Super Eagles soar in FIFA rankingsBy Tunde EludiniNovember 20, 2009 07:23PMTThough not seeded as one of the top countries in next year's Nations Cup in Angola, the Super Eagles of Nigeria moved up ten notches in the FIFA rankings released on Friday.The Super Eagles are now ranked 22nd in the world, a position which takes them to third in Africa as Cameroon remains the continent's highest ranked team in eleventh position just below the world's top ten teams.The display by the Elephants of Cote d' Ivoire in the just concluded World Cup qualifiers accounted for their movement three steps up the ladder to become the 16th best team in World and Africa's 2nd best.The Mambas of Mozambique whose 1-0 victory over Tunisia aided Nigeria's World Cup dreams were also handed a massive 80 points thereby jumping 12 places to 72 in the world and 14th in Africa.Ghana gained only 1 place and are 6th in Africa while Egypt's woes of missing out of the World Cup were compounded as they slipped down the ladder to 5th in Africa and 29th overall with Algeria taking its place At the top, Spain have overtaken Brazil to become the world's top-ranked team. Holland, Italy and Portugal complete the world's top 5.Back
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 21, 2009 at 6:35am
FG begins payment of N65,000 monthly allowance to ex-militants
By Jimitota Onoyume, with Agency reports
A cross section of Niger Delta Militants who embraced amnesty and surrendered their weapons in Arogbo town
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Each repentant militant is entitled to an allowance of N65,000 per month for the period of rehabilitation.
There are two rehabilitation camps in Rivers and Delta States.
Former militants camped at Aluu, near the University of Port Harcourt, staged a protest on November 16 over non-payment of the arrears of their allowances and alleged neglect by government.
The Media Coordinator of the Amnesty Implementation Committee, Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, said yesterday on phone that the payment commenced earlier in the day.
“As I speak to you, the Federal Government has commenced payment of the arrears owed former militants at various camps in the Niger Delta region.
“Normalcy has also been restored at the Aluu camp, near Port Harcourt,’’ she added.
Koripamo-Agary said government was resolutely committed to the implementation of the post-amnesty programme and would ensure that the former militants were properly rehabilitated.
She declared: “The delay in commencing the rehabilitation programme was caused by the leaders of the former militants.
“At a meeting we held with their leaders, they asked for time to enable them to study the programme. They have not responded and we are still waiting for them,’’ she said.
The Coordinator urged the former militants to exercise restraint and patience, stressing that violence would not achieve anything.
“The former militants should adopt peaceful means of conveying their grievances to government. We appeal to them to remain calm, because the programme is on course,’’ she added.
Ex-militants clash
Meanwhile, some ex-militants yesterday clashed at their Aluu rehabilitation camp yesterday. But for the timely intervention of soldiers on ground, the development would have recorded casualties, some of the ex-militants told Vanguard.
According to the ex-militants, there are about five different groups being quartered at the rehabilitation centre.
They are boys loyal to Prince Amachree aka General Adekunle; boys of General J.J.; Osama Bin-Laden; Soboma George and others.
They said the clash erupted after one of the ex-militant leaders led about 20 boys loyal to him to attack another ex-militant leader at a drinking spot in front of the rehabilitation centre.
According to them, the situation almost degenerated to an orgy of violence but for the timely intervention of soldiers on ground who stepped in to calm frayed nerves.
They said the rehabilitation centre has already been divided along lines. They therefore urged the soldiers on ground to beef up security to avert a repeat of the clash.
Meanwhile, at press time, the ex-militants at the camp were still expecting their allowances.
They said they were assured that they would be paid that yesterday, but as at 5pm when Vanguard called, they said the Major who does the payment was yet to come to the rehabilitation centre.
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It has been revealed how Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, extranvagantly squandered about N3.1 trillions while a player of Newcastle.MartinsadvertisementHis former management company, NVA Management Limited who has dragged the player to court over breach of contarct, told the jury how the player’s account almost went red because of his lifestyle.Obafemi Martins was paid £75,000, but allegedly squandered the earnings on an extravagant lifestyleA former Premiership footballer routinely blew his £75,000 a week wages in a matter of days and was constantly overdrawn, a court was told yesterday.Obafemi, ex-Newcastle striker 25, was paid the handsome salary after he joined the club for a £10million fee in August 2006.But despite his extraordinary earnings, his former management team yesterday claimed they repeatedly bailed him out after his bank account continually slipped into the red.The High Court heard that the Nigerian international player would withdraw £40,000 in cash from his bank account at the end of the week.But that would only last him two days, the court heard, as he topped up with a further £25,000 on the Monday morning.He was always overdrawn and repeatedly relied upon NVA Management Limited to ‘manage his life’, the High Court was told.Martins, who owned several fast cars including a top of the range Porsche 4X4, spent the money funding an extravagant lifestyle of luxurious penthouse homes and fine dining.He is now being sued by his former management company which claims that he still owes them 300,000 for sorting out his finances.He told the court that Martins would withdraw £40,000 for the weekend, followed by another £25,000 on the Monday.‘Despite earning these vast sums of money he was constantly overdrawn,’ added Mr Tennink.He said the firm, which looks after the affairs of several footballers, film and music stars, said that Martins had agreed to pay them for simply managing his life.It was under their stewardship that Martins agreed a £2million image rights deal ‘simply for being Mr Martins’.It’s claimed Martins was constantly overdrawn despite earning £75,000-a-weekHe also had lucrative sponsorship deals with various companies including Pepsi and Nike but had not been paid.When the company stepped in to run his affairs they sorted the unpaid contracts, bringing in thousands of pounds.They also organised visas when he travelled to Italy, where he once played for Inter Milan, and sorted out his passport, his mortgage and property valuations.They even arranged critical illness cover and were constantly running up and down the motorway from their London offices to Newcastle in a bid to do all that he required.‘But surely these were things a secretary could do?’ asked Judge Richard Seymour QC, referring to the size of fees charged.‘It was a Jeeves-type of role that they performed.’Mr Tennink protested that managing every aspect of his life was just part of what they did, and asked the judge to bear in mind the sort of figures these players earned.He said Martins had come to them in July 2007 and had agreed a fee of around £300,000 plus 20 per cent of any sponsorship monies they managed to acquire on his behalf.“He asked for these services to be carried out,” Mr Tennink told the court.Before they managed his affairs, Martins had not been paid a penny for his image rights for the use of his name on Newcastle shirts and mugs and had received nothing from his sponsorship deals.He could not even find the contracts he had originally signed, Mr Tennink added.Martins paid the company £67,500 in January last year and another £25,000 in April last year.But the question for the court to decide, said Mr Tennink, was whether there was a ‘binding obligation’ for him to pay the outstanding bill of over £300,000.After Newcastle were relegated from the Premiership last summer Martins was sold for £9million to German Bundesliga Champions Wolfsburg.Martins, who once owned a penthouse apartment overlooking Newcastle’s exclusive Quayside, is fighting the claim.The hearing is scheduled to last for three days.Read more…
Posted by Mikky Webs on November 20, 2009 at 6:06am
With no doubt whatsoever, the crisis in the Niger Delta is traceable and contributed to poor leadership and neglects by the Nigerian Government.The Niger Delta region is at the South Southern Part of Nigeria facing the Atlantic Ocean by the South via the Gulf of Guinea and the Cameroonian cities by the East. The Niger Delta Region is rich in mineral resources like crude oil and natural gas, arable and fertile land for farming and for rearing of animal. The people in this region are of various cultures and languages and industrious as well.More so, the Niger Delta region is best locations for tourist attractions and investments due to excellent weather and serene environment. It is point blank the region every tourist would like to visit and the treasure base of the Nigerian nation and no wonder international companies thrive in the region.Development in the Niger DeltaThe development in the Niger Delta Region is very discouraging and stunt since the inception of the Democratic dispensation in Nigeria headed by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo. The rate of insecurity and mostly unemployment of from the Niger Delta and the poor leadership in the Nigerian nation led to the coalition of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Niger Delta State (MAND) or rather nation which has been in existence for quite sometimes now. They feel marginalised and are fighting the government of Nigeria with the aim of being emancipated from cruelty practiced by the Nigerian Government. Hence the issue of the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria has for some time now remained untreated and neglected by the Nigerian Government.Check the neccessary measures to hit the point here:Read more…
Posted by Mikky Webs on November 20, 2009 at 5:52am
Click here to read the main articleThis will certainly interest you if you are writing a business projection/proposal.Before getting into business one should ask a warm up questions like:1. What is the type of business?2. How will I be classified?3. What is the purpose of this plan?4. Who are our target audience?5. How can we use the plan to advance?6. What market need are we satisfying?7. How is my approach better than existing products and services?8. My time table to get my offering to the marketplace.Click here to read the main articleTIPSBe sure of these tips if you are writing a business projection/proposal.1. Approach to be market driven rather than products driven.Investors are only interested on how the product will be received in the market.2. Quality is the competition.3. Present your distribution plan to the targeted audience.4. Exploit you company uniqueness. (Like traded secret)5. Emphasis to be on management strength.6. Present attractive projections – be realistic in you market data.7. Show possible funding source because banks interest always lies on stability, security, cash flow coverage & fund return8. Close with a bang – drive home your points that you are offering a good deal.“Until you are able to say where your money goes you are not qualified to handle money”Click here to read the main articleA MUST HAVE FOR ENTREPRENEURS1. Intelligent, brilliant and has potentials2. Has a forward looking disposition towards the market prospects3. Believe God is more or his side than with anyone else4. Is faced by the twin evil of poor basic infrastructures, small or no capital.5. Is not attuned to borrowing to leverage.6. May or may not keep adequate recordsClick here to read the main articleSCHEMES FOR THE ENTERPRENEURSThe scheme are mostly credit orientated a few offer capacity building/ training and infrastructure development for entrepreneurs. Some are for export while some are in form of tax incentives owned by state, federal government Private Sector foreign agencies, non governmental organization; schemes for groups, individuals, firms etc. Micro Credit approaches are adopted in certain cases a general problem of poor access to the schemesClick here to read the main articleRead more…
Former Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins was broke despite earning £75,000 a week, a High Court judge has been told.Martins was "constantly overdrawn" and regularly blew £40,000 in a weekend before withdrawing another £25,000 on Monday, the court heard.The 25-year-old is being sued by his former agent, Chris Nathaniel, whose company NVA claims it managed every aspect of his life and gave him cash advances.NVA say he owes a £284,000 fee plus interest for managing his finances and other areas, and used Nathaniel in what Judge Richard Seymour QC described as "a Jeeves role".Martins signed the a lucrative £75,000-a-week contract when he joined Newcastle from Internazionale for £10 million in 2006.Robert Tennink, the lawyer representing NVA, told the High Court in London: "Despite earning these vast sums of money he was constantly overdrawn."Martins, now of German champions Wolfsburg, owned a multi-million pound mansion in Darras Hall, Northumbria and rented a luxury flat on Newcastle's Quayside. He also had several high-performance cars.The striker is fighting the claim. He was not in court on Thursday and the hearing is scheduled to last for three days.Eurosport
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on November 20, 2009 at 12:30am
Vampire movie New Moon is deviant, says the VaticanVampire movie New Moon has been condemned by the Vatican as a 'deviant moral vacuum.'The latest film in the Twilight saga stars British actor Robert Pattinson as a blood-sucker who falls in love with a beautiful teenage girl.It is based on the hugely popular series of books by Stephanie Meyer, an American Mormon and mother of three. But that means little to the Catholic Church in Italy.This film is nothing more than a moral vacuum with a deviant message and, as such, is something that should be of concern,' said Monsignor Franco Perazzolo, of the pontifical council of culture yesterday.'This theme of vampires in Twilight combines a mixture of excesses that, as ever, is aimed at young people and gives a heavy esoteric element.'Three weeks ago the Vatican condemned Halloween as 'anti-Christian and dangerous' and it urged parents not to dress their children as ghosts, goblins and vampires.Such statements are not likely to dent New Moon's massive box office appeal. The first Twilight movie grossed more than $550million (£330million) in US box office and DVD sales.
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on November 20, 2009 at 12:28am
Friday, November 20, 2009A gang in the Peruvian jungle has been killing people and draining fat from the corpses to sell on the black market for use in cosmetics.Three suspects confessed to killing five people, but the gang may have been involved in dozens more, said Colonel Jorge Mejia, chief of Peru's anti-kidnapping police.Mejia said two of the suspects were arrested carrying bottles of liquid human fat and told police it was worth $60,000 a gallon.The fat was sold to intermediaries in Peru's capital, Lima, and police suspect it was then sold to cosmetic companies in Europe.Medical experts expressed doubt about an international black market for human fat, although it does have cosmetic applications.At a news conference, police showed reporters two bottles of fat recovered from the suspects and a photo of the rotting head of a 27-year-old male victim.Suspect Elmer Segundo Castillejos, 29, led police to the head, recovered in a coca-growing valley last month.Mejia said Castillejos recounted how the gang cut off its victims' heads, arms and legs, removed the organs, then suspended the torsos from hooks above candles that warmed the flesh as fat dripped into tubs below.Six members of the gang remain at large, Mejia said. Among them was the band's alleged leader, Hilario Cudena, 56, who Castillejos told police has been killing people to extract human fat for more than three decades.This year alone, at least 60 people are listed as missing in Huanuco province, where the gang allegedly operated, though the province is also home to drug-trafficking leftist rebels.Human fat is used in anti-wrinkle treatments - but is always extracted from the patient who is being treated, usually from the stomach or buttocks."There would be a risk of immunological reaction that could lead to life-threatening consequences" if fat from someone else were used, said Dr. Neil Sadick, a professor of dermatology at Cornell Weill Medical College in New York.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 19, 2009 at 10:55pm
Professor Samuel Ejikeme Okoye, one of Africa’s top astrophysicists, died in London on Wednesday, November 18, according to a statement authorized by his family. The family did not release the cause of death.
Professor Okoye, who hailed from Amawbia in Anambra State, was born on July 26, 1939.
Professor Okoye earned a B.Sc (First Class) in Physics from the University of London and a PhD in Astrophysics at Cambridge University. He was the first black African to obtain a doctorate in Radio Astronomy.
An internationally renowned scientist, he will be remembered by many readers for his scientific columns for The Guardian which he wrote for more than four years. His columns, which focused on information technology as well as advances in scientific ideas, drew a wide readership because of his ability to convey difficult scientific ideas in accessible language.
Professor Okoye was a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science as well as the Royal Astronomical Society of the United Kingdom. For five years, he served on the governing council of the Pugwash International Conferences on Science and World Affairs. In addition, he was a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, International Network of Engineers, Scientists for Global Responsibility, and the International Astronomical Union.
For many years, Professor Okoye lectured in physics and astronomy at the University of lbadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he achieved the rank of full professor in 1976. At UNN, he also served at various times as Director of the Division of General Studies; Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy; Associate Dean and later Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, and Dean of the School of Post Graduate Studies. In 1978, Professor acted as Vice Chancellor of UNN.
Professor Okoye’s numerous scientific papers and publications span the ionosphere physics, solar physics, and the theory of extragalactic radio sources and cosmology. He also authored a monograph, Viable and Affordable Policy Objectives for a Nigerian Space Programme. He co-edited two books, Basic Science Development in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects, and The World at the Crossroads: Towards a Sustainable, Equitable and Livable World.
Apart from Nigeria, Professor Okoye also lectured in the Netherlands, the US, and the UK. From 1990 to 1993, he served as a visiting professor/senior research fellow at the Institute of Astronomy, and Fellow Commoner at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge.
He was a member of Nigeria’s official delegation to the United Nations Conference on Peaceful Uses of Space in Vienna, 1981 as well as a member of a panel charged in 1984 with producing an integrated energy policy for Nigeria. From 1986-1988, he was the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Awka campus of the Anambra University of Science and technology (ASUTECH).
Professor Okoye was a consultant to the United Nations on the development of space science and technology in developing countries (1979-1986).
In late 1993, he was seconded from the UNN to the Federal Government. He served as the pioneer science attaché and head of the Science and Technology unit of the Nigerian High Commission, London.
Professor Okoye taught or inspired a generation of Nigerian scientists who hold high academic, industry and bureaucratic positions in Nigeria and around the world.
His family will be announcing funeral arrangements in due course.
For enquiries, contact:
Dr. Chike Chuka
chikechuka@hotmail.com
Tel: +44.797.478.4340
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on November 19, 2009 at 9:05pm
Barely, two days after saying the job cuts, which started from South Africa will not affect Nigeria, the MTN Group on Thursday, announced the sack of 65 workers, including divisional managers in its Nigerian operations.In a press statement announcing the sack, MTN Nigeria said the move will help it embark "on an aggressive plan to refocus its customer service operations towards the next generation customer care."The affected 65 permanent staff from the customer relations unit, include "60 customer care representatives, two managers; two supervisors; and one manger on suspension."Staff performance reviewsIn an email response to NEXT on the matter, Funmilayo Omogbenigun, the general manager of corporate Communication of MTN Nigeria, said, "The disengagements followed a series of internal reviews in the Customer Relations Division, specifically related to performance, values and standards."As per my previous response, the Customer Relations Division is repositioning itself for a dramatic and tangible improvement in customer service delivery, and this necessitates an enhancement of the quality of its current resources. As a responsive and responsible corporate organisation, we are committed to providing a service that exceeds the expectations of our customers."According to a statement released by the company, MTN Nigeria has invested over N4.5 billion on technology that would support customer service delivery.The company also said it plans to spend about N25 billion to establish new call centres that will create about 1,500 new jobs.Ms. Omogbenigun said the jobs would be offered to he best quality staff, while our source revealed that the mobile telecoms giant, this month recruited 1,000 new temporary staff with 13 supervisors all in the customer care unit.MTN GroupThe MTN Group is one of the largest telecommunication operators in Africa with its major growth coming from South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.The firm acknowledged that the current global recession is a major issue, as with other telecoms operators, as its subscribers' base has declined."With respect to MTN Nigeria, and the issue of an economic crunch, the company like every other business in Nigeria, has to a certain extent, experienced the generic fallout from a global recession," said Ms. Omogbenigun.Citing the global financial crunch as the major reason, MTN South Africa sacked about 403 permanent and over 2,100 temporary staff (70% of 3,000 temporary staff).Speaking on the latest job cuts in the industry, Emmanuel Ekuwem, the president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, said, "I am just hearing this from you; I need to know more details about the lay off because MTN Nigeria should be making profit here in Nigeria, because this would raise questions if MTN is no longer making profit. But if the layoff is based on staff productive issue, companies can lay off staff in order not to drain the company from making profit."
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 19, 2009 at 8:48pm
Warning some photos may not be pleasant to the eye .
Scramble for 404 meat as vehicle with 500 dogs crashes
When an articulated vehicle from the north loaded with about 500 dogs crashed at the main entrance to Calabar, residents of Ikot Effanga Mkpa gleefully helped themselves to free dog meat but the traders are still ruing the losses incurred.
Dog meat is a delicacy in Calabar. It is eaten by both sexes and is easily used to woo a woman. But it is expensive as dogs are brought into the state from the northern parts of the country.
The lorry was almost at its destination, when it was involved in an accident along the Murtala Mohammed Highway near the main gate of "Welcome To Calabar" and somersaulted, upturning the dogs on the road and killing 200, while others sustained life-threatening injuries.
Apart from the dogs, other passengers in the vehicle also sustained injuries in the accident believed to have been caused by loss of concentration by the driver who obviously was tired following the long journey.
When the accident happened, the residents of the area and passerby were attracted to the scene only to have their attention diverted by the dead dogs by dragging them away as if in competition. Some ran home and came back for more.
One of the passengers of the ill-fated lorry who simply identified himself as Bassey wondered why the accident should occur at the main gate to Calabar after travelling over 1000 kilometers from the north.
Mr. Bassey nevertheless thanked God that none of the passengers died in the accident like their cargoes and described the rush for body parts of the dead dogs by some of the onlookers as unsympathetic and unbecoming of the people of Calabar.
‘Don't eat dogs'
But a medical doctor with the General Hospital Calabar, Edet O. Edet, said it was not hygienic for people to eat meat mangled as a result of accident and which flies had perched on for some hours.
Though not a veterinary doctor, Mr. Edet explained that meat not from a slaughter house was not fit for human consumption as animals killed there are certified healthy for consumption before being killed.
"In the first place, dogs ought not to be eaten," Mr. Edet said.
"Have you seen a slaughter house for dogs? Besides, these dogs were caught from the northern parts of the country and taken to where they are considered a delicacy. And without any examination by a veterinary staff, they are slaughtered for human consumption", Mr. Edet said.
Mr. Edet added that dogs killed under such circumstances emit toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health and attributed the rush for dogs involved in a motor accident to poverty and called for a sensitization campaign on the effect of such meat.
But opinion sampled from some residents of Calabar differed from that of the medical doctor. They said there was nothing harmful in dog meat as dogs are slaughtered unlike some animals that are strangled in the bush after being caught by the traps set for them.
In the city, dog is carefully prepared and spiced with some vegetable that gives the meat a tempting aroma. In Calabar, it is common to see joints with sign boards reading: "Plantain plus 404 ready". This combination is washed down with palm wine.
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Port Harcourt — Following attacks on them and the alleged raping of their girls by reformed militants camped at Social Training Centre, Aluu, Rivers State, the two host communities, Choba and Aluu as well as students are threatening reprisal attacks on the camp of the reformed militants if the Federal Government fails to relocate them.This is as the four unions in the University of Port Harcourt, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Technicians (NAT) have withdrawn their services in protest against the attack on them, Monday, by the militants who broke camp, smashed their vehicles and snatched their laptops.Although the university Public Relations Officer, Dr. William Wordi, said the university was not officially notified of the withdrawal of services by the unions, he said they have petitioned President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Inspector General of Police, Governor of Rivers State, the National Universities Commi-ssion (NUC) and a plethora of other authorities pleading that the reformed militants be moved out of the area.The strike is coming on the heels of the arrest and detention of about nine of the reformed militants caught after the riot with stolen effects on their way to town who the police said were being prepared for prosecution.The communities were said to have asked the federal and state government to move the reformed militants who they alleged had been going after their girls and even raping married women in the presence of their husbands.THISDAY learnt that Aluu community had asked the Rivers State Amnesty Coordinator, Mr. Bestman Nnwoka, to move the reformed militants out of their community about two months before they rioted.However, following the plot to storm the camp and sack it in retaliation for the anti-social vices of the boys, none of the community leaders agreed to speak on record again while some switched off their phones so that they can no longer be reached.They confirmed off record that the Choba and Aluu communities have met and are strategising on how to retaliate on the social assault of their domain by the reformed militants, adding that crime wave within their domain has spiraled since the coming of the camp.Dr. William Wordi who spoke with us said that taking into consideration the university community with about 30,000 student's population most of them girls; it was dangerous to have the militants, though they have renounced militancy, so close.Police Public Relations Officer, Rita Abbey, said they have deployed their men also in strategic positions to keep the peace while those caught after the riot would face prosecution.By Ahamefula Ogbu19 November 2009AllAfrica.com
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 19, 2009 at 10:52am
14 Wraps of heroin sniffed out from lady’s hair
By CHRIS ANUCHA
It is said that a woman’s beauty is her hair. But that can no longer be said of Angela Okiri, who was arrested recently at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport(MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, over hard drug.
Angelaadvertisement
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), she concealed fourteen wraps on her well braided hair.
The 31 years old suspect from Edo State, also swallowed fifty-six wraps of heroin and packed twenty-two wraps inside sanitary pad in her handbag.
Angela was among the four suspects nabbed recently by the narcotic agents.
One of the suspects was attempting to smuggle narcotics into the country from Brazil, while the other three suspects were arrested on their way out of the country to Europe. Other suspects were, Anekwe Ugochukwu, 28, who ingested eighty-one wraps of cocaine weighing 1.285kg, Anisiebo Arinze, 45, who ingested sixty-eight wraps of cocaine and Esimone Amanchukwu, 33, that ingested eighty-two wraps of cocaine weighing 988 grammes.
The suspects were detected with the assistance of scanning machine donated to the Agency by the United States of America.
Impressed by the arrest and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, called for more public support for the Agency. While reaffirming the commitment of the Nigerian government to the anti-narcotic crusade, he vowed that all drug trafficking syndicates would be brought to book. Giade stressed that the Agency would leave no stone unturned in the fight against illicit drugs, adding that intense undercover operations were going on to dismantle more illegal drug cartels.
Arinze, who had lived in Germany for the past nineteen years was nabbed while on his way to London. He ingested the drug for a fee of 5,000 pounds.
He said: “I live in Stuttgart, Germany, where I work as a labourer, but I lost my job in August last year. I came to Nigeria in November 2, 2009, to attend a burial ceremony. It was in the village that I met an old friend, who asked me to traffick drugs to London. I agreed because of the money involved, because I needed to complete the traditional marriage ceremony of my wife. I only did the introduction in January and there is pressure on me. I ingested sixty-eight pieces of the drug in my village, Umuoji in Anambra State.”
Ananchukwu was to board KLM flight to Amsterdam, on his way to Hamburg, Germany, when he tested positive to drug ingestion. The suspect said he decided to smuggle drugs to settle his creditors. “I am heavily indebted and my dad is sick. I swallowed eighty-two pieces of drugs and would have been given 3,500 Euros.” Anthony, who was smuggling the illicit drugs into Nigeria was apprehended in a South African Airline from Sao-Paulo Brazil, through South Africa. According to him, he went to Brazil five months ago and was stranded. “I was stranded in Brazil.
Though, I was working in a restaurant, the salary could not pay my rent. When I got the offer to send the drugs to Togo, I was happy, because I saw hell these five months in Brazil,” he stated.
Angela, had lived 11 years in Bergmo, Italy, where she worked as a labourer in factories.
She was arrested during screening of passengers on Alitalia flight. The suspect, whose final destination was Torino, stated that some friends introduced her into the drug business, after being jobless for several months due to the economic recession. “Having lost my job for some months, I am now into trading but things are difficult. I wanted some money to expand my business.
They gave me ninety-two wraps out of which, I could only swallow 56. So, I hid some in my handbag and some in my hair. I thought that they would not see them. They would have paid me 4,000 Euros,” she lamented.
According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, all the suspects would appear in Court soon.
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on November 18, 2009 at 11:59pm
This man married his OWN daughter so she would be allowed to stay in Britain - and the Home Office knows about itA Nigerian Home Office worker 'married' his own daughter to get her a British visa, the Daily Mail can reveal.The extraordinary scam was apparently executed by Jelili Adesanya while ministers turned a blind eye.Mr Adesanya, 54, has lived here for more than 30 years and holds a British passport, but wanted his daughter, her husband and their four sons to join him from Nigeria.He faked a wedding ceremony complete with a photograph of the happy 'couple' which helped fool immigration officials that his daughter, Karimotu Adenike, was really his wife.Miss Adenike, who is in her mid-30s, was duly granted permission to live in the UK.The pair are waiting for her to be granted a permanent right to remain before they undergo a quiet divorce and attempt to bring the rest of her family here.It is expected she would try to remarry her real husband to get them all visas.But despite being tipped off two years ago, the Home Office seems to have done nothing to stop the scam by one of their own workers.Until recently, Mr Adesanya was employed as an occupational health nurse for the Home Office, working with immigration officials at Gatwick airport.A whistleblower sent letters to the High Commission in Lagos and the UK Border Agency including specific details such as names, addresses, passport numbers and even a copy of the wedding photograph.When there was no response, he sent emails to then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and ministers Vernon Coaker and Phil Woolas on February 1 this year. He heard nothing.Mr Adesanya, who came to Britain in 1976, flew back to Nigeria on May 29, 2007, and held the bogus wedding ceremony a few days later at a register office in Ikorodu, Lagos.A source said: 'They paid people to attend the wedding so that the British High Commission in Lagos would believe it was genuine. The commission then gave Karimotu Adenike a two-year settlement visa in October 2007.'On her settlement visa application form, of course, she did not mention that she already had a husband and four children.'The date of birth on her Nigerian passport is not her real date of birth.'Miss Adenike is believed to have aged herself by ten years on her wedding certificate to disguise the age gap with her father.Although her settlement visa expired last month, she is hoping to be given the right to remain.David Burrowes, the Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate and Shadow Justice Minister, was also tipped off by the whistleblower and wrote to the Home Office.This time there was a reply, but it said that although the matter was 'under investigation', no further information would be provided because it could 'breach of our obligations under the Data Protection Act'.Mr Burrowes told the Mail: 'I am very surprised and concerned that no action appears to have been taken, because the allegations are extremely serious.'Mr Adesanya, who lives with his daughter in Dagenham, Essex, vehemently denied the plot and said he had never been questioned about the allegations.He said: 'Married my own daughter? I have never heard anything like this in my life. I deny it. She is my wife, not my daughter.'However, asked to confirm his 'wife's' date of birth, he said he did not know without checking her passport, and refused to allow her to speak for herself.Unbeknown to him, his daughter had confirmed the arrangement when she told a friend she would shortly apply for her own British passport and 'divorce daddy'.Last night Jonathan Sedgwick, from the UK Border Agency, said: 'These individuals are already under investigation, and I want to make it clear that abuse of our immigration laws will not be tolerated.'If we identify marriages which we believe are not genuine, we will challenge them and prosecute where appropriate.'We are determined to send home any foreign nationals convicted of these types of crimes once they have served their sentences.'
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 18, 2009 at 10:18pm
By Festus Owete and Ini Ekott with a brief intro by Abi John Balogun
The song "The more money we get the more problems we see ...." These lyrics must have had Nigeria on the mind of the Singer slain Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G
Now The apparently dim witted Dimeji Bankole Speaker of the Federal House of Reps and general youth disappointment to the youths of this great Nation has spearheaded this opportunity for Business as Usual.
Story
The House of Representatives yesterday consented to President Umaru Yar'Adua's request to get $500 million loan from the World Bank.
The loan was approved after a motion sponsored by the Chief Whip, Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by John Kalipa (PDP, Rivers).
Mr. Ihedioha, who stood in for the House Leader, Tunde Akogun, said that Mr. Yar'Adua had in a letter dated July 27 asked the House to endorse the emergency supplementary expenditure to effectively respond to current challenges.
He reminded the house that the 2009 Appropriation Act inadvertently omitted or insufficiently provided for certain items, adding that the supplementary budget will be funded from a special concessional facility from the World Bank.
The lawmaker said that the concessionary terms for the World Bank facility include zero interest rate, 0.7 per cent for service charge, 0.5 per cent commitment charge on undisbursed balance, 10 years grace period and 40-year-repayment period, among others.
Mr. Ihedioha said that if granted, the loan will address core infrastructural development in power, works, transport and aviation sectors.
Earlier however, there was confusion over the President's request for the loan. Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi) while invoking Order 8 (4) of the Standing Rules, had complained that the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday approved a $300 million loan from the International Development Association to fund the power sector without recourse to the National Assembly.
He stated that the finance minister and his counterparts in the ministries of power, justice, and power as well as officials of the Debt Management Office and Power Holding Company of Nigeria, entered into negotiations with the association between May 11 and 13 this year.
He added that on June 16, the World Bank executive met with the officials after which the federal executive council asked the minister of finance to implement the plan to obtain the loan.
Violation of Constitution
Mr. Melaye said that the executive arm violated Sections 21 (1) and 22 (3) of the Debt Management Establishment Act by not consulting the National Assembly on its plan to take the loan.
He said that when Mr. Yar'Adua wanted to grant a loan to Sao Tome and Principe he asked the National Assembly for approval, wondering why he could not do so when he was planning to take the $300 million from the World Bank.
Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Emang, reminded the House that the President had in July written the National Assembly asking for permission to get a loan to fund the emergency supplementary budget.
He said that the House approved the budget but did not approve the loan at that time. Mr. Enang said he had met with Mr. Melaye severally on the issue with a view to explaining the matter to him.
However, in his response, Mr. Melaye insisted that the two are different loans since "one is $300 million and the other $500 million" and that the House should treat it as a matter of urgent importance on the next legislative day.
Both the deputy finance committee chair and his police affairs counterpart also made contributions and called for caution. In the end the loan was approved, but to ensure clarity on the matter, the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole asked the committees on finance, appropriation and local and foreign debts to investigate if the $500 million dollars approved is inclusive of the $300 million that president obtained from the international Development Association. Mr. Bankole asked the committee to report their findings during the next legislative session.
Supplementary budget
Also on Wednesday, the lawmakers approved the N353.6 billion as supplementary budget for the President. The amount is higher than the N352.8 billion requested by Mr. Yar'Adua two weeks ago.
However, the lawmakers approved an amendment proposed by Mr. Ihedioha to transfer N2 billion from the N10 billion allocated to the Public Mass Transit (Revolving Fund to Procure Vehicles) to complete the Port Harcourt-Opobo-Azumini-Ukanafun Road. This leaves the allocation to mass transit at N8 billion.
They also asked the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Adamu Aliero, to send to the House a written explanation on how the contracts for the expansion of airport and Kubwa roads were awarded. The deputy chairman of the Committee on Finance, Leo Dilkon, had informed the House that Mr. Aliero opted for Private-Public-Partnership when the banks which were to grant loan to the FCT to fund the projects asked for 23 per cent interest rate on the loan.
Mr. Dilkon said that with the new arrangement, the FCT will be saving the nation about N109 million.
Not mine I DON"T own this audio lyrics: Now, who's hot who not Tell me who rock who sell out in the stores You tell me who flopped who copped the blue drop Who jewels got robbed who's mostly Gold..
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ARSENE WENGER reveals the secrets of Arsenal's beautiful game.In an in-depth interview, the Gunners boss uncovers how he teaches his young side to play what is universally regarded as the best football in the land.For many purists, only European champions Barcelona are as pleasing on the eye as Wenger's Arsenal.Spectacular combinations based on speed of body and mind, together with technical ability and power, have made the North Londoners the nation's favourite second team.This season, more than any other since the Invincibles of 2003-04, Wenger's Gunners seem to be mounting a quietly confident title challenge - lying in the slipstream of leaders Chelsea.With 36 League goals in 11 games they have scored seven more than the Blues and 13 more than Manchester United - even though they have played one game less.Wenger's blueprint is based on intelligence, class, technique, and fitness. But the key ingredient is confidence, which makes individuals comfortable on the ball.His players must always have choices and alternatives, which provide "solutions".The legendary French boss has revolutionised the English game since arriving from Japan 13 years ago, changing dietary and training habits as well as the lifestyle of the top professionals.But it is Arsenal's brand of football that is Wenger's biggest achievement.The 'Arsenal way' is based on off-the-ball movement, with the main objective being to give the man on the ball as many alternatives as possible. Those solutions, as Wenger calls them, mean endless problems for Arsenal's rivals.When he teaches his charges, Wenger uses what he calls "green lights" and "red lights" to show where his players must be when Arsenal are in possession.Of course, like any teacher, he wants his pupils to stay well clear of the "red light" districts on the pitch.Essentially, when an Arsenal player has the ball there must at least two possible passes he can make - the so-called green lights - and so on and so forth.He said: "We work a lot on the potential of combinations between players. We plot it on the pitch and, once a player has the ball, there are red lights or green lights."The collective goal is to create the most possible green lights."That is to say to give passing solutions to the man with the ball and to leave the responsibility with that man to make the best choice possible, allowing the team to keep possession but at the same time - if possible - make the game progress towards the attack."So you must always offer the player solutions that allow him to utilise his intelligence around the game to the maximum."Advertisement
The Arsenal boss, 60, accepts his biggest challenge as boss of a team that plays the 'Wenger way' is to prepare his team mentally.Over the last few years, a lot has been made of the mental fragility of his Gunners side.Critics have argued that, while they may be easy on the eye, they are also easy to disrupt.The way Arsenal collapsed in last season's Champions League semi-final against Manchester United is a case in point.Their confidence was shattered after the Red Devils grabbed a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes in the second leg - and one of the biggest games in Arsenal's history turned into a procession for United.Speaking on French radio, Wenger continued: "For it to work, players must make themselves available and we work on that in training."That's where top-level sport becomes really interesting, in finding a way to have the team in a position of psychological comfort so that they can offer solutions."Because you know that, when doubt creeps in, the green lights become red lights."Because each player takes fewer spontaneous initiatives and, all of a sudden, it's absolutely unbelievable at what speed all those lights become red and the player with the ball finds himself in the s***."Doubt is the key enemy of our game but, eventually, we must at the same time give our team the sense of availability."And, on a psychological level, we must give them a taste for audacity and for developing connections between each other."Wenger insisted that to maintain the quality of Arsenal's game, he simply cannot afford to make too many changes or bring in too many players at once.During the summer, only Thomas Vermaelen was brought in to bolster the Gunners' first-team squad.He concluded: "When you change more than three players from game to game you take a technical risk."The balance of a team doesn't depend on one player but if you change three it's a grave risk, not only in a game but also in signing players."You change three players and bring in three or four new faces who do not know your playing philosophy and it can hit your team like the flu."Sometimes when the players are extremely intelligent they adapt very quickly and it can also click very quickly. But it's rare."
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Posted by chizindu king on November 18, 2009 at 4:00am
it is unfortunate that in the recent times women hve learn to dress without looking at the mirror first before they jump out of their verous home but withutmost dismay i think it is begining to give every nigerian citizen that is petrotic a serious concern. I said a patrotic citizens because i know some of us enjoy it,some even go as far as telling there wives to wear it .if ask they will say i want her to look sexy,but my qestion is this,is this sexy u want her to look for only u?or......the worst part is that they even wear it to church i beging to wonder and to ask what is happening to our women.is it madness or rascal?.how can a woman wear jeans or trousier without pant some even wear skirt without pant yet they will put the thing just by there 'yash' almost every woman wear cloth that must show some part of their breast whether the breast is it or not they try to make it someting like it.please every body should help us advice our women to look at themelves using their mirror first before going out to the street as this will help them see what they look like to the members of the public.They should also remember that they are the mothers of the society and a lot of things as regard morality in our soceity is dependent on them.they should not make this society the place of mad women please.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 17, 2009 at 9:30pm
Yaradua's 7 Point Agenda Poem They said that it could not be done
Verse 1
They said that it could not be done, One war many left un mended
He said "Just let me try." My slate is clean See the billions i left in my state
They said, "Other men have tried and failed," Gowon Shagari IBB even Lord Lugard !
He answered, "But not I." I will give it a good turai !
They said, "It is impossible," nafisah said he, used to watch kimpossible !
He said, "There's no such word." but that which steals the words, in pdp we trust to rust this nations trust
He closed his mind, he closed his heart... triple by pass saudi style ..
To everything he heard, we all heard the generators, whose sound was no p-h-c-n !
Verse 2
He said, "Within the heart of man, very close to his kidneys
There is a tiny seed of hope not like vision twenty twenty
It grows until it blossoms, from Granaries steeped in china
It's called the will to succeed, but yall call me go slow
like lagos traffic, with good speedbrakers, some of you call potholes !
Its roots are strength, its stem is hope, its friends like anenih
Its petals inspiration,
Its thorns protect,like that of the gangster anini .
its strong green leaves like the greens in usa money
With grim determination. Heading for the swiss, whose bounty was our dictators booty
"Its stamens are its skills the ills of the dimejiss
Which help to shape each plan, when the senate rocks the nation
For there's nothing in the universe even in aso rock
Beyond the scope of man that the young musa couldn't snap ."
With Ak47's and powerbikes to match, let me show the money while i get rich or die by tryin.
Last Verse
They thought that it could not be done,they even "voted" him in
Some even said they knew it,and wrote him this seven point agenda
But he faced up to what could not be done"
And he couldn't bloody do it!
originally written and performed by the late brirish Comedian Benny hill !
Rewritten for 9jabook.com by Weboga Abi john Balogun
Shortlisted models that scaled through the screening for the Next Nigeria Super Model beauty pageant paid a scheduled visit to the Palms Shopping Mall Lekki, Lagos Nigeria, as part of their camping activities.
The models seven in number had photo sessions and they went for shopping getting themselves tuned up for the pageant which will be taking place sometime next year.
The ladies really had a lot of fun as they visited shops within the Palms and met with a lot of curious people who were amazed at the beauty of these contestants
One of the highlights of the ladies visit to the Palms Shopping Mall was a special cat walk up and down the shopping mall.
Passersby were eventually invited to take part in the “catwalk” which drew claps and cheers from shoppers who were happy to see this unexpected side attraction within the Palms
Later it was time for kids to do their own thing trust the kids to show a lot flair for modelling as they too had the opportunity to walk up and down the make shift catwalk aisle of the Palms
VIEW GALLERY PICS HERE
http://www.9jabook.com/photo/albums/nigeria-next-super-models
Photos courtesy GL Enterprises
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 17, 2009 at 7:34pm
The Lagos State government, on Monday, demonstrated its commitment to recognise gallant and patriotic law enforcement agents by presenting the keys of a three-bedroom flat to Mrs Olubunmi Oluseyi Awe, widow of a naval officer, who was killed during an attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty. The state government also presented certificates of commendation to 16 police officers and men who have distinguished themselves in their careers.
Speaking at Lagos House, Ikeja while handing over the keys of the flat located at Igbogbo II in Ikorodu, Deputy Governor Sarah Adebisi Sosan, who stood in for Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said the state government would always stand by officers in times of need.
According to him the death of late Commander A.K Joshua Awe, during the attack by unknown men on the Atlas Cove Jetty, some months ago, showed the commitment and gallantry of the officer in the course of duty.
He added that the widow, Mrs Olubunmi Awe, who was accompanied by her three children, one of whom was marking her seventh birthday, should take solace in the fact that her husband died in the course of national duty and would forever be remembered in the annals of the history of the nation.
While asking her to be of good courage, Governor Fashola said Mrs Awe should be steadfast and ensure that the future remained bright by training the children left behind by the deceased and giving them sound education.
He added that like all mortals, the late officer had transited to the great beyond, promising that the state government would not abandon her and the children in the years ahead, adding that the provision of the accommodation was one of the little ways by which the state wanted to appreciate his service.
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