(The blogs of the major character of FEDDIE GIRL, the international adventure/thriller set in Nigerian Federal school.)Umm…yeah, I’m sure it’s no secret anymore that I was born in San Francisco, in August of 1995. That should make me like what…? Yep, 13 years old as of 2008 when I featured in the novel, FEDDIE GIRL.Being from California and all, you all would think that I’m all flashy, bitchy, snooty and bratty, right? Well, you’re right… Okay, no, I used to be like a total bitch before I went to school in Nigeria. I had like a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude which got totally worse when my parents bundled us all to Oklahoma. But that was then — I’m totally mellowed-out and cool now, something I learned from my boarding school experiences (more on that later!).Anyways, back to me. Just so you know what I look like beyond what is visible from my profile pix, I am like 5′4″ tall and weigh about 105 pounds! Okay, I lied, it’s actually more like 105.57 pounds but who cares about what comes after the dot? Lol! So, I totally have like, blue eyes and long wavy brown hair (got me in a lotta trouble too! You’ll see! Lol!)My mom is from Los Angeles, while my dad is from both Goergia, USA and Anambra State, Nigeria. You ask, “Where on earth is that?” Lol! I asked the same question myself last year. But I’ll let you find out by yourself. One hint though — West Africa!!!Okay, so my dad’s a half-breed! Cool, huh? Well that makes me a three-quarter breed, even though you can’t tell by just looking at me. People tell me I look totally like my mom, which is good — I guess! Actually, it’s rockin’!!!So why did I get parceled-off to boarding school in Africa? Well to tell you that, I gotta start at the very beginning. You see, you’ve got to understand a few things about my parents to be able to grasp why they would do a thing like that. Not that I’m blaming them for what they did — I’m just sayin’.So in answer to your question of, ‘Why Nigeria for goddsakes?” I will begin my next post by telling you all about my parents… Lol! It’s such juicy gossip too!Oh, and did I tell you my Dad is tall and handsome and a medical doctor? No? I didn’t? Sorry! My bad.And yes, my mom is an English Professor at a local University in Oklahoma and she’s the type that likes to dot her i’s and cross her t’s. You know, the type of mom that corrects your sentences and makes you repeat them after her! Hahahaha… Now you know why I never wanna have parties at home! Lol!If you’ve stuck with me so far, you may wanna stick around for the upcoming gist!Just watch out… I’ll be revealing the story of my parents next! And soon!!!Lotta luv,CarlottaRead excerpts of the novel at Bernard Books Publishing. Read more blogs at WordPressRead more…
A funny thing happens to me each morning! As travel to my destination, I notice how many people are unhappy! I can tell they are unhappy by their facial expressions, body language and the consistency of what they show meNow I'm not stupid because I am well aware some people show you what they want you to see. But be honest with yourself, "Who would willingly choose to be unhappy every day?" Very few people would choose to be unhappy! So, where does this unhappiness begin? How can people get rid of it?The next time you wake up in the morning I want you to say, "I am go glad to be alive! I love me! I am so happy with my life! This will be a great day!"If you don't say those things, or something similar, you will end up feeling lousy and looking unhappy! Repeat that negative routine and it will become a part of youIt may be difficult to stay positive things but let me ask you a question, "Things could be a lot worse right? You could be homeless, no food, have health problems, etc." But you are still here, still alive, still able to talk, walk and have fun! So, why feel bad about anything?When I look at people I see all the good stuff. I see that each day they make it to work. Each day they wake up. Each day they get to see their children and family one more time.Once you start saying positive things and feeling grateful that you are still alive the next step is to take some action regarding your outlook on life."Where do you see yourself in one, two or three years?" If you have to think about that for a second or don't have an answer you may be someone who is unhappy with their lifeEven if you were able to answer that question, you still may be unhappy because you dream big dreams but do not take massive action to achieve your dreams.Do yourself a favor and look around you at work and while you travel to work. Look at all the unhappy people who wear a facade! Is that what you want for your life? I know I don't!I truly want to help you to get unstuck. So, I've been working really hard on a project over the last six months. It was rough but now it's refined and almost ready! What is this project?It's called the Get Unstuck System. The goal is to take you from your present position and move you toward your goals.Despite what you may have been told or what you believe achieving your goals is not as difficult at you think! Visit the Get Unstuck System and discover how you can finally live the life of your dreams!Like I said earlier, "You can think positive all you want but you must take massive action." It's your life and your choice!
Read more…
Posted by Jane Okinedo on April 12, 2009 at 8:35pm
On Saturday 4th April 2009, a new queen was crowned as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2009.It was festive night in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State after all the pomp and pageantry, one name was announced as the winner Glory Chukwu representing Nasarawa State was chosen as the MBGN 2009. Glory will represent Nigeria in this year’s Miss World competition.Meanwhile Adaeze MBGN 2008 isstill looking as hot as ever !9jabook was at the event and will provide you with all the exclusive photos and event scoop this week.SportsThe Miss World Sports took place on December 5 in Muldersdrift, South Africa.[6]* Winner: Iceland* 1st runner-up: Nigeria Adaeze Chinenye Igwe* 2nd runner-up: Portugal* Top 6 finalists: Greece, Israel, PeruFinal Results ContestantMiss World 2008* Russia - Ksenia Sukhinova1st Runner-up* India - Parvathy Omanakuttan2nd Runner-up* Trinidad & Tobago - Gabrielle WalcottFinalists* Angola - Brigith dos Santos* South Africa - Tansey CoetzeeSemi-finalists* Barbados - Natalie Griffith* Brazil - Tamara Almeida* Croatia - Josipa Kusić* Iceland - Alexandra Ívarsdóttir* Kazakhstan - Alfina Nassyrova* Mexico - Anagabriela Espinoza* Puerto Rico - Ivonne Orsini* Spain - Patricia Rodríguez* Ukraine - Irina Zhuravskaya* Venezuela - Hannelly Quinterohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_2008
Read more…
Forget about hunting for Easter eggs. The president's daughters have a much better treat in store this holiday weekend: a new dog!
After months of anticipation, a 6-month-old Portuguese Water Dog named Bo is now calling the White House home.
First, the name. According to the Washington Post, which published confirmation of the White House dog news Sunday, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, chose the name because their cousins have a cat named Bo and because Mrs. Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley, as in Bo Diddley. The dog is a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy, who owns three dogs of the same breed, known for high spirits and said to be a good fit for kids with allergies (such as Malia). Kennedy had been lobbying the Obamas to get a Portuguese Water Dog (or PWD) for months.
Top Secret Meeting
The newspaper reports that the Obama girls are delighted – they've been waiting anxiously since their dad promised them a dog during his presidential campaign – and that the family, first-time dog owners, are still deciding where Bo will sleep and who will walk and feed him. Under a veil of secrecy, the Post reports, Bo actually made a trip to the White House earlier to meet the family. "The Meeting," as it was called by staffers, was a success.
But the highly-orchestrated canine delivery procedure didn't go without a few hitches.
First, news began to circulate that a Portuguese Water Dog by the name of Charlie had been selected for the First Family after a Web site called firstdogcharlie.com posted the information, and a photo, Saturday. The White House called the photo "bogus" and told news organizations (including PEOPLE) that the First Dog would make its debut Tuesday – although Bo, it is now apparent, was already at the White House over the weekend.
Dogged by Questions
Then there are the questions about the dog's origins that are sure to bedevil the Administration. The Obamas originally discussed rescuing a dog from a shelter. But valuable and highly-bred PWDs rarely show up at shelters. Bo is said to have lived with a family that decided not to keep him, but that won't likely satisfy animal rescue advocates who wanted the Obamas to take in a stray.
To help ease disappointment, according to the Washington Post, the family will make a donation to the District of Columbia Humane Society.
Read more…
Story Highlights
Saudi judge stands by decision, refuses to annul marriage of girl, 8
Girl's father arranged her marriage to a 47-year-old to settle debts, lawyer says
Appeals court declined to certify original ruling, sent case back to judge
Girl's mother says she will continue to seek daughter's divorce
By Mohammed Jamjoom
CNN
(CNN) -- A Saudi mother is expected to appeal a judge's ruling after he once again refused to let her 8-year-old daughter divorce a 47-year-old man, a relative said.
Sheikh Habib Al-Habib made the ruling Saturday in the Saudi city of Onaiza. Late last year, he rejected a petition to annul the marriage.
The case, which has drawn criticism from local and international rights groups, came to light in December when Al-Habib declined to annul the marriage on a legal technicality. His dismissal of the mother's petition sparked outrage and made headlines around the world.
The judge said the mother, who is separated from the girl's father, was not the legal guardian and therefore could not represent her daughter, the mother's lawyer, Abdullah al-Jutaili, said at the time.
The girl's husband pledged not to consummate the marriage until the girl reaches puberty, according to al-Jutaili, who added that the girl's father arranged the marriage to settle his debts with the man, who is considered "a close friend."
In March, an appeals court in the Saudi capital of Riyadh declined to certify the original ruling, in essence rejecting al-Habib's verdict, and sent the case back to al-Habib for reconsideration.
Under the Saudi legal process, the appeals court ruling meant that the marriage was still in effect, but that a challenge to the marriage was still ongoing.
The relative, who said the girl's mother will continue to pursue a divorce, told CNN the judge "stuck by his earlier verdict and insisted that the girl could petition the court for a divorce once she reached puberty."
The appeals court in Riyadh will take up the case again and a hearing is scheduled for next month, according to the relative.
Child marriages have made news in Saudi Arabia in the past year.
In a statement issued shortly after the original verdict, the Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia said the judge's decision went against children's "basic rights."
Marrying children makes them "lose their sense of security and safety," the group said. "Also, it destroys their feeling of being loved and nurtured. It causes them a lifetime of psychological problems and severe depression."
Zuhair al-Harithi, a spokesman for the Saudi Human Rights Commission, a government-run group, told CNN that his organization was fighting child marriages.
"Child marriages violate international agreements that have been signed by Saudi Arabia and should not be allowed," al-Harithi said.
Child marriage is not unusual, said Christoph Wilcke, a Saudi Arabian researcher for the international group Human Rights Watch, after the initial verdict.
"We've been hearing about these types of cases once every four or five months because the Saudi public is now able to express this kind of anger, especially so when girls are traded off to older men," Wilcke told CNN.
Read more…
My name is Carlotta Ikedi, better known as Feddie Girl. I am the major character in the FEDDIE GIRL novel by Nona David.I was born and bred in San Francisco, California, USA, where I spent the first twelve years of my life. Right after my twelfth birthday, my parents thought it would be a good idea to relocate to Owasso, Oklohoma. Dumb, right? I thought so too. Anyways, I spent several months in Oklahoma–and hating every minute of it–before I was shipped-off to boarding school in Nigeria“Why Nigeria?” you ask? Well, that story will be for another day! Lol!This blog site is about me and my readers. Basically, this is where you can interact and learn more about me. I will also be featuring short stories about my experiences and adventures in a Nigerian boarding school. Lol!To learn more about the FEDDIE GIRL novel, visit my publishers site.You can also join my fan page on Facebook!Hope you’re ready to rock with me. Okay, let’s have fun!Lotta luv,Carlotta
Read more…
A build of Windows 7 which possibly be the official release candidate (RC) for Windows 7 has been leaked to Internet, although currently available for 32-bit (x86) edition only. Word is that Windows 7 build 7105 will be released as the Windows 7 RC, which is not just the escrow, but the final RC build. And there is high chance that Windows 7 Build 7077 will be rebrand and re-tag as Windows 7 Build 7105 to release as the release candidate for marketing purpose.Apparently, the version or build number of some components of Windows 7 Build 7077 has been appended with win7rc keyword, making the full string of winmain.win7rc.090404-1255. Previously, in build such as 7068, only winmain with major and minor build milestone is attached.Windows 7 Build 7077 has the build number of 7077.0.090404-1255, which means it’s been code dropped on April 4, 2009. If the rumor that Windows 7 build 7077 will be rebranded as 7105 is true, the official Windows 7 Release Candidate will be 7015.0.090404-1255. However, there is rumor that the final RC of Windows 7 will have the file name of 6.1.7105.0.090404-1235_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GB1CULFRER_EN_DVD, with build version 6.1.7105.0.090404-1235, slightly different from the leaked build 7077.Details of 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 Build 7077File Name: 7077.0.090404-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.isoMD5: bdcb388daffad32d6264144c05b29700SHA1: 6b4d676257c57607b951a101c7b2c559cd7a5730CRC32: bfe066d4File Size: 2,530,869,248Download Torrent for Windows 7 Build 7077: 7077.0.090404-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso.torrent (mininova mirror)Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC1) is expected to be officially released to public in May 2009.
Read more…
Sitting in the dark tonightAlone in my corner of the worldI can't see the lightI want to be your girlOr do I? I don't know...I really have no clueI feel like I have no where to goBecause I'm so in love with youMiles separate usAnd so I thought I didn't have to yearnI thought I could escape the lustGod, I have so much to learnI've been living a lieI wish I was yours, stillI pretended I haven't wished that, by and byBut in my heart I know I always willI can't come out and tellHow I dream about you every nightMy life seems like a living hellBecause without you it isn't rightI want to just call you mineAnd let you hold me closeBut I've got to give this timeI want your love the mostYou seem so angry sometimesAnd I wish I could kiss it awayBut to my morals that would be a crimeYet I wish it every dayIt seems like you are so distantI want to tell you how I feelBut it's impossible, I can'tYou wouldn't take me for realSo I sit here in the darkQuiet but screaming insideOn my heart you've left your markMy heart backs down to my prideSomeday I'll let you knowThat I hold this secret withinBut now I'll let our friendship growThen with that we can beginTonight I'll simply dreamThat you are mine to beI'll smile at us as a teamThen wake to realityWhere nothing is going wellWhere I'm lonely without youI caught you when you fellNow I fall... what do you do?E-mail this Poem
Read more…
Why is it I feel like I do?Why is it every spare moment i haveis filled with the thought of looking in your eyes?Only someone who has felt what i feel for you,Only someone who has spent moments in time with you,Captivated by who you are, in awe of your spirit as I am,Only they could possibly know how and why i feel as I do.I know in my heart no other person has ever had just a fractionof the love,respect and longing i feel for you,So i tell you now,There is no other who could answer such questions,There is no other who could feel as I do.You came in to my life when i was lost,Wandering the web, evenings out,Searching for something I craved for,But couldn't quite understand.You suddenly filled my life with colour,with light,With new and incredible feelings of warmth, calmand such unsurpassed electric sexual chemistry.We are both travellers on this forbidden road,Journeying together,crossing each hurdle as wecome across them, savouring each moment.I now that long ago we promised ourselves to others,That we will never be more than we are now,Spending brief but so wonderful stolen moments floatingon our cloud.Our love is forbidden,so wrong to others,Yet makes our lives complete and whole.I know you have a very lucky man,He has you and I hope you will alwaysbe loved as you deserve.You have so much and I promise you,It will always be safe,It will never be anything but secure,Our love remaining as it must,Secret,hidden within our hearts.But I hear myself say,They are lucky, so very lucky.Promise me this,when such a day comes whereour hearts must part,Once the tears have dried andyour spirit 'so' once more,You will sit back,close your eyes,touch your heartand know that although we are no longer together,I am always there, so very close,That you need only dream for a a momentto loose yourself in all the wonderful, magicaland lasting memories we have made together.I love you so much Her,Why do i feel this way?I now know why,Because ive totally lost my heart to youand whatever happens in the future,I know you will always carry a part of me with you.
Read more…
my pale face is getting olderwrinkles hugging my chocolate brown eyesi close them so i can see youmy heart crying out for you wondering whymidnight sky and prayers to my Godwhom i adore and believe allowed me to seethat i was hidden until i met youmy authentic self sleeping deep inside of meawakening by your friendship which for me turned into deep loveyet to you this was only evil and i was to be made extinct no longer able to give you my hugsthis longing for you my beloved remainsalthough i am dating and open to new lovebut it is you who i want to share my life withthe only way to do so is by sharing the stars abovei like white light in the distancefire balls those stars are you seeand they are far away so we cannot hurt themand they allow for our eyes to seegentleness and shimmering water by the lakegreen lake where i spent time with you my lovei sure wish you would have chosen to be with mefor now under the stars has to be enough
Read more…
The days are niceThe sun shines brightBut there is no light without youFlowers bloomLeaves grow on treesBut there is no color without youBirds singRivers runBut there is no sound without youPeople laughChildren playBut all is sad without youTime goes onDay turns to nightBut life stands still without youPeople meetHopes expressedBut there are no feelings without youAdventures livedExperience gainedBut there is no meaning without youWork is doneTime's put inBut there is no value without youPrayers are saidGod is beggedBut still I am without youWhen all is saidThis life I dreadEvery day without you
Read more…
For the first time in a long time,I felt so happy, so rejoicedYou came to me when I was in dire need of a shoulder.You showed me there was hope after tragedy.You became my bestfriend.The times we laughed and the times we sharedWere priceless beyond anything I could imagineWe never knew the meaning of uncertainty and difficultyI showed you what it was like to be a fool, a good foolAnd in return, you taught me new ways of lifeThe more we connected, the more we grew as people, friends and partnersYou made me feel like I could trust and love againWords uttered out of your mouth that made me feel safe and wanted"Love is not a strong enough word to describe how I feel. I adore you really"I was caught.My problems were yours as yours were mineBlooming into something so deep, something so specialWe were blinded by nothing but each otherThe hours turned to days and days turned to monthsPromises were never broken and feelings seem to flourishThis was real. So I thought...Just as everything was going so wellThe distance began to win our battle of being togetherDrifting apart, we dedicated ourselves to making this workWe tried and tried. And just as everything was returning to they way they wereLove, devotion, and adorementYou vanished into thin air as if you were just a dreamTo this day, my mind wonders how could something so strong be defeated so easilyNo words could express the confusion, the doubt, the feeling of foolishnessThat runs through me as time goes by with an answer of Why?The last question left unanswered:Were you real or were you just one of my needs?That is something that needs to be answeredOne day, one lifetimeVery soonI promise!
Read more…
Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people werereluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic . They dreaded theAwful storms that raged across the Atlantic ,Wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he receivedA steady stream of refusals.Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approachedthe farmer. 'Are you a good farm hand?' the farmer asked him.'Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,' answered the little man.Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help,Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy fromdawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushednext door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook thelittle man and yelled, 'Get up! A storm is coming!Tie things down before they blow away!'The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, 'Nosir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.'Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him onthe spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks hadbeen covered with tarpaulins.The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what hishired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep whileThe wind blew.When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when theWind blows through your life?The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because heHad secured the farm against the storm.We secure ourselves against the storms of life byGrounding ourselves in the Word of God.We don't need to understand, we just need to holdHis hand to have peace in the middle of storms.Someone dear to me sent this to me today,And I enjoyed it so much, that I wanted to you.I hope you enjoy your day and you sleep well.May God bless you!Thank You
Read more…
MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.The House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote — the minimum needed — to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto. Its vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa in giving gays the right to marry. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.Tuesday morning's legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of gay and lesbian couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states' laws.House Speaker Shap Smith's announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker's admonishment against such displays.Among the celebrants in the lobby were former Rep. Robert Dostis, D-Waterbury, and his longtime partner, Chuck Kletecka. Dostis recalled efforts to expand gay rights dating to an anti-discrimination law passed in 1992."It's been a very long battle. It's been almost 20 years to get to this point," Dostis said. "I think finally, most people in Vermont understand that we're a couple like any other couple. We're as good and as bad as any other group of people. And now I think we have a chance to prove ourselves here on forward that we're good members of our community."Dostis said he and Kletecka will celebrate their 25th year together in September."Is that a proposal?" Kletecka asked."Yeah," Dostis replied. "Twenty-five years together, I think it's time we finally got married."Craig Bensen, a gay marriage opponent who had lobbied unsuccessfully for a nonbinding referendum on the question, said he was disappointed but believed gay marriage opponents were outspent by supporters by a 20-1 margin."The other side had a highly funded, extremely well-oiled machine with all the political leadership except the governor pushing to make this happen," he said. "The fact that it came down to this tight a vote is really astounding."Also in the crowd was Michael Feiner, a farmer from Roxbury and gay marriage supporter, who took a break from collecting sap for maple syrup-making to come to the Statehouse."I'm taking a break to come and basically make sure that I was here to witness history," he said.The House had initially passed the bill last week with a 95-52 vote.
ABUJA - The embattled National Coordinator of Police Equipment Foundation (PEF) Kenny Martins has again come under the searchlight of the Police authorities as he has been declared wanted over his involvement in a case of $97.5Million scandal involving a US based Security Company [Calvary Security Group].Also wanted by the police is the Managing Director of National Deposit Insurance Cooperation [NDIC] Mr. Ganiyu Ogunleye who was later arrested by the Police over his involvement in the controversial waiver of a N500m on the sale of Karu International Market in Nasarawa State .Police in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu at the weekend said the declaration of Kenny Martins is “Sequel to the request by Inspector General of Police to the Senior Magistrate Court , Wuse Abuja, which consequently granted the application that necessitated declaring Chief Kenny Martins wanted”.Chief Martins, however, will be recalled, is the National Coordinator of Police Equipment Foundation the position that he has been using to defraud unsuspecting corporate organizations and individuals in the name of the organization.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently had directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest Chief Martins over an alleged fraud of $97.5m involving Calvary Security Group based in US.The Police also appealed to the public, corporate organizations and individuals who have useful information leading to the arrest of Chief Kenny Martins to report to the nearest police station or its Special Fraud Unit.According to Police, the arrest and detention of NDIC MD Ganiyu Ogunleye was sequel to a follow-up to Senate Public hearing in January this year on distressed Fortune Bank.The MD was involved in a controversial waiver of N500Million over the sale of Karu International Market by Nasarawa State Government.The Police further said it is poised at investigating the role, circumstances and the level of involvement of NDIC and any other Agency, group or persons in the controversial waiver.
Read more…
ABUJA-The House of Representatives weekend condemned the murder of a Nigerian Evelyn Uche by her Belgian husband Wim Vanacker.It however called on the Belgian police to commence immediate investigation into the matter.A statement issued by Chairman House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri stated “ The attention of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora has been drawn to the recent murder of a Nigerian woman, Evelyn Uche Amarin by her Belgian husband Mr. Wim Vanacker in their Berendene home, Belguim on Monday, 2 March, 2009 by strangling her to death with his bare hands, in a most inhuman, callous and brutish manner”,.While expressing grief over” the untimely death of this mother of the Committee condemns in unequivocal terms the killing of this woman, and several acts of indignity against Nigerians by some foreigners in their host countries and noted with dismay the prevalence of domestic violence against women by men”. Dabiri in the news bulletin called on international organisations and well- meaning citizens of the world to rise up in one voice against the rampant abuse of human rights, especially the rights of women by their male counterparts as a demonstration of solidarity and in compliance with all known laws against human and women rights across the globe.However, the Committee urged all Nigerians in diaspora to live responsibly wherever they may reside, imploring the Nigerian Foreign Missions, international community and law enforcement agencies to frontally wage war against all forms of human right abuse against other citizens of the world, irrespective of colour, creed or race.Source : Nigerian observer
Read more…
ABUJA-The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has paraded 20 men arrested in connection with trafficking in persons.It said it would hand over the suspects to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.Mr Ekpedeme King, Public Relations Officer of the NIS, told journalists at a news conference that the suspects plied their illegal trade from Nigeria to Niger Republic and across the desert to Europe.He said that NIS officers in Kano arrested the suspects who are Nigerians and Cameroonians between Friday, March 27 and Sunday, March 29.According to him, the syndicate consists of transporters and drivers from Edo State to persons who act as agents of human traffickers at two principal motor parks in Kano, the Unguwa Uku and Kofar Ruwa Motor Parks.“The victims, usually from the southern part of the country and Cameroon, are transported through two principal transport companies.“The victims are transported to Kano along with regular passengers and often disembark at Kwanar Dangora or at designated points before the Unguwa Uku Motor Park“The principal link of the traffickers at Unguwa Uku, one Nasiru Mai Nasara, popularly known as ``Smally’’, is the agent of the ring master, one Alhaji Marwa, a Nigerien,’’ King said.He said that the 22-year old “Smally’’, who is the principal collector of victims from the transport companies, charged N2,250 per victim.“Friday Agazuma, a 40-year-old Nigerian, is a driver in one of the companies used to transport victims from Edo to Kano State.“Agazuma confessed that on one occasion, Alhaji Marwa paid him N12,000 for delivering three victims.Source: nigerian Observer
Read more…
Monday, April 6, 2009•Photo: pls see Sun News Publishing also on above date.Looking at him, all seems well. He is handsome, tender and perfectly weighted. But this four-month old yet-to-be-christened baby is living with a split images. He is straddling between the two sexes and has ended up neither a boy nor a girl. No, he’s not a victim of one of those inexplicable cruelties of nature.His mother had allegedly sliced off his external genital shortly after birth, leaving bemused sympathizers wondering whether what used to be there was a male or female organ.His scrotum, testes and penis were carefully scrapped off leaving a bare surface with sore, covered in a pool of clotted blood. He wriggles in wide and unimaginable pains, as his two legs were permanently placed wide apart.But for medical doctors who later described him as a boy, it would have been hard figuring out his true sex. Doctors had explained that since his urine runs in the upward direction when he urinates, it’s only logical to believe he is a boy.He laid helplessly on one of the beds at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja. Life couldn’t have been more gruesome.The tragic story started from Kogi State where his mother, simply identified as Eleh is said to be a known lunatic. The Igala-born mother who seems to be in her late teens is said to have been delivered of two pregnancies some years back by some unidentified persons.With her lipstick-red glossy lips and her equally pierced nose decorated with a stud, Eleh could hardly pass for a mentally deranged woman. The only thing that gave her away as being emotionally unstable is her bout of unprovoked momentary laughter and the fact that she is overly aggressive.She had been taken off the streets by her relatives when it was noticed that she was pregnant for the third time for yet an identified man. The burden of taking care of her soon overwhelmed them and she was allowed back into the streets where she had her baby.But one day in March, the residents of Adankolo area of Kogi State woke up to the persistent cries of a baby in an uncompleted story building. Not able to bear it any longer, the curious tenants decided to find out what was going on. What they saw numbed and shocked many. A young mother was trying to breast feed a baby who has had his genital organ totally cut off and in a pool of his own blood. Because the young girl is known in the area as deranged and many had seen her pregnant, the social welfare people were quickly alerted and they took charge.But this was short-lived as Eleh soon escaped with the infant from the hospital they were being taken care of. It was on her way to Abuja that she was apprehended by the authorities.But the question is who has performed this crude surgery on the innocent baby? The suspicion raised by some members of the public is as a result of the neatness of the procedure. Could it have been done by someone suffering from mental illness or a ritualist? Why did Eleh decide to run with her child from Kogi to Abuja? How did she get the transport money to have embarked on the trip? These are all questions that are still waiting for answers while she is being rehabilitated in a social welfare facility in Abuja.“The difficulty in trying to cross-exam a supposedly mentally challenged woman can be daunting”, laments a police detective who does not want to be named.“Eleh does not reply to questions and stares at you with a mean mien that is very scary,” says a counselor in the Social Welfare Service department in Abuja after she was transferred there by the FCT police command after a fruitless investigation to ascertain whether she is actually the culprit.“She had at a time said she, Eleh, knew that her child was a girl. Though her statements are incoherent, she would not answer you if you ask her any questions, but could suddenly reply you if you are talking to another person,” the counsellor explains.According to Dr. Tayo Daramola, a psychologist at the Wuse General Hospital, “the statement proves that she could have envisaged the baby as a girl and thought that the genitals were a distraction.”So pathetic is the case that the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Kogi State, Mrs. Ruth Iyaji, is keeping a close watch on the matter.The baby is at present being “protected” in an undisclosed orphanage in the FCT.The Chairman of Wuse General Hospital Board, Dr. Gbenga Bello, told Daily Sun that, the little boy is responding to treatment and is doing well. “But one thing is for sure, there can be no replacement to the genitals that have been taken from him,” he said matter-of-factly.
Read more…
