Scientists discover potential drug to block AIDS

Scientist at the Gladstone Institutes have identified the precise chain of molecular events in the human body that drives the death of most of the immune system’s CD4 T cells as an HIV infection leads to AIDS.

A typical scene at an emergency ward of a Lagos State government hospital before the protracted doctors strike.

Further, they have identified an existing anti-inflammatory drug that in laboratory tests blocks the death of these cells — and now are planning a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine if this drug or a similar drug can prevent HIV-infected people from developing AIDS.

Two separate journal articles, published simultaneously in Nature and Science, detail the research from the laboratory of Dr. Warner C. Greene, who directs virology and immunology research at Gladstone, an independent biomedical-research nonprofit.

His lab’s Science paper reveals how, during an HIV infection, a protein known as IFI16 senses fragments of HIV DNA in abortively infected immune cells. This triggers the activation of the human enzyme caspase-1 and leads to pyroptosis, a fiery and highly inflammatory form of cell death.

As revealed in Nature, this repetitive cycle of abortive infection, cell death, inflammation and recruitment of additional CD4 T cells to the infection “hot zone” ultimately destroys the immune system and causes AIDS.

“Gladstone has showed how the body’s own immune response to HIV causes CD4 T cell death via a pathway triggering inflammation, and secondly by identifying the host DNA sensor that detects the viral DNA and triggers this death response,” said Dr. Robert F.

Siliciano, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. “This one-two punch of discoveries underscores the critical value of basic science — by uncovering the major cause of CD4 T cell depletion in AIDS, Dr. Greene’s lab has been able to identify a potential new therapy for blocking the disease’s progression and improving on current antiretroviral medications.”

Dr. Iyetade Soyinka, Wole Soyinka's daughter dies

As the year 2013 winds up in less than 48 hours, the cold hands of death drew the curtain at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital, for, the daughter of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. This tragic loss was announced by the spokesman for Professor Soyinka’s family, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo.

The deceased who was reportedly being treated for an undisclosed ailment was born on June 6, 1965. An alumnus of the University of Ibadan (UI).

Anikulapo described the deceased as “affable, intelligent and sometimes capricious,” adding that she “struggled with her health in recent years.” Despite her health woes, the late Iyetade Soyinka “greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two children.”

The statement, which was issued on behalf of the deceased’s family, revealed that Ms. Soyinka “took ill quite suddenly and passed away while being treated at UCH, Ibadan.

“Iyetade leaves behind two children, both parents, numerous siblings, nieces and nephews.”

No funeral arrangements were announced in the statement

Tragedy averted as El rufai, others escape plane crash in Lagos

Tragedy was averted, Sunday, when a Boeing 737 plane with over 100 passengers belonging to Aero Contractors had a bust tyre at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos.

The aircraft, which departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, NAA, Abuja around 9am had a burst tyre on landing at the Lagos Airport.

One of the over 100 passengers onboard the plane was the former Minister, federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Mal. Nasir el-Rufai who tweeted “Upon landing in Lagos, our Aero aircraft lost a tyre. The pilot did a great job of breaking to a halt. My phones flew under seats.”

Reacting to the incident, Mr Yakubu Dati, Coordinating Spokesman, Aviation Parastatals said “ A aircraft Boeing 737-500 with Registration No 5N-BLC, operated by Aero contractors landed safely at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, following loss of pressure in one of the tyres, today December 29, 2013”.

“ The aircraft which landed at 10.50am had a total of 104 passengers and crew members on board.

The aircraft has since been towed to the apron and Accident Investigation Prevention Bureau, AIPB has commenced investigation into the incident.”

Brave man fights crocodile with bare hands to rescue son

State media in Zimbabwe yesterday reported that a villager fought a crocodile with his bare hands to free his son from its jaws in northeastern rural Mutoko.

The Herald newspaper reported Tafadzwa Kachere and his 11-year-old son Tapiwa were trying to cross a river on Christmas Eve when the crocodile attacked the boy. It reported that Kachere jumped onto the crocodile’s back and tried to force open its jaws, beating at its head with his fists and poking at its eyes with reeds.

The crocodile released the child and turned on Kachere who wrestled free of its grasp. The newspaper said the child lost a leg and his father’s arm was severely gored. Both survived.

Crocodile attacks are common in rural Zimbabwe during the rainy season but many go unreported.

Robbers attack former Kogi governor

Luck smiled on former Kogi State acting governor, Chief Clarence Olafemi yesterday as he narrowly escaped being killed by armed robbers. According to an eyewitness account, Olafemi was returning to Lokoja from his Mopa country home where he hosted friends and political associates when he ran into the hoodlums.

The account said the armed robbers numbering about 12 had flagged down the former governor at about 3.30 pm along Kabba-Okene Highway and shot severally at his Sport Utility Vehicle, but he managed to escape.

Bullets shattered the windscreen, while some parts of the vehicle were also seriously damaged, but the occupants escaped unhurt.

When contacted on phone, the former speaker who is popularly known as ‘Obembe’ confirmed the incident and said he had a premonition of the attack and had told his driver to be more alert while plying the road.

Moments later he said they ran into some motorists whom, they thought, their vehicle developed a mechanical problem, but they turned out to be highway robbers. One of the robbers in disguise had jumped on the road and beckoned on them to pass.

Olafemi said as they moved to drive past, the robbers flagged his car down. According to him, as the robbers made attempt to rob them, his driver zoomed off, causing the hoodlums to let off bullet volleys, which riddled the SUV and shattered its windscreen.

Olafemi, who was full of praises to God for saving his life and his driver’s, however, called on the police to be more alive in their responsibilities to the citizenry.

In another development, the former governor in his New Year message urged President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything possible not to allow the PDP break into pieces.

In a press statement personally signed by the former governor, he said he had warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leadership early this year that unless there was internal discipline, democracy and justice within the party, the party was bound to explode and break into pieces.

“A party which does not pay much premium on party leadership but rely on the dictates of political office holders, a party which has no internal cohesion and mechanism to resolve crisis is bound to collapse suddenly,” he added.

He said if the party had heeded to his warning, the recent mass movement of political office holders from the PDP to the All progressives Congress (APC) would have been averted, stressing that President Jonathan could still do a lot through genuine reconciliation to bring the party back to its old glory.

“We must strive for unity, genuine peace and total reconciliation, we need peace because a troubled Nigeria brings bad omen to the West African sub region, because if we run Nigeria aground, no country around us will be able to accommodate our refugees.

“ Our leaders must at this stage be very cautious. Nigeria is bigger than any individual or political position, we must not destroy it,” Olafemi warned

Plot to suspend Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal fails

A plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, over his alleged romance with the opposition, has hit the rocks.

The Speaker’s home chapter of the PDP in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State rebuffed the national leadership of the party which had launched a hate campaign against him.

The plan was for the PDP local chapter to announce Tambuwal’s expulsion last Thursday with the national leadership intervening by converting the expulsion to suspension “pending further investigation.”

However, party sources said the local executive members of the party saw through the instigation and declared that it was beyond them to expel him.

They advised those who had complaints against the Speaker to lodge same with the state executive council of the party.

“The plan was to get the L.G.A chapter of the party to expel the Speaker. If that had happened, the national leadership would have intervened by revoking the expulsion order and placing the Speaker on suspension while it claims to be looking into the allegations against him,” sources said.

“That way, other lawmakers plotting to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would have been cowed. But in spite of the heavy pressure mounted on them, the leadership of the PDP in the council declined to go all the way with the plan. Instead, they requested that those with genuine complaints against Tambuwal should report him to the state executive committee.”

It was also learnt that days before the botched meeting, some chieftains of the party in the state had gone round urging PDP members in the LGA to append their signatures and names to a “vote of no confidence” motion meant to be passed on the Speaker after his planned expulsion.

It was however gathered that the Speaker survived the plot through the intervention of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. The Governor, according to sources, prevailed upon the party chieftains in Tambuwal not to allow themselves to be used to disturb the peace of the state.

“The governor, though no longer a member of the PDP, enjoys the respect of many of the leading chieftains of the party, especially at the grassroots level. Aside that, he was able to explain to the politicians that any move that is capable of threatening the position of Tambuwal as the Speaker will create chaos in Sokoto State,” one source said.

The national leadership of the party is understood to have compiled a list of allegations against the Speaker with which it intended to defend the planned suspension.

It was learnt that senior party officials are not only displeased with the Speaker for his close relationship with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , they are also irked by his recent criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan.”His recent criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan and the party leadership and his presence at a meeting of APC stalwarts in Abuja are some of the reasons why the party wants to place him on suspension as soon as possible. He will soon be suspended,” a party source said.

It was also gathered that the current move against Tambuwal may be pre-emptive. According to party sources, some chieftains of the party and some senior presidency officials are of the opinion that it is better to take the shine off Tambuwal’s rumoured defection by kicking him out of the party first.

“Convinced that nothing can be done to stop the Speaker from joining the APC sooner or later, some stalwarts of the party within the presidency and the party leadership has been able to convince Tukur and Jonathan that it is better to kick him out of the party before he announces his defection to the APC. That way, they feel the shine will be taken off the Speaker’s alleged planned exit from the PDP.

Tambuwal may also have drawn the ire of his party leaders with his presence at a rally recently organised by the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko. The governor, along with four other governors of the PDP, recently defected to the opposition APC.

Before dumping the PDP, Wamakko himself was suspended by the party for allegedly disrespecting the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Tambuwal is close to the Governor.

Among other things, the party is also said to be angry with the Speaker because of his presence at the launch of Opon Imo, the initiative of the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in Osogbo.

From Our News Desk- 29th December 2013

UPDATES:Ex-Anglican primate, Akinola, abducted, rescued. 15 soldiers, 55 others died in Bama attack –DHQ. Ogun fire truck kills woman, son, grandpa. Jonathan, Sambo’s 2014 trips to gulp N2.47bn. Airline operators lament high cost of aviation fuel. Stampede as soldiers descend on Abuja workers, others.Bamaiyi, Babalola’s representatives, others to testify against Ajudua. Amaechi urges military to shun partisan politics.FG, PDP are dishonest, say APC govs. Avensis dethrones Corolla as car of the year. Electricity workers brace for fresh industrial action. FG’s budget for animals sparks debate on social media. Unity Bank to raise N40bn capital. Katsina Awards N400m Contract For Building Of Exam Hall In FUDMA. Kwankwaso Presents N2I9bn 2014 Proposed Budget. EFCC Grants Bail To Kano Speaker, Others. Merry Xmas and New year in advance!  God bless you all.

Mysterious flying object crashes into home in Ibadan

A mysterious spacecraft, which residents of Awotan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State called a “drone”, was reported to have crashed into a building at Omiremi Quarters in the community, leaving a crater on the roof of the building, just as aviation sources confirmed the object as a United States’ drone on an espionage mission in Nigeria.

Considering the registration number, TX 5803, inscribed on a black battery under the craft, a source said the space craft must have taken off from  NASA base in Texas in the US, stating that the battery attached to the spacecraft powered it and enabled it to move around so that it could do the bidding of those who sent it.

Though many aviation sources told Sunday Tribune that the object could be a device used in espionage, another source, however, believed that the craft was a “nondescript aviation device”.

It will be recalled that the United States of America has, in recent times, come under attack by other countries for spying on their activities which may have confirmed the discovery of the spacecraft in Ibadan.

The craft, which was said to have dropped down from the orbit, flew into a toilet in the house of Ashipa of Awotan, Chief Tajudeen  Adetoro, a few minutes after his grandson, Afeez  Adewale and daughter-in-law, Adikat, left the toilet where they had gone to answer the call of nature.

According to Chief Adetoro, the mysterious aircraft forced itself into the toilet through the roof making deafening sound, saying it could have killed Afeez and his mother, if it had met them in the toilet.

The spacecraft, with a product number QR X30, has four stands and a rounded compartment housing its engine. It has a dry cell battery, USB drive, a censor and cables, while each of its stands has a two-way roving fan mounted on them.

The residents of the sleepy community told newsmenthat the object was not a toy due to the fearful noise it made and the way it flew about, adding that it could be an explosive.

“When it flew out, we rushed after it and it was found hanging on the antennae of our neighbour...making a terrible noise and emitting heavy smoke,” Chief Adetoro narrated.

He said they ran for safety on hearing the loud bang made on the roof of their house only to discover that the object had entered the toilet hitting its wall in an attempt to exit.

Information obtained about the object from the internet revealed that it shares similarities with a device called Walkera QR X350 GPS which is sold for roughly $500.

Though the product description on it is not intelligible, Sources learnt that it could be a remote-controlled transmitter that gives no signal when in the air, but which is used for gathering information.

How flying object crashed into building in Ibadan Mother, son escaped death

is almost unbeliavebale, but it is real. A drone-like object fell from the sky on the roof of a house in Ibadan last Sunday shattering the roof of the house.

Luck saved a mother and her son from being killed by the object.

Fpr Afeez Adewale, a 16-year-old boy, sheer luck saved him and Adikat, his mother, from being sent to their early graves a few minutes after they left the toilet in their house, last Sunday, at Omiremi Quarters, Awotan, Ibadan.

Afeez had gone to the toilet to answer the call of nature not long after his mother had come out of the same toilet only to hear a loud bang on the roof of their house, specifically the toilet.

The object was said to have forcefully fallen on the roof of the toilet breaking through and shattering its asbestos.

According to the Asipa of Awotan and landlord of the house, Chief Tajudeen Adetoro, it wasn’t long after Afeez and his mother left the rest room when they suddenly heard a frightening sound on the roof of the toilet.

Chief Adetoro, who is Afeez’s grandfather, said it was God that saved the mother and son, saying the source of the drone-like object was unknown.

“We were in panic; we were almost dead when we heard the sound suddenly and all of us scampered for safety. It was after a few minutes that we thought that hiding in the house was not the solution but to find a way to get the object out of our house due to the horrible and disturbing noise it was making that my son and I fearfully moved to the scene to know what it was.

“When we got there, we stood a little away looking at it from a short distance. It was then we saw it clearly and it was seriously struggling making a frightening noise in its bid to find an escape route. As it was struggling, it was hitting every angle of the toilet walls forcefully shrieking and trying to exit the toilet.

“It was during the struggle that it escaped through the same point it gained entry. When it flew out, we rushed after it and it was found hanging on the antenna of our neighbour. It hung there making a terrible noise and emitting heavy smoke. I think in the process of struggle to get it out, it lost one of its components, a stand. I asked my son to climb the facial board to remove it.

“When he brought it down, it was heavy and there were so many red illuminating lights all over it blinking every second,” the chief narrated.

Minister of Works wants feedback from you

statement from the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememem.
Oftentimes, been in a position of authority comes with its own set of challenges. A good example is the bureaucracy that shields leaders from realities on ground. Most times, a minister’s aide(s) might not be his best means of touching base. Hearing directly from the people, without exposing oneself to unnecessary distractions, is the sure way to see and feel what is going on.
I want to hear directly from road users and patriotic Nigerians who desire to join hands with us to make our FEDERAL ROADS better than they are at present. I have created an email account (feedbackmow@gmail.com) through which you can reach me directly to lay your complaints ,proffer suggestions or inform me on just about anything to do with Federal roads. However, I will need the following favours: Continue...

A       Is there a federal road that needs urgent attention?
B.      We have done some roads. Are they okay by you? (photographs attached)
C.      Are any of our contractors not living up to their responsibilities on the job?
D.      In what way do you think we can further improve and maintain the state federal roads in Nigeria?
E.       Kindly let us know any federal road we should be preparing to pay attention to that is not already on our list. have received a number of awards, commendations and pats on the back for supposedly ‘a job welldone’. I appreciate all of that but I am not swayed, deceived or disillusioned to believe that all is well with federal roads all over Nigeria. In as much as any government (or minister,for that matter) cannot fix all Nigerian roads, I believe we can do our utmost best with the resources available to make life better, make a mark and be able to say before God and man that we did our best.
I believe more than anything that qualitative change is possible if the leaders and the led are committed to it. I believe more than anything that qualitative change is possible if the leaders and the led are committed to it.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Honourable Minister of Works
Mike Onolememem

Man rapes, impregnates 14-year old daughter

The Nigerian Police in Lagos State said it has arrested a 36-year old man who allegedly raped and impregnated his 14-year old daughter.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ngozi Braide, made this known when she briefed newsmen in Ikeja on Friday.

Braide said the girl had been pregnant for the past two months and that the man claimed to be bewitched. She added that the mother of the girl divorced her father seven years ago.

Braide added that the matter was reported at Meiran Police Station of the Area ‘M’ Police Command.

The victim told newsmen that her father brought a native doctor who convinced her that sex was part of the treatment to cure her undisclosed sickness before she was raped.

“My father gives me native soap and sponge probably for ritual bath always. He once entered the bathroom with me and had sex with me forcefully.

“He took me to bed forcefully several times in his room and when I refused, he threatened to kill me with a knife.

“Since then, he had been making love to me under the guise that I will be cured”, she said.

Man sets own wife, child ablaze in Ibadan

He brought out his manhood and asked me to look at it. He said his wife infected him with a disease and that was why his manhood was small. The wife accused him of stealing her money (N14, 000) and he admitted it. He told her ‘didn’t you know I’m a thief?’ Then, he told her she would not live to see the New Year. Then, he picked up a stone and threw it at his wife. Then, we went inside. Soon, we heard the cries of the woman that Baba Gbolahan (Gbolahan’s father) had locked them inside and set the house on fire. The door was forced open. She emerged from the room with just her panties on, clutching her stiff, dead daughter.”

The above is about a woman residing at Labiran area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Mrs Felicia Olalere, with her eight-year-old son, Gbolahan. Both lost their lives in the early hours of Friday after the room they slept was engulfed in fire from an unknown source.

However, residents of the area are alleging that the woman’s husband, known as Muyideen Olalere, carried out the arson.

He was said to have locked each of the rooms in the house with padlocks to prevent occupants from leaving their respective rooms.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the deceased and her husband had a quarrel at about 8:00p.m. when the man, whose source of livelihood was unknown, came to the house.

The woman was said to have accused her husband of stealing a sum of N14,000 from her bag, which the man reportedly admitted, calling her bluff.

Neighbours said that the woman raised her voice in anger and said that she knew the act of stealing would mean nothing to her husband who was in prison two years ago for criminal acts.

The man reportedly became angry, saying that the woman exposed his secret to everyone and added that it meant nothing to him because he went to the prison with her brother.

He was said to have threatened that he would make sure that his wife did not live to witness 2014.

Olalere reportedly demanded for his son, Gbolahan, a request rejected by his wife.

Efforts by neighbours to settle the matter proved abortive as the man was reported to have hurled a stone at his wife, hitting her on the thigh.

He was said to have left in anger, after which residents of the eight-room storey building went to their rooms to sleep while two of them left for vigil services in their different churches.

They were, however, woken up by shouts of fire which broke out from the deceased woman’s room on the first floor of the house.

The man, who is said to be on the run, was suspected to have poured petrol round the room where his wife and child slept and ignited it.

An occupant of one of the rooms on the same floor told Saturday Tribune that he was woken by a burning smell and discovered that he had been locked in from outside when he attempted to open the door to escape.

Edo governor, Oshiomhole, survives auto crash

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole survived an accident at Ewu Village along the ever-busy Benin-Auchi road in Edo State at about 9.45am Saturday, 28th December 2013 on his way back to Benin City from his Iyamho Village. The incident occurred at about 9.45am at Ewu, in Edo Central Senatorial District, when a Peugeot J5 Bus filled with tomatoes and plantains apparently lost control and rammed into the Governor’s Flag Car from the opposite direction before swerving into a roadside ditch.
Three vehicles in the Governor’s convoy were in front of the Governor’s Flag Car and had passed the Peugeot J5 Bus before it [J5 Bus] had direct impact with the Governor’s car, which had the Governor, his Aide-De-Camp [ADC] and his Driver as occupants. The Governor’s Car was badly affected but both occupants of the Peugeot J5 Bus and that of the Governor’s sustained no injuries.
The Peugeot J5 Bus was following a truck that was descending the Ewu Slope when it suddenly veered off into the Governor’s lane from the opposite direction and directly impacted on the Governor’s vehicle, apparently because of brake failure. The good story is that nobody sustained injuries in both vehicles. The Comrade Governor is hale and hearty, his ADC and other occupants of the Peugeot J5 are also in good condition.
The incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Station at Ewu for further investigation. This is to assure all good people of Edo State that there is no cause for alarm. Their loving Comrade Governor is fine, hale and hearty as well as other occupants of the other affected vehicle. The Comrade Governor is wishing everyone a prosperous new year ahead.
Signed
Prince Kassim Afegbua
Special Adviser, Media & Public Affairs

Aliko Dangote, Olusegun Agbaje and CEO of EbonyLife TV; Mo Abudu listed among Nigeria’s Top 13 CEOs of 2013 by Ventures Africa

VENTURES AFRICA – 2013 has sure been a fabulous year with many business rising and conglomerates recording huge profits in Nigeria’s enterprising market. Over the year, we have read and heard about innovations and change in management, investments gone sour or profitable and market share expansions on the homefront and beyond.

However, the fabulous commentaries and news have not come out of the blue, rather they have been the result of continuous improvement at the front line- which is maintained by the CEOs of these companies.

On this list, Ventures Africa reviews 13 outstanding Nigerian CEOs. These CEOs have been credited because they have been able to make a difference in highly competitive markets. They have demonstrated effective management capabilities through hardwork, resilience, research, an understanding of the Nigeria business climate, as they moved their companies forward. In no respective order, here goes

Chidi Okoro
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria plc
Industry: Drug & Pharmaceutical

Chidi Okoro became the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria plc in 2012. He is the first Nigerian managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria plc since inception in 1971. Prior to that time, he has served as the general Manager and Director of the company. He is credited for being a member of the team that helped the company achieved a turnover of N9.9 billion in 2007 which was driven to an all-time high of N15 billion as at 3rd December, 2009 while he worked as the company’s Sales Director. Chidi’s leadership has help transform the fortunes of GSK immensely by elevating it to remain on the cutting edge as a sector and market leader. He was recently awarded the prestigious Most Outstanding CEO of the Year Award at the recently held 2013 PEARL Awards Nigeria while his company won the Sectoral Leadership Award in the Health Care (pharmaceutical) category at the event. PEARL Awards recognises individuals and quoted companies on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange who have contributed significantly to the growth of the exchange and the Nigerian business environment in general. Under his leadership, GSK Nigeria bagged the first Best Workplace in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) company’s category on the Great Place to Work Trust Index (large companies) for Nigeria for year 2013. The company was also ranked fourth Best Workplace on the overall in Nigeria on the index.

Michael Ikpoki
MTN Nigeria
Industry: Information and Communication Technology

Michael Ikpoki achieved a landmark this year when he was appointed the CEO of MTN Nigeria, the first Nigerian to achieve this feat in MTN Group – the country’s largest mobile operator by subscriber. Ikpoki has been described as “A seasoned business executive, with an academic profile that includes General Management Programme at Harvard Business School; Sales, from INSEAD Business School; Finance and Analytics, from Lagos Business School and LLB from Rivers State University of Science and Technology.”
A pioneer staff of the company, Ikpoki joined the group as a Regulatory Advisor in 2001 after a six-year stint in the Legal Department of the Nigeria Communications Commisssion (NCC). He has formerly served as the company’s Director and CEO in Ghana after successfully running MTN Nigeria’s Sales and Distribution channel as its Executive from 2006.

According to US-based technology market research consultancy, International Data Corporation (IDC), in November, MTN Nigeria hold competitive edges to further unlock market potentials to remain profitable for its South African parent company, MTN Group – going by tariff innovation and other initiatives underway by the mobile phone network. With over 55 million active connections, MTN Nigeria under Ikpoki’s leadership continue to deliver a satisfactory performance, maintaining market share, even in the face of stiffer competition and regulations.

Funke Opeke
MainOne CEO
Industry: Information and Communication Technology

Ms Funke Opeke is the founder and CEO of Main One Cable Company, a Nigerian cable and communications service provider that built West Africa’s first privately owned high capacity cable submarine. An Electrical Engineering graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria, Ms Opeke has served as the Executive Director of Verizon Communications Wholesale Division.
Armed with a twenty-year career in the United States as a telecommunication executive, Opeke returned to Nigeria in 2005 as the Chief Technical Officer of MTN. She also served as an adviser to Transcorp on the acquisition of NITEL and briefly served as the interim Chief Operating Officer, NITEL after which she created Main One as a result of the dearth of infrastructure which forms a huge information and knowledge gap between Africa and the rest of the world. She creatively built Main One as a result of the non-existent internet services in the country at that time. She built Main One over a 2-year period, from inception with a total investment of $240 million financed entirely from African investors (The founding shareholders are called Main Street Technologies) plus $28 million contingency. Since her company began operations in 2010, Main One has transformed Nigerian and African broadband landscape.

Recently, her company began the building of a $25 million Tier III + data centre in Lagos which would be the largest of its kind in West Africa at 1,500 square metres with a 600 rack capacity as part of its growth strategy and vision to enhance infrastructure in its primary market – West Africa. Her efforts have been recognised over the years. Last year, she won the 2012 CNBC All Africa Businesswoman of the Year Award (AABLA) in Midrand, South Africa.

Michael Arumemi-Ikhide
Arik Air
Industry: Aviation

Young, passionate and an enthusiast – that is what describes Micheal Arumemi-Ikhide best. The Nigerian-born University of Edinburgh Chemical Engineering graduate joined Arik’s board in October 2006 as one of its founding board members to serve in the capacity of “Executive Director Corporate Strategy” with a broad remit spanning areas such as fleet evaluation, acquisition and financing; strategic, organisational & commercial planning and execution as well as government and bilateral affairs. Today, he serves as the Group CEO and President of Arik Air Ltd, Nigeria and Arik Air international Ltd, UK.

Under his leadership, Arik has grown to be West Africa and Central Africa largest commercial airline. Since he became Arik CEO in 2009, the airline has also become the national carrier of neighboring country, Sierra Leone and there has also been consideration for it to be Nigerian national carrier. The Lagos-based airline company which started with a single Hawker jet aircraft, and later three brand new CRJ 900s now boasts of a fleet of over 26 aircraft with over 5 million passengers a year across 19 domestic destinations, eight West and Central African routes, and three long-haul markets covering South Africa, the United Kingdom and the USA. Arumemi-Ikhide is a member of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) UK and a member of the Aviation Club UK. He is also credited to have helped set up and established the airline’s overseas headquarters, Arik Air International Ltd, in London in April, 2007. Arik airline was founded by Michael’s father -Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide in 2002.

Florence Seriki
Omatek Ventures Plc
Industry: Information and Communication Technology

Engr. (Mrs.) Florence Seriki (MFR) is the Amazon behind Omatek Ventures Plc, a Nigerian computer manufacturing company known for its dedication in promoting, pioneering and manufacturing local content in the ICT sector of the continent. A graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Seriki’s Omatek company has succeeded in penetrating the Nigerian IT market with local manufacture of casing, mouse, key board and speakers. She is also credited with opening the first indigenous Computer Assembly plant in Nigeria and Ghana. Her company also holds a very enviable position as a market leader in the production and assembly of computers and related accessories. Seriki is a Fellow of notable associations both within and outside the shores of the Country, including the Nigerian Chemical Engineering Society and the Nigerian Computer Society. She also holds a master degree in Business Administration from the Lagos Business School.

Olusegun Agbaje
Guaranty Trust Bank
Industry: Banking

Now many would wonder what will be the fate of GTBank after its co-founder and former CEO Tayo Aderiokun passed away in 2011. But Olusegun Jimi Agbaje has proved to be a worthy successor by taking the bank to a greater height. Agbaje has successfully improved GT Bank’s standing with its impressive year-on-year market share growth while maintaining the bank’s position as one of the most profitable bank in Nigeria for the last 3 years. Agbaje, GT Bank’s third CEO joined a pioneer staff in 1991, after a stint at Ernst & Young, San Francisco, USA. He subsequently rose through the ranks to become an Executive Director in January 2000 and was later appointed deputy managing director in 2002, a position which he held until April 2011, when he was appointed as Acting Managing Director. With over 21 years of investment and international banking experience, the Harvard Business School alumnus has experience in-most aspects of the bank’s business, including commercial banking, investment banking, treasury, corporate planning and strategy, settlements and operations.

This year, he was awarded the 2013 Banker of the Year – Africa by the World Finance Banking Awards- an award conferred on outstanding bankers who have achieved the most with regards to innovation, profitability and sustainability of their organization. GT Bank was also favored as “2013 Best Banking Group – Nigeria” by the same agency. Also London-based EMEA Finance magazine rated Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as Africa’s ‘Most Innovative Bank’ 2013 while Segun Agbaje was recognised as the 2013 pan-Africa CEO of the Year. Many will also agree that the bank today is one of the most innovative and tech-savvy bank in Nigeria. Agbaje through his leadership redefined mobile banking in Nigeria this year with the introduction of “Social Banking” which made it the first Nigerian bank to allow customers to transfer money and review their account balances on Facebook.

Leo-Stan Ekeh
Zinox Group
Industry: Information and Communication Technology

Dr. Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh is the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian ICT solutions giant, Zinox Group. He is recognized for playing a pivotal role in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in the continent, but most especially, for his intuitive leadership and capacity to define market trends in the technology terrain. An Economics graduate from the Punjab University, India, the Imo state born industrialist pioneered IT distribution in West Africa through Technology Distributions Limited, TD, which has emerged the Number 1 ICT distribution company and the most decorated ICT Distributor in West Africa. Leo Stan Ekeh has a record of incisive entrepreneurship and his vision to Computerise Nigeria has rewritten the history of Information Technology in Africa. His first company, Task Systems Limited changed the face of media and multimedia houses in West Africa as it helped computerise 95 prcent of the Print Media, Publishing Houses and Advertising Agencies in Nigeria. Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh also pioneered IT Solutions in West Africa through his company ITEC Solutions Limited through which he has delivered the largest IT Solutions ever, from an indigenous firm, to the Nigerian Corporate Market. Through his company, Leo Stan has been able to introduce Nigeria’s First Internationally Certified computers which include innovative features like the Naira sign and a power supply designed to contain the erratic nature of power in Nigeria.

In October 2013, the company announced the production of its computer tablet line named Zipad. Ekeh was recently named Africa’s first Microsoft Global Partner Adviser, a position he said he would use to advance the objectives of the Digital Knowledge Democracy and create technology value for Africans. The Microsoft Global Advisor Committee is a committee of distinguished IT icons around the world who serve as feedback channel to Microsoft for business models and strategy for product rollout and meets two times every year. They also act as an advocacy group for customers and channel partners.

A Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Ekeh was also honoured as an icon of Hope by (erstwhile) President Olusegun Obasanjo, for his sustained entrepreneurial efforts in Information Technology. He was also recognised as the IT Personality of the Year 2011 among other accolades.

Aliko Dangote
Dangote Group
Industry: Manufacturing

No list will be complete without Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who is arguably the most popular and successful CEO on the continent. He is unarguably the king of Nigeria manufacturing industry, and perhaps Africa. His company Dangote group, which he started with a business loan from his maternal uncle has grown to be one of the continent’s leading diversified business empires with interests in cement, sugar, flour, salt, pasta, beverages and real estate, and new projects in the oil and Natural gas sector, telecommunications, fertilizer and steel with annual earnings averaging $2 billion. Today, Dangote Group is worth more than $11 billion, comprising a third of Nigeria’s Stock Exchange.

The company cement business (Dangote Cement) which spans about 24 African countries is the company’s greatest asset and it has helped to push Nigeria to the fore-front in cement manufacturing, establishing it as the largest cement manufacturer in sub-Saharan Africa as well as the third-largest cement maker in the broader Middle East. According to Renaissance Capital research, Dangote Cement, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, was the major force behind the country’s cement success story. Also, his company was listed among Africa’s top 10 most valuable brands in 2013 by African Business Magazine. Dangote group was also named the most valuable brand in the consumer goods sector with an African brand value and overall 8th most valuable brand when placed against brands from other sectors.

In the coming year, Dangote Group plan to invest $16 billion in infrastructural projects in the energy, agriculture and construction sectors in what is likely to be the largest private investment ever in the continent. Dangote plans to double its cement output in Africa to 55 million metric tons by 2015 and to double its sugar refining capacity to 2.75 million tons by 2017. Industry watchers have predicted that Dangote Group will grow by about 30 percent next year if the investment goes according to its plan.

Mosunmola Abudu
Chairwoman and Chief Executive, EbonyLife TV
Industry: Media

The queen of talk shows and Nigeria’s Oprah, Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu is a media mogul and self-taught TV host. In 2013, Abudu launched EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first continent-wide black entertainment network, targeting Africa’s growing and aspiring middle class with programming that celebrates style and success while motivating its audiences to dream and dream big. The Nigerian TV personality has arguably revolutionised pay TV in Africa since she launched the continent’s first syndicated talk show, Moments With Mo, in 2006, and with EbonyLife TV, she is definitely one of the CEOs to look out for in the coming year.

A visionary, Mo in a statement announcing her company this year said: “The Western media has sold us the best of the West, even Asia has joined that race; it is time to not only sell Africa to the world but to ourselves. And we are now in a position to take indigenous African brands to the rest of the world, giving everyone the best of both worlds – it doesn’t get any better.” Simply put, Mo is a go-getter and an inspiration to African women the world over.

Oscar Onyema
Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
Industry: Finance

Oscar Onyema has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigeria’s trade stable – the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) since 2011. Since he became the bourse head, he has turned it around for good. A former Chief Administrative Officer of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), Onyema introduced Market Making and security lending to the NSE in 2012 as part of his move to introduce initiatives that would help to deepen the Nigerian stock market and make it the gateway to Africa capital markets. The introduction of this programme has paid off as the volume and value of trade has lifted the market by 41 per cent or N3.338 rillion in 2013.

Before the introduction of Market Making, the All-Share Index (ASI) posted a growth of 20 percent, rising 21,106.67 to c lose at 25,373.83. Market capitalisation also added N1.346 trillion, growing from N6.731trillion to N8.077 trillion as at September, 2013. Also, at the end of last week, market capitalisation appreciated by 1.88 per cent to close at N12.661 trillion while the NSE All-Share Index increased by 1.88 per cent to close on Friday (Dec 20) at 39,562.75. Onyema has delivered as the exchange is now one of the most respected globally. The NSE was one of the two bourses that made the top 10 best performing Stock Exchange of UK’s Telegraph this year. Under his management, the Nigerian Stock Exchange joined the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, making it the third African nation to join the clique. The SSE initiative is co-organized by UNCTAD, the United Nations Global Compact, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative, and the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment.

Udeme Ufot
SO&U Advertising Agency
Industry: Media

Ufot Udeme, the co-founder and Group Managing Director of Nigeria’s foremost advertising agency – SO&U is unarguably one of the most respected voice in the Nigerian marketing communications terrain. A graduate of Industrial design at the Ahmadu Bello University, Udeme started his advertising career as an art director with Desmark Advertising but later moved on to Insight Communications where he rose to the post of Deputy creative director after 5 years of working with the organization.
It was after this stint that he took an agency attachment course with German Saatchi and Saatchi affiliate – Scholz and Friends and then came back to Nigeria with a burning desire to establish his company with a vision of making it the most creative agency in Nigeria within two years. That was in 1990. True to his vision, within 18 months, the agency was named the most creative in the country. Several accolades have followed suit over the years. His company won the Fate Model Entrepreneur Award 2012. He has served as the President of both the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria and the Lagos Business School Alumni Association. He is also a board member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. He is also the brain behind the popular Nigerian Guinness Advert, “My friend Udeme is a great man.”

Stephen Olabisi Onasanya
First Bank Plc
Industry: Banking

Stephen Olabisi Onasanya is the powerhouse behind Nigeria’s oldest and biggest financial institutions – First bank Nigeria PLC. A seasoned banker, Onasanya took over First bank’s helm of Affairs from the present Nigeria CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Prior to his appointment, he served as the bank’s Executive Director, Banking Operations & Services. Since he joined First Bank in 1985, Onasanya has held several management and operational positions. Under Onansanya’s management, Great Place To Work Nigeria (GPTWN), an affiliate of Great Place to Work, San Francisco, US, a global research, consulting and training institute which analyses, selects and publishes best workplace lists in the country named the Bank as one of “the best place to work” and the ‘Company with the Best Human Resources Structure in Nigeria’ in 2013. The bank also emerged the winner of the Most Innovative Ai SRI50 Company award for outstanding performance, beating other contenders, such as Mobil, Kenya Airways, BHP Billiton, Nation Media Group, Stanbic and Uganda Sasol. This year, it succeeded in strengthening its operational processes to suit international best practices. This includes its migration to the world class Finacle 10, a core banking software application.

Sola David Borha
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC
Industry: Banking

A powerful voice in Nigeria’s corporate corridor Sola joined IBTC as an Executive Director of Investment Banking & Trust Company Plc (IBTC) in 1994. She rose to the post of its Deputy Managing Director and Acting Managing Director, IBTC Chartered Bank PLC (from 2005 to 2007), as well as Executive Director for Corporate and Investment Banking and then Deputy Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC in 2008 before she was officially appointed as the company CEO. With her extensive experience in the corporate and business world, Mrs David-Borha has been able to steer Stanbic IBTC to greater heights.

A woman of many paths, Mrs David-Borha is also a devout Christian and a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). She was recently named the highest paid CEO in Nigeria.

From Our News Desk -28th December 2013

UPDATES: 7 Burnt To Death In East-West Road Auto Crash. Fashola Reads Riot Acts To Car Dealers In Lagos. 15 Bodies Recovered From Benue Boat Mishap. Army Headquarters Redeploys 30 Generals. 2014: Jonathan Must Face Insecurity, Corruption – ACF. Kano Government Earmarks N700m For Geographic Information System In 2014. Enugu Police Command Arrests Suspected Native Doctor For Encouraging Kidnapping. Comedienne, Princess’ seven-month marriage crashes. Watch list: Presidency, Amaechi in ‘fresh war’. Eight killed, 20 injured in Bayelsa, Osun auto accidents. 23 die in India train fire. Scores injured as fresh violence erupts in Osun communities. Force hqrts probes police shooting of FRSC officer. CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido to begin retirement leave in April. Keystone Bank fires senior management workers. China abolishes one-child policy.

Nigerian Army redeploys senior officers

The Nigerian Army on Friday announced new postings of its senior officers.

This was contained in a statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

Under the new arrangement, Major General John Nwaoga, has been named as the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division while Major General Mohammed Idris, is now the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy.

Major General Chris Olukolade retains his post as Director, Defence Information.

The Army statement read in part: “As part of routine posting of senior officers in the Nigerian Army, the Army Headquarters has released the fourth quarter posting and appointment of its senior officers. “Some of the affected senior officers include; Major General John Kwabe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, Major General Ugo Buzugbe, Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Major General Ebiobowei Awala, Military Secretary (Army), Major General Olufemi Adeosun, Director, Policy Defence, Headquarters.”

Others listed in the statement include: Major General Sunday Adebayo, Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Major General Mobolaji Koleoso, Director, Armed Forces Simulation Centre, Major General Letam Wiwa, Director, Military Intelligence.

Major General Patrick Akem, was named Director, Legal Service (Army), while Major General Charley Okoro, takes over command as Director, Peace Keeping Operations, Defence Headquarters.

Other affected officers are: Major General Obidah Ethan, Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major General Junaid Bindawa, General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Modibbo Alkali, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery.

Major General Shehu Yusuf takes charge as Commandant, Depot, Nigerian Army, and Major General Ahmed Mohammed takes over as Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre.

Major General Iliyasu Abbah, Commander, Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield), Brigadier General Arinze Ebenebe, Commandant, Warrant Officers Academy, Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana, Director of Army Reserve Recruitment and Resettlement.

Other postings include that of Brigadier General Kasimu Abdulkarim, Director of Physical Training, Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force, Brigadier General Ibe Nicholas, Commander, 23 Brigade.

Brigadier General Ohifeme Ejemai, Commander, 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Bright Fibionumama, Commander, 3 Brigade, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, Commander, 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Mustapha Onoyiveta, Head, Nigerian Army Operations Monitoring Team, Brigadier General Lanre Bello, Commander, 34 Brigade and Brigadier General Olajide Laleye, Director, Army Public Relations among others.

Boko Haram leader claims Dec. 20 attacks on barracks

The leader of Boko Haram sect,Abubakar Shekau, has claimed a daring December 20 raid on a military barracks in the restive northeast, in a video obtained by AFP Friday.

The insurgents stormed the barracks in the town of Bama in a convoy of trucks before sunrise, opened fired on the soldiers inside then torched the compound. Several witnesses said the gunmen kidnapped soldiers as well as women and children.

“Our fighters stormed the Bama barracks,” Shekau said, while seated on a mat and flanked by a group of armed men.

Shekau has released a series of videos since taking control of the rebel group more than three years ago. The latest recorded statement was delivered to AFP through the same channel as previous messages.

“This is a victory from Allah,” said the wanted insurgent leader after claiming to have destroyed “21 armoured tanks” and killed “multitudes” in the raid.

The military has not released a death toll from the barracks attack and rescue agencies have largely been barred from working in the northeast since a state of emergency was declared in the area in May.

According to the defence ministry, more than 50 “terrorists” were killed when ground forces backed by fighter jets pursued the fleeing Islamists after the raid.

Residents told AFP that an unknown number of civilians were killed and four villages destroyed during the military response.

Shekau has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which put a $7 million (5.1 million euros) bounty on his head. Nigeria has separately offered 50 million naira ($300,000) for information leading to his capture or death.

In the video, Shekau appeared to mock the notion that one of his loyalists would betray him in exchange for a reward.

“What is 50 million naira? We do not worship money. As for those who are in our midst, Allah has taken care of them,” he said.

The Bama attack was the second major strike on the military in the northeast this month and was seen as a reminder that more than seven months into a military offensive aimed at crushing the insurgency, Boko Haram remains capable of striking high profile targets.

The group’s four-year insurgency, which seeks to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north, has killed thousands.(AFP)

Diamond Bank Rewards Customers In Special Year-End Draw

Diamond Bank PLC, a leading player in the Nigerian Retail banking space, has announced a year-end special draw, under the DiamondXtra Reward Scheme, to reward loyal customers of its DiamondXtra account. The Draw will hold at the Iron and Building Materials Market, OrileIganmu, Lagos, on Friday, December 27, 2013.
 
At the Year-end special draw, 35 customers would win N1million each, 1 customer will win N2million and the luckiest customer will win Salary4Life (earns N100,000 every month for 20 years). Continue...

Commenting on the draw, Head, Corporate Communications of the Bank, Mrs. AyonaTrimnell said, “The DiamondXtra account is a special savings account designed for individuals who want to build up their savings gradually. It is an interest-yielding savings account which allows the deposit of both cash and third party cheques. In addition, DiamondXtra account holders receive a cheque book and an ATM card with which they can withdraw from their account at any Diamond Bank branch. It is a simple and straightforward savings account that comes with a low minimum opening amount of N5,000.”

The DiamondXtra Reward Scheme is currently the longest running reward scheme in Nigeria. It was launched in July 2008 in a bid to encourage a savings culture and also to reward customers for their loyalty. The draws are held weekly (every Friday), monthly (every last Friday of the Month) and to mark special occasions as determined by the Bank.

The Salary 4Life is a unique feature of the DiamondXtra account in which Diamond Bank pays the sum of N100,000.00 into the customer’s account every month for the next 20 years. The draws are conducted through an electronic process approved by the National Lottery & Regulatory Commission and the Consumer Protection Council and which is also verified by the renowned auditing firm, KPMG Professional Services. Every N5,000.00 deposited by the customer increases the customer’s chances of winning as the winning tickets are chosen by a random draw.

Amongst the numerous benefits of running a DiamondXtra account is a free access to all Diamond Bank electronic banking channels like Diamond Online, Diamond Mobile and Diamond Dial. DiamondXtra  account holders also enjoy a free life assurance cover of N50,000.

DiamondXtra customers also have access to a secured credit card called the DiamondXtra VISA Credit Card which allows them access to a credit limit of up to 75% of the funds in their account without dipping into valuable savings, hence granting them the privilege of qualifying for the weekly and monthly draws. To enjoy the benefits of the Reward Scheme, existing DiamondXtra account holders must have a minimum of N5,000.00 (Five Thousand Naira) in their account. Multiples of ₦5,000 deposits increase the customers’ chances of winning.

Since the reward scheme commenced, over 1,000 loyal customers have been rewarded with cash prizes valued at over N2bn in total.

Comedienne Princess Dammy & husband split after only 7 months of marriage

After just seven months of marriage, one of Nigeria's best comediennes Princess Dammy, real name Damilola Adekoya, has separated from her husband, movie producer/director Adeshola Jeremiah. The NET reports that the couple started having problems just two weeks after their wedding in May 2013 and officially split a few months ago after a series of efforts to mend the broken marriage failed.

Confirming the split, Princess Dammy told Thenet,ng
"Yes my marriage has ended due to irreoncilable differences. We have been having issues since the wedding but we still remained together hoping that we would be able to work it out. But apparently, we couldn’t work it out, hence the reason for our separation. We actually ended it several months ago, but we didn’t want to make it public. I’m sure God knows best’
Eya, sad to hear this...

OMG! Banker slices husband’s penis with knife. (See photos)

Found this bizarre story on PM News. A woman took a knife and sliced her husband's penis during a fight at their home in Surulere. Read the report below...
The popular saying that hell has no fury than a woman scorned came to pass on Monday at the Surulere residence of a banker, Bimbo Ajetumobi Daniju and her gospel singer husband Olalekan Idowu Daniju when the woman allegedly took a knife and sliced her husband’s penis during a fight.
Bimbo, staff of a new generation bank in Lagos was said to have accused her husband of not taking care of her and their only child, Opeoluwa. The husband disagreed and while fighting, Bimbo allegedly seized her husband’s penis and sliced it with a knife. Bimbo denied using a knife but her fingernails to teach her husband a lesson on how not to treat a woman. The ugly incident happened on Monday at their Falolu Street, Surulere home.
Pics of the sliced penis after the cut...*viewer discretion advised* The matter was reported to the police at Surulere station and the woman was arrested. In her statement to the police, Bimbo denied using a knife on her husband’s penis but her fingernails.
She was later released on bail when her husband insisted that he was not interested in pressing charges against her.

Trouble started on 16 December when the banker who is a staff of the Agege Motor Road branch of the bank, accused her husband who has just returned from the church, of failing to provide for the needs of the family and leaving her to do everything. She also accused him of being selfish and uncaring.

She reportedly shouted at Olalekan who was eating and when he didn’t answer, poured his plate of food on his head. She took a bucket found in the room and smashed it on his head. This resulted in fighting.

Their neighbours separated them and Olalekan went to his sister’s shop to seek refuge but not done yet Bimbo allegedly followed him there and threatened to stab him with a broken bottle.
Relatives and neighbours, it was gathered, intervened and pleaded with the couple to give peace a chance but the couple continued to live like a cat and mouse.

Madam Kehinde Daniju, sister of Olalekan told P.M.NEWS that when her brother ran to her for help, she had to call their mother and other relatives to settle the matter for them in the family house they lived.

She explained that Bimbo’s mother who also lived around the area came and told her daughter not to accept reconciliation until Olalekan got a job. She blamed the couple’s constant disagreement on Olalekan’s refusal to get a job.

When she was leaving she took along the couple’s only son, Opeoluwa Daniju.

This did not go down well with Olalekan who ordered his wife to go to her mother’s house and bring his son before 8 p.m. or there would be trouble.

It was said that Bimbo left the house before 8 p.m and returned 30 minutes later without Opeoluwa.
This resulted in another round of fighting during which neighbours and relatives intervened again to separate them.

Narrating his story, Olalekan said he woke her up on Sunday to ask what she would be wearing to the church so that he could iron it but she didn’t reply.
“ I picked up my son’s cloth, ironed it, bathed him, had my bath and left both of them at home and went to church. In between the service, I came home to check on them and I met her cooking, I even joked that thank God there’s something for them to eat.

Seven more PDP governors will to join us soon – APC

Seven more Peoples Democratic Party governors are to join the All Progressives Congress soon, the Rivers State APC spokesperson, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, has said. He said the opposition party was ready to accept them.

Eze described the PDP, which had lost five of its governors to the APC, as a sinking ship that would soon go into political oblivion.

He told The PUNCH in a telephone interview on Thursday that rather than continue to display ‘unnecessary’ bravado, the PDP should get ready to hand over to the APC in 2015.

He pointed out that the only way any reasonable politician could remain relevant from 2015 was to join the APC since the PDP had already lost its value.

The APC leader said, “Let us face the fact; the PDP should stop displaying unnecessary bravado. The APC is where any progressive and sensitive Nigerian politician wants to be. In Kaduna and Katsina, the people are already moving to the APC.

“The PDP that was in the majority up till few weeks ago is now in the minority. Where did their members go? Of course they are here with us in the APC.

“Why would anyone say the APC is doomed. You can see that such a statement is lacking in logic. It is the PDP that is doomed and not the APC.

“By the first quarter of 2014, seven more governors will join the APC and maybe that is when the PDP will realise that it (PDP) has finally sunk.”

Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, promised that the APC would remain steadfast in its resolve to make a change in the way things were being done in the country.

Why I Parted Ways With Jonathan – Femi Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has said that he parted ways with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan due to what he described as insincerity of the president in resolving the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to him, the president as the chief security officer of the nation should be held responsible for the lives of over 7,000 Nigerians that were wasted in the last three years.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Yola yesterday, Fani-Kayode said emphatically, ‘’I said with all sense of responsibility that the blood of innocent souls that have been killed is hunting this government and no man in his right senses will be part of a government under which this scale of atrocities is being perpetrated; as such, I parted ways with them.’’

He further said, ‘’I don’t think the war against Boko Haram by this government is sincere , if indeed, it’s Boko Haram and not the government that is behind it.

“May be they have a hidden agenda to ensure that by 2015, the situation will be so bad that elections cannot hold in some parts of the country, because they know if elections hold in those areas, they will woefully be defeated.’’

Pres. Jonathan orders police to investigate case of pregnant factory worker beaten by Lebanese boss

IfI have a strong feeling Alice will get justice soon. This can never be tolerated. And all companies paying below Nigeria's minimum wage should be investigated too. Alice was earning a meager N12k a month, and lost her baby on top of it? We need to find this woman.

Pastor arraigned for defrauding victims of N20m in Asaba

The Delta State Police Command said on Tuesday that it has arraigned one Pastor Victor Osakwe at the Asaba Magistrate Court for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting victims of more than N20 million.

The Command’s Acting Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Charles Muka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba that the pastor defrauded more than 20 people of both money and properties.

Muka also alleged that Osakwe was a fake pastor at the Holly Hill Zion Prophetic and Solution Ministry, Akwu Ofu, Asaba.

“Osakwe has been arraigned on 20-count charges for frequently defrauding over 20 persons of a total of N20 million.

“The Pastor’s mode of operation is to raise false alarm on death and imminent calamity on his unsuspecting victims to make them part with their cars and monies,” the police spokesman said.

He said that Osakwe had been remanded in the prison, adding that items recovered from him included two saloon cars, two jeeps, among other items. (NAN)

Lebanese boss beats up pregnant factory worker in Lagos, woman loses 7-month pregnancy

OMG! Did this really happen? According to a shocking report by National Daily Newspaper, a 7-month pregnant factory worker was beaten so badly by her Lebanese boss that she lost her baby.
Workers in a Lagos based packaging and printing company, Toppan Packaging Company Limited located on Ladipo Oluwole in Ikeja Industrial Estate could not believe what they witnessed on Friday the 13th December 2013.
When the shift manager, a Lebanese; Kaveh Noine beat up the Cleaning Unit Supervisor Mrs. Alice Ossai in their presence, due to what he deemed negligence on her part, his grouse, a portion of the factory is littered with dirt and she failed in her responsibility to rein in her team to keep the factory floor spick and span.
Frantic efforts by Ossai to explain why the portion of the factory was littered with dirt, even after she was assaulted was rebuffed by Noine who shouted her down and asked her to come with him to his office fuming with rage; exasperated staff members on duty went in with Ossai in a bid to collectively explain the supposed duty breach. Noine rained blows on Ossai and kicking her repeatedly, without sparing her tummy even though she was seven months pregnant.
Like many Nigerians working under similar conditions, took everything calmly even though she complained to her close friends that she was in deep pain put up a bold face and continued with her duty, bearing the shame and physical assault in her stride all in a bid to secure her job and that of two of her siblings who also works in the company.

However; when the news of her assault reached her two siblings; they made an attempt to retaliate on her behalf, Ossai dissuaded them from physically roughing up Noine, begging them to consider the financial burden they bear with the twelve thousand naira month salary paid each of them, as any attempt to confront Noine will eventually lead to their collective loss of income, a situation they cannot cope with giving the fact that they have an aged sick mother to take care off as well as other regular and emerging bills to pay.

Pregnant Ossai was helped home by some of her co-workers and her siblings that day; she resumed work the next day a Saturday 14th December even as the pain continued intermittently, even in pains and being pregnant, she carried out her supervisory cleaning assignments in order to save the family income. On Sunday she rested at home being a work free day even as the pain increased. She resumed on Monday but the pain had increased considerably and she could not carry out her cleaning supervisory assignments, at a point she leaned on the mop stick and clutched her stomach. By 10 pm on Monday she noticed patches of blood on her underwear, the flow progressed steadily and rapidly into clots of blood dripping out of her.

Family members had to rush her to Glorious Mercy Hospital close to her house where a Caesarian Section was carried out on Ossai, the Medical Director said that Ossai prognosis revealed that the Placenta progressively detached from the walls of Ossai’s Uterus, thereby Oxygen and other vital nutrients were denied her Feotus; in the days after the assault, hence the need to evacuate and save Ossai’s life.

I fasted for 10 months to become gov – Amaechi

RIVERS State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum has attributed the increasing level of insecurity in the Federal Government.

He also said God, and not man, installed him as the state governor because he fasted and prayed for 10 months before he became the governor.

Amaechi said rather than chase criminals away from the state, the police had decided to shoot innocent citizens.

The governor, who spoke at Saint Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said insecurity in the state was growing because the police had failed to do their job in an unbiased manner.

Maintaining that his government was installed by Jesus Christ, Amaechi urged the people to disregard those who claimed to be responsible for his emergence as the governor of the state.

He said, “As a government led by me, a government installed by Christ, if anybody tells you he installed me, tell him it is a lie. Tell him that I said I prayed for 10 months and I fasted from 6am to 6pm, calling on Christ to come down and Christ came down mightily and installed me as governor.

“That is why you can see that in the face of human effontery, I have been able to stand face to face with them and I say I have Christ in me.

“You must rise in that same spirit of having Christ in you and confront those who are confronting you. You must stand up for Christ because the Bible says ‘faith without work is dead.’

“We must not die. We must live and the way to live is to celebrate Christ and the way to celebrate Christ is to confront Satan and Satan is in different forms and shapes.

“If the police shoot at you, they are satanic. If government denies you your right to live, that government is satanic,” Amaechi added.

“All these you may want to attribute to political disagreement in Rivers State; but it is not true. It is simply because of those who lead us in Abuja; because the police is an establishment of the Federal Government and they have refused to curb the excesses of the police.

My abductors demanded dollars –Akinola

   former  Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Dr. Peter Akinola,  on Wednesday  recounted his ordeal in the hands of the gunmen who abducted him, his daughter and driver on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said that the armed  men took them into a forest where they took off his shirt and shoes  and then demanded dollars.

The cleric, noted for his outspokenness on national and international issues, added that his driver was not as lucky as he was stripped down to his boxers.

Akinola,who  spoke    to a congregation during a Christmas service in Abeokuta, said that his daughter,   driver and himself, were  rescued  because of God’s  benevolence.

The retired cleric added that he had gone to the secretariat of the youth training centre he established in Abeokuta to  give   Christmas presents to the  workers  when two armed men   appeared and whisked the three of them away .

He said that in the forest, the gunmen insisted that he must give the dollars in his Sports Utility Vehicle.

Expressing surprise at the rate with which the news of the incident spread, Akinola  added that Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye,  personally led the search for their rescue.

He said,  “I left  my  house at about 11am (on Tuesday) for  our site where we are building structures to train young people in Nigeria who are unemployed. The irony of it is that as I was coming out of the place where I had gone to give food to our workers for Christmas,   two young men came out of their car from nowhere. They asked me to open the door, knocking the glass with their guns.

“I instructed my driver, Jonah,  to open the door for them. They sandwiched us at the back of the car and they drove off. They told us to put our heads down and that they would blow off our heads  if we looked up. They drove for about an hour, where we didn’t know until we discovered that we were in   a thick forest. Then I requested to talk and informed them that there was no enough fuel in the car.

“They queried us for not having enough fuel in the car and my driver responded that we just returned from a journey. In the bush , I was surprised at how they were able to locate a filling station, bought N3,000 fuel and we continued with the journey. That was about 3pm.

“They started asking questions about dollars but I said there was none. I told them I was a village pastor that had just retired and that the car was given to me by the church. They asked about the security of the car and I told them there was none. They searched for it for almost two hours but couldn’t find anything.

“I was just praying for God of mercy  to come to our rescue. I was just remembering how God saved some believers in the Bible and I concluded that if I must die, it must not  be in the hands of these people.

“Unknown to us, the news had started circulating   and people had  started praying. Meanwhile they had taken everything from us; they had taken my shirt, my shoes and I was left with only my singlet and trousers. But my driver was not so lucky; his shirt, trousers and shoes were taken and he was left with only  his boxers.