Welcome to BlogStream360: December 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Crucial Bedroom Move You’re Forgetting

Having trouble staying hard? Start taking more of a hands-on approach in bed. Men who don’t frequently engage in sexual touching with their partner have more than twice the odds of experiencing erectile problems, says a new study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Researchers surveyed 1,352 men and women about how much touching they did—such as kissing, hugging, and caressing—and whether or not they’ve had any issues reaching climax, maintaining an erection, or becoming aroused. The results: Women in the study who didn’t touch as much were significantly more likely to report a lack of pleasure from sex, and a third of them were unable to reach climax.

As 2012 comes to an end on Monday, December 31, Nigerians remember the good, the bad and the ugly of the year. Indeed, it’s a year they would forget in a hurry, following the bloodletting occasioned mainly by the incessant bombing of Boko Haram as well as kidnapping and armed robbery incidents. Also, the year was characterized by flood, air crashes, sleaze and other tragedies.

In this report, we outline some of the things that happened in 2012.

Oil subsidy removal

A middle aged woman, simply identified as Uchenna is cooling her feet at the Onitsha Police Area Command for breaking her maid’s hand and tearing her private part with razor blade. Saturday Sun gathered that the woman allegedlly used a pestle to break her maid’ left hand and inflicted very deep cuts in her private part with a razor blade in the commercial city of Onitsha

The incident took place at Osuma Street where the victim, Chisom Nwafor is living with her mistress before she was attacked by the suspect. Narrating her ordeal, Chisom, a 10 year old girl from Enugu-Abo in Enugu State said her mistress returned to the house last Sunday morning and started beating her and used razor blade on her private parts. “I was changing her daughter’s dress because she urinated on it.

For the entertainment industry, 2012, no doubt, has been an eventful year. The outgoing year has witnessed the rise of some new stars as well as the passage of a number of artistes. It also has its fair share of high-class weddings and incriminating scandals. 2012 was equally the year popular actor, Ramsey Nuoah bade farewell to Nollywood, the industry that made him a household name in Nigeria. Today, The Entertainer brings you the players that made news in the outgoing year.

Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has criticized the Federal Government for failing to commiserate with the families of the four others who died in the helicopter crash that occurred on Saturday, December
16, 2012.

The accident had killed the two pilots, two aides as well as Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna and General Andrew Owoye Azazi, a former National Security Adviser.

Governor Idris Wada

A member of the family of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi has said that they are suspicious of the accident that occurred on Friday along the Lokoja-Ajaokuta expressway.

The source in an interview, said the crash which also killed his security aide and injured two other state officials, was masterminded by “unknown forces” to kill the governor.

He however refused to give names of those suspected to be behind the murder plot.

N6bn Army boat contract probe: SSS recommends ex-NSA, others’ trial

The Department of State Security, popularly referred to as SSS, has finally concluded investigations into the controversial N6 billion contract for the procurement of six K38 patrol boats for the Nigeria Army and submitted a report of its findings to President Goodluck Jonathan. The President recently ordered investigations into allegations of fraud levelled by one of the contractors awarded the boat contracts.

The presidential directive came on the heels of a petition dated October 12, 2012, entitled: “Conspiracy, fraud, supervision & compromising of Nigeria’s National Security and Official Corruption in the award and execution of National Security and defence projects in Nigeria by a group of Jews operating under many guises with the active connivance and involvement of a few unpatriotic Nigerians government officials and businessmen.”

Governor Wada Idris

Tragedy struck Kogi State yesterday as the convoy of Governor Wada Idris was involved in a fatal auto crash. In the accident, Governor Wada was critically wounded and went into coma, while his Aide de Camp (ADC), Mohammed Idris, died on the spot.

According to an eyewitness account, the governor was returning from the annual Igala education summit, in Ayingba, when the front tyre of his vehicle burst and pulled off at Emi Woro village, between Prime Polytechnic and Salem University, about 12 kilometres to Lokoja, the state capital.

Blood flowed in Maiha Local Government Area headquarters in Adamawa State, which shares a border with the Republic of Cameroun, yesterday when gunmen killed no fewer than 21 persons in an orgy of violence. In the attack, about 35 police prison inmates were set free.

Confirming the attack, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, said the invading gunmen burnt down the customs office and district head office located in the area.

Also a car belonging to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and many houses in the town were burnt. Eyewitnesses told Saturday Sun that the unknown gunmen came from the mountainous area of Maiha about 12.30am yesterday and operated till 3am. In the attack, they pounced on the prison in Maiha and set 35 inmates free. It was gathered that the attackers also stormed the divisional police headquarters, which they set ablaze.

Death visited all segments of the Nigerian society this year. From leading politicians to religious leaders, icons in the entertainment industry to captains of industry and, of course, those referred to as ordinary Nigerians. Starting from March to December, Nigerians heard the announcements of the obituaries of prominent people.

In the political front, a leading politician in Oyo State opened the floodgate of what turned out to be season of deaths for prominent Nigerians towards the end of the year. Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina of the Awolowo school of progressive politics died on November 11. He was a former governor of Oyo State. He died at the Nicolas Hospital, Lagos. Three days after Adesina’s death, the undisputed strong man of Kwara State politics, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, died in Lagos.

Tonto Dike

Whether you believe it or not, Tonto Dikeh is the most controversial actress who rocked Nollywood in the outgoing year.

A product of Next Movie Star, Tonto Dikeh since she hit the limelight few years ago has never seized to be at the centre of controversy. The outgoing year is no different.

Her controversial lifestyle became more glaring this year judging from most of her unbecoming exploits. After the noise generated by her new tattoo last year, Tonto continued with her ‘wild lifestyle’,stepping on people’s toes and damning her critics. Her newly released singles, Hi and Itz Ova, did not help matters even though the singles became two of the most listened and downloaded tracks, with over 500,000 views.

*Students beg, Parents react…* School declines comment
*I’m not aware — Prof Okojie, NUC boss

About 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, recently for what was described as “disregard of paramount core values.”

Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in order to save their future.

As villagers protest abduction of their children
*New leader bolts with N1 million…•Police arrest kidnapper days after forming new group

THE 10-man kidnap gang, which abducted Prof Kamene Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been torn apart as a result of sharing the ransom collected for the release of the Queen of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom in Delta State.

The new leader of the gang reportedly bolted away with N1million share of another member of the gang.

Police

The police in Lagos State said they have arrested a pastor and a travel agency operator, who allegedly, specializes in defrauding intending pilgrims of using the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission.

Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide who confirmed the arrests, disclosed that the suspects had been granted bail pending the completion of investigations.

However, the suspects who were identified by the police as Lanre Onabanjor, a staff of Ashton and Dave Travel Agency and Rev. Joshua Taiwo, an Ibadan based pastor, with the Gospel Faith Mission International, GOFMINT, were arrested when policemen attached to Bar-Beach Police Station following a complaint from a victim who accused the suspects of defrauding him of about N1.3million.

Army foils suicide attack in Abuja

ABUJA—Indications emerged, yesterday, that authorities of the Nigerian Army Garrison Headquarters in Abuja, foiled a suicidal plot by members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to carry out a Christmas and New Year celebrations’ bombing in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Vanguard gathered that two drums loaded with explosives, several sizes of cans, including those of vegetable oils and palm oil converted to Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs; about six AK-47 rifles and timing devices were recovered.

By African Spotlight

Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Sector 3 of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Wednesday destroyed 10,000 drums used for lifting illegal diesel product in Cross River.

Capt. James Joseph, the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army told newsmen in Calabar, that five people were arrested including a serving Assistant Superintendent of Police.

NAN reports that the drums containing the illegal diesel was destroyed at Nigerian Army burning site at Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.

By SaharaReporters, New York

In Kaduna State, the Joint Task Force (JTF) early on Thursday killed five Boko Haram suspects and captured two others.

According to a statement by the spokesman of 1 Division, Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Col. Sani Usman, the incident happened in Rigasa, in Igabi local government area.

Nigerian Government launches the Lagos – Kano passenger train; charges N1,500

The Nigerian Government just launched the Lagos- Kano passenger train service. The service was launched by the Minister for Transport, Sen. Idris Umar who said during the event that the administration is committed to revamping Nigeria’s transport sector.

The Lagos-Kano train service will compliment the existing Lagos-Ilorin and Minna-Kano intercity train service

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.

Why the song Ota Mi Leyin Mi, who do you think are the enemies behind your back?

scene of Airtel telecom office attack in Kano

Two suicide bombers yesterday lost their lives in separate attempts to bomb mobile phone facilities belonging to Airtel and MTN in the merchant city of Kano.

One eyewitness said one of the suspected suicide bombers was seen at 8 a.m. attempting to park his car rigged with explosives at Mallam Kato Square, where the Airtel office was located. Unknown to the suicide bomber, he was being closely monitored by security operatives patrolling the area. Alert security officers shot and instantly killed him as he made a desperate attempt to smash his vehicle into the mobile phone carrier’s office.

Despite his indictment, Mr. Anenih has now been appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to head the NPA board.

Tony Anenih, recently re-appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to head the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, does not have a clean past in managing public funds, a 2009 senate report said.

In December 2009, a damning report detailing how Mr. Anenih, a former works minister and then leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly mismanaged billions of naira meant for the rehabilitation and construction of Nigerian roads, was listed for debate – for the third time in a row – by the Senate.

Graduate, 23 others arrested for pipeline vandalism

Officials of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps at the scene of a pipeline inferno at Ijeododo in Ijegun, Lagos.
credits: Olatunji Obasa

A graduate of Business Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and 23 others have been arrested by the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Headquarters Annex, Lagos.

The graduate, Kayode Akinsanya, 27, who claimed to be a taxi driver, said he was not a vandal but only patronised the suspected vandals because he needed to maximise profit.

Anthony Anenih

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.

L-R: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop David Oyedepo

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is currently shopping for a candidate to occupy the president’s position.

The tenure of the incumbent, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, will expire in February 2013.

Oritsejafor had in 2010 indicated his intention to relinquish his position as PFN president owing to increased activities and commitments, as the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, but he was asked to complete his tenure to promote unity within the body.

Following pressure mounted on her by her parents and neighbours, a middle aged woman, named Eloho, who allegedly stole two children last week in Benin, has surrendered herself to the police in Benin. The stolen children, Faith Omoruyi, (5) and Gold Peter, (4), who were allegedly abducted by Eloho at Useh Market and Useh Secondary School who later took them to Mechanic village in Warri, Delta State for unknown reasons, have since been reunited with their respective families.

Nkiru Sylvanus

The police in Owerri, the Imo state capital told reporters during a press briefing yesterday that Nkiru Sylvanus' family paid N8 million to the kidnappers before she was released on Thursday night.

The Commissioner of Police, Adisa Bolanta, said the family did this without the knowledge of the police. He said they had warned the family not to negotiate or deal directly with the kidnappers but they defied their orders

A global day of lighthearted doom-themed celebration and superstitious scare-mongering culminated Friday in the jungle temples built by the Mayan people of Central America, whose calendar sparks fears of apocalypse.

December 21 marks the end of an era that lasted more than 5,000 years, according to the Mayan “Long Count” calendar. Some believe the date, which coincides with the December solstice, marks the end of the world as foretold by Mayan hieroglyphs.

The recent kidnap of Prof. Kaneme Okonjo, the mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and two other women, Mrs. Titilayo Rotimi and Nollywood actress, Miss Nkiru Sylvanus within one month is a pointer to the fact that the fight against kidnapping is yet to yield the expected results. If anything, the nation is fast losing the battle against kidnapping.

The public, as usual, are helpless and waiting to hear about who the next victim will be. While Prof. Okonjo was kidnapped at her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Rotimi, wife of former governor of defunct Western State, Major-Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), was whisked away in Ibadan by her abductors and Sylvanus was abducted in Owerri, Imo State.

The Perfect Age to Get Married

Twenty-five years old is the apparently the “right age” for couples to start getting married, says a recent study published in The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Or at least that’s the number the researchers received when they asked 536 college students their opinion on the perfect age to tie the knot.

Of course, this huge decision shouldn’t be based on some survey results. If you want to know if she’s jonesing for an engagement ring, she’s probably already telling you. “Women often drop subtle hints when they’re thinking about getting engaged,” Tracey Steinberg, an NYC-based dating and flirting expert, tells MensHealth.com. “And usually their sole purpose is to figure out where you stand on the matter.”

Scores of oil thieves were yesterday feared to have been burnt to death, while scooping fuel at a site of vandalised pipeline in Ije-Ododo, near Ijegun in Iba Local Council Development Area of Lagos, when an NNPC oil pipeline exploded. A witness said the raging fire started when about 30 oil thieves loaded in two canoes arrived the scene and started scooping fuel into hundreds of 50 kilogramme jerry cans.

Daily Sun learnt that luck ran out on them, when a mysterious fire started and engulfed the environment, including the thieves, their jerry cans and other materials. The fire raged for several hours, as fire fighters stayed away from the scene of the inferno. Some men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and NNPC officials were at the scene to assess the situation.

”The story was splashed everywhere, virtually every gossip blog and dedicated entertainment news websites reported this story; Don Jazzy was said have purchased a N160 million home in the prestigious Nicon Estate in Lekki, Lagos, a story that Don Jazzy now calls a lie!

Vanguard had not reported this story as we awaited confirmation from Don Jazzy who has now spoken through a representative “Yes, Don Jazzy bought a house recently but not the reported one at Nicon Estate. That is not Don Jazzy’s home. ”

The school’s entrance.

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.

Actress Ngozi Nwosu is critically ill and urgently needs to be flown abroad for treatment to be on her feet again. The House of Fuji Commotion star has been battling with a kidney and heart-related ailment for a while now.

2face Idibia's Playas Ball held on Sunday December 9th at Auto Lounge in Victoria Island. More photos after the cut...

Okezie and Eunice Ukaegbu

Police first arrived at the couple’s Union, NJ,home to question Eunice. Federal agents, who feared her husband may be a terrorist, were in tow.

The couple’s daughter overheard the ordeal, then called her father on his cellphone to tip him off that cops would be meeting him at the airport with an order to arrest.

Okieze arrived at the airport in a black Lexus and wearing tan pants.

A second horrible crash in two days was averted last Sunday when an Overland Airways flight from Ilorin to Lagos developed technical difficulties, as the plane was taking off, the pilot unable to retract the wheels for the rest of the journey.

A passenger on the flight told SaharaReporters those passengers aboard Flight OJ 1188 thought they were crashing as the aircraft took a long to stabilize after takeoff.

Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah

Today (December 19) is the birthday of star actor, Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah. He was born in 1970, to an Israeli father and a Yoruba mother from Owo in Ogun State (Nigeria). He grew up in Surulere, Lagos. He attended Atara Primary School and Community Grammar School, both in Lagos.He attended the University of Lagos, from where he graduated with a Diploma in Mass Communication.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reported to have turned its attentions to the multi-billion Asaba International Airport built by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, last week quizzing some Delta State government officials.

EFCC sources who confided in our reporter revealed that, “The state Tender Board chairman for the award of the contract and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor, members of the Board and Airport Director, and other members of the Board excluding Prof Utuama because of immunity had been requested to report at the commission’s headquarters, Abuja. But, they sent a lawyer to plead with the commission to extend the time. On the new date which was on Tuesday, December, 11, 2012, Ayemidejor and other government officials reported and were all quizzed here in the commission where they were later granted bail and told to report on December, 21st with all the necessary documents concerning the award of the airport.”

6 Killed In Auto Crash In Malumfashi

The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the death of six persons on Sunday in an auto crash on Kwankwama Road in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Aminu Sadiq, said that 16 others were injured in the accident that involved a bus and a car.

Mrs. Amina Yakowa

The clamour for the elevation of Mrs. Amina Yakowa, widow of the later governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Yakowa, gained ground yesterday with northern traditional rulers and elders making strategic moves to bring this to fruition.

LEADERSHIP reliably gathered that very influential emirs and traditional title holders have resolved to unanimously back Yakowa’s widow for the position of deputy governor.

A delegation of monarchs and elders has already been drafted to meet with Vice President Namadi Sambo in the coming days to further drum support for the former first lady of Kaduna State.

Wreckage of the crashed Augusta 109 Helicopter in Okoroba, Bayelsa State

he Augusta 109 Naval Helicopter, which crashed in Bayelsa State on Saturday, was on its 15th trip for the day when the accident occurred, a senior naval officer told The PUNCH on Monday.

Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, ex-National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd.); and four others died in the crash.

The aircraft had been shuttling between Okoroba and Port Harcourt, carrying guests to and fro the venue of the burial of the father of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Oronto Douglas, in Okoroba.

Alhaji Gawat and his abandoned car credits: Agency

The Lagos State Police Command has said there is no clue yet on the popular TV presenter, Alhaji Razaq Gawat, who has gone missing since July 10.

Despite that, the police said they had not reached a dead end as investigation was still ongoing.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone on Monday, said, “What we did was to see whether the fingerprints found on his car would match those of the arrested suspects but none matched.

Prof. Kamene Okonjo and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
credits: nigeriadailynews.com

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday said those who abducted her mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, told the matriarch that she (the minister) withheld fuel subsidy funds meant for oil marketers.

The octogenarian, who was kidnapped on December 9 regained her freedom last Friday after spending five days in the kidnappers’ den.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Okonjo-Iweala said the period was a difficult one for the family, adding that her mother stayed for five days without food and water.

Mr. Femi Otedola, and a lawmaker, Farouk Lawan

The report of the House of Representatives investigation into the $620,000 bribery allegation involving a senior member of the House, Mr. Farouk Lawan, and oil businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, is still not out seven months after.

The House had in May, 2012 mandated its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the matter and produce a report within 21 days.

Lawmakers will proceed on another holiday for the Christmas/New Year on Thursday this week and findings by The PUNCH indicate that it is unlikely that the report will be available this year.

It was gathered on Sunday that the report was still “holed up” at the level of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Adeyemi Ikuforiji

Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos has fixed February 18-21, 2013, for continuation of trial in the money laundering charge preferred against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his personal assistant, Oyebode Alade Atoyebi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At the resumed hearing today, Adebayo Adeniyi, an operative of the EFCC, told the court that during the investigation, it was discovered that cash payments above the approved limit in the House of Assembly were made to or given to the first accused, Mr. Ikuforiji through Mr. Atoyebi, the second. He further told the court that the second accused person admitted collecting cash payments on behalf of the 1st accused.

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Eight gunmen on Monday raided a Chinese firm at Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, abducting three Koreans and a Nigerian, identified as Austin Giwa.

The expatriates are J.S. Chae, J.H. Kim and P.W. Lee.

The gunmen blindfolded their victims before taking them away.

File photo: Cross section of students

UYO—Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, has called for a national assessment of literacy practices, if Nigeria is to present a realistic account of its Universal Basic Education achievements by 2015.

Paiko, who spoke at a workshop organised by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on revamping adult literacy for sustainable development in the Niger Delta region, noted that 10.1 million children were out of school in 2012, according to United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, report.

Governor Liyel Imoke

Last week, there were rumors that Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State had passed away. However, SaharaReporters was able to determine that Mr. Imoke is in the US where he is receiving regular dialyses for a renal disease.

One source disclosed that Mr. Imoke is staying with relatives in the state of Maryland, near Washington, DC.

In addition to the two new luxury helicopters ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan from the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland at a cost of $40 million, as SaharaReporters reported earlier today, we have learned that the government made a deposit of another $9 million for a Hawker 4000 jet.

In 2012 budget an additional $12 million was budgeted to complete the purchase of the jet.

But that money is now tied up in court, as our investigation has revealed that the manufacturer, Hawker Beechraft, entered into bankruptcy proceedings in the US District Court of Southern New York last May.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012