Police Arrest 3 Persons in Connection With Gombe Explosion

The police have arrested three persons in connection with the bomb explosions that went off this morning at the Gombe Motor Park.

Three bombs concealed in bags had gone off at the park during Friday morning rush hour and killed at least eight people and wounded 34 others, rescue workers told AFP.

The State Commissioner of Police, Kudu Nma, also told newsmen in Gombe that a vehicle with an inscription ``Yobe Line’’ was reported to have brought the suspected bombers to the park. ``A vehicle which was suspected to have carried the bombers who came in with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) was recovered. Unfortunately for them, they were caught when they were about to run away,” he said. 

The explosion had gone off around 9.30 a.m. at the park. There was pandemonium around the area immediately after the incident as hundreds of youths from different directions descended on the park. They threw stones at security personnel and other rescue workers who were evacuating corpses and the injured.

The security operatives had to shoot into the air to disperse the rampaging youths. The bodies of the victims were later conveyed to the Gombe Specialist Hospital, while those injured were also taken to other hospitals for treatment.

EFFCC Arraigns UNIBEN Undergraduate Over 12,000 Dollars internet Scam

Find the EFCC press statement below...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, October 30, 2014 arraigned an undergraduate of the University of Benin, Kenneth Rukewe Ebule before Justice E. F Ikponmwen of an Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin- City on a 6- count charge bordering on forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents.

The accused person allegedly duped Sabine Albert, a German, of the sum of $12, 088, 75 through fraudulent claims. Rukewe, 30, a final year student of Computer and Statistics at the University of Benin, was arrested by officials of a new generation bank on May 28, 2014 in Benin City and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation. Troubles started for him when Albert alleged that within two months after he had internet contact with him, Rukewe fraudulently obtained the sum of $12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents) from him. Rukewe allegedly posed to Albert as an English businessman on transit in Nigeria.

He gave his name as Bob Albert and told his victim that he had a contract with a Nigerian company worth €1.200, 000.00 and that he needed a loan to facilitate a transaction with the company. He promised to pay back the loan and even doubled it because he was sure of pulling through the transactions. He also told Albert that he had complications and suffered a robbery attack. Rukewe also falsely told Albert that, a levy of of N1,975,861 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty One Naira only) was imposed on him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of his International Passport, and a cheque worth 1, 200,000 Euros.
He also pleaded for a flight ticket to London. Based on all these, Albert offered to loan him the money by sending it through Western Union, only to discover that he had been scammed. Investigation also revealed that the suspect had defrauded other German nationals to the tune of $110,975.00USD (One Hundred and Ten thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars) between May 2013 and January 2014.

When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty. One of the charges read in part: “Ebule Kenneth Rukewe (a.k.a. Bob Albert), on or about the 17th day of July, 2013 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with Intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents) from Sabine Albert (a German National), under the false pretence that the money represented part payment of N1,975,861 (One Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Kobo) levy imposed one Bobby Albert (a British citizen) by Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of the International Passport, Cheque worth 1,200,000 Euros and flight ticket to London of the said Bobby Albert, which representation you knew to be false”.
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody. The defence counsel, Maureen Morka informed the court of her application for bail dated September 9, 2014 and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail. Justice Ikponmwen granted the defendant bail in the sum of One Million Naira and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Benin City and must be gainfully employed in Edo State.

The defendant must also produce his student identity card. Justice Ikponmwen subsequently adjourned the case to November 21, 2014 for hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.

Kcee Acquires Customized 2014 Cadillac Escalade

Music star Kcee just added to his fleet of cars a 2014 fully pimped gold colored Cadillac Escalade.

Footballer Neymar Sends Private Jet To Bring Model He Met in Ibiza To Barcelona

When you are big, you do big things...hehe. 28yr old Serbian model and reality star Soraja Vucelic (pictured) claimed in a recent interview with a Serbian newspaper that 22 year old Real Madrid and Brazilian footballer Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, sent a private jet to pick her up to visit him in Barcelona after the pair met in Ibiza...and she shared a pic of herself in the jet in Neymar's jersey to prove she was not lying.

Soraja told Kurir newspaper that she met Neymar in Ibiza in July and they exchanged contact and frequently chatted via Skype. One day he told her he wanted to see her and sent a private plane to pick her and her friend up.
Soraja was in Barcelona for many days with Neymar.
This happened this October but Soraja refused to say when exactly and what happened between them.

I Smuggled Cocaine To Fund My Father's Burial-Suspect

A suspected cocaine dealer, Kingsley Agu, who was recently arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos has told operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency that he took to crime because he needed money to fund his father’s burial.

30-year-old Agu was arrested with two others – Joseph Ezenna and Israel Okoye – for smuggling cocaine valued at N131m from Brazil. Agu, who seemed remorseful for his act, said told Punch 
 “I was born in Enugu. I sell clothes at Aba market. I travelled to Brazil in April 2014 because my business was not doing well. The few months I spent in Brazil were even worse than here in Nigeria. While in Brazil, my father died and I had no money for my flight ticket. Bringing cocaine to Nigeria was my last hope of raising some money for my dad’s funeral. I was to be paid N800, 000 for the assignment.”

The drug, which weighed 14.65 kilogrammes, was neatly packed inside laptop bags and female foot wears belonging to the suspects.

Our correspondent also learnt that the suspects had expected a combined proceed of N4.1m from their undisclosed sponsors if their mission was accomplished.
One of the suspects, Ezenna, who hails from Anambra State, told investigators that hardship made him to travel abroad. The 28-year-old added that he intended to start a ‘legitimate’ business with a sum of N2.5m his sponsor promised to pay him.

“I am married and my wife is pregnant. I used to run a boutique until I lost everything. Out of frustration, I travelled to Brazil in search of employment. I smuggled the drugs for N2.5m. My intention was to settle down and invest the drug proceeds in any legitimate business,” 

In his confession, Anambra-born Okoye, who worked in a bakery in Brazil, said he accepted to traffic the drug to augment his paltry income. He said,  “I am from a poor family. I dropped out of school when I was in primary four due to lack of sponsorship. I worked in a bakery in Brazil. My salary was so meagre that I lived in penury. They promised me N800, 000 to smuggle the cocaine.”

The NDLEA Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michell Ofoyeju,described the seized substance as a high grade.

Bomb Blast Reported At A Motor pack in Gombe State

There are reports that a bomb blast went off at a motor park in Gombe around 9 this morning which has resulted in the death of dozens of people. The explosive was reportedly Kept in one of the buses parked at the motor park.

NEMA officials are at the scene now.

Stephen Keshi Back As Super Eagles Coach

Super Eagles Coach, Steven Keshi who was recently relieved of his post as the team’s coach is back.
The media officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye announced this on twitter this morning. Findings also revealed that Keshi has been asked to return to his post as part of reconciliatory moves in the Nigeria Football Federation as ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President also advised the faction of Chris Giwa to withdraw its case from court to ensure that Nigeria is not banned by FIFA.  NFF is yet to release an official statement.

Two Musicians Arraigned For Raping Dancer

Two performing artists are standing trial before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos State, western Nigeria, over an alleged rape and indecent assault on a female dancer.

The two musicians, Ekene Uzor, 27, and Eni Daniel, 24, were arrested when the victim (name withheld) reported to the police that the suspects allegedly conspired to rape and blackmail her. The 20-year old victim alleged that the musicians lured her to Uzor’s residence at 10, Joel Ajeye Street, Ejigbo, Lagos, where she was forced to remove her clothes and suck their penises. She added that they took her pictures while performing the oral sex and threatened to post them on the internet if she refused to pay N10, 000 ransom demanded from her.
Testifying before the court, the victim, who resides at Surulere area of Lagos, said Uzor, who was known by her parents, promised to introduce her to an artiste who will promote her dancing career.
She said Uzor invited her to his house on the fateful day to meet the artists called Daniel, whom he said was his friend.

She narrated that when she got to Uzor’s house, Daniel was already there and Uzor assured her that he had discussed the issue with his friend. The victim alleged that she did not suspect any foul play until she was told to remove her clothes. By then, according to her, they had secretly locked the apartment. She said she was threatened to cooperate with them and they stripped themselves and forced her to suck their p*nises.
She told the court that while she was sucking them one after another, they were using their phones to record the oral s*x. The girl said when they were satisfied, they released her and allowed her to go. She said after the incident, Uzor came to her house and demanded for the money. The victim said she became frustrated and told her father about the incident and the matter was reported to the police.
While investigating the matter, the police told the victim to agree to pay the ransom and asked her to tell the suspects to come and collect the money. When Uzor and Daniel came for the ransom, they were arrested by the police who laid ambush for them. The phones with which they used to record her nude pictures were recovered.
The nude pictures were printed out as exhibit by the police.

The suspects were charged to court for the alleged offense. When they were arraigned, they pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs M.B. Folami, granted them bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum. The matter was adjourned till 3 November for continuation of trial.

Source: Pm News

Synagogue Building Has No Approval-Commissioner

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Develpoment, Oluwatoyin Ayinde, has said that the collapsed six-storey building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations has no government approval.

According to a new report on PUNCH, Ayinde stated this on Thursday while giving testimony before the coroner probing the cause of the building collapse. No fewer than 116 persons died while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the September 12, 2014 tragedy. Ayinde said investigations conducted by his ministry after the accident revealed that though the six- storey building had a record of survey, it however had no approval of the government. He said the only thing found in the records was an approval for the church’s main auditorium, adding that though that auditorium had now been raised to eight floors, the approval given was only for five floors. The commissioner, who described all unapproved structures in the church’s premises as illegal, stated that there was the need to investigate what he described as unusual practices going on within the church premises. Ayinde wondered why, for instance, one of the columns supporting the additional three floors placed on the main auditorium had to take off from the top of a water tank. He said:
 “The approval that we saw was in the name of the Synagogue Church of All Nations dated January 26, 2004 but that approval was just for the main auditorium and one of the things we discovered was that it was an approval for a five-floor development.

But on our visit to the site, we discovered that the building had been taken to eight floors; we do not have the records of the additional floors, making those floors illegal construction. Did we see anything on the collapsed building? No. In our records, the collapsed building has no approval. 
I’d like to say that with the additional structure we saw on site, we are inclined to express some fears. We have seen, for example, that one of the columns is not taking off from the ground floor, but it is resting on an existing water tank and I don’t know whether any engineer certified that construction. This needs to be investigated because it is an unusual practice to start a column middle way.
” While expressing doubts over the claim by the church that the collapse of the building was connected with some aircrafts that had hovered over it shortly before the accident, Ayinde stated that his investigations revealed that the distance between the said aircraft and the top of the building was one and a half the length of a football pitch.

He added that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had written a letter to his ministry showing a request by the Nigeria Air Force that some of their aircrafts were going to be having rehearsals at that time around that place. He said: “What we wanted to know was which aircrafts were flying at that particular time? Two, at what altitude were they flying? And three, what was the coordinate of their flight path?”

Source: Punch

Blackmailers Threaten To Unleash Ebola If They Don't Receive Ramsom

A group of blackmailers have threatened to release the deadly Ebola virus in the Czech Republic unless its government pays them one million euros in Bitcoin.

According to MailOnline, the Bond villain-style threat was issued by anonymous emails to the highest offices of the Czech government which were then passed on to the Czech media.
The blackmailers' demand warned that failure to comply with 'any of our requests will lead to the spreading of the infected material in Prague and other cities. 'If you don't answer this letter, we will send press releases to media and inform people on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube to let them know how negligent the Czech offices are.'  The blackmailers claim they received the Ebola virus from Liberia and they are ready to spread it if they do not get one million Euros.

They instructed officials to divide the money into three payments. The first was supposed to be paid on Monday, a second on Wednesday, and a third after they hand over the infected material. Bitcoin is an electronic currency often preferred by blackmailers because it allows them to receive funds that cannot be frozen or reversed by conventional methods once they have been sent.

Czech police have not cooperated with the demands and have said they are not taking the letters and blackmailing very seriously. Czech police president deputy Zdenek Laub said: 'We have been investigating the case as a blackmailing. The anonymous individual has blackmailed the Czech Republic by claiming they will spread the Ebola virus in public places.
The only intention of the blackmailers is to cause a panic.' According to Czech detectives the blackmailers used very sophisticated means of communication, making it difficult to trace them. If found guilty they may be sentenced up to 12 years of jail.

Emir Of Kano,Lamido Sanusi Visits President Jonathan Again

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi II, in company of members of The Kano Emirate visited President Jonathan at Aso Rock Villa earlier today October 30th.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was reportedly at the Villa to reconcile with President Jonathan after the rift between them following Sanusi's sack from office as CBN governor.

Photo: EFCC Declares Man Wanted

Find the EFCC press release below...
The public is hereby notified that Salisu Taiwo aka Olusola Enitan, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a case of Conspiracy, Obtaining Property and Money by False Pretences and Issuance of Dud Cheques.

Taiwo under the pretext of renting a property, situated at Magodo GRA, Lagos, and purchasing items for its furnishing, issued cheques totaling N11, 398, 500. But before the cheques could clear, he evacuated all the furniture and electrical appliances purchased by the property owner at his instance and sold them at give away prices at Alaba Market Lagos. 
Dark complexioned Taiwo is 39 years old and 5.7 Feet in height. He speaks Yoruba and English fluently. 
His last known address is Block A, Flat 35, Alarab Estate Akute, Ogun State. 

Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the Commission in its Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers 09-4604620, 070-26350721,070-26350722,070-26350723,070-6350724, 070-26350725 ; its e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies

Health Condition Of Boy Attacked By Dogs Worsens

The condition of four-year-old Omonigho Abraham, who was attacked by two dogs in the Igando area of Lagos State about a month ago, has reportedly worsened in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja where he is currently receiving treatment.

Punch learnt from his father, Odia, that Omonigho’s scalp which was torn off by the German shepherd dogs during the gruesome attack, had not healed and had been giving off an offensive odour.He said this had given the family serious concern and attempts to get the medical report of his condition had also been frustrated by some medical officers in the hospital. He said....

 “My boy still complains of pains in different parts of his body. Also, when they open the bandage on his head, you will see that there is no much difference. It’s still like the first time the incident happened.In fact, for up to two weeks no consultant or doctor attended to him, and his head started smelling.In fact, for up to two weeks no consultant or doctor attended to him, and his head started smelling.
We have been told he may still have to be admitted for six months or up to one year, for the doctors to do a skin-grafting surgery on his open skull. They will cut skin from parts of his body, to cover up the skull.” He added that he had also continued to foot the bills of the boy, despite the instruction of the state government to the hospital management not to collect any money for his expenses.

Our correspondent gathered that a non-governmental organisation had to raise money for Omonigho’s drugs and over N100, 000 had been purportedly spent in buying drugs, among other expenses.
The report of a fundraising for Omonigho’s medical expenses was said to have angered the management of LASUTH who allegedly accused Odia of making money off his son’s predicament.

The father of three told our correspondent he was called into a meeting on Tuesday in which the management of the hospital promised to start implementing the state government’s pledge to the Abrahams. He said, “The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Health, has already played its part by writing a letter to LASUTH that it would foot all the bills for which we are grateful. “But when the letter got to them, they did not implement it. I was still buying the drugs till yesterday (Tuesday) that I was exhausted and I cried out that I did not have any money to buy drugs again.

“That was when the management of the hospital led by the Chief Medical Director, apologised and promised to start implementing the state government’s order.I have decided to wait for at least a week and see if they will change, like they promised.” Odia said the Delta State Government and a few other people were interested in the medical report which had not been issued to him. “The real issue I have now is that they (LASUTH) have not released the medical report which I asked for since October 16. They (LASUTH) have been directing me from one person to another and I am getting tired. If I see the report, I will know what exactly to do about this issue.”

Ebola: Fewer New Cases in Liberia

At Last!The World Health Organization, WHO, has said that the number of new cases of Ebola virus in Liberia appears to be reducing speedingly.

The deadly Ebola virus disease has left no fewer than 4,922 people dead mostly in Ebola hit Countries. More than half of the deaths recorded were in Liberia. Although, health experts  warned that the latest observation does not mean Ebola is under control in Liberia. The virus has the ability to appear in waves, which can be mistaken for the fewer cases.

The Assistant Director-general of WHO while speaking, said:"The danger now is that we move, instead of a steady downward trend that gets us down to zero, that we end up with a oscillating pattern where the disease starts going up and down and areas start getting re-infected,". "What gets the heat out of this thing and slows it down isn't necessarily what is going to get us to zero."The numbers have been on the decrease for about week, he further added.

Man Commit Suicide Over N1000 Theft in Ebonyi

A 32-year-old man, Mr. Simon Mbam, of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has committed suicide after he was tortured by some villagers for allegedly stealing N1,000 from a shop in the market.

The victim, who jumped into a pond in the area last weekend, found himself in the mess when he left his house in the evening of the fateful day to buy drinks with his friends. While late Simon and his friends were busy sipping their drinks, the owner of the shop raised an alarm over a missing N1,000 in his carton of drinks, but no customer admitted to haven taken the money. The alarm raised by the shop owner attracted villagers who stormed the scene and gave the suspects till the following day to return the money or face the consequences.

According to Vanguard, It was learned that the said missing money was found at the door step of the shop, but when the villagers who were determined to get to the root of the matter gathered, the owner of the shop insisted on knowing the person behind the act. The suspect, who later confessed to the crime, was allegedly beaten by the irate villagers until he started bleeding and losing consciousness.
They demanded that he should be treated like a thief, even as he was fined two goats, two crates of beer and N5,000, which were immediately provided by the suspect’s mother (names withheld).

It was gathered that the village head rejected what the suspect’s mother brought, insisting that an additional N5,000 should be provided so that the matter would be completely resolved without involving the police.
This second demand by the villagers made the suspect, who felt humiliated by the entire process, escape from his captors and jumped into Aku Pond, which was not far from the market square.

All efforts to rescue him on time proved abortive as he drowned before his body was retrieved by the villagers. Meanwhile, four persons including the village head, had been arrested by the police after the mother of the victim reported the matter.

Culled from vanguard

Keshi To Return As Eagles Coach

According to reports, the NFF has been ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate former Nigerian international as the head coach of the African Champions.

  Supersports made it known that the president had an emergency meeting with troubled NFF president Amaju Pinnick on Wednesday night and advised that Keshi should return as the national team gaffer.
  “I can confirm to you that Stephen Keshi will return as the head coach of the Super Eagles because of the presidential intervention.

“The president (Jonathan) met with all football stakeholders last night and he told them that Keshi must return as the Super Eagles coach with immediate effect," the source revealed to supersport.com Supersport.com also asked the source what the fate would be of Shuaibu Amodu who replaced Keshi as the Super Eagles handler.

“It has been concluded that Shuaibu Amodu would step down, and Stephen Keshi will continue as the head coach,” the source added. Nigeria will face Congo and South Africa next month, and the Eagles must win the two encounters to have the chance of making it to the 2015 Afcon.

Woman Kills Man Who Allegedly Tried To Rape Her In Lekky

A 22 year old woman identified as Ifeoma Okechukwu has been arrested after she allegedly killed an unidentified man who she claimed tried to rape her at her Atlantic View Estate, Alpha Beach Road, Lekki home where she lived with her uncle. The incident happened on Monday October 27th.

According to a Punch, Ifeoma, an indigene of Imo state, said she had gone out on that faithful day around 12.30pm to buy sanitary pads because she was on her menstrual period, and was on her way back home when she was accosted by an unknown man.... .
Ifeoma tells her story;
"After buying the sanitary pads, I was going back home when I saw a man, who should be in his forties, standing at a corner. He approached me and ordered me to take him to my house. He put his hand into his pocket as if he wanted to bring out a weapon. He said he would kill me if I shouted. When we got to the house, he said I should shut the door and I did. He said I should remove my clothes; and I started begging him, but he refused to listen. So I told him to let me get to the kitchen because I was cooking something and I would be back. I got a rod and hid it in my wrapper. I went back and moved slowly towards him, still begging, but he refused. He was taking off his clothes and wearing a condom when I used the rod to hit him in the head. I started screaming. And then I picked the phone and called my uncle.” Ifeoma said while narrating what happened Her uncle who she lived with said he was at work when she called him and told him what had happened. He said he immediately left the office and went to a police station to report...
"I was not at home when the incident happened and her younger brother had also gone out. So, she was alone in the house and it was possible he had been monitoring her movement. When she called me and said what had happened, I left the office and went to the police station in Jakande Estate where I reported the matter.” he said While confirming the incident, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu said investigations so far carried out showed the man was part of a gang who terrorized residents of the area "He was about wearing the condom when the girl hit him on the head and he died.

His mission was to rape her and steal from the house. He probably took advantage of her frail stature. We have got information that he was not alone. He belonged to a gang that has been terrorizing Lekki residents for some time now. And that’s why since this incident, nobody knows his name and address, and none of his relatives have come forward to say they know him.”. He said investigations are still ongoing. Ifeoma is still in police custody pending when investigations into the matter is concluded. 

Source: Punch

Apple CEO Tim Cook Comes Out As Gay

Apple Inc CEO, Tim Cook, 53, revealed today October 30th that he is gay. Tim  succeeded Steve Jobs on August 24th 2011 as CEO has never discussed his sexual preference in public before today but said that many of his colleagues knew he was gay.

Tim, who is worth an estimated $500million, came out as gay in an editorial for Bloomberg Business Week, stating: "Let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me". See what he wrote after the cut...
Tim Cook writes for Business Week Throughout my professional life, I’ve tried to maintain a basic level of privacy. I come from humble roots, and I don’t seek to draw attention to myself. Apple is already one of the most closely watched companies in the world, and I like keeping the focus on our products and the incredible things our customers achieve with them. At the same time, I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said:

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” I often challenge myself with that question, and I’ve come to realize that my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That’s what has led me to today. For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation.
Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I’ve had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people’s differences.
Not everyone is so lucky. While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me. Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day.
It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.

The world has changed so much since I was a kid. America is moving toward marriage equality, and the public figures who have bravely come out have helped change perceptions and made our culture more tolerant. Still, there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict tenants for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation.
I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy. I’ll admit that this wasn’t an easy choice. Privacy remains important to me, and I’d like to hold on to a small amount of it. I’ve made Apple my life’s work, and I will continue to spend virtually all of my waking time focused on being the best CEO I can be. That’s what our employees deserve—and our customers, developers, shareholders, and supplier partners deserve it, too. Part of social progress is understanding that a person is not defined only by one’s sexuality, race, or gender. I’m an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a fitness nut, a son of the South, a sports fanatic, and many other things.
I hope that people will respect my desire to focus on the things I’m best suited for and the work that brings me joy.

The company I am so fortunate to lead has long advocated for human rights and equality for all. We’ve taken a strong stand in support of a workplace equality bill before Congress, just as we stood for marriage equality in our home state of California. And we spoke up in Arizona when that state’s legislature passed a discriminatory bill targeting the gay community.
We’ll continue to fight for our values, and I believe that any CEO of this incredible company, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, would do the same. And I will personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up. When I arrive in my office each morning, I’m greeted by framed photos of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy.
I don’t pretend that writing this puts me in their league. All it does is allow me to look at those pictures and know that I’m doing my part, however small, to help others. We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick.
This is my brick.

Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook Comes Out As Gay

Apple Inc CEO, Tim Cook, 53, revealed today October 30th that he is gay. Tim  succeeded Steve Jobs on August 24th 2011 as CEO has never discussed his sexual preference in public before today but said that many of his colleagues knew he was gay.

Tim, who is worth an estimated $500million, came out as gay in an editorial for Bloomberg Business Week, stating: "Let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me". See what he wrote after the cut...
Tim Cook writes for Business Week Throughout my professional life, I’ve tried to maintain a basic level of privacy. I come from humble roots, and I don’t seek to draw attention to myself. Apple is already one of the most closely watched companies in the world, and I like keeping the focus on our products and the incredible things our customers achieve with them. At the same time, I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said:

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” I often challenge myself with that question, and I’ve come to realize that my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That’s what has led me to today. For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation.
Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I’ve had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people’s differences.
Not everyone is so lucky. While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me. Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day.
It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.

The world has changed so much since I was a kid. America is moving toward marriage equality, and the public figures who have bravely come out have helped change perceptions and made our culture more tolerant. Still, there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict tenants for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation.
I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy. I’ll admit that this wasn’t an easy choice. Privacy remains important to me, and I’d like to hold on to a small amount of it. I’ve made Apple my life’s work, and I will continue to spend virtually all of my waking time focused on being the best CEO I can be. That’s what our employees deserve—and our customers, developers, shareholders, and supplier partners deserve it, too. Part of social progress is understanding that a person is not defined only by one’s sexuality, race, or gender. I’m an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a fitness nut, a son of the South, a sports fanatic, and many other things.
I hope that people will respect my desire to focus on the things I’m best suited for and the work that brings me joy.

The company I am so fortunate to lead has long advocated for human rights and equality for all. We’ve taken a strong stand in support of a workplace equality bill before Congress, just as we stood for marriage equality in our home state of California. And we spoke up in Arizona when that state’s legislature passed a discriminatory bill targeting the gay community.
We’ll continue to fight for our values, and I believe that any CEO of this incredible company, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, would do the same. And I will personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up. When I arrive in my office each morning, I’m greeted by framed photos of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy.
I don’t pretend that writing this puts me in their league. All it does is allow me to look at those pictures and know that I’m doing my part, however small, to help others. We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick.
This is my brick.

Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple

Police Withdraws Security Men Attached To Speaker, Tambuwal

The Nigerian Police Force have withdrawn the security detail of the Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal, who recently defected from the PDP to APC.

In a statement released few minutes ago on their official website, the Police said they withdrew Tambuwal's security because his recent defection flouts the 1999 constitution.

Find the statement after the below...
"In view of the recent defection by the Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC), and having regard to the clear provision of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.

Ag. CP Emmanuel C. S Ojukwu psc
Force Public Relations Officer,
Force Headquarters,
Abuja.

Zambia President Dies

Zambian President, Michael Sata has died at the age of 77. He died on Tuesday night after receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness in the UK for the past one week.

The Zambian media said that he died after “a sudden onset (of) heightened heart rate”. RIP*

Ebola: Australia Imposes Visa Ban On Affected West African Countries As Kofi Annan Says It's Poor Man's Diseases

The Australian government has just imposed travel bans and quarantines on citizens of and people traveling from Ebola affected countries in West Africa where the epidemic is centered.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told parliament on Monday that the Australia government had suspended its immigration program, including its humanitarian intake, from Ebola-affected countries including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Morrison said, This means we are not processing any application from these affected countries.
Other permanent visa holders from these nations were being required to submit to a 21-day quarantine period before their departure for Australia.

Visitors approved to travel to Australia will also face further screening and followup checks upon arrival. North Korea has also imposed a ban on international tourists due to Ebola according to CNN In other Ebola related news Kofi Annan the former UN Secretary General has said Ebola is a poor mans disease.

Source: CNN

Woman Reportedly Delivers Baby Boy After 5-year Pregnancy

Mrs Adenike Kolawole, an Abuja based woman who was barren for 27 years, has reportedly given birth to a baby boy after carrying a 5-year pregnancy.

According to PM News, Mrs Adenike gave birth on Sunday October 26th at Evangelical Church of Cherubim and Seraphim located at Pipeline Road, Mafon area, Ejigbo, Lagos during the church's Sunday service.

 Narrating her story to PM news, Mrs Kolawole said she suffered miscarriage in the early period of her marriage and afterwards found it difficult to conceive again. She said she had sought medical help both spiritual and orthodox but none provided any remedy.
She said she finally took in five years ago but even in her pregnant state, she was still having her menstrual cycle.
She said all through the years she was pregnant with her baby boy, herself and her husband (pictured above) suffered rejection from family and friends  “I was rejected by my relations, my husband’s family who did not give me the chance of bearing a child. My only consolation was my faith in God,” she said She said on the day she gave birth to her son, she was in church for their Sunday service when she noticed her water broke and within minutes, her baby was out.

  Her excited husband, Kayode said he did not believe his wife was pregnant all these years because he had waited in vain. He said he was grateful to God for what he had done and thanked the well wishers for their support.

Source: PM News

Pope Francis Calls For Abolition of Life Imprisonment

Pope Francis has called for abolition of life imprisonment ,saying it  offers revenge for victims instead of pursuing true justice.
He told representatives from the International Association of Penal Law: 'It is impossible to imagine that states today cannot make use of another means than capital punishment to defend peoples' lives from an unjust aggressor.

Media and politicians advocated 'violence and revenge, public and private, not only against those responsible for crimes, but also against those under suspicion, justified or not' Catholic teaching does not proscribe capital punishment.'All Christians and men of good faith are therefore called upon today to fight, not only for the abolition of the death penalty – whether it is legal or illegal and in all its forms... and this, for me, is linked to life sentences. A sentence of life (without parole) is a hidden death penalty.'

Check Out Singer Kcee's New Expensive Rolex Watch

The Limpopo master shared the pic on instagram...quite an expensive watch!  

PDP Reacts To Tambawal's Defection,Asks Him To Resign

Aminu Tambuwal became Speaker of the House of Reps on the platform of the PDP but now that he has decamped to APC ,the PDP is now asking him to resign.

In a statement released today, the party asked Tambuwal to do the needful... "After a thorough consideration of the matter, the NWC (National Working Committee) came to a conclusion that the Hon. Speaker, as a responsible elected officer, knows full well what is needful and honourable of him since his new party is in the minority. We are not unmindful of the fact that Hon. Tambuwal became Speaker on the platform of the PDP as the political party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives and that this incontrovertible fact has not changed”. the PDP said...

Chibok Girls To Be Released Today, October 27- Boko Haram Announces

The Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, has announced that the kidnapped Chibok girls would be released unfailinly on Monday, 27 October, 2014. Making the announcement on Friday, 24 October, 2014, was the self acclaimed secretary General of Boko Haram, Mallam Danladi Ahmadu, who also stated that the sect’s ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government is still on course.
Ahmadu, who spoke in the Hausa service of the Voice of America VOA, added that the final meeting between the Boko Haram and the Nigerian government has been scheduled for Monday in Ndjamana, Chad.
He informed that the meeting would be supervised by the Chadian leader, Idris Derby.

According to Ahmadu, the enlarged meeting has been fixed for the weekend to prepare ground for the Monday meeting with the Federal government. On the latest kidnap of over 40 women and girls in the border villages between Adamawa and Borno states, Ahmadu stated that they are not aware of the attacks. He informed that the group is already investigating the kidnap to determine the involvement of its members.
The Boko Haram scribe however, revealed that many anti-social groups have infiltrated the sect. Ahmadu alleged that political thugs, armed robbers, kidnappers, hired assassins and other anti social groups now parade themselves as members of the sect.

It was reported few days ago that about 45 women and girls were abducted by unknown gunmen from Gartu in Michika, Adamawa state and Waga Mongoro, a border village between Madagali in Adamawa and Gwoza in Borno state. Only for another report to surface late Thursday night that the women and girls have been released.
The Nigerian government is yet to confirm the purported release of the women as at the time of compiling this report. The recent attacks alleged to be perpetrated by the Boko Haram have violated the ceasefire agreement the sect entered with the Nigerian military.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Borno State government has trained medical personnel at the Chibok General Hospital, on psychological counseling in order to offer professional services to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, when they are released.
The kidnapped school girls were abducted inside their school hostel in Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014.  

Super Falcons Crowned 2014 African Women's Champions

Up Falcons! Our Super Falcons  just won their 7th African Women's Championship after a 2-0 win over the Lionesses of Cameroun in Namibia.

The goal scorers were Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala.

Boko Haram Abducts 30 Boys,Girls in Fresh Attack

According to a breaking news report on AFP, around 30 adolescents -- some of them girls aged as young as 11 -- have been abducted in northeast Nigeria by suspected Boko Haram rebels.

"The insurgents... grabbed young people, boys and girls, from our region," said Alhaji Shettima Maina, who is in charge of the Mafa village around 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. "They took all boys aged 13 and over...
and all girls aged 11 and more.
According to our information, 30 young people were abducted in the last two days." Another village elder, Mallam Ashiekh Mustapha, confirmed the account.

Both men said 17 people were also killed in recent days in a Boko Haram attack on the nearby village of Ndongo. Boko Haram, which has been waging a bloody insurgency since 2009, has been responsible for waves of attacks and abductions.
In April, the Islamist rebel group snatched more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in northeast Nigeria, triggering an international outcry. Kidnapping young women and girls -- as well as forcibly conscripting young men and boys to fight for Boko Haram -- is a well-established tactic by the militants. Some estimates put the number of women held by the group in the high hundreds. Most are believed to be forced into marriages with rebels.

The latest kidnapping comes despite the Nigerian government declaring a truce with the insurgents and the army retaking control of Abadam in the north-east on Saturday, according to a senior security official in the region. But local chief Maina said his village and areas around it were targeted in nearly daily raids by Boko Haram, and many residents have fled to Maiduguri "for fear of being killed or losing their childr". He said he had pleaded for help from the Nigerian government but that so far none had been forthcoming.

Stop Political Rascality And Blackmail-Presidency Warns Amaechi

Two days ago, Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi said the reason he and First Lady Patience Jonathan fell out was because refused to share the state's money with her...
well the presidency has responded, saying that Amaechi's day of reckoning is coming, that the immunity he enjoys now as governor will not be forever. Find the State House press release below...
Governor Rotimi Amaechi took his obnoxious willingness to denigrate the highest office in the land in a reckless bid to advance his selfish political interests to a new level of irresponsible and rascally behaviour yesterday in Port Harcourt with his totally false and baseless vituperations against President Jonathan, the First Lady and the Federal Government.
It appears from the Governor's completely unfounded and off-the-mark allegations that he had totally lost all sense of propriety, decorum and responsible political behaviour and resorted to unacceptable demagoguery, libel, blackmail and incitement of public disorder.
Unless his unbridled ambition and desire for self- promotion have completely befuddled his mental faculties and caused him to totally lose touch with reality, Governor Amaechi must know that his claims and allegations are untrue. We can only assume therefore that he is deliberately spewing malicious falsehood in a desperate effort to incite the people of Rivers State and Nigeria against his assumed political foes. We warn him that there are legal, constitutional and moral limits to political rascality beyond which he will not be allowed to go without repercussions.
The immunity which he currently enjoys notwithstanding, Governor Amaechi should be under no illusions:  A day of reckoning will surely come when he will answer for all his actions and false allegations against President Jonathan, the First Lady and the Federal Government.
He should also know that Nigerians are aware of the truth and will never be fooled or swayed by his arrant opportunism and anti-Jonathan rantings.

Nigerians know that while Mr. Amaechi falsely accuses others of corruption, he cannot show or explain to the people of Rivers State what he has done with the billions of Naira that has accrued to the state under his tenure.
They also know that while Amaechi continues to falsely accuse the Jonathan Administration of having done nothing for Rivers State, he has recklessly squandered huge state resources on dubious, vain-glorious projects or self aggrandizement. Nigerians will know too that while he falsely alleges that Rivers and other states have not received funds due to them from the Federation account, the only outstanding allocation was for September, which was released to all states well over a week ago. The Governor should stop trying to make President Jonathan the scapegoat for his woeful performance in Rivers State and look to his own very apparent failings and incompetencies.
He should also stop blackmailing the First Lady who has demanded nothing from him other than good governance, justice, equity, fairness, real development and progress in Rivers State.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) October 26, 2014

Free Token For Nigerians By Access Bank

This October access bank is making your on-line banking and mobile banking wishes come true.Until October 31st,the first 10,000 walk-in customers get a free token.
Visit www.accessbankplc.com
Click on Internet banking
Register and walk into the nearest access bank branch to collect your token
Or download the access bank mobile banking application to activate mobile banking.

On-line Essay Competition

Grande finale of on-line essay competition on the significant role of insurance on the development of an economy holds from 17th October 2014 to 31st October 2014.
For more enquiries contact:08166723285 or 08024106570