Man, 2 Others Jailed Over Attempt To Sell Son For N8m

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Akure , Ondo State yesterday sentenced three Benin nationals to three years in prison each for attempting to sell a 13-year-old boy. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the convicts were the boy’s father, Kareem Saibu (39), Abdullateef Mumuni (24) and Kadir Rasaq (24).

Chief Magistrate Adebanji Ayeomoni, who sentenced each of them without an option of fine, said:  “Having found the three accused guilty on the twocounts of conspiracy and attempt to sell a human being, the three are hereby sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each without an option of fine.”

The accused, of no fixed address, were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempt to sell a human being, and they all pleaded guilty to the charges.

Enyimba Condemn Attack On Their Supporter

Enyimba International Football Club has strongly condemned the violent attack on one of their supporters after the Matchday 11 Glo Premier League game against Sharks FC in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The Head of Media of Enyimba, Farriel Allaputa revealed this in an interview with SportingLife stating: “Our supporter suffered six stab wounds in an attack that occurred just after the game, lost massive amounts of blood and required urgent medical attention.

“As a club we condemn this violent assault completely and call on the League Management Company to take strong actions against such abhorrent behaviour. Nigerian football has come a long way and this show of shame and barbarity has no place at all in the Glo Premier League.”

Chibok girls: Protests In Ibadan, Osogbo, Yola, Jos

MORE cities hosted yesterday peaceful protests over the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.

In Ibadan, Jos, Katsina, Yola and Lagos, the message was the same: bring back the girls.

Oyo State Governor’s wife Mrs Florence Ajimobi led a prayer rally and a peaceful procession in Ibadan.

The rally began around 9am at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, with the women wearing their traditional Buba and Iro in the wrong way. They also wore red head gears to show their anger at the abduction.

Secondary school pupils turned up for the protest in their thousands.

The women and children cursed the abductors of the Government Secondary School, Chibok girls. They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Release our girls”; “234 girls why”; “Ajimobi says enough is enough”; “We demand the immediate release of our girls”; “Oyo State women says bring back our girls”; “Security of children should be paramount”; “Put an end to the abduction of our girls”; and “Operation no more Boko Haram”; among others.

All shops, markets and offices were shut down till around 1pm in solidarity with the troubled girls.

Chibok Girls: ACF Backs Foreign Powers On Rescue Mission

Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum ( ACF) has expressed support for the Federal Government over the invitation of foreign powers to assist in rescuing the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by  Islamist sect, Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State.

A statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of ACF, Muhammad Ibrahim, also urged the Presidential Committee on the abducted girls, to swing into action and work with security agencies, including the foreign powers to rescue the kidnapped female students.

“ACF appreciates the assistance being offered to Nigeria by the United States of America, Britain, China and other countries to rescue the abducted girls.

Igbo Ukwu Bronze

The Igbo-Ukwu objects which carbon-date to 9th AD is said to constitute one of the richest bronze treasures in Nigeria and best in the world though, they have not received relative publicity like those of Benin bronzes, Ife terra-cottas and Nok terra-cottas

IGBO–Ukwu is an ancient city of Igboland, located at a place, 30 kilometers South-East of Onitsha in the present Anambra State of Nigeria, lying between latitude 50 and 70 North of the equator and longitude 60 and 70 east on the Greenwich Meridien.

Igbo – Ukwu is described variously as the ancient bronze city; the ancestral land of the entire Igbo – race, and the cradle of black civilization. It is said to have the largest ancient local market in West Africa Sub – Saharan Africa. The modern day Igbo-Ukwu can be found in the Aguata Local Government area of Anambra State.

The Igbo believe in the existence of one Supreme Being (God) who they call Chukwu and they also believe that God is the Creator of the universe who they call, Chineke (meaning: The Spiritual Power who creates) or Onye Okike (He who is the Only Creator).

Panic Hits North As U.S Plans To Use 'DNA' To Reunite  Chibuck Girls With Families

There is panic in the north as the truth bout their conspiracy is about to be unraveled. A group of scientists at the University of North Texas have declared their willingness to deploy forensic (DNA) technology to identify and reunite the abducted Chibok girls with their families.

The panic is arising as most of the ‘parents’ of the abducted girls have been exposed as fake and rented crowds hired by some elements in the North to shade Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in bad light to the international community. The DNA test will be the final evidence that would expose them as frauds.

Naijanews Sweep gathered that the involvement of the western countries especially the United State was not anticipated by the northern elements who orchestrated the hoax. As a result they are planning counter moves to douse the situation. Already, they are begging the federal government not to use force to rescue the girls.

Gunmen Kidnapped 3 Dutch, 2 Nigerians

Facts have emerged how gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants seized members of a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Hope for Niger Delta Campaign.

The kidnapped members comprise three Dutch and two Nigerians, including The Netherlands- based Niger Delta activist, Sunny Ofehe. An eyewitness, one of the journalists who accompanied the team on a trip to Letugbene community, Bayelsa State, disclosed that the gunmen laid an ambush on the speed boats conveying members of the group immediately they were being bid farewell by the HRH Minna Omotete, the Ateri II, the Amananaweil of Bilabiri Kingdom. He said that about 10 gunmen shot at the crew members.

NFF Had Hand In My Mother’s Death —Okpala

The contract I have with the NFF says that I am entitled to 150 % of the amount paid the players of the Super Eagles. So if they get N100, I’m entitled to N150.

So when I received half of the money I was supposed to get, I called members of the NFF Board. I called Chief (Mike) Umeh, (Emeka) Inyama and (Alhaji Aminu) Maigari to ask why. Maigari told them that the money (the NFF had) was not enough and they told him that in that case it has to cut across board, not singling out one or two persons. But Maigari said he was not going to pay me.

I then called (Chief) Ekeji (who was then Director General of the National Sports Commission) to tell him what was going on and pleaded with him to help me call the NFF to know why I wasn’t paid  in full.

Male Twins Marry Same Day In Warri

It was fun, joy and pageantry on Saturday February 15, at First Baptist Church and The Good Shepherd Anglican Church both in Warri when the family of Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Okoya witnessed the joining of  their male identical twins, Victor Taiye Oritsetimeyin      Okoya and Victory Kehinde Oritseweyinmi  Okoya in holy matrimony to their heartthrobs, former Miss Uzezi Valerie Iteh, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Iteh of Ada-Irri Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area and former Miss Elizabeth Oghenetejiri Edematie, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Esiteru. A. Edematie of Okpe Kingdom in Okpe Local Government Area respectively. 

While Victor says "he is marrying Uzezi because he loves everything about her and advised bachelors to go and pick a wife for themselves", Uzezi in return said “she chose Victor as her hubby because he is the special part of her and advised spinsters to be of good character, be prayerful and patient until God’s time".

Derivation: Northern Demand For 5%’ll Not Fly—Anya

Chairman of Ndigbo Lagos and a delegate to the National Conference, Professor Anya O. Anya, told some journalists in Lagos, weekend, why the ongoing confab will not be business as usual. According to him, every part of the country is now in negotiation mood and the era of any part of the country playing the big boss has gone; now every part has challenges and needs the help of others to remain afloat. Excerpts:

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

Prof-Anya-O.-AnyaA National Conference Committee, last week recommended that an extra state should be created for the South-East zone. What is the hope that it will be achieved this time?

The obstacles of the state having not been created before now have been with the Igbo: Our inability to speak with one voice as to our choice. I served in the Belgore committee and I chaired the particular plenary session when that decision was taken to create an additional state in Igboland.

Jonathan Accepts U.S. Offer To Rescue Abducted Schoolgirls

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday accepted a definite offer from the U.S. government to locate and rescue the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja.

The statement said that the offer from  President Barack Obama was conveyed to Jonathan by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 hours on Tuesday.

It said the assistance included the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets in collaboration with their Nigerian counterparts for the search and rescue operation.

First Lady Weeps As Stakeholders Shun Meeting

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan was all tears yesterday at a meeting she convened in Abuja over the abduction of school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

Her first meeting on Friday set up a committee headed by the Borno State governor’s wife to ensure attendance at yesterday’s meeting. But the governor’s wife did not attend.

Mrs Jonathan was said to have wept when she learnt that the school had no stand-by power generator.

Besides, no extra security was provided at the school, she was told.

She was devastated that the governor’s wife did not show up for the meeting on Friday and yesterday .

The First Lady  insisted that the state government and the Commissioner for Education should be blamed for the abduction of the girls as they allegedly failed to act on the letter from the Minister of Education for relocation of West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) candidates to Maiduguri or safer places.

Chukwudifu Oputa Died At 90

Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa,CFR and  a retired justice of the Supreme  Court of Nigeria, was a legal icon, Chukwudifu Oputa, as he was fondly called in the judicial circle, was born  into the family of Chief Oputa Uzukwu and Mrs. Nwametu Oputa on September 22, 1924.

Justice Oputa was born into a polygamous family at a time that a man’s wealth was measured by the number of wives in his harem. His father, Chief Oputa Uzukwu had ten wives, and Chukwudifu Oputa was the last of his children. Pa Oputa Uzukwu passed on when Chukwudifu was only three months old. His mother died when he was barely six months old.

The task of his welfare and education passed onto his grandmother who laid the foundation for his up-bringing.

He attended Sacred Heart School, Oguta; Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha for his Secondary education and later, High College, Yaba. He was a student of Achimota College, Ghana from where he proceeded to the University of London, England. He was called to the English Bar, the Gray’s Inn, London in 1953. Ten years later, he was appointed a judge of the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.

Enugu State, BOI launch N1bn MSME intervention fund

Enugu State Government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) has launched a N1 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) intervention fund.

Speaking at the launch of the fund and presentation of cheques, Managing Director, BOI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, who was represented by the South/East Regional Manager, BOI, Mr. Balarabe Hassan, disclosed that the Governor of Enugu state, Sullivan Chime has approved a contribution of N500 million which has been equally matched in like sum by BOI towards the establishment of the fund.

” The uniqueness of this partnership from other matching funds we have had so far, is the contributions from the local government councils which would guarantee financial inclusion of all those in the local government areas of the state. The pool of funds shall be provided as loans to entrepreneurs in the state” she stated.

We’ll treat Okorocha As Saboteur In 2015 –APGA BoT Member

An Igbo leader and member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has hinted that APGA would treat Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State as a saboteur during the 2015 governorship elec­tion in the State, if he failed to return to the party before the elec­tion and apologise for his wrong political calcula­tions.

Speaking to newsmen at his Rojenny Games Village, Oba in Anambra State, at the weekend, Ezeonwuka said Okorocha made the biggest mistake of his life by defecting from APGA to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He rea­soned that such a political miscalculation was capable of costing him a second tenure in Imo Government House in 2015.

Will Lydia And The LPGA Tour

At 17 years old Lydia Ko is making quite a mark on the LPGA Tour. She won the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open as a 15-year-old amateur and proved it was no fluke by repeating the feat in 2013.

In addition, she won two other professional tournaments in Australia and New Zealand as a teen-aged amateur.

Since declaring her professional status last October, the LPGA Tour granted her membership. She won the Swinging Skirts Ladies Masters in Taiwan in December on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Tour.

She just collected her first official win as an LPGA Tour member at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco last Sunday.

Spanish Village To Hold Referendum Over 'Kill Jews' Name

A Spanish village is to hold a referendum over whether to change its name of Castrillo Matajudios, which translates as "Kill Jews"

The tiny Spanish village of Castrillo Matajudios, whose second name means "Kill Jews," will hold a referendum next month to decide if it should change the name that offends outsiders and embarrasses some residents, its mayor said on Tuesday.

The village's 56 registered voters will be asked on May 25 whether they want to keep the name or change it to the similar, but non-offensive name the town once had, Mayor Lorenzo Rodriguez Perez said.

Historical studies show the town's original name was Castrillo Motajudios. The second name of that translates to "Jews Hill" and dates back to 1035 when 66 Jews were killed in a nearby town and those expelled settled on the hill.

Messi Contract Saga Nearing 

This week could see Barcelona and Leo Messi sign the player's new contract, with the two sides all set to hold one last meeting to dot the i's and cross the t's. The Catalan club have been waiting for Jorge Messi to return from Argentina to schedule the meeting.

With no other commitments on the horizon, the player's father and Josep Maria Bartomeu will sign a deal which will see Leo Messi's wages significantly increased, making him the highest paid footballer in the world. The striker currently receives a net sum of 16 million including bonuses.

With this move Barcelona will drastically increase the player's pay packet. After a long tug of war, the basics of the deal have now been thrashed out. The biggest stumbling block for both sides was the amount the star should receive in bonuses every year. This has now been overcome and the deal could be made public sometime this week.

Diego Alves Blocks Real's Title Charge

Real Madrid's hopes of winning 'La Liga' were dashed after being held to a draw by Valencia, for whom two players were instrumental: former Real player Dani Parejo and goalkeeper Diego Alves.

The Brazilian keeper stopped everything he could, even some impossible shots but he couldn't prevent Real Madrid - who struggled to go through the gears following their display of power against Bayern - equalising twice, the second in injury time.

The Brazilian full-back, Marcelo, denied that the "hangover" from the match against Bayern was the reason they dropped two points on home turf. "We gave it everything we had on the pitch," he said after the match.

Who Said That We Will Not Get Biafra

Biafrans in denmark are on top of this game, they have proved to be more Biafra than you think.They are doing what Chukwuabiama have send them to do.You people are wonderful. Nduenuwa is saying Biafra, Biafra, Biafra and so shall it for ever and ever.30th may,all the falling heroes will be remembered.