Former Jigawa State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Abba Umar Kukuma, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment by the Jigawa state High Court sitting in Ringim, for his alleged involvement in the killing of two children; four year old, Aminu Bala and three year old, Abba Magaji.
Kukuma was a commissioner in past Governor Ibrahim Saminu Turaki’s administration.
The former commissioner was alleged to have killed two children found in the trunk of his car sometime in August 2008. He was charged alongside one Alhaji Hamza Muhammad for their murder.
Both men were found guilty of conspiracy and murder, punishable by death under Sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code.
Justice Ahmad Isa in his ruling said:
“After reviewing judgments of similar nature, this honourable court has found the accused persons guilty of the charges levelled against them, but owing to the lack of direct evidence that could link the accused persons to the murder of the two children, the court relied on Section 222 of the Penal Code and sentenced the two accused persons to life imprisonment.
“No satisfactory explanation was given to the court by the accused persons and/or their counsel that could enable this court hold that the evidences tendered by the prosecution counsel were weak enough to rely upon to convict the accused persons”.
“The prosecution counsel has proved to the court beyond reasonable doubt that, the corpses of the two children were found in the car boot of the first accused person; that the two accused persons conspired to evacuate the corpses and dumped same along Kano-Birnin-Kudu highway, and the accused persons concealed facts to police for not reporting the matter to police,” he added.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the two accused persons, Barrister Adamu Abubakar said his clients would appeal the ruling at the Kaduna Division of the Appeal Court immediately.
Angry youths in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State had in August 2008 burnt down the ex-commissioner’s home for his alleged involvement in ritual killings.
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HOW TO DRESS
The ability to stand out in any setting is the key to being lauded as a man with a strong sense of style. Standing out because you're inappropriately dressed for an occasion, however, will make you seem daft.
If you show up dressed to kill when everyone else is dressed casually, for example, you’ll seem eccentric, stuck up or just ridiculous, while arriving to a fancy affair under dressed will be perceived as rude. To ensure that you dress for the occasion read this article
Dress codes For many men, wardrobe jargon is a foreign language. If you fall into this category, don’t despair -- after all, dressing up isn’t as common as it once was, which means you’ve likely had limited opportunities to apply any knowledge you’ve gleaned in the area of formal wear. Fortunately, decoding invitation lingo is a skill that’s easily learned. If you are attending a formal event or your invitation reads “black tie,” it means you will need a tuxedo. On the other hand, if the invitation reads “formal,” a suit with a tie will do just fine. Semi-formal gatherings can be tricky, but as a rule of thumb, ditch your tie when you suit up. Cocktail events allow for more creativity, so feel free to sport fashion trends while still looking smart, whether or not you’re wearing a suit.
Make the right impression Regardless of what type of event you’re attending, putting some thought in beforehand as to the impression you’re hoping to make will go a long way toward helping you dress for the occasion. Whether you’re attending an ultra-formal function or a beach barbecue, there are always ways of altering your ensemble to achieve looks ranging from polished and put together to seriously cool. For example, when the dress code says “formal,” you know you’ll need a dark-colored suit, but you can adjust your outfit to your personality by paying attention to details such as your tie or cuff links. At semiformal events or cocktail parties, you can go further by adding items such as a scarf or sneakers to your ensemble.
Formal wear The biggest challenge most men face when it comes to dressing for an occasion revolves around the what, where and how of tuxedos. The answers to very good questions, including whether you should rent or buy, depend on individual needs and tastes. Generally speaking, a single-breasted model will be appropriate for most black tie events, unless you want to appear more conservative, in which case you can opt for a double-breasted topper. Trousers should never be cuffed and should always have a black satin stripe or braid running down the outside seam. When it comes to dress shirts, those with a turn-down collar are most commonly seen with tuxedos. Finally, choose shiny patent leather shoes to complete your ensemble
Casual dress OK, so you definitely don’t need to pull out all of the stops and wear your best jeans when you’re meeting your buddies for a few brews, but there are times when you should certainly plan ahead for casual get-togethers, such as meeting your girlfriend’s parents or giving a public presentation. In these situations, dressing for the occasion involves selecting your attire carefully and avoiding anything too quirky or potentially offensive. Try a pair of flat-front pants coupled with a tucked-in dress shirt or a polo shirt, and keep your footwear to black or brown. And don’t neglect the grooming department.
How to dress for a job interview Dressing for a job interview can be almost as stressful as the interview itself. What you wear will really depend on the type of job that you’re gunning for. A prestigious position or a prestigious company requires a conservative, dark-colored suit, and a tasteful, complementary shirt and tie combo. In the creative sphere, a suit and tie can be perceived as over-the-top, so try flat-front trousers and a fitted blazer instead. Whatever you choose to wear, be aware that the one time it’s acceptable to overdress is for a job interview, particularly because you can remove items like a jacket once you arrive if the atmosphere is more casual than you had anticipated.
Gym wear: the dos and don'ts Though it can be tempting to train in the ugliest clothes you own, having appropriate workout wear in your closet can actually motivate you to hit the gym more often. Opt for T-shirts made of light, breathable materials in dark colors that will keep you cool and dry, such as microfiber. Cotton or mesh knee-length shorts are your best bet for bottoms. Sports socks should be white or light-colored and shouldn’t come up much past your ankle.
Dress the part Though we've covered some of the most frequently encountered scenarios in which you can't simply throw on any old thing, the truth is that there are plenty of other times when paying a little bit of attention to your attire can pay off immensely
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Posted by 9jabook.com on January 5, 2010 at 7:00pm
IS the Senate on DRUGS ? Is it now they want to defend the pride of the Nation ! No President,No Fuel , No Jobs ,Home Based Financial Terrorists going scot free from the system called Justice Come on ! Please America It is the Nigerian Senate that makes this threats NOT us The Masses of Nigeria,
As controversy and anger continue to trail the listing of Nigeria as one of the 10 countries on the United States of America's top security watch list, the Senate has threatened to severe diplomatic relations with the country if by next week, it fails to remove Nigeria from the list of countries "of interest" for terrorism.
The Senate said this through its spokesperson, Ayogu Eze. He told National Assembly reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, "We are very unhappy about the development and when we resume, we are going to take this matter very seriously if America has not taken Nigeria's name off that list."
The U.S., through its Transport Security Administration (TSA), on Sunday announced the inclusion of Nigeria on the list of countries that are considered "of interest" (with regards to terrorism) based on its latest terrorism intelligence. Also included in the list with Nigeria are Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen.
Mr. Eze, who told reporters that he was talking on behalf of the Senate president, said, "For them (America) to embarrass the entire country with this type of classification without justification is totally unacceptable. The American president himself clearly admitted that this was a failure of system and the manpower of Americans. I don't see how Nigerians come in there and moreover this is just one instance of a Nigerian who it is clearly established had no links with any fundamentalist group or any interest group within Nigeria, not even with his own parents."
Failure of intelligence
He added, "This was a boy whose disappearance was reported to the security agencies, the American authorities and all the relevant authorities; and America did nothing. For them to turn round and punish Nigerians for the sin of an isolated case like this is very unacceptable to the Nigerian government and unacceptable to the Nigerian Senate."
He said the Senate has also watched with keen interest several other breaches that have taken place in the American system even before the alleged attempted terror attack by the Nigerian. He cited the issue of the uninvited guest who beat White House security to crash a party organised in honour of the Indian president. "That was not a Nigerian. Americans should look inwards and search their soul; something is wrong with their system and they should not punish ordinary Nigerians, who are very law-abiding and good international citizens for the failure and irresponsibility of American citizens. Nigeria will not take that."
A word for America
Mr. Eze offered an advice to the superpower, "We also want to advise America that it is in their own interest to ensure that they conduct this matter in a manner that will not result in a diplomatic row between America and Nigeria. It will be most unfair, given the kind of relationship that has existed between America and Nigeria for America to jump to this type of conclusion without even adequate consultation with all the authorities. This is not acceptable to us and we are going to do whatever we can as a nation to prove to America that we will not take this. This is not how diplomacy is conducted and we are going to engage all our diplomatic gears to ensure that we either have a relationship with America or we don't."
It has been widely reported that since the December 25 incident involving a Nigerian, many Nigerians have been subjected to dehumanising treatments and body searches by American security officials. This, Mr. Eze observed, "Must be stopped immediately. Do they think America is the only country that has citizens the country is responsible to?" he asked.
"We also have citizens and we are responsible for them and we will not wait and allow Nigerians to be molested wherever they go," Mr. Eze said.
The listing of Nigeria in the ‘countries of interest list' means, all NIgerian passengers as well as those whose flights originate from Nigeria will be subjected to full body and hand luggage searches. Analysts have also said foreign investors are likely to be wary of investing in the country as a result of the listing.
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Victor Agali, a Nigerian-born footballer for Greek club Levadiakos, has been arrested at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam for carrying two fake passports, Dutch military police said on Monday"At passport control, on December 27, he (Agali) was found to be in possession of a fake passport," said gendarmerie spokesman Robert van Kapel.Upon further investigation, the 31-year-old striker in transit at Schiphol on a voyage from Lagos to Athens, turned out to have two sets of fake travel documents, said Van Kapel."In the one, the page with his personal particulars has been modified, in the other it was the visa," he said.A judge will decide on Monday whether to extend the footballer's provisional detention for further investigation.Agali has played for French teams like Marseille (1996-97), Toulon (1997-98) and Nice (2004-2005), as well as Germany's Schalke 04 (2001-2004).On Christmas Day, a 23-year-old Nigerian was arrested in the United States for the botched bombing of a Northwest Airlines plane bound for Detroit from Schiphol.
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Service was brought to a halt yesterday at the St Paul Anglican Church, Sodubi, Abeokuta when thugs, armed with dangerous weapons, invaded the church because the priest was allegedly being too blunt in his preaching. Some of the words he used were said to have offended some highly placed individuals who attend the church.
The crisis, which pitched a section led by a former senator and Baba ijo (father of the congregation), Femi Okunrounmu against those in support of the Venerable of the Church, Olumuyiwa Ilekoya, led to the suspension of service at the church as the worshipers who gathered for the first Sunday service of the new year scattered.
NEXT gathered that the crisis started after Mr. Ilekoya was prevented from entering the church by the camp allegedly opposed to his preaching. The offence of the cleric was traced to his sermon on the New Year eve, which a source said was not well received by some church elders. Mr. Ilekoya, at the service, warned political leaders to mend their ways or face the wrath of God.
It was said that shortly afterwards, a meeting was held where retaliatory measures were allegedly planned against the priest, to be executed in yesterday's service.
In a twinkle, what started like child-play quickly degenerated with the emergence of thugs numbering about six who came to man the church entrance and prevent the cleric and other supposed opponents of the angry elders' faction from entering the church.
Sensing danger, many worshippers left the church in droves, while the Venerable and some other elders of the church in his support relocated to Mission House, which is situated directly opposite the church.
The group that gained control of the church was said to have ordered the Church Layreader, J.A Fatade, assisted by one Akinsola, to conduct the service which was attended by those members who had not run away.
Mr. Okunrounmu, in his address to the church, told the congregation that Mr. Ilekoya was fond of raining curses while on the pulpit.
Some of the members of the church are saddened by the ugly development, and expressed their shock at the incident. Some of those who spoke to NEXT accused the church authority of turning the church into a political theater because of their individual selfish interests.
A political theater
One of them said Mr. Ilekoya would be the fourth cleric of the church that the elders would fight because of the theme of his preaching.
‘Even if a Reverend preaches and the preaching affects you, what a reasonable person should do is to make amends,' said one of the disturbed worshippers, who pleaded anonymity because he was scared of being attacked.
When approached by journalists at the church premises to react on the allegation that he sponsored thugs to disrupt the church service, Mr. Okunrounmu was furious.
"How did you get to know what's happening here, who told you and who told you to come," he said. "This is church affairs and not press affairs. I don't want to comment further."
Mr Ilekoya, the Venerable of the troubled church, also refused to comment, beyond saying he had reported the case to the Bishop, who will take necessary action on the matter.
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52 Oceanic Bank’s buildings belong to Ibru - EFCC
Lanre Adewole, Abuja
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sustained investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the alleged activities of former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecilia Ibru while at the helm of the bank, has revealed her alleged ownership of about 52 of the property being used by the bank as its branches nationwide.
In the document detailing the property already traced to her, the embattled banker was said to be the landlord to the bank in which her family owns substantial interest.
About N29 billion was said to have been accruing to her annually from the deal. Ibru, who is facing prosecution by the anti-corruption commission, according to investigation, collected five years’ rent upfront on some of the property at choice locations, attracting as much as N1.3 billion on each of such property.
Others were said to have gone for minimum of N210 million a year. One of the property that reportedly attracted N1.3 billion was the one in Marina, Lagos, known as MarineView.
The branch at Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos was said to have attracted N210 million a year.
Her alleged property at No 270 Ozumba Mbadwe Avenue, Lagos was said to have gone for N288 million, while another portion of the same building got her another N75 million from the bank.
A property at 154 Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos, reportedly fetched her N825 million for a year.
In Abuja, the property on Herbert Macaulay, Wuse Zone 6, reportedly fetched her N270 million. The popular high-rise known as Metro Plaza, which was said to have been traced to her, was said to have fetched her N216 million from the bank, while she is also landlord to the British High Commission which has its Abuja visa section there.
Sunday Tribune gathered that the commission was still compiling other properties said to be belong to her.
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Jonathan shuns Aso Rock food, drinks - Beware of ‘Abiola treatment’ - Groups warn VP - Yar’Adua dragged to UN - Nigeria’s challenges not beyond God - Jonathan
Donald Ojogo, Bureau Chief, South-South - 04.01.2010
THE raging succession battle arising from the long absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua due to ill-health appears to have taken a new twist, as the Vice-President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has refrained from taking food and drinks served in the State House, Abuja.
Nigerian Tribune learnt authoritatively that the nation’s number two man has only been taking food prepared by his wife, Patience, in the last three weeks.
This development is coming on the heels of a warning from the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), as well as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), that any attempt to hurt Jonathan would spell doom for the country.
The vice-president has maintained a dignified silence amidst calls for his resignation four weeks ago by some northern politicians, even as he has refused to be dragged in as pressure heightens that President Yar’Adua should resign to pave the way for Jonathan to take over in acting capacity.
Only three days ago, Jonathan, who spoke at the New Year Service in Abuja, maintained that the ship of state was sailing with Yar’Adua still in charge.
But the Nigerian Tribune learnt that behind the public show of statesmanship by the vice-president are very serious issues bothering him to the extent that he has resolved “not to take anything for granted.”
According to a highly-placed source in the Presidency, the vice-president’s determination to avoid food and drinks prepared in the Villa became manifest at a state function which was held quietly in the Villa without the prying eye of the press.
The event was the visit of a VIP from a tiny African country sharing some common economic links with Nigeria. Jonathan was said to have quietly turned down the request that he should be served food and drink at the event.
That, according to the source, was about the fifth time the vice-president would turn down such a request. Also at a political rally in one of the South-East states, Jonathan refused to eat and drink throughout the programme.
“ The only thing sure about Oga (Jonathan) is that, he will remain loyal to the president no matter the temptation and pressures from so many quarters; he can never betray him by falling for the temptation of those making moves to spite him and his office.
“I can tell you that they know what they are up to and the VP knows this much too, because whatever thing he does in reaction to their actions are capable of so many meanings.
“But the man has really decided that nothing should be taken for granted at all; that is why he has refrained from taking anything prepared in the Villa, at least for now till the return of the president, insha Allah, because nothing is impossible in this country and politicians can go to any length to stop anybody from becoming something. It has happened in this country before.”
Asked if the action of the vice-president did not have serious implications for mutual distrust, the source said: “Whatever that amounts to I do not know. But I can tell you too that it was distrust and an attempt to ridicule the vice-president that some hawks had to tell to the nation that the president, who they had not seen for over 40 days, had signed the nation’s budget.
“It will be in the interest of the nation if the same persons can show us the specimen signature of the president and then present to him again, the National Merit and Honours List for signature too.
Meanwhle, the IMG, in a statement by its coordinator, Comrade Joseph Evah, expressed fears that the vice-president’s life could be in danger.
“We have said this before and we will continue to say it that the life of the vice-president is in danger, because of the way and manner some powerful politicians are bent on subverting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“IMG is fervently praying for the president to return home in good health and continue his efforts to change the face of the Niger Delta; but events in the last three weeks show that Jonathan is not wanted by some very influential politicians, who try to do anything to twist the constitution against the collective wish of the people of the country.
“In fact, we cannot be oblivious of the fact that this people can go to any extent, including giving Jonathan the infamous (MKO) Abiola treatment, just to have their way. But we must warn that events that will follow such an action will not be in the interest of the nation,” the statement said in part.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Jonathan has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s challenges as a nation are not beyond God.
Speaking at the Sunday service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Central Parish, Abuja, on Sunday, Dr. Jonathan said the challenges “we may go through as children of God and as a nation signify that God is in charge of our lives.”
He clarified that when the nation was confronted with the challenge of the swearing-in of the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, God averted the confusion that the country might have found itself.
He also disclosed that the provision of the Oath Act, which empowers the sitting Chief Justice of Nigeria to swear in his successor, was evidence of God’s intervention.
Dr. Jonathan commended all Nigerians – both Christians and Muslims –– for their tremendous support and prayers for President Yar’Adua and all leaders at different levels and the country in general.
In his sermon, Pastor Elijah Daramola, whose message centred on grace, identified seven key roles which he said grace played in the life of Christians. He urged Christians to shun unrighteousness in order to enjoy the sufficient grace, which, according to him, God had provided in 2010.
Those with the Vice-President included the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba; former deputy speaker House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, and some other government functionaries.
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By SAMUEL OLATUNJISome of them were as active as the word itself in 2009 while others were as invisible as the air. But one thing binds the active and the invisible together here: they are on our watch list for 2010. ShowbizNow submits that 2010 would be a make or mar year for the following NollywoodersJeta Amata: Not much was heard of the boy from the Amata clan in 2009. After the release of his 35mm movie, Amazing Grace, he apparently disappeared. Even his effort with Mary Slessor’s movie did not yield the desired effect. But from all indications, 2010 might be the year for the dread lock-spotting Jeta as he is said to be working on a big budget movie with Akeem Kae-Kazim, the Hollywood based Nigerian who has proven his mettle in movies of international repute such as GI Joe and 24 Hours. ShowbizNow learnt that, Jeta will be releasing the movie to the cinemas before the year runs out.Funke Akindele: If you thought the best of Miss Funke Akindele was Jenifa, you just might be wrong. Funke is said to have a lot up her sleeves to make the 12 calendar months look short. She is going all the way to turn the Jenifa brand into a huge franchise that will keep us on the queue at the supermarket. 2010 will be the year Jenifa merchandise ranging from shoes to household goods will start showing up in our houses. She is also said to be working on a movie that would make Jenifa look like child’s play. Can thunder strike twice at the same spot for this dark-skinned actress? 2010 will tell. Funke has done close to a dozen English movies, which would be released in 2010 and the market reception will determine if that is the direction she can explore.Rita Dominic: Even before the year ticks off , Rita Dominic’s cup seems to have been full. She is planning to shoot two movies with her manager, Mildred Okwo. She is also set to become the first major Nollywood actress that would publish her autobiography, a task she is undertaking with Joy Isi Bewaji. Of course, she will still do movies, but her plan is to do only top-rate movies. 2010 will give us a peep into the other sides of Rita… a writer, a producer and only God knows what.Stella Damasus: Forget the bad press, Stella Damasus has sowed enough seed to make 2010 her year of harvest. She left the limelight to retool and re-strategize and her sacrifice seems to be paying off. She is about to launch a major lifestyle publication, and has finished work on her television show, which will go on air soon. Her music album was said to have been done since forever. Who knows 2010 might be the year it would drop. She is said to be planning to come back to active movie roles with vengeance. 2010 will witness a new Stella.Jim Iyke: In 2009, he was the busiest actor in the whole of West Africa. His management company said he did about 45 movies. In other climes, that is enough to last an actor a lifetime but not in Nollywood. Jim Iyke is planning not to slow down in the next 12 months. In 2010 he will be releasing two of his movies and plans to work more on the promotion of his album, Who am I? Of course, he still plans being a bad boy because the role seems to be paying off especially when you have a good cause.Saidi Balogun: 2010 might be the year Saidi Balogun will finally get his much deserved accolade and his rightful place among Nollywood elite. In 2009 he was in South Africa for about a month shooting a movie titled Reflection, which is another two-cast blockbuster with a Spanish lady. We have seen some clips and if the whole movie is almost about what we saw, then Saidi will cement his name in gold in the industry.Omotola Ekeinde: This diva has broken all the rules in Nollywood and she is not letting-up. She made nonsense of the talk that it is only a particular tribe that thrives in Nollywood, and that once you are married with kids, you are almost as good as done in the business. After marriage with four kids within a decade, Omosexy is still on the scene. In 2010, two major movies she featured in, Ije and Mind Games, would be released and those that have seen them say they are world class. We’ve also heard her yet to be released album. Omotola will definitely go global with it. There is also a hush-hush talk on an international deal she is working on. If the talk goes through, Omot’s name will be cast in gold among true international stars.Genevieve Nnaji: Not much was heard of her in 2009 except for her role in Tango with me, a Mahmoud Balogun movie. But those who have their ears to the ground said Genevieve already signed a major deal with Warner Bros to shoot a movie with the company in 2010. If that is true, Genny will be rubbing shoulders with Hollywood greats and will probably be inches away from the highly coveted Oscar. 2010 will be this drama queen’s year.Ope Banwo and his team: He has made a lot of promises and has come through with some of them and on others he is yet to deliver. Late last year, he launched one of his music stars and in 2010 he says he is ready to go all the way with entertainment. He will be doing strategic stuff with his Nollywood stars like Omoni Oboli, Funke Akindele, Fred Amata, Segun Arinze and the likes. 2010 will determine whether Mr Banwo is here to stay or just another flash in the pan.Dakore Egbuson: Yes, she’s been missing since forever in Nollywood but 2010 will be Dakore Egbuson comeback year. She might not be coming back fully to movies but she is going to be playing big in the entertainment circle. She is said to have concluded work on her musical album and is working round the clock on a TV show. She is only in a dilemma on which to launch first. In 2010 we will definitely see more than enough of Miss Egbuson.Emem Isong: This accomplished movie producer is gathering sweat on her movie school, Royal Arts Academy, and is still planning on more collaborative deals to produce out of the world movies. First in line is her movie with Ini Edo, which will hit the cinemas before the end of the first quarter of 2010. If Emem’s antecedence is anything to go by, she is one of the stars to watch.Stephanie Okereke: Stephanie, who is still basking in the accolades Through the glass brought her way in 2009, is said to be planning something that will dwarf the success of that movie. She is already a partner in the New York Film Academy that is opening in Lagos and Abuja. Aside that, she is set to prove that her directorial success with Through the glass was not a fluke as she would be taking on more directorial responsibilities.Omoni Oboli: She gradually wormed her way to our hearts. Those who matter in the industry now take note of this diva. Her role in Guilty Pleasure and The Figurine shot her straight to the top of the ladder, and if information reaching us is anything to go by, Omoni is not planning to leave. So she’s got quite a number of surprises up her sleeves.Peace Fiberesima: Love or hate her, Peace Fiberesima has succeeded in putting Nollywood on the global map. After the success and complaints that greeted last year’s event, all eyes are on Madam Peace and her team. People are watching to see what the organizers would make of the 2010 AMAA awards, which is one of the events many are looking forward this year.Ego Boyo: Though she now has her hands in equipment rental services, Ego Boyo is said to be eyeing movie making. Whether she goes through with the plan or not, Ego will be one of those that will shape things in the industry in 2010.Tade Ogidan: 2010 is the year the master of movie making would return. He is working on a compilation of music to be sang by Nollywood stars and working on another trademark blockbuster movie. Who knows; we might see a repeat of Madam Dearest and Dangerous Twins.Tunde Kelani: The cinematographer is also one of the people to watch as he is said to be working on a blockbuster movie with a Nollywood actress. According to our crystal ball, Kelani has concluded work on the script and he is just working on some other things before he hits location in a matter of weeks.Oby Edozien: Oby Edozien has produced two movies with which she wants to rock 2010 in her own way. We have not seen the movies, but if talk and her efforts are anything to go by,Oby will make her mark in the next 12 calendar months.Ramsey Nouah: Mr Handsome of Nollywood is finally back to where he belongs and that is the very top of movie making. Ramsey stole the show in The Figurine and Guilty Pleasure and he is said to have done and planning to do strictly movies of such standard in 2010. For Ramsey, quality is his own way of shaping 2010.Desmond Elliot: With his new found love for directing, Desmond Olusola Elliot is one Nollywooder to watch in 2010. Though still very much active as an actor, he is planning to do more work producing and directing movies; the side of Nollywood he wishes to retire to when he is no longer getting the roles.
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Super Eagles Vice Captain, Joseph Yobo, on New Year day, got married to former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), Adaeze Igwe, at the Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International (EBOMI) Prayer City, Jos, Plateau State.advertisement hereYobo, who flew into the country for the low-key wedding, took many by surprise, as most of the guests at the Exodus Night Meeting at the EBOMI Prayer City were not aware of his presence at the gathering.General Overseer of EBOMI Prayer City, Prophet Isah El Buba, while officiating at the early morning wedding, which was witnessed by Governor Jonah Jang and top government officials, described Yobo and his wife as new born again Christians who gave their lives to Jesus Christ during their recent encounter with him in London.According to him, the solemnisation of the wedding became necessary as the duo have left their past behind and embraced God, urging them to always remember God first in all they do.He described marriage as something ordained by God, and as such, whoever finds a wife has found a good thing in the sight of the Lord.Buba called on the couple to take marriage with all the seriousness it deserves, insisting that marriage is a glorious thing that calls for tolerance from each spouse.He told Yobo that since he is going to lead his colleagues to South Africa this year for the World Cup tournament, and for the African Cup of Nations in Angola, his wedding has prepared him to go for these two football fiestas with God’s anointed golden legs.In the same vein, Governor Jang, who is an ordained minister at the EBOMI Prayer City, told the couple to show love to each other.Jang advised Yobo to remain steadfast in the Lord with his wife since there are trials in marriage, but assured him that God will see them through.The couple exchanged vows at 3.30 a.m. on January 1 at the prayer meeting amid cheers from well-wishers and relations, who stormed Jos for the wedding despite the timing.The couple had private reception in their hotel room immediately after the wedding.Attempts to speak with Yobo proved abortive as he refused to speak with journalists over his choice of Jos for the wedding.Yobo, born September 6, 1980 in Kano, but grew up in Port Harcourt, is a Super Eagles defender currently playing with the English Premier League (EPL) club Everton.He is the younger brother of former Nigeria international Albert Yobo.Yobo left Nigeria for Belgium to join Standard Liège in 1998. He made his first team appearance in 2000, and went on to appear 46 times for the Jupiler League club. In 2001, he was bought by French club, Olympique Marseille. Soon after making his debut, Yobo was loaned to CD Tenerife in Spain. After nine months Yobo retuned to Marseille, before joining English club Everton, again on loan, in July 2002. A £1million fee was required to register the player, and he became the first signing of new manager David Moyes. An option to make the move permanent was taken up and completed in 2003 after a dispute between Yobo and Marseille was settled, with Everton agreeing a fixed additional fee of £4 million.Yobo became one of the most consistent players in the Everton squad, and was one of only seven players in the entire league to play every minute of every game throughout the 2006/2007 Premier League season.The delay, in 2006, in signing a new contract with Everton led to rumours of a move to Arsenal, but on July 22, Yobo committed himself to Goodison Park until 2010. As of 15 April 2007 Yobo is the record appearance holder for an overseas player at Everton.In 2007, he set up the Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation, to help under-privileged children in Nigeria. As of July 18, 2007 he has handed out over 300 scholarship awards ranging from primary to university level. Yobo has started a football academy in the Ogoni region of Nigeria. He also runs football camps in Lagos, in conjunction with Everton Lagos F.C.Igwe was a student at the University of Abuja, before she became Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. She pursued her childhood dream by representing Anambra in the pageant with 29 other girls.Apart from winning N5 million, a Hyundai car and endorsement deals, Anambra-born Igwe represented Nigeria at Miss World 2008 in South Africa. She made the top 20 in Miss World Talent, and placed second in Miss World Sports.During her reign, Igwe established her own charity, The Adaeze Igwe Foundation, an organisation, which promotes AIDS and breast cancer awareness and raises funds towards similar causes, including malaria and tuberculosis.She was quoted to have said of her relationship with Yobo: “We are in a relationship and it is not one of those frivolous ones. It is a serious one that my mum even knows about. This is for real.”She is currently attending the New York Film Academy and was at Vivian Fowler Memorial College before the University of Abuja, which she did not return to after she won the MBGN crown.Naija Gays Increase http://tinyurl.com/Gaylifestlyeskidnapping baby on plane http://tinyurl.com/BabyNapperhttp://www.9jamovies.comhttp://www.ask9ja.comRead more…
A woman suspected to be a child-trafficker was yesterday caught in a Chanchangi flight 137 from Owerri to Lagos, by passengers who became suspicious when they noticed the lack of bonding and hostility of a five-month-old baby boy to the woman who was pretending to be its mother.
The behaviour of the woman aroused suspicion of the passengers when she could not breastfeed the child or provide a feeding bottle which she was supposed to be feeding it with; rather, she tried to spoon-feed it amid the child's resistance, which heightened the passengers' suspicion that the child might have been stolen.
According to eye-witness account, when the now infuriated passengers literally bombarded her with questions, she confessed that the baby was not hers and admitted that she was into child trafficking racket.
“This baby was stolen by a woman who confessed openly she was into the racket and was identified by Chachangi airline officials. On landing, the woman further confessed she had a man as an accomplice but the man could not be found even after all the passengers had been identified”, an eye-witness told THISDAY.
The flight left Owerri, Imo State at about 3.00 pm and landed at the new domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMA2, at about 4.00 pm.
Spokesman of the airline, Ibrahim Adamu, confirmed the attempted kidnapping and according to the senior cabin crew on board the aircraft, Mr. Suma Inyang, the baby was crying profusely throughout the flight and after disembarkation, prompting the passengers to continue harassing the woman who later confessed to the crime.
The baby, on arrival in Lagos, was handed over to a Chanchangi crew member, Anwal Rufai. But Adamu later explained to THISDAY, “A female lawyer from the United States wanted to adopt the child and asked the younger sister to bring the baby from Owerri to Lagos, but the girl did not know how to handle it and when she was arrested at arrival in Lagos, her sister came with all necessary adoption documents. The matter was handed over to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).”
But the General Manager, Public Affairs, FAAN, Akin Olukunle could not confirm that the baby was handed over to the agency and the management of Bi-Courtney, the operators of MMA2 refused to comment on the matter as its head of communications, Olugbenga Adegbesan told THISDAY he was on leave.
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PHOTO: GOVERNOR BUKOLA SARAKI, CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNORS' FORUM.
Investigations has revealed that the Governors of the 36 states will meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the current health and continued absence of the ailing Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and its implications on their political lives should the military intervene.
Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has been incapacitated for more than 40 days at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah for various complications resulting from Churg Strauss Syndrome and has refused to transfer power to the Vice President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan.
The President’s refusal to formally notify the National Assembly of his hospitalization as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution has polarized the electorate that some talk of the possibility of a military coup de tat has started to gain credence.
Last week, the Governors Forum, a group consisting of all the governors, scheduled a meeting at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja but could not hold any deliberations because they couldn’t form a quorum apparently because of the sudden death and funeral of former first lady, Hajiya Maryam Babangida.
our sources gathered that top on the agenda for discussion at the Tuesday meeting will be the President’s continued illness, the lack of access to him or credible information on his health, the implications of his refusal to hand over to the Vice President and also the need to calm the country so that the probability of a military intervention is reduced to zero.
An inside source informed our sources that some governors intend to spell it out to their colleagues that they will not let the selfish actions of the President or a clique ruin their political careers as a result of a military intervention. Some of the governors we gather have already informed their respective members at the National Assembly to begin to make moves towards reviewing the relevant sections in the constitution to enable Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assume Presidential powers.
The list of people calling on the ailing President to either resign or temporarily hand over to the Vice President continues to grow by the day.
The National Assembly is expected to resume this week after the Christmas and New Year break. No one is certain whether the leadership of the National Assembly have had a change of heart considering they had blocked every attempt at debating the President’s absence on the floor of the house. Some legislators have openly criticized the President for heating up the polity over his refusal to hand over to Goodluck Jonathan.
The Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Femi Falana, and some politicians have gone to court to compel the ailing President to cede power. Falana particularly also wants the court to declare every action that the FEC has taken since the President’s hospitalization illegal.
On Wednesday, December 30, 2009, Eight Supreme Court Judges were absent at the controversial swearing-in of Nigeria’s new CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu by Justice Idris Kutigi, who retired a couple of hours later. The NBA also stayed away from the ceremony calling it an “act of illegality.”
The alleged signing of the 2009 Supplementary Budget by the President on his hospital bed has drawn comments and criticisms from a wide range of audience. Many believe the President’s signature may have been forged by some desperados in his ‘kitchen cabinet’. There have been calls for the Presidency to show photo proof that the ailing President actually signed the document himself.
Forgery is a felony in Nigeria punishable by imprisonment under Chapter 44 section 467 of the Criminal Code Act of 1990 which states that:
“Any person who forges any document, writing, or seal, is guilty of an offence which, unless otherwise stated, is a felony, and he is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.”
‘Punishment in special Cases’
(1) If the thing forged-
(a) Purports to be, or is intended by the offender to be understood to be or to be used as, the public seal of Nigeria or of any State of Nigeria or the great or privy seal of any country of the Commonwealth or under the protection of a Commonwealth country, or seal of the President, or a Governor of a State; or
(b) Is a document having on it or affixed to it any such seal, signet, or sign manual, or anything which purports to be, or is intended by the offender to be understood to be, any such seal, signet, or sign manual;
The offender is liable to imprisonment for life.”
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Police in Nigeria have arrested a doctor suspected of impregnating girls and selling their babies.
The police said they found five pregnant girls aged between 12 and 17 at the doctor's clinic in the Southeastern town of Enugu.
The police said the man had confessed to getting the girls pregnant and selling their children. He is to face charges in court.
Trafficking is common in Nigeria, with children sold for labour and sex work.
In 2008, police raided a private hospital in Enugu, which they said was a "baby farm".
Seven pregnant young women were found.
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By Chude Jideonwo
The senators probably didn't know that there were homosexuals in their midst. But by the time Rashidi Williams, who works with a sexual rights organisation, was through with his presentation against the Assembly's bill against gays in 2007, they had met one openly gay man.
"There was no decision to speak at the National Assembly in the first place," he said in an interview with NEXT. "But on getting there, I felt that submitting a memorandum and not presenting it will be worthless. To be candid I was scared at first, but after the presentation it was just a tap of my fingers in the air. I had done what was to me the most noble of all things."
Nobility might indeed have been a factor in that courageous step, but part of it must have been a certain comfort with the fact that, for all the talk of Nigeria being a homophobic nation, we are far more tolerant than we are ready to accept.
No different
Take Ifeanyi Orazulike, who runs a non-governmental organisation called Alliance Rights, for instance. "I am an out gay man," he said in an exclusive interview in October. He paints a picture of normalcy. He has been interviewed more than once by the Nigerian Television Authority. He also works closely with the National Action Committee on Aids (NACA) and the UNFPA in Nigeria, organisations that have made it possible to bring gay issues into the medical and social mainstream.
It is indeed a long way from the situation in 2004. At the time, Bisi Alimi, then a student of the University of Lagos, was invited on Funmi Iyanda's national TV show (this writer was producer of the show at the time, and invited Mr. Alimi) - the first openly gay person to be interviewed on a Nigerian TV.
And the reaction was swift. Hate mail was sent to both of them, he was thrown out of his home and his job, and New Dawn's Friday edition was cancelled by the NTA. He eventually had to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.
One of his friends, Chinedu (not his real name) who was also in the same university, had to leave the country as well, for Central Switzerland where he now lives with a boyfriend. "In Nigeria, I had to act straight," he said. "Thank God I don't live in Nigeria, but if I did, I'd certainly lead a double life else I commit suicide."
Toyin (not her real name), who lives in the United States, called the life of a gay Nigerian "stressed and sad". The reaction from family and friends who know is uniformly negative. "Their reactions vary from shock," she said, "to condemnation to pity to the urge to get religious deliverance because the fanatical Christians call you demon-possessed."
Still, Chinedu reveals that gays (known in Nigeria as ‘TiBi' - coined from ‘Top' and ‘Bottom', the two gay sexual roles) in Nigeria are able to "have sex, do parties, clubs, lazy talk and every other thing that is having fun."
And he is absolutely right. Over a period of almost six months, a NEXT investigation revealed that in Lagos and Abuja at the very least, despite the stigma, gays are able to meet and interact through three major media: clubs, private parties and the internet.
Thriving nightlife
There are two major clubs in Lagos. One, a popular hangout for both gays and heterosexuals, is located in Victoria Island. The other, which has a monthly gay party, is located in Surulere; though it is important to note that they are not really gay bars, but "gay friendly".
At the former, according to a number of respondents, it appears that professionals and otherwise moneyed men go there to meet with younger men. Kenneth (not his real name), barely in his 20s, is one of them. "They go to the bathroom to talk," he said. "Because most of the younger dudes are effeminate and these men don't want to be seen interacting with them. Sometimes they have sex there."
The secret of coordination
"Word always spreads," a friend of Kenneth's said in a telephone interview. "Gay people everywhere are always conscious about parties since they don't have such opportunities regularly. I have seen at these parties 40-something year old men, some of them married. And they invite guys to their homes all the time."
Private parties still remain the most popular means of socialisation. "Just recently, there was a truth and dare party of about 24 people in Surulere, in the flat of a gay guy who is a bank manager," he continued. "There was alcohol, smoking of ‘weed', loud music, oral sex - overnight."
Major malls like the Silverbird Galleria, The Palms and the E-Centre are also popular hangouts. At a famous Ikeja hotel young boys go swimming with friends, hoping to get picked up by older guys. "For a gay person, everyday is a day to meet someone new," Kenneth said.
In Abuja, an uncorroborated article from the United Nations (UN) Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) also notes the existence of a few clubs that accept gays. Mr. Orazulike confirmed this; that there are gay clubs - mostly for the rich and mighty - all over the capital city.
The L-word
Things are slightly different for lesbians though. According to Toyin: "There are underground gay networks where some of us meet to talk and share our problems and experiences. We try to assist those of us who may be in danger or who may have problems - from emotional to social. We assure and console one another."
Apparently, this is no fringe lifestyle. Even celebrities play a huge role: at parties and in magazines, the list of "alleged" gay celebrities have included A-list musicians, actors and TV presenters. Some names are repeated so frequently that, just like with Hollywood and PerezHilton.com, everyone seems to know who's gay and who's not.
The internet is also a sprawling estate of freedom for gays. Websites like manjam.com and globalgayz.com are a big meeting point. A visit to the sites is revealing. Nigerians with pictures, profiles, addresses and phone numbers meet daily for sex and relationships.
However, it is the social networking site, Facebook, that provides the ultimate opportunity for gay expression. It is also not unusual these days to find Facebook names such as Tolu Gay, Chineye Gay, or other suggestive names usually with pictures of body parts, openly soliciting for partners. One, called Long John, born 1985, had a belly down picture of him in underwear and described himself as "Young. Handsome. Dynamic. Gay. Nigerian."
In a Facebook conversation with him, he said: "My orientation is bi (sexual). I'm a Lagos dude trying to make ends meet. Schooling in Polytechnic, Ibadan, living in Festac."
"So where are the pictures with your face - why aren't you showing that?"
He responded in Pidgin. "Show face ke? Make my papa catch me abi?"
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All of us are who we are today because others invested in us. I think about all the people in my family that have invested in me. My grandfather was very disciplined. He had a very strong work ethic. He taught me by example the importance of being diligent and giving every job my very best. My grandmother was so full of joy. I never saw her upset. She constantly had a song of praise coming up out of her heart. She is a big part of who I am today. She's one of the main reasons why I smile practically all the time.
Growing up, my mother not only loved and cared for us children, but every day before we left for school she would say, "Father, thank You that my children have Your favor wherever they go." I learned to expect God's favor from my mother. You know what I'm doing today? Telling other people to believe for God's favor.
My father was constantly telling me how great he thought I was and how I could do anything. He took time to mentor me. He was busy, but he still gave me his attention. As a little boy, he used to go up to the hospital to visit people that were sick. He would always take me with him. He would have me join hands with the family when we prayed.
As a teenager, I would come down to the church during the summer and sit in meetings with him at the office. Half the time I didn't know what was going on. But on the way home, he'd always explain it. "Joel, this is what we were doing. This is the reason we were doing it." He didn't have to. He had a lot going on, but he understood that he had a responsibility to pass on everything he possibly could. My father did his best to teach me everything he knew and sometimes things he didn't know.
I think about how in Victoria's family they've had a special recipe that's been in the family line for four or five generations. It's called Senator Russell's Sweet Potatoes. They are the best sweet potatoes in the world. They've got a crust of cinnamon, sugar and nuts. We don't even like the sweet potatoes. We just like the crust! But what happened is that somebody came up with that great recipe generations back. They could have thought, "This is my special dish. I'm just going to keep it to myself." No, they were living with the mindset that "I've got to pass down everything good I possibly can." So one day that mother taught her daughter the recipe and that daughter taught her daughter. Eventually, it got down to Georgine, my mother–in–law. She taught her daughter, Victoria. Now, every Thanksgiving, Victoria and our daughter are in the kitchen making Senator Russell's Sweet Potatoes.
Let me ask you, are you transferring your wisdom, your experiences, your shortcuts, your recipes down to the next generation so they can start ahead of you?
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Posted by 9jabook.com on December 31, 2009 at 11:31pm
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Zain:07083793511Read more…
My new tall, dark and handsome boyfriend was standing across the room looking so fine in his shirt; I couldn't take my eyes off him.
It was my pal's birthday party and the first time I had ever dragged my latest man-friend out with my buddies.
I wasn't sure how it would go, yet there he was, charming the pants off them all by himself, busting out his A-material small talk with some friends in a corner. He was doing his best to impress. It was very sweet. He was going all out for me.
Meanwhile, I was at the snack table and before I could curse myself for leaving him to go in for another cheesy cracker, I was accosted by a buddy's wife I barely knew, a nasty woman named Sue. "How old is he?" she pried.
After politely playing 20 questions with Sue about my new boyfriend, I knew this was the one she was getting at. I wanted to say something like, "He's not as old as those frown lines make you look!" Anything that would shut her up and let me enjoy my prized romance.
Instead I shoved a cracker in my mouth and mulled over her question as I pretended it was hard to chew. It was more like her question was hard to swallow.
Yes, my new man was older than me, much older than me. But I wasn't some gold digger trying to claw at his cash account, or even a woman with daddy issues. I just thought he was the hottest, funniest man I'd ever met.
He was more exciting to be with than any of the 20-something guys I knew. I was smitten with his wit and the way he filled out a pair of pants. Really, are there better reasons to date someone?
Should I seriously have let 15 years come between me and happiness, just so I could avoid judgment from girls like Sue? I really should have answered her question with the long list of truly great things about dating an older man.
The Frisky: 9 inexcusable excuses for breaking up
He knows cool stuff you never heard of: Generation gaps can be a good thing culture-wise. He can introduce you to music and movies that are totally awesome classics.
The Frisky: 5 ways women try to impress men (and why they don't work)
He's super supportive: He's got a career and is secure in his work life, so he's totally supportive of your ambitions. And probs full of good advice! Not to mention the quarter-life crisis is kinda like the mid-life one.
The Frisky: Maybe its time to rethink your dating strategy?
Someone has already "fixed him up": That relationship didn't work out. And now you can reap the benefits of nice shoes and hand towels in the bathroom.
The Frisky: Factors in making love last (or not)
He doesn't stay out late: He might be a ladies' man, but after a certain age, he's not out on the prowl every night in da club lookin' for a fresh piece. He just wants to hang with you.
The Frisky: 6 heartwarming stories of old love
He knows himself: Nobody's perfect, and by now, he understands his main foibles. So, he can even communicate them to you to prevent friction.
The Frisky: The 10 best short hair moments of the decade
You're the pretty one: It's shallow, but it's always nice to feel extra sexy.
He doesn't want to be alone: He's already hit that point when men realize they don't want to be all by themselves. Even if they intend to stay confirmed bachelors, they still want company.
Salt n' pepper hair: So hot. Sure, not every middle-aged guy has got it, but it certainly ups your chances.
No more going Dutch: There won't be that awkward pause when the check comes; he'll always take it because a man of his years makes more money. You won't even feel the slightest bit guilty.
He is going to be this rad forever: Some peeps just lose their lust for life at a certain age, but your dude has still got it! He can not only keep up with your young butt, but he piques your interest. You know for sure that time doesn't slow him down. He's always willing to try new things. He's not going to turn into some couch potato all of a sudden. In another 20 years, he'll still be l-i-v-i-n'.
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Complete body scans to begin in Nigerian airports
By Okechukwu Nnodim
The federal government, through its civil aviation authority, on Wednesday declared the commencement of a "100 per cent" body and baggage examination of passengers before they board any aircraft in the country. This is coming after the recent foiled attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit, USA, from Amsterdam by a 23-year-old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, on December 25, after security checks were unable to detect the powdery explosives he had attached to his body. A press release from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said: "Secondary screening of passengers and the carry-on baggage should be total and performed for all departing flights at the boarding gates including body search."
All passengers
"No person including crew members should be allowed to board an aircraft without passing through all aviation security screening procedures and formalities and 100 per cent examination is mandatory for all passengers," said Harold Demuren, director general, NCAA, at the authority's headquarters in Lagos.
Mr. Demuren disclosed that this declarative and enhanced security screening system to be effected at the airports is to ensure that the country does not witness another attempt of terrorism, excessive drug smuggling, and misdemeanours from travellers.
"To effectively combat the new threat of terrorism as unfolded recently, Nigeria is upgrading its security screening system to 3D total body imaging scanner," he said. "By the new year, we will have the latest security screening technology in place to efficiently fight every form of terrorism trying to creep into Nigeria."Beats technology
Earlier, Sam Adurogboye, media head for the authority, said that the recent attempt by Mr. Abdulmutallab should be seen as a "revolution" that beats technology in the world's aviation industry, stressing that no airport on earth has the facility to detect an explosive in fine particles.
"The explosive he (Mr. Abdulmutallab) smuggled into the aircraft is in powdered form, and I don't know of any airport in the world that has a machine which can detect an explosive substance concealed in such form," he said.
Meanwhile, since the recent attempted bombing incident, the airports, especially the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), have witnessed an increased presence of security operatives, both police officers and aviation security personnel.
"Genuine passengers are the ones suffering this mess, because it is so embarrassing how these stern officers here treat us all in the name of ensuring our safety," Greg Anozie, at the international airport.
Mr. Demuren disclosed that all airlines operating in the country have been directed to ensure that any passenger who refuses to comply with hundred per cent screening should be denied boarding. He, however, said that some of these measures were already in place before now, stressing that the repetition is mainly for emphasis and total compliance.
Were explosives from Nigeria?
Asked if the explosive smuggled by Mr. Abdulmutallab was made in Nigeria, the NCAA boss disclosed that the ongoing investigations on the case have not revealed where the explosive was acquired, adding that he doubts if the terror suspect could have gotten the substance in the country.
"We don't produce such kind of substance in this country, and when he passed our metal scanner and other screening machines after taking off his shoes and belts, we did not detect any explosive with him," he said.
"I cannot say categorically whether he got it from here or not, but I will say that it is most likely uncertain that he got the substance from Nigeria."
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Yemen Bombed 3weeks Ago by the Sauidis/ US ,2 former naija Justices sons accomplices of Mutallab
Bombshell Eyewitness Revelations: Confirmed FBI Cover-Up Of Flight 253 Attack
Detroit attorney Kurt Haskell dropped bombshell revelations concerning his eyewitness experience of the Flight 253 attack and how the FBI detained a second man after dogs detected a bomb in his luggage on The Alex Jones Show today. The FBI has not only ignored Haskell’s story, but they have launched a cover-up by refusing to even acknowledge the existence of another man who filmed the entire flight, including the aborted attack, as well as the well-dressed man who aided the bomber to board the plane even though he had no passport and was on a terror watch list.
Watch this space for more stories on this astounding news that the corporate media has completely failed to cover.
Detroit attorney Kurt Haskell appeared on the Alex Jones Show today and detailed his experience at the Amsterdam airport and on flight 253. Mr. Haskell provided information not covered by the corporate media.
Kurt Haskell.
In addition to a detailed retelling of the story he gave the corporate media, Mr. Haskell addressed the unprofessional and lackadaisical behavior of the FBI and airport security after the plane landed at the Detroit Metro airport in Romulus, Michigan. He characterized their behavior as a “complete embarrassment.
They actually put us in more jeopardy than we were already in.”
Passengers were told to remain seated in the aircraft for 20 minutes after landing despite the fact security did not know at that point if there was an explosive on the plane or if the fire started by the suspect Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab while on descent to the airport had spread under the floor in the cabin or to the fuel tanks in the wings.
After being allowed to disembark from the plane by officials, passengers were detained in customs with their carry-on luggage for six hours while they waited to be interrogated by the FBI, according to Haskell.
At this point a bomb-sniffing dog pointed at carry-on luggage in the possession of a man Haskell described as Indian around 30 years old. Officials led the man away to an interrogation room. Haskell said he was concerned because the bomb-sniffing dog had flagged the man, indicating he may have had explosives in his carry-on luggage.
The Indian man was subsequently led away in handcuffs.
Following this incident the FBI moved the passengers to another location. “You’re being moved,” the FBI told them, “it is not safe here. I’m sure you all saw what happened and can read between the lines and why you’re being moved.”
Haskell said the corporate media refuses to cover this aspect of his story. He has repeated it to “countless” news agencies and they uniformly have not included it to his knowledge.
Mr. Haskell questioned why officials have not released the Amsterdam airport security video that will undoubtedly reveal crucial information about the “sharp-dressed man” who escorted a disheveled Mutallab to the boarding area. Haskell described the suspected terrorist as appearing to be a “poor black teenager.”
The well-dressed Indian man did all the talking. He insisted Mutallab be boarded on the plane without a passport and when an airport employee refused to do so Mutallab and the Indian man went to talk with a supervisor. The Indian man tried to pass off Mutallab as a Sudanese refugee and have him boarded despite the fact doing so would be in violation of regulations concerning refugees. In general, documentation must be provided by an embassy in order for refugees to board international flights.
Mr. Haskell did not see Mutallab again until the botched terror bombing inside the plane on the approach to Detroit. He did not know how Mutallab finally boarded the aircraft.
The FBI was not pleased with Kurt Haskell when they conducted a follow-up interview earlier today in Michigan. They showed him close-up photographs of various people, including Mutallab. “They kind of tried to trick me,” Haskell explained. The agents tried to pass off two photos of Mutallab as different people. Kurt asked the agents if they were attempting to impeach his story and smear him.
The Indian man was not included in the photographs.
Haskell asked them why he was not shown a full body shot of the suspect. Haskell was eight rows back from the suspect. The FBI agents did not answer and were displeased with the question. He also asked the FBI agents if it would be more appropriate to bring the surveillance video from the Amsterdam airport instead of still photos. “I don’t think they liked that comment from me,” Haskell added. The FBI said they did not have the videotape.
The agents showed Haskell a photograph of the man flagged by the bomb-sniffing dog and taken into custody in customs. “Isn’t this the man who had the bomb in his carry-on bag that you arrested in customs who you refuse to admit exists?” Haskell asked the agents. “They really didn’t like that comment from me and had no comment back to me but I said it sure looks like the man you refuse to admit exists.”
Kurt Haskell was circumspect and careful not to speculate during the interview with Alex Jones. He indicated he is only interested in the facts and does not want to endanger his version of events by speculating on motives.
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In a full unedited interview with Alex Jones, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, Mr. Haskell recalled that just before being questioned about the sharp dressed man incident a man was pulled into a room, handcuffed, and detained by authorities. Who was he? Why was he detained? Is there any relevance to the story?
Haskell described the man as being a much younger Indian man. After the incident authorities asked the passengers to move to another location. Obviously it was a big deal. Surely the larger media outlets could find out who this man was and what he was detained for. According to Haskell the authorities then told the passengers that obviously they had a problem. The passengers were then told they could figure out what was going on but nothing more.Something doesn’t smell right and it’s not the underwear bomb.
The reason given for the terrorist attempt was the bombing of Yemen by Saudi’s with help from American CIA. Ron Paul called that one right away before Mutallab said it to authorities. Why didn’t any news agencies cover the bombing of Yemen before yesterday afternoon? It was almost like they had to cover it after the alternative media had already let the cat out of the bag so to speak. That also brings up the question why didn't they cover the man who was detained prior to questioning?
Read more…
Security Adviser queries DG, NIA over Mutallab
Inquest reveals involvement of sons of two former justices
NIGERIA's intelligence/ Security machinery has kicked into overdrive in its bid to find what went wrong on its part, who knew what and when about the deeds or moves of Farouk Abdul muttallab, now facing charges of attempted terror attack in the United States of America (U.S.A).
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Piqued by the negative impact of the global discussion of the involvement of the Nigerian in the Christmas day's botched attempt to blow up a U.S.-bound plane that took off from Amsterdam, Holland and with the looming spectre of being tagged a haven of terrorists, Nigeria's presidency has launched a comprehensive probe of the tragic incident. The claims and counter- claims on who knew what, when and where, about Farouk Mutallab's suspected attempt are of course of special interest.
The probe, which promises to be far-reaching, began in earnest on Monday morning when the National Security Adviser Abdul Sarki Mukhtar, a retired Major-General, personally issued and signed a strongly-worded query to the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador E.O. Oladeji.
In the query entitled: "Alleged Involvement of Umar Farouk Mutallab in an Attempt to Bomb a U.S. Airliner" and dated December 28, the National Security Adviser indicated that the National Intelligence Agency had prior knowledge of a report said to have been deposited with it on the suspect. The words of the query:
"From all indications, it seemed that your Agency had prior knowledge of a report, said to have been made by Alhaji Umar Mutallab about the tendencies of his son, Umar Farouk, towards radicalisation, which was manifested in the incident leading to his arrest in the U.S."
The query goes further, "It is really unfortunate and sad that knowledge of such an important intelligence issue could not be brought to the attention of this office, or the weekly Intelligence Community Committee Meeting (ICCM). It was this failure that led to the unfortunate incident we are grappling with now".
"The report if circulated within the ICC would have alerted the Security Agencies at our Travel Control Points (TCPs) to take appropriate required action, that would have led to his arrest, before boarding the KLM flight from Nigeria, thereby pre-empting the sad incident", it added.
The NSA notes that "Failure to do so has not only led to this rather unfortunate international embarrassment to the Nigerian nation, but also depicted our country as a haven for terrorists. You are therefore to explain what led to this failure of intelligence, and the persons therein involved. Your explanation, should reach me on or before Tuesday December 29, 2009..."
According to sources close to the NIA, the National Security Adviser's letter has caused some "consternation" within the Agency coming on the heels of a recent crisis that led to the dramatic removal of the former DG NIA, Ambassador Imohe.
The Guardian gathered last night that even as the NIA chief executive faces the challenge of answering the query from the NSA, the presidency has been told that contrary to earlier reports that the lead and indeed activities of Umar Farouk (Jnr) were reported to Nigeria's security agencies, "the father only reported it to a former National Security official who served under President Obasanjo, who in turn reportedly informed one of the directors at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The director obviously did nothing about the lead until the current incident happened."
The report of how Mutallab (snr) reported his son is said to have also raised curiosity of the Intelligence and Security Community. One puzzle operatives are hoping to unravel is "what the former Managing Director of UBA knew and what compelled him to head for the American Embassy instead of, for instance, the British High Commission which had in May this year rejected his son's re-entry visa shortly after he completed his degree programme in a London university".
Besides, the Intelligence and Joint Security Services are said to be interested in questioning the eminent Mutallab, a former federal commissioner (minister) under General Obasanjo as military head of state (1976-1979) on "why he did not report the suspicious deeds of his son to the offices of current National Security Adviser or even the Directors-General of the State Services Department or the National Intelligence Agency".
In the same vein, the presidency, still smarting from the embarrassment occasioned by the absence of the president for more than a month now, is now running with bursting adrenaline to get to the root of this crisis. As a result, so many questions are being asked: What are some of the relationships the older Mutallab has in the world of business, government and even religion? Being married to an Arab Yemeni himself, what could the older Mutallab know or say of his son's Yemeni connections? Yemen is now widely known as the base of radical islamic fundamentalists where attacks had previously been planned on American targets.
Could the attempted attack by Mutallab have been a culmination of an intricate web of local and transnational intrigues that may have implications for domestic and foreign policy direction of the current administration?"
Just as answers were being sought to these and other questions, last night, it was revealed by diplomatic sources that Umar Farouk may not have been alone in his suspected enterprise. Indeed, two sons of two former justices of Nigeria have also been fingered and are already under the scrutiny of security men.
British investigators are said to have also revealed that a Pakistani citizen who collaborated with a Yemeni citizen actually trained the three Nigerian suspects inside the United Kingdom.
In the meantime, The Guardian also confirmed yesterday from diplomatic sources that some U.S. security and intelligence chiefs visited the State Security Service Headquarters on Monday where they met with a Director of Operations of the Service.
It was understood that they actually discussed and harmonised positions on how to deal with what is now known as "the Mutallab Challenge".
Meanwhile, the Department of State Security Services (SSS) which called off a planned briefing two days ago is said to have clarified its own stance to the presidency especially on how the suspect pased through the airport. The SSS was said to have clarified its role this way: "The role of the Service at the airports is to maintain Watch-list Action and not to search intending travellers. Watch-list Action is a request from various agencies for the Service to take specific actions on suspected persons who contravened one law or another affecting the requesting agency".
"In this case, (Umar Farouk's), no Watch-list Action was demanded on Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from any agency within or outside the country. Watch-list Action can be mounted to check those travelling with stolen passports. Accordingly, the Service may conduct Service may conduct searches on air travellers if such persons are on Watch-list".
It clarified further, "Meanwhile, it is on record that airlines employ private security companies, which carry out all forms of checks and searches even at the final point of boarding".
It concluded on a plea note: "In the light of the current development, the Service wishes to reiterate that security is a collective responsibility. Therefore, all citizens are urged to be more sensitive to their environment and collaborate with relevant agencies to timely identify such tendencies and other issues that impact on our collective security".
It has been disclosed, by a law enforcement official that part of an explosive device that failed to take down a plane last week was sewn into AbdulMutallab's underwear.
According to foreign media, Abdulmutallab, 23, the privately-educated son of one of Nigeria's most prominent bankers, managed to smuggle his bomb aboard the aircraft by strapping a condom filled with the high explosive PETN to the inside of his leg and then attempting to detonate it using a syringe filled with a liquid chemical. The PETN powder caught fire but did not explode.
Investigators are worried that AQAP has developed what is effectively an "undetectable bomb" involving PETN that can only be found by using expensive and intrusive full body scanners at airports, with huge implications for airport security.
A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device AbdulMutallab was said to have carried aboard the flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit, Michigan, contained pentaerythritol tetranitrate, an explosive also known as PETN. The amount of explosive was sufficient to blow a hole in the aircraft, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN on Sunday.
U.S. investigators have not determined whether the al Qaeda claim of responsibility was true, but one U.S. counterterrorism official told CNN on Monday that the group might have some involvement.
CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen said that if al Qaeda operatives in Yemen were behind the Christmas plot, that would represent a significant advance for the group.
"Most of the attacks we have seen in the past have been in Yemen or Saudi Arabia, and the (al Qaeda) affiliate there has not been able to do out-of-the-area operation," Bergen said.
A federal security bulletin obtained by CNN said AbdulMutallab claimed the explosive device used Friday "was acquired in Yemen along with instructions as to when it should be used."
Meanwhile, a very influential U.S. Congressman representing New York is advocating that Mutallab be tried under martial law over his attempt on Christmas day to blow up a U.S. airliner.
Congressman, Peter King, a Republican legislator who is also the ranking Republican on the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee said yesterday that Umar Farouk should face a military court instead of civil courts.
King spoke as Nigerian diplomats completed a "consular visit" to the Nigerian terror suspect on Monday in Milan, Michigan, where he is being held in a federal detention centre.
Nigeria's Acting Ambassador to the U.S., Mr. Baba Gana Wakili, confirmed that Nigerian Embassy officials completed their first meeting with Umar Farouk.
However, the Acting Ambassador declined to talk about the legal options of the suspect, except to say the embassy and the Nigerian government "are cooperating with the U.S. investigating authorities at a government to government level, we are in constant touch with the State Department."
Under the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush, the chances of a military trial would have been more likely, but the Obama White House has clearly shifted towards open civil trials, where defendants are allowed the basic rights, unlike a military court where the proceedings are secret and the defendant is deemed a combatant.
According to diplomats, the consular visit is to ensure that the Nigerian suspect is being held under the right conditions and that his rights under the Geneva Convention are not violated.
"There was no suggestion he was about to carry out a terrorist act," the official said.
The official said the father, Umaru AbdulMutallab, came to the embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 19 over the safety of his son.
"He was concerned about his son's safety and whereabouts and wondered if the U.S. government could help," the official said.
The next day, November 20, the U.S. embassy in Abuja sent what is called a "Visas Viper cable" to the State Department detailing the father's concerns, according to an official account by State Department spokesman Ian Kelley.
The information was passed on to the National Counter-Terrorism Center in Washington, which ruled that the information in the cable was "insufficient for this interagency review process to make a determination that this individual's visa should be revoked."
The secretary of state can unilaterally revoke a visa but usually does that for foreign policy and diplomatic, not national security reasons, Kelley said. "This has to be done in consultation with other agencies," Kelley said.
The Christmas Day airline terror alert has brought focus on PETN, a substance till now largely unknown to the public.
The white powder is said to be central to the alleged plot by Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab to bring down a passenger aircraft, carrying 300 passengers, as it prepared to land in Detroit. But just what is PETN?
What does PETN look like?
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate, PETN is a fine white powder that resembles sugar or salt. It does not compress down very well.
Although it is an explosive, it needs to be hammered it or ignited to it go off. And since it is not volatile, it is perfect for a terrorist on a long haul flight.
UK explosives expert, Sidney Alford, explained to CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson: "It wouldn't go off accidentally. If I was carrying a pocketful of just neat powder in my pocket, it blowing up would be the last of my worries."
Sources familiar with the investigation tell CNN that the working assumption is that AbdulMutallab may have had some 80 grammes of PETN. Alford said that this would be enough to blow a hole in an aircraft.
Alford conducted a controlled explosion of a sample of PETN for CNN. Video
Six grams of PETN - less than a tenth of what AbdulMutallab is alleged to have had in his possession - punched a large circular dent into a metal plate twice the thickness of an aircraft fuselage.
Canada is immediately limiting carry-on items for flights to the United States in the aftermath of a failed terror attack on a Northwest Airlines flight.
"Effective immediately, U.S.-bound passengers are not allowed to bring carry-on bags into the cabin of the aircraft, with some exceptions," said a statement from Transport Canada.
According to the agency, carry-ons will be limited to medication or medical devices, small purses, cameras, coats, infant-care items, laptop computers, containers carrying life-sustaining or special-needs items, musical instruments, or diplomatic or consular bags. Crutches, canes and walkers also are permitted.
"These measures are expected to be in place at least for several days," Transport Canada said.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on December 30, 2009 at 7:29pm
Babangida weeps as wife is buried
Even "acolytes" of the Prince & the Art of War by niccolo machiavelli have emotions .
FORMER Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) bowed to emotions last night as his wife for nearly 40 years, Mayram was interred, in their Hill Top Home, Minna, Niger State
Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida (middle), on arrival at the Minna Airport .. on Tues.
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Maryam whose body arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 11 pm yesterday was brought to Minna, Niger state capital in an Air Ambulance, arriving the mansion of the Babangidas in a long motor cade.
The corpse arrived the home at about 11.45 pm accompanied by Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Sani Ndanusa (Sports Minister) and Adamu Aliero, (FCT Minister) on behalf of the Federal Government.
Prayers for the reposed of the soul of Maryam began at 12.45am led by the Chief Imam of Minna, Alhaji Isah Fari.
The crowd surged as the prayers moved in order to catch last glimpse of the former glamorous first lady.
A close confidant of the Babangidas, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kure piloted affairs, assisted by former Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), DG, Brig. Halilu Akilu Dignitaries present at the ceremony included former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Namadi Sambo, (Kaduna), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto) among others.
There were also former military colleagues to Babangida, Gen. John Shagaya, (rtd) former Security operative, Umaru Shinkafi, Captain Nogie Megason, Tayo Amusun, wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs Toyin Saraki, PDP Chieftain, Tony Anenih, former CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and a very large number of National Assembly members, and past and present members of the political class.
Her interment came a day earlier than scheduled because of what a family member explained "in order to curtail an uncontrollable crowd since security operatives might not be able to control the surging crowd if she was buried in the day."
Earlier, it was a heart-rending spectacle yesterday as Gen. Ibrahim Babangida wept profusely on arrival at Minna Airport at 5.45 p.m. in a private aircraft to await the return of the remains of his wife, Maryam, who died in the United States (U.S.) at the weekend.
She passed on last Sunday at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre (UCLA), Los Angeles after a battle with ovarian cancer.
Gen. Babangida returned to receive the body, which will be buried at 11:00 a.m. today beside the family mosque at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna.
The uncontrollable weeping of Nigeria's former military President for eight years forced many people at the airport to burst into tears.
Babangida was received by his son-in-law and Zamfara State Governor Aliyi Shinkafi as well as the General's first son, Mohammed and others.
Also, at the airport were Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra governorship candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo and former governor of Yobe State, Bukar Abba Ibrahim among others.
Babangida, dressed in black caftan, arrived at his residence at 6.10 pm in company of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and others in a 38-seater coaster bus bearing the official seal of the state government.
Meanwhile, the three-day fidau prayers for the repose of the soul of the late former First Lady have been held in Minna.
The two and half hours prayer was performed by the chief iman of Minna Central Mosque, Alhaji Abu Fari who prayed for forgiveness.
The prayer was attended by immediate family members, sympathisers and other dignitaries including former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Aliyu and Shinkafi, and the Minister for Interior, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha. Erstwhile governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure and Alhaji Dettijo Aliyu, a former commissioner for heath in the state and cousin to Gen. Babangida, were also there.
Thousands of Nigerians have continued to troop to the hill-top mansion to register their condolence. They included former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria, former Lagos State military governor, Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki, former governor of Cross River State, Col. Anthony Ukpo, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi.
Others included the Governor of Osun State Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Minister for Works and Housing Tony Anenih.
Gowon noted that the late Maryam was an exceptionally good first lady who dedicated her life especially to the rural women and Nigeria in general.
Gowon said: "It is a very sad occasion for all of us and she will be sorely missed by her husband, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida as well as the children who were left behind.
"We hope that they (children) follow her footsteps and ensure that they maintain the legacy she left behind through life."
Gen. Abubakar remarked: "She has really played her role as the first lady of Nigeria. She brought the Better Life Programme for the rural woman and I believe that through her office the rural woman has been brought to the fore and a lot of things have been done for the rural areas. She has played her role as the First Lady and as set the tone of how first ladies should contribute their own quota in the affairs of the nation."
Oyinlola said: "It is my own person that I have lost; I have been with the family since I was 20 years of age and I pray that the good lord continues to uphold the family."Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau yesterday condoled with Babangida.
In the letter dated December 28, 2009 and addressed to Gen. Babangida, he said: "It is with deep sense of grief that, I, on behalf of the entire Army, commiserate with you and your entire family...
"Her Excellency was a loving mother to all, especially the less privileged in the society throughout her life time. Her passion for the welfare of wives of officers and soldiers when she was the National President of Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association was remarkable and a source of encouragement to all those who attained that post after her. She will surely be missed and remembered by all in the Nigerian Army and the country at large.
"It is my fervent prayer that the Almighty God will grant you and those she left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Once again, please accept our heartfelt condolences."
Also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday, commiserated with the Babangidas, lauding Maryam's "pioneering efforts on the upliftment of women's welfare".
NBA, in a statement by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Gbolahan Gbadamosi, on behalf of the NBA President, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), noted that she was " a pride to African women."
According to the Association: "The sad news of the death of a friend of rural women after succumbing to the terminal ailment came to us as an unkind piece at this period.
"It is on record that her pet project- Better Life for the Rural Woman brought succour to underprivileged women. Her legacy on this score is worthy of emulation.
"We are consoled by the effort she put in the service of humanity and pray that God will give the Babangidas the courage to bear the irreparable loss".
A business mogul and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, has also condoled Babangida.
In a statement yesterday, Arisekola-Alao said: "Every soul shall have a taste of death and Allah will, by his mercy compensate us of our deeds on the day of judgment and those that the Almighty Allah admitted into the garden would have succeeded and Hajia Maryam Babangida will insha Allah be one of them.
" I hereby express my heartfelt condolence to my brother, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria over the death of his wife, Hajia Maryam Babangida. "Please, take consolation from God that our departed wife and mother played her part very well... History will never forget her. May the merciful Allah accept her. Amen."Read more…
