Top 10 things prominent Nigerians said about Ocholi

The late minister, his wife and son reportedly died on his way from church, as well as his driver. His death has immediately sparked a lot of reactions from Nigerians who knew him closely and those who had only know him during the ministerial screening where he was adjudged one of the best nominees at the time. NAIJ.com’s Wuraola Zainab has compiled top 10 things that prominent Nigerians said about the late minister. The national women leader of the APC, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, said: “You were right up till your death, a consummate gentleman, a source legal luminary and a quintessential family man.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ex-vice president, Abubakar Atiku, in his message, said: “The nation had lost a committed professional whose place in his profession, political party and the budding administration in place today, would be hard to fill.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senator Chris Ngige who worked closely with Ocholi in the ministry of Labour, said: “He died in active service and described him as an amiable and responsible family man.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Umar Duhu, the immediate past interim national vice chairman of the APC in the north east, said: “He was indeed a leader per excellence and a change agent.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Mai Mala Buni, the national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said: “he would be remembered for his selfless service to the country as minister, party, legal profession, and his home state Kogi.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who spoke through his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, stated as well, that “the minister died at a critical time when his contributions in the on-going national rebirth and realisation of the change mantra were needed.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state said: “Ocholi was a complete gentleman and was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state described Ocholi as “A nice and responsible man who was conscious of his responsibility. It is a sad and national calamity.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter President Muhammadu Buhari said: “Barrister Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him and concluded that it is a tragedy of monumental proportion. Ocholi was a key component of the change agenda.” Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ocholi’s uncle, Abdallah Aliu in grief, said: “While I was in his house, I already knew because those who conspired and plotted it (the death) became jittery because I have never been to that house and they don’t know me. But somehow, they became jittery, scared and worried.”
Read more: https://www.naij.com/762480-one-week-after-his-shocking-death-check-out-10-top-things-prominent-nigerians-said-about-ocholi.html

Malawian president Peter Mutharika has rejected Prophet TB Joshua’s prophesy

Vanguard reports that the president on March 13 said: “I’m told there is a man in Nigeria called Joshua and he is saying that Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Peter Mutharika will die before April 1. Let me tell you, Joshua… you will fail. What you did in 2012 will not happen again this year.” The president, who spoke in a rally in the capital Lilongwe, said in 2012, Joshua reportedly predicted the death of a president of an unnamed southern African country. Mutharika’s brother, Bingu, who was president at the time, did die within the predicted time frame, giving the prophesy strong currency in Malawi. He refused to disclose when or where Joshua made the latest prophesy. In January, Joshua reportedly gave a televised prophecy, telling his congregation to pray for the leaders in southern Africa, saying: “End of February to April this year, peculiar months for Southern Africa.” Mutharika questioned Joshua’s credentials as a prophet, pointing to the collapse of a guesthouse in his sprawling Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos in September 2014, which left 116 people dead, mostly South Africans. “Why did he not foretell this tragedy? This all shows that he is a liar. He just wants to raise money,” Mutharika said. He promised he will be around in 2019 for the next presidential elections, and in also 2024, when — if reelected — he will wrap up his last term. Mutharika came to power in 2014 after defeating Joyce Banda. Banda, who succeeded Bingu Mutharika, made several visits to the Nigerian headquarters of Joshua’s church and once described the evangelist as her “spiritual father.” Prophet TB Joshua who is the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), has been under fire for several times for allegedly hiring people to pretend to be sick and disabled and then claim to heal them during his prayer meetings. He was recently ranked the 13th most famous pastor in the world. The ranking which was put together by a group known as Movement for Progress Initiative also ranked Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola of the Christ Apostolic Church as 32nd in the same category. READ ALSO: TB Joshua is my boy! – witch doctor Kwaku Bonsam In a related development popular Nigerian pastor and head of Believers World, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome was accused by a member of his own church of staging miracle-healing sessions. According to a report by South Africa’s Sowetan, followers have said that he has been hiring people to pretend to be sick and disabled and then “be healed” during his television shows and public prayer meetings. “I was offered R10 000 to rehearse and pretend to be in a wheelchair three weeks before the all-night prayer called Night of Bliss at the Johannesburg Stadium,” the newspaper quoted a member of the church.

I killed my boss for Xmas money – Guard

A security guard, who was recently arrested by the Imo State Police Command for allegedly stabbing his boss to death and stealing his belongings, said he committed the dastardly act because he wanted to celebrate Christmas lavishly.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the guard, David Kwaguru, and two of his friends killed a 25-year-old final year Civil Engineering student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State, Mr. Innocent Ndukwe, at the deceased’s residence at 18 Enuwa Street, Egbu in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, after killing the suspect, the security guard and two of his friends, Friday Ayuba and Francis Amos, made away with the deceased’s Nissan Pathfinder with number plate, KRD109AD, two plasma TV sets, one home theatre and other valuables.

Confessing to the crime, the security guard said that the rationale behind their evil act was that they needed money to celebrate Christmas next month.

He said, “Since oga Ndukwe had the money (because of his wealthy parents) and expensive household electronics, we decided to kill him, put the devices inside his vehicle and drive to Plateau State where we come from.

“We waited and monitored him. And when he went into the toilet, we broke the door open, tied his hands and legs and started stabbing him all over his body. We stabbed him several times in the neck and abdomen so that he would die quickly. After killing him, we drove off in the jeep only to be nabbed by the police at West End Road in Owerri.”

Also speaking, an accomplice, Ayuba, said that it was Amos that first struck the victim in the neck while he stabbed the student in the stomach.

He said, “It was Kwagwuru who told us about the student. Since we are all from the same state, we decided to run back to Plateau after the crime, and not to return to the South-East ever again. We also planned to sell the vehicle and other valuables and share the loot.”

While parading the suspects, the CP said the police control room got a call on the incident and policemen raced to the crime scene.

He said, “As a result, the assailants who tried to escape were subsequently apprehended along West-End old Nekede road, Owerri.”

He said that the deceased was found in a pool of blood in a toilet at his residence when policemen arrived.

Lakanu appealed to members of the public to always be careful when choosing the people they employ as security guards, lamenting that most security guards, more often than not, turn against their employers by collaborating with criminals to attack them.

Judge bars journalists from Davido’s dad’s divorce case

A judge in Osun State, Justice A. O. Oguntade, at the state High Court, Ede, on Thursday barred journalists from covering the divorce proceedings involving millionaire businessman, Deji Adeleke, and his estranged wife, Teju.

Adeleke, who is the Chancellor of the Adeleke University, is the father of popular musician, Davido. Adeleke was present in court on Thursday but the estranged wife was not in court when journalists were chased out.

Oguntade had on Monday, November 16, prevented journalists who were present at the court by chasing them out of the court room.

The judge again on Thursday asked journalists present in the courtroom to go out before the proceedings started.

On entering the court, Oguntade said, “Journalists present in this court should go out. I repeat, journalists present in this court should go out now.”

The judge asked his orderly to escort the journalists out and the orderly relayed the order to the senior police officer, Adeoye Yekinin, who led a team of armed policemen deployed in the court for the divorce case.

The police officer, however, was polite in carrying out the order as he pleaded with the two journalists including our correspondent to vacate the court.

The armed policemen waited patiently for the journalists to leave before they returned to the entrance of the court.

Some of those present in court expressed shock over the heavy presence of armed policemen.

One of the lawyers present in the court for another matter said one of the parties involved in the case did not want publicity.

Counsel for the estranged wife, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) , had during the proceedings on Monday accused the judge of bias.

Despite the allegation, Oguntade ordered journalists out of the court and instructed his orderly to ensure they were chased out of the court.

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Saraki’s case: CJN to set up fresh Supreme Court panel

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, is set to set up a fresh panel that will hear the appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the charges by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false asset declaration preferred against him.

Our correspondent learnt on Wednesday that the CJNwas set to disband the Justice John Fabiyi-led five-member panel which on November 12, 2015, granted an order of a stay of proceedings in the Senate President’s trial before the CCT.

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, is set to set up a fresh panel that will hear the appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the charges by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false asset declaration preferred against him.

Our correspondent learnt on Wednesday that the CJNwas set to disband the Justice John Fabiyi-led five-member panel which on November 12, 2015, granted an order of a stay of proceedings in the Senate President’s trial before the CCT.

A valedictory court session is to be held for Justice Fabiyi, who attains the retirement age of 70 on November 25, 2015, his birthday.

Other Justices of the Supreme Court, who are on the panel with Justice Fabiyi, are Justices Suleiman Galadima, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, John Okoro and Amiru Sanusi.

The decision to disband the panel, according to judiciary sources, is partly due to the outcry generated by the Supreme Court’s ruling and the imminent retirement of Justice Fabiyi from the bench on November 25.

Eminent lawyers, including Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Jiti Ogunye and Malachy Ugwummadu, had described the Supreme Court’s ruling as contravening provisions of sections 306 and 369 of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The ACJA prohibits granting of a stay of proceedings in criminal cases.

Sources said the CJN, who was on an official trip abroad when the Supreme Court’s ruling was delivered on November 12, would likely head the fresh panel to be constituted.

It was learnt that Mohammed might head the fresh panel that would be constituted due to a number of contentious issues in the appeal filed by Saraki in his appeal.

A source said, “With the public interest in the case and coupled with the retirement of Justice Fabiyi next week Wednesday, the panel has to be disbanded.

“It is the practice of the Supreme Court that when a number of contentious constitutional issues are raised in an appeal such as this one (Saraki’s case), the CJN is likely to head such appeal panel.”

The media aide to the CJN, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, said he was not in a position to confirm the development.

“There is no way I can know what has happened or what will happen. It is strictly a judicial issue that cannot come within my knowledge,” Isah, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said.

With the order of a stay of proceedings by the Supreme Court, the CCT, which had on November 5, adjourned till November 19 for the commencement of Saraki’s trial, must await the decision of the apex court on the Senate President’s main appeal.

Saraki, through his lawyers, led by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the September 30, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed that the 13 counts of false asset declaration preferred against him before the CCT were competent.

The appeal court also affirmed that the Justice Danladi Umar-led CCT had the required jurisdiction to entertain the charges against the Senate President.

All the arguments by Saraki’s lawyers against the jurisdiction of the CCT and competence of the charges preferred against him before the tribunal were dismissed by a two-to-one split judgment of the Court of Appeal.

But the issues dismissed by the Court of Appeal form Saraki’s seven grounds of appeal, which his lawyers filed before the Supreme Court.

Following an application by Saraki’s lawyers for the appeal to be heard by the full panel of the Supreme Court, the number of Justices in the fresh panel will likely increase from five to seven.

The full panel of the Supreme Court comprises seven Justices as against five that were in the old panel.

Part of the appellant’s grounds of appeal to be finally decided by the apex court are whether the proceedings of the CCT, which sat with only two members as against the three provided for in the provisions of Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, are competent.

The appellant also faulted the majority decision of the appeal court, where it held that there was a lacuna regarding the quorum of the tribunal.

The Supreme Court will also decide whether the CCT is a court of limited criminal jurisdiction as held by the Court of Appeal.          Meanwhile, a Lagos-based lawyer, Johnson Esezoobo, has called on the CJN to review the granting of a stay of proceedings in the trial of the Senate President at the tribunal.

A statement by Esezoobo on Tuesday described the decision by the Supreme Court as an abuse of and misuse of power, advising that “institutional safeguards should be put against abuse and misuse of power”.

He said, “From the provisions of the constitution, it is absolutely not a difficult issue to resolve except that the remedy available is not what we have been used to in our democratic practice.

“If it is agreed that when an illegality is committed, it must be redressed, we must also find out how to go about it under the constitution.”

According to Esezoobo, the order in the Saraki’s case marked the first time the apex court would commit an illegality, adding that the illegality this time round concerned a vexed national issue agitating the minds of the populace.

Esezoobo added, “I sincerely believe that the President as the Head of State and Chief Executive of the Federation, by virtue of Section 130 of the constitution, has the power to express concern and call on the CJN to explain what happened.

“He can do this through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation as the chief law officer of the state. In his capacity, the President as the chief executive can, through the AGF, direct the Federal Judicial Service Commission or the National Judicial Council, both as Federal Executive bodies under the Third Schedule to the Constitution, to query all the justices of the Supreme Court involved in this scandalous illegality.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has however, faulted the criticisms trailing the order of a stay of proceedings granted Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Supreme Court on his false asset declaration trial.

Ozekhome described the criticisms of the order by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) as incredible “perverse interpretation” of the law, contending that the senior advocates “seek to bind the Supreme Court with the uninterpreted provisions of a law that only applies to trial courts”.

Ozekhome, in an opinion article titled ‘Awomolo-Falana’s comment – A case of unfortunate sentiments Vs law’, argued that Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which states that “an application for a stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the court shall not be granted,” only applied to the trial court, and not to appellate courts.

“It ought to be noted that the trial of Saraki, which is currently before the CCT, is not before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. From the plain wording of section 306, the ACJA does not apply to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, or any other appellate court for that matter, but to the CCT,” he added.

A valedictory court session is to be held for Justice Fabiyi, who attains the retirement age of 70 on November 25, 2015, his birthday.

Other Justices of the Supreme Court, who are on the panel with Justice Fabiyi, are Justices Suleiman Galadima, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, John Okoro and Amiru Sanusi.

The decision to disband the panel, according to judiciary sources, is partly due to the outcry generated by the Supreme Court’s ruling and the imminent retirement of Justice Fabiyi from the bench on November 25.

Eminent lawyers, including Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Jiti Ogunye and Malachy Ugwummadu, had described the Supreme Court’s ruling as contravening provisions of sections 306 and 369 of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The ACJA prohibits granting of a stay of proceedings in criminal cases.

Sources said the CJN, who was on an official trip abroad when the Supreme Court’s ruling was delivered on November 12, would likely head the fresh panel to be constituted.

It was learnt that Mohammed might head the fresh panel that would be constituted due to a number of contentious issues in the appeal filed by Saraki in his appeal.

A source said, “With the public interest in the case and coupled with the retirement of Justice Fabiyi next week Wednesday, the panel has to be disbanded.

“It is the practice of the Supreme Court that when a number of contentious constitutional issues are raised in an appeal such as this one (Saraki’s case), the CJN is likely to head such appeal panel.”

The media aide to the CJN, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, said he was not in a position to confirm the development.

“There is no way I can know what has happened or what will happen. It is strictly a judicial issue that cannot come within my knowledge,” Isah, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said.

With the order of a stay of proceedings by the Supreme Court, the CCT, which had on November 5, adjourned till November 19 for the commencement of Saraki’s trial, must await the decision of the apex court on the Senate President’s main appeal.

Saraki, through his lawyers, led by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the September 30, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed that the 13 counts of false asset declaration preferred against him before the CCT were competent.

The appeal court also affirmed that the Justice Danladi Umar-led CCT had the required jurisdiction to entertain the charges against the Senate President.

All the arguments by Saraki’s lawyers against the jurisdiction of the CCT and competence of the charges preferred against him before the tribunal were dismissed by a two-to-one split judgment of the Court of Appeal.

But the issues dismissed by the Court of Appeal form Saraki’s seven grounds of appeal, which his lawyers filed before the Supreme Court.

Following an application by Saraki’s lawyers for the appeal to be heard by the full panel of the Supreme Court, the number of Justices in the fresh panel will likely increase from five to seven.

The full panel of the Supreme Court comprises seven Justices as against five that were in the old panel.

Part of the appellant’s grounds of appeal to be finally decided by the apex court are whether the proceedings of the CCT, which sat with only two members as against the three provided for in the provisions of Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, are competent.

The appellant also faulted the majority decision of the appeal court, where it held that there was a lacuna regarding the quorum of the tribunal.

The Supreme Court will also decide whether the CCT is a court of limited criminal jurisdiction as held by the Court of Appeal.          Meanwhile, a Lagos-based lawyer, Johnson Esezoobo, has called on the CJN to review the granting of a stay of proceedings in the trial of the Senate President at the tribunal.

A statement by Esezoobo on Tuesday described the decision by the Supreme Court as an abuse of and misuse of power, advising that “institutional safeguards should be put against abuse and misuse of power”.

He said, “From the provisions of the constitution, it is absolutely not a difficult issue to resolve except that the remedy available is not what we have been used to in our democratic practice.

“If it is agreed that when an illegality is committed, it must be redressed, we must also find out how to go about it under the constitution.”

According to Esezoobo, the order in the Saraki’s case marked the first time the apex court would commit an illegality, adding that the illegality this time round concerned a vexed national issue agitating the minds of the populace.

Esezoobo added, “I sincerely believe that the President as the Head of State and Chief Executive of the Federation, by virtue of Section 130 of the constitution, has the power to express concern and call on the CJN to explain what happened.

“He can do this through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation as the chief law officer of the state. In his capacity, the President as the chief executive can, through the AGF, direct the Federal Judicial Service Commission or the National Judicial Council, both as Federal Executive bodies under the Third Schedule to the Constitution, to query all the justices of the Supreme Court involved in this scandalous illegality.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has however, faulted the criticisms trailing the order of a stay of proceedings granted Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Supreme Court on his false asset declaration trial.

Ozekhome described the criticisms of the order by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) as incredible “perverse interpretation” of the law, contending that the senior advocates “seek to bind the Supreme Court with the uninterpreted provisions of a law that only applies to trial courts”.

Ozekhome, in an opinion article titled ‘Awomolo-Falana’s comment – A case of unfortunate sentiments Vs law’, argued that Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which states that “an application for a stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the court shall not be granted,” only applied to the trial court, and not to appellate courts.

“It ought to be noted that the trial of Saraki, which is currently before the CCT, is not before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. From the plain wording of section 306, the ACJA does not apply to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, or any other appellate court for that matter, but to the CCT,” he added.

DI MARIA Express shock over Paris attack

Buenos Aires - Paris Saint-Germain star Angel Di Maria expressed his shock on Friday at the bloody attacks in the French capital after Argentina's Soccer World Cup clash with Brazil.

Di Maria's PSG team-mates Ezequiel Lavezzi and David Luiz were also playing in Friday's 1-1 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, where a minute's silence was held before kick-off to honor victims of the violence.

"I'd only just heard about what happened," Di Maria said. "It's incredible. These things have to stop," the midfielder added.

Lavezzi, who scored Argentina's goal in the draw, meanwhile took to Twitter to express his sorrow at the attacks.

"Pray for Paris," the forward wrote above a viral image of an eye tinted by the colors of the French tricolore.

Swaziland hold Eagles to a draw

Nigeria's Super Eagles and their Swaziland counterparts played out a scoreless draw in a 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying match at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba on Friday.

Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh this time opted for a centre-back pairing of Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona with Shehu Abdullahi and Elderson Echiejile playing as fullbacks.

The Super Eagles from the outset pressed high up against the King's Shield of Swaziland but lacked the sharpness to open up the defence of Harris Bulunga's men.

Tony Tsabedze was clearly the man pulling the strings for the King's Shield and in the 23rd minute he let fly from distance but his effort was straight at Nigeria goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Five minutes later, Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi saw his free kick palmed away by Nhlanhla Gwebu in the Swaziland goal and Sylvester Igbonu's rebound attempt forced the custodian of the hosts into another save before Odion Ighalo turned the loose ball off target to let the southern Africans off the hook.

Though the Nigerians enjoyed the bulk of the ball possession at the half hour mark it counted for nothing as the Swazis' confidence level grew as the game progressed.

Dlamini nearly headed them in front in the 31st minute from a corner and then a Nigerian error at the back almost gifted them a scoring chance a minute later.

But Oliseh's charges finished the first 45 minutes better. Ighalo was slipped through on goal though he turned inside of his marker but had the ball cleared off his feet before he could shoot.

Before the start of the second half, Oliseh sent on Rabiu Ibrahim for Igbonu as he felt his team needed a creative spark from the middle of the park. Nigeria had the first chance of the business end of the game when Ighalo blazed over but it was Swaziland that showed a statement of intent.

Inside the opening five minutes of the second half, Mxolisi Lukhele and team captain Tsabedze got themselves into shooting range but failed to hit the target.

On 58 minutes, Onazi's free kick from 25 yards came off the upright to the relief of Swaziland.

Four minutes later, it was the turn of Nigeria to have their hearts in their mouths when Ikeme was forced to make a point-blank save by Lukhele following a ball over the top.

The Swazis continued to be fearless in their approach but in the 65th minute Nigeria had a scoring chance when Ahmed Musa's pass picked out Simon inside the box but the KAA Gent man's attempt to create space and shoot was blocked.

In the last 20 minutes, Swaziland captain Tsabedze turned on the style with his mazy runs but his impressive play still could not unlock the Super Eagles' backline.

Nigeria gaffer Oliseh tried as he could to get something out of the contest and sent on the attacking duo of Obafemi Martins and Kelechi Iheanacho, who made his international debut at senior level, but the Swazis held out for a famous draw in Lobamba.

The decisive leg of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier will take place next Tuesday when Nigeria play hosts to Swaziland at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

MICHEAL CARRICK HAS ANKLE INJURY

England midfielder Michael Carrick sustained an ankle injury during England's 2-0 friendly defeat in Spain on Friday.

The 34-year-old Manchester United player was carried off the pitch on a stretcher late in the game.

"Michael has got a severely twisted ankle which normally means ligament damage," England manager Roy Hodgson told reporters.

"We won't know that of course until he's had an X-ray or a scan, but it doesn't look good."

Carrick is definitely ruled out of Tuesday's friendly against France at Wembley Stadium, although the game may be postponed following the attacks in Paris on Friday.

Bihari condemns Paris terrorist attacks

The President was reacting to the incident in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

“On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari conveys his heartfelt sympathy to President Francois Hollande and the people of France,’’ said Adesina in the statement.

The President also extended sincere condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the unfortunate victims of the callous attacks.

President Buhari condemned the barbaric attacks which he said constituted an unacceptable affront to all human values and civilized norms.

According to him, as a country which has borne the terrible human cost of terrorist attacks, Nigeria stands in full solidarity with the government and people of France as they mourn those who have lost their lives in the attacks on Paris.

President Buhari called on all peace-loving nations of the world, to intensify ongoing multilateral cooperation and collaborative actions aimed at tackling the problem of international terrorism.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Paris terrorist attacks, which claimed about 127 lives, with at least 180 people
injured, had been described by President Hollande as an act of war against France.

The series of attacks launched by gunmen at Bataclan concert hall, restaurants and bars as well as a bomb blast at Stade de France, all in Paris city, had continued to attract condemnation across the world. ACCEPT MA CONDOLENCE DEAR FRANCE

Paris attacks result of French policy, says Asad 1:21 pm

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that French policy had contributed to the “spread of terrorism” that culminated in gun and bomb attacks which killed 128 people in Paris.

In a meeting with a delegation of French lawmakers in Damascus, Assad said France’s “mistaken policies… had contributed to the spread of terrorism.”

“The terrorist attacks that targeted the French capital Paris cannot be separated from what happened in the Lebanese capital Beirut lately and from what has been happening in Syria for the past five years and in other areas,” he said.

Train gunman had terrorist intent

It appears from information revealed Tuesday by a French prosecutor that the world owes much to the people who subdued a gunman on a Thalys train in France late last week. By jumping him and disarming him, they may have prevented a massacre of enormous proportions. The prosecutor, Francois Molins, said at a press conference that the suspect, Ayoub El Khazzani, carried with him about 200 rounds of ammunition. His Internet usage, Molins said, showed "clear evidence of terrorist intent." And his goal? The prosecutor put it in stark terms: El Khazzani, the prosecutor said, was "attempting to kill a whole train full of people." El Khazzani has been charged with attempted murder, attempted mass murder and membership in a terrorist organization, Molins said. Molins said El Khazzani has invoked his right to remain silent after days of "evasive answers." 'I'm not going to be the guy who dies sitting down' Four passengers who thwarted the gunman's plan were awarded the French Legion of Honor on Monday by French President Francois Hollande. One of them, Briton Chris Norman, told CNN on Tuesday that he preferred to die trying over sitting and waiting for a near-certain death. "My position was, I'm not going to be the guy who dies sitting down," Chris Norman told CNN's "New Day" on Tuesday. "If you're going to die, try to do something about it." Norman was among four people, including the three Americans, who overpowered a man armed with a Kalashnikov automatic rifle Friday on a train from Amsterdam to Paris.

American Apparel warns it may go out of business

American Apparel has "substantial doubt" it will stay in business, the company said Monday. The clothing brand has been struggling for some time, and news it's nearing collapse came as American Apparel reported a net loss of $19.4 million for last quarter. "We believe that we may not have sufficient liquidity necessary to sustain operations for the next twelve months," the company said in a press release. It also announced plans to reorganize its debt and extend an existing line of credit from $50 million to $90 million, though it expects to post losses for the remainder of the year. That suggests the company is nearing bankruptcy. American Apparel said it's considering some financial alternatives to right itself, including refinancing or restructuring its existing debt, according to the press release. According to its balance sheet, American Apparel has about $6.8 million in cash on hand. The Los Angeles-based company said sales were down 17% last quarter due to stores closing and a strong dollar. "The decline in comparable sales was attributable to the lack of new style introduction for the spring and summer selling season," American Apparel said in a press release. Investors have largely soured on the brand. It's stock is down more than 86.8% over the past year, including another 8% drop on Tuesday. American Apparel still hopes to turn things around. It named a new CEO in June and just replaced its global sales manager. It also plans to cut costs by another $30 million over the next 18 months.

American Apparel has "substantial doubt" it will stay in business, the company said Monday. The clothing brand has been struggling for some time, and news it's nearing collapse came as American Apparel reported a net loss of $19.4 million for last quarter. "We believe that we may not have sufficient liquidity necessary to sustain operations for the next twelve months," the company said in a press release. It also announced plans to reorganize its debt and extend an existing line of credit from $50 million to $90 million, though it expects to post losses for the remainder of the year. That suggests the company is nearing bankruptcy. American Apparel said it's considering some financial alternatives to right itself, including refinancing or restructuring its existing debt, according to the press release. According to its balance sheet, American Apparel has about $6.8 million in cash on hand. The Los Angeles-based company said sales were down 17% last quarter due to stores closing and a strong dollar. "The decline in comparable sales was attributable to the lack of new style introduction for the spring and summer selling season," American Apparel said in a press release. Investors have largely soured on the brand. It's stock is down more than 86.8% over the past year, including another 8% drop on Tuesday. American Apparel still hopes to turn things around. It named a new CEO in June and just replaced its global sales manager. It also plans to cut costs by another $30 million over the next 18 months.

Arrests made in Bangladeshi blogger killings

watch video: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/150818114505-udas-looklive-bangladesh-blogger-killers-00000914-small-video.jpg Police in Bangladesh have arrested three suspects in connection with the killings of two bloggers. CNN's Sumnima Udas reports.

Latest African gold rush: Hotels

Major international hotel chains are increasingly rolling out thousands of new rooms in Africa's business hotspots, keen to expand their footprint on the continent's burgeoning economies. From Lagos and Kigali to Nairobi and Johannesburg, the world's best known hoteliers are targeting Africa's growing urban centers to benefit from a rising number of business travelers and a huge undersupply in available rooms. "There's a growing demand in those capital cities because they are the centers of business, of government and of commerce -- all of which have hospitality needs," says Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development for Hilton Worldwide, Europe and Africa. "We have a very bullish feel for these markets and we are very excited about the opportunity Africa presents," he adds. "I think that for the next 20 years we are going to have our hands full with opportunity." 'World woken up to Africa' Last month, the International Monetary Fund said that sub-Saharan Africa's economy is expected to expand by 5.6% in 2013 and 6.1% next year, outpacing the global average of 3.3% and 4% in accordance. Andrew McLachlan, Carlson Rezidor Vice President for Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, says it is Africa's potential to offset the sluggishness in more developed markets that's appealing to global players. "What has really happened is that post the economic crash in 2008/2009, the rest of the world has really woken up to Africa," says McLachlan. "There's been such good news coming out of Africa from a GDP growth point of view; better telecommunications; improved security; political stability; and improved airlift," he adds. "It's really become a sort of new scramble back into Africa." Meanwhile, international tourism arrivals in the continent grew by 6% last year to reach a record 52 million, according to data by the World Tourism Organization.

China detains top executives after blasts

Ten senior executives of the company that owned the warehouse site that exploded in the Chinese city of Tianjin have been detained, state media reported Tuesday, as authorities promised to investigate the cause of the disaster. Li Liang, the president of Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Co, which stores and transports chemicals, was among those being held, as was the company's vice president, Cao Haijun, and Song Qi, the chief financial officer. They have been under detention since August 13. Earlier reports had said two unnamed executives of the firm were in detention. Massive explosions rocked the northeastern coastal city late Wednesday, killing at least 114 people, officials said, and devastating a large industrial zone and nearby residences. At least 57 people are still missing, according to authorities. Thousands of officials, firefighters, policemen and local residents mourned the victims at the blast site Tuesday, bowing their heads and observing a moment of silence to pay their respects. Questions over license Official news agency Xinhua said the company was licensed to handle dangerous chemicals at the time of the blasts but only obtained that license in June. A previous license had lapsed in October 2014. The warehouse was a temporary storage facility that housed materials after they arrived at the port and before they were transported elsewhere, city officials have said.

Ten senior executives of the company that owned the warehouse site that exploded in the Chinese city of Tianjin have been detained, state media reported Tuesday, as authorities promised to investigate the cause of the disaster. Li Liang, the president of Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Co, which stores and transports chemicals, was among those being held, as was the company's vice president, Cao Haijun, and Song Qi, the chief financial officer. They have been under detention since August 13. Earlier reports had said two unnamed executives of the firm were in detention. Massive explosions rocked the northeastern coastal city late Wednesday, killing at least 114 people, officials said, and devastating a large industrial zone and nearby residences. At least 57 people are still missing, according to authorities. Thousands of officials, firefighters, policemen and local residents mourned the victims at the blast site Tuesday, bowing their heads and observing a moment of silence to pay their respects. Questions over license Official news agency Xinhua said the company was licensed to handle dangerous chemicals at the time of the blasts but only obtained that license in June. A previous license had lapsed in October 2014. The warehouse was a temporary storage facility that housed materials after they arrived at the port and before they were transported elsewhere, city officials have said.

Bangkok bombing: Looking for a motive

The day after Monday's rush-hour atrocity left 22 dead at a shrine popular with tourists in central Bangkok, authorities have not determined who was behind the attack. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the bombing at the Erawan Shrine, while police are refusing to rule anything or anyone out. National Police Chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said on state-run TV that authorities had been warned about possible attacks, but they didn't know where or when they might occur. While the capital has never before witnessed such a devastatingly brutal attack, Thailand's recent history has been turbulent to say the least, with the country currently governed by a military junta following last year's coup. Muslim Insurgency Thai security forces have been waging a decades-long campaign against a Muslim insurgency in the south of the country that has claimed thousands of lives. Well-armed, motivated and increasingly audacious, insurgents in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla -- once part of an independent Malay Muslim sultanate until they were annexed by Thailand, then called Siam, in 1909 -- have emerged with a clear goal: the creation of a separate Muslim state for the region's 1.8 million Muslim ethnic Malays. While calls for secession have simmered since then, an insurgent raid to steal weapons from an army camp in January 2004, led to a crackdown by the Thai military, which sparked the modern insurgency. The Thai government has sent more than 150,000 soldiers to the region to protect it from an estimated 3,000 to 9,000 rebel fighters -- or juwae, as they are called locally -- according to estimates from human rights groups. But the conflict has never spread out of the southern provinces.

Shekau Is Alive, Still Controls Boko Haram – Journalist

The Nigerian journalist known to have access to top commanders of the Boko Haram sect, Ahmad Salkida, has
debunked claims by the Chadian President, Idris Derby, that the dreaded Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has been dethroned and replaced with a certain Mahamat Daoud.

Salkida insisted that Abubakar Shekau is alive and still presides over the affairs of the notorious group.

Recall that at a press conference to mark Chad’s 55th independence anniversary, Derby had said: “There is someone apparently called Mahamat Daoud who is said to have replaced Abubakar Shekau and wants to negotiate with the Nigerian government.”


But Salkida noted that the Chadian leader was lying, stressing that the same was how he misled former president,
Goodluck Jonathan into entering a botched peace deal with the sect.

Not Again: Indonesian Twin-Turbo Aircraft Carrying 54 People Just Disappears

An Indonesian  aircraft carrying 54 people lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday in the remote, forested eastern Papua region, the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) said, with search efforts hampered by failing light as night falls.

"We can't confirm it has crashed. We can say contact has been lost with the plane," BASARNAS chief Bambang Soelystyo told Reuters by phone.

"It's a Trigana airline plane carrying 54 people including 5 crew. We are working to get more details."

According to the official BASARNAS Twitter account, the aircraft, a short-haul ATR 42-300 airliner belonging to Trigana Air Service and built in France and Italy, was carrying 44 adult passengers, five crew and five children and infants.

The plane was flying between Jayapura's Sentani Airport and Oksibil, due south of Jayapura, the capital of Papua province.

The agency's Jayapura office was coordinating the search, a separate tweet read as dusk set in the tropics.

Air transport is commonly used in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province, where land travel is often impossible.

It was not immediately clear if search efforts would continue into the night in the densely forested mountainous region where the aircraft was traveling.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, an online database, the ATR 42-300 had its first flight 27 years ago. ATR is a joint venture between Airbus and Alenia Aermacchi, a subsidiary of Italian aerospace firm Finmeccanica .

Trigana has been on the EU blacklist of banned carriers since 2007. Airlines on the list are barred from operating in European airspace due to either concerns about its safety standards, or concerns about the regulatory environment in its country of registration.

The airline has a fleet of 14 aircraft, according to the airfleets.com database. These include 10 ATR aircraft and four Boeing 737 classics. These have an average age of 26.6 years, according to the database.

Trigana has had 14 serious incidents since it began operations in 1991, according to the Aviation Safety Network’s online database. Excluding this latest incident, it has written off 10 aircraft.

Indonesia has a patchy aviation safety record and has seen two major plane crashes in the past year, including an AirAsia flight that went down in the Java Sea, killing all on board.

That crash prompted the government to introduce regulations aimed at improving safety.

Indonesia's president promised a review of the aging air force fleet in July after a military transport plane crashed in the north of the country, killing more than 100 people





 o.m.g not again

KCEE Is A Blessing To My Music Career - Harrysong

In an exclusive interview with morhs magazine, Five Star Music act Harrysong aka Mr. Reggae Blues spoke about his friendship with label mate, KCee.
Harrysong described his meeting and subsequent friendship with KCee as a blessing.
He said: “KCee is a friend, colleague, elder brother and a blessing to me. We met when I was performing at O Jez nite club. He encouraged me and sprayed money (on me). We later got talking. He told me how good I was. We became friends and the rest is history.”

Harrysong also commented on the rumours that he writes songs for the Limpopo singer.
“For KCee, it is different,” he said. “Fine, I am a writer, I write for everybody, but in Five Star, we work as a team. Sometimes, even E Money will come in during the session. He will listen and make suggestions. We will all come together share ideas and come up with something meaningful.”

He described a writing process at the label: “When KCee writes a chorus and I write the verse, I can’t say it is written by me. When Soso brings the idea of the melody, I put words into it, I can’t say that this song is written by me. The Five Star team as a whole works together.”
When asked If he would have made Limpopo a bigger hit, if he had sang it, he said: “I don’t know. Sometimes, as a writer, you never knew how big a song will be till you sing it. Limpopo is for the Limpopo king and it did well for him.”

He, however, confirmed that he had written a lot of award-winning songs for others artists as well as himself.
“I have written and sang a lot of good songs for myself,” he said. “Mandela has the highest caller tune in Africa. Nobody has beaten that till today, and Better Pinkin is big; I wrote it for myself.”
The full version of the exclusive interview will be published in the coming days; stay tuned.

'I Almost Committed Suicide'- Janet Jackson Reveals

Janet Jackson with Hijab

Janet who is married to Quatari Muslim Billionaire Wissam Al Mana, disclosed that she almost committed suicide because of the restrictions and burden her new life and religion brought upon her, saying it was not an easy transformation.
According to MTV News, she revealed that she has been deprived of almost everything in life, as she could not listen to music, drive a car, wear designer clothes only the “Black Abaya” and could not even move outside her residential home, in Doha as she was always surrounded by heavily armed security men.
Janet said her new song feat J.Cole “No Sleep” says it all from her marriage, to the difficulties involved in adapting to her new life, the stress involved in being a Muslim wife and the regrets she had due to the choices she made.

See more photos below:

Janet Wissam

Janet

Janet and Husband

Pregnant Kim Kardashian Goes Wild And Naked

The 34-year-old, who is expecting her second baby in December, shared the intimate photo with her fans on Instagram along with the hashtags #NoFilter #NoPhotoShop #GoodLighting.
The reality star says that she made this naked selfie to dispel all the rumours and to prove that she is actually pregnant.

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READ ALSO: Pregnant Kim Kardashian Shows Her Extremely Big Breasts At Birthday Party
She wrote: “First they say I’m too skinny so I have to be faking it… Now they say I’m too big so I have to be faking it…SMH! 
Some days I’m photographed before I eat & look smaller, some days I’ve just eaten & I look bigger. It’s all a part of the process.

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I think you all know me well enough to know I would document the process if I got a surrogate. Everyone’s body is different, every pregnancy is very different!
I’ve learned to love my body at every stage! I’m going to get even bigger & that’s beautiful too!
READ ALSO: Kim Kardashian Shows Her Behind In The Dirtiest Photoshoot Ever

I’m blessed to even be pregnant & even luckier to not have preeclampsia as far as I know, so I don’t have the swelling issue this time! They also say your body carries a boy different than a girl! 
Whatever the case may be I’m grateful to God for this miracle & no matter what rumors or comments you throw my way this time they truly don’t affect me!”

How D'banj Publicly Declares Love For Ex- Girlfriend

Rave making Nigerian music artist, D’banj also known as Kokomaster took a time out to celebrate his lover, best friend and the Queen of his heart, Adama Idimi as she turned a year older today.

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D’banj

In celebrating his love for his former lover and billionaire’s daughter, D’banj did not only wish her a happy birthday but seized the opportunity to publicly declare his love for her.
READ ALSO: See Matheba Bonang’s Latest Acquisition; Worth $210,000
D’banj and his Ex-girlfriend, Adama were reported to have been dating on/off since 2011.
However, nobody knows who D’banj is emotionally attached with as the Kokomaster recently shared a public kiss with South Africa’s TV personality and girlfriend, Bonang Matheba during the just concluded MTV MAMA Awards.
See post and picture below:

Happy Birthday to this very beautiful and extraordinary woman, She’s 1 in a life time..my best friend, my closest and best ally, my beautiful princess the Queen of my heart @presido have a blast my dear. I love you very much babe. Muah!

A photo posted by D’banj D Kokomaster (@iambangalee) on Aug 12, 2015 at 10:16am PDT

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D’banj and Bonang kissing

In recent times, D’banj visits award winning South African rapper and star, Cassper Nyovest at his Lagos residence.

Diss Track Battle Over As Meek Mill Concedes Defeat

The Drake vs. Meek Mill beef will go down as one of hip-hop’s fiercest in recent times and it all started with a Twitter rant from Meek. 
In the rant, Meek, who is currently dating Drake’s label mate and friend, Nicki Minaj, accused the YOLO originator of not writing his own raps.
Meek later alluded to the real reason for his anger towards Drake – the latter had failed to promote a song both rappers did together.
Drake initially ignored Meek’s rants, allowing his fans to do the talking for him. Eventually, the Canadian dropped not one but two diss tracks targeted at Meek.
READ ALSO: Everything You Need To Know About The Meek Mill Vs Drake Beef [+ Diss Songs]
Nicki’s boyfriend, who is also the opening act on her current US tour, responded with his own diss track, Wanna Know, which was viewed as weak at best by critics.
However, it seems now, Meek is ready to bury the hatchet as he has reportedly removed the song from music streaming site, Soundcloud.
He also stated that he is no longer interested in beefing Drake or anyone else.

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He wrote on Instagram: “We really only focusing on making it out that’s the only war we fighting…… am not entertaining no rap/real beef over Drake s/o a rapper! I can’t fall for the oldest trick in the book and I never shoulda entertained it becoz it me bring me no money or success…
“Ima take blame for it even tho “I can’t stand” anything I do or say and N***az know…. Everybody know everybody watching and everything beyond what’s going on. Is stupid to be reaching on about a bunch of ni**as just tryna get on and in the game…
“I been in these streets having money for a long time ‘Shinning hard’ and never had a problem I came up from nothing and my name good…. I don’t feel like I gotta prove myself to the people and end up in real situation over this fake rap sh*t… am just on some next level sh*t with it tryna touch some real paper… leave all that murder one sh*t in the street if you tryna get rich and make it out!
All this killer sh*t on social media is like walking yourself into prison and that ain’t my lifestyle and don’t really make sense to me… I’m getting way too much money to even process the thought of throwing it away to about ni**as talking about eachother like girls they just was claiming they was cool and at the end of the day they all tryna get on! All I can is do ya thing but ni**a better smarten up!”
READ ALSO: Nigerian Rap Sensation Hints On Collaboration With Jay Z

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However, the post was  deleted after a few hours.
Nigerian star, Davido had featured Meek on his single, Fans Mi. The omo baba olowo was later reported to be on the NDLEA’s wanted list for certain scenes in the video of the song.

Adama Indimi Looks Stunning In New Photos

CEO of Kauna Solutions Ltd, Adama Indimi has released new lovely photos to celebrate her birthday.

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Adama turned a year older, yesterday, August 13, she stuns in the photo-shoot tagged, ‘if I were a president’.
Adama rocked very formal, official looks befitting to a president.

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Adama changed her looks from a military officials uniform to that of a sultan.
Adama completed her military look with a matching wine coloured beret and aviator shades, a traditional Hausa hat with Kaftan.

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photos shot by Big H Studios with makeup by Jide of St Ola.
Happy belated birthday to her.

Rihanna Steps Out Braless

Rihanna was reported to have stepped out in a sheer top and cut-out sweatpants as she headed to a tattoo parlor in her New York neighborhood yesterday.




However, it was speculated few weeks back that former couple, Rihanna and Chris Brown are planning a comeback.

Cable news station, Al Jazeera is set to air a new documentary shot in Nigeria and designed for the Nigerian market.

Premiering on Al Jazeera English on Monday, 24 August, “My Nigeria” is a series of six half-hour documentaries designed to tell the human story.

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From stand-up comedian, Basketmouth to Nollywood star turned politician, Kate Henshaw, from ICT expert Gbenga Sesan to fashion designer Deola Sagoe, from football coach Femi Bamigboye to female mechanic Sandra Aguebor, each film focuses on one central character who invites viewers into their world, sharing their story in their own words

Chelsea defender, Kurt Zouma is expecting a tough match away to Manchester City in their Barclays Premier League Match Day 2 fixture on Sunday.

He is, however, relishing the challenge that awaits the team and this is because of the impressive performance he produced against Manchester City at the end of January, when the Premier League’s top two sides met at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea five points clear at the summit.
Four days earlier, Chelsea had beaten Liverpool to progress to the Capital One Cup final when Zouma shone from the off. It was enough to earn him only his second start in England’s top-flight for the visit of their nearest title rivals.
“It is a good memory,” he recalled in a chat with the official Chelsea website. “And it was an important stage in my development.
“First of all I played the game and I was really proud of that. We drew 1-1 and we defended well. For my part I think I did well against a good attack, helping the team to a draw.
“We know we are playing against a good team on Sunday and it will be difficult, but we have a chance to win. I think it will be a very interesting game.
“It’s a chance early in the season to show why we are champions. We want to defend our title. The season after a very good season is always hard but we have to show we are ready to try and do it.”
Zouma showed his versatility in the 2014/15 season when he lined up in central midfield for certain games, most notably the League Cup triumph over Tottenham at Wembley.
He had grown up as a right-sided defender but both in the pre-season game against Barcelona and the Community Shield he featured on the other side of the back four.
Cesc Fabregas would also make his 50th appearance for Chelsea if selected for the game.
The Spaniard’s 49 appearances to date have come in the Premier League (35), the FA Cup (1), the League Cup (4), the Champions League (8) and the recent Community Shield.