Saturday, december 19, 2015 new by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Vol. 5 No. 52

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015

SPORT

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National Mirror Online

INVESTIGATION

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Ahmed Musa set One for Rio Olympics day, one death action

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POLITICS

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Appeal Court sacks Akwa Ibom governor

Fuel to sell below N87 next year –NNPC

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L-R: Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; President Muhammadu Buhari and wife, Aisha Buhari; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, during the President’s 73rd birthday celebrations in Abuja, yesterday.

Ex-NSA Dasuki, 4 others granted bail

So ni a P.1 9

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Shell liable for Nigeria’s 85 yr-old-man oil spills –Dutch court commits suicide

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Sealxk T

Are you having too much sex?

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

INSIDE Entervaganza

The Saturday Mirror Magazine

Sex talk

I am a radical Emir —Sanusi A zA Msue Kaduna

Are you having too much of a good thing? (II) P.34

Fashion Frenzy Get the Christmas look! Get the Christmas look! P.24

Relationships Would you pick a house girl or houseboy? P.34

Tamara ... top actress

divorce

court

‘He brings his girlfriends to our matrimonial home’ Page 37

SOCIETY Mirror

Meet Tony Elumelu’s wife, Awele

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Dear Bukola

My guy is a Muslim

Top Stories

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People

Meet woman who fell in love with her rapist

ormer Central Bank Governor and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, yesterday, declared that he is now a full radical emir. Sanusi added that he graduated from late Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman’s school of progressive struggle to become a radical teacher, banker and now, a radical Emir. The Emir said that struggle only has meaning if it is against injustice and oppression, as any other struggle is meaningless. Speaking at the 10th anniversary memorial seminar in honour of late Yusuf Bala Usman, organised by the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training, the Emir said the message Bala left is a message that all should

Sanusi

take home. According to Sanusi:

“We spent so

85-year-old man commits suicide in Imo eric elezuo

ragedy struck in the sleepy town of Amoji-Ogbe in Ahiara Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday, December 10, 2015, when an 85 years old man, identified as Mr. Gilbert Ikechukwu, hung himself in a move many claimed was caused by frustration occasioned by abandonment by his children, and the tiresome job of taking care of his hypertensive wife. According to a close family source, the father of ten children, spread into six males and four females, was said to be saddled with the responsibility of taking care of his hypertensive wife, Mrs. Agnes Ikechukwu, who had long been bedridden. The source added that the circumstance had warranted that the octogenarian became the sole home keeper for himself and the invalid wife, even as their children stay in various cities of the country. “This man was neglected for so long as all his children had left their country home for greener pastures elsewhere. However, no one gave a thought to how the couple will be catered for. The situation therefore, bestowed all household chores upon the old

man even in his frail nature. Consequently, washing of cloths, dishes, cooking and farming among other menial jobs became the exclusive preserve of the old man,” the source said. The source added that prior to the incident, late Ikechukwu had made sporadic appeals to his children to come to the aid of their mother, and help him in giving her adequate care. The family source stressed that the late father of 10 had advised, in his frustration, that the children should take their mother away for adequate medical attention, but all pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Matters however, came to a head when on the said Thursday, the man out of frustration, gave the wife the beating of her life, which landed her in the hospital. “The stress the old man was going through made him demand assistance from his wife. And when the assistance was not forthcoming, he descended on her and beat her up, sending her to the hospital in the aftermath,” it said. However, while the woman was taken to the hospital, the old man quietly went into his kitchen, and hung himself in what many described as an avenue to escape the continued care for his wife.

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Crime Watch

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many decades fighting a system, and every time we think we have defeated one system, the next one seems to be even worse, and it is like an uphill task, if you look at what we were fighting in the 1970’s and 1980’s against the MPN, and compare the MPN with what came after that, the MPN will look like an angel. “So, we are at a point in this country where we actually have to reverse this trend. For us that were in ABU in the 70’s, we were inspired or taught by late Bala; he was an undisputed leader of Northern progressives, most of us graduated to becoming radical teachers to radical professors, to radical bankers and radical emirs, but we never left the essential message of Bala, and it is a message that all of us should take home. “In life, struggle only has meaning if it is against injustice and oppression; any other struggle is meaningless; fighting for ethnicity, starting needless and mindless religious wars, and struggle for spores of power, are not worth it. The Emir added: “People are dying every day from a lack of education; lack healthcare; lack of security, bad governance, corruption, bad economic policies, and the real struggle that is meaningful in our lives is to try to improve that situation, and fight against those injustices. “It has been my misfortune to be under categorised in government though I am not a card bearing member of any political party, but I have friends who shared the same vision of Bala Usman, and that is what brought us together. “I pray that this seminar will continue the tradition of cultivating minds and setting mind sets, programmes, and hopefully, those minds will be integral to the change that we want, which is the removal of oppression and injustice, and the creation of a better society which was the dream of late Bala Usman,” he said.

Nigerian student jailed in UK for burning lover’s genitals with hot iron during sex

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Police rescue mother, daughter from kidnappers

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former student, who burned her lover’s genitals with a hot iron while they were having sex has been jailed. Kenya Alozie, 31, of no fixed abode, pressed the appliance down on the man’s legs and genitals before slashing his hand with a broken bottle. The attack, which took place in May at a property in Plumstead, South East London, left the victim needing surgery for burns and deep wounds. Alozie has now been jailed for nine years after being found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of Grievous Bodily Harm, GBH. The court heard that the attack took place while Alozie and the man, who

Alozie

was in his 30s, were having sex at an accommodation where she was living with friends.

At the time of the attack, Alozie’s student visa was due to expire and she was expected to return to her family in Nigeria a few weeks later. She was caught on May 24 at Heathrow Airport as she was preparing to leave the country and charged with GBH with intent. Alozie had studied at Coventry University. Detective Constable Duncan Clark from Greenwich Police, said: “Alozie committed a calculated and pre-planned attack. She ensured she had a broken bottle to hand and a hot iron to strike the victim and seriously harm him. “The sentence imposed clearly reflects the seriousness of this extremely violent attack.” (Mailonline.com)

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Saturday Starter

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Army versus al-Zak-Zaky: Another Boko Haram in the making?

Ibrahim al Zak-Zaky, Islamic scholar, leader, Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, is no stranger to controversies. Since the 80s when he introduced Shia Islam into the country, the scholar has been at regular logger heads with security agency and even the bigger and main stream Sunni Muslims in the country. But the recent clamp down on IMN in Kaduna, leading to killings by men of the Nigerian Army, calls for serious introspection on how the Federal government and religious leaders in the country have engaged alZak-Zaky, his movement and his followers, writes NICK UWERU.

eaving up to its â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;notorietyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the Nigerian social media went on overdrive minutes after the first bullet felled the protesting Shiite along Sokoto Road, Zaria, Kaduna. That was on 12, December, 2015. 48 hours later, no less than 100 bodies, mostly civilians, had been dumped in the morgue of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospitals; all victims of the altercation between the army and the Muslim group. Facebook, twitter and CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Saturday Starter

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‘Killings could drive sect to increase radicalism’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

many other platforms on the super highway were agog with snippets, reports, photos and videos of the killings of Shiite Muslims. This incident may well be one of the bloodiest of many face-offs between the Shiites and security agencies in the country. Since the 80s when a fiery, young and brilliant Islamic cleric, Ibrahim al-ZakZaky, ushered in the brand of Shia (Shiite) Islam into the country, the story of the religion in the country has not been the same. Shia, also a major Islamic group, is in eternal rivalry with the Sunnis, the dominant Muslim group who look up to the Sokoto Caliphate as spiritual head of the Muslims in Nigeria. What with its strong ties with Iraq and Iran, Shia, for many countries with strong ties to the Western countries is viewed with suspicion. Shiites, especially in Nigeria, rampantly accuse federal government of playing lackey to the West in their alleged effort to crush Shia Islam around the world. Then there is their rivalry with the Sunnis in Nigeria. These antecedents have led to a great deal of volatility in areas where Shiites are a significant minority. Only last year, the Shiites engaged the army in a face off that led to the killings of many of their members, including the sons of al-ZakZaky himself. Their processions have been attacked by suicide bombers on a number of occasions. But the recent killings in Zaria may account for the bloodiest of all these altercations. Apart from the uproar it has raised around the world, diplomatic circles have also taken umbrage at the scale of casualties, asking federal government and army authorities to probe the incident. President Mohammadu Buhari, last week, visited Kaduna State to attend the convocation ceremony of the state owned university in the capital. Though nowhere near Zaria, scene of the killings, Tukur Buratai, Buhari’s army chief, travelled to Zaria on a scheduled visit to see the Emir of Zazzau. The Shia Muslims, quite coincidentally, were having one of their festivals. As they wont to do, often leading to altercations with authority and other Muslim groups, the Shiites blocked the route the COAS was meant to pass. Reportedly, the religious procession was being organised by Shiites and loyalists of al-Zak-Zaki, also the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, the umbrella body of Shiites in the country. They were said to have accosted the convoy of Buratai, Nigeria’s chief of army staff, COAS. The figures of those who died during the incident is shifty, though, a more conservative estimate put the killings at 15 at that first instance. Army says that it had to use lethal force

Offshore protests at Shiite killings in Nigeria

to safeguard its chief when it appears he was in danger from the religious procession that blockaded the right of way of COAS. But IMN says Buratai was never in danger because all his escorts encountered were just a religious procession in honour of the Holy Prophet. But pictures and videos in circulation in the social media say otherwise. More or less, it was more of standoff. If the incident of that Saturday could be explained as just sheer misunderstanding brought about by the not too cordial relationship between the army and Shiites in Kaduna, nothing logical explains the events that followed. As reported, the army, barely an hour after the Sokoto Road incident mobilized and invaded three key religious centres of the Shiites. These were big temple called the Hussaniyya; the area occupied by the sect leader in Gyelleus and another temple somewhere on Danbo road. According to the army, it got intelligence that the Muslims were mobilizing with a view to causing mayhem after the Sokoto Road killings. Though the army says that it only attempted to bring the situation under control, IMN and some eyewitnesses give contrary accounts. IMN stated later in a release that the soldiers opened fire on local residents who were trying to protect al-Zak-Zaky, the Shiite cleric. Also, eyewitnesses said that

Sheikh Mahmoud Mohammad Touri and Dr. Mostafa, the Nigerian leader’s deputy and physician, respectively, Zakzaky were killed in the raid. Witnesses to the operation also said that the army surrounded the Leader’s house after multiple raids. “All those inside the house were killed and Sheikh was arrested and taken away by the soldier,” one of the witnesses added. But the army authority, though, admits that it invaded these areas, see it all from a peace operation effort. At a press briefing on Monday, Adeniyi Oyebade, a major general, General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Mechanised Army Division, Kaduna, along with the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu, says it is the responsibility of the security forces to bring law and order within the rules of engagement. “The Shi’ite leader and his wife are safe and in protective custody,” Oyebade claimed that it had to respond with force after it became apparent that COAS was in danger and when it gathered that al-ZakZaky’s men were mobilizing to foment trouble. By his account, the COAS advance team, that fateful Saturday, had cleared the road up to and including the city centre for passage. “There was no problem. The same security team made a U-turn to now bring in the COAS’ convoy which is

our normal security routine whenever we are escorting our boss. “But shockingly enough, members of the Shi’ite sect, led by El-Zakzaky, blocked the Sokoto road to be precise and we found that that was unusual, but because we thought that they were being overzealous so two senior officers in the COAS’ convoy came down from their vehicles appealing to these hoodlums to please clear the road so that the COAS can go ahead with his scheduled programme,” Oyebade explained the army’s side of the story. There were other accounts, too, that Buratai placed a call to al-Zak-Zaky to prevail on his followers to let him pass but got no positive response from the cleric. “The resistance, in our calculation, was premeditated and of course whenever any VIP or any facility is under our charge, we must secure that person or the property, in this case, the COAS. It came to our quick conclusion that the life of the COAS was under threat and so we had no other option than to force way through the blockage with the use of lethal weapons. “This is allowed within the rules of engagement. “As if that was not enough, as COAS was moving through, they were mobilizing in their hundreds,” said the army officer. But the Shiite group debunks the claims of the army, stating that the actions of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Saturday Starter

‘Shiites processions provocative’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Shiites procession in Nigeria

soldiers. Soldiers proves that elements in the army chose the opportunity to deal with Shiite members. For instance, Ibrahim Musa, the group’s spokesman, said that the killings were so brutal at Gyallesu that even those injured in the shooting were identified and mercilessly killed in cold blood by the soldiers. “The victims run into their hundreds, if not thousands. Considering the gross violation of fundamental human rights and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, the Islamic Movement condemns these unjustifiable acts. “We state categorically that the claim by the Army that members of the Movement attempted to assassinate the chief of army staff was a blatant lie as the Army came back to launch their attack more than an hour after the COAS had passed. The killings and rash of reporting by the media aided with pictorial accompaniment was quite benumbing. On the part of Federal Government and key stakeholders, the reaction has been mixed. For Shehu Sani, Senator from Kaduna, the killings were unjustifiable. He is currently spearheading Senates effort at probing the incident. Though the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has opened investigation into the matter it is

yet to make any public statement of note on the matter. But if the reaction in the country has been tepid, the uproar off-shore has been massive. First, Iranian government had condemned the killings, summoning Nigeria’s envoy to its country to explain the happenings. Reacting also, Senior Iraqi Shiite cleric and leader of the Sadrist Movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, on Monday strongly criticized the Nigerian army over the attack. Sadr said in a statement posted on his official website, that what happened in Nigeria was an act of terrorism, adding that the trend is “serious and dangerous.” He alleged that the Nigerian government is trying to label religious groups like Shiites as ISIS as way of killing off opposition. He also added that it is the only way it could “kill Shiites without the guilt.” Sadr asked that if government attacks unarmed supporters of Sheikh al-Zakzaky and intentionality arrest him without any crime just because he is an opponent, “where is the freedom and democracy?” For some observers, the recent clamp down on Shia Muslims should raise spectre of fear. This is because the violence echoes a 2009 operation in which Muhammad Yusuf, former leader of Boko Haram,

a Sunni Muslim, was executed in police custody. Several hundred of his followers were also killed, sparking an armed insurgency that has raged since and cost tens of thousands of lives. Experts in conflict analysis fear that, given the precedent of spiralling violence after what critics say is the disproportionate use of force by the military, the government of President Buhari faces a new security challenge in the impoverished north. “They already have a narrative of victimhood and the fact that so many of their followers have been killed will drive them into increased radicalism,” said Jibrin Ibrahim, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja. Hundreds of Islamic Movement supporters protested the killings in the northern cities of Kaduna and Kano on Tuesday as reported. On social media some activists condemned the army’s conduct, calling the deaths a “massacre”. Ibrahim cast doubt on the army’s characterisation of the group as “heavily armed”. “I do not think they are likely to take the course of terrorism because they are not in that type of ideological frame as

Boko Haram or Isis, but their conflict with the state and in particular with the armed forces is likely to continue,” he said. While Nigeria’s Muslim community is traditionally Sunni, Mr Zakzaky has steadily expanded his following over the past 30 years. The 62-year-old has stressed his group is peaceful and recently condemned a Boko Haram suicide attack on a Shia march that killed more than 20 of his followers. However, tensions between his Islamic Movement and the authorities have been rising for years, leading to repeated clashes at gatherings. “They conduct themselves as an alternative government with no respect for authority,” the senior official said. The Muslim Rights Concern, a rights group, warned that Mr Zakzaky’s supporters could “become radicalised and militarised” if the government does not conduct a fair investigation into the killings. Clement Nwanko, a civil rights activist, said the army’s “heavy handedness” in dealing with minorities such as the Shia was a worry, adding the weekend deaths are likely to “make people feel like martyrs and that makes them more likely to radicalise”.

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NATIONAL NEWS

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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Appeal Court sacks Akwa Ibom governor ...orders fresh election

he Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the Akwa Ibom State governorship election of April 11, removing the declared winner, Udom Emmanuel, from office. Emmanuel’s election was challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Umana Umana. At the election tribunal, Mr. Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had secured partial victory, with the election cancelled only in 18 out of the state’s

31 local government areas. The tribunal had ordered a rerun. Mr. Emmanuel had challenged the ruling, insisting he won in all 31 LGAs. The APC candidate, Mr. Umana, also appealed against the ruling, seeking a total nullification of the election. A five-man panel at the Court of Appeal on Thursday dismissed Mr. Emmanuel’s argument, and cancelled the entire election. The appeal court said the tribunal was wrong in its refusal to comply with

section 179 (2) of the Constitution. The court said having agreed with the evidence of principal witnesses, video evidence, and evidence from state collation agents, the tribunal should have concluded that there was no collation and that votes were merely allotted. “The question is, if there was no collation, can there be said to be an election,” the court asked. “Indeed where there was no collation of election, there cannot be said to be an election.”

The tribunal was wrong in failing to nullify the entire election, the court ruled, setting aside the judgement of the tribunal in the 13 LGAs. “The entire election is hereby nullified. The election that brought Mr. Udom is hereby nullified,” it ruled. The appeal court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh election within 90 days. The nullification would make it the second of such by the appellate court after that of Nyisom Wike

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); Wife of Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman, Hajai Aishat; National Leader, All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and his Kastina State counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Masari, during the 10th Anniversary Memorial Seminar in Hounor of Late Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman in Kaduna, on Friday, December 18, 2015.

was nullified by the appeal court earlier in the week. Wike has since approached the Supreme Court for

final adjudication on the matter. As at press time, it is not yet certain if Udom would follow the same step.

Political corruption biggest threat to Nigeria –Oyegun obIora Ifoh, ABUJA

ational Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has identified corruption, especially political corruption as the biggest threat to sustainable development in Nigeria today. Odigie-Oyegun said this while delivering a keynote address at the end-of-year dinner of the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) in Abuja. The APC National Chairman said that Nigeria’s Civil Service can play an important role in curbing political corruption just as it has played roles in enabling political corruption. He submitted that the Civil Service remains the fulcrum for national development in this era of Change. The APC National Chairman, himself a one-

time Permanent Secretary, lamented that the prevailing public opinion is that the Civil Service is a hotbed for corruption, ineptitude and mediocrity hence the current commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to rid the nation of the scourge. According to Odigie-Oyegun, while the generality Nigerians misunderstand the philosophy and modus operandi of the Civil Service, it remains one of the most important institutions for national cohesion and development. “I can confidently affirm that even at that time, the Service was often not appreciated by the generality of Nigerians who misunderstood our philosophy and modus operandi. Notwithstanding then, as at today, yet the Civil Service remains one of the most important institutions to national cohesion and development” he said.

Ex-NSA Dasuki, 4 others granted bail

Doosuur Iwambe

ABUJA WITH AGENCY REPORTS

High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has granted bail to former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, and four others standing trial for alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust. Others standing trial over a 19-count charge preferred against them include, a former director of finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Group General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Baba Kusa and two firms, Acacia

Holdings Limited and Reliance Reference Hospital. Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf granted bail to the accused persons on the sum of N250 Million on the condition that they produce a surety each who must be a serving or retired civil servant not lower than the rank of a director. The civil servant must also show possession of a property within the FCT worth the same amount, the judge ordered. All the accused were also asked to deposit copies of their international passports with the court registrar. They are to also notify the court of any travel arrangement outside the FCT. Mr. Dasuki is accused of mis-spending about $2.1 billion meant for the purchase

of weapons for the fight against extremist group, Boko Haram. He denies wrongdoing. It would be recalled that Justice Baba- Yusuf had earlier ordered that Dasuki and the Director of Finance and Administration at the NSA’s office, Shuaibu Salisu to be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the hearing of the bail application. The embattled former NSA and two others were on Monday arraigned before the court on 19 fresh charges bordering on alleged illegal diversion of public funds, which they all pleaded not guilty. When the bail application. Was argued, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) urged the

court to dismiss thee bail application of the accused persons on the ground that they will jump bail. Others charged alongside Dasuki and Salisu are Aminu Baba-Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. According to the charge sheet read to the accused persons by the court registrar, the sum of N1.45 billion was transferred into the account of Acacia Holdings Limited for special prayers; N170 million was used for the purchase of a four-bedroom duplex; N2.1 billion was paid into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited ; N380 million was shared to support re- election of members of the House of Representatives; and an-

other N750 million was paid into the account of Reliance Referral Hospital Limited for special prayers. Other expenditures include the payment of N670 million to a publisher; the transfer of N260 million to Chief Tony Anenih and another N345 million traced to Dr, Iyorchia Ayu, erstwhile Senate President. The charges in part read: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser and Hon. Waripamowei Dudafa (now at large) whilst bring Senior Special Assistant , Domestic Affairs to the President

on or about 27th November within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N10billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with the CBN, the equivalent of which sum you received from the CBN in foreign currencies to wit: $47million and €5.6million Euros committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you claimed to have distributed same to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Presidential Primary Election delegates and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

NATIONAL NEWS

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Fuel may sell below N87/ litre next year –NNPC Chidi UgwU, ABUJA

he price of petrol may be less than N87 per litre by next year, latest findings by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, have revealed. According to the NNPC, the current pricing template for petrol, which was prepared by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, contains significant inefficiencies that should be reviewed. The corporation’s Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Mr. Bello Rabiu, told journalists

in Abuja on Friday that going by the fall in the price of crude oil, it was important to consult relevant stakeholders in order to produce an adjusted template. Rabiu said consultation with stakeholders was to negotiate and reduce some of the costs associated with the importation of petrol, adding that the government had the target of reducing the amount charged for logistics and distribution margin on every litre of premium motor spirit consumed in Nigeria. The GGM was affirmative that the adjusted template would sure-

ly have a considerable reduction in the pump price of petrol when it is completed before the end of the first quarter of next year, stressing that when this is achieved, there would be no need for subsidy as the import price of PMS would have reduced considerably. Rabiu said, “We are engaging industry

stakeholders to review the PPPRA template that actually drives the cost of importation. This is because the actual cost of PMS minus the retail price of the product is subsidy. So if the cost falls to N80 per litre today, then where will the need be for subsidy? If the cost is less than the current retail price of N87 then it means there

is no subsidy. “So we are looking at the template to have it reviewed considering the realities on ground now in the sector. What if after the review we are able to take away about N10 from this current template, which today puts the cost of petrol at N91.52 litre, then it means the cost may come down to around

N82 per litre. “That is why we said there is no need for subsidy in the 2016 budget. We say this because we know that the price of crude oil will not go so high in the next 12 months because of the high level of saturation in the market. So as soon as it is appropriate, we will announce a new price for PMS.”

FRSC says no shift in speed limit date control date OlUsegUn KOiKi

he Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has reiterated its stance on the commencement of speed limit control in Nigeria on April 1, 2016. The traffic agency insisted that it would not change the scheduled date for whatever reason. The Head of Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Mr. Bisi Kazeem in a statement issued yesterday said that as part of its continuing efforts to ensure efficient implementation of the policy on the use of speed limiting devices in Nigeria, the corps held an interactive session with the representatives of companies accredited for the installation of the devices with resolution by all to work towards the success of the policy. Kazeem quoted the Corps Marshal, Mr. Bob-

oye Oyeyemi as saying that it was its commitment to issues of road safety that informed the introduction of the policy on the use of speed liming devices in the country. He added that its vendors promised to do their best to ensure that the devices were readily made available in standard forms for installation into vehicles and uploading of the information on the FRSC portal as agreed to in the agreement signed with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, before their accreditation. Oyeyemi expressed optimism about the success of the policy, noting that it could lead to drastic reduction in the rate of road traffic crashes and added that he called the meeting to have a firsthand information about the level of preparedness of the vendors to fulfill their own part of the obligations to the public.

New commander to lead war against Boko Haram

Traffick gridlock at Ikoyi Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

he Defence Headquarters has restructured the Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East to reposition it for more efficiency, effectiveness and combat readiness in the discharge of its assigned tasks of crushing the remnant of terrorists. Consequently, a new Theatre Commander has been appointed, the military’s Director of Defence Information, Rabe

Abubakar, has said. He is Hassan Umoru. Until his appointment, Mr. Umoru, a Major General, was the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division Nigerian Army. Mr. Umoru is succeeding Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar, a Major General, who was appointed four months ago. The Defence Headquarters did not say why he was removed. Also appointed is the

Deputy Theatre Commander who is Major General Lucky Irabor. According to Mr. Abubakar, a Brigadier General, “The changes are part of the reorganisation by the Defence Headquarters in line with the force restructuring of its operations to attain the overall objectives of the Chief of Defence Staff. “The aim of this new development is to restrategise and inject

new tactics to the existing operational procedures with the aim of finally knocking out the terrorists who now devised means of hitting soft targets through suicide bombings and isolated attacks on remote villages. “Operation Lafiya Dole will continue to be responsive until all elements of terrorists are finally crushed.” Premium Times

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A zA Msue, KADUNA

he minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, on Thursday denied that government was planning to raise the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre from January 2016 just as former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has called for total withdrawal of fuel subsidy. Mr. Kachikwu, who doubles as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said in Abuja that the plan is for a more scientific price modulation arrangement that would make prices elastic and allow them to be reviewed periodically to reflect the impact of the prevailing crude oil price at the international market. When operational, he said the new arrangement would place a N97 per litre cap on the price of fuel to ensure that Nigerians were insulated from the vagaries of the up and down movements in global crude oil

NATIONAL NEWS price at the international market. “I did not say that refined petroleum products will sell for N97 per litre next year,” he explained. “What I said was that between a band of N87 and N97 per litre of petrol, we are going to be looking at fuel prices. Today, fuel prices are largely close to N87 per litre. So, there is no need to change the price at the pump.’’ To determine the price of petroleum products in future, the minister said t the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority, PPPRA, the government agency responsible for regulating the petroleum products prices in the country, would undertake quarterly reviews of the crude oil market situation to determine the current fuel price. “I have not put a static figure on what the new fuel price would be. PPPRA will have to do the calculations to be able to announce what the price of PMS will sell in January. But, we do not anticipate any major shift, because of the price of crude oil today,’’ he said.

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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No plans to hike fuel price –FG Latest PPPRA petroleum products pricing template on December 17, 2015 showed total retail petrol price at N90.60 per litre, an indication that the current level of subsidy by the government dropped to N3.60 per litre. With crude oil price at the end of trading on Thursday at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) declining further by 1.75 per cent, from $35.52 per barrel to N34.90, close watchers of the price movements at the international oil market say the price at the pump was likely to drop further in the near future. The world’s leading crude oil producers, particularly

the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), are not helping matters a bit, as they appear to have stuck to their decision not to intervene, by cutting their production ceilings to strengthen crude oil price and stabilize the market. Meanwhile, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the subsidy regime now as it has over stayed its usefulness. Tinubu said that for the country to move forward, the subsidy regime need to go as the ordinary Nigerians are no longer benefiting from it. Delivering a keynote address, entitled, “Towards the

economic liberation of Nigeria, Bala Usman’s enduring relevance at the memorial Conference organized in honour of the Late Dr Bala Usman by the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training, Zaria, held in Kaduna, Tinubu said his call for subsidy removal is not mere talk but a call to action by those in authority. Tinubu said: “In a perfect world, I wish we could sanitize the subsidy regime and thus continue it. However, I have reached the conclusion that there are too many demons in the system for that hell to be turned into heaven. “Better that we remove it,

Dutch court says Shell can be liable for Nigeria spills Nick uweru

A R-L: President Muhammamudu Buhari; Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka in Statehouse, yesterday.

ObiOrA ifOh, ABUJA

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on January 14 elect a substantive Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman to take over from Mohammed Haliru Bello, who has been heading the board in acting capacity. The party, in preparation for 2019 general elections, is also putting modalities in place to woo aggrieved members and founding fathers, who have left the party. This was disclosed yesterday by the BoT Secretary, Walid Jubrin, while reading the communique of the BoT meeting held on Friday in

PDP elects substantive BoT Chairman January 14

...To woos aggrieved members, founding fathers Abuja. Fielding questions from journalists, while speaking on the legal crisis rocking the leadership of the party, Jubrin said all matters concerning the well-being of the party would be discussed on January 14, where a larger meeting of the board would be held. On the chances of the party in 2019, the BoT Secretary said PDP is not in shambles but alive and kicking, adding that it has

not for the austere purpose of saving money but to use the money more wisely that we might better save the people. Let us begin a process of a thoughtful but decisive subsidy phase-out. “While this is occurring, we should simultaneously phase in social programs benefiting the poorest, most vulnerable among us. “Programs such as transportation subsidies, school feeding, improved basic medical care and coverage for the poor, and potable water projects are some of the things that can be done with the same funds.”, insisting that, “What I have said here is more than talk. It is a call to action.”

opportunity now to win the 2019 general elections. Asked who would be contesting the positions, Jubrin said, “The issue will be discussed on the 14th of January, I don’t know the contenders, but if Bello wants to contest he is welcome.” He said: “BoT is the conscience of the party. We have decided that all legal matters will be looked into on the 14th of next month, to bring sanity to the party.

“PDP is not in shambles, the party is alive and kicking. Peoples are aggrieved, we are ready to dialogue with aggrieved members and founding fathers within and outside the party. “We have the opportunity now to win election in 2019. If we don’t come out now, God will not forgive us, we have to come out now and address issues in the party. On the 14th, we will do the right thing without fear of anybody.”

Dutch Appeals Court ruled on Friday that Royal Dutch Shell can be held liable for oil spills at its subsidiary in Nigeria. Judges in The Hague ordered Shell to make available to the court documents that might shed light on the cause of the oil spills and whether leading managers were aware of them. Friday’s ruling overturned a finding by a lower Dutch court in 2013 that Shell’s Dutchbased parent company could not be held liable for spills at its Nigerian subsidiary. The legal dispute dates back to 2008 when four Nigerian farmers and campaign group “Friends of the Earth” filed suit against the oil company in Netherlands, where its global headquarters is based. “Shell can be taken to court in the Netherlands for the effects of the oil spills,” the court ruling stated on Friday. “Shell is also ordered

to provide access to documents that could shed more light on the cause of the leaks.” Judge Hans van der Klooster said the court had also found that it “has jurisdiction in the case against Shell and its subsidiary in Nigeria”. The case has been adjourned till March for hearing. Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), said in a statement that it is disappointed the Dutch court has determined it should assume international jurisdiction over SPDC. “We believe allegations concerning Nigerian plaintiffs in dispute with a Nigerian company, over issues which took place within Nigeria, should be heard in Nigeria,” it said. In January 2013, the district court in The Hague ruled that one of the farmers in the original suit was eligible for compensation from Shell’s Nigerian division for spills on his land.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Minister applauds Ajimobi’s victory at Appeal Court Kemi olAitAn ibAdAn

inister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has lauded Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s victory at the Court of Appeal, describing it as ‘a befitting Christmas and New Year gift to the electorate in Oyo State’. He added that the judgement would afford the governor the opportunity to fully concentrate on delivering democratic dividends to the expectant electorate in the state His message, which was contained in a release signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, yesterday, affirmed that the judgement has justified the confidence of the people in the All

Progressives Congress (APC) and the governor. Shittu stated further that the victory has further cemented the relationship between the APC and the entire populace of the state, stressing that the party remains the only one that can bail the masses out of the throes of poverty and deprivations. He then emphasized the need for leaders and members of opposing political parties to rally round Ajimobi in the task of improving the lots of the masses in the state, adding that politics should be seen as a means of working for humanity. The Minister further charged the people of the state to continue to avail the governor and the APC their unalloyed support and loyalty, assuring them that Ajimobi would meet their needs and aspirations till 2019.

SOUTH WEST

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6,500 security personnel for Ekiti council polls Abiodun nejo Ado Ekiti

ver 6,500 security personnel have been deployed for the local government elections to be conducted by the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) across the state today. The spokesman for the police in the state, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said police had deployed over 5,000 men and officers to ensure adequate security during the election. Similarly, the spokesman for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the

state, Mr Tolulope Afolabi, said the corps had deployed over 1500 men and officers for the polls. Afolabi told journalists on phone in Ado Ekiti that NSCDC had been fully deployed in all the 16 local government areas of the state for the election. He said: “We have posted over 1,500 men to all the local governments to complement what they have there. The men are drawn from headquarters and outpost. “We are not carrying arms at the polling units because we don’t expect any tension but, there will be a joint patrol with other security agencies

on the streets,” the NSCDC spokesman said. The police spokesman, Adeyemi, confirmed that policemen would work in conjunction with other sister agencies like the Department of State Services, Nigeria Prison Service, NSCDC, Nigeria Immigration Service and others. Over 7,000 SIEC ad-hoc staff would supervise the elections in 2195 polling units spread across the 177 wards in the state. Adeyemi warned those with criminal intentions to steer clear of the elections, threatening that the command would deal with whoever found perpetrating evils

during the polls. Adeyemi said the police would ensure compliance to the restriction order placed on vehicular and human movements between 8am and 4pm. Five political parties - the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), KOWA, African People Alliance, United Peoples Party and Peoples Party of Nigeria are participating in the election. The SIEC chairman, Justice Kayode Bamisile, in a chat with journalists yesterday, promised a free, fair and peaceful election, as he assured all the participating parties a level playing field.

Ogun SSG assures doctors of better days ahead

he Ogun Government on Friday assured medical practitioners employed by the state of better days ahead. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, gave the assurance while playing host to executive members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in his office in Abeokuta. He said that government would ensure that the medical practitioners were taken care of through better pay package as soon as the finances of the state improved. Adeoluwa commended the medical doctors for their dedication and commitment to duty in spite of the financial challenges being faced by the state. He said that without their cooperation, dedication and sacrifice, the health sector would have been comatose in the state. ``We want to express our sincere gratitude to

doctors in Ogun State hospitals because they are the ones holding forth for us in spite of the difficulty that we all can see. ``We are grateful because you have been doing everything within your power to ensure that the health sector does not collapse, because if it should be allowed to collapse, we will all collapse,” Adeoluwa said. Speaking earlier, the state NMA Chairman, Dr Nike Odewabi, congratulated the SSG on his re-appointment, expressing the confidence that his return would improve the existing harmonious relationship between the government and workers. Odewabi called for enhanced remuneration package for doctors in the employ of the state government, saying that this would spur them into better service delivery for the overall development of the state. (NAN)

L-R: Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Ojokoro LCDA, Prince Adewole Bello; Executive Secretary, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Alhaja Fausat Hassan Olajoku and Head of Administration, Ojokoro LCDA, Mr. Rasheed Pedro, during the graduation ceremony and skill acquisition programme organised by the Executive Secretary at the council in Ojokoro, Lagos this week.

Lagos court orders traffic offenders to forfeit vehicles nicK uweru

agos State Environmental and Special Offences Court sitting in Ogba, yesterday, convicted six traffic offenders arrested by the convoy of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in Ijora-Olopa area of the State on December 16, 2015, while driving against traffic. Those arrested and convicted include Mrs. Adejoke Elemoro, Mr. Ogunlana Olatunji, Mr.

Ganiyu Ayokuleyin, Mr. Ogunade Segun, Mr. Akinlabi Ahmed and Mr. Sunday Uzebor. Trial Magistrate, Mobolaji Tanimola of Court 16 in Ogba, convicted the motorists after they pleaded guilty to a one-count charge bordering on the offence filed against them by the government. Magistrate Tanimola specifically ordered the traffic offenders to forfeit their vehicles which included four cars, one motorcycle and a tricycle to the government.

The convicts had pleaded guilty to the one-count charge accusing them of driving against traffic contrary to and punishable under Section 7 (b) of the Lagos State Traffic Laws of 2012. In her judgment, Magistrate Tanimola ordered the forfeiture of the vehicles to government and a payment of N50, 000 each as an option of fine to a six-month imprisonment for driving against on-coming traffic, contrary to the laws of the State. Both motorcyclists and

a tricyclist arrested along with the motorists were ordered to forfeit their motorcycles and a tricycle to government together with the payment of N5, 000 and N30, 000 respectively as an option of fine to a one-month imprisonment each according to the laws of the State. The Magistrate held that the decision of the Court would go a long way to serve as a deterrent to other motorists who have cultivated the bad habit of contravening the Lagos State Traffic Laws, 2012.

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Stop deceiving the public with diploma programme -Rector tells universities Justin tyopuusu JaLinGo

ector of the Taraba State Polytechnic, Dr. Daniel Mom yesterday, urged universities across the country to respect the government white paper issued in 2011 which outlawed the running of Foundation and Diploma Programmes by universities. Mom said despite the ban by the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Council on Education in 2011, Taraba State University and many other universities were still running the outlawed programmes thereby, deceiving the students whose certificates cannot be accepted anywhere in the country. “The federal government had in 2011 stopped universities in the country from running National Diploma (ND) programmes and directed them to adhere strictly to their approved mandates of awarding degrees and higher degrees. “In the same circular, Vice Chancellors of universities were warned against violation of the White Paper. I am surprise that four universities today are grossly violating the law and the federal ministry of education is keeping quiet,” he said. The Rector said Diploma certificates obtained from universities were without value as candidates cannot use such Diploma Certificates to even seek for admission into Degree Programmes through direct entry, talk more gaining employment. He urged the students and the public to be aware of this fact and stop wasting their time and resources going to universities for Diploma programmes and patronise polytechnics which are officially recognised to run diploma and higher national diploma programmes. Mom lamented that lack of accreditation of courses in the school over the years have been the major challenge facing the institution, but expressed optimism that governor Ishaku will rescue the school and make it one of the best in the country. He commended TETFUND for its intervention in the provision of infrastructure in the school and called on students to take advantage of the quality structures and learning aid provided by TETFUND to boost their knowledge.

NORTH

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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Christmas: Bauchi doles out N8m for indigent women EzEkiEl titus bauchi

n a bid to cushion the effect of indigent women ahead of Christmas celebration, Bauchi State government has released the sum of N8million to cater for indigent women targeting at the less privilege The wife of the governor, Hajia Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar made the statement while flagging-off the distribution

of food stuffs at ECWA church, Sabon-Kaura, Bauchi metropolis The first lady expressed the view that the exercise was a demonstration of the government respect for religious institutions saying, the APC administration is committed to alleviating the sufferings of its citizen particularly the women and the less privileged The wife of the governor assured that the

distribution of the food items will go a long way in positively impacting on the internally displace persons (IDP’s) living in the state especially those that were forced to vacate their homes because of insurgency She urged church leaders to ensure equitable and hitch-free distribution of the food items to the beneficiaries The Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of women Affairs,

Bauchi State Mr. Ishaku Chindo Siri had said, the exercise is mean to cater for the less privileged, orphans and the vulnerable in the state The food items distributed at the occasion include; 200 bags of rice, 120, bags of sugar, 160 bags of maize Others are 1,100. wrappers as well as 150 vegetable oils among others for the Christian widows ahead of the Christmas

Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (left), listening to the Chairman of Bauchi State Recovery Committee, Air Commodore Tijjani Gamawa, during his Coutesy visit to the Emir in his palace in Bauchi State, yesterday.

HIV/AIDS scourge: Gombe traditional ruler reduces bride price Williams attah Gombe

n an effort to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and offer young men and women the opportunity of settling down in marriage, the paramount ruler in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State and Mai Tangle, Dr. Abdu Buba Maisheru II says the chiefdom has reduced the dowry and other costs involved in marriage contracts. Though the First Class traditional ruler did not give details of how the pride price had been reduced, he howev-

er said this is an effort aimed at reducing casual sex among youths and the consequent spread of HIV/AIDS in his chiefdom. The Mai Tangle stated this in his palace at the commencement of a three day free health care services to the less privileged in the area which was organized by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in collaboration with SURE-P. According to him, the action taken by the Chiefdom has greatly reduced the rate of transmission of the diseases in his area and

pledged the cooperation of his people towards the success of the programme. Earlier, the Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Honourable Usman Bature commended the initiative by NACA to bring health care services to the door step of the common man and explained that the State Legislature has initiated a process that will ensure adequate allocation and release of resources to fight HI/ AIDS in the State. He called on the people of Billiri to avail themselves the oppor-

tunity provided and get themselves tested of HIV, Diabetes, high blood pressure, malaria among others. Speaking on the level of success recorded so far in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the State, the Project Manager of the Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS (GOMSACA), Dr. Suraj Abdulkarim explained that the HIV/ AIDS prevalence rate in the State has significantly dropped through awareness campaigns and mobilization as well as active participation of stakeholders in the fight against the disease

Former PDP senatorial candidate launches multimillion naira polo ranch igbaWasE ukumba Lafia

former senatorial candidate on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Nasarawa State, Ahmed Wadada, has inaugurated a multi-million naira polo ranch with international facilities in Keffi, headquarters of Keffi Local Government area of Nasarawa State. While inaugurating the project, Wadada, who contested the senatorial seat in the 2015 general election for the Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, said that the project was geared towards bringing development and civilization closer to the people of the area and the state at large. Wadada, who was a two term former member in the House of Representatives, said his desire to embark on the project was to boost socio-economic development of the state, create employment opportunities, as well as promote sports both national and international. He said: “The importance of sports like polo cannot be over-emphasized to the development of any society because beyond physical well-being, sport is a valuable tool for national and international integration. Polo is game of kings and it is also the king of all games and as we are all aware that sports can help in bridging the cultural, ethnic, religion and political divides, promote tolerance, peace, create job, reinforce social integration and advocates healthy life style among others.” According to him, “the inauguration and the 2015 maiden Keffi Pollo Ranch had brought together pollo players and umpires from different parts of the country and even from South Africa, England and Argentina among other countries.”

DECEMBER 19, 2015

POLITICS

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Biafra: Myth or reality? Lekan adejuwon

wo things happened in quick succession during the week which may put the final lid on the ongoing agitations by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at least for now. True to their threat, the IPOB members took to the streets of Lagos on Wednesday in protest of the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra who had been remanded in prison since October 16 The protest came on the heels of an earlier warning by the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in Lagos that the protesters should stay clear of the Wednesday’s planned rally by members of the IPOB in parts of Lagos, saying that anyone planning to hold a demonstration in the State under any umbrella should discontinue such an attempt to plunge the state into crisis, noting that the State will not take kindly to such a nefarious plan. In a related development on the same day, a magistrate court presided over by Shuaibu Usman, at Wuse zone 2, Abuja, discharged on all counts of criminal conspiracy and ownership of an unlawful society brought against him by the federal government “ According to the chief magistrate, the State Security Services (SSS) through its lawyer Moses Idakwo had filed for a discontinuation of the case. He therefore struck out all criminal charges levelled against Kanu. “The accused person is hereby discharged and the case struck out.”. he said The Biafra agitators had centred their agitations in the successive months mainly on the perceived ‘Biafra territories’ covering virtually all the states in the south-east in addition to Rivers State. The incursion into the South West with a stopover in Lagos has been viewed by watchers of events as a wakeup call for proactive measure by the authorities to nip the menace on the bud hence, the court ruling. Already reports filtering in on Tuesday revealed that northerners residing in the south east have been returning home for fear of what may turn out to be the outcome of court ruling on Wednesday. However, with the court ruling discharging Kanu on all counts of criminal conspiracy, the question on the lips of concerned members of the public is what next for the Biafra agitators? It would be recalled that IPOB which claimed to be an offshoot of Movement for the Actualisation of Suffering State of Biafra MASSOB came to limelight immediately after the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The group threatened to secede

from Nigeria citing the internationally recognized observed right by a people for self determination. It is on record that one of the leading Igbo voices and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife frowned at what he described as marginalisation of Ndigbo under the new administration when he said “The Igbos have not been treated fairly in terms of political positions and appointments in the President Buhari’s administration”. But his innocent view drew the ire of second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, a known northern defender. He said “I don’t believe Buhari or Nigeria owes any Igbo anything. I don’t care what Ezeife says if they (Igbo) had seceded, there would have been no Nigeria today. As people who acted outside the interest of Nigeria as a country, to expect compensation is a very odd logic. “If the Igbos don’t like it, they can attempt secession again. If they do, they must be prepared to live with the consequencesnobody owes them anything and nobody is out to compensate them for anything”. The altercation between the two leaders is believed to have exhumed the horror of the Nigerian civil war which for 30 months, had plunged the country into an orgy of mindless bloodletting and its attendant deprivation and dire consequents. Speaking on the futility of the renewed agitation for the Biafra nation, the apex Ndigbo socio cultural organization the Ohaneze has dissociated itself from the activities of the Biafra agitators, who had been protesting in many South East and South –South, saying that Biafra died in 1970 with the surrender by General Philip Effiong, to the Nigerian troops. Addressing reporters in Awka, the chairman, Forum of State Presidents of Ohaneze in the seven Igbo –speaking states, Dr. Chris Eluomunoh said that no right thinking person would support what he called the madness by some youths, who were being deceived to engage in something they cannot finish. He said: “You will notice that Ohaneze has been very silent on the issue of Biafra insurgency, though the youth wing of Ohaneze has been speaking on it. Ohaneze, as the Igbo cultural group, cannot support Biafra and we dissociate ourselves from it totally”. In a reaction to Ohaneze’s open condemnation of its activities, the MASSSOB took a swipe at the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, over its decision to disown the agitators describing Ohaneze as a saboteur. Reacting on the Ohaneze statement, the national director of information of a faction of MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, described the utterances against Biafra agitation as

Nnamdi Kanu

selfish and irresponsible. Madu said: “The wide acceptance and consciousness of Biafra can never be thwarted or dislocated by disgruntled Igbo. How can a self -acclaimed Igbo leader openly and shamefully disown and condemn Biafra, which is the living symbol of Igbo survival? “MASSOB still believes that Ohanaeze Ndigbo cannot disown Biafra because the national leadership is still silent on this issue. But if finally it does, the Igbo nation will also disown and expel them from Igboland.” A former President and one of the major actors of the bloody Nigerian civil war, former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his characteristic frankness, equally described pro-Biafra agitators as miscreants who should be ignored. The former army General who was speaking to newsmen at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, last week, said that agitations by MASSOB and other self determination groups as misplaced. According to him, equating the agitations by pro-Biafra groups with the agitations that led to the civil war amounted to making a mountain out of a molehill. He said, “This is a fake agitation. You people make a mountain out of a molehill. These are boys who want to take people unaware and get money out of them in the name of Biafra. These are the people you should ignore, I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist.” Obasanjo’s homilies could not have come at a better time when cracks began to appear in the walls of the self determination groups even as allegation of mindboggling financial sleazes began to fly in the air. The huge financial scandals led to the sack of MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, and the swearing in of a new leadership for the movement The new leadership was headed by the group’s former National Director

of Information, Uchenna Madu, while Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke emerged National Secretary. The new leadership, at the well-attended ceremony in Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area, warned Uwazuruike to stop parading himself as MASSOB’s leader or using Ojukwu’s name to dupe Ndigbo or garner personal fame to pursue his political ambition. The leadership also indicted the sacked MASSOB leader of defrauding members to enrich himself and members of his immediate family; “the introduction of Biafra International Passport was a gross and dubious means through which he generated about one hundred million naira for himself. The existence of the passport without Biafra’s sovereignty was illegal. Today, the passport is useless to thousands of the holders’ even Uwazuruike does not use it. “The over N40 million realised from the dedication of the Biafran war veterans’ home in Okwe built by MASSOB members was diverted to Uwazuruike’s personal purse. “In the light of these ugly developments in the struggle for Biafra’s actualisation, we felt and believed Uwazuruike has betrayed the confidential trust and leadership mantle Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu bestowed on him.” However Nobel laureate and playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka gave what may be an intellectual impetus to Biafra agitators saying the Biafra as an idea cannot die For him, “I said once an idea has taken hold, you cannot destroy that idea… “You may destroy the people that carry the idea on the battlefield, but, ultimately, it is not the end of the story.” The novelist and playwright said Nigeria’s civilian government now needed to talk to pro-Biafra activists, most of them ethnic Igbos who complain of being marginalised since the end of the conflict. As would be expected, the talk may have began with the decision to drop all charges against Kanu on Wednesday.

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POLITICS

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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National Assembly crisis affected Buhari’s administration -Shittu right ideals which endear you to the people and the right attitudes to deliver on your election promises.

Adebayo Shittu is the present Minister for Communications. The Oyo State-born politician, who was a House of Assembly member in the old Oyo State between 1979 and 1983 explains why legislature and executive arm are always at loggerheads with one another. He also gave reasons why the government of President Buhari appears to have been slow among other issues. LEKAN ADEJUWON reports.

s a former legislator what do you think of legislators being pocketed by the executive or legislators fighting the governors? Unfortunately, one of the years, we have had problems of the legislature being distrustful of the executive and the executive being distrustful of the legislature. But there are structural problems in the politics of Nigeria; one because usually, the executives are in control of the party’s machineries more often than not, they are the ones who determine who gets the party’s ticket to contest elections and to become members of House of Assembly. I give you an example of a state in the south west where during the APC primaries to pick candidates, primaries could not hold because the governor, as the chief executive and leader of the party at the end of the day, was the one who determined who got the mandate. That is certainly aimed at ensuring that only a rubberstamp legislature occupy the House of Assembly. If you have that kind of a status situation, then it would be like the case you have painted where the legislature have become the rubber stamp tied to the apron string of the executive. But on the other hand, where the right thing is done, where a proper congress is conducted to ensure that peoples’ choices emerged as members of the legislature. Then, you have in such a situation, emerging people with constitutional prerogative that is to serve as a possible check on possible excesses of the executive. We are in a democracy and in a democracy it is important to have a legislature. The difference between a democratic government and dictatorship is the existence of legislature in the

Shittu

democratic involvement and what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. There must be a legislature. It must be free, it must be independent, it must be self-assertive and it must be capable of performing its constitutional duties of serving as a check on the excesses of the executive. Recall that in the party headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, so many people would tell you that they do not need primaries and that it is the party and the leadership of the party who decides who gets what. Would you compare that situation now with the way it was done during the Awolowo years? Not quite. During Awolowo’s time, and with all due respect to Chief Awolowo and other party leaders, the process was not as open as the process we are having now in the sense that at that time, it was the practice that when if a dog has Chief Awolowo’s name tied to it, it is certain that he was going to win an election. To me, that was not good enough. And I am sure if Chief Awolowo were to be alive today, he would have tolerated the improvement in the process that we have now. But of course, we have not reached Eldorado in the process of electing candidates for the parties into elective offices. A lot of powers are thrust in the hands of governors now. When I say the governors,

I am not limiting myself to APC governors. This cuts across all the political parties because in certain states where, unqualified candidates were imposed on all the party leaders and of course the parties lost. I want to believe that, that scenario will continue to develop and that would force the party leaders to allow some democratic selections whereby free and fair elections are used to choose who becomes the candidates of the parties. In your perception, who is a true Awoist? The Awoist, I want to believe, is different from Awoist as a political perception. I think the ideals which Chief Awolowo stood for were ideas formulated by him. They have been global ideas and so many of his followers were attracted by them, having said that, I want to observe that basically, the issue of Awoism as a philosophy is not as preponderance as it used to be. The reason is simple; Awo died more than 25 years ago. Most of the electorate today never met him, never knew him or knew his ideology. So, whatever influence Awolowo had must have been minimized. Today, a lot of people are looking at what type of candidate put forward by parties, where he is coming from, his pedigree and his character disposition and so on. I want to believe if you use Chief Awolowo’s name today, it is possible to win election once you have the

It is almost obvious now that the government of Buhari has been in power in the past six months and Nigerians are complaining of lack of good governance. Do you as a person think the President still has the capability to meet the yearnings of Nigerians or this is going to be a slow government? I want to disagree with that view. No one, when he came out first as military head of state, it was on a premise that he must operate with military decrees and all its excesses, but coming now as a democratically elected President. This is a different terrain I think it is incumbent upon him not to be acting before thinking. It is often said that he who fails to plan, plans to fail. What he is trying to do is to take his time and put up structures. You will recall that barely a week after his coming on board we have this crisis in the National Assembly particularly in relation to the election of key officers of the National Assembly which in some way, affected the speed of governance. Again, to get all his ministers list approved, he has to refer to the senate. Unfortunately, the current senate leadership is not a senate that is smart. So efforts are being made to ensure that some of these crises are being sorted out. One other question Nigerians may like to ask is the issue of insecurity in some parts of the North which has not abated since the President came on board and after he even gave ultimatum to the military. What is your take on this? I want also to say that insecurity is one major problem facing the country at present and certainly the President has taken a lot of fundamental steps at ensuring that insurgency and religious extremism are addressed frontally. You remember recently he has travelled to Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroun. He also visited the European Union to solicit for their support. So, he’s done considerably well. Again he has sought and gotten approval to appoint 15 special advisers and what is left for him is to take up fully with his ministers since he cannot do it alone. He needs the support of all Nigerians. But you will also agree with me that the crisis in the National Assembly to a large extent affected the effective take-off of this administration.

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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TALKING POLITICS ‘Pro Biafra agitation completely legitimate’

— Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information and Culture

“T

he agitations by some Nigerians largely in the South-East, is completely legitimate. There are many political frontlines in Nigeria, religious, ethnic and the like but these things do not come to the fore until when there are serious economic problems like we are having today. “I have listened to the complaints of many of these agitators and right down it is economic. “They must understand too that but for this furtiveness of this administration, this country would have been by far much worse. “There is need for Nigerians to understand also that these are not ordinary times and that the government is not just making excuses. “I appeal to our leaders not to exploit this situation to further destabilise Nigerians; our leaders should be cou-

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

‘Biafra idea cannot be destroyed’

— Prof Wole Soyinka

“Y

“T

his is a fake agitation. You people make a mountain out of a molehill. These are boys who want to take people unawares

and get money out of them in the name of Biafra. These are people you should ignore, I don’t talk about Biafra. “Philip Effiong came and said Biafra ceased to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist. “There were no promises made to the then secessionists that the Nigerian state had not fulfilled. “We absorbed those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the military. Even those we didn’t absorb, who we initially regarded as being retired without benefits, later on we even gave them their benefits. “Abandoned houses were returned. Within 10 years of the end of our Civil War, an Igbo man became the vice-president of our country. “It took the Americans 100 years before they got to that point. So, what are you talking about? “They have held all the ministerial positions existing in this country. We have Igbo as the Governor of Central Bank, Igbo has headed many parastatals in this country. “That’s why these miscreants should be ignored. They want to get money and they go round and say, ‘We are still being victimised. We are still being treated badly in Nigeria,’ so that they can take money from people.”

‘Biafra died in 1970’

—Elder Chris Eluemunoh, chairman, forum of state presidents of Ohaneze in seven Igbo speaking states

“O

haneze as Igbo cultural group cannot support insurgency, we are totally against it and we will never support it.

‘Pro-Biafra agitators are miscreants, drop outs’ —Chief Frank Kokori, former Secretary-General of NUPENG

“I

t is very unfortunate what the Biafran agitators are doing. They are not really serious

about it. “They do not know the enormity of what they are demanding. Those goading and pushing them into the protests are doing so for selfish reasons. “They are playing on the intelligence of the agitators who are mostly miscreants and dropouts. There are no serious persons among them. “ At this stage, the real igbo leaders should tell them that we have passed that stage in Nigeria. “It is not that the pro-Biafra protests are anyhow similar to that of the bestial attacks of Boko Haram. But the Igbo leaders must speak out in time to check the

‘Biafra agitators are miscreants, should be ignored’

rageous enough to come out and defend our unity. “In the short term, it might be politically fashionable for them to be on the side of some agitators but in the long term, it is in the overall interest of Nigeria that we all understand our differences, respect them forge a united Nigeria. “There will be no alternative to one united Nigeria.”

ou may destroy the people that carry the idea on the battlefield, but, ultimately, it is not the end of the story. “Ask what are those things we can do to make you content, to make you feel part of this entity (Nigeria)… what can we do to make them feel that they belong and are not alienated?” “Listen to some other Biafrans and ask them why they want to stay. “But, don’t go around saying ‘the sovereignty of this country is indivisible, this won’t happen under my watch, it is not negotiable’. That type of language would only make matters worse.”

PAGE

situation. I do not think any serious Igbo will support their demands. The agitators do not even believe what they are clamouring for. The protests are even only within the South-East. Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and other states are not fully involved.”

“Anybody that has any issue with the federal government should go for dialogue with the president and that is why we went for national conference, Nigeria is a one united country and we do not want any other. “I believe what the youths are doing is to call the attention of the president to see the infrastructural decay in the zone, this region has been abandoned and neglected and not by Buhari, but by previous administrations started by Olusegun Obasanjo which Goodluck Jonathan also tried to bring back. “Ohaneze is calling on the federal government to declare state of emergency in the zone on roads for purposes of infrastructural development and that is what the youths are saying, we believe and not secession. “Therefore, the youths should stop such agitations for Biafra because Biafra died in 1970 and we are saying it again that Ohaneze will never support it.”

December 19, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19, 2015

PAGE

Counting the dead by the gun (III)

In this third and concluding part of his investigation, SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN shows how impunity and corruption increase coldblooded killings. Governments, institutions and individuals need to rise and make the law, human rights and justice cardinal tools of reducing extrajudicial killing and jungle justice, he writes. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

rmed forces personnel are trained to protect citizens, guard sovereignty and defend territory. By their training, duties, and responsibilities, the military protect the defenceless and vulnerable such as babies, children and women. In Nigeria, where Baby Princess Happiness had hoped to grow and fulfil the duties and responsibilities of good citizenship, military personnel see civilians as ordinary objects of testing military might. Looking into a future of possibilities with the nourishment of her mother, Ms Glory Yusuf ’s breast feeding, Happiness, who was oblivious of the dirty struggle between her parents, died at just two weeks old; a victim of extrajudicial murder. Happiness’ father, Mr Moses Joseph, a Naval Rating with the Nigerian Navy’s NNS Wie at Naval Base in Alakija, Festac Town, Lagos State, with service number: X11553, tossed the baby with his own hands into the Apapa Lagoon like waste paper. The unwanted result of an extra-marital relationship, Joseph did not want his baby’s status to conflict with his status as a legally married husband and father of children, which he lied about when he asked the unsuspecting Yusuf for a relationship. In order to save his marriage, he rejected Yusuf ’s pregnancy. No; no; no! He ordered her to abort the pregnancy. She refused. He was infuriated and abandoned her. After the birth, he conspired to organize an armed kidnap of the baby—his own baby—and threw her into the lagoon to wipe the trace of his evil deed, a culturally and traditionally grave abomination. A Lagos-based non-governmental organization, Access to Justice (A2J), pursued the case for the mother in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Office of the Public Defender (OPD). They secured a court martial conviction of the accused at the Western Naval Command in Apapa and obtained 12 years jail sentence. Despite the conviction, Joseph’s status in the Nigeria Navy remains unclear even as a civilian accomplice was being tried for murder in a court of law. Investigation showed, however, that the Nigerian Navy opted for a secret trial to curtail any damaging impact of Joseph’s cruelty on its white image. In spite of advocacy, monitoring and forceful participation of OPD in the trial, the Nigerian Navy allegedly discharged Moses Joseph from serving his suspiciously light jail term after the trial. To confirm the allegation, the correspondent called Western Naval Command spokesman, Lt-Commander Abdulkadir. He begged to be saved from speaking on “such a serious matter” and referred the correspondent to Nigerian Navy’s spokesman, Commodore Aliyu. Aliyu promised to “find out immediately if it is true or not.” After some calls, a text message and conversations the following days, the Nigerian Navy is yet to confirm the truth or reply the message that states, “Rating Moses Joseph with No X11553, attached to NNS Wie, was jailed 12 years for the extrajudicial murder of his 2-week old baby, Happiness, a product of extra-marital affairs with Ms Glory Yusuf. A petition alleged that Nigeria Navy has secretly released Rating Joseph from jail. How truthful is the allegation Sir?” It is believed that many of the so-called court-martialled, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced accused persons are actu-

Mirror

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Police personnel kill arbitrarily’

Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas

Mr Moses Joseph, a Naval ratiNg with the NigeriaN Navy’s NNs wie at Naval Base iN alakiJa, Festac towN, lagos state, with service NuMBer: X11553, tossed the BaBy with his owN haNds iNto the

apapa lagooN like

ally walking the streets freely instead of serving jail sentences. How many of such criminals proclaimed by the Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force and the Nigeria Police Force are actually serving jail terms? What the law says Although not achieved by the gun, the cold-blooded murder of Princess Happiness clearly contravenes the Fundamental Right of Chapter IV, Section 33, Sub-section 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It states: “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.” The wilful killing of the baby contravenes the provision of the Child Rights Act 2003 which declares under the Rights and Responsibilities of a Child, the Right to Survival and Development in Part II, Section 3. It states, “Every child has the right to survival and development.” The intentional murder contravenes the provision of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international legal instrument, to which the Government of Nigeria is a signatory. The law recognizes that children have the right to live. It demands that governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily. Part I, Article 6, Paragraph 1 declares, “States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.” Furthermore, the International Cov-

waste paper

enant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory stipulates that states bear the responsibility to protect the rights to life, security, physical integrity, movement and property of citizens. Lastly, the Responsibility to Protect, a key doctrine for holding the international community and individual states accountable to the protection of vulnerable people, which presently holds states accountable for genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, urges states to include the responsibility of protecting children. Against the claim of legal inadequacy, a proper implementation of these national and international laws should help to bring extrajudicial killers to book. On October 31, 2013, a motion on cruelty to infants by Senator Helen Esuene of Akwa Ibom South expressed outrage at the sexual violation of a two-year-old baby, Chinwendu Onwudiwe, by an adult neighbour, Corporal Anthony Onoja, at Mararaba in Nasarawa State. Through the motion, the Senate documented cruelties to infants to include murder, rape, defilement, abuse, kidnapping, sale, ritual killing etc. Curbing impunity by state agents In spite of the involvement of other military agencies, para-military agencies and militia forces, the Nigeria Police Force remains most indicted for arbitrary killing of young and old persons. The fact that police personnel are often let off the hook when they kill arbitrarily,

Mrs Omotola Rotimi, Director, OPD

frivolously, indiscriminately and unjustifiably with or without gun has been identified for the rising incidences amongst the other state agents, the ordinary civilian citizens as well as the recourse to jungle justice. Most police officers kill after their victims are unable to pay bribe demands, a situation that confirms an internationally acknowledged culture of corruption in Nigeria Police Force. For example, the Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) released by Transparency International (TI) on December 2, 2015, reaffirmed the police in Nigeria and other African countries including South Africa and Ghana as the most corrupt institution. Titled: People and Corruption: Africa Survey 2015; the 49-page report is consist with similar past reports that crowned police as the king of corruption with 47 per cent of respondents expressing the feeling that all or most police officers are corrupt. In line with the recommendation of lawCONTINUED ON PAGE 33

Entervaganza

The Saturday Mirror Magazine

Sex talk

Are you having too much of a good thing? (II) P.34

Fashion Frenzy Get the Christmas look! Get the Christmas look! P.24

Relationships Would you pick a house girl or houseboy? P.34

Tamara ... top actress

c I wasn’t happy until I PAGE

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19 , 2015

ELEBRITY ELEBRIT ELEBRI TY

became an actress —

m a T

a r a

e t E

o im

Tamara Eteimo, one of Nollywood’s hottest actresses, and former winner, The Next Movie Star, tells OSEYIZA OOGBODO how she got into acting Why did you become an actress? Well, being an actress for me has always been on my mind as a kid. It started from when I was in secondary school. I performed in all the social activities up until I finished and started getting ready for university. I always saw myself as an entertainer, someone who can mimic because I know I’m good at that, mimicking. I just needed to equip my skills and that was one of the reasons why I went to the University of Port Harcourt to study Theatre Arts.

So, I told him, “Just give me one year to go and do a programme. If I don’t come out with flying colours and I’m distracted, then I would pick any course of your choice.” And he agreed, of course, after my siblings talked me into going to University of Port Harcourt. So, I went and did the Certificate in Theatre Arts programme. And I came out with a distinction. My dad was so impressed and my mum was also impressed and they got me a car. So, from that moment, they supported me all the way till this moment.

How did your family react when they knew you wanted to act? Well, my dad, at first, he wasn’t receptive because he didn’t like it. He just felt actors are wayward people. When I said I wanted to study Theatre Arts, he didn’t like it. He just felt these people (actors) are unserious people. You can’t really go there and be a serious student.

Tell us your most challenging role so far. One thing I know for sure is that every role comes with its own challenges. So, I can’t specifically say this is the most challenging because one thing I do is after I accept a script to play a particular role, I try as much as possible to do a research on that character because it’s taking someone else’s life entirely. So, I need

to do a research to be able to portray it as believable as possible because this is entirely different from mine. You came into the limelight after winning The Next Movie Star. How did winning it affect your career? Well, winning The Next Movie Star, for me, was the moment my career started. Before it, I was singing in Port Harcourt. I almost finished an album but I wasn’t happy because I’ve known that acting has been my calling from day one. But I just wanted to do something because I know I can sing, I can dance. Rather than just sitting and doing nothing, waiting for manna to fall from heaven or waiting for one producer to just dial my number from nowhere and say, ‘I have a role for you,’ why don’t I use other of my skills while waiting?’ So, my late elder brother, he was a producer. He was the one who produced my first single and it came out very well. And the audience in Port Harcourt liked it. I just felt why don’t I go ahead with this? And I was making money from it. I performed in shows like Crack Ya Ribs in 2009, CARNIRIV 2009, and some other shows held in Port Harcourt. I was making money and people knew me as a musi-

cian. But I had always wanted to come into the industry but I didn’t just want to go for auditions and shoot a movie. And they say this girl has talent in acting. No. I was looking for a platform, something that would help me get into the industry. And then the Next Movie Star opportunity came. And I just told myself, ‘this is it.’ You’re a beautiful woman and many male admirers and fans would badger you. How do you handle such attention? Well, what I do is, most times, when these guys come up to me or send me messages, they request for my number. And, of course, I know what these guys want and I know what I want. So, I don’t give them my contact. What I do is, if they want to know about my next production and stuff like that, it’s either I refer them to my fan page because there, it has all the information they need. Or I just engage them. But I don’t have to go in a way that would misinterpret, giving them a wrong impression. So, I try as much as possible to handle them the way I can because you and I know that these guys would keep coming.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PAGE

s w ne

DECEMBER 19, 2015

kingseiza@gmail.com

with

Oseyiza Oogbodo

Korede Bello debuts new dance … floors Don Jazzy, Wizkid, Reekado Banks

aying that Korede Bello is flying high is an understatement. He’s flying very high and is exhibiting signs that he can go even farther than initially expected of him as a musician. With his latest music video, Romantic, it has become apparent that Bello means business and is constantly thinking of how to advance his career. One step he takes thereby, though it can’t really be said to be a positive one, is to style himself to look more and more like one of the greatest Black music artists ever, Michael Jackson. And just like Jackson, he’s also capitalizing on the power of dancing to sell his brand. In his first video, God Win, he came up with a dance style that was unique to him, and he has done so in Romantic as well. And the move seems to be paying off for him. In this day and age when Youtube views determine to a great extent the rating of an artist’s brand, his Romantic, released on the same day with Wizkid’s latest music video for his song, Final (Baba Nla), has amassed double of the views Wiz’s Final has gotten. Wiz isn’t however the only one to feel the brunt of his constantly rising success. His label mate, Reekado Banks, who released the video for his own song, Sugar Baby, a week before Romantic’s release, will definitely be scratching his head and wondering what he’s doing wrong as Romantic’s views have also surpassed those of Sugar Baby. And even his boss, Don Jazzy, is not spared by Bello. Jazzy’s latest effort, Jantamanta, in which he featured all of his Mavin Records artists, Bello included, as well as Tiwa Savage, D’Prince, Dr SID, Di’Ja, and Banks too, has fallen behind Romantic in its number of views, even though it was released a week before Romantic.

Sonia Ibrahim stuns in new photos

ne name that has become popular in recent times in the African movie industry is Sonia Ibrahim. A younger sister of her more famous elder sister, Juliet Ibrahim, it’s nothing but the truth that Juliet’s fame and success in the movie world paved the path for Sonia too to shine. Right now, though, Sonia has become a force to reckon with herself, and her name, standing on its own alone now, is carrying almost as much weight as Juliet’s. So everything she does now becomes news, even down to releasing a new set of pictures which have gone viral since their release a few days ago.

Jazzy

Bello

Banks

Wiz

I make $20m a year —Dencia brags

Dencia

Sonia

Tiwa Savage makes return official with sophomore album

ontroversial personality and struggling singer, Dencia, has reportedly granted an interview in which she claimed that she makes the whopping sum of $20m a year. According to the report, she granted the interview to the France-based Le Monde, and she claimed she makes cool millions in US dollars every year from her skin whitening cream, Whitenicious. If this is true, then it’s very good for Dencia. However, she’s not yet behaving like other people who make as many millions annually like herself, and her music career, which should be benefitting from her access to millions, is floundering instead.

08036961187

R.E.D.

he return of Tiwa Savage to the music industry has been expected for some time now. And the singer, who has been performing without much fanfare in the past few weeks to gauge the sort of reception her return would receive, has now come out boldly to make her return official by announcing that her sophomore album, R.E.D, will hit the market next Monday. While her return is definitely good news to her fans, her rivals, who shone in her absence, will be shaking in their boots now as many good things came their way while Savage was off the scene. Most notable among them who’ll be wondering what her faith will be now is Yemi Alade who this year won the MAMA award for best Africa female artist which Savage won last year.

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news

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLASSICAL LYRICS

Oyinkansola, NOUN student, emerges Miss Oya 2015

The Miss Oya contestants

Oyinkansola

raditional drumming, cultural dance, chanting of festivity songs, beauty pageant contest amongst many other activities ushered the commemoration of the 5th edition of Oya festival held in Ira, Kwara state. The festival was put together by the Olokun Festival Foundation. Prior to the festival in Ira, the night before, guests and facilitators of the event converged on Offa to witness the beauty pageant. The contestants thrilled the audience following their rhythmic dance determined by the drumming, leaving the performance in a fashionable synchronisation Kekong Angela Oyinkansola defeated 12 other contestants to win this year’s edition of Miss Oya Pageant which held at Avalon Hotel, Offa, Kwara State. Oyinkansola, an undergraduate of Tourism Management from the National Open University, NOUN, went home with a brand new car among other items while Sunday Nneka Loveth emerged first runnerup and Amos Foluso Abosede emerged as second runnerup. Speaking during the competition, the Chief promoter of Olokun Foundation Festival, the organiser of the event, Otunba Gani Adams said, “Our girls are the beauty and brains of the younger generation . Through this competition, we want to showcase the African beauty and culture and to tell the world that we have talented ladies who can compete internationally on any platform.” He recalled that eight years ago, the foundation added beauty pageantry to the celebration of various festivals being organised by the foundation in order to incorporate the younger generation by giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents to the world and make them to identify with their culture and heritage “Olokun Foundation Festival has 15 different pageants competitions and currently two of the beauty queens are serving their fatherland. I am happy that we will continue to project our cultural heritage beyond Nigeria and that is why we es-

tablished Oodua Progressive Union, OPU in other parts of the world. Currently we have OPU in 63 countries”, he said. The festival however came to full bare with a visit to Oya shrine the next day. The shrine which is revered was however relatively empty as most of the inhabitants expected to be present to celebrate the festival were conspicuously absent, leaving the premises somewhat desolate, except for few women who came to pay tribute to the river goddess and to welcome the national coordinator, Oodua People’s Congress, OPC and chief promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams. Speaking to journalists the Abore Oya Agbaye and lecturer, Institute of Cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile-Ife High Chief Lekan Oyinlola explained that the festival was part of the events being celebrated to hold the culture and tradition of Yoruba people, which is facing western threat. “The challenge has always been the western religion and education. Those that are worshipping Oya in time past have been changing to western religion mostly Christianity and Islam. Those who worship Oya now are mostly royal families in collaboration with the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC.” Creating curiosity to many who visited the shrine was a woman tying a white wrapper and seated in the inner chamber. The woman according to Oyinlola was the carrier of Oya balabash and who intercedes on behalf of the people to Oya, a position she would maintain for seven years, five of which she has spent. According to the Abore Oya Agbaye succession of his post and that of the Oya calabash carrier are exclusively inspired by the oracle. Relating the significance of Oya Abore explained that “Oya is very important to Yoruba issue because Oya was one of Sango’s wives and the closest to him. When Sango was king and was confronted with many battles it was Oya that brought him the power of thunder from Nupe, her fatherland.

“After the death of Sango, Oya while returning to her people in Nupe decided to submerge in the earth in Ira for fear of not being received by her parents,” he concluded. The presence of Osunmuyiwa Ajala, a white woman at the shrine could not have provoked the much focus it received from other black tourists and Oya festival enthusiasts as several white folks usually tourists often visit many of the African rituals. But the attention Ajala who has been practising African tradition for about ten years drew, to many came following her obeisance at the shrine. She and some five Oya priests found comfort on bare mother earth where they sat solemnly in semi-circle looking into the inner chamber of the shrine where the carrier sat believed to be interceding for worshippers of the river goddess. When asked how she came about Oya she said: “Oya came about me. I wish I could explain better but I am clueless. God finds one and it’s not hard because they are in us already. “Orisa has chosen me and I’ve chosen them and they have given me a job to do their work and to bring their message to people, to pray for them and to do what I can to relieve people from their suffering by being kind to them, to take responsibility to serve humanity, to see brotherhood

and sisterhood to simply do what is right without condition to be compassionate.” Ajala came about her name when she was initiated in 2012 by her husband and godfather, an Ifa priest and king Ajala of Osogbo. To many Nigerians the practice of African traditional religion is barbaric. But to Ajala the narrative is far different from such sentiment as she averred being fulfilled in not only practising the tradition but canvassing it across Nigerian borders, a faith which is repulsive to the very indigenes. “I’m more fulfilled than ever in my life practising the African religion. My mission makes me complete and I pray everybody can fill this; this oneness. “All I feel is to rejuvenating Africa and we can all belong to different religions, different cultures, it doesn’t always eventually lead to one because if a tree forgets its root, it will die.” In his address Gani noted that the reason for celebrating the festival is to promoting Yoruba cultural heritage and celebrate the heroic lives of the ancestors and progenitors, a campaign which he has since remained resolute in propagating. The Oodua national coordinator said history has it that Oya is worth celebrating following her contributions to the Yoruba race.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WD TBAM returns to help the helpless

Adesuwa and Great

“S

PAGE

DECEMBER 19, 2015

ir, is it possible to have my face back?” Those were the words of Master Great Okechukwu-Morgan after exchanging greetings during Who Deserves To Be A Millionaire’s initial visit to the Morgans. Great, then a 13-year-old SS 1 student of P & P Comprehensive College, Mushin had been involved in an auto accident 7 years before then. His limbs and face were so badly affected in the incident that, even after series of medical treatment, the scars left on his face region were quite unpleasant. He was rejected by schools on the pretext that his face would scare their pupils. And the undue attention that fellow pupils always paid his physique at the school that grudgingly admitted him so disturbed him psychologically that he always felt like absenting himself from school. To help him, his parents sought assistance from the high and low in our society, from many organizations, and engaged in series of consultations to enable them raise funds for surgical operations in

India, but all to no avail. Reprieve finally came his way through the MTN-sponsored Who Deserves To Be A Millionaire? He was allowed on the show to play for N10m, and with the support of his dad, Okechukwu Morgan, and TV golden girl, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, won N1m. Though a handsome sum, N1m quite was far from the required amount to handle the foreign surgical exercise, so Ultima Limited, WDTBAM’s producers, made up the financial requirement and arranged an all-expenses-paid facility for Great and his dad to an Indian hospital. Today, Great has completed his secondary education, and he is seeking admission to the tertiary institution. ‘MTN has given my son a ray of hope,’ enthused the father during a recent interaction. Great’s story is just one of the 49 beneficiaries so far recorded on the Who Deserves segment of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? that has been solely sponsored by MTN for almost a decade now. Other beneficiaries inlude Pa Akinkunmi (Nigerian flag designer), Pa Moses Olaiya ( Baba

he second edition of the Music Africa Beach Splash holds tomorrow at Eleko Beach, Lagos with Oritsefemi, Victoria Kimani, Malaika, Kiss Daniel and Orezi among those expected to perform.

The event’s producer, Philip Trimmell, said everything necessary to make the event a success had been put in place. And, best news of all, he said the event is free to all those who wish to attend it.

Music Africa beach concert holds tomorrow T

Sala), Pa Usman Pategi (Samaja), Pa Kasumu Yero (Uncle Gaga), Late Pa Sam Ibiam (first goalkeeper), Coach Peter Fregene (longest serving goalkeeper) and Lady Jane Okwaraji

( Late Samuel Okwaraji’s mother). So, who are those who’ll benefit from WDTBAM this season? Just watch out for the programme every Sunday evening on your TV.

C-Fly, Da Octopus, Amazing Amy, Kelvin, Mali Hot Boy, Julius Fakta and G-Xtreem

Dance with Peter winner emerges this weekend

he winner of the dance reality TV show, Dance with Peter, will emerge this weekend. Amazing Amy, G-Xtreem, Julius Faktah, C-Fly, Da Octopus, Kelvin and Mali Hot Boy are those contesting for the winner’s positions. Though all seven finalists are indubitably talented dancers, the three best who, going by their consistency and dance energy, are likely to win, are Julius Fakta, Kelvin Ayanruo and Amazing Amy. Fakta, a 23-year-old student of the University of Ghana, dreams to be one of the world’s most awesome and fantastic choreographers. 24-year-old Kelvin who

hails from Delta State came for auditions as a member of Elevators NG dance crew and was subsequently picked out by the judges to stand as a solo contestant. Amazing Amy is touted to win by many watchers owing to her amazing dance skills. The 17-year-old Amy is currently seeking admission to the university and desires to become a professional dancer. However, many watchers also think Julius Fakta and Kelvin may stand in her way. Permutations and anxiety about who clinches the crown will be laid to rest on Sunday when the show airs with D’Banj as the guest judge.

EVENTS

PAGE

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stars rock at Black Tie

Christmas Concert

With American R&B star, Donell Jones, headlining the Black Tie Christmas Concert, which held last Sunday in Lagos, it was certain that many Nigerian stars would also want to be at the event just to have it on their CV that they were at an event that was headlined by an internationally known star like Jones. Some of those stars were Koffi, Pasuma, Seyi Shay and Aramide.

Aramide

Koffi

Pasuma

Capital FEMI

Ketchup

Lolo

Mr 2Kay

Seyi Shay

Skales

Skuki

Sound Sultan

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Style & Glam

PAGE

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

Right bags r u o y r fo b o dy e p a h s

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

Your bag is the accessory that adds that finishing touche to your look. It can make your outfit or completely break it. So be carefu l when choosing your next handbag as your goal is to accentuate your best areas while hiding the problem ones. • Women with big breasts and heavy shoulders should avoid bags with short handles as these usually finish right around the bust area. Choosing bags with longer handles you will distract attention from your bust and shoulders. In case your aim is to boost the breast area visually short-handled bags or clutches will be perfect. • Wide waist, large stomach and big hips can look less noticea ble if you wear bags that finish right under your arm. Stay away from bags that go down to your midriff or hips, this will attract attention to your bulges. Big totes will look unflattering as well as bags with big funky details. • If you are lucky to have a slim waist, bag with handles of an average length will be a good option as well as a clutch. Moder n clutch can be either tiny for evenings out or middle-sized to be roomy enough for all those items you always need to have with you. • Girls with long slim legs can wear bags with long handles and look great. Messenger type will work best. But ladies with short legs should choose classic shapes and sizes. • Women of larger frames should avoid tiny bags as they will look even bigger. You need well-tailored bags of average sizes. Choose from mediumlarge range. Clutches will be fantastic, but again choose oversiz ed ones to keep proportion. • Tall and skinny girls can opt for broad and slouchy bags. Long bags will look unflattering. • Short women will want to look taller. This is easy to do if you select long and lanky bags that go in colour harmony with your outfits. Stay away from wide oversized totes as they will make you look even shorte r

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Style & Glam

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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Fashion

Get the Christm

Fashion

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Style & Glam

DECEMBER 19, 2015

n frenzy

This year’s Christmas falls on a Friday. This means, it’s going to be fun-filled day. Apart from very few churches that are likely to hold services on this day, many will be out on one date or the other. It behoves on you therefore, to choose a very beautiful and intimidating dress to make the day most memorable. As we all know, beauty has as much to do with your tasteful choice of outfits, makeup expertise and accessories than your desperation to expose your features. This festive season, try a fresh look that will create a fabulous response with these few cues: • If you love to appear bright, pick colourful and outstanding outfits • Go for bold and beautiful bracelets mix with rhinestone or diamond types with gold or silver • Make also your rings bigger and of appreciable quality. • If you love to make your face up, employ a make-up artist for the right amount of concealer, foundation and powder for an attractive face. • Use brown colour for your eyebrows and a brow powder for a smoother blend. • Define the eyes using darker colour to accent and start lining the lip from the Cupid’s bow right in the middle of the upper lip. • For smaller eyes avoid black liners, rather use navy. • Do not forget an elegant but complementary shoes and bags to complement your look. It’s the yuletide season and everyone is simply in a festive mood. So, ladies, go on and rule your world.

mas look!

n frenzy

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

SOCIETY Mirror

Meet Tony Elumelu’s wife, Awele I

f we are asked to talk about Tony Elumelu, no doubt many people would have a lot to say. But in summary, Tony can be described as an economist, a visionary entrepreneur and a philanthropist. He’s one of the richest Nigerians with large investment in Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and Tony Elumelu Foundation. However, what many have failed to notice is the woman in his life. Tony is married to a supportive woman called Awele Vivien Elumelu. But unknown to people, Awele is not that of a typical house wife as some affluent women would prefer. Just like her eager beaver husband she’s also hard working She is the Chief Executive Officer of Avon Medical Services Limited and oversees the healthcare investments of the group. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Benin. Her experience as a medical doctor includes medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and emergency medicine. In Nigeria, the mother of five girls has worked

with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and, in the UK, with Grantham and District Hospital, Grantham.

Both have been married for 22 years and they have five daughters and two sons together.

Tayo Aderinokun’s family gets reprieve

our years after the painful exit of brilliant banker, Tayo Aderinokun to the cold hands of death, the deceased’s family is now gleaning with joy as one of Tayo’s unfulfilled dreams is being fulfilled. Before the sun did set on him, the late banker and former MD of GTBank had dreamt living cheerfully with his family on the Lagos Island in his then yet to be completed posh mansion. Tarino Towers (coined from his name and surname) was one of the huge projects he devoted so much attention and money to. But as fate would have it, he never got to see it upon completion. Situated on Alfred Rewane Road in highbrow Ikoyi (Lagos), and just before Southern Sun Hotel, he looked forward to completing it and also joining the league of other tops bankers like Jim Ovia, Subomi Balogun, Tony Elumelu, etc who own luxury homes and apartments in the area, until death decreed otherwise.

However, the good story is that the massive structure is now completed. Tayo before his death had two wives, Olufunlola and Salamatu, and the two along with their progenies are expected to take charge of

the eye-popping property. It would be recalled that the late top bank gaffer died on June 14, 2011 at age 56 in London after a protracted illness.

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with Deola Adeoti. Tel: 07055695565, mofat07@yahoo.com

Where is Yinka Fashola?

hange can come in many forms in our lives. It might come forcefully like a tidal wave, or creep along incrementally like a glacier. It might come in the form of devastating tragedy, difficult choices, broken relationships, or even new opportunities. And when these changes hit us, dealing with them is often difficult and painful. This inevitable change that often strikes us like tornadoes is what Ms Olayinka Fashola, is experiencing at the moment. Before now, Olayinka was the general manager of the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA). Her emergence was made possible by the immediate governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who is her brother. Her reign started during her brother’s second tenure, and her role was to provide accurate data of Lagos residents, which include their addresses, occupation, profession and other important details. Before taking this job, Olayinka was resident

in the United Kingdom where she subtly goes about with her life. But her story changed when she was made LASRRA boss. She enjoyed the office until recently when the new Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode sacked her and others during a shake-up in all the boards of parastatals and agencies in the state. However, following her ouster, Olayinka has recoiled into her shell and little or nothing is heard about her. The question now on the lips of people in the society circle is where is Yinka?

Abass Akande rebrands, plans hip-hop album F uji music maestro, Abass Akande popularly known as Obesere, is gradually rebranding, and to do this the highly gifted singer has diversified into hip-hop music. Following the success of his new hip-hop single, Amin, which is currently enjoying ample airplay, Obesere has recorded over 10 hip-hop songs and he’s planning to drop an album soon. And just two days ago, the eclectic musician shot the video to ‘Amin’ along with the video of another single, Mobinutan, which is yet-to-be-released on air. Directed by Malaysian based fast-rising director, Yemlat, the videos were shot at choices locations around Lagos which include Ikorodu, Victoria Island and Okota. In Amin, prominent movie stars, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami popularly known as Oga Bello, Yinka Quadri amongst others made cameo appearances. According to an industry source, Amin Video, which is a prayer song,

is expected to drop next week for the yuletide. It would be recalled that the Oyo state, Ibadan born musician was the first Fuji artiste to drop a hip-hop album when he featured Timaya, 9ice a couple of years back. Obesere is a prominent Fuji artiste who has carved a niche for himself through his energetic performance, lyrical wit and versatility.

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Fashion

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Guest G

‘Every woman needs 8 surprising things that a make-up specialist’ can damage your liver For Tope Logic, a young fashionista, making up for any woman, is a serious business. “It is important for women to be knowledgeable about facial make-up because it can make or mar your appearance,” she says in this interview with YEMISI ADENIRAN

What’s your attraction to make-up as a vocation? Ever since I have known the use of a mirror, I have taken a likening to a good face. I could spend hours in front of one and not be fed up if not interrupted. As time went on, I became conscious of how best to make one’s face look good and admirable and I guess, I just get better by each passing day. My interest thereby grew in it even when I could call it unconsciously. I would not pass by anyone without noticing the particular way by which she has made her face. I found fault easily on what ladies do to their faces such that I became a critic to some people. It was when I began to apply makeup on my friends and siblings and close associates that I got to the conclusion that I could make a living out of this said hobby. How would you rate Nigerian women in this area as an expert? I would say, so far, Nigerian women are coming

up well. But I would insist that there are still many who need to learn more about the etiquettes of make-up. Many still commit the error of not applying their make-up on freshly washed and moisturised faces and many don’t use a foundation that matches their skin tone exactly. This is wrong and often spoils their effort. On eyebrows, a lot of fashion faux paux is daily committed. It is very important to know your face shape so it serves as a guide for eyebrow filing and shaping. Many draw their eyebrows with red, wine and other colours other than brown and dark brown; this is horrifying and lousy. Brows that are drawn as pencil-thin, overly sparse, strongly arched, or too heavy or thick can make you look older than you really are. If you’re at a loss on what to do for your brows, make an appointment with a brow specialist, who can guide you to the right brow shape and show you effective grooming techniques. Every woman needs a make-up specialist.

Sugar Too much sugar isn’t just bad for your teeth. It can harm your liver, too. The organ uses one type of sugar, called fructose, to create fat. Too much refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup cause a fatty buildup that can lead to liver disease. Some studies show that sugar can be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even if you’re not overweight. This is one more reason to limit foods with added sugars, like soda, pastries, and candy. MSG (Monosodium glutamate) MSG enhances the flavour of many packaged and prepared foods, from chips to diet drinks. (You might see it on a food label as “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” “yeast extract,” or “soy extract.”) Still, some studies of animals suggest that the chemical may make the liver fatty and inflamed, which can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver cancer. Scientists need more research to know if MSG affects humans the same way. Herbal supplements Just because the label says “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe. One serious example is Kava-kava, a herb that can relieve menopause symptoms and help you relax. Studies show it can keep the liver from working, causing hepatitis and liver failure. Some countries have banned or restricted the herb, but it’s still available. You should always talk to your doctor before you take any herbs to make sure they’re safe. Obesity If you’re carrying around extra weight, fat can also build up in your liver cells, which can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD. It can make the liver swell. Over time, hardened scar tissue can replace healthy tissue (a condition doctors call Cirrhosis). People who are overweight or obese, middle-aged, or have diabetes are at highest risk of NAFLD. There’s no cure, but eating well and exercise can sometimes

reverse the disease. Too much Vitamin A You can find vitamin A in eggs and milk as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those that are red, orange, and yellow. Many supplements also include it since it helps improve vision, strengthen bones, and give a boost to your immune system. But in very high doses, vitamin A is toxic to the liver. To stay safe, never take more than 10,000 IU a day. Unsterile tattoos When you get a tattoo or body piercing in a licensed, clean shop that sterilizes its equipment after each customer, the chances you’ll get a serious infection like Hepatitis C are low. But if tools aren’t properly cleaned, your risk of Hep C shoots up. The virus spreads through contact with the blood of an infected person and causes serious, sometimes lifelong liver illness. Check out the shop and its safety record before you get your tattoo. Soft drinks Scientists studied the diets of a group of people with NAFLD, taking into account their weight, the amount of fat in their blood, and if they had diabetes. One thing stood out: 80% of them drank two or more soft drinks a day. It didn’t matter if it was calorie-free or regular soft drink, which means an ingredient besides sugar could play a role in the condition. There’s no hard evidence, but some researchers think artificial sweeteners might be to blame. Trans fats Trans fats are a man-made fat common in packaged foods and baked goods. (You’ll see them listed in the ingredients as “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “vegetable shortening.”) A diet high in trans fats not only boosts your chances of gaining weight, it makes severe liver disease with scar tissue more likely. In one study, mice that ate a fastfood diet high in trans fats had liver damage after only four months.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

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WOMAN ‘Giant strides are not meant for men alone’

As far as Madam Favour Elechi, a thriving entrepreneur is concerned; most Nigerian women are laid back when it comes to taking bold business steps. “Nigerian women leave giant strides, most times, to men which shouldn’t be. This is causing a lot of set back for the women folk,” she tells YEMISI ADENIRAN in this interview. What motivated you to join this multi level networking marketing business? I got motivated into the business through a friend while at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN. The product was Forever Living product which I started marketing and I found it interesting. Initially, I was not into it full-time but along the line, I lost my father which made things a bit difficult for me. That stimulated my zeal on the job. To save me from dropping out of school, I registered for the product and started off from there. I got into Tianshi, then Tasly Greenworld, and today, by the grace of God Almighty, I am blessed with a success story. Tell us more about the journey. Of course, the journey was not and has not been easy. But, I see is as normal of any business. Starting up a business in Nigeria particularly, is not easy. When I started, a lot of my friends discouraged me. I was almost pushed out of the business, but today they have seen the result. What are your challenges in this business? There a lot of them. For instance, there is the problem of lack of trustworthy staff, again, there is the challenge of exchange rate; the dollar against the naira. Currently, we all know that the economy of Nigeria is not stabilized, in fact, it is nothing to write home about, yet we just must keep up with the business. In addition, time after time, I have to travel far away for about two months to keep the business alive. We travel to different branches to know the situations of things; the staff,

the facilities among other things. So, it is very demanding. Many people complain about this networking business. How do you cope? Well, God has been my strength and I thank Him for this far that I have come.

Secondly, anybody that wants to be a successful business person must understand what he or she wants by setting a standard for himself or herself. Before I joined Crystal Life, I had studied the system. I knew what I wanted

and I set a standard for myself. One important thing is to have a good understanding of the kind of company the company is, I mean how reputable it is. I did my homework and I realize that it is a responsible company. As you

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I am constantly moved by oprah WInfrey’s books and her shoWs. I’m also InspIred by Joyce meyer’s book, don’t gIve up. she InspIres me all day long. I am lIke If Women lIke thIs can come thIs far, Why Won’t I? can see, we have been able to give out 408 cars in four years because we have a good market, structure, and plan. We also make sure we make the products always available for distributors and with that, we can keep the business going. So I want to encourage people to set a standard for a goal to be achieved and it will be so. How have you been able to manage your home and your work schedule demands? In everything one does, one should be able to set limits or have work schedule. I map out my strategies for each week and make sure that my family is aware of my engagements. Whatever plans I have for a week, I carry them along as much as possible. This has and is still working for me. What was your growing up like? Growing up was tough because I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth like they used to say. Nevertheless, I decided to take my destiny in my own hands. I did not allow my situation to deter my growth in life. What do you mean by this? My father was a transporter and my mum a trader, so, like I said, I did not come from a rich family. When I closed in school, I usually went to the market to help my mother sell. This is to give you an idea of what life was. But with that training, I became very hard working and enterprising which is working for me now. I mean the lessons I learnt those years are helping me to manage the company properly today. Most challenges I encountered while growing up provided me with a good background, many thanks to my parents and of course God who has crowned my efforts with success. I used to have this mentality that if my father could be a bicycle rider and gave us a good life, I should be able to do better to my own generation. This has helped my determination till today. If you had not found networking business, what other area would you have been doing? I would have been a pastor. Presently, I’m not limiting myself to networking business, I am also an artiste; I launched two albums before I got into networking. I have some organisations that have promoted my songs. I have other things I may still venture into like schools and Non-Governmental Organisations where we can collaborate with the government to help the less- privileged. What is your advice to the government? I want the government to look into Multi-Level Marketing Business, MLMB because it is an avenue that gives a lot of

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

people opportunities. For instance, Crystal Life has empowered a lot of people. We have about 800,000 people in the world currently, and they are being paid every month. So government should invest in the business to empower more people to crush the problem of unemployment which is a major menace on the country. At least some states have been embracing the initiative but we want many more to join in the campaign. You are a lawyer. Why are you not practicing? Yes. I studied Law at UNN but I am not practicing. This is because I am comfortable with this business ever since I was in school, and I see the future therein. I am one of the first persons in Nigeria to run MLMB successfully. I have championed people’s rights and courses in several countries but I love what I am doing more. What is your philosophy of life? It is to help people who are in need by making them happy. To show people what I did to become somebody in life, to bring the best out of them and God has always been my pillar. I encourage people to rally support for others who are in need. How do you get inspired? I get inspired when I see women do extraordinary things. I am constantly moved by Oprah Winfrey’s books and her shows. I’m also inspired by Joyce Meyer’s book, Don’t give up. She inspires me all day long. I am like if women like this can come this far, why won’t I? When I am down and I read these books, I get fired up. What would be your advice to African woman? They should trust in God to be successful and should work hard irrespective of their husband’s status. They should also believe in themselves and not despise little beginnings. They should stop seeing men as more able than they are. Most women get intimidated by men which is why they are laid back. My message for them for the New Year is that women should rise up to take up more challenges. They should know that giant strides are not for men alone. Nigerian women leave giant strides, most times, to men which shouldn’t be. This is causing a lot of set back for the women folk. This needs to be corrected in the New Year. We can do all things, that’s what the Bible says. Where do you see yourself in five years? I see a greater future and I know with God it is guaranteed

Keeping ABREAST

Gambian president, Jammeh, takes women to the cleaners

nforcing a ban on dangerous skin bleaching, condemning female genital mutilation and encouraging women to not marry for money, Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, seems to know what’s best for women. But Jammeh keeps adding new twists to his stories about Gambian women. In a new tirade, he claimed that the adoption of western dress, especially tight jeans and underwear, has made the women of his country barren. The President, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh Babili Mansa, had been speaking at a meeting in Banjul as part of his nationwide tour when he made the comments. Speaking in the local Wollof dialect with an interpreter, Jammeh reiterated his stance on the skin bleaching culture “rampant” among women in Gambia, a practice which sees women intentionally lightening the colour of their skin in a bid to attain supposed western ideals of beauty. “We banned skin bleaching since 1994, but our women never heeded to the ban. Now you have reaped the price of skin bleaching. You have been rendered impoverished because of skin bleaching. Skin bleaching has jeopardized your health,” said Jammeh. “You often backbite me by saying that Yahya Jammeh wants light skin[ned] women. That’s not true. Many a time, you will try to attract me sexually by walking pass me during public functions. I know all what you have been saying behind my back. You don’t have to bleach your skin to attract me. I love black beauty,” he said. Jammeh took the opportunity to once again condemn female genital mutilation (FGM) in Gambia, saying that he will enforce a new ban on it. Jammeh said that the ban took immediate effect, although it is not known when the government will draft the legislation to enforce it. The leader then called on women to believe in Allah and to stop choosing men to marry based on riches. “Most Gambian women don’t want to

many a tIme, you WIll try to attract me sexually by WalkIng pass me durIng publIc functIons.

I knoW

all What you have been sayIng behInd my back.

you don’t

have to bleach your skIn to attract me.

love black beauty marry poor men. There are gold diggers among you. Gambian women lack faith in God. That’s why there are many unmarried women in this country. You only want to marry rich people,” said the president. However, any progress he made with critics was rendered moot when he concluded his speech with a bizarre theory to explain falling birth rates in the country. “You don’t have to wear tight trousers and underwear to attract me. Many young girls in this country are unable to conceive because of their dress style. Tight trousers and underwear are alien to our culture and dress style,” he added. “Women in this country are faced with infertility, and all kinds of health issues. Your private part needs some air around it to be able to function effectively. How can you conceive, when you are dressed in tight trousers and underwear? You must change your dress style if you want to get a baby.” Gambia will hold presidential elections in December 2016. Jammeh was first elected in 1996 and has been re-elected three times since, most recently in 2011 with 72% of the vote.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Parenting

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Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression

Is your child gifted? U

nless you have someone who is a professional look at your child’s ability, you may not be able to tell easily if your child is gifted. At a very young age, there isn’t a way to look for traits that can tell you that your child is of exceptionally high intelligence. There are a few signs that appear more often in highly intelligent children and you can start by looking for these. These signs that appear are possibly due to the actual physical makeup in the brain. Children who are gifted usually get this from both genetics and their environment. These two things have a profound impact on the development of the brain. When a baby has highly developed cognition, it is actually their own brains capability to utilize and retain information quicker than other children in the same age group. Here are some common signs that your baby may be gifted: Early milestones Babies who are gifted tend to meet certain milestones earlier than other babies. They will crawl, walk and even speak at younger ages than other babies. Highly developed language skills Babies that are gifted tend to be very interested in what you are saying very early on. When reading to a gifted child they will comprehend and show interest in the book even as early as 6 months. They will also speak in sentences by at least 14 months and can follow spoken directions

by at least 18 months. Remembers well If your baby is gifted, he or she may have a remarkable memory form early on. They may remember where a hidden toy is or understand that the kitchen is for eating. You will notice they remember times and places better than other children. Solves problems Babies that are gifted seem to solve problems that only older children should be able to understand. One example is babies that learn to escape their cribs or baby gates by stacking objects. Able to focus for long periods of time Most babies and toddlers lose interest in things pretty quickly. You may begin to read a story and have your baby move to another task before you even finish, or if your baby is gifted they may sit and listen to the entire story. The same holds true with play. Seems very alert These babies connect with people and their surroundings very early on. Even gifted infants will turn their head when someone speaks and actually look into someone’ eyes as if they understand what is being said. Advanced language skills Gifted children will use higher than average language skills. You may notice your toddler using big words and long sentences with older people, but change their language to a more simple tone when talking to other children. Artistic or good with numbers If your child seems to draw re-

ParentingUpdate

ny baby carrier, baby sling, car seats that does not allow the hips of a baby to spread apart with the thighs supported and the hips bent will hinder the healthy hip development of the baby, a study recently discovered. The researchers observed that within the womb, a baby spends a long time tucked in the foetal position, in which both hips and knees are bent or flexed. After birth, it takes several months for the joints to stretch out naturally. During the first few months of life, the ball is more likely to be loose within the socket because babies are naturally flexible and because the edges of the socket are made of soft cartilage like the cartilage in the ear. If the hips are forced into a stretched-out position too early, the ball is at the risk of permanently deforming the edges of the cup shaped socket (hip dysplasia) or gradually slipping out of the socket altogether (hip dislocation).

ally well or can add numbers or subtract, there is high probability they are gifted. Increased activity levels A child who is gifted may have high activity levels with a longer attention span. Children that suffer from hyperactivity as a condition, tend to have shorter attention spans. Gifted children seem to go and go on the same task until it is completed. Complex emotion Children who are above average tend to have more complex and intense emotions. They can tell how others are feeling and are more empathetic. Children on average are less sensitive to others emotions at a young age, so having empathy is a sign your child may understand more than the average child. Imagination is overly vivid If your child is gifted, they may have an overly advanced imagination during play making up imaginary friends and situations that are very complex. Ability to connect situations Look for the ability for your child to make connections and situations and use them outside your home. One example of this is seeing your child acknowledge someone else’s refrigerator and ask for a drink. Good perception Your baby may seem overly sensitive to changes in his or her environment. This may be a clue to advanced perception. If you cut your hair, take off your eyeglasses does your baby seem to notice? Or do they want to cuddle

you when you are crying or wipe your tears? These are signs of very advanced perception in babies and should be noted. Overly inquisitive or curious It is quite normal for all babies to be very curious during infant and toddler stages. Children and babies that have an extremely keen sense of curiosity may be gifted. Normal kids are curious about “kid” type things including their toys, books and objects that look fun. When a child is gifted they go a little further. They may

instead take a toy apart to see what is inside or other things around the house. This can pose a significant safety hazard so make sure you keep small object out of reach or things that contain small objects like tiny watch batteries. Prefers playing alone Children who are gifted seem very content playing by themselves rather than in groups of other kids. You may find your child sitting alone reading a book or just quietly playing with a toy alone.

Tiny Feet

NAME: Derrick Demilade Ogungbesan BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs. Ogungbesan AGE: 3 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.5 Kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

Baby carriers may hinder healthy hip development – Study

Hip dysplasia or dislocation in babies is not painful so this may go undetected until walking age and may also result in painful arthritis during adulthood. The risk of hip dysplasia or dislocation is greatest in the first few months of life. By six months of age, most babies have nearly doubled in size, the hips are more developed and the ligaments are stronger, so are less susceptible to developing hip dysplasia. The most unhealthy position for the hips during infancy is when the legs are held in extension with the hips and knees straight and the legs brought together, which is the opposite of the foetal position. The risk to the hips is greater when this unhealthy position is maintained for a long time. Healthy hip positioning avoids positions that may cause or contribute to development of hip dysplasia or dislocation. The healthiest position for the hips is for the hips to fall or spread (naturally)

apart to the side, with the thighs supported and the hips and knees bent. This position has been called the jockey position, straddle position, frog position, spread-squat po-

sition or human position. Free movement of the hips without forcing them together promotes natural hip development. Some types of baby carriers and other equipment may interfere with healthy hip positioning. Such devices could inadvertently place hips in an unhealthy position, especially when used for extended periods of time. Any device that restrains a baby’s legs in an unhealthy position should be considered a potential risk for abnormal hip development. It is also important to assess the size of the baby and match the device and carrier to the size of the child so that the hips can be in a healthy position during transport. Parents are advised to research the general safety and risks of any device they wish to use. When in doubt, we recommend involving your primary health-care provider in any further decision-making that may be medically relevant. Culled from www.hipdisplasia.org

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Dear Bukola

Having problems with your marriage, family, relationship, career or life generally? Help is at hand with Bukola Oyetunji, Relationship Expert, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author of Stranded With a Status and One Good Spouse Deserves Another. www.bukolaoyetunji.blogspot.com, Follow on twitter @bukolaoyetunji

bukola.oyetunji@gmail.com. +2347012974472

The girl of my dreams shuns me Dear Bukola, ow do I handle things when the girl I love and shower with gifts absolutely refuses to have anything to do with me? I cannot take my mind off her. I weep everyday like a baby. Emotional wreck

Dear Emotional wreck, he major problem with romantic relationships is that we love those who don’t love us and refuse to love those who love us in return. That is a misplaced love! You should under no circumstances give your love to a person that would throw it in the waste bin. Love is not an easy thing to come by. You didn’t mention if the lady receives your gifts or not but from what you wrote, I want to assume she does. A girl that takes your gifts yet refuses to have anything to do with you is a cheat taking you for a ride. You need to wake up and smell the coffee! I strongly advise you to move on with your life because if a girl takes your gifts and still doesn’t develop feelings for you it may never happen. Lastly, please don’t be an emotional wreck; let go of all the feelings you have for her. I know men don’t fall in love easily but when they do, they don’t fall out easily. Notwithstanding, if you keep hoping she will one day fall in love with you, your time may be wasted. So instead of hoping, open up your heart and allow another woman in. You deserve a queen so that you can be treated like a king that you really are. All the best dear.

My guy is a Muslim Dear Bukola,

am 20 years old and I am dating a guy who is 23 years old. We have a good relationship and he asked for my hand in marriage. But the problem is that he is a Muslim. I come from a deeply religious Christian family and there is no trace of Islam in our family history. I don’t know how to swing this. Please help. Anonymous. Dear Anonymous, need you to know that religion is a very important factor in any relationship, especially the one we plan to end up in marriage. Difference in religion is therefore an issue we need to be wary off. Rea-

Dear Bukola, hat can I do as my wife here in UK loves her younger ones (brothers and sisters) in Nigeria more than our children here in the UK. This always causes a lot of arguments in this marriage. She is the first born and I am the last born. For example, if they call her from Nigeria that one of her brother or sister has head ache and we are about to be intimate she will be sad and will refuse to be close to me that time... This is one of the many questions I like to ask. Dear Neglected Husband, ou wrote that your wife is the first child and she is usually more concerned about her siblings than

son is because a ‘couple that prays together stays together’. If you get married to a man that you cannot pray together with, that marriage may face a lot of troubles in the future. On the other hand, if you are both the liberal types that can inculcate each other’s religion into your individual religious doctrines and beliefs, it is possible you do not experience any hurdles. It is the inability of couples to respect each other’s religious beliefs that brings up a lot of problems. This is why I understand why you are a bit reluctant or see it as a problem. I have seen couples who practice different religions like you and your partner but live together happily without qualms. So also have I seen instances where religion was the major

reason couples divorced. ‘Different strokes for different folks’ you know? However, coming from your family background, there may be issues raised over your partner being a Muslim but if you are truly in love with him and convinced that he will give you the happiness and satisfaction you want for the rest of your life, they may notice this and wish you well. The most important thing is for you to be personally convinced he is everything you want in a man. Marriage is not a child’s play so please think it through; you and only YOU can decide what you want. Lastly, like I always emphasise…. parental consent is highly important before you walk down the aisle with anyone. Best wishes.

My wife prefers her siblings to us she is with your children. Sometimes this is the case for female first born because they feel they owe their younger ones the responsibility of taking care of them (especially when their mother is no more). Women are usually more concerned about their family than men, it’s just their nature. However, she has to know how to balance everything together, that is why she is a mother too. Her immediate family i.e., you and your children should be top on her priority list, you are more important to her than

any other person in the world. Let her know that you do not feel okay with the way she takes her younger ones more important than you and the children. It is also very mandatory for her to know that the issue of her siblings should never steal away your time of intimacy. You are her husband so she should learn to adequately satisfy you as often as possible. As long as she can create a balance that would make everybody happy, there shouldn’t be a problem. Lastly, find time out to have a heart-to heart talk with

her about how much you feel neglected. If she adjusts afterwards, great! If she doesn’t, you should take it a notch higher by discussing this issue with her parents or someone she listens to, let them talk some sense into her. Hopefully, she would become a better wife and mother after this. Finally, please try to support her more with the children and her extended family (In case you don’t do that already) so that she would have more time and strength to cater to your needs also. Wish you all the best

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19, 2015

People

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Meet woman who fell in love with her rapist

young mother-of-two who was made to flee her home in Uganda and live with a warlord in the Congolese bush at the age of just ten has spoken out about her ordeal...and her sympathy towards the man she was forced to marry.

Prisca Lanyero, 22, who lives with her children, aged eight and five, was forced to marry Ugandan rebel leader, Dominic Ongwen, at just 12-years-old after being abducted from her home as a child. Sleeping in her mud hut home with her mother, she was woken and dragged away by vicious thugs from the Lord’s Resistance Army. Her father, a soldier in the Ugandan Army, was away fighting this feared militia, who had been terrorising the north of the country since 1986. By this time, in 2002, they had kidnapped thousands of children and young adults - the boys to train as child soldiers and the girls to become ‘forced wives’ to the commanders. They were known for slashing the lips and ears of those who dared speak back to them, and to kill those who attempted to escape. Prisca was forced to carry a load and join other young abductees roped together to walk barefoot miles through the dense bush to South Sudan. As she did so, she caught the attention of a young commander called Dominic Ongwen. He was so concerned at her fatigue that he took her to the sick bay. It was the start of a long relationship which began against her will but which eventually turned to some kind of love. Her husband is now facing the International Criminal Court at the Hague next month, charged with crimes against humanity that include murder, torture and rape. If convicted, he faces years in jail. But Prisca, now 22, and living with Dominic’s two children in a straw-roofed mud hut in Gulu district of Uganda, believes he is just as much a victim as herself, abducted as a school boy himself and finding himself rising through the ranks, forced to do terrible acts. Speaking through a translator, the soft spoken Prisca said, “All the atrocities maybe he has done, it was not his will. They gave him the order to do it. If you don’t do it, you are going to be killed and punished.” She added that she wants Dominic back, and that he should be allowed to return to his family in Uganda and be a proper, supportive father. She said, “He should come back to his family. And in case he is interested in me, I will come to him and keep our children together.”

• Woman talks about extraordinary relationship with the Congolese warlord she was forced to marry aged 12 • Prisca Lanyero, 22, from Uganda was dragged from her home to marry Dominic Ongwen at the age of just 12 • Ugandan rebel leader, Ongwen, is on trial for war crimes in Uganda • Lanyero, a mother of two, says she ‘started loving’ Ongwen in spite of part he played in the deaths of 100,000 people

Prisca appears to be showing evidence of Stockholm syndrome, a psychological response in which kidnap victims begin to show sympathy for their abductors. It was named after a robbery in Sweden in which hostages became emotionally attached to their captors. But listening to her story unfold, it is not surprising that in such a brutal environment, the young Prisca clutched on to any tenderness that she was shown her. Life in the Lord’s Resistance Army was one of constant movement, from place to place, finding food and other supplies, and living in the open air. Pregnant women gave birth to children as their convoy walked on – the cord was cut and they were expected to continue marching with the newborns on their back. When Prisca was fit to be released from the

sickbay after her capture, Ongwen called for her to come and stay in his ‘household’ with his other wives. That was when she first saw his brutality. She said, “When one of the wives did something wrong, he would normally punish all of them with the cane.” Her solace was the other wives, who all ‘loved each other.’ At 12, he ordered her to become a wife herself. She was appalled. She says she did not want to be his wife either because “I had no voice. I was too young.” But over time, their relationship changed. Generally Dominic was “friendly to everyone, happy, and could be kind sometimes.” It was after an ambush by Ugandan Government forces that the relationship developed significantly, when he picked up the

injured girl shot in the thigh and the arm and rescued her. She remembers: “I would have been killed without him. I was shot almost to death. He was the one who carried me and nursed me until I recovered. That’s why I cannot forget about him. After seeing all the help he has shown me, I even started loving him. He used to love me but still, I don’t know.” She was released in 2011 by another commander when Ongwen was on a mission and now lives in a rented mud and straw hut in the Gulu district, 400 km from the capital Kampala, with their children, now 8 and 5. At first she was scared to leave the captivity that had been her only home for nine years. “I was upset because I didn’t know I would be safe. Then I made my mind up - just go, even if I don’t get to my people, there will be someone to care for me at home. Let me just go and see what will happen.” Her life is hard and she has experienced discrimination from the other villagers making nasty remarks, but this stopped after she appealed to a local community leader. She makes a living by selling charcoal, washing clothes and huts, but still can only afford to put one child through the cheapest school, which costs Ush 200,000 a term around £38 UK pounds. She has no family support as her mother died earlier this year and her father died fighting the month she was released. It is this lack of family support that makes rehabilitation back into the community particularly difficult. Janet Arach, who helps run charity Watye Ki Gen, works directly with many LRA survivors and forced wives, to help them integrate and provide livelihoods. Prisca is being helped by them, and is also getting medical treatment paid for by World Vision. She admits life is easier now than in captivity. But ultimately, what she wants is the return of her ‘husband’ and father to her two children. “I miss him,” she says. And at this, she breaks down.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Mirror

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‘Human rights defenders should work without hinderance’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

yers for the prosecution of extrajudicial murderers, three policemen are currently being tried for murder by the Honourable Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of Lagos State High Court in Igbosere. The family of the late Ademola Adedeji, a major distributor of confectionary products of Rite Food Limited, is currently pursuing justice with the assistance of OPD. The victim purchased new stock and was accused of issuing a dud cheque. Police men attached to the Ikeja Divisional Police Station in Lagos arrested him. They denied him bail before he died in their custody. A Coroner’s Inquest into his death indicted some policemen, who are presently on trial before Justice Elias at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. During this investigation, three witnesses had given testimonies to support the killing as extrajudicial. Established on July 24, 2000 and backed by the OPD Law Cap L82, Laws of Lagos State 2003 to provide free and qualitative legal services to poor and indigent residents, OPD’s focus, according to the Director, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, is on the fundamental human right to life, for which victims can call through a toll-free line: 07080601080. OPD, which famously pursued the case of assault of Ms Uzoma Okere by four Naval Ratings, attached to Admiral Arogundade and secured N100m compensation for the victim, and which also pursued the cases of dehumanization of three pepper sellers in an Ejigbo market and compensation for Igando pipeline fire disaster victims, has many cases of extrajudicial killing. By October ending, OPD had registered about 65 cases of police illegal detention, torture and death in 2015 only. A few of the agency’s cases are worth highlighting to emphasize the high rate of arbitrary killings in Nigeria. In October 2014, the OPD secured a judgment sum of N6.1m in favour of a victim, Akpan Udom, who an Inspector of Police shot and incapacitated in Lagos. In conjunction with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the OPD is presently pursuing justice in the fatal shooting of Ademola Abbe at Yaya Abatan in Ogba, demanding N200m for the unjustified killing that occurred during the protests against fuel scarcity and petrol price hike in 2012. In a related case, the agency secured a compensation of N4m for four others that were killed by a patrol team the Divisional Police Officer of Pen Cinema Police Station, CSP Segun Fabunmi led. Justice Okikiolu Ighile of Lagos State High Court delivered the judgment. There is also the case of Bamidele Patrick v The State, in which the applicant was seeking to upturn his death sentence by hanging for murder by a Lagos State High Court. The appellate court dismissed his appeal and upheld the death sentence. The Lagos OPD experience is a success story that other state governments should recreate for the benefits of poor victims, if extrajudicial killing and jungle justice are to be effectively tackled.

Malam Abubakar Malami, SAN, AGF & Minister of Justice.

Curbing impunity by ordinary citizens There is no gainsaying that the impunity that is responsible for most of the murders committed by armed security agents is also responsible for the spill-over to a civilian-to-civilian violence and growing gang killing. In February 2014, Kelvin Noine, a Lebanese management member of Top Pan Nigeria Limited, in a fit of fury in the office, kicked the bulging stomach of his subordinate, Alexandria Ossai, resulting to the death of her unborn baby of a seven-month pregnancy. According to many company sources, expatriates, especially those from Asia, Middle East and horn of Africa, openly treat Nigerians in similar inhuman circumstances under the protection of the law and police. They particularly accused the police and the judiciary of letting such criminal suspects off the hook after demanding and accepting bribe. Indeed, investigation revealed that Top Pan’s intense lobby resolved the matter amicably (instead of going to court), which ended with the secret payment of an undisclosed compensation to the victim. The death of 17-year-old Jennifer Onyeche, a staff of Rottpat Nigeria Limited, at No 9, Adisa Akintoye Street in Ketu, Lagos, is being tried in court. Jennifer left home for work healthy, hale and hearty. She allegedly died in the process of operating a machine without recommended safety materials. Sources claimed that many workers in the country today are denied safety tools and forced to work with bare hands. The case is being pursued by the OPD in conjunction with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). In The State v Akolade Arowolo, the tragic case of an unemployed graduate-husband and father, who was living on the goodwill of his banker-wife, but whom he murdered with a knife, the defendant has been convicted. He appealed against

Mr Joseph Chu’ma Otteh, Executive Director, Access to Justice

his death sentence. In Ajah, an enraged husband refused to take his seriously sick wife to hospital for treatment. When his six children confronted him, he locked them indoors against their will. The wife died from the inhuman treatment. OPD stepped into the case and took the children into the protective custody of Lagos State government. The murder is undergoing trial. Legal experts say the death of the female victims lends credence to a new direction of violence targeting women as victims. According to the Human Development Report 2014 of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) titled, Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience, there is an epidemic proportions of violence against women. The report concludes, “Along with the assault on the personhood, dignity and sense of worth that all violence inflicts on its victims, the consequences of violence against women also reflect its systemic character—that it is not randomly distributed across the population but directed at a particular group by virtue of their identity as a subordinate group.” While impunity and corruption continue to increase killing in Nigeria, the Lagos interception is further underlined with the

institution of a first ever Pro Bono Trust Fund in Nigeria in April 2014 as part of Public Interest Law Partnership. “With the fund, indigent but aggrieved citizens could have free legal representation to be provided by private legal practitioners,” former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye explains. Mr Ipaye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, particularly recommends the establishment of a Crime Data Register (CDR), an electronic repository of information about suspects and offenders who pass through any of the prisons in Lagos State, which, he adds, was aiding the populous former Nigerian capital city to tackle violent crimes. The role of drug use In his recommendation for reducing violent crimes, the Medical Adviser of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Dokun Adedeji, urges the Federal Government to focus on hard drugs by encouraging the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb country-wide cultivation, usage and addiction. Writing in Drug Addiction: The Nigerian Situation, Dr Adedeji says a significant number of educated and uneducated Nigerians are hooked on drugs. “We can categorically state that there is no part of Lagos that does not have its own drug joints. They dot the whole nooks and crannies of Lagos. Ditto other major cities of this country,” he states. Many experts agree with Adedeji’s assertion on drug use. They claim that some armed security agents are hooked on drugs and substances while others are members of secret cults and societies. These factors account for some of the violent activities and killings. The vote against rights defenders Thanks to the work of rights defenders, many of the arbitrary killings and other impunities that occur daily would have been unnoticed. Human rights defenders work under grave dangers that demand protection. On November 25, 2015, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the United Nations approved a draft resolution with 117 votes in favour to 14 votes against (including Nigeria), with 40 abstentions, by which the General Assembly would, henceforth, strongly condemn violence against and intimidation of human rights defenders. Activists have expressed fears that the Federal Government decision to oppose the UN resolution because it sees “no need for the draft resolution” is capable of encouraging more violence, arbitrary killings and unresolved murders in addition to jungle justice, if not reversed in subsequent UN meetings. “Human rights defenders in Nigeria should be allowed to carry out their work safely and without risk under the Buhari administration.” “We also want government to deepen its war against corruption as corruption has been fingered to be the greatest cause of violation of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians” executive director of ANEEJ, David Ugolor concludes.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Male

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Angle

Jide animashaun 08034710902 jidemashaun@yahoo.com

Would you pick a hou Women are afraid of housegirls

very person is individually different from another. Our innate personalities help shape how life unfolds for us and how we deal with those life problems as they come. When it comes to employment of a house help, we the employers are also nurturers of some of the expectations from these strangers we are bringing into our homes. The new environment, including us the nurturers play a role in the discharges of some of the roles we may entrust these people with. And most times there are differences in how we handle male and female house helps right from the day we employ them. In this world we live in stranger things have been happening between couples than the decision of who to employ as domestic help between the two genders. A lot of excuses are given by many people from the mundane to the very serious. These excuses at most times bother on trust issues. Trust as per who can be entrusted with the care of one’s home and who will not be found wanting in the delivering of the duties entrusted on the house help by the employer. Most women these days are afraid of employing house girls because of their husbands picking interest and even sleeping with them. Same goes with house boys in case of the woman. Some have also impregnated the children kept in their care. Many stories have been told about this. And it is indeed a very serious issue. It has happened in a lot of homes today though it almost always gets swept under the rugs of secrecy because of the shame involved. Some second wives today started off as house helps that became bedmates of oga madam’s husband if the truth is told. It is like a test run unknowingly done by the wives who may feel that the house chores are too much for them alone to deal with. Same goes for some children born that do not belong to the husband. At this point, I really want us to know that though it may not be an everyday occurrence for the house boy to sleep with the madam, it does happen too and should not be ruled out especially when we think of the adage of what the

man can do, the woman can equally do if not better. Let’s be very sure of something here, there is no age limit, educational qualification or specific gender for adultery, whether you are young and smooth or old and ancient to the core, men cheat women cheat and there’s nothing we can do about it. Another reason given on which gender to employ has its basis on the gender of one’s child/children. People are mostly careful of not employing house helps of the opposite sex to their kids believing that this will surely help to curb sexual abuse among other abuses their kids may most likely be exposed to if one has a house help. For a lot of parents, the belief that sexual abuse can only be perpetuated by house helps of the opposite sex is very pathetic. A lot of kids have been exposed to homosexualism and lesbianism and other sexual abuses by house helps of the same gender they grew up with. Some of these house helps had gotten exposed to uncensored television time and social media. Some of these house helps have also abused the kids entrusted with them in so many other ways from the physical to the psychological. For those in support of bringing in a house help my take is this; just because somebody does not trust their partner especially their husband with a house girl does not mean that house girls shouldn’t be employed as house helps, if your husband has caused you to have concern for his actions with women it may be because of what he is lacking in the marriage. Let’s not use the advent of the house help in whichever gender as an excuse for the break-up of any relationship. And the same goes for the man too. But when you think of all the inherent dangers involved in bringing a stranger into your home, even if the stranger is a relative, I’ll go with having no house help no matter the gender. It is another thing having an occasional cleaning company or older woman come in and do a thorough cleaning. I believe the age at which a lot of these kids are employed bothers on child

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

Are you having too much of a good thing? (II) Continued from last week

• Is twice a day too much sex – when you love and desire your partner? • Is twice a week too little – when you are stressed, aching, sick or low on stamina? • Is twice a month acceptable – in a long-term relationship between two aging partners? • Is twice a year better than nothing - when you are 85 and your wife is 80? 2. Dopamine overdose- Dopamine is one of many hormones that the brain produces during sex. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that drives us to have sex and makes it oh so very, very good. One of the effects of having too much sex is your body needs more and more dopamine to feel good and maintain your natural sexual high. Some scientists have even suggested that there may be a link between dopamine and sexual addiction. 3. Loss of sensation- Friction not only can cause you to be sore, but it can also cause you to temporarily loose sensation. If you take a breather, the sensation will return and you can go back to being the sex machine you want to be. But if loss of sensation happens often or lasts for more than a few minutes, it’s time to have the doctor

take a look at your under parts. 4. Difficulty keeping your mojo going- Going at it for hours and hours on end may make you feel like a sex machine for a while, but sometimes that can do more harm than good. When you are having a marathon sex session, you are not giving your body or your genitals time to rest and replenish oxygen. This lack of oxygen can lead to decreased blood flow and ejaculation issues. Frequent ejaculation stimulates parasympathetic nervous functions. Excessive stimulation can result in over production of sex hormones and neurotransmitters such as acethylcoline, dopamine and serotonin. Too much of these hormones and neurotransmitters can cause the brain and adrenal glands to perform excessive

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Female

Angle

YEMISI ADENIRAN 08029894772 email: ydiran@yahoo.com

use girl or house boy? Men like cheap women! V

This column is x-rated Ejaculation for a man ovEr 30 should bE twicE a wEEk. for a man ovEr 50, oncE a wEEk is good. for thosE who arE 60,

twicE a month is okay.

sEx oncE a month is good for thosE ovEr 70 yrs old. for tEEnagErs and bElow 30s, two to thrEE timEs a day is finE

-sEx rEsEarchErs

dopamine-norepinephrine-epinephrine conversion, which will bring about a big change of body chemistry. Changes in body chemistry will cause the following side effects: Fatigue, lower back pain, hair loss or thinning of hair, weak erection, premature ejaculation, eye floaters or fuzzy vision, groin/testicular pain, pain in the pelvic cavity, depression and memory problems Too much ejaculation can also cause seminal leakage. The sperm oozes or leaks out of the penis without erection. Semen leakage is embarrassing and may cause you to feel uncomfortable. Semen leakage is one sign that

This column is x-rated the parasympathetic nerve, which keeps the ejaculation valve shut and is responsible for erection is weakening as a result of too much ejaculation. Maintaining an erection is impossible if you have a weak nerve. In addition, too much ejaculation can affect the liver’s ability to release enzymes that aid in hormone production. It can also cause youthful impotence or erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, there are definitive psychological dangers associated with not getting enough sex. A healthy sex life confers a wealth of side benefits, such as cardiovascular exercise, a lower incidence of cold and flu, better sleep, longer life, reduced depression, and surprisingly, an improved sense of smell! Regular sex sessions will firm a woman’s tummy and buttocks and also improve her posture. Women who abstain from sex run the risk of vaginal atrophy. The opening of the vagina narrows from disuse. This condition can lead to dysparenia, or pain associated with intercourse. One last word…It can be challenging to find the balance between fulfilling your sexual needs, meeting the needs of your partner, having autonomy over how much sex you have, and keeping up with your other responsibilities. As long as you and your partner are content, no one’s getting hurt, you’re protecting your body, and sex isn’t getting in the way of the rest of your life, there’s no need to worry about how much sex you are having. Many people are completely happy abstaining, and others get on it like rabbits. Just be safe, pay attention to your intuition, and don’t over stress yourself. If you are happy, safe, and healthy, it’s enough.

ivian Ibeh is a housegirl who claims to have worked for seven families in the last five years. Much as she is a diligent and hard working girl, she has wrecked more havoc than her good deeds. She confesses that during those periods, she has slept with two of her bosses. Her reasons, she said partly financial but mainly to save her so-called job. “It’s not like I wake up and decide to sleep with these men. It’s the men who started it and many of them offer gifts and money. Where I showed no interest, they threatened to send me away. I had no other choice than to just let them do this thing,” she says. She complains that the problem with the men is that once you sleep with them, they expect to bed you whenever they feel like. “If he gives you money for sex, he will expect you to sleep with him whenever he is bored, drunk or if the wife isn’t around. One even tried it when the wife was in the house!” claims Vivian. She says that there is no how a house girl who is desperate for money can say no to the man of the house or his male relatives. Vivian reveals that the sex always happens in the house, not in hotel rooms. “Maybe it’s what men like, I mean quick sex. The best employers are single mothers,” she says. That was an account of a house girl who was sincere enough about her ordeal or should we say her escapades with her bosses. Although she usually leave after few months of getting involved with these men, she would have created a big loophole in the relationships of those couples before leaving. For some couples, the tales are bitter. I knew of a woman whose 23-year-old house girl sent parking from her matrimonial home here in Lagos like some joke. This woman took things for granted and couldn’t read the very clear and bold contrary handwriting on the wall. Her husband, for several months, was sleeping with her house girl while she was carrying on as the madam of the house. Unfortunately for her, she was yet to have a child for her husband. As a career woman, she closed late at work and sometimes travelled out of town. Of course, the two were having a field day right behind her. The house girl eventually became pregnant and the husband and his family shamelessly admitted the paternity of the unborn child. It was a terrible occurrence that drove her out of her own home. Beside their adulterous antics, many of these girls are processed by evil spirits. Those who are not demonic are wicked so much that they vent whatever anger they nurse against their madams

on the kids. Many have killed these innocent kids, bewitched some and cause a financial downturn on the men. Now, just why will I now choose to bring a second wife or an alternative to me for my husband? Or why will I bring a witch or an Ogbanje to destroy my home? Or have you forgotten that having a female housemaid is like placing a public advert for your husband that he needs another wife in the home. These girls lack morals and could do anything to push you out of your matrimonial home if they have their ways. To crown this is the blunt fact that men like cheap women. With a house girl in the house, he really doesn’t have to look elsewhere to satisfy his sexual urge. Instead of having to spend a lot on a lady out there either by taking her to an outing or having to buy some expensive gifts at specific periods at least in a year, the house help is just there for a pick. He does not have to pay a dime and where he has to, he picks some cheap gifts that wont cost him anything. Don’t also forget that these girls hardly have the gut to say no. Like Vivian said, if she tries to say no, she is going to lose her job which is very dear to her. Ther are times, some men even threatens these girls. They can go to the extent of saying they will kill and throw them away if they refuse them or tries to let the cat out of the bag. Again, men love quickies and these girls are just easy preys. Some of these girls are weirder than anyone can imagine. Like they say, once a cheat, always a cheat. But the fact that the man in question is not that visibly spoilt is not enough a reasonto bring him temptations and expect him to behave Haven’t you heard stories about men who wake up and tip-toe to the maid’s bedroom for a quickie And it’s not just a local problem, it even happens in Hollywood. Just ask singer Gwen Stefani whose ex-husband carried on a three-year affair with the family nanny right under her nose. As a woman, you must be vigilant and very strategic when picking a house help. Again, it’s not just about picking the right help and then putting your feet up after a long day and letting the stranger run your house. I always recall my mother’s advice: “Don’t be that foolish woman who thinks she is too beautiful to be replaced by anyone. You are replaceable, even by house helps.” Women have to be on the lookout. Most men tend to check out women in their houses, especially if they are not relatives. So, dearie, I won’t take the risk. It is a houseboy or nothing. Afterall, they are stronger at work.

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divorce court

‘He swore he wouldn’t marry another wife’

• My wife always tells me that if she knew that I was going to marry another wife after her, she would have destroyed my life —Husband • I did not want to marry him because he already had three wives then. But when he begged me and swore with the Quran then that he would not marry another wife, I agreed to marry him, but he failed to fulfill his vow —Wife

65-year old Islamic cleric, Ibrahim Yusuf, on Thursday urged an Alimosho Customary Court in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos State, to dissolve his 27year marriage to his fourth wife, Bolanle, for alleged battery of his new wife. Mr. Yusuf told the court that Bolanle, with whom he had two children, had turned his new wife into a punching bag. “Bolanle did not allow my new wife to have peace in the house as she was always fighting and beating her at will,’’ he said. The petitioner described Bolanle as a troublesome woman

‘She can’t stand my children’

• It is more than a year since I stopped sleeping with her. Since she can’t stand the sight of my children, I don’t want her anymore —Husband • His children complain about everything I do in the house. Even when I correct my step-daughter, she wouldn’t listen. In fact, the last time I sent her on an errand, she slapped me. His children are mean —Wife StorieS by Muda oyeniran

o longer able to condone the incessant troubles his wife puts him through, a 55-year-old resident of 5, Osunnike Street, Alakuko, a Lagos suburb, Kazeem Busari, has prayed the Alakuko Customary Court to dissolve his 13-year marriage. He also alleged that she constantly fought him over trivial issues.

Busari, a plumber, said: “I married, Rasheedat, solely because my first wife died and I felt my daughter needed motherly love. But since we got married, I have not known peace. “She enjoys attacking me and my children. I have never gone on a successful business trip because I always receive distress calls from home. “It is more than a year since I stopped sleeping with her because of her incessant fights.

I have informed her relations about her behaviour. Since she can’t stand the sight of my children, I don’t want her anymore.” However, Rasheedat, 42, told the court: “My husband barred me from working when we got married. His children virtually complain about everything I do in the house.” “Even when I tend to correct my step-daughter, she wouldn’t listen. In fact, the last time I sent her on an errand, she slapped me. His children are mean.

“They regard me as a slave, not their father’s wife. I also don’t want the marriage anymore because of his children.” The marriage, which was sealed under the Native and Customary Law, is blessed with a one-year-old child, Lateef. After listening to both parties, the presiding member of the court, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the parties to maintain peace and be law-abiding. He thereby adjourned the case for further hearing.

‘My wife controls me because she is the breadwinner’ • I take alcoholic drinks, but not excessively. I have never taken Indian hemp. My wife controls and commands me, all because she pays the bill. I used to pay the bills, but now that I have no job, I cannot steal to fend for my family —Husband

ne Mr. Segun Falaye’s love for alcohol has suddenly put asunder to his two-year marriage to Celestina. The marriage that was once rosy has been dissolved by the Igando Customary court, over the man’s love for alcohol con-

sumption and Indian hemp smoking. The petitioner, 33-year-old Celestina, had dragged her husband to the divorce court with the intention of ending the marriage since she could no longer cope with his intake of drinks and drugs.

But the husband, Falaye, 40, said: “I take alcoholic drinks, but not excessively. I have never taken Indian hemp. My wife controls and commands me, all because she pays the bill. I used to pay the bills, but now that I have no job, I cannot steal to fend for my family.

After much plea by the President of the court, Ruphus Adeyeri, to reconcile the couple, he had to accede to her demands and dissolve the union. “Both parties are no longer husband and wife; they are free to go their separate ways.”

that was always fighting him and in the process would tear his clothes to pieces. “My wife is a good fighter; she fights me regularly and always makes sure that she tears my clothes into rags before leaving me. “She always embarrasses my new wife and me in public. Bolanle usually harasses and ridicules us.” he said. The cleric said that he married another wife because his fourth wife had stopped washing his clothes for more than seven years. “I married another woman because my fourth wife refused to wash my clothes and my other wives cannot wash them because it is the duty of the youngest wife to wash my clothes,’’ he said. According to him, he stopped eating foods prepared by Bolanle because he was afraid she might poison him. “My wife always tells me that if she knew that I was going to marry another wife after her, she would have destroyed my life. “So due to her statement, I stopped eating her food because I don’t want to die now,’’ he said. Mr. Yusuf asked the court to end the 27-year marriage. The cleric said that he was no longer in love and cannot cope with Bolanle’s behaviour anymore. Also, Bolanle, 56, a trader, admitted beating up her husband’s youngest wife. Bolanle told the court, “She looked for my trouble. When I came to the house to see my husband in respect of my children’s welfare, his wife started raining curses and abuses on me. “So I descended on her because I am not her mate,’’ she said. The mother of two said that her husband begged her to marry him then. “He sworn with the holy Quran that he would not marry another woman, he promised me then that I would be his last wife. “I did not want to marry him because he already had three wives then” “But when he begged me and sworn with the Quran then that he would not marry another wife, I agreed to marry him but he failed to fulfill his vow,’’ Bolanle said. The respondent, however, pleaded that the court should not grant her husband’s wish, claiming that she was still in love with her husband. The court president, S.O Mumuni, admonished the couple to maintain peace. He adjourned the case for further hearing. (NAN)

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divorce court

DECEMBER 19, 2015

‘My husband has not slept with me for 9 years’

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• Since we had our last son, my husband has refused to perform his conjugal duty. I would have left him since but he was always seeking my mother’s intervention —Wife • Please help me beg my wife, I will make amends, I don’t want her to leave me —Husband

30-year-old woman who has been denied action on bed by her husband has begged the court to dissolve her marriage of 18 years to her husband. The woman simply identified as Toyin, who works as a nurse at a traditional hospital, told an Ikorodu Customary Court to end her union with one Olive Omoletu. She explained that the man has not performed his duty on bed for the past nine years. The woman said her husband had always complained of tiredness to escape her overtures. “Since we had our last son, my husband has refused to perform his sexual duty. I would have left him since but he was always seeking my mother’s intervention. Not quite long, I discovered that someone placed a thunderbolt (in local parlance – magun) on me, but I was helped by a traditionalist. “He also consumes too much of alcohol drinks and

very hostile to me and my children. I beg this court for instant dissolution of this marriage to enable me to move on with my life”, Toyin, who resides at Hassan Street, Majidun area of Ikorodu, pleaded. Meanwhile, the 46-year old husband, who is a welder, also begged for a possible reconciliation. ”Please help me beg my wife, I will make amends, I do not want her to leave me,” he pleaded. After listening to both parties, the President of the court, Mr T.K. Dabor, ruled that the couple should go their separate ways as the marriage had broken down irretrievably. He granted the custody of the children to Toyin pending the outcome of the family court’s ruling. Dabor ordered the husband to pay a monthly upkeep allowance of N15, 000 for the three children of the marriage and that he should have free access to them (NAN)

‘He brings his girlfriends to our matrimonial home’ • ·

Anytime we had misunderstandings, my husband would throw out my belongings and chase me out of the house —Wife I always throw out her property because of her bad behaviours —Husband

he once lovely union between one Mr. Sodiq Oseni and his wife, Kemi, was at the verge of hitting the rocks but for the intervention of an Igando Customary Court in Lagos. The husband and wife, who had expected dissolution of their marriage of six year, got a “pleasant surprise’’ when the prayer sought was not granted. Instead the court’s president, Mr R.I. Adeyeri, reconciled the couple instead of dissolving the childless union after series of counseling. While striking out the case, Adeyeri admonished the couple to maintain peace always. The petitioner, Kemi, 47, a teacher, had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of her six-year marriage, citing adultery. She said her husband, Sodiq, was tak-

ing advantage of her childlessness to befriend several women. “My husband has been bringing his girlfriends to our matrimonial home even to spend the night just because of my childlessness,’’ she said. She also accused her husband of always raining curses and abuses on her, saying she inherited “bad behaviours’’ from her mother. “Anytime we had misunderstandings, my husband would throw out my belongings and chase me out of the house,” said Kemi, a pupil instructor. She further accused the husband of abandonment and lack of care and that he had turned her into a punching bag at the slightest misunderstanding. She pleaded with the court to dissolve the union, saying “there is no love lost between them and

he has no more emotional feelings for me.’’ “Please separate us, my husband does not love me again as he is flirting around with ladies.’’ In his defence, Sodiq, 53, a security officer, accepted responsibility for some of the allegations levelled against him by his wife. “I always throw out her property because of her bad behaviours. “I usually plead with her mother for her intervention to persuade my wife to come back home,’’ he told the court. The respondent, however, denied bringing his concubines into their matrimonial home and that he only accommodated a female friend, who had accommodation problem. He, however, pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage, saying “I still love her.’’

‘She no longer has feelings for me’ • •

My wife, whom I brought in as a sales girl in 1994, and later married because of her dedication, has abandoned her matrimonial responsibilities, by staying away from home without any explanation —Husband My husband feels that I am going out with other men because he knows he is too old for me, in fact, I am accepting the divorce since he wants it —Wife

o longer able to condone his young wife’s penchant for staying out late, a 73-year-old man, Augustus Iyaka, has pleaded with an Ojo Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve his 21-year marriage to Augustina,36, for alleged infidelity. Hitting more on his claims, Iyaka told the court that Augustina, who had three children for him, was involved in extra-marital affairs with several men. “My wife, whom I brought in as a sales girl in 1994, and later married because of her dedication, has abandoned her matrimonial responsibilities, by staying away from home without any explanation. “In fact, she no longer has any

feelings for me or concern for the children; it got to the extent that my last daughter accused her of doing ‘waka waka’ meaning, aimless outings,” he lamented to the hearing of all present at the court. According to him, he believes that his wife has found solace with some younger men. Continuing, he said, “how can I remain with a woman who steals my money, buys motorcycles and gives to other men without my knowledge, she can kill me before my time, am already having health challenges. So, I pray the court to dissolve the marriage, before I lose my life.” Augustus said the woman was obviously fed up with the union and her refusal to remain

faithful and peaceful was a proof of that. However, the respondent, denied the allegations by her husband, saying that she stopped working for him and opened her own bead shop, where she stayed out late. “My husband is only feeling that I am going out with other men because he knows he is too old for me, in fact, I am accepting the divorce since he wants it,” she said. The president of the court, Chief Joseph Ogunmola, however, advised the husband to take care of his health and allow peace to reign, considering his age. The court has adjourned the case for further hearing. (NAN)

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

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OBESITY

ni to ba yokun ni ke gbowo fun (the cash should be given to the pot bellied).This is a common Yoruba saying used jocularly to refer to big sized people as the wealthy ones, already basking in affluence and hence the ones that require more and therefore should ultimately be the custodian of ‘big money’ What this means is that being on the big side has been seen as fashionable and that the only way to show that you are rolling in money is for your neck to have rolls of flesh like Michelin tyres! Not anymore! Nowadays, moderation in body weight is the desired medical situation, as the negative health consequences of too much weight or obesity are well documented. In fact, excessive body weight has become an epidemic in some countries of the world. For example, in the United States, more than 30% of the population is considered obese, discounting childhood obesity. In cost, close to 150billion dollars are expended in treating obesity and its related conditions yearly. Here in Nigeria, the incidence of morbid obesity is also on the rise, probably because of a shift from our traditional diet to western diet. Definition Obesity is defined as a condition where a person has accumulated so much body fat and weight as to have a negative effect on their health. ‘So much’ in this instance is a body weight that is 20% higher than it should be or a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.It has become an important preventable cause of morbidity in recent times. Obese people are more prone to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and some cancers.

Causes In simple terms, obesity occurs when energy intake from food exceeds energy use. That is, the person eats more than the body requires. This is common in this age due to our modern lifestyles which promote eating excessive amounts of high-caloric food and spending a lot of time sitting at desks, on settees watching TVs or in cars leaving us no time to burn off the excess. This food intake/output balance and its effect on individuals also depend on other factors such as genetic composition, the amount of high-fat food consumed and the level of physical activity. Though medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and Cushing syndrome have been implicated in the etiology of obesity, it is a combination of excessive fatty food intake and lack of physical exercise that is almost a sine qua non for weight accumulation

Symptoms Sometimes merely looking at someone is enough to conclude that he or she is obese. However, the objective method of determining whether or not obesity is a problem is via the measurement of the body mass index (BMI).Body mass index is calculated by dividing the weight of a person in kilograms by the square of the height in meters. Using this calculation, an individual can fall into any of the following categories

Treatment Beyond weight busters and other drugs touted for weight loss, the most important step towards losing weight is to moderate food intake and to make exercising a habit. While the gains may not be obvious or may appear insignificant at first, be encouraged as even a little drop in weight leads to positive returns in terms of health. In any case, a lot of discipline and dedication is needed to achieve anything worthwhile in weight loss regimen. A combination of such efforts include Consumption of balanced diet, avoiding high fat diet and eating slowly Engaging in physical exercise such as walking, swimming, etc for at least 30mins in a day Use of weight loss medication under medical guidance to minimize side effects Use of weight loss surgery in extreme cases

Prevention Obesity is currently leading in many parts of the world as a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Because it is preventable, a lot of public health effort is being directed at it by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other concerned authorities. Prevention of obesity is also very important as preventing it, prevents the likelihood of occurrence of other deadly chronic diseases. Actions to prevent weight gain are almost similar to the ones taken to lose an excess weight and it starts from child hood. Such actions include Preventing childhood obesity: giving children excessive candies and other unhealthy foods may lead to obesity, which may persist or worsen in adulthood Avoid food traps that make you eat excessively Exercise regularly Eat healthy and Monitor your weight

Conclusion Rather than being an exhaustive epistle on weight management, this write up only serve to remind us of those

things we already know so well. Things like ‘you should eat more of fruits and vegetables’’ ‘’you should drink enough water’’ ‘’you should exercise regularly’’ ‘’you should avoid fatty foods’’ etc. They are things that we know but find difficult to practice. Therefore if at this point we can stop pontificating and start practicing a moderate body weight plan, the purpose of this message would have been achieved. Does the ‘pot bellied’ still want the cash? For wia a! You can chat with a doctor FREE at www.prettyhealthcare.com.ng. Every Wednesdays and Fridays(4-8pm)

BMI Below 18.5 18.5-24.9 25.0-29.9 30.0-34.9 35.0-39.9 40.0 and higher (courtesy; Mayo clinic)

Weight status Underweight Normal Overweight Obese (Class I) Obese (Class II) Extreme obesity (Class III)

Sport

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

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IfeanyI eduzor

igeria’s performance in 2015 sporting calendar is a mixed bag. While the country recorded some successes in some sports especially football, that cannot be said of others where the country failed to register its name at the international level. In football which the country recorded most success, the Golden Eaglets’ won the U-17 FIFA Cup for the fifth time, becoming the only country to have won the competition the highest number of times. This achievement was followed by the U-23 team which not only won an Olympic ticket, but also won the CAF U-23 Nations Cup. Apart from this, the Super Eagles who failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, a competition they won in 2013 in South Africa were able to qualify for the final stage of Russia 2018 African qualifiers. Although football recorded some successes in the year under review, but it was not a bed of roses for the most popular sports in the country. The senior national team, Super Eagles which ended 2014 as the 43rd best national team in the world struggled in FIFA rankings this year to end at 66th which is not good news for followers of the game. The lowest point in football in the year was in June when the Chief Coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi, was unceremoniously replaced by Sunday Oliseh who many doubted his ability to tinker the senior national team. This was also followed by the faceoff between Oliseh and the former Captain of the team and Eagles save hands, Vincent Enyeama which led to his being stripped of the captain band and his subsequent resignation from the team. While both the U-17 and U-23 teams gave Nigerians reason to smile, that could not be said of their female counterparts who did not have any silverware to show for their outings. After a disappointing outing by Super Falcons at the FIFA Women World Cup in Canada, which saw them come last in their group, the team also crashed out of the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifiers after a disappointing 2-1 defeat in extra-time against Equatorial Guinea, making It the second time in a row Nigeria will miss out on the event after they lost via a penalty kick to Cameroun during London 2012 Olympic

Golden Eaglets celebrate after winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile

Nigerian sports in 2015: Football gains can’t stop ugly reminders qualifying series. However, the country was consoled by the Falconets who qualified for the 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup. At the continental level, the country also failed to make any impact at the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup where Nigeria’s representatives in the two lucrative competitions namely Enyimba of Aba, Kano Pillars, Warri Wolves and Dolphins failed to make it to the group stage. Nigeria’s heroics at the 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville deserve special mention. The country’s contingent posted a sterling performance with 47 gold, 55 silver and 42 bronze medals, totaling 144 medals to emerge second behind Egypt. Not only did Team Nigeria perform well, the country’s basketball team, D’Tigers earned the nation a gold medal at the Tunis African Basketball Championship (Afrobasket) for the first time in 50 years, and by which feat the country got an automatic ticket to the Rio 2016 Games. Scrabble is also another area where the country’s name was registered globally, as Wellington Jighere of Nigeria became the first African to win the En-

glish-Language World Scrabble Championship. The 32-year-old Jighere achieved the feat in Australia by beating his British rival, Lewis Mackay, after four straight games in the best-of-seven final rounds. Table Tennis was another pace-setter in the year under review. Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) ensured the ping pong players were busy all year round. They attended local and international championships. Above all the federation hosted major international tournaments in Lagos, including the Lagos Classics; the Lagos Opens with Portugal based Aruna Quadri becoming the first African to emerge as world best table tennis player in June. Boxing also had a good story to tell in 2015 following the involvement of cable television provider, GOtv, in the promotion of professional boxing in the country. The GOtv Boxing Championship which will be celebrating its 5th edition on December 26th brought a new impetus in the pugilist game with the introduction of N1million as the prize money for the best boxer of the night; this purse has been increased to N1.5m in the De-

cember edition which has helped in revolutionizing boxing in the country. Wrestling was another sport Nigeria posted a good performance in the ending year. The country won eight medals at the African Wrestling Championships in Cairo, Egypt, in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman categories which prompted the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali, to announce that Nigeria would be a force to be reckoned with in wrestling at Rio 2016 Olympics. Not minding this modest achievements, one would have expected that the National Sports Festival would have held this year to help in discovering of athletes, but the games suffered another postponement when the host Cross River State was not forthcoming in hosting the fiesta which puts a question mark on the sincerity of various state governments in ensuring that the calendar of Nigeria’s version of the Olympics is not tampered with. Administratively, Nigeria sports had their own problems which started with the internal crisis that bedeviled the Nigeri-

an Judo Federation (NJF) that led to the purported sack of its President, Timothy Nsirim. Although this was later resolved by the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut, but we are yet to see a final settlement of the crisis threatening to tear the federation apart. As if this was not enough, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) also engaged in hide and seek game with six-time national champion and African/ Commonwealth gold medalist, Blessing Okagbare, shortly after the Beijing World Athletics Championship with the AFN announcing her ban from participating in Rio 2016 Olympics if she failed to be in Congo for the AAG. Although the federation later recanted its decision when Blessing ran the 4x100 relay, but it shows the frosty relationship between the AFN and the athletes. In summary while it could be said that Nigeria posted a good performance in sports in 2015, more would have been achieved if the right things were done and conducive environment put in place to enable sports men and women excel.

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MIRROR SPORT

Hiddink in talks with Chelsea

ormer Netherlands boss Guus Hiddink is set to become Chelsea’s interim manager following the sacking of Jose Mourinho. The 69-year-old Dutchman is currently at a London hotel holding discussions with Blues officials. Hiddink, who has already had one spell as Chelsea boss, winning the FA Cup in 2009, is yet to sign a contract. The Blues are currently 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone after losing nine of their first 16 games and are looking

Hiddink

Rooney, Herrera set for Man U return

forward to appoint a successor to Jose Mourinho before today’s Premier League game against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, after sacking the Portuguese for a second time on Thursday. Hiddink won six Dutch league titles and the European Cup across two spells as PSV Eindhoven manager. He has also coached South Korea, Australia and Russia before leading Chelsea to FA Cup success in 2009. He took over at Stamford Bridge in February 2009, replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari, and shared the role with his job as Russia manager. Since then, he has endured unsuccessful spells as manager of Turkey, Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala and the Netherlands. He stood down as Netherlands boss in June, with their Euro 2016 qualifying hopes already in disarray. The Dutch eventually failed to reach the finals, finishing fourth in their group, behind Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey.

ayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera could be in line to return to the Manchester United team for today’s home game with Norwich City. The trio missed last weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth but manager Louis van Gaal confirmed at Friday’s news conference that they have been training all week. Centre-back Smalling has recovered from a groin injury while midfielder Herrera has not played since damaging a hamstring during the 2-1 win over Watford in November. United skipper Rooney has missed the last three games against West Ham, Wolfsburg and Bournemouth with an an-

Rooney

kle injury, and without him the Red Devils have failed to win. Rooney has scored seven goals this season, though only two of those have come in the Premier League and Van Gaal said that in “normal” circumstances he would not consider bringing the England captain back. But with United without a win in five matches, Van Gaal wants a result against the Canaries.

DECEMBER 19, 2015

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Rome to host 2022 Ryder Cup

taly will host the Ryder Cup for the first time in 2022 at the Marco Simone course in Rome. It will be the 44th edition of the biennial team tournament between Europe and the United States of America. Europe has held the event outside of England on only five other occasions; Muirfield and Gleneagles in Scotland in 1973 and 2014 respectively, Spain in

1997, Republic of Ireland in 2006 and Wales in 2010. European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “History has shown time and again that the Ryder Cup is pure theatre with the players the stars. “There is no question that the Eternal City of Rome will provide a wonderful backdrop for one of the great occasions in world golf. “We have exciting plans for

the development of The European Tour and our international schedule for the benefit of all our players, and Italy shares this ambition. “Their commitment to the Italian Open will provide an inspiring benchmark.” The Marco Simone course, 17km from the centre of the Italian capital, will be reconstructed to meet the standards for the tournament.

McIlroy named European tour golfer of the year

ory McIlroy has picked up the European Tour Golfer of the Year award for the third time in four years. The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland enjoyed three tour victories in 2015 to win the Race to Dubai title ahead of Englishman Danny Willett. McIlroy triumphed despite an ankle injury which ruled him out of action for five weeks. “I feel very proud to have won for a third time; it’s always special to be recognised in this way,” said McIlroy. The world number three secured his first tour victory of 2015 at the Dubai Desert Classic, followed by success in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play in San

hanshan Feng fired a sixunder-par 66 to win the Dubai Ladies Masters for the third time with a tournament record margin of 12 shots. China’s Feng 26 completed the double of winning the season-ending championship and the Order of Merit on the Ladies European Tour. The world number six ended on 21 under and Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura finished second on nine under. England’s Melissa Reid was a shot further

McIlroy

Francisco in May. Victory in the season-ending World Tour Championship last month ensured McIlroy also won the Race to Dubai title for a third time in four years. “After a good first half to the

season, the injury was obviously a setback for me, so to finish the year strongly with my second victory in Dubai, including picking up the Race to Dubai title again, was very satisfying,” added the four-times major winner.

Feng wins Dubai Ladies Masters back in third. Derby-based Reid, 28, bogeyed the first hole, but after securing pars across the rest of the front nine, she rallied to sink four birdies on the back nine, for a final round of 69. However, Feng was in superlative form and after starting the final day with a five-stroke lead after three successive rounds of 67, she extended her advantage

when she hit three birdies in four holes from the second. She managed back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes and sunk a three-foot putt for a birdie on the last, for a final round of 66. The huge winning margin eclipsed the previous best for the event - a six-shot triumph by Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam in 2006.

SPORT NEWS

Power Lee harps on grassroots sports development IfeanyI eduzor

ro Wrestling Africa heavyweight champion, Power Lee has appealed to governments at all levels to take grassroots sports development serious even as he urged youths to ensure they combine sports with education as that is the only way they can achieve success in future. He stated this during the 2015 annual Inter House Sports competition of Muslim Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos.

In his speech titled “ Importance of Formal Education to Sports Development”, he stated that recent experiences has shown that sports has gone scientific and all sports men and women need some level of education to enable them not only excel in their profession but have something to fall back on when they are no longer active. “My advice is that for the country’s sports to attain the highest level there is the need for government at all levels to emulate other countries and take the issue of grassroots sports

development serious. “Sports men on the other hand must combine their vocation with education because sports have gone scientific and without adequate education, the person might not fully appreciate some of the basic principles of the game. Power Lee who emerged Pro Wrestling Africa heavyweight champion on September 19 at the Palais De Sports, Yaoundé, Cameroon after defeating Cameroonian champion and the number two contender to the throne, Michel Noudem “Le Matraqueur and is preparing to defend the title against the number one contender; Marvelous Buffalo of Angola in March next year

Power Lee in a group photograph with some students of Muslim Primary School, Ikorodu

at the Asaba Township Stadium appealed to the students to be focused just as he commended the school management for taking the issue of sports development serious.

Highlights of the occasion were the emergence of Pink House of which he is their patron, winner of this year’s edition of the school’s Inter House sports competition.

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MIRROR SPORT

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Hayatou calls for a reformed FIFA

ootball deserves “nothing less” than a rebuilt and fully accountable Fifa, says acting President Issa Hayatou. World football’s governing body has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since summer 2015. As a result of criminal and internal investigations new reform measures were approved by FIFA in December. “There may be more challenges, and it will take time for the reforms to take effect. Our resolve to rebuild FIFA for the better remains steadfast,” he said. “The hundreds of millions of fans, players, coaches and others

Hayatou

dedicated to football around the world deserve nothing less from those of us with the incredible responsibility and privilege of governing and guiding global football.” In the open letter published on Friday, key points of how FIFA would be reformed were outlined and this includes; A clear separation of powers between the political side of global football and the day-to-day financial and business operations of FIFA. All financial transactions will be monitored by a fully independent body. Member associations must mirror the above structure and comply with principles of good governance. They will also be accountable for the conduct of their entire team and any third parties that they work with. Also included in the reform is strict term limits for senior positions within FIFA of three four-year terms which will ensure that no single person can wield too much power or influence as well as promote the full participation of women at all levels of football governance, including a minimum of one female representative from each region in the new FIFA council.

Supporters club condoles Keshi over wife’s death

embers of Nigeria Football Supporters Club has condoled former Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi over the death of his wife, Kate. In a condolence message by the club signed by its President General, Rafiu Ladipo, the club noted that death of Keshi’s wife at a very young age came as a rude shock to the members even as it prayed God to give him the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. “The entire members of the

club are saddened that Keshi lost his wife when he needed her services most. “As a club which has followed the success of Keshi both as a player and national team coach, we are joining millions of Nigerians in offering our heartfelt sympathy to him as he mourns his beloved wife. The statement while appealing to God to give Keshi and his entire family the fortitude to bear the loss, prayed that God in his infinite mercy will grant her soul eternal rest.

Super six achievable, says Chiejine

ewly appointed Abia Angels head coach, Ann Agumanu-Chiejine has described as achievable the Super Six mandate at the promoted side. The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Pro-league champions will compete in the top flight in the coming season together with Tokas Queens.

Chiejine

According to the former Super Falcons save hands, the side needs some blending to be in strong footing for the challenges expected in the coming women premier league. “Yes, I was asked to qualify the side for the final Super Six in the upcoming league season. “Of course, I asked myself why we would not meet the Super Six mandate with the quality of players I met on ground. “I think the target is achievable and I want to add that the side will not make up the numbers in the premier league but compete favourably. “Though we are new on the bloc but I believe once we are able to fortify the team and bring in experienced and matured players we will be good to go and compete”, she told supersport. com.

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Nigeria U-23 team celebrate their AFCON victory in Dakar, Senegal.

Ahmed Musa relishes Rio Olympics action

uper Eagles skipper Ahmed Musa has said he is excited with the prospect of playing at the Rio 2016 Olympics football event. Coach Samson Siasia has hinted he is looking at the possibility of getting Eagles skipper Ahmed Musa and striker Odion Ighalo to feature at next year’s Rio Olympics as overage players. The Olympics allow for three players outside the eligible age of 23 years to star at the tour-

nament proper. Chelsea star Mikel Obi has already declared his interest to play in Rio. Siasia said he hopes to draft players who are playing regularly for their European clubs for the Olympics. Speaking on the development, Musa noted that he is happy to be considered as part of the Olympic team, promising to put in his best to ensure Nigeria perform well in Brazil. “I am delighted and happy to hear this news. I will be glad

to play in the Olympics,” said Ahmed Musa, who will be a few months above the eligible age of 23 when the football event at Rio 2016 gets underway in August. “It’s a big event and I am always ready to play for my country Nigeria whenever I am called upon.“I am already looking forward to be part of it.” Ahmed Musa has featured at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.

Dalong commends Taekwondo Federation IfeanyI eduzor

inister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong has commended Nigeria Taekwondo Federation for keeping the hope of athletes alive through their foresight in organizing regular competitions which has kept their athletes busy all through the year. He made the commendation in Lagos while declaring the 6th Korean Ambassador’s West Africa Taekwondo championship held at the okoya Thomas hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos closed. He noted that taekwondo is one of the sports Nigeria is putting much hope on for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, adding that the ministry will do everything possible to continue to support and encourage the development of taekwondo in Nigeria just as he enjoined Nigerian youths to embrace the sport. Dalong also commended the Republic of Korea for their

Action recorded at a recent taekwondo tournament

interest in developing sports in Nigeria and pleaded with other corporate organizations in the country to emulate the good gestures of the Korean Republic by investing in Nigeria sports. “I am particularly happy with what the Republic of Korea is

doing in the development of taekwondo in Nigeria. It is a thing of joy that for the past six years, they have been sponsoring this event and I employ other embassies and corporate organizations doing business in Nigerian to emulate Korea Embassy.

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Crime Watch

Police arrest 19 suspected drug peddlers

•Depression made me smoke hemp

Patience OgbO

ineteen suspected drug peddlers, including a woman, have been arrested by policemen in Lagos. The fifteen suspects including a 23- yearold woman identified as Sopia Segun were remanded in Kirikiri prison for being in unlawful possession of several bags of weeds suspected to be India hemp and several wraps of illicit drugs suspected to be Cocaine. According to police sources, the fifteen suspects were arrested at Akerele Street, Agege by policemen attached to Area ‘G’ Police command Ogba following a tip off by members of the public on the activities of the suspects in the community, while four others were arrested by operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). In the case of the fifteen accused, the prosecutor, Rachael Williams, told the court that the suspects were in unlawful possession of several bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine when they were arrested on the December, 11th at Akerele Street, Agege at about 9:00am. Count III of the four counts charge reads: That you Sunmoni Olatunde ‘M’, Olayinka Owoseri ‘M’, Habeeb Famisanmi ‘M’, Temitope Odedeji ‘M’, Chiegozie Raphael ‘M’ Azeez Folorunsho ‘M’, Saheed Ali ‘M’, Oladehinde Wasiu ‘M’, Tony Ohieneghor ‘M’ Akeem Tajudeen ‘M’, Oyerinde Femi ‘M’ Sofia Segun ‘F’, Ramoni Jengbaye ‘M’, Babatunde Adekunle ‘m’ and Fatai Rasheed ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district were unlawfully in possession of several bags of weeds suspected to be India hemp and several wraps of illicit drugs suspected to be Cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 327 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. One of the 15 accused persons, 42 years old Ramoni Jengbaye, pleaded guilty to all

Suspects the four counts charges while the others pleaded not guilty. The presiding magistrate Mrs. L.Y. Balogun, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000.00 with two surety in like sum. The case was adjourned to 21st of January 2016 and ordered the accused to be remanded in Kirikiri prison pending when they meet their bail conditions. The other four suspects according to police sources were arrested on a tip-off from Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, that a gang of narcotic dealers had eighteen sacks of Indian-hemp in their possession. The suspect identified as Quadri Jimoh, 23, Tajudeen Busari, 33, Ukowa Udomma, 34, and Yakubu Mudashiru, 30. The suspected gang leader identified as Olumide (a.k.a. Aroso), who also deals in various hard drugs however escaped. According to the memo from the governor, the gang has been terrorizing residents

in Oyingbo-Otto and its environs but luck ran out on them when the police stormed their hideouts and arrested the suspects. Two of the suspects, Quadri Jimoh and Tajudeen Busari, insisted that they are victims of circumstance as they denied owning the Indian-hemp found in the building. Jimoh who lives at 15, Atitebi Street, Oyingbo, said that he was on his way to buy medications for his pregnant wife when he was arrested. “I am a bus conductor. My wife is six-months pregnant. She called me to buy some prescribed medications for her. And on my way going to the pharmacy, I saw people running helter-skelter and I also ran with them. But unfortunately for me, I was caught by the policemen,” the suspect explained. On his part, Tajudeen Busari, a native of Ilorin, Kwara State in, said that he was just walking around the area where the eighteen sacks of Indian-hemp were recovered. “I was just a passer- by when I saw people

running for their lives. And I also ran too before these policemen apprehended me,” he added. However, the other two suspects confessed to the Police that they are not the actual dealers of the drug, but they only smoke it. According to Uduma, “I went there to buy Indian-hemp before I found myself inside the police net. As a fashion designer, I came to Lagos about two years ago to eke a living” Yakubu Mudashiru, another suspect, said depression led him to smoking hemp. “I have nowhere to stay after my house was razed by fire. Since then, I have been sleeping inside Motor Park in Oyingbo. Truly, I went there to smoke on that fateful day,” he confessed. The RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, urged members of the public to always furnish Police with timely and effective information.

Police rescue mother, daughter from kidnappers

•Nab suspected abductor Patience OgbO

olicemen attached to Alakuko Police Division, Lagos State Police Command, have rescued a woman Mrs. Oluyemi Ogunmuyiwa and her daughter Miss Oreoluwa Ogunmuyiwa, wife and daughter of a man believed to be a highly placed politician in Ogun State from kidnappers. Police sources revealed that the victims were targeted by the kidnappers to force Mr. Ogunmuyiwa Akinwale to

part with ransom but luck ran out on them when policemen from the Alakuko police station led by the Divisional Police Officer, SP Ajayi Abayomi who were on patrol chased the kidnappers to Idikoro in Ogun State and arrested one of them while two others escaped. Akinwale, while narrating how his wife and daughter were kidnapped, stated that he was driving his wife and daughter to the church around 8am on the fateful day when a commercial bus with three occupants hit his vehicle from the rear. He said, “I was taking my family to

church when a commercial Faragon bus hit my car. I came down to see the extent of the damage and the driver said he will fix my car. My wife and daughter moved into the Faragon bus while I was in my car driving behind them but unknown to me, it was a ploy to kidnap my family. Everything was planned by the kidnappers. All of a sudden, the commercial bus conveying my wife and daughter drove off and left me. I told my wife and daughter to enter the commercial bus because I do not want the driver to escape. However, to my amazement, the speed at which the bus was moving made me to suspect foul play and as I try to meet up CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

Suspect, Makinde

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Crime Watch

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DECEMBER 19, 2015

Police arrest man for deceiving police

•His lies led to dismissal of six policemen Patience OgbO

olicemen attached to the Lagos state police command have arrested an unemployed man for allegedly deceiving senior police officers and falsely obtaining money from them. Lagos state commissioner of police, Mr. Fatia Owoseni, while parading the suspect at the state command over the weekend gave the name of the suspect as Mohammed Isa. He said the suspect did not only deceive senior police officers, his lies also led to the dismissal of six policemen attached to the Ondo State Police Command. Narrating the modus operandi of the suspect, the CP said “This young man would pick on a patrol vehicle. Write out the number on the vehicle and then go to the CP to complain that the policemen on that patrol vehicle extorted him. He did it in Anambra State and also in Ondo State police command. Unfortunately, his lies led to the dismissal of six policemen attached to the Ondo state police command. He came down to Lagos state command to perpetrate his act, but a Deputy Commissioner of Police who was in Ondo State Police Command but is now in Lagos Command, recognised him and he was arrested.” The suspect said he got N184, 000 from deceiving police men. He said hunger made him lie against the police men. “I am from Kastina State but I don’t have a job. I decided to lie against policemen because I was hungry. I went to the Anambra police command and lied that the patrol policemen stopped me and collected N180 from me and

Police to reverse their dismissal. Inspector Oluremi who spoke on behalf of the policemen said “I am the team leader and we were posted to patrol banks in Akure. We have never set our eyes on the suspect. We were shocked when we were ordered to report to the state command. We were thrown into the cell for days for a crime we did not know anything about. Despite our plea of innocence, the DCP Alhasan ordered our trial and dismissal. We were not given fair hearing and a thorough investigation was not carried out to ascertain the allegation. The police dismissed us since June and stopped our salary. If not that this man was exposed and he confessed, we would have been labelled and dismissed over someone’s greed and lies. Our families have been suffering. We have been crushed

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

Accused, Mohammed Isa

psychologically and physically. We are appealing to the police authority to withdraw the dismissal. I have spent thirty two years in the Force and never had any stain on my record. We demand justice.”

Teenager in court over hacking of bank accounts

19-year-old, Chukwudi Oludiniwa, on Thursday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly hacking into two bank accounts, stealing N850,000. He is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing. According to the prosecutor, Insp. Francisca Okere, the accused and one other at large committed the offences on Dec.

•Suspect stole N850,000, say police

15 at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ketu branch. She said that the accused and his accomplice hacked into a United Bank of Africa (UBA) account with number 1013439509 and transferred N350,000 into Oludiniwa’s account. The prosecutor said that the accused also stole the sum of

N500,000 from one Mr Idahosa Agbeyi’s UBA account number 1013428509. Okere said that the accused was apprehended by the management of the bank when he wanted to withdraw some money. She submitted that the offences contravene Sections 409, 363, 285, 385 and 386 of the Criminal

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday secured the conviction of an internet fraudster, Egbeniyi Oluwafemi (aka Raymond Morrison, Mavis Mar and Markus Fred), for defrauding a foreigner. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice A.M Liman of the Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State. The convict, who was first arraigned on February 5, 2013 for offences bordering on internet scam and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of 200 Euros from a German citizen named Rita, was pronounced guilty on counts 1 and 3 of the 3-count charge and sentenced to one year imprisonment each on both counts. Mr. Oluwafemi was arrested on January 18, 2013 by officers of the 4 Brigade/Sector 1, OP PULO SHIELD, Nigeria Army, and handed over to the EFCC on January 23, 2013 for further investigation and prosecution. One of the counts reads, “that you, Egbeniyi Oluwafemi (alias Raymond Morrison, Mavis Mar and Markus Fred) on or about the 10th of June 2012 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire to commit felony to wit: Obtaining Money by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same act.

Police rescue mother, daughter from kidnappers

Some of the police victims

the CP gave me my money back. I went to Akure and lied that the policemen on patrol collected N140, 000 from me, but the CP gave me N4,000 for transportation and I learnt they dismissed the police men I lied against. I do not intend that the policemen get dismissed. I only wanted to get money from the police boss. I came to the Lagos State police command and I lied to the CP but I was arrested. I lied because I am unemployed and hungry’” The dismissed policemen identified as Inspector Ogunborode Oluremi, A/P No. 99638, Corporals Osademe Simon, F/NO. 430134, Adesina Olarewaju F/No. 447637, Olorunmerewa Tope F/ No454467, Adejoro Gabriel F/No. 443668 and Sergeant Oshodi Akindayo F/No367275 are appealing to the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of

Internet fraudster bags two-year jail term

Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. Oludiniwa claimed that his accomplice, who was a former neighbour, requested for his bank details for a deposit which he (accused) would help him withdraw. The Magistrate, Mr Lekan Owolabi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case till Feb.

with them, I ran into a ditch and one of my tyre burst so I stopped an okada (commercial motorcycle ) to chase them . I was shouting kidnappers, help, help, and to the glory of God, policemen from Alakuko police Division on patrol heard my shout for help. They called for backup and they started pursuing the Faragon bus. They trailed the vehicle to a building in Idiroko Ogun State and rescued my wife and daughter unhurt”. It was gathered that the police arrested one Olarewaju Makinde, a native of Ake in Abeokuta said to be the driver of the Faragon bus in connection with the failed kidnap. The suspect however said he was lured by other gang members to commit the crime. He said “ I reside at No. 6, Eleran Bus Stop Ilogbo, Otta Ogun State and the other two occupants of the bus told me to follow them to the mechanic to repair the car. I don’t know anything.” When our reporter visited Alakuko Police Station, the Bus was seen parked in the station and when contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Alakuko police station Mr. Ajayi Abayomi a superintendent of police who led the rescue operation declined to speak on the incident and directed the reporter to the state police command.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Appeal Court nullifies impeachment of former Enugu Deputy Gov.

n Enugu State High Court has annulled the impeachment of former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi. Onyebuchi was deputy to former Governor Sullivan Chime before he was impeached late September last year, about one year to the end of their tenure, for allegedly rearing chicken at his lodge. The former Deputy Governor was replaced with Ifeanyi Nwoye, his kinsman from Isiogbo Nara in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state. Onyebuchi challenged his impeachment at the State High Court, and the matter dragged till yesterday’s ruling. The Court, which lambasted the members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, said their actions were in gross violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. The Court declared that all the emolument/entitlements that accrued to Onyebuchi as Deputy Governor be paid him while the over 40 respondents

including Chime and former 24 members of the State Assembly should pay him N25, 000 each as compensation. The Court, presided over by Justice R.O Odugu, equally set aside the swearing in of new Deputy Governor after Onyebuchi was unlawfully removed. Onyebuchi, who was in court with his wife said, “I have forgiven those who were part of this injustice.” He jokingly added, “I can now resume my chicken rearing.” It will be recalled that the relationship between Onyebuchi and his former boss, Chime, deteriorated for political reasons. However, in the impeachment notice, the State House of Assembly accused Onyebuchi of gross misconduct, rearing chicken and not representing governor well at official functions. At the heat of the moment, the embattled Onyebuchi accused former Governor Chime of using his then Chief of Staff, Ifeoma Nwobodo, to witch-hunt him for his alleged senatorial ambition then.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME AHIABA: This is to confirm that AHIABA UMORU and AHIABA JIBRIN EDIME refer to one and same person, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as AHIABA UMORU. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid. Banks and the general public take note.

JOHN: This is to confirm that JOHN KAYODE and AKINOLA OLUWAKAYODE EMMANUEL refer to one and same person, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as AKINOLA OLUWAKAYODE EMMANUEL. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid. Banks and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION ON DATE OF BIRTH BELLO: Formerly known and addressed as BELLO SALAMOTU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JIMOH ADUKE SALAMOTU. My correct Date of birth is 1st January 1956 as against 20th June 1953.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SMITH: Formerly known and addressed as REGAL SMITH now wish to be known and addressed as PRINCE UCHE UZOKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PRECIOUS: Formerly known and addressed as PRECIOUS CHUKWU ELUM now wish to be known and addressed as PHILOMINA ELUM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWUMA: Formerly known and addressed as CHUKWUMA AWA now wish to be known and addressed as CHIDI NDUKWU . All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

OLUDIPE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUDIPE YEWANDE ALABA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ODUNSI YEWANDE ALABA .All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OLUWADAMILARE ADEOLA ADIGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN MUSTAPHA ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as CHRISTY RONKE OGUNNIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as AKPUTU MARY FOLASHADE. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

SOUTH EAST

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IMC mandates Uwazurike to render account of stewardship Eric ElEzuo

s crisis among the Pro-Biafra agitators deepens, the Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC), a socio-cultural Igbo Organisation, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, posited that for peace to reign supreme in Igbo land, the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), which changed to Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazurike, must render account of 16 years of stewardship. Addressing newsmen, Director-General of IMC, Rev Obinna Akukwe, revealed that the splinter groups that include Biafra Zionist Movement, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Uchenna Ma-

du-led Faction, among others were exploited by Chief Uwazuruike for 16 years. He said: “Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) and General Assembly of all Igbo Christian Organisations and Ministers (GAAICOM), had in the past three to four years been authorised by leading Igbo clerics and opinion leaders to wade into the feud between Uwazurike and his complaining lieutenants over mismanagement of financial issues with the intentions of ensuring that the South East is not turned into a bloody zone as a result of sharing formula. IMC and GAAICOM had expected Uwazurike to have appreciated our past interventions, and made his financial dealings with his boys more transparent so that his lieutenants would stop salivating and galli-

vanting around.” He continued: “Madu was one of those who served Uwazurike and MASSOB faithfully from the beginning, and deserved better treatment from Chief. “IMC had learnt over time that Madu and his supporters were kept in the dark over billions MASSOB was garnering in the name of Biafra. IMC had known over the years that Madu and his loyalists were the fifth group to abandon Uwazurike’s MASSOB on account of financial impropriety,” he stated He listed the causes of the splinter groups from MASSOB to include among others, non accountability of Biafra International Passport which about N100 million was generated and the diversion of over N40 million realised from the dedication of the Biafra war veterans home in Okwe built by MASSOB members

to Uwazurike’s personal purse. Others, he said were, collection of proceeds from membership identity cards with the sum of N1000 each, and also pay monthly income tax of N200 to Uwazurike, running into billions, yet unaccounted for, and the purchase of private property in many locations in Owerri numbering about 28 in plots. He also added contribution of nearly N4 billion in the last 16 years into Uwazurike’s personal use. According to him, “IMC hereby counsels Chief Uwazurike to ask for forgiveness from his lieutenants, make amends and retrace his steps. IMC also calls upon the new MASSOB leader, Madu, to sheath the sword if his former boss shows sign of remorse and seek acceptable means of resolving the crisis.”

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

NDUBUEZE: Formerly known and addressed as NDUBUEZE PROMISE CHIDERA now wish to be known and addressed as EZEMA NDUBUIEZE VICTOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

MUSA: Formerly known and addressed as MUSA YEKEEN OLORUNWA now wish to be known and addressed as MUSA YEKINI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as BANKOLE OLAITAN TOPE or BANKOLE TEMITOPE MITCHEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWATOMIBI TEMITOPE IRIRERE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as AROWOGBOOLA SHAMSIDEEN OLAWALE, now wish to be known and addressed as AROWOGBOOLA SAMSON OLAWALE. All former documents remains valid. Banks, Embassies and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR ABUTAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as UMAR ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Chairman of Delta Rice Farmers Association, Chief Sylvanus Ejezie (middle), demonstrating before officials of Delta Agriculture Development Programme (ADP) and other participating rice farmers, how to harvest rice, at a demonstration farm in Omelugboma, near Asaba on Thursday.

Akunyili’s assassination attempt: Suspect alleges set up Eric ElEzuo

ne of the suspects in the case of the purported assassination bid on the former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), late Prof. Dora Akuyili, Chief Christopher Okpalafuluaku, told newsmen yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, that there was no plan to assassinate her, adding that the said assassination bid was false, and a set up against the suspects as

such never happened. Narrating their (suspects) ordeal in the saga, he said: “On that fateful day, I was not even in Anambra State. What happened was that on the day in question, Akuyili was returning to Agulu, her country home and on getting to a point, there was a large number of people and masquerades, the community was in festive mood and some people on noticing that Akuyili was in the convoy, tried to meet her”. “In a bid to disperse the crowd that rushed to see her, for security reason, her police orderly mistakenly fired from

the car he was sitting in and the bullet pierced through the windscreen. Prior to this incident, we were the executive of the Onitsha Bridgehead market, and our priority on assumption of office was to fight fake/adulterated drugs, and we also stopped all manners of multiple levies. “This war against fake drugs did not go down well with the importers of fake drugs and those who claim to be life trustees of the market. “During our tenure there were lots of oppositions, and so they met with the fake drug im-

porters and trustees, who claim to own the market, and they in turn met Akunyili and accused us of attempt to assassinate her with that gun shot from her orderly,” he revealed. He added: “Consequently, we were arrested. I personally reported myself at the DSS headquarters, Awka, and we were taken to Abuja. As the trial lasted, I spent About 11 years in detention before we were discharged and acquitted. «By the time Akuyili realised that it was a set up against us, it was too late for her to reverse what she said.”

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Edo Govt gives police vehicles to fight crime …Promises to pay pensioners before Christmas

enin City. Governor Adams Oshiomhole has donated nine new operational Hilux vans to Edo State Police Command to boost its capacity to tackle crime. Presenting the vehicles, which bring to over 120 vehicles the government has given to the police since 2008, Oshiomhole commended the command for reducing crimes in the state and urged the police to use them to further engage criminals during Christmas and New Year. Assuring the Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, of continuous government support, Oshiomhole said, “On behalf of the government and indeed, Edo tax payers, we will like to present these nine operational vehicles, which are purposely-built to help complement the efforts of the Federal Government in providing security to our great country.” “We appreciate the security challenges across the country right now and we do recognize that no particular arm of government or level of government can be saddled completely with the responsibility of policing our country, which is why Edo State government has raised funds to procure these vehicles.” “This obviously is a far cry from what you need: given the size of this state, our land mass, the number of local governments and even the sheer number of DPOs. This number is certainly not enough.” “But as we have often done in the past, we would, with time, procure more even as things are tough because we recognize that nothing else will matter to our people if they don’t feel safe.” Oshiomhole added, “Let me also use this opportunity to offer, again, our condolences through you to the families of those officers and men who were felled in the course of duty in Akoko Edo recently and in other parts of the state.” In his response, Mr Ezike thanked Governor Oshiomhole and the state government sincerely for the huge assistance and motivation of the police force in Edo State.

SOUTH SOUTH

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bayelsa bye-election: Parties, stakeholders agree on Jan 9 OsahOn Julius Yenagoa

espite the criticisms that trailed the cancellation of the results of a Local Government in the Bayelsa State Governorship election, stakeholders and contending political parties has acceded to the January 9th, 2016, new date for re-run. At a meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, it was agreed that State Resident Electoral Commis-

sioner, REC, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, will still preside over the re-run election billed for January 9, 2016. Aside this, all the 21 parties that participated in the last election have agreed to take part in the re-run election with all conditions laid down by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Yakub Mahmud ,at the stake holders meeting. The INEC Chairman also made all the stakeholders present at the

meeting that the state REC , acted within the purview of his position and that he was actually acting under the directives of the Commission’s Situation Room, when he announced the cancellation of the Southern Ijaw Local Government. A source who was privy to discussions at the meeting said that Prof. Mahmud told all those present that the commission has implicit confidence in the Riv-

ers State–born official and that he should be in charge of re-run election. ‘’It was amazing that all the parties at the meeting came and conducted themselves peacefully. There were a lot of handshakes and back slapping and everybody agreed quickly to the solutions proffered for the impasse’’. The source said. ‘’They all acceded to the January 9, 2016 date and promised to keep their supporters in check.

Suspected crude oil thieves paraded by the Nigerian Navy at the Warri Naval Base, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Board appointments not for sale says S’South APC chieftain RichaRD nDOma calabar

ational Vice Chairman, SouthSouth, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prince Hilliard Eta, on Friday warned that he would not take it kindly with fraudulent human beings who take delight in using his name to dupe unsuspecting persons in the name of connecting them with him to get board appointments. Eta stated that devastating reports got to him

that criminal elements and con men were in the habit of using his name to extort cash from their victims in the name of going to lobby him to find their way into federal boards and agencies. The APC was quoted as issuing out the warning while interacting with a socio-political group who paid him a courtesy visit in his office. Hilliard who doubles as a member of the Presidential Committee for the reconstitution of Boards and Agencies said, ‘’I was

at the villa when they drew my attention to one of such cases that some persons said they had paid to be appointed into boards and agencies and I had to personally confront one of the criminals on phone with a witness at the background, when the person heard my voice, he bolted. “Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate an earlier position on this that I have not in any way or at any time, asked anybody or group to collect money by whatever

means for appointments in whatever capacity. Again, I wish to state categorically that appointments into boards and agencies are not for sale. So whoever offers money to anybody for board appointments does so at his own risk.’’ Eta averred that the defection of former Cross River governor, Clement Ebri to the APC in the state as a big boost to enhance the party’s chances of winning the state from the ruling PDP.

Wike presents N307bn budget to Rivers Assembly Dennis naku, Port Harcourt

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has presented a budget proposal of N307billion to the State House of Assembly for the 2016 fiscal year. Wike made the presentation of the appropriation bill tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation’ before the state legislature at about 5:20pm on Friday. The budget presentation came barely two weeks after the Assembly had passed the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N104.2 billion. Wike’s budget was N31 billion less than former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s 2015 budget, which was N338 billion. The state government proposed N120 billion for recurrent expenditure in the fiscal year, while N187 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure. In 2015 budget, N219 billion was for capital expenditure, while N119 billion was recurrent expenditure. Wike stated that the proposed budget would be financed through traditional sources of Federation Account and Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR). Governor Wike also mentioned that the government would diversify the economy of the state from oil to agriculture and industrialisation. Responding, Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani lauded the governor’s 2016 budget estimation, wishing that no personal interest would override corporate interest.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DECEMBER 19, 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

PAGE

Hitler really DID have only one testicle!

• Documents suggest the Fuhrer suffered from an undescended right testicle Nazi leader Adolf Hitler really did only have one testicle - because of a medical condition, a German historian has claimed. For decades, British schoolchildren have sung the line ‘Hitler has only got one ball’ as part of a wartime song that mocks the German tyrant. But now researchers at the University of Erlangen say they have found prison documents that appear to back up what has long been considered a myth. Files from the Landsberg prison show Hitler

was examined by Dr Josef Brinsteiner in 1923 - and was found to have suffered from an undescended right testicle, according to historian Professor Peter Fleischmann. His ‘right-side chryptorchidism’ was uncovered while he was in prison in 1923 after his failed Beer Hall Putsch, Fleischmann claims. The condition occurs when one or both testicles fail to descend during childhood. Sung to the tune of The Colonel Bogey March, the old wartime song had it that Hitler only had one

testicle. The morale-boosting song emerged at the beginning of the Second World

War as part of moves to ridicule the Fuhrer and his fellow leaders. It is not the first time the song’s content has been addressed. For decades it was alleged that Hitler had lost his testicle at the battle of the Somme during the First World War. The lyrics go: ‘Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert Hall. His mother, the dirty b****r, cut it off when he was small.’ An alternative version, which includes similar claims about leading Nazi members, has the lyrics:

Hitler

D Doggie Santa is part of the ‘Pets at Christmas’ collection of Christmas-loving, Surrey (UK) based photographer, Mark Taylor

‘Hitler has only got one ball, Goering has two but very small. Himmler is

somewhat sim’lar, But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all.’

Lonely widower posts heartbreaking Facebook message

… appeals for someone to spend Christmas Day with after wife’s den but are there any comdeath

his is the heartbreaking plea of a lonely widower who made a desperate appeal to his community not to leave him eating Christmas dinner alone following the death of his wife. The man, known only as Raymond, received an emotional outpouring of support after posting on the Prestwich People community Facebook page saying he was dreading his first Christmas without his wife. His only son lives thousands of miles away in Australia and it was not possible for the two of them to get together over the festive period, he said. Raymond wrote: ‘I have been gaining the courage to write this so here goes... ‘I lost my wife earlier this year, and I am dreading this first Christmas without her. ‘Our only son is now grown up and has a family of his own, lives in Australia and is unable to get back here to spend Christmas with me - I can’t get on a plane to travel that far to see him. ‘I don’t want to be a bur-

munity meet ups on Christmas Day where I can go and meet others so I don’t have to spend the day eating my dinner alone? ‘Any help would be much appreciated. I am in the Prestwich area. Regards, Raymond.’ Hundreds of people have been moved by the post and have invited Raymond to join them and their families on Christmas Day. Paul Millar posted: ‘Raymond. Come to ours and eat with us. We’re going for a pint in the Bay Horse Whitefield lunchtime. I’ll come and pick you up. We live locally.’

Raymond

Day UK ministers tried to bury bad news … rush out over 400 announcements in one day as MPs flee Westminster for Christmas break in ‘shockingly cynical’ ploy

inisters were last night accused of a ‘shockingly cynical’ bid to bury bad news after releasing a blizzard of embarrassing announcements just before the Christmas break. More than 400 were made in a single day as ministers tried to hide U-turns, tax rises and awkward reports. With media attention focused on David Cameron’s

bid to save his EU renegotiation, Government spin doctors quietly slipped out the announcements, some of which had been awaiting publication for months. It echoed the tactics of notorious Labour spin doctor Jo Moore, who called the 9/11 attacks a ‘good day’ to bury bad news. On a shaming day for the Government, it emerged that the Home Office has lost track of 10,000 asylum-seekers;

ministers confirmed town halls will be allowed to increase council tax by an inflation-busting 4 per cent a year; more than 300 quango chiefs and Whitehall mandarins earn more than the Prime Minister’s £150,000 salary, including controversial Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood – who pocketed a £5,000 pay rise. An official report found that three-quarters of those affected by the so-

called bedroom tax have reduced spending on food; Mr Cameron has abandoned a pledge to cut the number of spin doctors; the Muslim Brotherhood group will not be banned in the UK, despite an official report warning it may be a gateway to extremism; Ministers have given approval for controversial fracking operations in 159 new areas. Environmental campaigners were also angered

as ministers announced that subsidies for solar panels would be slashed by 64 per cent. The revelations were among 36 written statements released by ministers and more than 400 Government announcements – roughly three times the number made on a typical day. The timing of the announcements, on the final sitting day of the Commons this year, means that most will

never be scrutinised fully by MPs. And the sheer volume meant that the individual announcements did not receive the level of media scrutiny they would normally expect. Any one of them might have led the news agenda on a normal day, but the bulk release meant that several of the revelations were not reported at all by the BBC.

Quote of the day Only God enthrones and dethrones as He so wishes, so I’ve no regret kneeling down in church.. —Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, while reacting to the adverse comments that trailed a picture of him kneeling down during his installation thanksgiving at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ile Ife.

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Will oil ever return to $120 per barrel? SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015. www.nationnationalmirroronline.net

Every prediction that was made by this article, which was first published on this column in January, has come to pass. Among other things, it predicted that the price of oil will drop as low as $30 dollars per barrel. So it is today! We are therefore reproducing it, by popular demand, as a guide to 2016. Happy reading!

he Bible appears to have started this write up and at the same time concluded it. In the book of Proverbs 21:20, it says: “Precious treasure and oil in a wise man’s dwelling, but the foolish man devours it” No one knows, easily, what a president stole until he leaves office either voluntarily or he dies there. And in this regard, there are endless cases. If a president will steal one hundred billion dollars from oil money alone, as was the case with Libya, what type of price stability is anyone expecting? Let us look at some not too difficult cases. Until death took him away from office in June 1998, General Sani Abacha, who was born on 20th September 1943, was famous to the extent that he became Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His record of stolen oil money is unequalled. The highlights include, for instance, the return of the sum of $700 million by the Swiss Government from the Abacha loot. This is in addition to the confiscated, yet to be released to the federal government, the sum of $640 million dollars in a single Swiss bank. Others include the $480million dollars returned by the US government to the Federal Government. There is also the return by the Jersey of the sum $316 million. The Supreme Court of Liechtenstein recently returned 175 million Euros in addition to the $1 billion dollars returned in 2002. Preliminary data shows that the total sum of 3.2 trillion naira receipted by the Central Bank has been received so far. That amount is about 75% equivalent of the cash backing of the Federal Government budget for the year 2015 without projection. I am too sure that Abacha did not transfer the money by himself. It is left for me to give compliments to those who assisted in the money transfers. They must be financial experts. We may not write beyond these introductions on Muammar Gadaffi and Mr. Sani Abacha out of respect for the dead. More importantly, after death, there is judgement.

CFR

These are clearly hard Times for oPec members and how far They are able To manage These hard Times will deTermine Their fuTure One may ask again why we need the oil price to return to $120 dollars per barrel. Is it for good governance or for a great opportunity to steal more money from the oil wealth? This brief introduction better explains the return time to $120 per barrel. It will return when the righteous are in government across the world, for when the unrighteous are in power, there will be pains in the land. Let us get to business now! Against the background of the world economy in 2015, the OECD has maintained a forecast of 1.8% in 2014 and a projected growth of 2.1% in 2015. China maintained 7.4% and 7.2% in 2014 and 2015 respectively, with no major change in Indian growth of 5.5% and5.8% in both the year 2014 and 2015 respectively. The demand for oil is estimated to grow at 0.93mb/d to average around 91.13mb/d. A decline of 0.12mb/d is noticed for the year 2015. This is as a result of lower than expected consumption in the OECD countries for 2015. World oil demand is expected to grow by around 1.2mb/d, some 70mb/d lower than the estimated in the last report of OPEC. World oil demand is expected to reach 92’26mb/d in 2015. There are many factors that account for low oil prices and we also have key indicators to know in reasonable time that the prices of oil will go up. These are key drivers of the fortune of oil prices in the international market. Besides the power play of the major power block in the form of pressure groups like OPEC, certain counties are almost too certain of the capacity of their oil to feed them, notwithstanding the price indicators in the market. The coordination at this

present time requires innovation in the strategic road map for OPEC. For instance, nations continue to count their blessings and challenges in the retainership of the membership of OPEC. So also negotiations are on to ensure that certain countries play alone and disengage their membership of OPEC. These are clearly hard times for OPEC members and how far they are able to manage these will determine their future. I don’t want to say it is hard to succeed for any organisation in which the United States is not playing a major role at that level of international politics. The movements of the price of crude oil, as reported by OPEC, signifies that the reference basket finished down $9.40 at $75.57 in November of 2014, and with increasing supply and sluggish global growth, ICE Brent fell at $8.42 to $79.63/b, while Nymet Witi lost to stand at$75.81/b. America is expected to drive oil supply growth in the world in 2015 next to Latin America. Non OPEC oil supply is expected to increase by 1.3mb/d to average of 57.31mb/d. A drop of 30.5mb/d is already noticed in the output supply of OPEC in November of 2014, which is expected to continue. We all know as a fact that output cut remains a common strategy used by OPEC in regulating the market. The volume of increase of 57.31mb/d in the out-put supply of non OPEC members, particularly America and Latin America, is a threat to the oil volume expected from OPEC in a saturated market. The implication is a continuous drop in price, which can only be arrested by natural consequences. There is nothing suggesting that the increase in the volume

of oil recorded by the non OPEC members will not continue in the immediate future. Available data in relation to the supply increase volume of OPEC is not encouraging. For instance, in 2014, the estimated increase recorded in volume of supply stood at 29.4mb/d, while in 2015, the required OPEC crude is forecast at 28.9mb/d. These are clearly hard times for OPEC members and how far they are able to manage these hard times will determine their future. I don’t want to say it’s hard for any organisation in which the United States is not playing a major role at that level of international politics to succeed. The movement of the price of crude oil, as reported by OPEC, signifies that the reference basket finished down $9.40 at $75.57 in November of 2014. And with increasing supply and sluggish global growth, ICE Brent fell at $8.42 to $79.63/b, while Nymet Witi lost to stand at $75.81/b. America is expected to drive oil supply growth in the world in 2015, next to Latin America. Non OPEC oil supply is expected to increase by 1.3mb/d to an average of 57.31mb/d. A drop of 30.5mb/d was already noticed in the output of OPEC in November of 2014, which is expected to continue. We all know for a fact that output cut remains a common strategy used by OPEC in regulating the market. The volume increase of 57.31mb/d in the output supply of non OPEC members, particularly America and Latin America, is a threat to the oil volume expected from OPEC in a saturated market. The implication is a continuous drop in price, which can only be arrested by natural consequences. There is nothing suggesting that the increase in the volume of oil recorded by non OPEC members will not continue in the immediate future. Available data in relation to the increase in supply volume of OPEC is not encouraging. For instance, in 2014 the estimated increase recorded in volume of supply stood at 29.4mb/d, while in 2015, the required OPEC crude is forecast at 28.9mb/d. It was in January 1970 that the price of oil constituted a significant concern in the world market. Even then, it was not until 1973/1974 that a movement of $5 to $10 per barrel was recorded. The increase in price as at that time was determined majorly by the significant role played by the Arab embargo of that time. A major and sharp drop in supply was critical to the rising prices. And for as long as Saudi Arabia abandoned the swing producer role, the correspondent adjustment in the price of oil was of arithmetical progression. To be continued

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