Tom Cruise and wife Katie ends 5years marriage

 

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting divorced after 5 years of marriage. Katie’s attorney, Jonathan Wolfe released a statement saying, “This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family.”
Wolfe adds, “Katie’s primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter’s best interest.”
It’s unclear if divorce papers have been filed.
Cruise’s reps have also confirmed the news when they issued statement on Friday. ‘Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy’, the statement released via Gossip Cop read. Tom Cruise was seen in 2005 jumping on Oprah’s couch to express his love for Katie; the couple who started dating in 2005 got engaged in Paris and married in November 2006. Suri is their only child.

 

News : Police Summon Pastor Tunde Bakare Over Sermon On President Jonathan

 

Men of the State Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police have extended invitation to fiery Lagos preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, over what police sources see as a controversial sermon against President GoodluckJonathan.

The invitation signed by one Usman Ayuba (a chief superintendent of police) is sequel to a sermon which he (Pastor Bakare) delivered in his church wherein he accused President Jonathan of deliberately trying to bankrupt the country.

Publicity secretary of the Save Nigeria Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who confirmed the development in a chat with LEADERSHIP on telephone, however, said Bakare, the leader of the group, was aware of the summon.

Bakare, the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the last general election was billed to honour the invitation but had left the country on Wednesday.

“We saw an invitation by the police asking Pastor Bakare to honour an invitation regarding a sermon that he delivered sometime ago, but, as I am talking to you now, he is out of the country,” Odumakin said.

Though, it was speculated that security agents might prevent him from making the journey, which many believe was to the United States of America, he made without it hindrance.

Excerpt Of Pastor Bakare’s Sermon
“We have vampires whose assignment is to kill Nigeria and to make sure that Nigeria does not exist thereafter. Suddenly Nigeria that was that cheered now has clueless, shoeless people take over the administration of Nigeria.

“And the one word I have for Nigerians is, don’t despair. Jonathan is dancing to the drumbeat of destiny. His destiny is to bankrupt Nigeria. All men of goodwill must rise up to stop him. And stop him we will do. And I said stop him we will do. Don’t make mistake about what you are hearing from me today, it is clear in my heart beyond any iota of doubt that Jonathan’s destiny is to bankrupt Nigeria, balkanize Nigeria.

And there are forces behind him totally committed and determined to do so. Oil vultures with petrol dollars and all kinds of political “tinkers” not thinkers are tinkering with the destiny of our nation with their palace prophets telling them peace when there is no peace.

I want to tell you that it does not matter what it takes, we will stop you. We will stop you dead in your tracks. You will not accomplish your assignment. You will not finish your assignment. Nigeria will vomit you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Turn your Bible with me to the Book of Chronicles. Tell it on the mountain top that this man is dancing the drumbeat of destiny.

His destiny is to bankrupt this nation and balkanize it and he has the full support of his corporate cowboys and oil vultures as well as their palace prophets who are telling them peace when there is no peace because I don’t understand how a nation will be going through calamity upon calamity and those who should be concerned will only be prancing around. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand how you can serve your nation and serve bomb blast inside a church in Jos for breakfast.

And before they could recover from that anguish you serve them air crash for lunch. And before they could gain their moment of sanity, you serve them with petro dollar bribe and now you vaunt about it telling us nothing can happen because you are in charge, the land will vomit you as the Lord lives in the name of Jesus Christ and every collaborator will not go unpunished.

Your year of punishment has come. Tell it on the mountain top that there are still men of goodwill who will stop you dead in your tracks.

I am not talking about deluded ambitious politicians who now think of 2015 when the nation is in a mess in 2012. We can do all the tinkering, if we don’t rise up now there will not be 2015.”

 

News : Ghanian and former Leicester City player John Paintsil Locked In His Hummer jeep

The Ghanian player, and former Leicester City player John Paintsil on Monday afternoon experienced an embarrassing moment when he failed to get the engine of his flashy Hummer car started in a crowded market in Kumasi.

The player was in the car, registered JP 4-09, with his male friend in the passenger seat and two gorgeous ladies at the back. Paintsil tried starting the engine of the car, but he somewhat got some figures wrong, resulting in the complex car’s engine being jammed.

The embarrassing incident occurred right in front of Melcom Stores at Adum, the commercial nerve center of Kumasi at 1:00pm. Hundreds of people that were trading at the area left their products and rushed to the scene to catch a glimpse of the ‘disaster’ that had befallen the national star.

The huge crowd at the scene caused vehicular traffic which affected business in the city on the day. Paintsilwas among the football stars and musicians that had stormed Kumasi the previous day to play a charity game at the Baba Yara stadium.

The soccer stars and musicians had visited the Melcom Stores at Adum as part of activities marking the charity game. Sources at the scene told DAILY GUIDE SPORTS that they saw a different person driving the car when the stars arrived.

According to them, when news got round town that the stars had visited the area, several people quickly besieged the place to see them.

An eye witness said perhaps the player wanted to show off, hence his decision to drive the car this time around. However, Paintsil, who was evidently uncomfortable behind the wheels, committed a blunder and got the car locked up.

Unfortunately, since the player’s car was parked just right in the middle of a busy road, its inability to move caused massive vehicular traffic in the area. Paintsil, who was seen sweating profusely behind the wheels, tried several times to get the car’s engine started but to no avail.

In the end, it took the intervention of some people at the scene who volunteered to push the heavy car to shoulder of the road.

Whilst some of the curious people that thronged the place tried to offer a helping hand to the distraught player, others who sounded envious of the flashy cars on parade by the stars were seen casting insinuations on Paintsil.

They argued that from all indications Paintsil did not know how to drive the car but he tried doing so when he saw the huge crowd, but committed a mistake in the end.

Later on, Togolese international Emmanuel Adebayor, who was part of the team, left his car and came to the scene, perhaps to console Paintsil who was still seated in the Hummer car.

Adebayor then took Paintsil, his male friend and the two beautiful ladies to his (Adebayor) car and they sped off.

News : World’s First Genetically Modified Babies Created In The U.S

The world’s first geneticallymodified humans have been created, it was revealed last night.
The disclosure that 30 healthy babies were born after a series of experiments in the United States provoked another furious debate about ethics.

So far, two of the babies have been tested and have been found to contain genes from three ‘parents’.
Fifteen of the children were born in the past three years as a result of one experimental programme at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science of St Barnabas in New Jersey.

The babies were born to women who had problems conceiving. Extra genes from a female donor were inserted into their eggs before they were fertilised in an attempt to enable them to conceive.
Genetic fingerprint tests on two one-year- old children confirm that they have inherited DNA from three adults –two women and one man.

The fact that the children have inherited the extra genes and incorporated them into their ‘germline’ means that they will, in turn, be able to pass them on to their own offspring.
Altering the human germline – in effect tinkering with the very make-up of our species – is a technique shunned by the vast majority of the world’s scientists.

Geneticists fear that one day this method could be used to create new races of humans with extra, desired characteristics such as strength or high intelligence.

Writing in the journal Human Reproduction, the researchers, led by fertility pioneer Professor Jacques Cohen, say that this ‘is the first case of human germline genetic modification resulting in normal healthy children’.
Some experts severely criticised the experiments. Lord Winston, of the Hammersmith Hospital in West London, told the BBC yesterday: ‘Regarding the treat-ment of the infertile, there is no evidence that this technique is worth doing . . . I am very surprised that it was even carried out at this stage. It would certainly not be allowed in Britain.’

John Smeaton, national director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: ‘One has tremendous sympathy for couples who suffer infertility problems. But this seems to be a further illustration of the fact that the whole process of in vitro fertilisation as a means of conceiving babies leads to babies being regarded as objects on a production line.

‘It is a further and very worrying step down the wrong road for humanity.’ Professor Cohen and his colleagues diagnosed that the women were infertile because they had defects in tiny structures in their egg cells, called mitochondria.

They took eggs from donors and, using a fine needle, sucked some of the internal material – containing ‘healthy’ mitochondria – and injected it into eggs from the women wanting to conceive.
Because mitochondria contain genes, the babies resulting from the treatment have inherited DNA from both women. These genes can now be passed down the germline along the maternal line.

A spokesman for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates ‘assisted reproduction’ technology in Britain, said that it would not license the technique here because it involved altering the germline.
Jacques Cohen is regarded as a brilliant but controversial scientist who has pushed the boundaries of assisted reproduction technologies.

He developed a technique which allows infertile men to have their own children, by injecting Fluid DNA straight into the egg in the lab.

Prior to this, only infertile women were able to conceive using IVF. Last year, Professor Cohen said that his expertise would allow him to clone children –a prospect treated with horror by the mainstream scientific community.
‘It would be an afternoon’s work for one of my students,’ he said, adding that he had been approached by ‘at least three’ individuals wishing to create a cloned child, but had turned down their requests.

News : Blackberry crumbles

Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd, the makers of the BlackBerry brand of smartphones said that it will delay the launch of new phones running on the new BlackBerry 10 OS.

RIM’s new BlackBerry phones are very critical to the company’s survival.

The BlackBerry maker also revealed on Thursday that its business is crumbling faster than thought.

Analysts have long said the new BlackBerrys will come out too late to reverse RIM’s crumbling business.

The Canadian company posted results for its latest quarter that were worse than analysts had expected. It’s cutting 5,000 jobs and unexpectedly delaying the launch of its new phone operating system, BlackBerry 10, until after the holiday shopping season.

After several delays, the first phone with BlackBerry 10 was expected later this year. It will be delayed even longer, to the first quarter of next year, RIM CEO Thorsten Heins said.

The delay comes as North Americans are abandoning BlackBerrys for iPhones and Android phones.

RIM was banking its future on the new BlackBerry 10 system, which is meant to offer the multimedia, Internet browsing and apps experience that customers now demand.

Now it will come out months after a new iPhone is expected to be released. Current and previous iPhones have made the BlackBerry look ancient.

Heins had vowed to do everything he could to release BlackBerry 10 this year but he said Thursday that the timetable simply wasn’t realistic. He said RIM’s top priority remains a successful launch of the new BlackBerrys.

“I will not deliver a product to the market that is not ready to meet the needs of our customers,” Heins said on a conference call with analysts. “There will be no compromise on this issue.”

The jobs cuts are part of a previously announced initiative to cut $1 billion in annual costs this year. They represent about 30 percent of RIM’s workforce of about 16,500.

“It is necessary to change the scale and refocus the company,” Heins said. “I fully understand the impact a workforce reduction of this size has on our employees and the communities in which we operate. I assure you that we wouldn’t move forward with a change of this size if we didn’t think it was critical for our future.”

Heins acknowledged that he delivered “a lot of tough news.”

“This was a challenging quarter for the company on many fronts,” he said. “And I am not satisfied with the financial performance we are reporting today.”

He said the company will release fewer models than in the past. He also said RIM will launch a BlackBerry 10 model with a physical keyboard close to the launch of a touch-screen model. RIM earlier said it would come out with the touch-screen model first, but didn’t say when it would make one with a physical keyboard, a feature that many people stay with BlackBerrys for.

RIM lost $518 million, or 99 cents a share, in its fiscal first quarter, which ended June 2. That compares with a profit of $695 million, or $1.33 per share, a year ago.

Revenue fell 43 percent to $2.8 billion, well below analyst expectations at $3.1 billion.

RIM said it shipped just 7.8 million BlackBerry smartphones in the quarter, down 41 percent from 13.2 million a year earlier.

“When a technology gets old, it’s not a slow fade. It’s a sharp cliff,” Gillis said. “There is very little market for old technology.” Colin Gillis, an analyst with BGC Financial said. He added that the results and news of a BlackBerry 10 unexpected delay is far worse than the horrible news he had already expected.

Michael Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord, called the BlackBerry 10 delay dire and problematic in a rapidly changing technology sector.

“The biggest disappointment is the delay of the BlackBerry 10,” he said. “It’s extremely challenging for them to turn around the business when their new smartphone is launching that late.”

$620,000 bribe: Lawan tenders evidence to prove innocence before Reps committee

 

 

 

There were indications yesterday that the suspended House of Representatives ad hoc committee Chairman on Fuel Subsidy, Hon. Farouk Lawan may shock Nigerians with an evidence to proof that he is innocent of the alleged $620,000 bribe between him and  Zenon oil chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola.
Already, the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges had on Thursday commenced a proper investigation on the bribery allegation issue at the House of Representative. Lawan, was said to have arrived the scene of the investigation around 1.06pm.
It was gathered that Lawan cooperated with the committee members and also tender necessary evidence to proof that he was accused wrongly on the alleged bribery matter.
It will be recalled that on several ocassion, the embattled Lawmaker had confessed to have collected the foreign currency money from Otedola, but claimed it was not a bribe and vowed that he would be vindicated at the end of the investigation.
Lawan appeared unruffled by the media attention on the allegation of bribery leveled against him has gained in recent time. On sighting the more than 50 newsmen who had waited earnestly for his arrival, he said, “Mr Chairman, it is a full house.”
However, contrary to earlier promise by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, that the session would be open to media coverage, the Chairman of the Committee, Gambo Dan-Musa asked journalists to leave after he had read his address.
Mohammed later defended the Committee’s decision to hold the investigation behind closed door. According to the House Spokesman, the decision was to avoid distraction as other investigations on the same matter were going on.
He said the Committee would not want media attention to create a situation where evidence of one investigation would affect the course of the other.
According to the source, the lawmaker, who was also relieved of his chairmanship of the Education Committee, was not only relaxed throughout the session, he was very cooperative and was ready to assist the committee in its assignment.
Saying that Nigerians are in for a shock concerning the bribe, the source affirmed that the issue of the whereabouts of the money would be laid to rest by the time the report of the Committee is tabled before the House.
Asked about the disposition of Lawan to the Committee’s questions, the source said: “He was confident in the way he carried himself, because he has proof.
He did not fidget and he gave us the relevant things we requested from him.
“You know he was Vice Chairman of Ethics committee in 1999. So, he knew the extent the Ethics Committee could go. So, he was quite open. The reality is that he has all the text messages. He has evidence that will shock everybody with the little we got from him.”
The source also revealed that the Committee was cautious but firm about the whereabouts of the cash, going by past experience. “Nobody saw any money with the former Speaker Adolphus Wabara.  Where he fell into the trap was that he allowed himself to be deceived. They cajoled him that he should accept that he took the money and that he should pay back and that there won’t be any problems. He fell for it and went and dropped the money. As soon as he dropped the money, they nailed him.
“As for Farouk, he did not deny collecting the money as he seemed to be aware of the consequences, but the whereabouts of the money is what the investigation should determine.”
He also said that the main focus of the Committee is to ascertain the relationships between the alleged bribe and the outcome of the report.
“Our own job basically is to find out if he went out to take bribe to influence the report in any way. You should not forget that Otedola has three companies involved in the case.
“One can recall that the report was tabled on the 19th. If they had taken money from anybody, why would they be indicted. You know their mandate was PMS. This is a very simple matter.
If your company was not involved and you have documents to back it up, then present it.
“In the case of Zenon, he made documents available. But as for AP, he did not present any document and that was why AP was still there. He started helping the committee by giving them information. At the end of the day, it turned  around. The story changed and started with some threats, but Farouk went to get that money to save himself, not knowing at that point too, the man was also looking for how to blackmail him.
“That is basically how far I can go with you until the man appears before us to have a look at another angle to the saga. But from what he has, Nigerians will be shocked.”

 

 

Police Detonate Bombs Planted On Riyom Bridge

 

• News
• Politics

Two bombs planted on Saturday on a bridge in Riyom, some 40 kilometres from Jos, the Plateau capital, have been detonated, the state Police Command has said.
Spokesman of the Command, Abu Emmanuel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, that the bombs were planted on the bridge linking Gol-Hoss and Riyom, the headquarters of Riyom Local Government Area.
``Today, at about 0200 hours, suspected terrorists went and planted bombs on a bridge linking Gol-Hoss and the headquarters of Riyom Local Government Area.
``Following a tip-off, a Police anti-bomb squad led by ASP Abel Mbibi, went to the scene and we were able to detonate and evacuate the bombs,” Emmanuel told NAN.
Emmanuel said that the detonation of the bombs was done without any damage to the bridge and that no casualty was recorded during the operation.
The spokesman said that no arrest had been made in connection with the incident but that investigation had commenced.
``Efforts are being intensified to track down the criminal elements behind the dastardly act,’’ he said.
Emmanuel said that the situation in the area and the state at large had been very calm and urged all law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful activities without fear as the Police and other security agencies were on top of the situation.
``The prompt response of the Police in this incident is a confirmation of the earlier assurance given to the good people of Plateau that the Police Command is fully prepared to protect lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
``But, again, the Police need timely and credible information from members of the public to help nip such dastardly situation in the bud as well as deal decisively with those bent on fomenting trouble on the Plateau.”
He appealed to members of the public to continue to collaborate and cooperate with the Police and other security agencies by volunteering credible and timely information to make them to be more proactive.
NAN reports that Riyom has witnessed some bomb blasts and constant rifts between Berom and Fulani herdsmen with many, especially women and children, murdered in cold blood.
Recently, a timed-bomb was planted at the Riyom market square before an 82-year old farmer, Gyang Dachom, who was attracted by a clock attached to it, and the turkey vegetable oil tin - the fuel for the bomb, which he thought actually contained the oil - took it home believing he had found a fortune.
Last month, another timed-bomb was planted in the market square and was timed to explode by noon at the peak of the weekly Riyom market but stopped working shortly after it was planted.
Only on Wednesday evening, a PDP chieftain, John Daring, his wife and son, were macheted to death while returning home from Rim market in the area.
Plateau Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Ayeni, recently decried the protracted attacks in the area, and declared that Riyom had become the albatross of security agencies.
The Federal Government had last month expressed concerns over the killings which heightened in recent weeks, and became a daily occurrence with several houses and food crops destroyed while thousands were rendered homeless.

 

Washington DC region swelters after storm cuts power

 

The storms formed in the Midwest and then moved east to the mid-Atlantic states

Some two million people are without power after violent storms hit the region around the US capital, Washington DC.

The storms swept from the Midwest states to the region around Washington, packing winds of up to 80mph (130 km/h).
The power outages left many sweltering without air conditioning amid a record-breaking heatwave.
At least nine deaths have been linked to the storm, officials say.
The storm is locally referred to as a "derecho" - a violent, straight-lined windstorm associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms.
It left behind felled trees, streets littered with fallen branches and downed power lines.
Washington's transit authority said most metro lines were back to normal service after the storm disrupted service on all lines during Friday night. But many Metrobus routes were subject to detours or delay due to downed trees and power lines.
Amtrak suspended services from Washington to Philadelphia until at least mid-morning on Saturday, Associated Press reported.
Meanwhile, a heatwave which has seen all-time records smashed with temperatures of 104F (40C) in DC, was set to continue, said the National Weather Service - and it warned that another round of severe weather should be expected.

The storms capped a day of sweltering temperatures

'Quarter-size hail' The storms started in the Midwest and moved quickly eastward, hitting the mid-Atlantic states on Friday evening.
As well as gusty winds, users of the social network site Twitter reported spectacular, sustained displays of lightning. There were also reports of hail the size of a US quarter coin - just under an inch (2.4cm).
The storms left more than two million people without power, reported Associated Press, which said that a state of emergency had been declared in West Virginia where more than 500,000 were hit by power cuts.
Power companies said they were working hard to restore power to customers, but Pepco and Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) were among those warning that it could be days before all services were reconnected.
Meanwhile, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission imposed mandatory water restrictions for all customers in Montgomery and Prince George counties because the storms cut power to two water filtration plants and other facilities.
It asked customers to stop all outside water use and restrict water use at home.
Weather warning The storms have been blamed for at least nine deaths.
The Associated Press news agency said the storms were blamed for six deaths in Virginia, two in two in New Jersey and one in Maryland.
In suburban Washington, residents were told to call non-emergency phone numbers or go to fire and police stations if they needed help because even 911 emergency call centers were without electricity.
The US National Weather Service warned people in the region to alert to the latest weather warnings on Saturday.
"Another round of severe weather will develop across the Ohio Valley and track into the northern Mid-Atlantic states, where damaging winds will be the primary threat," it said on its website.
"At this time, it appears the greatest risk will stretch from southern Ohio into Maryland and northern Virginia."

 

Striking MTN Workers Urge Customers To Exercise “Little Patience

 

Striking workers of the MTN call centre in Jos on Saturday appealed to customers hit by their action to be ``a little more patient’’ as the contending issues were being resolved.
The staff members of the organisation have been at home since the first week of May.
 ``We want to resume work; we want to go to our beats and serve Nigeria. That we are at home is not our making,’’ the workers said in Jos through their Chairman, Mr Paul Afolabi.
``We have very crucial issues with the management of Communications Support Service Limited (CNSSL), the company handling the Jos call centre, and shall resume work as soon as they do the right thing,’’ Afolabi added.
He expressed appreciation to members of the Plateau House of Assembly for their intervention toward resolving the matter, and urged them to help to address the issues.
On the workers’ main grouse, Afolabi said that they wanted their salaries harmonised with those of their counterparts in Kano, Lagos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt.
``Our colleagues in those areas receive between N120,000 and N86,000 per month, but we receive N43,600 as salaries in Jos for the same work and same risk,’’ he explained.
He also called for MTN credit on staff lines as obtained in other towns, and disclosed that each staff was entitled to N6, 000 credit per month, a privilege enjoyed in other areas but denied his members.
Afolabi also called for public holiday allowance and night allowance as given to other centres, and explained that staff members were denied the N11, 500 entitlement for every night in the office.
``Instead of N11, 500, what we have is Nescafe and milk satchets, two cubes of sugar and N20 biscuit. This is not fair,’’ he said.
He also alleged that staff members in other centres received 50 Kg of rice and 12 litres of groundnut oil as Christmas gift, a privilege denied his colleagues whom, he said, were usually given 25 kg of rice with no groundnut oil.
Afolabi also alleged that the management was not remitting taxes deducted from their salaries to the Plateau Government, and explained that the situation came to light only recently when tax officials stormed the office.
The official also alleged that they had been forced to register into the Bighma Hospital, Jos, for their National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) services, adding that they were not even allowed to receive treatment beyond N2000.
He also alleged general victimisation, and claimed that 18 staff members were sacked for merely requesting an improvement in working conditions.
NAN reports that the Plateau House of Assembly and the Plateau chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress have intervened in the feud with the issues still yet unresolved.
The House of Assembly on Thursday received the report of the committee directed to investigate the feud, and promised prompt action toward resolving the issues.
Efforts to reach Mr Adeboh Ejiga, the Regional Technical Officer of the CNSSL in Jos, proved abortive.
However, a top CNSSL official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the issues were being resolved with officials of the workers’ union.

 

Mind buggling photos from the recent Lagos flood

 

The recent flood caused by the incessant rain that has been experienced in Lagos has not only cost a lot of people their homes, but has also made a lot of road non motor able, and almost impossible for people to walk through.

 

Usher Gets Restraining Order Against Stalker Who Claims to Be His Wife

Usher Gets Restraining Order Against Stalker Who Claims to Be His Wife

 

 

       A Georgia woman was arrested outside R&B superstar Usher’s house this week after claiming to be his wife .

       Accused stalker Darshelle Jones-Rakestraw was picked up outside Usher’s Atlanta-area residence early Sunday morning after the singer saw her via security camera sitting on his porch with her iPad plugged into a house outlet. “Ms. Jones-Rakestraw was saying that she was the wife of Mr. Raymond and he makes all her decisions,” a police report states.

         Usher filed for a temporary restraining order Tuesday claiming he feared for his safety and that of his family. Police then took the woman to Emory Johns Creek Hospital instead, where she was later admitted for a mental evaluation. She was released shortly after, with a copy of the charges against her.

        In YouTube videos posted after her release, Jones-Rakestraw said the R&B superstar has been calling her and giving her money for more than a year, and she claimed to have proof. 

   She is due to appear in court next month.

 

News : N15m scam : Jim Iyke speaks!

 

A week ago, Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke broke the news that the N15 million case filed against him has been thrown out of court for lack of evidence.

And just a day after,the plaintiff, Hajia Habiba Abubakar   fired back that the case was not thrown out of court due to  lack of evidence, rather,she withdrew it after the actor apologized to her, and signed an agreement to pay the money in installments until the full amount is realised. However, an online media claimed that Abubakar also made available documents backing her  claims.

Nollywood star, Jim Iyke

Speaking from far away Brazil where he is currently attending the Rio +20 gathering, Jim Iyke said “It was God’s intervention. I’m sure even she doesn’t  know how it ended like this.”

He said , “the fact that she’s still running around proves it. It was a conspiracy to bury me and take an undeserved equity of my company and I refused and hell broke loose.

“How can it be fraud when I admitted the amount invested? My lawyer advised me to take the deal and walk away when they had nothing else to say. It’s just part of my ventures.

“We settled out of court and I’m a gentleman and apologized for the angry words I spoke. When I’m home, I’m still gonna further hold a press conference and apologize to my family and true fans that saw me through that abyss. Well, this is all I can say for now.”

Meanwhile, reports had it that Jim Iyke and his parents paid a visit to Abubakar’s Abuja home where they pleaded with the woman to tamper justice with mercy. And after listening to Jim’s aging parents, Abubakar was said to have calmed down and made a decision to discontinue the case but not without some conditions.

According to reports,  some of the conditions the actor must fulfill before being let off the hook are that he, Jim Iyke, must tender a written public apology to Habiba Abubakar in at least two Nigerian daily papers. And that he, Jim Iyke, must also  pay back the N16.5m he collected from Abubakar but this time in installments.

 

News : PHOTO: Black Mario Balotteli and his proud white Mum

 

With so much to bear as a black football player in the midst of white players, Mario Balotelli needed to be strong, and presently his strength which has cost him a lot of controversies among fans and fellow players, is still what is making a good name for him in the football world.

Last night Italy declared a war against Germany in the semi-finals and Balotelli took the bull by the horn, matched onto the pitch and made two resounding goals that gave the Italians the victory.

Over time he has been facing racial discrimination from the Italians themselves and this has gotten to a media level, but that has not for once diminished his strenght. His mother, as he always say, has always been his support, and she has taken this particular picture with so much emotion it feels palpable from your screen..

 

News : Photo: Meet the sexy captain of the Bobby FC.

 

If actually a club existed with the name Bobby FC like Dj Zeez gave us in his music, don't you think this damsel would naturally be selected as the captain?

..

 

News : Shocked Entertainers React: Pastor Chris Okotie's Crashed Marriage

Shocked Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the recent public announcement by the General Overseer of House Hold of God, Rev. Chris Okotie that his almost four years marriage to Stephanie was over.

Since the disclosure, which Okotie made on the altar during the Sunday service, several Nigerians have been reacting, including entertainers.

Its usual tradition sampled the views of several entertainers on the separation. They described the funky preacher’s action as part of a man’s life while others condemned the action as ungodly.

Elder O (Comedian)

He is at liberty to live his life the way he wishes. Most times Christians live and die in a marriage that is not destined to work at all in the name of “no divorce, no polygamy”. But being a man of God, I think he should watch his actions and hear from God-because they (Pastors) always advise us against divorce.

Ancient Master (Musician)

Rev. Chris Okotie is a man of God who is trying to prove to us that there are certain things you cannot take, even as a pastor. The public should also know that being a pastor does not take away free will or right to choice of relationship. Though marriages are crashing on daily bases; hence we may say, “First fool is not a fool, but what happens to a second fool?”

via e-Express

BENITA NZERIBE (ACTRESS)

Nobody would be happy to break up with his or her partner because I am sure they were in love with each other before they decided to marry. I think the media is not helping matters too. Let us leave them alone. It’s their personal lives.

CHARLYBOY (MUSICIAN)

Divorce is a normal thing that can happen when things go wrong and can’t be reconciled. It’s better to separate than to suffer. Even if he is a pastor he is human too.

SOUND SULTAN (MUSICIAN)

Well, what do you say to this kind of thing? It’s a very difficult one. I really don’t know what to say. Marriage is an institution where you either pass or fail. One has to be very careful.

Mike Nliam (Filmmaker)

It’s a very serious and ‘interesting’ situation. I cannot really judge him because he is a pastor and a teacher of the Bible - a man under authority and knows what the Bible says about divorce. Again, despite his pastoral portfolio, he is still human and must have his challenges. As a pastor, role model and public figure, he owes God, his congregation and the society (fans) an explanation.

He has done that to some extent. It would be interesting to know what counsel he would give to many folks in his church who have troubled marriages. It is indeed a very delicate situation.

IVIE OKUJAYE (ACTRESS)

Divorce is something I can’t talk about. It is personal. So, whether their marriage crashed or not is not my business.

Cossy Orjiakor (Actress)

It’s a very delicate issue.
They should just tread with care.

 

World Bank to support Nigeria’s Agro sector with $500m

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, says the World Bank will support the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government with a 500 million dollar grant.

He disclosed this in Abuja on Friday while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

The GES programme is a Federal Government’s initiative aimed at subsidising the cost of major agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and seeds.

Under the initiative the direct procurement and distribution of farm inputs to farmers is discontinued and supplies are expected to be done through an electronic distribution channel known as the e-wallet.

The e-wallet scheme stipulates that farmers registered under the GES are expected to pay 50 per cent of the cost inputs, while the Federal and State Governments pay 25 per cent each.

He said: “the grant will cover the areas of the priority value chains. Mr President has said that we must be self-sufficient in rice production by the year 2015.

“So rice is the most important commodity that we are working on, World Bank agreed with us on that and they will be providing significant amount of support to us.

“I had earlier met with the World Bank delegation from Washington DC, led by Dr Jamal Tajir, the Director, Sustainable and Development Department of the bank to discuss about the grant.’’

He pointed out that the grant was as result of the five missions the World Bank sent to the country earlier in the year.
Adesina said the bank would also provide support for the cassava value chain programme, explaining that he had discussed in details with the delegation about the cassava value chain.

“The decision to use cassava to replace some of the wheat flour we are importing is not a political decision. It is an economic decision.

“Economic in the sense that Nigeria spend N635 billion every year importing wheat. ’’

According to him, there is need for the country to diversify its economy, create jobs and add value to its produces.

The minister also said that he discussed with the delegation what the ministry was doing about maximising cocoa production.

He expressed optimism that the country could beat countries like Ivory Coast, Brazil and Cameroun in the production of cocoa.

Adesina said that the country had the variety that gives five times the yield of cocoa.

He said that was why the Federal Government directed the ministry to distribute the cocoa hybrid to farmers for free because most cocoa plantations in the country were old.

 

 

Egypt's New President 'Takes Oath' In Square

 

 

Egypt's newly-elected president has defied the country's military rulers by reading the oath of office in front of a crowd of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Mohamed Morsi, the country's first Islamist leader and also the first civilian president, told his cheering supporters: "There is no power above people power".
He also pledged to secure the freedom of an Egyptian cleric jailed for terrorism in the United States.
The speech and its location - the iconic Square where last year's revolution began - appeared to be a calculated snub to Egypt's generals who have moved to limit the new president's role. 
Mr Morsi had been due to take the oath for the first time in front of the country's constitutional court on Saturday.
That official ceremony is still set to go ahead but the venue has caused anger because the inauguration should have taken place in front of the parliament.
The legislature was dissolved just after the presidential election and the generals have granted themselves its lawmaking powers.
By swearing his oath in Tahrir Sqaure - albeit informally - Mr Morsi has shown that he intends to challenge the military's attempts to retain significant control over the country.
The Muslim Brotherhood leader told the crowds that he "feared no one but God" and said he would work to free detainees held by the Egyptian military and overseas.
He said he would try to secure the freedom of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric who was jailed for life by an American court over the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing. 
That pledge is likely to unnerve Western powers who had been reassured by Mr Morsi's promises of moderate Islamist rule. Abdel Rahman was also convicted of a plot to assassinate Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted as president by last year's uprising.
Through the day thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters had streamed into Tahrir Square to join a protest against military rule ahead of Mr Morsi's speech.
They have vowed to continue an already week-long sit in until the generals hand over full powers to the new president. 
Mr Morsi's defiant approach could set him on a collision course with the military rulers who have also granted themselves control over national security and defence and over the writing of a new constitution.
He is in the process of forming a new government which will include secularists, Christians and women.

 

News : Photo: American flag dresses-the new ways Nigerian ladies visit the embassy

Every day new systems are developed in Nigeria in order to run away to the United states, but unfortunately for us the people at the embassies too evolve everyday and get to adapt to out new systems. 

The latest on the scene is the wearing of the American flag to the embassy as it is known that American are the most patriotic citizens in the world and that tend to melt their hearts anytime any day. Would you try that?

News : Jonathan Abandons Crucial ECOWAS Meeting, Jets Out Of Nigeria To Belgium\

 

President Goodluck Jonathan departed Abuja for Brussels today after the Federal Executive Council meeting, to deliver a speech at a Customs conference in Belgium.

Mr. Jonathan’s trip is basically a jamboree organized by the Director of Customs, who reportedly bribedJonathan’s wife and his Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadome, to ensure the President’s appearance at the event.

Last week, Mr. Jonathan was severely criticized by civil society activists and opposition groups, for leading a vast delegation of 116 officials and hangers-on to the Rio+20 conference in Brazil.

During his third presidential media chat last Sunday, Mr. Jonathan tried to rebut the criticisms, claiming that the widespread attacks in two States in which militants killed over 70 people was not enough reason to prevent him from that trip.

Sources told Saharareporters that this week’s Belgium jamboree will cost Nigeria its prime spot at the Economic Commission for West Africa (ECOWAS) table in Yamassoukro, Cote d’Ivoire.  Mr. Jonathan was expected to be there to represent Nigeria to intervene in the political instability in Mali, where rebels have carved out a den for themselves in the north, and Guinea Bissau, where military bandits upstaged civilian power.

Nigeria, which has lost a lot of political respect in Africa, is leading a 9-nation committee to resolve the conflicts in those two countries.  Instead, Mr. Jonathan opted to go to Brussels with no clear agenda. His large delegation includes Senators, governors, and sundry officials.

The Nigerian Customs Service is footing the bill of several attendees, including paying the first lady special estacodes for the nights she will be in Brussels.

Mrs. Jonathan will leave Brussels for the United States with 36 aides to attend to another jamboree: the First Lady’s “Youth Infusion” Summit in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Summit is organized by a group in Maryland that is apparently outside the purview of UNESCO, although it is supported by a non-governmental organization called the UNESCO Center for Peace.  The group’s website shows that only African first ladies from Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria, Benin, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone have been invited.

Curiously, the organizers website -firstladysummit.org was registered and created only six months ago, in January 2012, and has largely pixelated photos of advisors that clearly have nothing to do with UNESCO.

 

News : Shina Peters Begs Gani Adams For Money?

 

According to the gist, SSP, whose last album failed to make any impact in the industry, recently clocked 54. In other to celebrate his birthday, SSP allegedly turned himself to an executive beggar.

He was said to have done this during the birthday of the highly controversial OPC leader, Otunba Gani Adams. 

But one disturbing question is, if this gist is true, what could have made SSP do this? Where was Gani Adams when SSP was ruling the Nigerian music industry in the 90's?

Almost every music lovers in Nigeria danced to SSP's Juju melody when he was the king of Nigerian music scene. Sir Shina Peter seems to be fading out of the music scene now dominated by the younger generations. 

We were told that he reportedly made several efforts to get across to Gani Adams for his birthday gift but all to no avail. Hmmm! We hope this is not true but efforts to get through to SSP on this gist proved abortive.