FRAUD is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. It is a crime and is also a civil law violation.
Many fraud cases involve complicated financial transactions conducted mostly by business professionals with specialised knowledge and criminal intent.
Fraud can be committed through many methods, including mail, wire, phone, and the internet. Many scams use telephone calls to convince the victim that the person on the other end of the deal is a real, truthful person.
Many Nigerians have fallen victim of fraud one time or the other. Perhaps the version of the story differs from one victim to the other. The strange thing is that the victims are being defrauded by fellow Nigerians who take the advantage of the respect people have for their kith and kins living in foreign countries.
In the past, the trend was that Nigerians living abroad would send money for a specific project back home. Such people had been swindled many times. They were taught hard lessons, but they became wiser. They now know the “safe hands” to put their money in for any investments back home.
Sometime ago, a man was reported to be sending money home to his brother, who diverted the money, meant for a building construction for personal gain. Pictures of the ‘progress’ made on the work were continuously sent to the trusting fellow abroad until the lid was blown open. He was duped by his own brother!
However, with Nigerians abroad now exercising caution in their dealings with those they are supposed to trust, even relatives, those at home are being duped by people living in their present surroundings, but who claim to be relatives living in faraway countries.
According to a source, a middle-aged man recounted how he woke up on a fateful day to a call from abroad. The caller, using an international number, told him that his son, who was living abroad, had longed to speak with him.
“Your son (names withheld) had been trying your number before he left for office. Since he could not reach you on phone, he asked me to deliver his message,” the man quoted the caller to have said.
Asked how the caller got the details about his son, the man said, “the caller did not mention my son’s name. I gave him the details – his name, country and everything. I was so curious; has anything happened to my son?”
And the message: The son wanted the father to help him acquire a property in a choice area. A friend was arranged to take the man to see the property. The parent was careless. He did not call the son to confirm the development. He took the bait. The next day, he parted with about N500,000 (he was rich and he would do anything for his son) to acquire the so-called property.
On how he got to know he had been duped, the man said his son called later in the day. “I was expecting him to ask me about the latest development, but he did not say anything. I told him all that had happened, but my son said he had no knowledge of it,” the man said.
He decided to check on the ‘property’ the next day, but the number with which he was contacted was no more available.
Another reported case of such fraud involved a man who believed he was being contacted by a neighbour who had relocated abroad. The caller told him that he decided to partner with him based on his record of honesty and transparency and he would also transact a business on his behalf.
The neighbour was so eloquent that the victim did not suspect any foul play. The ‘neighbour’ had left a message also that the man should contact his business associates who had just arrived in Nigeria. The offer was juicy. The man was ready to parter with his former neighbour, but he was entering into a trap. He got involved in the deal. He filled forms and made bookings for the ‘products.’
For certain ‘goods’ the man was to deliver for his ‘neighbour,’ he was to part with about N2 million and pay a non-refundable fee of N150,000 to register for the business. But before the deal could be concluded, he got a call from the real neighbour, who told him to ‘play along’ so the syndicate could be arrested. However, the fraudsters could read the writing on the wall and so they quickly backed out, but not until their victim had parted with about N200,000.
With the latest Internet communication, fraudsters have updated their skills. Pictures of relatives and friends abroad are usually manipulated to perform their dastardly act. Chatting fora like Facebook and others also make their work much easier.
For men who love ‘anything in skirt,’ pictures of beautiful girls are being used to get at them. ‘The girls’ surf the net for addresses of men and then send them mails expressing an interest to begin a relationship with them.
How do the fraudsters get people’s phone numbers? How do they get accurate information about their victims before initiating any communication. Are ‘insiders’ (relatives or other people close to the victim) involved in their work? Like it was stated earlier in this writing, the fraudsters are mostly business professionals with specialised knowledge.
A Nigerian living in London, Kunmi, said the trend was not a new thing.“I have alerted everyone closer to me. I have means of communicating with them and if the need be for anyone to take action on my behalf, they will get across to me first. I don’t know what the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is doing to check the situation,” he said.
Another Nigerian living in the Netherlands said it was the crave for quick wealth that made Nigerians to fall victim of such tricks.
When asked whether any of his relatives in Nigeria had fallen victim of such, he was quick to answer in the affirmative. He said he had warned members of his family to cross-check with him, any information supposedly coming from him before acting on it.
As copied from the Western Austrialia Ministry of Fair Trade’s e-zine Fair Bytes, here is a story of a fraud: “When I received an unsolicited e-mail from a son of a prominent Nigerian, asking for my assistance in retrieving $500 million for a 25 per cent reward, excitement raced through me. I requested more information. A second e-mail provided me with a Nigerian phone number. A purported Nigerian attorney told me that I would receive 20 installments of $25 million deposited into my bank account bi-weekly. All I needed to do was pay $25,000 in expenses and up-front fees.”
According to him, he believed he would soon be on the list of the richest people in the world! All he had to do was send money to these contacts, allowing them to pay for hotels, airfares, gifts, and processing fees.
For the $1,200 sent, he received a faxed copy of a Certificate of Ownership to $25 million. All faxes proudly displayed official signatures, stamps and seals.
A deposit of $32 million within 72 hours into his bank account would take place after he paid a membership fee of $75,000 to join the "Secret Bank." He could have an immediate release of up to $1 million within 24 hours after he had paid the fee and filed the application.
According to the victim, “I asked them to take a cheque, telling them that it will mature in 10 days, but they insisted they preferred cash. So, I travelled to meet them in London.
“There, they communicated by cell phones, and never provided a physical address for contact. We met in my hotel’s bar. They showed me 10 stacks of $100 bills. Each bill had a smudge on its face that I was told would prevent detection by a scanning device as it passed through customs. This money, plus two million more that was waiting in a security company's vault, would be mine within 24 hours if I would buy the special chemical needed to remove the smudges and pay the release fee for the other two million dollars.
“I asked to cut open one of the plastic-wrapped stacks of money so I could fan through it. I believed I saw 10 stacks of copy paper with a $100 bill topping each stack. They did not allow me a hands-on inspection!
“As I stalled for time, trying to find a suitable end to my investigation, a cellphone rang. The conversation was not for my ears, but due to the loud, panicky voice of the caller, I could not miss her words: ‘Where’s my money!”
This was the voice of a woman who was recently duped and was threatening to have her money back from the contacts, and as such, the man knew it was a game and he sought ways of escape for himself.
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The next time you get calls from abroad supposedly from families and friends, be sure you are talking with the right person, otherwise, you might be on the way to getting duped.
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on September 11, 2009 at 2:04am
t is not news that Taraba State, located in the North-eastern part of the country, is not connected to the national grid. Neither is it news that power supply in the isolated state, particularly in the capital Jalingo, is nothing to write home about, due largely to the absence of a Transmission Station.The fact, however, remains that Taraba state which is sandwiched between Adamawa to the north and Benue state to the south, derives its power supply from Yola [Adamawa] and Yandev [Benue ].While Jalingo, the state capital, and other parts of the northern zone of the state are fed from the electric feeder in Yola, the Southern part derives power supply from Yandev in Gboko local government area of Benue state.Consequently residents of the state, particularly those in Jalingo, are consigned to darkness occasioned by epileptic power supply, for both domestic and commercial purposes.The Business Manager of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria [PHCN] in Taraba, Amadi Uche, attests to the poor power supply in the north-east state. “Power supply in Taraba state is not good”, Uche said, attributing the situation to the absence of a Transmission Station in the state.Now the cheering news. The ongoing Transmission Station located at Mile Six in Jalingo, would be commissioned before the end of December this year. This assurance was given by the Minister of State for Power, who inspected the project during a recent visit to Taraba.Ironically, not many residents of Taraba state consider this as cheering news. Of course the poor power supply situation in Taraba State has never been without its beneficiaries. Like its twin problem of perennial water scarcity which has given a boost to water vendors, the scarcity of electricity in Taraba has equally served as veritable source of income to Generator sellers.To this category of businessmen the commissioning of the ongoing Transmission Station in Jalingo before the end of December, as promised by the Honourable Minister would be counter productive, as it would certainly throw them out of business.There is no household in Jalingo or small scale business outfit, that does not have a standby generator, due to the poor power supply from PHCN, an acronym which now translates into the wisecrack: Problem Has Changed Name.Little wonder that apart from assuming a pride of place among residents of the state, generators have become one of the most sought after commodities in Taraba, especially in Jalingo. This explains why every household or business premises in the state capital, has created a space at a corner where standby generators, otherwise known as I pass my neighbour’, are kept.Emmanuel Mbakwe of Emmabec Electronics located along Palace way, Jalingo, is one of those who sell generators in Jalingo. For over ten years Mbakwe has been in the business, and he is not in a hurry to quit. “I have recorded high sales and profit margins from generators, for the past ten years of my being into the business in Jalingo”, he said.This, Mbakwe attributes to the abysmally low level of electricity supply to the state. “Even with the current economic meltdown, the sale of generators in Taraba has not dropped significantly”, says Mbakwe who also deals in electronics.Like Mbakwe not a few other generator sellers in Jalingo who spoke with this reporter, expressed their readiness to remain in the business due to its high patronage in the state. To them therefore the proposed commissioning of the Transmission Station in Jalingo before the end of the year, as promised by the Minister of State for Power, is bad news for their business.Interestingly, a new dimension has been introduced into marriage by the locals in Taraba state to the advantage of generator sellers. Standby generators are now included in local marriages as part of the dowry. What this means is that every family which can afford to buy a set of generator includes it among the items the bride takes to her husbands house.Why is it so? Mallam Gidado Abubakar, a resident of Jalingo, explained that it was one of the changes that traditional marriages have undergone in the state over the years. “It is a common practice in traditional marriages in this part of the country, that when one is giving out his daughter in marriage certain items are required as dowry. These include beddings, furniture, cupboard and electronics such as Television and Video sets.Abubakar, who recently gave out his daughter in marriage with a standby generator in conformity with this new custom, said the inclusion of a generator on the dowry list of local marriages in Taraba State was a consequence of the poor power situation in the state.He said: “I gave out my daughter with a standby generator in order for her to be comfortable in her husband’s house. As you are aware the power supply in the state is pathetic. Out of the 24 hours in a day, people hardly enjoy power supply from PHCN for two hours.”Alhaji Saidu Ajiya Karim, a senior civil servant in Jalingo, also gave out his daughter in marriage recently, with a standby generator as part of the dowry. According to Ajiya who is the permanent secretary in the ministry of Agriculture, generators have become an essential part of dowry in Taraba state.“In Nigeria, and Taraba state in particular, we have the enduring problem of power supply, hence the need for this new practice in Taraba State . For this reason as well as the sake of keeping abreast with the new world information order, the inclusion of generators as part of dowry, has become essential for local marriages in Taraba state”, he explained.The size of the generator presented as part of dowry and its capacity ,depends on the financial status of the family giving out their daughter in marriage. This ranges from the smallest size of Tiger-950 which goes for N12, 000 to the Sumec fireman brand which costs between N90, 000 to N95, 000.The new practice of presenting generators as part of dowry has also encouraged marriages among the youths of Taraba, especially those in Jalingo. Although not every family can afford to buy one for their daughter ,many youths are taking advantage of this practice to own a free standby generator from their prospective in-laws.Tukur Ado [not real names], a Jalingo based applicant who spoke with this reporter said: “I am planning to get married to a lady from a well to do family, so that my wife can bring such items as electronics, furniture, as well as a big standby generator.”But there is a caveat for those who are already beneficiaries of this free standby generator in Taraba: if the marriage hits the rocks, all the items provided are forfeited by the husband, including the standby generator.
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281x211.jpgDome Project’ reportedly featured elaborate sets, including a ‘Thriller’-like cemetery.In addition to overseeing the over-the-top, effects-heavy stage show for his comeback shows at the O2 Arena in London, Michael Jackson completed a mysterious video production known as the “Dome Project” two weeks before his death on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.The production could be the last video piece from the singer known for creating some of the most acclaimed, elaborate music videos in history. While details on the project are hard to come by due to confidentiality agreements signed by those who worked on it, two unnamed sources with knowledge of its existence spoke to the AP.According to these sources, the five-week project was housed at Culver Studios in Los Angeles — the same set used for “Gone With the Wind” production 70 years ago. Jackson was said to be on set for most of the days it was shot, from June 1-9. Four sets were constructed for the video, including a cemetery similar to the one from the singer’s famous 1983 “Thriller” video. Other sets included one draped in black with an oversized portrait of Jackson in his “Thriller” werewolf costume, a simulated lush jungle and a fake construction site.The project is now in post-production and is slated for completion next month. Michael Roth, a spokesperson for concert promoter AEG Live, told the AP that he had not heard about the “Dome” shoot, but it could have been part of the company’s contract with the entertainer, which reportedly had provisions for the release of musical recordings and videos. MTV News could not reach Roth for further comment at press time.An anonymous source said a very thin, pale Jackson left a strong impression on the crew during the production, arriving in a caravan of SUVs with “hulking security guards in tow” and introducing himself to workers on the set. The singer was described as having a “spring in his step,” but it was noted that at one point he needed help while walking down a set of stairs on the stage.The shoot reportedly included one scene on the construction site set featuring scantily clad male dancers wearing construction belts.In addition to the “Dome” project, AEG Live is reported to have filmed 100 hours of rehearsals for the London shows, including last Wednesday’s final rehearsal, which wrapped up just hours before Jackson’s death. That footage could be used to create what would be Jackson’s first-ever live CD and DVD.Video of Rehearsals Just Days Before His Death
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Dear All.This is recommended for immediate implementationWhere and/if applicable.Happy weekend.CheerssssssssssssssssssssssHOME INTERNAL MEMOFROM: DADTO: ALL DEPENDANTS AND RELATIVESCC: MOTHERDATE: JUNE, 2009SUBJECT: FINANCIAL MELTDOWN/COST CUTTING MEASURES FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTIONDue to the current economic situation, all domestic rules andregulations have been revised as below and under no circumstance isany violation going to be accepted.1. The Kitchen and all pantries are declared Restricted Zones. Entryand/or passage shall require express permission from me uponsubmission of written request.2. Breakfast is banned. This matter cannot be discussed!3. Such food items as rice, chicken, butter, jam, eggs, bread andmilk are restricted. Anyone intending to eat any of such foodstuffsmust write to me in triplicate, with three days notice, givingjustifications backed by a qualified dietician report as supportivedocumentation.4. Watering with hoses is banned. Further, only food-giving plantsshall be watered. No lawns or flowers shall receive water. Forinternal decoration, only plastic and dry-flower arrangements shall bepermitted.5. Bathing in the morning is limited to 5 litres of water per day perperson while bathing in the evening is banned unless there are medicalreasons.6. All security lights should be removed with immediate effect. Alldependants shall abide by an all-night guard-duty roster I shall makeavailable shortly.7. No dependant shall entertain friends indoors, far less attempt tooffer food, drinks or even music. Those who want their guests tolisten to music shall sing for them.8. No one is allowed to talk to officials from police, Council orCourt Bailiffs; doing so shall carry an instantaneous penalty ofejection from the House.9. Anybody who breaks a glass, furniture or any other property in theHouse, shall immediately have to seek temporary employment somewhereto earn money to replace such broken item(s).10. All visitors intending to spend a night/week or more shall applyin triplicate and give two months notice, with an endorsement fromtheir town Mayor, Village Headman or Church Priest, giving convincingreasons why they can't stay at their homes. Failure to do this shallresult in their being turned away, at the gate, upon arrivalTHESE RULES ARE BINDING AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DISCUSSION WHATSOEVER!!!Signed:DAD (Domestic Affairs Director)
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I think when the world (or even Nigerian federal officials) talk about Nollywood, they are not thinking about the Hausa film industry, a.k.a. Kannywood. Nollywood is simply the Nigerian movie industry WITHOUT its Hausa component. Surprisingly, Nollywood includes the Igbo and Yoruba productions. The question is: why are Hausa movies not included? In my view, it has to do with the fact that federal officials working in the culture sector - Ministry of Information and its parastatals such as the National Film and Videos Censors Board and the Nigerian Film Corporation - hardly remember Kannywood when they are designing policies. Until in recent years, they scarcely included Kannywood stakeholders in their programmes.Of course, things have been changing in recent years. Kannywood stakeholders have been making an in-road into the federal culture sector - participating in film festivals, awards and meetings. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before we get THERE, largely due to the dominance of non-Northerners in the sector and in the mainstream mass media. If you take a look at the entertainment pages of Nigerian newspapers where news and gossip about the Nigerian movie world are told, you will hardly see anything being said about Kannywood. That is, with the exception of northern papers like Leadership, Trust, New Nigerian and Triumph.The senseless attacks on Kannywood operators by officials of the Kano State Censorship Board in the bogus name of sanitising the industry appears to have taken Kannywood back in reckoning. That's the actual target of the censors. But theirs is a futile exercise because only a dimwit will presuppose that a censorship regime can destroy the progress of the new information technologies, of which movies are a significant part.This is more so in a democracy, which has a preset tenure. As the Hausa say, "Zalunci ba ya karewa!"Posted by Bahaushe Mai Ban Haushi! at 14:01
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Now I need y’all to help me out here. I really don’t understand what it is with these actors that make them decide they want to go into music. What exactly is wrong with the world today? Why can’t folks just be content with the amount of talent they have been allocated with in life… why do they want to force themselves into different aspects that they are CLEARLY not supposed to be in? When are you guys gonna get it into your brains that it is not gonna work, except… of course, you are Nkem Owoh or Patience Ozorkwo a.k.a Mama G (yea… I know, I was also shocked when I found out that she too had an album) whose albums were more comical than they were professional- totally understandable for their age. I even heard that they are giving Akanchawa a run for his money in the East.drama to Rap RnB could be better
comedians to highlife musicians doing well !hit song I GO CHOP YOUR DOLLAR Nkem Owoh aka Osuoffia
Mama G iyo gwo gwo
omotolas Dance feat rugged man
Jim iyke feat 2Face&Micheal blakson Who am I
Oh… don’t get me wrong; there are a few good eggs whose venture into music was not a wasted effort. I am talking about the likes of Stella Damasus Nzeribe who has a relatively good voice and a fairly good stage presence… nothing to make you go WOW but something to make you get that warm fuzzy feeling on the inside of you. Oh yea… that’s right! Some of y’all don’t know that she has remarried. Well, just keep logging on and I promise to give you an inside scoop on that gist. And of course there are the wanna bes like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Genevive Nnaji, both extremely gorgeous women with absolutely NO talent in music. All well and good, they are fantastic when it comes to acting but someone needs to tell them not to quit their day job to go into singing. It is a dead end… period!
9JABOOKSHAKARA TODAY Special Focus (JI) aka Jim Ikechukwu Jim Iyke .He can he become the P-diddy of Naijana wa o where was I going to with all this… (Scratch my head ) Ah yes! Reports have reached us that the talented and handsome actor, James Ikechukwu popularly known as Jim Iyke has been as busy as a bee lately. Why…? Well… apparently, he has put finishing touches to his (eyes rolling) album… yea! You heard me right… HIS ALBUM! Now before some of you ladies get all excited about your favorite actor venturing into music, I think it’s only fair that I remind you that others (actors) have tried and come up with nothing… NADA! ZILCH! Folks like Genevieve, Desmond Elliot, Omotola and the rest of them actors who tried… failed. So I wouldn’t be counting my chickens before they hatch if I were you. I mean, I could be wrong but I rarely am. Now the gist is that our boy Iyke has released his musical video which he spent quite a load of cheddar to shoot in South Africa. It is a video he features Two Face and Micheal Blakson the US based Standup comedian from Ghana. It is really amazing how everyone… and by everyone I mean actors, seems to have hopped onto this band wagon hoping to be the next 9ice or D’banj or Asa out of Nollywood. Yea… like that’s gonna happen. Pff! Iyke seems optimistic though and who could blame him?Now the boy is said to have golden fingers… who said it? I haven’t the foggiest but IT has been said on a few occasions. The boy is currently shuttling between the U.S where he is shooting a new home video. Reports call it a movie but we all know that it is actually a home video. You all know the difference right? Home videos are those really awful stories being played by absolutely untalented actors shot with the same kind of cameras folks use at funerals and oh… lets not forget the ridiculous dialogues and stupid soundtracks… (Head shake) (sigh) Sources say that Iyke’s new movie will have a lot of Hollywood stars… (eyes rolling) in it. Pa..leaseeee… they ought to say that the film has plenty oyinbo waka pass. Hollywood stars? Haba! Yea… I’ll believe that when akamu gets sold in Tesco UK and my man Osita aka Jadon the gangster grows 7feet tall and Nepa functions 24/7 non stop.Anyways, asides his successful career in acting and the non-existent but ‘here’s hoping’ one in music, Iyke is doing extraordinarily well for himself; having recently moved from his 3 bedroom apartment in Ikeja to a palatial mansion in lekki area, near Alpha Beach. The former model and proud owner of a car dealership who hails from Enugu state is showing that he has all it takes to be a typical Ibo man… Nna meeeen! All that’s missing are those trousers they all wear that reach their chests.Iyke has been voted one of ‘the most sought after five’ in Nollywood, as a matter of fact, he has occupied the all important A-list of male actors since the last four years. Yet, the process, rather than tire him out, has seen him rejuvenated and even better in the interpretation of his roles…. Now I stole this paragraph word for word from a local newspaper… you’ll forgive me if I don’t believe a word of it.I do have to say that Jim Iyke has fared better than most of his peers, as a matter of fact; he is, to an extent, a better actor that a good number of the male folks in the industry, even though he is fond of scaring the kids when he enlarges those massive eyes of his when he is in character. Between his and Segun Arinze’s, I don’t know who is better (pls your comment ). He has made a fortune from the acting. That’s right, movies have paid off so well that jim has transported himself from that role seeking, broke dude who just dropped in from Jos in the mid 1990s, to the super star he is today who is completely swimming in cash.Now, Iyke place in Lekki is said to have cost the Nollywood star a whopping N50 million; land, building and all. The duplex is also said to have 10 rooms with imported furnishings and marble works from Italy. Oh… and for all of y’all who have that little devil on your shoulder telling you to plan some kain strong thing for the brother, you will be wasting your time. Iyke’s security gadgets are one of a kind. What do you expect? He is Ibo, dem no dey play with dem money o!The house boasts of a swimming pool to impress the ladies, a well stocked bar for all his drunkard friends, a kitchen that ought to be in vogue homes, a private lounge and den and we must not forget to hype the bedroom. Careful ladies… try not to get a crease in your knickers okay? You know what…? on second thoughts, I am gonna skip this part before some of you ladies get any bright ideas.There is no doubt that lyke has it all. His taste in clothes and cars are impeccable. His wardrobe boasts of different brands of designers and I am not talking about the cheap ones. I mean the really big labels. From shirts to shoes to belts to sunglasses… you would think you were in the best fashion house for men in Naija. Not only does the dark handsome actor have an eye for clothes and cars, he is also a huge collector of accessories- bangles, rings, chains, wristwatches… name it. Bros dey rock jewelry pass woman. At least the lucky lady ought not to be scared about her man picking out her engagement and wedding rings but she should be worried that he wouldn’t rock the engagement ring as part of fashion… if you know what I mean.
Iyke is also an auto freak! He buys them, he drives them and he sells them. His garage looks like a freaking car dealership. Folks barge in, see his cars and make him an offer he can’t refuse. He takes it and then gets a better and more expensive model for himself, all for another friend to come pick it up. Ha! Ibo sense. But this is just like his second habitat because this original ibo boy has an auto sales business which his father manages for him.
Specially adapted and rewritten from various sources contact me for more details or if you have more details.
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Nigeria should keep the players aside first and try to solve the problem of politics which has eaten us deep. d major problem lies wit our technical crew and the only good coach nigeria can ever produce for now is SIASIA bcos he is the only person who can handle those players well and put them in the right shape.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota: 11 Nigerians face federal charges for credit card scam
By BOB VON STERNBERG
leven people have been charged in federal court in the Twin Cities with fraud for a counterfeit credit card scam that allegedly netted them more than $650,000.
The defendants were charged last week with using the bogus cards to withdraw the cash from more than 170 automatic teller machines in the metro area.
According to the criminal complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court, the defendants obtained personal information about customers of Capital One Bank from an online source based in the Ukraine.
With the stolen information in hand, the defendants allegedly manufactured the counterfeit cards with that information. They were then able to obtain new personal ID numbers from the bank which allowed them to withdraw $652,205 from the teller machines.
According to the complaint, some of the stolen money was converted into cashier checks and used to purchase vehicle parts or vehicles with salvage titles; the vehicles were then shipped to Nigeria, and sold at inflated prices.
Some of the defendants allegedly recruited Nigerian residents in Minneapolis to buy vehicles at auto auctions, giving them cash to make the purchases.
According to a U.S. Secret Service affidavit, one of the defendants bragged about how he could not "get caught conducting his illegal activity" because he was "very good at covering his tracks."
Charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of access device fraud are Adekunle Kayode Ayeni, 27, Yewande Mariam Sholebo, unknown age, Adewale Alba Alli, unknown age, Olayemi Lateef Banjoko, unknown age, Idowu Ayinla Sadiq, unknown age, Abiodun Banjoko, unknown age, and Oyetoyin Oseni Atobatele, unknown age, all of Fridley; along with Bashiru Adelumola Fowoshere, 36, and Titilayo Abidewi Fowoshere, unknown age, both of Ramsey; Oriyomi Enitan Olowosago, unknown age, Brooklyn Park; and Ajibola Alli Fowoshere, 34, address unknown.
Eight of the 11 were arrested last Friday, when they also made their initial court appearance. Three remain at large.
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A suspected robber has been arrested after he returned to his victim's home to ask her out on a date.
Stephfon Bennett, 20, was one of three men who robbed a couple at gunpoint in Columbus, Ohio.
Daniel Martinez Batista and Diana Martinez were held up outside their apartment block on Saturday night, according to police.
The three robbers fled when a neighbour threatened them. Batista's wallet was stolen, and Martinez's handbag was taken.
Less than two hours after the incident, Bennett returned to the property and asked the woman out.
Columbus police Sergeant Sean Laird said: ‘We are not exactly sure what he was thinking at the time.
‘She recognised him right away when he returned and was able to have her cousin call 911.’
Bennett was arrested in front of the house and now faces aggravated robbery charges.
He is being held in the Franklin County jail on $100,000 bail.
The other two men suspected of breaking into the house remain at large.
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akeem's real name is with held .
I am a 34 year old hapily married man with a fantastic wife and 2 kids.
My wife is the greatest, but last night I got tempted into going to a brothel to see what it's like after many of my friends told me that as long as you wear a condom you wont get hiv .
My firends normally call me woman wrapper and We went out clubbing one night i normally go out with my wife but this time she went for one owambe party/
I ended up going with this nice girl and she gave oral sex (unprotected) and then we had full sex. i was quite drunk too.
However the condom broke, I realised this after about 30 seconds and tried to withdraw but she held me back until ejaculation. She got a new condom, I put it on and then I finished.
She says that she has an AIDS test every 3 months and she has not had a test in 4months and must have had sex with over 60 men including students. But I was not sure until A friend of mine got tested positive recently and he flew out of the country for treatment. Rumours are he has slept with all the girls we had met at the party we went .All from Lasu (Lagos state university.) All the guys in my click have run tio take tests but no one is saying anything !
I am a very sad man, I do not understand why I did it and I WISH I could turn back the clock. I am sorry for myself today. I feel guilty as sin and pray to be forgiven.
What are my chances? I want to tell my wife to protect her but she may leave me and if not probably NEVER forgive and trust me again.
We have sex quite regular (without protection) and will know something is wrong if I don't want sex. I really do love her very much. I will NEVER ever do this again! What do I do?
it has been like 2months since and i am afraid to take a test !
Please help this foolish foolish man.
akeem
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it is not new that Ramsey Noah is a pretty actor that we all want to kiss, I mean ladies now. We bust him getting his kissing game on and we know who? In addition to that kiss, he decides (not sure if he really did) to wear a funny hair – one that helps him look like a geek. Enjoy the stills from The Figurine – Araromi movieHe shoot his last movie, Irapada three years ago and now Kunle Afolayan is gearing up to release another – The Figurine (Araromi) where he spent overN45 million. The Figurine – Araromi tells a story of two friends and a girl who picked up a figurine (called Araromi) from a shrine which bestowed that with seven years of fortune and another seven years of terrible misfortune.The movie was shot in Osun State where the cast stayed at MicCom Golf Hotel & Resort, The First sponsor to identify with the film and director, Kunle Afolayan – Ede, Erin Ijesha, Osogbo, Ada and Iragbiji and different other locations in Osun. Then in Lagos – Ilasa Bridge and other parts of themetropolis.The film has been invited for the London Film Festival and so it is premiering in London in from October 14. After which there are a plans for premiere in Ghana, Kenya,other African countries and the United States of America.The cast has Ramsey Nouah, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Omoni Oboli, Kunle Afolayan, Jide Kosoko, Yomi Fash Lanso, Wale Adebayo (Sango), Chief Muraino Oyelami, a chief in Osun State and an artiste; he is the Eesa of Iragbiji, who played a key role in the film.Read more…
PEP is a NGO Public Emlightment Program body
Story Adapted and rewritten from Sunnews online by Cosy Eko and Akin Osunlaja
Prostitution as family business
We have an interesting situation in a place called Amansea where it is family-based business; where you see a man, his wife and children. The husband is the pimp that collects the money and the customer goes in to sleep with the wife or daughters.
We have some of the situations there, in Amansea where they have daughters, 14, 15 years old who ought to be in school, but they engage in sex work. Now, apart from the Amansea situation, to also explain the reality that all of the girls don’t know about sexuality, how to protect themselves, you see some of them getting pregnant, you see some with pregnancy and when they give birth, they keep the children there with them.
So, you can imagine such children, we have another programme for such children. We call them orphans and vulnerable children, so for such children, we are looking for resources to get them out of those environments and put them in school. You can imagine a child watching, growing in such an environment, what kind of adult will that child be tomorrow in the society? So, if government is talking about holistic development in all its ramifications, then we need to target this segment of the society which nobody is talking about. You hear people talking about people with disabilities, widows, orphans, but what about commercial sex workers? So, we need to engage with them, engage with the brothel owners themselves who also can have other sources of income because it is their own source of livelihood and they will not be very happy to lose it.
Worried by the waste promising young girls have become by engaging in commercial sex work due to lack of jobs and financial bankruptcy, a non-governmental organization (NGO), Public Enlightenment Projects (PEP-Nigeria) has called on governments to put commercial sex workers in their development programmes.
PEP which is presently working in some local governments in Anambra State said over 73 of such sex workers spread across five council areas in the state have indicated interest to quit the job if they are offered alternative jobs to do.
Executive Director of PEP, Mrs. Lilian Ezenwa who spoke to Daily Sun in an interview explained that the intervention job her organisation has been doing for sex workers has revealed that they really need help.
One of such revelations was their stumbling into a family where the father of the house was the pimp that collects money from customers before they go in to sleep with his wife or daughters.
She also gave details of the intervention they were able to carry out and areas where they need help from the government and individuals.
Our organisation
Public Enlightenment Projects (PEP) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1998, but we started working in 2000. We work in areas of HIV/AIDS education, children programme and participation and governance. Our head office is in Owerri, while we have our field office here in Awka. We also have zonal offices in the South-South and North West geo-political zones.
Activities in Anambra
In Anambra, we have been implementing a project called the AIDS Impact Mitigation Project (AIMP). This is a HIV intervention project that focuses directly on commercial sex workers.
What we do is that we go to brothels, we pay advocacy visit to the brothel owners or their managers and the chairladies of the girls themselves. We explain to them about this project on HIV and how we want to be of assistance to them, give them correct information about HIV, how it can be contracted, how they can prevent themselves from contracting it and if any of them is positive, what next to do; that is not the end of life because there are other intervention programmes from which people can get anti-retroviral drugs.
Our findings
Now in Anambra State, we’ve been working in six brothels across some local governments and we have quite some interesting findings. One of it is that most of these girls got to the brothels on a short time measure; either they had pressures, lack of resources, and poverty. Challenges of paying for school fees, continuing education or setting up a trade after learning and somehow, maybe somebody lured them or somebody informed them that oh, come and take up this trade, you will make quick money, good money easily and fast.
But interestingly, from our findings, because we conducted several business surveys with the girls, we asked them questions; how did you get here, everybody tells you their individual stories. From the analysis of the findings we discovered that although it may be easy to move into a brothel, it is not easy to move out.
The brothel system is designed in such a way that when you move in, you don’t move out or you find it difficult to move out. For example, these girls pay their rents on a daily basis; therefore, everyday your first thought is how to raise your rent for the day. And often, most of them are not allowed to cook, they have to buy food from the restaurant in the hotel, they have to put money together for their drugs, they have to put money together for ancillary services, like settling law enforcement agents from harassing them and things like that.
So, you find out that on a daily basis, before they have to make their own money, they must have saved enough to meet these basic services that they get. We also discovered that most of these are young girls in the ages of 18 to 20, 24. Some of them you know came to Awka because they want to go to school, they found out that they don’t get admission somebody promised them. As a half way measure, they tell their parents they are in school, but they are here.
Also, we discovered that if you claim that you are a student and you engage in commercial sex work it increases your economic value. People tend to respect you more, customers have this funny feeling that oh, undergraduates don’t carry HIV or sexually transmitted infections, that they are safe, whereas it’s not the truth
Another interesting finding we had from the field was also the fact that these girls also have dreams and aspirations like most of us. Many of them also want to marry; many of them also want to raise children, good children. If you ask them do they want their children to engage in this work, all of them will say no, they all want better life and a lot of them showed the zeal that if they are assisted, they will leave the trade.
Then another challenge we had was the challenge of information about HIV. Although HIV has been here for a long time and a lot of people know about HIV, we discovered that these girls don’t have the correct information about HIV. Many of them could not differentiate between HIV and AIDS. Many of them cannot even interpret what HIV really is and what AIDS really is, they’ll tell you, oh, they’ve been hearing about it. And you find out that some of their clients go to them, believing that oh, these are professional sex workers, they know about all these issues, they protect themselves very well; whereas in the field, you find out that it is not so.
We also discovered, I think I have said that before that many of them want to leave this trade because it is a very tasking profession, health-wise, emotional-wise, they get abused by the pimps, they get abused by their customers, sometimes, they are raided by the police and their monies are taken away, so it is a dangerous work.
We also asked them a particular question, is there anybody you know who has been in this trade, who went out and has not returned. Quite a lot of them said yes, because they know they also face the risk of even kidnappers or ritual murderers, especially as elections are around the corner. These are girls that if they miss nobody will ask questions, parents don’t know where they are, brothers don’t know where they are, so it is a very risky profession; it’s not the kind of profession that any state that claims to have good plans for its citizens should allow thriving.
Assistance for sex workers
In spite of this, we find out that the short term measures that some of our governments take is not the best, for example, demolition of brothels. Sometimes, you hear that oh, you go to your center where you normally work, the girls have been chased away, the brothel has been demolished, but that doesn’t solve the problem because the girls just go underground and relocate to other brothels.
The answer is not in demolishing of brothels, the answer is in discussing with these girls as human beings who have human rights just as we are doing. Finding out their stories, each of them has a compelling story because they are not the only one that has problems, but how do they get there? And what can be done to get them out if they are interested in moving out.
So, these are the issues that we are raising and we wanted to support 20 per cent of them with equipment grant. Right now, we have 97 per cent signifying interest to leave the sex trade, which means, our equipment grant could not go round. That’s one reason we want to raise additional resources, we want to create awareness about this group. The government has been focusing a lot about women, widows, they are not the only ones who have challenges, these are young girls, they are able-bodied young girls, but because many of them are not well educated, they can’t get good jobs.
Because of also the stigma the society has on them, they can’t come out and tell you to help them. Even for us to work with them, it takes a lot of time for them to build trust on us because initially, they will give you fake names, fake phone numbers because they too are investigating you to know whether we are law enforcement agents, whether we want to arrest them. So, it takes time to build trust between the organization and them and now that we know them and they know us and we know their issues, we are calling on government and other public spirited individuals to come and assist.
The girls we saw
They are not bad girls, most of them didn’t set out to become bad girls, many of them are not enjoying what they are doing. For those who understand Igbo, there is a particular brothel we went to, the second day we got there, one of the girls rushed out of her room, I think she wasn’t around the first time we were there, the second time we were there, she just ran out of her room while we were interviewing others, we were having a focus discussion, she just started shouting, I want to repeat her cry in Igbo,
Desperate CRY FOR HELP“ashawo awuhu oru, onye ga enyere m aka, nyerenu m aka na ashawo awuhu oru” meaning prostitution is no job, anybody that wants to help me should come and help me. You can imagine, she was saying this and she was weeping.
All of us stopped, that is one thing that is pushing me on in looking for resources for these girls. Today, that girl is one of our peer educators because in each brothel, we raise peer educators, we train them on HIV, and we train them on essential life skills.
Essential life skills are things that everybody knows, you don’t need to be a commercial sex worker to know them. Skills like negotiation, communication, self-esteem, because a lot of them, it’s low self-esteem that got them there, conflict management. Today, that lady is one of our peer educators, educating her colleagues about correct and consistent condom use and about the need to migrate from the sex trade to other trades.
Equipment grant
Each time we go to them, we train them every week on different topics around HIV, reproductive health, what is HIV and how you can get it. Condom use, how to put on the condom, why people shouldn’t use condom more than once, they tell you different stories that some of their customers use condom twice, some lubricate condoms with groundnut oil. You may shake your head, but I am telling you real issues and then the condom will burst; the risk on the man if the man is positive. It may not just be HIV, what if he has sexually transmitted infections, or what if the girl has any of the infections, pain relief drugs because of the nature of their job.
Now for those of them who want to migrate from the sex trade, we plan to give 20 per cent of them equipment grant. Because when we were designing the project, of course, we didn’t know how they will receive us, so in our plan, we have 20 per cent to get equipment grant. The equipment grants are not more than N50, 000 each; which means if somebody say she wants to do hair dressing that can get her one dryer and maybe one small generator, the one they call “I pass my neighbour.”
There are a lot of them, but we are not working everywhere, in the areas where we are working is what I can talk about; we don’t have the resources to go to all the brothels in the state. We are working in six brothels in five local governments and in these brothels, we have over 800 people.
The girls who want to quit
We have 73 girls in this state who have signified interest to leave the sex work as soon as they can have alternative sources of income and we don’t have enough resources to go round these 73, so, we are calling on the government, we are calling on public spirited individuals, corporate organizations, religious bodies to come and join hands with us, let’s assist these girls and reintegrate them back into the larger society.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on August 31, 2009 at 7:03pm
Ohineme Ndubisi, a Nigerian in Plaza, Guangzhou, China is one of the unlucky Nigerians daring to escape intense raids by the local Chinese Police on illegal immigrants. Ohineme’s story is a gory one that reminds you of a Hollywood block-burster film.
Realizing that the team of policemen had rounded him up in a corner on the fifth floor of the Market Plaza in Guangzhou, China, he shattered the window glass with his bare hands and dived through it to the ground floor.
As he jumped, a sharp edge of the shattered glass pierced through his stomach, slicing it into two. Surrounded by some policemen who had earlier laid siege to the ground floor, the young Nigerian grilled in pains as blood gushed from his open stomach. Before he was taken to the hospital. The news of his adventurous stunt had attracted a crowed of bewildered passers bye including Nigerians around.
But Ndubuisi was not the only casualty the Wednesday afternoon of 15th July. Another Nigerian, Chigozie Asukwa, was also badly injured as a result of the raid. Chigozie had hit his head on an iron bar, while scampering through a narrow exit.
Unlike other past raids, the Nigerian community in the small town of Guangzhou would rather not sweep the horrific incident under the carpet. About 2.45pm same day, they gathered in their hundreds and engaged the local police in a free-for-all. More Nigerians were injured.
Chanting the song, “oh my home, oh my home, when shall I see my home…” the Nigerian protesters barricaded a major road in the city. The protest, which caused serious tension was said to have lasted for about four hours before the Chinese Police, after a re-enforcement, over powered the Protesters.
A detailed video footage of the incident was compiled by Foundation for Nigerian Ethics (FINE), an international media organization based in Abuja, and exclusively made available to Daily Sun in Abuja.
Narrating how the incident occurred, Okere who by now was recuperating in a nearby hospital told FINE that, “a friend had called me from Lagos for memory cards. So, I was to go and change the $3,000 he sent to me at the market when the policemen came and rounded me up. The white guy who had my money started running. So, I couldn’t stand to lose two things, my money and then go to jail because my paper is already expired. So I broke the glass and jumped down.”
Another Nigerian Emeka Amobi, 26, had broken his hands in a similar experience on the 3rd of July. Amobi out of fear of being apprehended by the Chinese Immigration Police had jumped down from a 25feet height in a train station in Beijin.
The country Director of FINE, Mr. Titus Ezeugo, who witnessed the Guangzhou riot and who has been on media surveillance on Africans in Asia and Europe for over half a decade, gave an insight into why illegal Nigerian immigrants would rather prefer to jump from any height than be arrested. “It’s important to clearly state that more than half of Nigerians in china are illegal immigrants. The Chinese law is clear on its immigration matters. For instance, citizens of Nigeria, depending on your kind of visa, are not allowed to stay more than two weeks for a business or work visit.
“A minute after two weeks of stay, you would be surcharged 500rmb (about N14, 000). After that, everyday you stay with an expired visa, you are made to pay 500rmb. So some of them are indebted to the tune of 5000rmb, which is the hallmark. If apprehended you would be in an underground cell till you pay your demurrage fee, purchase a return ticket and TC. So where would the person get such money? ”
He said the Chinese authority should not be blamed adding, “Nigerian government must be ready to cater for her people whether they live in Nigeria or not. The Chinese immigration law has trapped many Nigerians who were deceived into travelling to China for greener pasture.”
Ezeugu who averred that the condition of Nigerians in China was precarious and most embarrassing added that many were languishing in penury. He, therefore, charged Nigerian government to spend money on qualitative enlightenment campaign that would redirect the minds of her youths away from what he says is the illusion of going for a greener pasture in China.
“We cannot say because they violated the law, then we would watch them rot away in China. Take recent case of Americans in South Korea. You see that, Clinton, a former President, had to fly to South Korea because of the matter. This is what FINE has been doing and we need the government to show some interest in this”
Ironically, the media practitioner said that while the number of Nigerians travelling to China on a daily basis is still on the increase, majority there want to return home. Collin Chimobi, a Nigerian businessman based in China, told Daily Sun that more than half of Nigerians in China want to come back home.
Meanwhile Daily Sun after frantic efforts to get comments from the Chinese Embassy in Abuja failed due to Embassy protocol, a questionnaire on the incident was posted to the embassy’s official website on Monday, but Daily Sun is yet to get a reply.
However the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, told Daily Sun that the ministry was fully aware of the incident and has already directed the Nigerian Mission in China to begin discussions with the Chinese authorities on the modalities of getting out of the situation.
The Minister who spoke on the matter through his Director of Communications, Mr. Ayo Olukanmi, appealed to Nigerians in China to be patient as the process of visa issuance to anyone who wants to come back would soon begin.
But the National Human Rights Commission said that it was fully abreast of the matter and has been following it with keen interest. The Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Mr. Muhammad Nasir Ladan told Daily Sun that although the commission is handicapped on the matter as its mandate restricts it to matters within Nigeria, it has begun discussion with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Benilla.
“We are working on the issue to reach a position before we come out with the next line of action. If there is human right violation as it is being alleged, then there are possible steps to take on the matter.”
SO HOW MANY WEEKS ARE THE CHINESE IN NAIJA ALLOWED ON BUSINESS VISAS ?
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Jermaine Coleman, better known by his stage name Maino, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City, New York.After spending ten years behind bars for drug related felony and kidnapping, Jermaine ‘Maino' Coleman decided to live life outside the pen' as a rapper. With jail terms and criminal convictions regarded a bonus in a rapper's credentials, Maino's sentence is a convenient PR accessory. "If Tomorrow Comes..." is essentially a script detailing the life and style of ex-convict Maino.His opening skit states, "I never wanted to be a product of my environment; I always wanted my environment to be a product of me." With such words introducing the album, you want to know who Maino was and now is, after incarceration. Although he attempts to express his new identity, it is difficult to draw conclusions about a man who say ‘Hi to Haters', and yet threatens to ‘Kill' in the same breath.Make or BreakDid jail time break or strengthen Maino's criminal tendencies? In the beguiling track "Remember My Name" he spits lines like "I promise to be nothing short of a G/ never beg for mercy, never seeing me flee/I got blood on my knife, got cash in my jeans..." Suggestive enough to think he is probably back right from where he started, right?But in this same track he convinces listeners with such lines as "...help me heavenly father, don't let my life get rougher...Left a mark in the hood to make a mark in the world...you can see that I'm different...the face of an angel and the heart of a lion," that he's as clean as can be.All The Above"Tell me, what do you see when you looking at me?" is the opening line, penned by T-Pain, of the album's smash hit single "All the Above". In this rap, Maino finally answers the questions prompted by his album's seemingly self-contradictory lyrics.He laces T-Pain's hook with lines like "...see me come up from nothing, see me living my dreams...look how I ride for the block, look how I rep for the hood... I go hard for ever, that's how I'm designed... You don't understand me, you are quick to judge me". And in the skit "Contemplation" he continues "I was caught up in the street and still trying to be a good father." Maybe Maino is all the above, "a soldier, a rider and a ghetto survivor", as T-Pain puts it in the track.And the Album"If Tomorrow Comes..." is offered as a story telling album, a virtual script of Maino's life after prison. The tracks are arranged in sequence, telling his story from his last day in the pen, to meeting DJ and producer Kay Slay, to facing criticism and contemplation to finally getting his break with the Atlantic Records phone call.His rap verses also showed he is certainly a rapper with talent. While it's easy to turn a collaboration with T-Pain into a smash hit, Maino could equally have made a ‘cane for his own back' but he killed it. With production enlisting pros like Swizz Beats, Just Blaze, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E League amongst others, tracks were honed to perfection.Even though you can't tell who Maino is from "If Tomorrow comes...," it will definitely put you in ‘Maino's Nikes.'Album: If Tomorrow Comes...(Atlantic Records 2009)
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True to its vow at a world press conference held in Lagos on July 14, the coalition of major associations in the Nigerian music industry has begun the mobilization of stakeholders throughout the country for the commencement of an indefinite mass hunger strike to draw the attention of the world to the intolerable amount of piracy that is devastating the music industry in Nigeria. The mass hunger strike is planned to commence on August 25. As a prelude to the strike, there will be an important rally of stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry at the premises of the National Theatre, Lagos at 10.00am on August 25. The rally will offer an opportunity to artistes and investors across the industry to network and devise strategies to frontally attacking the piracy scourge that is plundering the Nigerian entertainment industry.Further to the hunger strike, the coalition has resolved that a powerful delegation of industry stakeholders will proceed to the National Assembly in Abuja on September 1 to express the frustration of the industry over the lukewarm and ineffective attitude of the government to attacking the piracy cancer that is fast eating away the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians and destroying the Nation’s image. The coalition is also requesting all broadcast organizations in the country to show solidarity with the plight of the Nigerian entertainment industry by observing September 1, 2009 as “NO MUSIC DAY”. Consequently, broadcasting stations across Nigeria are requested not to broadcast music between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm on September 1. Artistes across the country are also requested not to engage in any musical performance on “NO MUSIC DAY”It will be recalled that at the Press Conference held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja on July 14, the coalition had called on President Yar’ Adua to declare a State of Emergency with respect to the fight against piracy in Nigeria and to muster the necessary resources to eradicate the monster. The coalition had also called on the President to take the following specific actions:-1. Set up a Governing Board made up of Nigerians of proven commitment and integrity to design and supervise the activities of the Nigerian Copyright Commission in accordance with the Nigerian Copyright Act as the records show that for more than five years, the Nigerian Copyright Commission has only had a Board for a period of a few months in 2005.2. Direct the Nigerian Copyright Commission to immediately put on hold the process of approval of any new copyright collective management organization pending the IMMEDIATE convening of a stake holders conference on Collective Management to ensure that the process receives input from the stakeholders that will earn any organization emerging from the process the support of the industry.3. Direct the Inspector General of Police to serve a warning to the traders at Alaba International Market in Lagos, the world’s biggest hotbed of piracy, that if within a specified period the traders do not clean up the market, the government will shut Alaba market down.At the massively attended Press Conference, the coalition had noted that whatever efforts made so far to fight piracy in Nigeria had failed and rather than piracy being controlled or reduced in Nigeria, it was ravaging an entire generation of creative people. The coalition also warned that in desperation, practitioners in the Nigerian entertainment industry may soon be forced to take the laws into their hands in a desperate attempt to safeguard their investment and this may result in otherwise avoidable bloodshed.The coalition made up of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Nigerian Association of Recording Industries (NARI), Performing & Mechanical Rights Society Ltd/Gte (PMRS), Association of Music Business Professionals (AM.B-Pro), Music Label Owners & Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Music Label Owners Association of Nigeria (MULOAN), Gramophone Records & Cassette Dealers (AGRECD), Music Advertisers Association Of Nigeria (MAAN). Audio /Video CD Sellers Association of Nigeria (AVCDSAN) also reminded the government that Nigeria may face sanctions from the international community because of the glaring failure to meet the nation’s obligations under the different conventions and treaties signed by our country to protect intellectual property rights of citizens of other nations which are wantonly infringed upon in Nigeria alongside those of Nigerian nationals.All artistes in music film, comedy, drama, literary works and all friends of the entertainment industry are invited to storm the historic rally at the National Theatre Lagos on Tuesday August 25 at 10 amEfe OmorogbeFor: The Nigerian Music Industry Coalition
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Ehi Buckler Isibor is a graduate of the University of Benin. Her stroll into limelight was like a miracle as she describes it. She is thankful to mother luck for allowing top Nollywood director, Lancelot Imasuen discover her at the time he did. An opportunity at her first ever movie audition landed a lead role on her laps and thereafter she emerged the star of the movie. She played the role of “Ebuwa”, a Edo language film that exposes the dangers of prostitution, AIDS and the evils of child trafficking.Excerpts.Please introduce yourselfMy name is Ehi Buckler Isibor, I hail from Benin City, Edo State of Nigeria. I graduated from the University of Benin. I am presently plying my trade as an actress.For how long have you been acting?Two years now.Your first cut in acting was the lead role in Lancelot Imasuen's film; “Ebuwa”YesBy your estimation, do you think you did justice to the role?Yes I did.How was that possible, being your first time taking an acting job.I think acting came naturally with me. It is something I was born with. With some perfect tips from the director of the film, it was not difficult for me to deliver.Tell me, what do you think made it possible for you to grab the role, giving the fact that Nollywood is replete with stars that would have fitted better.All I can say is that it was a divine intervention, because in the first place I did not prepare to go for the auditions to select the cast for the film. I and the director ran into ourselves on the streets of Benin and he told me I fitted fine into a role he plans to showcase in his new film. Initially I laughed over it and did not take him serious, because I had never acted before. But coincidentally we met at another place, where my elder sister formerly introduced me to him. He repeated his offer and invited me to come for the auditions and I did. I was surprised that I emerged his choice for the role eventually.What were you doing at the time you met him?I was doing my final year project at the University.What year was that?Last year?Ebuwa was shot last year, was it not?It was.How were you able to cope with the project and at the same time going on location for shooting?The shooting of the film did not disturb the project, because by the time production commenced I had concluded the project.“Ebuwa” is an Edo language film, isn't it?Yes.Would you say that the reason you adapted to the role easily was because it was done in vernacular language.No. The medium of language adopted did not make any difference to me.How many other girls showed up to audition for the role.I did not count, but they were many.Would it be right to say, he merely favoured you by giving you the role?No, I don't think so, besides there was no reasons for me to be given preferential treatment.Maybe you have not observed, I think you are a head turner.(Laughter)Describe your experience during the auditions.When I got to the venue, I was shocked on seeing many people there. Initially I wanted to run away, especially when I realized that everybody present would be expected to read out loud from scripts. I am usually a shy type. But a lady who I met there encouraged me.
Are you still a shy person?Not anymoreWhat has playing the lead role in the film done for you?It personally exposed to me, the dangers of prostitution and the evil of human trafficking. Secondly the film instantly shot me to limelight.Describe your life on campus.I was very friendly, yet some saw me as a difficult person.Were you giving the guys who approached you difficult times?No. But I remember as a young girl, I resisted any attempt by people, especially men to be friendly with me.Did you get the impression they were afraid to approach you?I never thought about it. But why should they be afraid?How do you relate to persons of the opposite sex?I grew up with a lot of boys. I have five brothers and so many cousins. I enjoy good relationship with men. I have a lot of men as friends, but the moment they start saying I love you I get scared.Why?If you start talking love, it becomes difficult for me to be free with you. If I consider you just a friend and you start talking love to me you kill the relationship automatically.excerpted and adpated from citytracker by azuka mordi
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note:
In every endeavour there comes a time of doubts and casting down a time of unbelief a time to marshall the troops and point them in A direction by giving a rallying Cry given by the top protagonists .In the battle field it is often the Decisive factor in who wins the war.A great Shout brought the Walls of Jericho Down !
leadership is by inspiration and a leader without that singular factor to inspire hope even when it is clear it is hopeless is just a follower amongst many cloaking as a leader. That leadership is the one that steers to destruction and anhilation of a people.
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America Troubled in the Sixties,The height of the Cold War,Racism riots fresh and rife.The time of Dr King and Malcolm X.Audacious goals of Landing on the Moon .A new President Young ambitious and Charismatic.
Imagine if we had a president that could instill this kind of inspiration .For everywhere you see America in this speech replace it with Nigeria and ask yourself IS IT NOT CLEAR THAT our Motherland needs our help as time and time again we realise it is what WE can do for our country .As our country has refused to do anything for us
SPEECH TRANSCRIPT
Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy,
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan,Senate President MArk,Past presidents Obasanjo,Gowon,Shagari,General Overseer Redeemed Church Enoch Adeboye,Rev Kumuyi,Pastors Oyakhilome your Royal hignesses and royal fathers fellow citizens, we observe today and everyday not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom - symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning - signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.The world is very different now true talk ! . For man and our leaders holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought to keep this nation one and together as three regions but one nation are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage - and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge - and more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do - for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom - and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required - not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge - to convert our good words into good deeds - in a new alliance for progress - to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbours know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support - to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective - to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak - and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course - both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.
So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms - and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah - to "undo the heavy burdens -. and to let the oppressed go free."
And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavour, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.
All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans (Nigerians) has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans (Nigerians): ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
So help US God !
note:
In every endeavour there comes a time of doubts and casting down a time of unbelief a time to marshall the troops and point them in A direction by giving a rallying Cry given by the top protagonists .In the battle field it is often the Decisive factor in who wins the war.A great Shout brought the Walls of Jericho Down !
leadership is by inspiration and a leader without that singular factor to inspire hope even when it is clear it is hopeless is just a follower amongst many cloaking as a leader. That leadership is the one that steers to destruction and anhilation of a people.
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Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina battled back to upset five-times champion Roger Federer 3-6 7-6 4-6 7-6 6-2 and win the U.S. Open title on Monday.The 20-year-old Argentine, who stayed alive by winning two tiebreaks, gained confidence as he moved through his first career grand slam and charged to victory, breaking Federer in the last game to end their four-hour, six-minute struggle.The 6-foot-6 Del Potro lay down on his back and covered his face with his hands after the 28-year-old Swiss sailed a backhand long on the Argentine's third championship point.Del Potro, seeded sixth, became the second Argentine to win the U.S. men's crown, joining compatriot Guillermo Vilas who won on clay in 1977, and was watching Monday's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.The Argentine had never beaten Federer in six previous meetings, losing to the Swiss master in the semi-finals of the French Open after taking a two sets to one lead.
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The Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded the 5 failed Bank executives in prison custody till Friday. Those remanded are Cecilia Ibru of Oceanic bank, Sebastian Adigwe of Afri bank, Okey Nwosu of Fin Bank, and Barth Ebong of Union Bank. Others are Chairman and non executive directors of Intercontinental Bank Plc like Raymond Obiari, Samuel Adegbite etc, as well Peter Ololo.The accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after two weeks in the custody of the commission on charges of corruption and gross professional misconduct. They were brought to court under tight security to the waiting hands of their counsels and journalists.First to be invited to the dock was Okey Nwosu former MD of Fin Bank, he was charged with professional misconduct. The arraignment degenerated to a heated augments between Nwosu’s counsels Wole Olanipekun against Rotimi Jacobs of EFCC. It was however resolved that all the accused be remanded in Prison custordy pending their bail applications.Sebastian Adigwe was charged along with Peter Ololo in a 36 count charge, while Cecilia Ibru got 25 count charges. Barth Ebong is facing 28 charges, while officials of Intercontinental Bank were slammed with 18 charges.Meanwhile some House of Representatives members said they are not against the bailout undertaken by the Lamido Sanusi led CBN team provided the measures are inline with due process of the law. They explained that Nigeria is not the first country to roll out stimulus package for ailing banks. The lawmakers further said they will address all concerns regarding the bailout, especially where the bailout funds came from.Speaking on the issue Chairman House Committee on Gas Resources Hon. Igo Aguma said: ‘‘we know that there are business men who sit down and watch how to exploit and explore Nigeria in order to boost their portfolios. I commend the CBN personally for being proactive this time you would have imagined if the banks have totally gone under. However, in being proactive we want to believe that the rule of law must be followed. This is not the only country that conducted bailout. We all watch other democracies the processes they adopt before carrying out bailouts. We hope and believe that in carrying out these good intentions, we hope that they have done that under the rule of law.’’Moreover, the Congress of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and Civil Liberty of Nigeria (CLO) have also been reacting to this current economic revolution in the Nigeria money market. They decried the planned sale of the ailing banks saying the decision was too hasty. The group said the outcry of the CBN Governor to sell the Banks to foreign investors is unnecessary, saying the development is worrisome in view of its implication and that it lacks the backing of stakeholders in the financial sector. CNPP called on Nigeria lawmakers to organize public hearing to enable Nigerians contribute to the debate. CLO on its part said selling the Banks will further devalue the stocks in the country and send wrong signals to Nigerianinvestors both home and abroad.OtherreportsCelica Ibru slumps in court. Niyi Akintola, her legal counsel, requests that her doctor stand by her in the dock.
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on September 14, 2009 at 8:00pm
LOS ANGELES - Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into moviegoers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57."Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," his publicist, Annett Wolf, said in a statement Monday evening. Swayze died in Los Angeles, Wolf said, but she declined to give further details.Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer. He kept working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting "The Beast," an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot.Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making "The Beast" because they would have taken the edge off his performance. The show drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was "considerably more optimistic" than that. Swayze acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease."I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters in early 2009. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."C. Thomas Howell, who costarred with Swayze in "The Outsiders," "Grandview U.S.A." and "Red Dawn," said: "I have always had a special place in my heart for Patrick. While I was fortunate enough to work with him in three films, it was our passion for horses that forged a friendship between us that I treasure to this day. Not only did we lose a fine actor today, I lost my older 'Outsiders' brother."Other celebrities used Twitter to express condolences, and "Dirty Dancing" was the top trending topic for a while Monday night, trailed by several other Swayze films.Ashton Kutcher whose wife, Demi Moore, costarred with Swayze in "Ghost" wrote: "RIP P Swayze." Kutcher also linked to a YouTube clip of the actor poking fun at himself in a classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch, in which he played a wannabe Chippendales dancer alongside the corpulent and frighteningly shirtless Chris Farley.Larry King wrote: "Patrick Swayze was a wonderful actor & a terrific guy. He put his heart in everything. He was an extraordinary fighter in his battle w Cancer." King added that he'd do a tribute to Swayze on his CNN program on Tuesday night.A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze became a star with his performance as the misunderstood bad boy Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." As the son of a choreographer who began his career in musical theater, he seemed a natural to play the role.A coming-of-age romance starring Jennifer Grey as an idealistic young woman on vacation with her family and Swayze as the Catskills resort's sexy (and much older) dance instructor, the film made great use of both his grace on his feet and his muscular physique.It became an international phenomenon in the summer of 1987, spawning albums, an Oscar-winning hit song in "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," stage productions and a sequel, 2004's "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," in which he made a cameo.Swayze performed and co-wrote a song on the soundtrack, the ballad "She's Like the Wind," inspired by his wife, Lisa Niemi. The film also gave him the chance to utter the now-classic line, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."Swayze followed that up with the 1989 action flick "Road House," in which he played a bouncer at a rowdy bar. But it was his performance in 1990's "Ghost" that showed his vulnerable, sensitive side. He starred as a murdered man trying to communicate with his fiancee (Moore) with great frustration and longing through a psychic played by Whoopi Goldberg.Swayze said at the time that he fought for the role of Sam Wheat (director Jerry Zucker wanted Kevin Kline) but once he went in for an audition and read six scenes, he got it.Why did he want the part so badly? "It made me cry four or five times," he said of Bruce Joel Rubin's Oscar-winning script in an AP interview."Ghost" provided yet another indelible musical moment: Swayze and Moore sensually molding pottery together to the strains of the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody." It also earned a best-picture nomination and a supporting-actress Oscar for Goldberg, who said she wouldn't have won if it weren't for Swayze."When I won my Academy Award, the only person I really thanked was Patrick," Goldberg said in March 2008 on the ABC daytime talk show "The View."Swayze himself earned three Golden Globe nominations, for "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost" and 1995's "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," which further allowed him to toy with his masculine image. The role called for him to play a drag queen on a cross-country road trip alongside Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo.His heartthrob status almost kept him from being considered for the role of Vida Boheme."I couldn't get seen on it because everyone viewed me as terminally heterosexually masculine-macho," he told The Associated Press then. But he transformed himself so completely that when his screen test was sent to Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin pictures produced "To Wong Foo," Spielberg didn't recognize him.Among his earlier films, Swayze was part of the star-studded lineup of up-and-comers in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders," alongside Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez and Diane Lane.Other '80s films included "Red Dawn," "Grandview U.S.A." (for which he also provided choreography) and "Youngblood," once more with Lowe, as Canadian hockey teammates.In the '90s, he made such eclectic films as "Point Break" (1991), in which he played the leader of a band of bank-robbing surfers, and the family Western "Tall Tale" (1995), in which he starred as Pecos Bill. He appeared on the cover of People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991, but his career tapered off toward the end of the 1990s, when he also had a stay in rehab for alcohol abuse. In 2001, he appeared in the cult favorite "Donnie Darko," and in 2003 he returned to the New York stage with "Chicago"; 2006 found him in the musical "Guys and Dolls" in London.Swayze was born in 1952 in Houston, the son of Jesse Swayze and choreographer Patsy Swayze, whose films include "Urban Cowboy."He played football but also was drawn to dance and theater, performing with the Feld, Joffrey and Harkness Ballets and appearing on Broadway as Danny Zuko in "Grease." But he turned to acting in 1978 after a series of injuries.Within a couple years of moving to Los Angeles, he made his debut in the roller-disco movie "Skatetown, U.S.A." The eclectic cast included Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormack and Billy Barty.Off-screen, he was an avid conservationist who was moved by his time in Africa to shine a light on "man's greed and absolute unwillingness to operate according to Mother Nature's laws," he told the AP in 2004.Swayze was married since 1975 to Niemi, a fellow dancer who took lessons with his mother; they met when he was 19 and she was 15. A licensed pilot, Niemi would fly her husband from Los Angeles to Northern California for treatment at Stanford University Medical Center.In February, Swayze wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post titled, "I'm Battling Cancer. How About Some Help, Congress?" in which he urged senators and representatives to vote for the maximum funding for the National Institutes of Health to fight cancer as part of the economic stimulus package.He also appeared in the September 2008 live television event "Stand Up to Cancer," where he made this moving plea: "I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, a life not lived in the shadow of cancer, but in the light. ... I dream that the word 'cure' will no longer be followed by the words 'is impossible.'"
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