welcome to martha igene blog: December 2012

Dec 22, 2012

Bomb explosions hit Airtel and MTN offices in Kano

A policeman who requested anonymity said, “There has been a bomb blast at Airtel office. From what we hear, it was a suicide attack. The bomber rammed his car into the gate and blew himself up. The building is on fire.”

Kano police chief Ibrahim Idris told Reuters news agency the bombers had died in the attacks.

“The one who hit the Airtel office was shot by military men before the bomb exploded,” he said. “At the MTN office the car rammed into the fence but no civilians were killed.”

Firefighters battled to put off the inferno caused by the blast.

Blackface and 2face back in the day

Tell us more about your new album

My new album is entitled Defender. This is the first time I will have a song that is the title of my album. I was thinking of the name to call the album and I have no other better name than Defender and the song happens to be one of my best tracks in the album.

Does the song Defender has anything to do with your present predicament?

Not really. “Defender” is a love song. It is a reggae calypso mixed song. A lovely song. It has nothing to do with my personal life or condition.

More photos after the cut.......

He helped his father towards an Oscar nomination with their 2006 drama The Pursuit of Happyness.

Now, Jaden Smith is getting his time to define himself against his father in the acting world - in a post-apocalyptic Earth.

The 14-year-old actor and his father, Will Smith, are giving cinemagoers a taste of what's to come in stills from their next offering, sci-fi film After Earth.

INEC de-registers more political parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced the de-registeration of three more political parties days after it de-registered 28 for failing to meet up with some provisions of the Electoral Act.

The parties affected included African Renaissance Party (ARP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and National Transformation Party (NTP).

A statement by Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Kaugama, reads in part: “In continuation of the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has de-registered three more political parties.

Search has begun for a new president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) for possible replacement of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor whose tenure will expire in February 2013.

It would be recalled that few months after Oritsejafor took over the mantle of leadership of Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), he indicated his intention to resign his appointment as PFN president due to increased activities involving a lot of travelling, meetings and other commitments.

This stirred controversy among leaders of the body as some top members were against Oritsejafor’s deputy Dr. Mercy Ezekiel of taking over as president as they were mostly gender biased.

More photos after the cut......

Practicing abstinence is probably one of the most challenging things to do. Your mind, spirit, and body are constantly in conflict as you decide which one (or two) is the most accurate.

Aside from the benefits of practicing abstinence that are taught in the Christian faith, refraining from sex has been scientifically proven to be successful for women who are seeking marriage. Scientists believe women who “play hard to get” are able to assess a man who will stick by her side during pregnancy.

Facebook says it is testing a service that will charge users $1 to guarantee that messages they send to people they are not connected to arrive in users’ inboxes, rather than in an often-ignored folder called “other.”

Launched in 2011, the “other” folder is where Facebook routes messages it deems less relevant. Not quite spam, these include messages from people you most likely don’t know, based on Facebook’s reading of your social connections. Many users ignore this folder.

Now, users will be able to pay $1 to route their messages to non-friends. Facebook said Thursday that it is testing the service with a small percentage of individuals — not businesses — in the U.S.

Mr. Babalakin was dealt a heavy blow by the Federal High Court judge.
For the second time in one week, a Federal High court sitting in Lagos struck out a suit instituted by embattled billionaire lawyer, Wale Babalakin, seeking to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting and prosecuting him.

In his ruling, Friday, Justice Ibrahim Buba, urged Mr. Babalakin to “properly” take his “cat and mouse” application before the Lagos High court.

Mr. Fashakin of the CPC said it is time to execute some Nigerians for national progress.

Some Nigerian leaders who have used their positions to oppress and exploit the people need to be executed for Nigeria to progress, the spokesperson of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, has said.

Mr. Fasakin, in the second part of an exclusive interview granted PREMIUM TIMES advocated the Ghana-style execution of corrupt leaders. He said this has become necessary for Nigeria to move forward.

Mr. Adisa Bolanta, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, has revealed that the family of Nkiru Sylvanus, parted with the sum of N8 million, before the kidnappers released her yesterday.

Bolanta confirmed to newsmen today in Owerri, that despite repeated warnings from the police, they went ahead and negotiated with her abductors.

He said that the family of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, eventually paid the sum. However, he added that the State Police, recovered N7 million and returned it to the family.

“CASHFLOW” is the 2nd single to be released through Sony Music’s RCA Africa label and DB Records since D’Banj signed his groundbreaking multi-album deal with Sony Music Entertainment Africa.

“CASHFLOW” is the first part of a power-video directed by SESAN, seeing Africa’s high-roller music kingpin D’Banj playing a high-stakes game of poker against the head of the ruling street cartel, with the odds always on the side of D’Banj, he’s unstoppable and wipes the table clean and takes the cartel for everything they have on play. The cartel bosses retaliate and it sets off a real-life poker game with the two kingpins going head-to-head… with only two things on their mind… who’s the ruling player and who’s got the CASHFLOW!

The card reads: ‘As you enter into 2013 we pray that signs and wonders of God will never cease in your lives in Jesus name.’

Former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, spoke with select journalists on some national issues, including the alleged face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and his estranged political godfather, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. FRIDAY OLOKORwas there

What is your take on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan so far?

I want to start with an Ijaw proverb which says: the eyes watched its seven children to death, instead of advising them, it was just looking at them until they died; while the mouth talked its only child to life and success. We have continued as Ijaw people and the entire Niger Delta and South-South to support the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, but a time has come when silence cannot be golden. We have to speak out on issues that are very critical about the survival of our people, the survival of the people of the South-South and the South-East, who form the political base of Jonathan.

Families of victims of Bayelsa Helicopter crash will not be paid compensation

Despite the loss of lives of teh Govenor of Kaduna state, Patrick Yakowa, and former National Security Adviser(NSA)Andrew Aziza in the ill-fated helicopter crash, it has been revealed that their families will not be paid any form of compensation.
According to an aviation expert and retired air officer Group Capt. John Ojikutu(retd),"Anyone who boards a military aircraft knows its just another good ride. The aircraft is strictly for military operations/training and not for commercial purposes. It does not carry insurance for non-military functions. Who do you expect to pay compensation? The defence ministry or Navy? It is an unfortunate incident but they are not entitled to any compensation"

Culled from: Daily Sun

Jonathan appoints Anenih head of NPA board

President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday appointed controversial Edo politician, Tony Anenih, as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The appointment was announced in a statement late Thursday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

The statement also contained the list of appointed board members for the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

But of all the appointments, none is as controversial as Mr. Anenih’s.

Anenih for NPA

THREE more suspects were arraigned, yesterday, before a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court, Rivers State, for the October 5, killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, in Omuokiri–Aluu community.

Their arraignment brought to 16, persons charged to court for the killing of the students, Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekenah Elkanah.

The three suspects were brought under a five-count charge of conspiracy to kill the four students. Those arraigned were Finebone Jeffrey, 23; Joshua Ekpe, 27 and Abang Cyril, 27. Their pleas were not taken.

Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Woke, in a short ruling, said his court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case and adjourned the matter till February 28, 2013.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has retained the African Footballer of the Year title.

The Ivory Coast international held off competition from compatriot Didier Drogba and Cameroon’s Alex Song, who plays for Barcelona.

The 29-year-old was adjudged winner of the continent’s highest individual football prize for 2012 by coaches of national teams affiliated to the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

“This night is so special for me,” Toure said after receiving the prize in Ghana’s capital, Accra on Thursday. “Thanks to all of you. Even my captain is here today. Thanks to everyone and we are happy for this award.”

Chike Egbo, the 25-year-old student of Enugu State College of Education, who was bathed with acid by her estranged fiancé, David Suleiman, in November, has been reported dead.

Chika gave up the ghost early Thursday morning, on her hospital bed, at the Burns Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Her father, Matthew Egbo, who confirmed the incident told Vanguard that his daughter fell into comma around 11: pm Wednesday night and was placed on a life-support machine before she gave up the ghost around 1:00 am, Thursday morning.

Traffic police officers fight over bribe money in Abuja

It was a Theatre of absurd at the Ademola Adetokumbo area of Wuse 2, Abuja on Thursday when two Traffic Police Officers on duty were engaged in a serious brawl, scaring motorists, as many were forced to make a U-Turn in order to avoid having their wheel screen smashed by the two angry police officers.

The Officers who were simply identified as Mr. Ishaku, a police Constable and Mr. Ewema Pesters were on duty in a busy junction located immediately after City Park with other Traffic Police Officers where they got engaged in a heavy fight.

What can you give a woman who seemingly has everything? Well, apparentlyDavid Beckham has found the perfect Christmas present for his wife Victoria and is planning to splash out on a private jet for the designer.

According to Now magazine sources, the former LA Galaxy player intends to make Christmas extra special for the mum-of-four this year and thinks nothing of shelling out $24 million to buy her her own plane.

Insiders told the weekly magazine that Becks thinks it’s the least he can do after all the scarifice the ex-Spice Girl has made for him this year.

ActressNkiru Sylvanus and ex-Mr Nigeria Kenneth Okolie have been released by their kidnappers after five days.
They were freed Thursday evening in Owerri.

The kidnappers reportedly tied their eyes and dropped them off at an unknown location where they were able to call friends to come pick them up.

MTN’s Who wants to be a Millionaire anchor, Frank Edoho, engaged in a tweet fight this afternoon.

It all started when a certain @girlish_lava asked “what would you do if your gf is pregnant” with a reply of “punch it out of her” by a certain @TweetQuizzer.

Apparently, Frank Edoho was pissed off by the answer so he vented his displeasure by calling @Tweetquizzer a fool.

The latter retweeted Frank, and replied with “look who’s calling the kettle black”

A day before the maiden edition of The Baddest Concert in Lagos, Banky W and Wizkid, have had their Twitter accounts verified.

The EME boss, who opened his account in May 2009, currently has over 281,408 followers, while Wizkid appears to be more popular, with over 415,369 people subcribing to his tweets.

On Thursday morning, an electrical fire was reported at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The fire emanated from some cables, which apparently melted under heat.

This led to a blackout in the airport terminal while fire fighters deployed swiftly in the affected area to quench the fire.

Security men erected a metal barricade around the site and the fire fighters were able to put the situation under control.

WAEC Nov/Dec GCE 2012 Result has finally been Released online December 19th, 2012. All Nigerian students who sat for the Exam can now check their Nov/Dec 2012 GCE Result Online now.

How To Check

6 Steps to checking 2011 WAEC GCE Results

Step1 : Identifying yourself: Supply your 10-digit WAEC GCE 2011 Examination Number. (ie. your 7-Digit centre number followed by your 3-digit candidate seat number eg. 4123456789)

Step2 : Tell WAEC that your examination year is 2011. However you can type in other years if you are not checking for 2012.

More photos after the cut........

“Most of us who are politicians exploit religious sentiments to divide Nigerians for our own selfish gains,” Jonathan.

President Goodluck Jonathan has accused most Nigerian politicians of exploiting religious and ethnic sentiments to divide Nigerians for selfish reasons.

The President said this during the weekly Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, meeting held on Wednesday. He said this while eulogising the late Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa.

The Council, Wednesday, honoured the victims of last Saturday’s helicopter crash by rescheduling all its memos slated for discussion to next year.

Imo State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 16 suspects in connection with the kidnapping of Nollywood actress and Special Assistant to the State Governor on Public Affairs, Nkiru Sylvanus. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Vitalis Onugu (DSP), disclosed that the suspects were arrested in a raid of suspected kidnappers’ dens in the forest, adding that they were already assisting the police in its investigation.

Meanwhile, the state government has directed security agencies to arrest any unauthorised person found using siren and vehicles with tinted glasses. Rising from a security council meeting, the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said the renewed war against unauthorised use of siren and tinted glasses was part of the stringent measures adopted by the council to checkmate crime in the state, especially during the Yuletide.

Young Precious, who is just at her early 21, has continued to work around her dream of becoming a super model that will ever come out of Nigeria. The young beauty queen said her dream was to be known globally. Precious had won several modeling competitions even as she never stopped halfway in almost all the Beauty contests she had been part of.

The highly determined model disclosed that she had completely lost trust in men, as none appears to be sincere to women; hence, her major concern was to push her career up the ladder, leaving men to wonder at her super confidence.

R & B group, Styl Plus have officially denied the recent media claims that ‘they have parted ways’.

The group in a statement disclosed that Tunde Akinsanmi, one of its founding members, is ‘indeed’ leaving, but STYL Plus is not ‘breaking up’.

The 9-year-old group, STYL Plus further said “We owe it to our fans to clear the air on this matter. In the process of working towards a collective vision and in this vein, Tunde Akinsanmi has decided to pursue a solo career and delve into other ventures that are not Styl-Plus’s priority at the moment”

Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon on Wednesday recounted how he would have been on the helicopter that crashed killing Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, ex-National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi and four others in Bayelsa State on Saturday.

Speaking in Kafanchan, at the special thanksgiving service to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, the founder of Throneroom Ministry, Gen. Gowon said that the chopper was being arranged for them to fly to Port Harcourt when another one was provided for him and five others.

Photos: Newborn daughter of football superstar Mario Balotelli who has never met her father

These is the first picture of Pia Balotelli, the new baby daughter of firebrand Manchester City striker Mario.

The little girl was born earlier this month to his ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico, 27, and arrived three weeks early - she had been due on Christmas Day.

Balotelli has yet to see his daughter in the flesh and and is said so far to only seen pictures of her via email.

The family of Lt. Adeyemi Sowole, the co-pilot of the Navy helicopter which crashed on Saturday in Bayelsa State have expressed disappointment that authorities have only reckoned with the dignitaries that died on the flight.

The co-pilot’s elder brother, Taiwo, said the government had not treated other victims as important as the two dignitaries – Gen. Andrew Azazi and Governor Patrick Yakowa – on board.

Taiwo, spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, at the family’s 28, Akintoye Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos home.

Principal, Ajuwon Senior High School, Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, Rev. Olufunke Oladeojobi, has been quizzed by the police for allegedly conducting virginity tests on the pupils.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Oladeojobi, who was described as a strict disciplinarian, by her pupils called in a nurse and jointly carried out virginity tests on a group of 10 students last week Monday.

It was further learnt that the principal did not seek the consent of the parents/guardians of the pupils before conducting the test on Senior Secondary School 1 pupils.

WITH the arrival of former Governor Patrick Yakowa’s body in Kaduna yesterday, the grim reality of his death was fully felt.

The city was thrown into mourning as the AirForce aircraft carrying the body — and the late Yakowa’s friend Dauda Tsoho’s — touched down at the Kaduna Airport in a golden casket draped in the green-white-green national colours.

The body was conveyed from the airport through the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Byepass to the St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, accompanied by the widow and three of their children — all clad in black dresses.

Boko Haram Plans To Attack Me - Christian Governor, Gabriel Suswam, Cries Out

Desperate times indeed call for desperate measures! The governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam has cried out that members of the Boko Haram sect were planning to attack him.

"Going by security reports available to me, I may be attacked any day, anywhere, anytime and this is the reason I called on you Christians to pray for me and my family".
The governor, who is a Christian, made this revelation on Monday while addressing members of NKST Church, in Makurdi, the state capital.

Nick Cannon has revealed that he dumped Kim Kardashian after she 'lied' to him about the existence of her now-infamous sex tape.

Despite calling the reality star 'one of the nicest people you'll ever meet' Nick explained that he couldn't forgive her for denying the tape existed.

Radio presenter Nick, now happily married to Mariah Carey, briefly dated Kim from September 2006 to January 2007.

Speaking on The Howard Stern Show last week he explained: 'This was my issue. We talked about this tape…And she told me there was no tape.

6 months after the disappearance of popular TV presenter, Alhaji Razaq Gawat, the Lagos State Police Command has said there is no clue yet leading to his whereabouts, but added that they had not reached a dead end as investigation was still ongoing.

Disclosing this on Monday, the State Police command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide said, “What we did was to see whether the fingerprints found on his car would match those of the arrested suspects but none matched.

Why do men/women cheat in relationships? Bet you have your own ideas why. Kween, Rukky Sanda, DEAL, DJ big’N, and other Nigerians give their opinions.

Join the discussion train. Happy viewing!

Pictures: Late Yakowa Being Honoured In Bayelsa This Morning

Rest In Peace!

Imo Govt. Offers Cash Reward For Nkiru Sylvanus' Whereabouts

the government of the state has finally responded to the kidnap of the governor's aide.

In a statement released through the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Chinedu Offor, the state government announced a substantial reward to anyone with useful information about the whereabouts of the abducted actress.

“The Government of Imo State is aware of the kidnap of the Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Nkiru Sylvanus. All security agencies in the state are doing everything possible to get her back safely.

After 30 years in London, Polly Francis moved to The Gambia when she met hotel receptionist Lamin Sarr eight years ago.

The retired nurse, who is in her 50s, used inheritance money to build them a home. She said: “I know I’m old enough to be his mum and that people must think I just came here looking for a toyboy but I didn’t. I fell in love.

“He is a gentleman — quiet and strong, my best friend.”

Saudi doctors will spend at least 10 hours on Friday to separate Siamese twins Abdullah and Salman in an eight-stage operation at the Gulf Kingdom’s most prestigious hospital, newspapers said on Tuesday.

The twin boys, named after the country’s King Abdullah and his brother, Crown Prince Salman, were born to a Saudi mother in a Cesarean operation in the southern town of Bisha nearly three months ago, they said.

The twins had been flown to King Abdul Aziz medical city in the capital Riyadh for the operation in line with instruction by King Abdullah, the papers said.

To add insult to injury, he banged his head against bathroom door as well

A man in Poland tried to impress his wife by doing his bit of housework. However, the man lived to regret his good deed as he managed to iron his face when the phone rang.

The 32-year-old man, who was ironing some clothes when his mobile phone went off, automatically put the device in his hand, ironically a hot iron, to his ears to respond to the call, reports UK website Orange.

The man's attention was on the boxing match that he was watching while doing the dreaded housejob.

More photos after the cut.......

Dec 22, 2012

Dec 21, 2012

Dec 20, 2012

Dec 19, 2012

Dec 18, 2012