NIGERIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ALLEGED TERROR CHARGES IN U.S OF AMERICA

33 year old Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi (pictured above) yesterday Tuesday April 29th pleaded guilty to terror charges in a US court. The Nigerian citizen is accused of providing material support to an al Qaeda affiliate, and participating in its media and recruitment campaigns, Reuters reports.

US prosecutors said that, from January 2010 to August 2011, Babafemi left Nigeria to Yemen twice to meet with some leaders of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, known as AQAP.

"The defendant traveled to Yemen to put himself at the disposal of a violent terrorist organization that has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to inflict bodily and economic harm on the US and its citizens," A U.S. Attorney said in a statement.

Prosecutors also say the al Qaeda leaders paid Babafemi, also known as 'Ayatollah Mustapha' almost $9,000 to recruit English-speaking people from Nigeria that would write for their online magazine called 'Inspire'. He was extradited August last year from Nigeria to the US.

Sentencing for the case has been scheduled for August 27th. Babafemi faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. So they are basically locking him for editing and getting writers for the al Qaeda magazine.

Photos: Work in progress on light rail system construction in Lagos

Th proposed light rail system being constructed by the Lagos state government in partnership with the World Bank is coming up well, with the rail tracks now being laid on the flyover rail-bridge that would run from Orile down to the island. The rail system is being developed to ease business transportation from the Badagry end of Lagos down to Lagos Island. See more exclusive photos after the cut..

14yr old girl kills another 14yr old girl after Facebook fight over a boy

14 year old Endia Martin (pictured above) was killed on Monday April 28th by another 14 year old girl after they argued on Facebook about a boy. Is this what 14 year olds should be doing? Fighting over boys and killing each other? My goodness!

According to Chicago Times, the handgun used to kill Endia Martin had been brought to the scene by someone who knew the suspect and knew 'there was going to be a fight' Chicago police said

"What would have been, under any other circumstance, probably a fistfight between 14-year-old girls, because they were fighting over a boy, turned into a murder. You introduce a firearm and you have a murder." The police said

Endia was walking home from school when the other girl approached, pulled the gun and opened fire around 4:30 p.m on Monday in West Garfield Boulevard, Chicago, according to police. Endia was hit in the back and killed instantly.

The 14 year old girl has been charged as a juvenile with murder, while her 24-year-old uncle and a 17-year-old boy are also facing charges. The two are being held for giving the gun to the killer.

P-Square's publicist releases statement, says he never said it was all a publicity stunt

Yesterday P-Square's publicity Bayo Adetu was quoted as saying the fight between the brothers was all a publicity stunt, and that they all decided to play along. Well, after the backlash from fans, Mr Adetu has backtracked and claims he never made those comments. A statement he released below.

My attention has been drawn to one magazine interview quoting me that the purported P-Square break-up tale was a ‘publicity stunt.’ It was indeed a misconception on the part of the writer. I never said the rumour was a ‘publicity stunt.’
There is no way I could have granted an official interview and speak in such denigrating manner as being portrayed by the magazine in question.
I can remember talking to Star FM and NTA2, and it is on record that I never spoke in such unprofessional manner! Most importantly, I never said it was a ‘publicity stunt’ because that amounts to toying with the emotions of P-Square fans. I cherish the fans more than Diamond and therefore, I will never disrespect or toy with their emotions. Thanks for your understanding.

Read the interview he supposedly granted to Icon magazine after the cut...

Chibok schoolgirls 'alive' & deal is 'within reach' - hostage negotiator claims

Found this report a foreign site, Channel4.com. Read below..

A hostage negotiator in direct contact with the kidnappers of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria tells Channel 4 News their safe release is "within reach", but that their fate rests on a knife-edge.
The girls, we believe, are alive but they have been moved from the location to which they were originally taken," the intermediary told Channel 4 News. "It would not be hard to engineer a deal. It looks like they want to release them."
The kidnappers have warned, however, that attempts by the military to launch a rescue attempt "may result in the deaths of many of the captives".


They want a way out," said the negotiator, who has long experience of dealing directly with the Islamist group Boko Haram in previous hostage crises.

Boko Haram translates as "western education is forbidden" and, like the Taliban, the group opposes the education of Muslim girls, particularly if that education has western influence.

Even though most of the kidnapped teenagers are from Christian families, the intermediary says the group believes it has already succeeded in embarrassing the government and instilling terror in the civilian population.

Unapologetic! Rihanna goes topless for French magazine, Lui

She actually posted all the pics on her instagram page a few minutes ago...and then deleted them a few minutes later. This is probably her most raunchy magazine cover yet. Check on the pics after the cut...

Pres. Jonathan fires his Special Adviser (political), Ahmed Gulak

President Jonathan has fired his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak with immediate effect. This was revealed in a series of tweets by the President's spokesman, Reuben Abati


They didn't give a reason for his termination.

FG To Provide Fresh Evidence That Ndume Has Link With Boko Haram

The Federal Government asked the court for permission to call additional witnesses and provide new evidence proving that Borno Senator Aliyu Ndume has links with the dreaded Boko Haram sect, The Nation reports.

It would be recalled that Ndume is accused of sponsoring insurgents.

The case took a new turn on Tuesday in a Federal High Court in Abuja, as the attorney from the office of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) E. Orji moved the motion to give fresh facts proving in support of allegations against the senator.

"We urge this court to grant this motion and dismiss the counter affidavit of the accused because it is intended to cause a clog in the wheel of justice," he said.

Meanwhile defence asked the court to reject the request.

According to his lawyer I. A. Kaigama, if the request is satisfied, it will overreach the earlier judgement of the Court of Appeal setting aside the admission of new evidence by trial court.

"The motion constitutes a gross abuse of the process of the court and should be refused. The application has no fact to convince the court to grant it. Bringing additional evidence will amount to unfair trial for the accused person," the lawyer stressed.

The trial judge fixed May 27 for ruling.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/65485.html

One Million Nigerian Women Ready To Protest In Abuja

A group of Nigerian women, under the banner of “Women for Peace and Justice”, have said they would stage a peaceful protest in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city on Wednesday.

According to Premium Times, the women are staging the protest to demand the release of the remaining 230 Government Girls Secondary School students kidnapped in their hostel in Chibok, Borno State.

It could be recalled that about 273 school girls were reportedly whisked off by members of the Boko Haram on April 14.

It was also reported that forty-three of the girls have been found and reunited with their family after they allegedly escaped their abductors.

Since the rest of the girls are yet to be found, the Women for Peace and Justice, therefore, decided to have a one million protest march on Wednesday.

According to them, it is an attempt to bring the plight of these girls to world.\

“The procession will start from the Unity Fountain, Maitama [ by Transcorp Hilton] and march to the National Assembly to and the office of the National Security Adviser to deliver letters to the Senate President, Speaker and National Security Adviser respectively.

"The procession will then march back to the Unity Fountain and the selected spokespersons will address the crowd and the media,” the spokesperson of the women, Hadiza Usman, said in a statement.

DISGRACE! EFCC Shuts Down Actress Laide Bakare’s Boutique In Lagos

She left her husband and married a rich man, now the problems have started. I just hope she can manage:

Certainly, these are not the best of times for popular actress, Laide Bakare, as she seems to have been caught in the web of the face-off involving her husband, Alhaji Atanda Orilowo, a.k.a ATM, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a multi-billion Naira estate project in Lagos.

Her husband had threatened to go to court to put a stop to the intimidation by EFCC and settle all the issues once and for all, but it seems the man was just bragging. He has not been seen and the anti-corruption body say Alhaji Orilowo is on the run. They’ve now been empowered to take over his properties…see more pics below

Photos: Rihanna poses topless in racy new shoot for Vogue Brazil

Rihanna looks incredibly stunning in the May issue of Vogue Brazil. The singer stripped down for the mag a while back but pics from the photo shoot were recently released. See more pics after the cut.

Photos: Ini Edo's husband throws her surprise birthday party

Ini Edo's husband Phillip Ehigwina threw her a surprise birthday party yesterday and invited some of her close friends to celebrate with them. Ini turned 32 on April 23rd. See more pics after the cut...

APC Chieftain who battered wife arrested by Sagamu police

The APC chieftain, Bashorun Bayo Awosanya, who battered his wife at their residence in Sagamu on Easter Sunday April 20th (read here) after an argument was arrested yesterday April 28th by the Ogun State police command.

"The suspect personally reported himself to the Sagamu Divisional Police Officer, CSP Lawal Adebowale, around 0800hrs due to arrest warrants issued and pressure mounted on him to show up before he would be publicly declared wanted by the police" the PPRO of the Ogun State Command in a statement.He was later transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation for further questioning. Ogun State police say they plan to charge him to court.

If you have a violent husband, you can actually get him arrested and locked up. Nigerian police now take domestic violence serious. If your spouse bribe their way out of an arrest, contact NGOs that cater for battered women and they will take up your case. Domestic violence needs to stop!

P-Square’s Younger Sister Engaged To Her Nollywood Actor Boo

It’s indeed a season of love, proposal and weddings for the Okoye family as the younger sister of the popular music duo P-square got engaged over the weekend.

Mary Okoye’s long time boo who is a Nollywood actor, Emma Emordi proposed and she said yes. SEE MORE PICS BELOW

Delta bursary fraud whistleblower arrested in Lagos & taken to Delta state

According to a report by SR, Ambrose Ezewani, an ex student of the University of Lagos and former President of the National Association of Delta State students, UNILAG chapter, who blew the lid on a systematic student bursary racketing allegedly spearheaded by the Commissioner for Higher Education in Delta state, Mr Hope Eghagha has been handed over to the Delta state Government

Sahara Reporters reports..

Police officers in Sabo Station yesterday afternoon handed him over after the Delta State officials visited to ask for his transfer to Asaba, Delta State where he will be most likely tortured and “tried” for revealing the fraud perpetrated by officials of the state.
Ezeanwani was President of the National Association of Delta State Students Union at the University of Lagos. During his tenure, he revealed that the bursary system was fraught with fraud, which he said was being perpetrated by men in the scholarship board in Delta State. Continue...

Nollywood Prolific director Amaka Igwe passes on(dead)

Foremost producer, writer, director and a leading player in the Nigerian motion picture industry, Amaka Igwe has passed on. She



died last night April 28th in Enugu after an asthma attack. Mrs Igwe had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for pre-production preparations for a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred.

She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital but died before getting there.

Mrs Igwe is survived by her husband of 21 years Charles Igwe, three children, an aged mother. So sad! May her soul rest in peace…amen.

Half of a Yellow Sun is one of the biggest films I've done' - Genevieve

Super actress, Genevieve Nnaji who has done hundreds of movies said Half of a Yellow Sun is one of the biggest movies she has done. In an interactive session with journalists she said;
“Half of a Yellow Sun is one of the biggest films I have done so far, but definitely not the most challenging role I have played in movies. I have done a lot more challenging roles in Nollywood”
Genevieve Nnaji played the role of Miss. Adebayo in the movie. She said it was safer for her because she didn’t have to experience the horrors of the war but hopes that in future if a different story is told about the civil war she will love play to the role of an Igbo woman where she would express what it meant to be an Igbo woman at that era. Continue...

GEJ holds security meeting with Govs, spiritual leaders & heads of security agencies

President Jonathan this afternoon (meeting may still be going on as you read this) held a closed door meeting with some state governors, heads of security agencies, ministers and spiritual leaders in the country with a view of finding lasting solution to the security problems the nation is currently facing.

The meeting which started around 12.10 this afternoon has in attendance Willie Obiano (Anambra), Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna ), Garba Umar (Taraba), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Lyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

Spiritual leaders, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (President of CAN), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III as well as Ministers of Interior, Defence, Police Affairs, Foreign, Agriculture, FCT and the Attorney-General of the Federation are all in attendance. Continue...

Pics: Omotola steps out in Iconic Invanity @Nigeria Ent. Conference

The star actress looked gorgeous in a dress by Nigerian designer Iconic Invanity as she attended the Nigerian Entertainment Conference at Eko Hotel yesterday. See another pic after the cut...

Photo: Ini Edo shares sexy bikini pic as she turns a year older

The actress shared this pic on her instagram page with a special message to mark her birthday today. She wrote "In all... Am most grateful to de one God I serve Jesus Christ in whom am most pleased. He's kept me alive and my career soaring. I might nt get it right all de times but he never fails. He's been my light in times of darkness nd he's promises are yea and amen."

Happy birthday to her. See another hot pic after the cut... 

Meet the world's first married lesbian threesome...

Meet captured Fulani herdsmen who confessed to being Boko Haram members

These are the faces of some of the people causing terror in Nigeria. These 17 men you see above are Fulani Herdsmen who were recently captured by the military. They were part of the group that terrorized residents in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara recently. They also took part in the recent killing of hundreds of people and burning of houses in Wukari, Taraba state. After their capture, they confessed to being members of the Boko Haram sect.

The military released the pic above and a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade. Find it below...

Actor Cuba Gooding's wife files for divorce after 20 years of marriage

Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr's wife of 20 years has filed for separation citing irreconcilable differences.

TMZ reports that Sara Kapfer, Cuba's high school sweetheart, filed yesterday April 22nd in L.A. County Superior Court. The two married in 1994 and have three children together.

Sara wants joint legal and physical custody of their kids and isn't asking for child support currently.

Nollywood actor Chris Nkulor dies after battle with kidney ailment

Nollywood actor Chris Nkulor has passed on after a battle with a kidney related disease. He died yesterday at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching hospital Ile-Ife where he was undergoing treatment for the ailment. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

Photos: MamuZEE TwiNs attacked by Gunmen in Abuja

Singing duo MamuZEE TwiNs were attacked by armed robbers on Gwagwalada road, in Abuja yesterday April 22nd while returning from the immigration office. The gunmen, believed to be armed robbers, shot at them and shattered their car.

The Twins are currently at the hospital now, but are said to be doing fine and will return home today. Thank God they are fine. Another pic after the cut...

ABSU student wins brand new car at Etisalat Cliqfest

Did you know that in the last 18 months, Etisalat has given out 41 brand new cars, 82 laptops and more than 260 smart phones to empower students across Universities, Colleges of Education and Polytechnics in Nigeria? 

The most recent car winner is Destiny Ugochukwu, a student of Abia State University who won a brand new car just last weekend when Etisalat visited the campus at Uturu with its Cliqfest Seminar to educate the students on how to become self reliant and of great value to the nation after school, creating a long lasting impact on the students with Motivational Speaker, Niyi Adesanya. Continue..

Juliet Ibrahim's H&M shopping bags causes storm on her page

Aye people! You show off expensive things, wahala, you show off H&M things...more wahala...lol. Actress Juliet Ibrahim showed off her H&M shopping bags on her instagram page and it caused some sort of debate on her page. Some fans felt she was too big to be shopping at H&M, while others felt she was being real. Is anyone too big to shop at H&M though? Continue...

Gunmen kill 50 in fresh attack in Taraba

Unknown gunmen yesterday struck residents of Gidan Aku community on the outskirts Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State killing no fewer than 50 people with many seriously injured.

According to reports, the men who stormed the area with sophisticated weapons allegedly came in from Nassarawa state and attacked the residents while they were sleeping. They set the whole place on fire forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.

An eyewitness and also a lawyer in the community, Luka Agbu said no security officer came to their rescue during the attack

termath of Nyanya blast: Military checkpoint causes traffic gridlock

In the wake of the Nyanya bomb blast which occurred on Monday April 14th, which killed over 80 people, military checkpoints have been mounted at various strategic road junctions to check human and vehicular activities in the FCT.

 

Motorists/workers say these checkpoints have become a big problem for them as they lose many useful hours in traffic with some of them getting late to work and receiving queries.

 

According to a report on Channels TV, residents in Abuja say their fear is in the manner in which the military men carry out their search operations. They say the traffic opens them to a possible attack from Boko Haram men who can take advantage of the gridlock and strike again. They pleaded with the military to seek more effective ways to carry out their search...

UK 'aid' is financing a corporate scramble for Africa

Judging simply by its name, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition sounds like a worthy initiative.

Just the kind of thing we should be spending international aid money on, you might think.

But look just a little closer, and it becomes clear that the scheme, launched by the G8 governments along with the biggest global food and agriculture companies, has little to do with feeding undernourished people.

In fact, a new report from the World Development Movement suggests that the New Alliance, which is receiving £600 million from the UK's aid budget, will actually increase poverty and inequality in Africa.

Jumia delivering Calabar International Jazz Festival tickets to your doorstep

The stage is set for the biggest festival hitting Nigeria in Easter and Jumia.com has exclusive rights to sell tickets for Calabar International Jazz Festival.

Every great debut deserves a befitting sequel and as such the biggest Jazz Festival to have hit our shores is returning this Easter to light up the city of Calabar. Lovers of smooth jazz, R 'n' B and African dance music can begin to look forward to three nights of unforgettable performances by internationally acclaimed artistes such as Hugh Masekela, Liquideep, Jimmy Dludlu, Micasa Music (South Africa), TimothaLanae (USA) and Gwyn Jay Allen (UK). Continue...

New music: Ozzybosco - Ozingo Dance remix ft MI

Following the sensational 2014 calendar opening single “Mama Africa” featuring Lamboginny, OzzyBosco WonderKid is back in the news for the umpteenth time and for another fantastic reason.

The 7 year old sensational kid-artiste OzzyB, who recently receiveded an unprecedentchieftaincy title of "OMENANWATA IGBO" from the Igbo speaking communities in Lagos last month has thrown into the air a super-duper remix to his 2013 single “Ozingo Dance”featuring the Chairman, M I Abaga

President Goodluck Jonathan Finally arrives Bayelsa for daughter’s wedding [Photos]

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan arrives Bayelsa for his adopted daughter’s Wedding (Elizabeth Faith Sakwe) which is taking place today April 5th 2014. More photos below 

Prophet in police net over false prophecy

Alphonsus Ezie, a 56year old prophet with the Celestial Church of Christ Igando District, Lagos State has been arrested and remanded in prison by the police for tricking his congregation with a false prophecy, PM news reports.

Prophet Ezie had on a Sunday service prophesied seeing some members of his congregation traveling to Netherland for greener pastures and coming back home successful. He asked all those interested in making the prophecy fulfilled in their lives to meet with his friend, Mr Samuel, a travel agent, to help them with their travel papers. And Mr Samuel disappeared with their money..lol. Continue