Robbers Invade Church, Steal phones, N2m

No fewer than 15 armed robbers invaded the Christ Apostolic Church in Alagbado, Lagos State, stealing about 40 phones and money estimated at N2m.

The robbers, who operated for about 20 minutes, were said to have also attempted raping some of the church members before they left the church premises.

It was learnt that the men came around 2am penultimate Friday while the over 450 congregation was engrossed in a prayer session.

A member of the church, who craved anonymity, said some of the members had observed a strange man making phone calls while the vigil was on.

He said, “The vigil actually started around 12 midnight. Some of us observed a man who came in around 1.30am. He was seated in the women’s section. About four persons tried persuading him to change seat, including the pastor, but he refused. So they left him.

House To Probe Alison-Madueke For Spending N10bn On Private Jet

The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the alleged squandering of N10 billion over a two-year period on the arbitrary charter and maintenance of a Challenger 850 aircraft for unofficial use by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The House also mandated its Committee on Natural Gas to scrutinise the non-remittance of funds accruing from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) to the Federation Account from 2004 to date.

Both committees were given three weeks to conduct their probes and submit their reports to the House.

10 Lessons From Biafra

NIGERIANS have continued to be inundated with the ever chilly tales of the deaths of scores of innocent citizens on daily basis in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

The way out of this trouble has obviously become the pre-occupation of many having realized that it is better to think and proffer solutions than fold arms and blame the government in newspaper publications, demonstrations and public statements.

The Buni Yadi massacre of FGC students left so much bad taste in the                                     mouth and evoked in me memories of the Nigeria civil war which started when I was barely 10 years old. In those 30 months of my boyhood marred by war which I luckily survived, there are experiences to be shared for the benefit of the children and parents living in the northeastern part of Nigeria now traumatized by Boko Haram.

Read more frem here

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/boko-haram-10-lessons-biafra/

Italian Police Probing The Controversial Oil Block Funds

The police in Italy have launched an inquiry into Nigeria’s most infamous deep water oil block, OPL 245.

By this action, they join the British, who in July last year also began a probe of the allegation that money laundering may have been involved in a $1.3 billion Nigerian oil bloc deal involving Royal Dutch Shell and Italy's Eni SpA.

According to previous newspaper reports in Nigeria, the two companies are alleged to have paid as much as $1.092 billion to the Nigerian government, using a JPMorgan Chase Bank in London.  The government had a parallel agreement to pay the money to Malabu

Oil and Gas, which belonged to former Petroleum Minister Dan Etete, according to a report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Man United Fightback

Embattled Manchester United manager David Moyes insisted that he was not under pressure after his side's stirring comeback against Greek champions Olympiakos took them into the Champions League quarter-finals.

Moyes enjoyed a rare night of success at Old Trafford on Wednesday as United overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg of their last 16 tie with a 3-0 victory built around a Robin van Persie hat-trick.

With United 18 points off the lead and 12 points shy of the top four in the Premier League after a chastening 3-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday, the former Everton manager's position has come under scrutiny.

Some British media reports suggested that his job would remain at risk regardless of the outcome of the Olympiakos tie, but he said he was confident that he retained the full support of his employers.

Possible Malaysian Plane Debris Spotted In Indian Ocean

Search aircraft and ships are investigating two objects floating in the southern Indian Ocean off Australia that could be debris from a Malaysian jetliner missing for 12 days with 239 people on board, officials said on Thursday.

Australian officials said the objects were spotted by satellite four days ago in one of the remotest parts of the globe, around 2,500 km (1,500 miles) southwest of Perth in the vast oceans between Australia, southern Africa and Antarctica.

The larger of the objects measured up to 24 metres (79 ft), long and appeared to be floating on water several thousand metres deep, they said. The second object was about 5 metres (16 feet) long.

Russian Forces Seize Two Ukrainian Bases In Crimea

The United States warned Moscow it was on a "dark path" to isolation on Wednesday as Russian troops seized two Ukrainian naval bases, including a headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol where they raised their flag.

The dramatic seizure came as Russia and the West dug in for a long confrontation over Moscow's annexation of Crimea, with the United States and Europe groping for ways to increase pressure on a defiant Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"As long as Russia continues on this dark path, they will face increasing political and economic isolation," said U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, referring to reports of armed attacks against Ukrainian military personnel in Crimea.

Biden was in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, as part of a quick trip to reassure Baltic allies worried about what an emboldened Russia might mean for their nations. Lithuania, along with Estonia and Latvia, are NATO members.

Flamingoes Set To Fly Over Colombia

After an impressive 2-1 victory over hard-fighting China in their opening match, the national U-17 Women football team, the Flamingoes will tonight attempt to consolidate their position in Group D  when they take on Columbia in the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Unlike the Nigerians, Columbia lost their opening match 4-0 to Mexico at the other match.

This will give the Flamingoes a psychological edge over the South Americans who will try and claw their way up from the bottom.

With strikers like Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and the ever dependable goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke, the coach  Bala Nikyu lads will go for an outright victory to ensure they qualify for the next stage of the tournament.

Five Arrested In Akwa Ibom Baby Factory

The police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested five people for their alleged involvement in a baby factory. Seven expectant mothers are being held.

Commissioner of Police Umar Gwadabe said the baby factory was located at 19, Nepa Line, Ikot Ekpene.

He said: “The discovery came following a tip-off that two women, Ima Akpan (35) and Mma Nurse, now at large, were operating a baby factory where seven expectant mothers were camped.

“The expectant mothers were arrested, and on interrogation, two of them– Ikwo Ofuo and Joy John– confessed that they were enticed to the business because of money.

“On delivery, a male child will be sold for N400,000. A female child costs N350,000.”

One of the teenage expectant mothers said she was impregnated by an unknown man.

She said: “I don’t know who impregnated me. I was impregnated while hawking to assist my mother.”

"I left Barça Because I Couldn't Motivate My Players Any More"

In an interview with the magazine, 'Audi Annual Report', Pep Guardiola assured that "I left Barça becuase I couldn't motivate my players any more." When asked about the pressure of having so many football superstars in the same dressing room, the Bayern manager answered, "there was a right carry on at Barcelona whenever I left Messi on the bench".

Difficult moments: "There have been moments of great sadness. Barcelona crashing out in the Champions League semifinals against Chelsea in 2012 was one of them. We were much better than our rivals, but we let in an unnecessary goal in the return game and before we knew it we were knocked out. That was a terrible defeat for me. I felt that I couldn't gee my team up at all."

Messi Has Got Nothing On Ronaldo

In a lackluster game in the Santiago Bernabéu between Real Madrid and Schalke 04, the evening's main attraction was undoubtedly Cristiano. With his brace against the German side, the forward now has another record within his reach.

The record in question is the most goals ever scored in one single edition of the Champions League. This honour is presently held by none other than Lionel Messi, with 14 goals back in the 2011-12 season – just one above the 13 that Ronaldo has already scored so far.

CR7 has been crowned the Champions League's maximum goalscorer on two previous occasions. The first was with Manchester United in 2007-08, when he bagged eight. The last time was last season with Real Madrid, when the Portuguese superstar scored 12.

Tiger Woods At Bay Hill

Tiger Woods has more wins at three courses than every other active player besides Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh has total wins.

Tiger has 24 wins -- the same number Gary Player had for his entire career -- at Torrey Pines, Firestone, and Bay Hill.

Woods will go for No. 9 on the latter of those three courses this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where, for the eighth time, he'll be defending a title.

Side note: Woods has won five of the seven times he's defended here -- that's as many wins as Bubba Watson, Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan, Bill Haas, and Luke Donald have total in their careers.

Let's get in the way back machine and take a look at all eight of Woods' Ws

About 500 Immigrants forced their way into Spain

About 500 people forced their way into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla on Tuesday, Spanish officials said, the largest number to storm the border in almost a decade as increasing naval patrols discourage entry by sea.

Spain has two enclaves in Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla, and migrants from all over Africa regularly try to reach them, mostly by climbing the triple barriers that separate them from Morocco. Deaths and injuries are common.

Making the most of dense fog to sneak up to the crossing and climb the high wire fence, a total of 1,100 people, according to Spanish figures, and about 600, according to Morocco, made a rush across the border throughout the night and morning.

Putin Adds Crimea To Map Of Russia

With a sweep of his pen, President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia on Tuesday, describing the move as correcting past injustice and responding to what he called Western encroachment upon Russia's vital interests.

EU moves toward sanctions on Russians, Obama meets Ukraine PM Reuters

In an emotional 40-minute speech televised live from the Kremlin, Putin said "in people's hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia."

He dismissed Western criticism of Sunday's Crimean referendum — in which residents of the strategic Black Sea peninsula overwhelmingly backed breaking off from Ukraine and joining Russia — as a manifestation of the West's double standards.

But the Russian leader insisted his nation has no intention to invade other regions of Ukraine, saying "we don't want a division of Ukraine, we don't need that."

Remember The Afro

Remember the afro, the natural hairstyle forever synonymous with the "black is beautiful" movement championed by African-Americans in the 1960s?

A group in Ivory Coast is trying to persuade black women to turn the page on their expensive hair-straighteners, extensions and wigs and go natural instead.

Blending "natural" with "happy" to produce "Nappy", the group calls itself Nappys de Babi -- Babi being a nickname for Abidjan, Ivory Coast's bustling economic capital.

Founded more than two years ago, the support group now boasts some 2,400 members, meeting every two months in Abidjan's trendy Cocody district to share advice, tips, and practical help about keeping their hair natural.

Nappys de Babi bucks a deeply ingrained belief all across Africa that straight hair conforms best to an ideal of beauty.

Barça Denies Martino Exit Talk

At an earlier press conference, Barça spokesman Manel Arroyo denied that 'El Tata' Martino had already decided to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

According to TV programme 'EsportClub' on Esport 3, the Argentine coach had informed his closest colleagues of his desire to leave.

Arroyo told journalists that "it is completely false that Martino has said to any of his coaching team that he is leaving. He is focused on the challenges ahead with Barcelona. All three titles are still to play for."

However, the Barça spokesman pointed out that there is a clause in Martino's contract allowing the deal to be broken if "both parties" reach an agreement when this season is over.

Kanye West Was Sentenced To Two Years Probation After Pleading No Contest To A Charge Of Battery 

Kanye West on pleaded no contest Monday to misdemeanor battery against a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport in a special plea in which he maintains his innocence.

West entered the plea through his attorney and did not attend the court hearing. He was sentenced to two years of probation, 24 anger management therapy sessions and 250 hours of community service.

The rapper did not reach a civil settlement with the paparazzo, and his plea cannot be used against him in a civil lawsuit.

West was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery and grand theft after an altercation at LAX with photographer Daniel Ramos in July.

Ramos claimed West punched him in an unprovoked attack and wrestled his camera to the ground during the scuffle.

Ramos is suing West and attended Monday’s hearing accompanied by his lawyer, Gloria Allred.

L'Wren Scott, Fashion Designer And Model, Was Found Dead Monday In Manhattan

L’Wren Scott, the glamorous fashion designer and longtime lover of Mick Jagger, was more than $5 million in debt when she hanged herself Monday in her Manhattan apartment.

Scott’s business had been taking on water for some time and last month she suddenly pulled out of London’s Fashion Week show, blaming “production reasons,” records show.

It turned out Scott, whose designs have been worn by everyone from Oscar winners like Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock to First Lady Michelle Obama, didn’t have the dough to pay her staffers or suppliers.

Racing Towards The 'Clásico'

How things have changed. At this stage in the first half of the season, Real Madrid came away from the Camp Nou, defeated, six points behind Barcelona, and five behind Atlético de Madrid, looking like a deflated balloon flying hither and thither through the league with no apparent direction.

And now Carlo Ancelotti's team are the leaders of the Liga BBVA, have gone 30 games without defeat in all competitions and have overtaken their rivals in the steep 38-Alpine-bend course that is the Spanish league.

Michelle Obama To Stay Firmly In 'Mom In Chief' Mode

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama is expected to steer clear of controversial issues such as human rights when she visits China this week but her trip could help advance a top item on her husband's foreign policy agenda: deepening Washington's ties with Beijing.

The week-long trip marks only the third foreign solo trip for Obama, who has cultivated a self-described "mom in chief" image, putting her energy into raising her daughters Malia, 15, and Sasha, 12, and signature domestic policy issues such as combating childhood obesity.

She has joked that her motto during her husband's White House tenure has been to "do no harm."