It is with the heaviest of hearts, and deepest sorrow that we regret to announce that Rapper, Da Grin formally known as Olayitan Olanipekun Oladapo is dead at the tender age of 23. As some of you know Da Grin was in a ghastly auto accident last week, and had been receiving treatment for injuries sustained at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.

Da Grin was officially pronounced dead by the doctors sometime about 8:30pm yesterday local time at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Rest In Peace, Da Grin. You will be sorely missed in Nigeria, Africa and the world as a whole. You leave us with some of the best music from a Nigerian rapper. We Thank God for your life, even if it was short..

Last week also Hip Hop lost Guru of Gansterr fame .

read more

http://www.9jabook.com/profiles/blogs/guru-of-gangstarr-is-dead

Tireless Inter Milan produced a rip-roaring home performance to overpower Barcelona 3-1 and leave the holders in real trouble after an inspiring Champions League semi-final, first leg on Tuesday.

Goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito, after Pedro had given Barca the lead, set up a fascinating second leg at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.

In one of the most electric atmospheres inside the San Siro for years, both sides stretched every last sinew to the limit as Europe's top club competition again showed why fans the world over are so hooked..

Inter had the better of the early chances but first blood went to Barca, forced to make a 14-hour bus journey to reach the match because of the Icelandic volcano restricting flights.

Left back Maxwell, who quit Inter for the La Liga leaders last year, exposed his former team mates by reaching the byline unmarked and his pullback was slotted home by Spain World Cup hopeful Pedro after 19 minutes.

Forward Pedro was again preferred to Thierry Henry in Barca's starting lineup and the diminutive livewire forward is fast looking a good bet to gatecrash Spain's World Cup squad.

Inter, who were last European Cup winners in 1965 and playing in their first Champions League semi-final since 2003, then demonstrated the steel-plated resilience coach Jose Mourinho has instilled by hitting back on the half-hour..

BARNSTORMING BREAK

Argentine striker Milito, who missed two glorious chances from tight angles, turned his back on goal when picking up the ball in the box but cleverly played in former Real Madrid playmaker Sneijder and the unmarked Dutchman slammed home.

Goran Pandev did well early in the second half to release Milito in a barnstorming break and his cut-back was scuffed home by right back Maicon, who was later taken off on a stretcher.

Milito headed in the third after 61 minutes and for a moment feared he had again been flagged offside before running to celebrate with the ecstatic Inter fans, who have been spoilt by four straight Serie A titles but starved of European success.

Ex-Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, booed repeatedly by his former beloved crowd, had a few sniffs at goal while Lionel Messi only had one good effort after largely being kept under wraps by the sheer brute force of Inter's defence.

Barca, who protested to the referee at the final whistle after a couple of penalty appeals were waved away, pushed hard for a way back late on but Inter held firm.

REUTERS

Remember the Austrian Sex Beast Josef Fritzl ?

An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced a randy father, who raped his two daughters, to seven years imprisonment with hard labour.

Minister justifies N138billion loan

The federal government yesterday strived to explain away its determination to borrow $915m from the World Bank. The Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, who was speaking at the presidential villa shortly after the signing of the 2010 budget said the loan will be spent wisely. "The most important thing for us is to make sure that in spending we get good value for the money spent, that it is spent in areas where we generate both social and economic returns; that is what is critical.".

He refuted speculations that the money will be used to finance the 2010 budget saying the administration was planning to raise a bond of about $5oo million from the international market for that. Mr Aganga who said the entire deal has been misrepresented, sought to clarify the matter: "This is absolutely wrong. We are not borrowing a billion [US dollars] to fund the budget. I think what they are referring to is something which we are working with the World Bank on. The World Bank, as you know, helps a number of developing countries and that [amount] is just a quantification of the work they are doing - which is broken down to quite a few segments. So, it is not one billion dollars borrowing up front; it doesn't work like that. It has nothing to do with the budget."

He also explained that government was looking at securing other sources of revenue, which could include sales of some assets and the possibility of raising a bond. However, he down-played fears about the potential for waste in the nation's spending plan.

He said, "I think the most important thing we should understand is that in a recession, there is nothing wrong about spending. In fact, if you look at any of the Western world they all have deficit[s].

Spending wisely

Mr. Aganga said all sectors of the government will be held accountable for its spending and promised that the new administration would be heavily focused on the proper execution of the budget. He announced that the Minister of Special Duties, Ernest Olubolade, had been mandated to handle the issue.

"It is ok to spend but it is important that you spend wisely and people are held accountable," he said. Mr. Aganga assured the nation that the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund to replace the old Excess Crude Account was a step in the right direction.

"As you know, the budget is based on benchmark of $67 per barrel - where oil is trading today. So obviously, over time, we will hopefully accumulate some excess reserve and the idea is how we build some fiscal policy around it or prudential guideline[s] around it to make sure that that is properly managed."

A reluctant support

At yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives, a motion moved by the deputy leader, Baba Shehu Agaie, urging the lawmakers to approve the World Bank loan to fund the nation's "infrastructural deficit" was vehemently opposed by members of the minority parties. Although the session degenerated into rowdiness, the opposition could not stop the over 270 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, from approving Mr. Jonathan's request.

The approval followed a discussion that the leaderships of the Senate and the House had with the executive on Tuesday night.

The chairman of the House finance committee, John Eno, said members had to approve the request since the executive had complied with the relevant laws requiring it to forward such requests to the legislature for approval.

He recalled that the executive had in the past ignored this law and praised the acting president for not just forwarding a request for approval of the fresh loan, but also formally submitting the external borrowing plan of the government.

He also argued that since the money being requested for was already factored into the budget as a funding item, it was only right to approve the request.

The chairman of the committee on rules and business, Ita Enang, who also spoke in favour of the motion, said the acting president complied with Section 21 of the Debt Management Office Act, which he said allows the government to borrow upon the approval of the National Assembly.

Mr Enang, a PDP member from Akwa Ibom, reminded his colleagues that in the 2010 Budget passed by the National Assembly, there was a provision for borrowing to fund the document, adding that the legislature has already committed itself.

Those who opposed

But the deputy minority leader, Abdulrahman Kawu opposed Mr Jonathan's request, although he said he was one of the leaders of the legislature that met with Mr. Jonathan on Tuesday night on the plan to take a fresh loan. A member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from Kano State, Mr Kawu said history will not forgive the lawmakers who approved the loan. He faulted the procedure for considering the request for the loan, regretting that members were only given the 235-page external borrowing plan just before the plenary commenced. He argued that the lawmakers would have no time to read it before voting on the request.

Also, the Minority leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, who also objected to the request, said it would not only amount to mortgaging the future of Nigerians,

it may also return the country to another era of huge indebtedness from which it came out only few years ago when its debt was forgiven by the external creditors.

He recalled that at the meeting with Mr Jonathan, the acting president merely said that the World Bank was willing to give Nigeria $915 million, but did not clearly seek for approval.

Mr Ndume, who is also the ANPP leader in the House, said "There was no opportunity for me to say our mind. That does not mean we (minority parties) are in support. It is not fair. We have just been given this voluminous borrowing plan and you want us to read it now before we approve. It is not fair. Those people that want us to borrow must come here to explain," he said.

Despite the opposition, members voted overwhelmingly for the approval of the acting president's request when it was put to vote, forcing Messrs Ndume, Kawu and other members of the ANPP to leave the chamber.

Unnecessary loan

At a press conference, Mr. Ndume explained that the country does not need to obtain the fresh loan since, according to him, it makes about $800 million daily from oil.

"As at today they are telling us that we are producing 1.02 million barrels of crude a day and the market price is about $80. If you can make that money one day why should you need the loan? If you multiply that, you get more than $800 million," he said. "Why would you go and mortgage the future of our children?"

The minority leader, who admitted that the opposition had already lost the battle to stop the loan, lamented that members of the House approved it without knowing the implication of doing so. He added that they may have done so because certain things, which he did not disclose, were dangled before them by the government.

Mr. Ndume also revealed that Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Aganga also discussed the plan to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) from five percent to 10 percent and also bring two bills to the legislature.

Throwing more light on why he could not object to Mr. Jonathan's request for the loan during the Tuesday night meeting, Mr. Ndume explained "We (members of the leadership) went in a bus and when we got there we ate food first and the acting president said the finance minister will brief us. The minister said we had problems with some sections of the budget. He said they selected nine critical ministries (to review).

"But after that I was the one who complained that how can one man (finance minister) review what (budget) 469 members (of the National Assembly) did? After that the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation (Iyiola Omisore) was also hard on them."

Also speaking at the press conference, the chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Usman Adamu, who is also a member of the ANPP, wondered if Nigeria could manage the loan since it could not manage its own resources efficiently.

Passengers on Dana Air's 9am Abuja bound flight from Lagos on Monday escaped a crash after one of the engines of their aircraft witnessed bird strikes some minutes after takeoff..

The aircraft which took off from the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 (MMA2), Lagos with 97 passengers onboard, had to effect an emergency landing at the international wing of the airport when sparks resulting into smoke emanated from its affected engine.

"Some minutes after we took off from the airport, the captain announced that there was a bird strike and it has affected one of the engines," said Adeleke Babatunde, a passenger onboard the flight.

The situation, which made some residents of Mafoluku, a community close to the airport, run out of their houses in order to avoid casualties, was meticulously controlled by the aircraft pilot who landed the flight 9J 995 plane some minutes after the incident.

"We saw the plane shaking as large smoke came out of its engines and we had to run out for safety," said a resident who gave her name as Uchechi.

Commenting on the incident, Jacky Hathiramani, chief operating officer for Dana Air in a statement admitted that the aircraft suffered bird strike, adding that the captain had to make an emergency landing in line with the airline's safety and service policy.

"All 97 passengers and crew disembarked the aircraft safely, and the aircraft was taken to the hanger," he said. "Most of the passengers were booked on alternative Dana Air flights to Abuja while a few who preferred a refund were given." Mr. Hathiramani, however, thanked passengers onboard the aircraft for their cooperation, as well the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and all airport authorities for their responsiveness and support.

Bird strikes or Bird Aircraft Strike Hazards (BASH) are collisions between airborne animals and man-made vehicles or aircraft.

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involved in the demonstration that involved Pastor Tunde Bakare for a good cause which sought an end to the hide-and-seek game that has to do with ailing President Yar’Adua. At other time he led demonstration to the National Assembly, nonetheless for about the same good cause though Bakare’s group said that he was not representing them at this later siege at the National Assembly.

The family of a Nigerian, who wanted to play James Bond and
perhaps, shock the world with his plan, is currently gnashing its teeth,
as the venture has ended in tragedy.
Saturday Sun reports that a young Nigerian, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, recently wanted to do the
impossible by smuggling himself into the United States, but ended up
arriving not only in body bag but also as mangled body.

The racket at the airport
The question being asked by people is, how possible is it that somebody would gain access to the tarmac
undetected, considering the tight security in the airport? Our source
explained that such illegal movement is being coordinated by a syndicate
at the airport, which also works with airlines’ workers.
It was gathered that people who need such services pay as much as N800,000.
They tutored on how to survive in the aircraft compartment. For one, it
was learnt that they are given blankets and winter clothes with which
they would keep warn while the plane is in flight across the Atlantic.
In the country of destination, the illegal immigrants are received by
agents in the syndicate, who smuggle them into the country.

Our source blamed the level of corruption at the airport on poor working
condition, alleging that some of staff are paid N30, 000 monthly.

“In this present day, how can one survive with such an amount of money? We
have to survive; that is why there can never be a cure for the level of
corruption at the airport. There is nothing like absolute security; the
people at the helm of affairs smuggle things into the plane also,
despite their fat allowance,” an airport worker said.
When contacted, officials of Delta airlines refused to comment. However, a
policeman at the airport command confirmed the incident and said
investigation was going on.

The leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is poised for a shake up as three candidates are currently being screened as possible replacement for the agency’s current chairman, Farida Waziri,

According to Presidency sources who spoke to NEXT over the weekend, of the three names, John Amodu and Tunde Ogunshakin are two of the candidates who have been screened by the SSS..

“Typically, what they try to look for include scandals, court charges and so on,” a source said, describing the clearance process.

The candidates

Mr. Ogunshakin worked as the director of operations of the EFCC under Mrs. Waziri until May, 2009 when he was redeployed by his boss. While some reports claim that he was removed from the commission because of an examinations malpractice scandal, other reports claim that Mr. Ogunshakin, who had worked under the former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu, did not get along well with his new boss.

He is generally regarded as a seasoned investigator.

The second candidate, Mr. Amodu, works with the Nigerian Police as a Deputy Inspector-General (Operations). The details of the third candidate were yet to be revealed at press time.

It is believed that the assessment of the candidates’ records has been concluded and the reports forwarded to the presidency.

EFCC response

Meanwhile, the EFCC has dismissed all claims of an imminent change of leadership in the commission.

“I’m certain that nobody is doing that. Whoever is saying that is carrying out a campaign of calumny aimed at distracting the commission,” Femi Babafemi, spokesman of the commission, said.

The reports of the leadership change are coming amidst other reports that the EFCC might be dropping its case against the former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa. Those reports indicate that the commission has instructed its lawyers to withdraw the 47-count charge brought against the opposition politician.

Mr. Bafarawa was dramatically arrested by the commission in December last year during a meeting of opposition politicians in Abuja and has since been charged to court for financial misappropriation to the tune of N15billion naira.

“Plans are afoot to withdraw the case following the intervention of the NSA, Gusau,” a source said to NEXT.

Mr. Babafemi however denied the reports.

“It is 100 percent falsehood. There is no iota of truth in it. How can you say that such a celebrated case that involves stolen funds of about 15 billion will be squashed just like that?” he asked, adding that the EFCC legal team in charge of the case was in court over the case on Thursday, April 15.

New improved EFCC

The EFCC has, in the past few weeks, come under a lot of media criticism. And, in that period, there has been an increase in the number of high profile cases being pushed by the EFCC, which many claim is a reflection of its chairman’s bid to be seen as productive in the light of the changing structure in the Presidency.

A Lagos-based human rights attorney, Jiti Ogunye, who spoke with NEXT, said that the EFCC has not been pro-active in the corruption fight but has rather taken advantage of various happenings across the country to assert itself.

He cited the bank frauds of 2009 and the recent emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as examples.

“We see the unusual hyper activity of the EFCC in the last three weeks of the ascendancy of Goodluck Jonathan to power as a calculated ploy to give the impression that the EFCC leadership is competent, credible and that the anti-corruption war is safe in its hands,” he said. “The problem we have with this hyperactivity is that it can never be sustained. We would say that it is a grand ruse because if we want the anti-corruption war to be meaningfully waged, episodic grandstanding and playing to the gallery ought to be shunned.”

Other media reports have also showcased harsh words about the moral stance of the current leadership of the commission as well as the agency’s organisational structure.

Jonathan’s verdict

While it is unclear whether the reports have been investigated by the executive arm of government, the recent screening of candidates may be an indication that the reports have not gone unnoticed.

Whereas the EFCC insists that it is carrying on a vigorous fight against corruption, the Presidency does not appear to be in agreement. Last week, while in the US, the acting president, Mr. Jonathan, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current fight against corruption in the country and promised to look into the current structure of the EFCC.

“It appears that EFCC is not aggressive enough these days and people have asked me to look into that organisation and I shall look into that organisation,” Mr. Jonathan said during a breakfast meeting at the Centre for Global Development, CGD, Washington D.C., last Wednesday.

The former governor of Delta State, James Ibori has filed a law suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, asking for N10 billion in damages, for alleged “libel, unlawful harassment and twisted falsehood” by the anti-graft agency.

Ibori, in his suit, is also seeking an order restraining the EFCC from further publishing or causing to be published, any libellous publication against him.

This is just as the EFCC yesterday debunked reports that Justice I.N. Buba of the Asaba High Court had issued an order restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting Ibori.

Also yesterday, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Okonta, along with his principal officials condemned EFCC for declaring Ibori wanted.
The EFCC had on Tuesday declared Ibori wanted for failing to honour its invitation over allegations of fraud being investigated by the agency.

In response, Ibori said he was not on the run and that the Asaba High Court had restrained the commission and its officers from arresting him pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice.

However, the EFCC in its statement yesterday said the alleged court injunction restraining it from arresting Ibori was a fraud.
The EFCC said it had made enquiries from the judge and the court to know whether such order was given and that the response it got was that “no such order was issued by either the judge or the court.”

The statement signed by Femi Babafemi, the commission’s spokesman stated further: “The court only directed the applicants to put the commission on notice while it refused to grant any interim injunction as sought.
“Besides, up till now, no one has served the EFCC any court order; if it is true that one was granted.”

The anti-graft agency urged members of the public to disregard reports on the said restraining order, “as it does not exist.”
Based on this, the EFCC asked Ibori to “come out of hiding and honour the commission’s invitation.”
But the Delta State House of Assembly speaker said EFCC’s action against Ibori “is unacceptable, against the principles of fair hearing and a gross violation of the doctrine of the rule of law.”

Okonta, at a press briefing in Asaba said: “I must confess that an institution like EFCC must comply with the rule of law. This is an obvious violation of the rule of law.
“You are all aware that Ibori was invited to appear on April 17. Today is April 16 and he has already been declared wanted. Is that fair?

“We are condemning the action of EFCC for not following due process and the rule of law.
“We are not saying EFCC should not do its job. What we are saying is for them to comply with due process.
“If you invite an individual to appear before you for an interview, you must allow the time to expire before declaring him wanted.

This obvious violation of laid dawn rules is unacceptable to us.”
Okonta also lambasted Chief Edwin Clark, an Ijaw leader, for allegedly “creating acrimony within the state.”
He added: “The action of E.K. Clark is not only unbearable but unfortunate. That at his age, he is still busy destroying a house (state) he should be helping to build.”

Meanwhile, in his statement of claim in the N10 billion suit filed on April 15 against the EFCC, Ibori averred that the EFCC on April 13, 2010, distributed offensive publications to various electronic and print media houses with wide readership and viewing audience covering Nigeria and overseas.

He also averred that the EFCC posted the offensive publication on the Internet and distributed to websites, thereby libelling him.
He claimed that on the same morning of the 13th of April, various television stations, including but not limited to Channels Television, immediately commenced repeated broadcast of the defamatory words contained in the press release issued and distributed by the defendant declaring the plaintiff a wanted person.

He argued that the broadcast was viewed by members of the public including numerous prominent citizens of Delta State, members of the plaintiff’s family and community, his political associates and by persons within and outside Nigeria.
Ibori in the statement of claim stated that he was immediately inundated with telephone calls and visits from persons who viewed the broadcast of the press release and visited to find out why the plaintiff was on the run from the defendant’s officers who were allegedly looking for him.

He averred that he was not on the run and it was false that the alleged ‘letters of invitation’ referred to in the defendant’s offensive publication were sent to the plaintiff before he was declared a wanted person.

Ibori held that he had previously been investigated and arraigned for a 170-count charge, which was quashed via the ruling delivered by the Federal High Court, Asaba on 17th December 2009.
Continuing the former governor claimed that at 16.20 hours in the evening of the 13th of April, and about 8 hours after the defendant declared the plaintiff a wanted person, one Mike Anibogu, an official of the defendant delivered a letter dated 22nd March, 2010 at the plaintiff’s residence in Lagos requesting the plaintiff to come to its office in Abuja for an interview on 17th April, 2010, which is four clear days from the date on which the defendant declared that the plaintiff was a wanted person it was looking for.,

He stated that the next day being the 14th of April, the offensive words published and distributed to the media by the defendant was carried as headline news by several newspapers including but not limited to Vanguard, The Punch, THISDAY and The Guardian.

“The false, malicious and reckless words published by the defendant referred directly to the plaintiff and the words in their ordinary meaning are very clear and understood to mean that the plaintiff is a fugitive from the law.

“The defendant’s publication lowered the plaintiff in the public estimation,” claimed Ibori
Ibori claimed the EFCC exposed him to public odium, ridicule, disdain, hatred and lowered his integrity in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society.

He claimed his family and social life, business and political career have been adversely affected by EFCC’s publication.
He therefore asked the court for a declaration that the EFCC publication dated 13th April, 2010 headlined: “Why We Are Looking For Ibori – EFCC” was predicated on twisted falsehood, is libelous, and defamatory of the plaintiff.
He is also asking for N10 billion as damages for the libel published by the EFCC.

Arsène Wenger thinks his team can surpass Chelsea next year unless his rivals buy big over the summer. .Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Arsène Wenger has claimed that Arsenal are the only one of the big four on the rise and he showed his determination to retain his best players this summer by declaring that Cesc Fábregas would be misguided to move to Barcelona because the "unwatchable" Spanish league "is in complete disarray".

Arsenal's campaign seems set to conclude, for the fifth year in a row, without a trophy but Wenger maintained that his methods have been vindicated and that, given injuries to key players, the season has been successful, although he also said that Wednesday's defeat in the north London derby left his team with "only hope, not a realistic view" of overtaking the leaders, Chelsea.

"The other night [after defeat by Tottenham] I went home and thought I was stupid because I was hugely disappointed," said Wenger. "But I think overall you try to bring a team as high as they can and this year I have a done a good job [given] what happened to us. Playing in the top three, with all the competition around us, you cannot say the policy hasn't paid off. Yes, you cannot parade in the street with a trophy but you cannot say that what we have done and the way we have achieved it hasn't paid off."

Wenger suggested that, with Manchester United and Liverpool constrained by debt, only a further instance of what he calls "financial doping" can keep Chelsea ahead of Arsenal next season. "We are the most on the up," he said. "The only difference is that tomorrow Abramovich can go out and buy 10 players because he has the financial potential. If Chelsea were run like every other club, he couldn't do it. That's the difference. On the curve we are going up, that is for sure, and they are going down; that is sure as well because they have six or seven players over 30. But Abramovich can just say, 'Today I will buy seven 24-year-old players.'" Asked whether Manchester City were also "on the up", Wenger replied: "They are on a serious cheque book."

Wenger acknowledged that Arsenal are likely to open their own cheque book this summer, admitting the club needs to reinforce its defence. "I don't deny that," said Wenger, "and you could see that again on Wednesday night. It was a game we had to win but we couldn't win, so we're not there but on the other hand we're not far. It is difficult to see whether we need to buy because we were without Gallas, Fábregas, Van Persie and Arshavin. But we need to add something defensively because I believe in the big games we were too vulnerable."

Wenger is keen to persuade William Gallas to sign a new contract when his deal expires in the summer but he refused to countenance breaking the club's rigid wage structure. "We'll always keep our policy," he said. "We manage within our resources."

The player Wenger would be most loth to lose this summer would be the team's chief conductor, Fábregas. This week the 22-year-old has again been linked with a return to Spain, with Barcelona refusing to rule out a bid for a player they nurtured and reports that Real Madrid are preparing an offer. Wenger, however, said the Primera Liga is vastly inferior to thePremier League and any player who moves there would be taking a downward step.

"I watched Real Madrid against Almeria [on Thursday] and turned off after 30 minutes – it was unwatchable," he said. "I can't see anyone who has a competitive edge going to Spain. They have two good teams but the third team is 21 points behind and this week the players threatened to go on strike because they are not paid. It's a league that is in complete disarray. If you are competitive you stay in England, that's where the competition is and that's where the best players want to be."