drama.
Honoured for their literary achievements as well as their potential, the winners will each receive $150,000 to support their work.
The 2015 winners are: in fiction, Teju Cole, Helon Habila, and Ivan Vladislavić; in non-fiction, Edmund de Waal, Geoff Dyer, and John Jeremiah Sullivan; and in drama, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Helen Edmundson, and Debbie Tucker Green.

Helon Habila

Cole is the author of two works of fiction Open City and Every Day Is for the Thief. In both of his works, he radically expands the understanding of the Diaspora and the dislocation in the twenty-first century. Born in the United States to Nigerian parents, Cole was raised in Lagos but currently resides in New York City.
Similarly, Habila has authored three novels. The former Arts Editor at Vanguard Newspaper rose to international acclaim after his short story, Love Poems, won the 2001 Caine Prize. The story was excerpted from his first novel, Waiting for an Angel (2002).
His second novel Measuring Time (2007) won the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Fiction.  In 2011, he published his latest novel Oil on Water and edited The Granta Book of the African Short Story.  He is currently Associate Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University.
Watch the 2015 Prize Winner Announcement

Niger troops bomb man financing Boko Haram

 

FILE PHOTO: Nigerien army soldiers from the 322nd Parachute Regiment practice field tactics during combat training
Photo: Wikipedia

Niger’s air force has bombed a convoy of trucks carrying smoked fish to Nigeria, a trade banned by local officials because it is suspected of helping to finance the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, security sources said on Wednesday.
“Earlier this week, air forces fired on merchandise vans along the river Kamadougou,” said one of the sources. The river separates northern Nigeria from southeastern Niger.
The people in the trucks fled over the border into Nigeria, the source said.
Niger officials say Boko Haram taxes fishermen or seizes their catches along the shores of Lake Chad and uses the money to help fund their bid to carve out a caliphate in northeast Nigeria. The insurgency, which has killed thousands, was partly responsible for delaying Nigeria’s election earlier this month.
A second security source confirmed the incident and said about a dozen people suspected of involvement in trading fish for Boko Haram were arrested earlier this week.
The air strikes came as the governor of Niger’s Diffa region, which borders Boko Haram strongholds in Nigeria and has seen a spate of attacks by the militants this month, officially banned the sale and transport of fish into Nigeria this week.
Fishing is one of the main economic activities in Diffa, and much of the fish caught there is shipped to Nigeria. Boko Haram also raises cash through ransom paid for hostages and the sale of stolen cattle, security sources say.
A senior Cameroonian military officer said the army there was working with Chad to freeze the group’s trade.
“What we have been trying to do is stop any kind of economic activity that Boko Haram could be benefiting from. We are trying to choke all their resources,” he said on Wednesday.
Regional armies have massed troops along Nigeria’s border before a joint operation against the Islamists.
Although the regional force will not be operational until the end of next month, the armies of Niger, Cameroon and Chad have had some success in driving the militants back into Nigeria following cross-border attacks.
Nigeria’s army has also recaptured several towns previously held by the militants, but security sources say Lake Chad and its waterways are difficult to police.

US Tells Africans (Nigeria) to Vote Against Jonahthan's Corrupt Administration

Linda Thomas-Greenfield: urges Africans to vote out
corruption

The United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the most senior American official on African matters, has called on Africans to vote out corrupt governments across the continent to send a strong message to politicians that corruption will not be tolerated.
At an online press conference on Wednesday, Thomas-Greenfield described corruption as a cancer all over Africa that has prevented the continent from moving ahead from education to development.
“It is important that when people go to the polls to vote, they have to vote against corruption,” she said from Washington.
She, however, disagreed that corruption is leading young African to take to crime but said it is leading them to “take a stand and show leadership”.
Thomas-Greenfield also disclosed that the Nigerian government and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, have assured the United States administration that the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on 28 March.
There have been renewed fears in Nigeria in recent time that the rescheduled elections may be postponed one more time because of insecurity in the North where Boko Haram terrorists killed over 27 people in two attacks on Tuesday.
She said Nigeria is a strategic partner of the United States and assurances have been made by the government and the electoral body.
“We have been assured by the government and Jega that elections will take place on March 28,” she said.
Thomas-Greenfield said Nigerian neighbouring countries, the continent of Africa and the world are all watching “very closely” and hoping that the Nigerian elections will be free, fair, credible and peaceful.
She will personally travel to Nigeria a day to the elections on 27 March to monitor them, she said.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield answered questions on various issues, from corruption to extremism on the continent.
On terrorism, she said the United States Government is partnering with African government from Somalia to Nigeria and South Sudan to defeat extremism.
The Assistant Secretary on Public Affairs, Doug Frantz, who addressed journalists at a separate online press conference, called on African journalists to be objective, balanced and independent in their reporting of elections.
One of the most important things to do during an election, Frantz said, is to separate facts from fictions for the electorate to find the truth.
He called on African journalists to be honest with their readers and stand up for one another when the need arises, including foreign journalists who find it hard to get access into the country.
There have been reports that over 40 foreign journalists are still waiting to get their visas to cover the Nigerian elections.

Bamidele cautions Fayose against attacking Buhari

Opeyemi Bamidele

A member of House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, has warned Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop embarrassing the state by his consistent attack against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The governor has consistently claimed that Buhari is too ill to be President of the country.

Fayose also claimed that the recent trip of the former Head of State was to enable him get medical attention, contrary to the position of the APC that he was in United Kingdom on a working visit.

But in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Bamidele said Fayose by his constant abuse of elders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Buhari, was rude.

According to him, the statements credited to the governor constituted a rude invasion of Buhari’s privacy and a roughneck tactic.

He said, “Even if, according to Governor Fayose, General Buhari had visited a hospital during his foreign trip, the reasonable question to ask, I would think, is whether or not General Buhari deserves rest or even a medical checkup after a full-fledged and most rigorous (over 30 days) campaign during which he did not miss a single rally?”

Chris Brown Denied Entry Into Canada Because Of Drake?!?

This is interesting!! Apparently, the superstar R&B singer, Chris brown was denied entry into Canada.
Chris Brown broke the news to his fans on Twitter that he had to cancel tour dates in Canada because he has been denied entry into the country.
He tweeted this: -

“Unfortunately I will not be able to perform in front of sold out crowds in Montreal & Toronto,” Breezy wrote in the tweeted-then-deleted posts. “The good people of the Canadian government wouldn’t allow me entry. I’ll be back this summer and will hopefully see all my Canadian fans!”

He also took to social media alleging he was denied entry because he insulted one of Canada’s biggest musical talents, Drake.
In case you missed it, he dissed both Drake and Rihanna during an interview with the breakfast club saying Rihanna can’t date anyone better.

I feel in any situation when you look at yourself in a certain light, cocky or not… I think there’s nowhere else to go,Even with ol’ girl, [Rihanna] who else you gon’ go to? he asked before host Angela Yee said” with “Leonardo DiCaprio,

That’s nice, that’s a good choice, but who else in this game she gon’ go to? Some corny singing rapper?”(referring to Drake)

Tyga Talks About His Relationship With Kylie Jenner

Well, there’s really no law against dating a 17 year old, as long as they don’t do the do.
In a new interview with AMP radio, Tyga opened up on his relationship with 17 year old Kylie Jenner.
Tyga said “Whether if I tell the world that I love her or I don’t, it’s gonna be me to dictate that, and how I want to keep my friendship and relationship with her, I feel like it doesn’t matter what the world thinks. If you’re around somebody, and you love being around that person, that’s all that matters. I don’t feel like what anybody could say would change that. How I feel for her as a person. She’s just a good person, she’s got great energy.
“We’ve got a group of friends, we’ve been hanging out for the longest. I’ve been knowing her and her family for six, seven years, so it’s all love there. I love her as a person. If you love being around somebody, that’s all that matters, you know? Sometimes you gotta just let that artist live their own personal life sometimes, and you gotta respect that as a fan and a spectator of what we do.”

Is Grace Amah dating Jimi Agbaje?? | Photos

Nollywood actress and mother of one, Grace Amah has been off the Nigerian movie scene for a while.

Declaring she is now back and better, the beautiful actress has declared that she is not in a hurry to say ‘I do’. In a recent interview with Encomium, she described how she is calmly waiting for God’s time. The single mother, who recently added a year to her years, talked about her kind of man, and also addressed the reports that she is dating the Lagos PDP governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje.
Read excerpts from the exciting interview below:
What is your level of involvement in Mr Jimi Agbaje’s campaigns?
What you see drumming support for Jimi Agbaje with me and other artists is borne out of long time desire for alternative government in Lagos state.  We did not just start campaigning for Jimi Agbaje because of this election.  We started as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) promoting what we vision as a New Lagos where education is not a slogan but a reality.  A state that is not in the pocket of one man but a state that belongs to Lagosians who are Nigerians from different walks of life and from different parts of the country who live and pay their taxes in the state.
We desire a new Lagos where the dignity of man is of high premium and infrastructure is not only given the due attention it deserves in all nooks and crannies of the state but must be working. Lagos State has the highest internally generated revenue in the whole federation yet many social facilities are not working.
Some parts of Lagos State can be without light for months or weeks and yet nobody takes responsibility. So, our movement FOR NEW LAGOS (#4NL) started before Jimi Agbaje came into the race for governorship of the state, but his vision and manifesto encapsulates the vision of our movement and so we joined his campaign to promote his vision for the state.  So, my involvement in the campaign is as a result of the adoption of the PDP governorship candidate by my organisation #4NL.
You featured prominently in one of his commercials. How were you contracted?
All members of #4NL featured in the commercial. It’s not for one person and nobody was contracted in that sense of contract. We support what we believe will bring good life to Lagosians.  We are not rented by anybody to campaign for Jimi Agbaje. So, the issue of how much I received does not arise.
Were you paid well and can you give us an idea of your fee?
From the background I gave you above, the issue of payment is not involved. We are promoting a cause we believe will help to promote and sustain our democracy. Lagos state desires change from the present government to another government so that Lagosians will live as people with equal stake and have sense of belonging in the state.
So, you chose to work for Agbaje and not APC’s Akinwumi Ambode because he represents the Lagos of your dream?
Yes, Agbaje’s vision and manifesto fall within the purview of the vision of our Movement for a new Lagos state which is an NGO.  APC has ruled Lagos for 16 years even though under different nomenclatures, the drivers are the same. The party has done its best. We do not believe it has new ideas different from what it has promoted in the state in the past 16 years. So, we need new ideas and vision that will guarantee sense of belonging to Lagosians, irrespective of where they come from.  We believe PDP holds that key and we support a man like Jimi Agbaje whose life from childhood typifies an ordinary Lagosian.  He has the ability to drive the new vision in the state.

What is new for Grace Amah?
What is new for Grace Amah?  As usual it’s a new year, new vision and sustained focus. I will focus on my project of attending to the needy in society, promote issues that will help keep away our society from the domination of the privileged at the expense of the poor. I want to drive a vision where everyone in society will be proud to identify with that society and willingly contribute to the building of the society in all ramifications. I want to remain as role model to the young ones that holds the key to the future of the society tomorrow.
Would you say you are fully back to Nollywood?
I am fully back to Nollywood.  I never left Nollywood.  I only needed to give the desired attention to the family which is the primary constituency of every human person. But I am fully back now. You will begin to see my new movies in due course because I’m getting busier.
Your son is four.  How does it feel?
My son would be four years next month.  That was the reason you were not seeing me on screen as usual. It’s a joy of every mother to see her child in good health and in a peaceful home.
What is your relationship with his father?
My son’s father is fine. There is no problem.  What is important is not relationship per se but the welfare or well being of the child. And I can confirm that my son is growing great and doing very well in school.

Does he pay special attention to him?
I don’t know what special attention is.  He pays attention to him and that is enough.
We are still asking if you’ve found love or you will stick to your baby daddy?
When I am ready to discuss my love life I will invite the press (laughs).
What do you really want from the man to spend the rest of your life?
Any man that I will spend the rest of my life with will be credible. He must have integrity. He must be caring and ready to tolerate our deficiencies.
Is it really difficult to find true love?
Finding true love depends on what the person searching for love wants. What I want in love may not be what another person wants.  I will marry at God’s appointed time.
You would be a year older on Monday, February 23, how are you celebrating your birthday?
Yes, my birthday is on Monday, February 23 and I would be honoured to have you join me as I mark it with the children at The Home of God’s Grace Orphanage, Agbowa Ikorodu, Lagos.  Time is 11 am.  I don’t know what my friends and fans are planning after the charity.
What are you most grateful to God and your greatest wish?
I am grateful to God for life and good health. He is a great provider and I will worship Him forever. I pray to live a fulfilled life worth emulating and pleasing to God Almighty.

Meet The Cute Parents Of Mavin Records Act, D’ija | Photos

Currently signed on to the Don Jazzy-led Mavin Records is Hadiza Blell, better known by her stage name, D’ija.
The petite singer is a Sierra Leonean-Nigerian recording artist, visual artist, fashion designer and songwriter.
Di’Ja, who has lived in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the United States and Canada, started singing in 2008 back in Canada when she released her first song, ‘Rock Steady’ which was nominated for Best Urban/R&B Single at the 2009 Canadian Radio Music Awards.
The singer recently shared photos of her parents on Instagram, her is mum from Kaduna State in Northern Nigeria while her dad is from Sierra Leone, a country that shares a lot with Nigerian in terms of heritage and history relating to the Slave Trade era.
In the not-so-clear pictures shared by the Mavin singer, it is clear she is more like her father, especially in the area of her complexion.

Beyonce without a Bra As She Steps Out With Jay Z (PHOTOS)

The superstar singer went bra-less in a sexy unbuttoned blue shirt that was tied up, showing off her cleavage as she went to lunch with Jay Z yesterday in LA. Beyonce narrowly escaped a wardrobe malfunction.