Elibim Entertainment: January 2012

NEW ACTING IG OF POLICE LOSES WIFE

The remains of Maryam, 48, wife of Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, was interred at Taurani Cemetery, Kano northwest Nigeria at noon today.

Maryam died at 5 a.m. this morning immediately after returning from hospital, said a family source.

P.M.NEWS learnt that at 4 a.m. this morning, the IGP had called Kano from Abuja to gate an update over the wife’s illness.

The man accused of masterminding two deadly bombings at 50th independence celebrations in Abuja will face trial in October after a South African court Monday delayed his case by nine months.

Henry Okah is facing trial in South Africa, where he has permanent residence, on charges that he orchestrated the twin car bombings — which killed 12 people in Abuja on October 1, 2010 — from his home in Johannesburg.

Lawyers for both sides said Monday they needed more time to prepare their arguments.

Embattled former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha and a protocol officer in the MKO Abiola campaign organisation, Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan, today, at the Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, were sentenced to death by hanging for the conspiracy to murder and murder charge preferred against them.

Justice Mojisala Dada of Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere delivered the judgment Monday afternoon.

COLLAPSED BUILDING KILLS TWO PERSONS IN ABUJA

A two-storey building belonging to the Nigeria Navy collapsed on seven labourers killing two and trapping three others in Abuja on Saturday.

The building located on 45 Road, Gwarinpa Estate was being demolished when it collapsed on the workers.

The incident which happened around 10am attracted Nigeria Security and Civil Defence personnel, Federal Road Safety Officials and staff of the FCT development Control department

A seven- man panel of the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision this morning sacked Governors Liyel Imoke, Murtala Nyako, Ibrahim Idris, Wamako and Temipre Silva of Cross River, Adamawa, Kogi, Sokoto and Bayelsa states from office.

The court in Abuja held that the tenures of the governors started to count from the time they took their oath of office after emerging winners in their respective state governorship elections in 2007 and not from the period they took their second oaths of office after emerging winners of the re-run elections when there initial elections were nullified.

A baby, girl, without hands and legs, has been born in Sandigalua village in Zaki Government Area of Bauchi State. The baby, named Fatima, was born to the family of Ahmadu Didda, a peasant farmer and wife, Rukaiyya, on January 13.

2Face - Raindrops [Video]

LAGOS BEGINS COMPULSORY REGISTRATION OF RESIDENTS SOON

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Monday, said the proposed compulsory registration for all residents of the state, tagged, ‘Lagos State Residents Registration Programme, LSRRP, would soon begin.

He said his administration would complete 152 inner roads, to add to the existing 65 on going reconstruction of roads across the state under the current fiscal year, bringing the roads set for reconstructions to 217. It is part of measure to ease traffic in the state.

TONTO DIKE MODELS FOR TIANNASTYLIN

STEPHANIE OKEREKE AND LINUS IDAHOSA PICKS FEBRUARY WEDDNG DATE

From her days as a runner-up in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant in 2002, to her rapid rise in the movie industry, to the several endorsement deals running into millions of naira and the recent conferment of a national honour, Member of the Federal Republic on her by President Goodluck Jonathan, Stephanie has no doubt done quite well for herself.

She is currently planning a lavish marriage ceremony, which holds in Paris next month. Her fiancé? Linus Idahosa who co-owns and runs DELYORK, her marketing/communication company.

The ceremony is to hold away from the prying eyes of the public. This is Stephanie’s second attempt at matrimony — her first, which was in 2004 to Super Eagles football star, Chikelue Ileoanusi, broke down irretrievably.

VANESSA BRYANT TO GET ALL THREE HOUSES $18.8 MILLION

The divorce between L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa has taken another step towards completion with the couple initiating a voluntarily distribution of their assets.

In property records obtained by the Los Angeles Times, it is shown that the pair's three mansions have been transferred to Vanessa's sole ownership.

The couple are calling time on their relationship and papers will be filed at the LA County Superior Court early next week, according to US website TMZ.

German beauty Heidi, 38, will cite "irreconcilable differences", it is claimed.

On Friday, London-born R&B star Seal, whose hits include Kiss from a Rose, posted a cryptic message on Twitter, writing simply: "The End."

Two days after Boko Haram’s coordinated attack in Kano that left over 162 people dead, the radical islamic sect is currently attacking Bauchi town and its environs.

According to reports, explosions were said to have rocked near IBB square, Jahun area and near a railway line in Bauchi township.

A police station in Tafawa Balewa local government area and another military checkpoint was attacked at Marar Rabar Liman Katagun. Vanguard cannot ascertain the number of casulties in the attacks.-vanguard

OJUKWU'S BURIAL SHIFTED TO MARCH 2

The burial of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has been shifted from February 3 to March 2, the national burial committee, has announced.

Briefing newsmen shortly after its meeting in Enugu on Saturday, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, said the burial was shifted following developments in the country which affected the programme.

The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill prescribing a retirement age of 70 years foracademic staff of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

Although the bill was considered in the last Senate, it was not passed into law because of certain misgivings expressed by the stakeholders.

The bill sought to review the age of lecturers in the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years and harmonise the retirement age for all tertiary institutions.

The bill stated that “the law requiring a person to retire from the public service after serving 35 years shall not apply to academic staff of tertiary institutions.

“The compulsory retiring age of academic staff of tertiary institutions shall be 65 years, while the retiring age of academics in the professorial cadre in the universities shall be 70 years.”

Abuja Protester Ran Over

LL COOL J IS NAMED THE FIRST GRAMMYS HOST IN 7 YEARS

For the first time in seven years, the 2012 Grammy Awards will have an official host this year, and has asked two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J to do the honors.

The rapper, who turned 44 this week, has hosted the live Grammy nominations concert show each year since 2008. This is his first time taking the reins of the award show itself.

CHEVRON RIG CAUGHT FIRE

An explosion reportedly caused by gas leakage rocked a Chevron facility on the Atlantic fringe of Brass local government area of Bayelsa State leaving two persons missing.

The explosion it was learnt occurred between 4.30am and 5am Monday and was reported to be an accident.

It could not be ascertain if the missing persons identified as one Nigerian and an expatriate were actually at the facility when the incident occurred.

There are conflicting account of the incident. While some community sources claimed that the explosion was due gas leakage from drilling machine others reported that the explosion occurred from a new gas well head at Funawa 5 along the Koluama river.

Another report claimed that the explosion occurred following a fire from an oil barge under repair with some workers of Chevron working on the rig.

The fire from the barge was said to have spread to the oil rig and it exploded as the workers were facing some difficult technical challenges to contain the gas pressure

About 213 workers present at the facility during the explosion were reportedly evacuated from the scene.

According to sources from the company, the rig is named K.S Endeavour, and is operated by Chevron at its Pennington Field in Bayelsa state.

Members of the Joint Action Front (JAF) met earlier today at the Labour House in Surulere, Lagos to discuss strategies for sustaining public protests in the face of the Jonathan administration's use of military force to scuttle the protests.

At the end of the meeting, the group vowed to continue with the protests until their demands are met. The group wants the Jonathan administration to revert to the N65 per liter cost of fuel and to institute real economic reforms that would punish fuel marketers and government officials who have defrauded Nigerians through fraudulent fuel subsidy claims. In addition, the group wants the government to agree to significant cuts in the cost of running the different tiers of government.-SAHARA

FASHOLA CONDEMNS DEPLOYMENT OF SOLDIERS IN LAGOS

Dear Lagosians,

For the past few days, I have monitored the developments related to the public protest against the increase in the pump price of petrol.

During that period, I have at the invitation of my colleagues in the Governor’s Forum responded to an invitation from the Presidency.

My role since last Monday till date has been to find a ground of compromise that stabilizes the polity, protects our democracy and prevent any loss of lives.

Inspite of these efforts, we were not wholly successful in preventing the loss of the life of a young Nigerian, AdemolaAderinto who was sadly shot.

I am truly saddened by that ugly development. While I condole with his family, I pledge the commitment of our Government to bring the alleged perpetrator to justice.

World Bank Vice President for Africa and former Nigerian Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili will retire from her position at the World Bank in May, 2012.

The President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, said that although he had asked Ezekwesili, who was slated for retirement, to extend her tenure one more year in order to enable her finalise a new economic
roadmap for Africa and the World Bank, she had declined the offer.

The leadership of Nigerian trade unions involved in a tense face off with the Nigerian government over increase in fuel prices has capitulated today by calling off a weeklong strike.

Labour leaders spoke at a press conference in Abuja asking workers to return to work as labour leaders engage in further dialogue with the Nigerian authorities over the latest fuel price slash announced by President Jonathan.

The President made the announcement in a national broadcast this morning, the second time, he would be addressing the nation in two weeks. He said government would continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. That's still on the high side Mr.President

JONATHAN ORDERS ARREST OF FEMI FALANA, TUNDE BAKARE, DINO MELAYE AND SHEHU SANNI

In a bid to undermine the growing protest against his government's removal of fuel subsidy, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the SSS to arrest civil rights attorney, Femi Falana, Fiery Lagos pastor, Tunde Bakare, ex-member of house of representatives, Dino Melaye and and Kaduna based activist, Shehu Sanni.

Two sources within the State Security Services told Saharareporters that the security agency had received presidential instructions to move against these four men as well as other perceived organizers of the resistance against the government's dramatic increase of the price of fuel.

"The presidency has decided that the way to break the protest is to go after those that the government believed to be the brains organizing the #Occupy Nigeria protests, " said one of the sources.-saharareporters

PICTURES FROM #OCCUPY NIGERIA PROTEST AT UNITED NATIONS HQ

#OccupyNigeria protests continued over the weekend in NYC, as Nigerians and friends of Nigeria gathered at the United Nations Headquarters to protest the removal of the Fuel Subsidy

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and labour unions failed to reach a compromise over government-subsidised fuel prices, but the unions said oil workers would not shut down crude output while the two sides kept talking.

"The meeting is not deadlocked but we have not reached a compromise," Nigeria Labour Congress President Abdulwaheed Omar told reporters after a meeting at the presidential villa went on until late on Saturday night.-daily times

Occupy Nigeria Protester confronts the Nigerian Police

ACTRESS SHOLA KOSOKO MARRIES

She got married to her lover Abiodun Abinna at a private ceremony which took place at solitude Hotel,Jibowu ,Lagos.CONGRATS!

FG, LABOUR TO MEET AT 6:00PM TODAY

The Federal Government and unions prepared for last-ditch talks Saturday to end a week-old nationwide strike over fuel prices and avert an oil production shutdown in Africa’s largest crude exporter.

The talks set for Saturday evening come after the country’s unions called for a weekend suspension of the strike and protests that had shut down the country since Monday, prompting Nigerians to rush to markets to stock up on food.

VICE PRESIDENT,SAMBO PREACHES PEACE,PLEADS WITH NIGERIANS

Vice President Namadi Sambo Friday appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace, eschew bitterness and put all hands on deck to ensure that they build Nigeria into a prosperous nation.

Sambo made the appeal at the Juma'at service at the National Mosque, Abuja to mark the 2012 Armed Forced Remembrance Day Celebrations where he reminded Nigerians that the country was passing through tough times and needed the collective efforts and resolve of all to ensure peaceful co-existence.

The coordinating minister for the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that the Federal government is committed to the peaceful resolution of the ongoing strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.

Okonjo-Iweala, who made the remark on Friday in Abuja, said the major objective was to ensure that Nigerians get back to work.

“I am being positive that the right atmosphere exists for good conclusion to come about from the ongoing dialogue; the labour people and people in government are Nigerians,” the minister said.

She said both the NLC and the Federal Government had one common objective, “that is for the nation to move forward”.

“We understand how the people are feeling; the children need to go back to school, and the people need to go back to their businesses and market,” she said. “We really are prepared and trying to get to a situation where this can happen.”

Okonjo-Iweala expressed confidence that the government and labour would agree at a point on the appropriate pump price for fuel.

She said President Goodluck Jonathan was flexible, adding that he “is someone who wants to make sure that the current situation is resolved so that Nigerians can go back to work”.-DAILY TIMES

US MONITORING NIGERIAN SITUATION CLOSELY

United States has added its voice to the nationwide protests by Nigerians over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, saying it was monitoring the situation in Nigeria "very closely."

In the same vein, it has also condemned statements credited to the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, which ordered Christians to leave the North and also claimed responsibility for the strings of deadly attacks on churches.

SEUN KUTI SPEAKS ON WHY HE IS SUPPORTING SUBSIDY PROTEST

It’s a carnival of protest!” the 29-year-old yells to the crowd at a park in Lagos, where demonstrations have been held every day this week in support of a national strike that has shut down Nigeria over soaring fuel prices.

His late father Fela Kuti gained worldwide renown both for his afrobeat music and his blaring criticism of Nigeria’s corrupt regimes, and now it is Seun’s turn to lead the charge as protests swell across his country.

The protests and nationwide strike that began on Monday were sparked by a government policy ending fuel subsidies on January 1, causing petrol prices to instantly double in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer.

A few airlines operated flights at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday night.
Airlines that operated flights are British Airways, Lufthansa, Air FranceKLM, Delta, Continental, Alitalia, South African Airways and Iberia. They were able to do so because their flight schedules are mainly at night.
However, airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Arik, Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Middle East Airlines could not operate flights because their schedules are mainly fixed for the day-time.
Aviation union officials have barred flights from operating in the day-time since Monday when a general nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy began.
The airlines, which had been unable to operate flights, confirmed that they had rebooked their passengers on fresh schedules over the next two weeks, in the hope that the strike would end this weekend.-punch

May D - Sound Track

NIGERIANS IN CANADA TO OCCUPY OTTAWA, TORONTO

Nigerians in Canada will defy the bitter Canadian winter and join millions of their compatriots at home and abroad in the Occupy Nigeria Movement. The protests marches are billed to take place in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, and Toronto, the country’s largest city and economic hub.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Action Front (JAF) commend the Nigerian people for turning out in their millions since Monday January 9, 2012, to protest the astronomical increase in the price of PMS (Petrol). We commend them for their resolute stand and insistence in struggling for a better country.

The Labour Movement and its civil society allies after nationwide consultations has decided that this weekend, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January, 2012, will be observed as strike, protest and rally-free days.

We ask Nigerians to utilize these days to rest, restock and get re-energized for the continuation of the strikes, rallies and protests from Monday 16th January, 2012.

ACF URGES FG, LABOUR TO REACH COMPROMISE

The umbrella Northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, on Thursday in Kaduna, expressed concern over what it described as the “untold hardship” and pains inflicted on Nigerians due to the ongoing nationwide strike by the organised labour and civil society groups over the removal of subsidy on fuel by the Federal Government.

Young Money frontline rapper, Lil’ Wayne, has turned his attention to the clothing line business, with the recent birth of his very own skateboard-oriented line, Trukfit.

The line debuted this past weekend at the Long Beach, California Agenda trade show. According to Trukfit, the line ‘was inspired by Lil Wayne’s passion for skateboarding and quality street wear’ and ‘pulls influence from Lil Wayne’s distinctive style and voice’.

The multi-talented 29 year old rapper, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, reveals his confidence about his new line. ‘It will be the best clothing line ever, ‘he stated.

Collections feature bold graphic Tees, hats, and skateboards, obviously, all at a ‘moderate price point’.

The skateboard apparel collection is scheduled to debut in New York City at the end of January.

KADUNA GOVERNMENT REDUCES CURFEW

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa, on Thursday announced the reduction of the 24-hour curfew imposed in the state.

"In view of the gradual return to normalcy within Kaduna metropolis and environs, the Kaduna State Security Council, met and approved the reduction of the 24-hour curfew currently in place," Nasarawa said.

"Consequently, today, Thursday, 12 January 2012, the curfew has been reviewed from 1pm – 5pm."

Saying that the Kaduna State Government recognises the right of its people to freely express their views, he warned that the state would no longer condone any act of vandalism, intimidation or molestation of innocent citizens.

"As such any form of public gatherings, assemblies or procession during this period are suspended," he said.

The Commissioner also expressed appreciation for the orderly manner in which residents conducted themselves during the curfew hours and urged all citizens of the state to remain calm and law-abiding.-daily times

BEYONCE'S HOSPITAL ROOM LIKE A 5-STAR HOTEL

Lenox Hill Hospital constructed a suite for VIPs which looks like a Four Seasons penthouse ... and the room was christened Saturday when Beyonce gave birth.

TMZ has obtained photos of the room where Blue Ivy came into this world, and it's baller. There are 4 flat screen TV's, state of the art electronics, a kitchenette, nice art, mahogany walls and plush furnishings. And take a look at the bed where Jay Z got some shut eye!

Sources connected with the hospital tell TMZ ... the suite was not constructed specifically for Beyonce, but it was always intended that Beyonce would be the first patient to use it.-TMZ

50 CENTS MOCKS JAY Z AND BEYONCE'S BABY GIRL

He’s always been one to show off his money. But 50 Cent has now showed it off literally in a series of vulgar poses on his Twitter page.

The rapper shared four photos of him holding massive wads of cash in his hotel room in Las Vegas yesterday. 50 cent post this scary mock-up picture, sarcastically congratulating Jay-Z and Beyonce on their newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter

A 27-year-old woman revealed all today about a rare medical condition which means she has TWO vaginas side by side.

Hazel Jones was diagnosed with the “one in a million” condition uterus didelphys when she was 18, after suffering with difficulties from when her periods started at 14.

She had to lose her virginity twice, and also has to have two smear tests, but has decided not to have surgery to correct the condition.

For trying to enforce the ongoing nationwide strike in protest against the removal of the oil subsidy by the Federal Government, a labour leader in Enugu State, Festus Ozoeze was yesterday arrested by the police and remanded in Enugu Prisons.

Ozoeze, who is the Unit Vice Chair of Amalgamated Workers Union in Water Corporation, Enugu, was reportedly arrested by the police, tried by a tribunal set up by the state government at the Police CID and sent to the Enugu Prisons for planning to cause breach of the peace in the state.

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, civil society organisations, National Association of Nigerian Students, National Congress of Nigerian Students and some informal workers, on Wednesday, renamed the popular Post Office Junction after Muyideen Mustapha, the man who was killed in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a protest last Tuesday.

The junction, according to them, is now Muyideen Mustapha Freedom Square.

Although some people had alleged that a stray bullet fired by a policeman killed Mustapha, the police said he was stabbed with sharp objects by some unidentified protesters.

The Ilorin branch chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Rafiu Balogun; leader, UNILORIN 49, Dr. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju; state Chairman, Joint Campus Committee of NANS, Akorede Shakir; state Chairman, NLC, Faruk Akanbi; and some other speakers urged President Goodluck Jonathan to revert to N65 per litre of fuel.

The National Industrial Court on Wednesday in Abuja defended its order of injunction stopping the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on strike.

The court said the order remained valid, subsisting and must be respected by all parties.

The Chief Registrar of the NIC, Mrs. Rakiya Bosede-Haastrup, at a press conference, said, “The order of the court was not obtained by fraud as being peddled in some quarters. The order, as given by a competent court of the land, is still subsisting and ought to be respected by all parties.

Oluremi Tinubu, a senator and wife of leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, and four other senators escaped death by the whiskers in Ibadan on Wednesday after angry mob attacked their convoy.

The senators were travelling by road, led by police escorts, following the grounding of flights in airports across the country as a result of the strike declared by labour unions to protest government’s cut of subsidy on fuel.

According to an eyewitness, the mob damaged five cars belonging to the senators, including police escort vans leading the convoy.

“The cars’ windscreens and windows were shattered and the senators’ valuable belongings were stolen by the mob,” the eyewitness said.

Mrs. Tinubu was on the trip with Olugbenga Ashafa (ACN Lagos state), Babafemi Ojudu (ACN Ekiti state), Babajide Omoworare (ACN Osun state) and a yet to be identified senator.

They all got stranded in Lagos Airport on Tuesday, missing the senate's first plenary for the year.

They were hoping to risk the pothole-ridden road to Abuja and catch up with at least one plenary for the week.

When contacted on telephone, Mr. Ojudu complained he was not in “the right frame of mind” to narrate details of the incident.

The senators escaped the attack unhurt and headed back to Lagos to recover from the trauma of the incident.

PENGASSAN THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN CRUDE OUTPUT

Nigerian oil workers threatened on Wednesday to shut down output in Africa's top crude producer, deepening a national strike over a more than doubling of petrol prices.
With the government and unions locked in a showdown which has paralysed Nigeria for three days, the biggest oil union said it would make a decision later in the day, although industry officials doubted it could shut down crude exports completely.

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