GODSWILL AKPABIO to Supervise the Beating Of Opposition Lawmaker

The Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly has descended into a serious crisis after the state governor, Godswill Akpabio, personally supervised the beating of a lawmaker he suspected to be politically opposed to him and his loyalists.

Mr. Akpabio, witnesses said, watched as his loyalists manhandled Onofiok Luke, chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations, who was accused of being rude to the governor after he rose in defense of another lawmaker accused of challenging a loyalist of the governor at a caucus meeting held two days earlier.

The governor, our sources said, beamed with smiles as members of his kitchen cabinet, comprising Nse Ntuen, chairman of Essien Udim local government and Emmanuel Ekon, a member representing Abak/Ika/Etim Ekpo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, assaulted Mr. Luke for being allegedly rude to the governor.

The incident happened November 2 at a funeral service in honour of the mother-in-law of a state lawmaker, Gabriel Tobi, held in Etim Ekpo local government area of the state.

Mr. Akpabio had at the event summoned some lawmakers and tongue-lashed them for doing nothing after Victor Udofia, a lawmaker representing Ikono/Ini state Constituency, allegedly attacked his loyalist, Aniekan Akpan, a member representing Ukanafun state constituency, at a caucus meeting of the House.

Witnesses say as the governor fumed and abused Mr. Udofia, who was not at the event, an equally furious Mr. Luke rose in defence of his colleague, telling the governor to abandon his divide-and-rule tactics in the interest of the state.

The governor had directed the speaker of the Assembly, Sam Ikon, to immediately activate a process that would lead to the suspension of Mr. Udofia from the House. But Mr. Luke reportedly shot back, saying Mr. Udofia committed no offence and that any move to punish him would be resisted.

Angered by Mr. Luke’s audacity, Messrs Ekon and Ntuen descended on him, hitting and punching him repeatedly.

Mr. Akpabio simply looked on, our sources said.

The fight, we learnt, only ended after Paul Ekpo, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, intervened.

The Akwa state House of Assembly is now divided along those from the governor’s minority Annang ethnic group and those from the majority Ibibio ethnic group.

Some lawmakers accuse Mr. Akpabio of financially empowering legislators from his ethnic group and then using them to undermine the speaker and other lawmakers from Ibibioland.

Messrs Ntuen and Ekon, who attacked Mr. Luke, are from Mr. Akpabio’s Annang ethnic group while Mr. Luke is Ibibio.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that after the incident, Mr. Akpabio directed his aides to embark on a tour of media establishments to compromise them and get them to drop stories on the accident.

Concerned that the incident might do further damage to his image, our sources within the administration said, the governor also hurriedly convened a press conference where he allegedly bribed reporters with N50,000 each not to report the incident.

Mr. Akpabio could not be reached to comment for this story.

But his spokesperson, who is also the state Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, confirmed there was a disagreement between Mr. Onofiok and the governor.

Mr. Umanah said while talking to the governor on the day in question, the lawmaker raised his voice against Mr. Akpabio.

“Other members asked him not to shout because he was talking to the governor,” Mr. Umanah said. “Later, everything calmed down.”

The commissioner added via a text message, “I was there in person. Nobody beat up Onofiok talk less of doing so before the governor.”

Mr. Onofiok could not be reached for comments. But a source close to him said he had been under pressure from Governor Akpabio in the last few days to address the media to say he was never beaten by the governor’s loyalists.

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Teenage Driver Crushes Toddler's Skull in Lagos

When three-year-old Ikeoluwa Olaniyi was playing with her friends in her grandfather’s compound in Ire Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos, on September 3, 2013, little did she know that death was lurking.

It was learnt that a teenage motorist, Chinyere Wagbaranta, in company with her brother, Chisom, and a police corporal attached to Police Mobile Force 22, Felix Adebayo, in a Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle, drove into the compound carelessly, hitting the little girl and crushing her skull.

The victim’s grandfather, Adesola Elegbede, who spoke to our correspondent while fighting back tears, said Ikeoluwa was his first grandchild.

He said, “Ikeoluwa lives with me and my wife. Her father works in a bank and her mother works with an accounting firm, which are both located on Victoria Island. Ikeoluwa attends a school in Ilasa, which is not far from our house. She stays with her parents during the weekend.

“On the day of the incident, I came in and saw her eating yam just outside the main door and told her to go inside. A few minutes later, I wanted to go to my friend who lives a few houses away from mine and Ikeoluwa attempted to follow me but she met some of her friends playing in the compound so she joined them.

“A few minutes later, I heard a loud scream that Ikeoluwa had been crushed by a vehicle in the compound. I ran to the scene and observed that the side of her head had been crushed. I saw the vehicle that hit her but the occupants had fled. I carried my granddaughter to Good Health Hospital, where she was declared dead.”

Elegbede said he immediately ran to the Isolo Police Division to report the matter and it was there that he met the culprits.

He said Chinyere drove recklessly into the compound because she was on a mission to fight one of his neighbours.

He said, “I was told that Chinyere and her brother hired the Police Mobile Force member, who is attached to a bank in the area, to escort them to our compound to fight one of my neighbour’s children.

“They drove recklessly from Ire Akari Road into my compound and after crushing my little girl, the armed MOPOL aided them in escaping from the scene.”

The grandfather said four days after the incident, Chinyere’s parents, in company with the Divisional Police Officer, Isolo, Adamu Ibrahim, and a chief in the area came to apologise over the incident, urging him not to pursue the case.

Elegbede, however, berated the police for not handling the case professionally.

He said, “When they came to visit me four days later, I was shocked that the DPO escorted them to my place. Why should the DPO be pleading on their behalf, telling me it was the will of God? Anyway, I told them to go and beg Ikeoluwa’s parents because I am not her father.

“On September 9, the DPO called me again saying the Area D Commander at Mushin wanted to see all the parties involved but on getting there, the DPO told us to return to his own station.

“When I noticed that the case was not being handled properly, I asked the DPO to transfer the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, but he refused to do this.

“I am aware that Chinyere is 18 years old and is an adult. I have already started hearing that the police want to manipulate her age, get her a fake affidavit and give her a soft-landing. I will not accept this.”

The victim’s grandfather said life had not been the same since the incident occurred.

While pointing to the spot where his granddaughter’s blood was shed, he said, “I cannot believe this. We are still in shock. Her mother has had to take leave from work and travel out of the country to take her mind off things. Imagine us losing such a pleasant and brilliant girl?”

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the accident to our correspondent.

Braide said the matter was reported as a fatal car accident and that Chinyere had been charged to court.

PUNCH

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13 year old boy shot in the US for carrying Toy Gun

Sheriff's deputies have shot dead a 13-year-old boy who was carrying what turned out to be a replica rifle.

Two Sonoma County deputies on patrol saw the boy walking with what appeared to be a high-powered weapon on Tuesday in Santa Rosa in northern California, said sheriff's Lieutenant Dennis O'Leary.

They called for backup and repeatedly ordered him to drop the rifle, which resembled an AK-47 with a black magazine and brown butt, according to a photograph released by the sheriff's office.

Deputies only found out after the shooting that it was not a real firearm, Lt O'Leary said.

Rodrigo Lopez identified the boy as his son, Andy Lopez, to a newspaper and said the teenager had been carrying a toy gun that belonged to a friend.

It was not clear whether the boy pointed the replica assault rifle at the deputies or made any type of threatening gesture.

Lt O'Leary said the deputies fired several rounds from their handguns immediately after issuing the orders to drop the rifle.

A neighbour in the area, Brian Zastrow, told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat newspaper that he heard seven shots.

"First, I heard a single siren and within seconds I heard seven shots go off, sounded like a nail gun, is what I thought it was," he said.

Lt O'Leary said the boy fell to the ground on top of the rifle and deputies ordered him to move away before approaching him and putting him in handcuffs.

They then began administering first aid and called for paramedics, who pronounced the boy dead at the scene.

Deputies also found a plastic handgun in the boy's waistband, Lt O'Leary said.

The deputies, who have not been identified, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard after a shooting.

Community members left candles, teddy bears and flowers at the edge of the field where the teen was shot and questioned deputies' decision to open fire.

"I'm sure you can tell he's a 13-year-old boy," Abrey Martin told KGO-TV. "He's not some maniac."

The Press Democrat quoted the boy's mother, Sujey Annel Cruz Cazarez, as saying, "Why did they kill him? Why?"

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(HELP!)Help He Is 18 Years Older Than Me! Should I Still Marry Him Despite The Age Difference

Hi all,

I need your opinion on this. My fiance is 18 years older than me but he does not look it. He loves me more than I do and the truth is that no guy that I have dated has ever loved me like him. The relationship is leading to marriage and we have never had any problem since we started dating, but the age gap is my concern.

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Bomb scare at PDP National Secretariat

vanguard

NATIONAL secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was yesterday thrown into pandemonium and state of total confusion as both senior and junior staff ran for safety following   fear of planted bomb by an undisclosed group.

As the news went round the Wadata Plaza, the PDP National Secretariat,   top party officials were scampering to leave the secretariat, just as some directors hurriedly discharged their Staff for the week end.

It was also difficult for staff to drive out of the premises because of the tight nature of the available packing space and middle and junior level officials without cars who were apparently disturbed especially as the news broke out barely twenty four hours after the Lagos Plane crash   were seen in groups discussing the matter.

Some principal officials like the National Auditor, Chief Adewole   Adeyanju,   departmental directors , among others who got wind of the news had to rush out of the premises, even as PDP national chairman,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the new National Secretary, Professor Adewale   Oladipo were not in the office.

Moves by anxious   journalists to get to the top of the story, however revealed that a report was relayed to the party secretariat Thursday night disclosing a verified report of a credible threat to attack the secretariat starting from Friday.

A director of the party was said to have received the report and then informed all the necessary directors and officials within the leadership and this   was later leaked to the general Staff who took the news and reacted very fast yesterday.

A top security official of the party who confirmed the development, said, “yes, the threat is real and we are all aware of the situation”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/bomb-scare-pdp-national-secretariat/#sthash.KhWO9cf7.dpuf

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Photos from the Late Agagu's Burial Ceremony

The remains of the late ex-governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu was finally committed to mother earth weeks after his death and 48 four hours after the plane conveying his remains crashed in Lagos leaving his coffin and his son with no serious injuries.

His body arrived his Iju odo hometown in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state around 1: 40 pm yesterday from Lagos and was received by a large crowd.

Sympathizers, family members dignitaries, traditional rulers as well as religious leaders both within and outside the state graced the ceremony.

Agagu's body was taken to his hometown today by road.

Several officials, clergy and party stalwarts at the burial includes, Minister Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade who led the Federal Government delegation; Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo, former governors of Oyo and Ekiti States, Adebayo Akala and Segun Oni; Osun’s ex-governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ogun State’s ex-governor Gbenga Daniel, controversial businessman Jimoh Ibrahim, Agagu’s former deputy Omolade Oluwateru, former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, PDP Chairman Ondo State Chief Ebenezer Alabi, member House of Representatives , Raphael Nomiye, , Dr. Tunji Abayomi, and Chief Tai Lawal, among others.

More Photos Below:

 

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First Class graduate shot dead after trying to stop a Policeman from beating his girlfriend

A 30-year old first class graduate of Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Moses Murtala Aminu, has been shot dead by a policeman.

The victim had left his 67, Ahmadu Ahijo Street, Narayi-Highcost family residence last week Sunday full of life for a party at Barnawa , Kaduna, but could not return home as he was killed by a police constable.

His friend and eyewitness told P.M.NEWS this morning that the police constable identified as Alex Okpe was beating up his girlfriend outside the venue of the party and when Murtala tried to intervene, he got angry and pulled out his gun from his jeans trousers and fired straight into his heart.

According to an eyewitness who spoke to P.M.NEWS under anonymity,  after Murtala was shot dead, the police constable then fired again in the air twice to scare the people around and escaped on his motorcycle.

Moses Andrew, a friend who was with Muri, as he was popularly called, at the Time Out Lounge party venue in Barnawa, narrated that there was pandemonium after Muri was shot and Okpe, the policeman, had escaped .

“We were confused while trying to revive Muri, when a guy informed us that he knows a friend to Okpe’s girlfriend that had left the party for a club called X-One at Barnawa,” Andrew said.
According to him, they quickly moved to X-One and fortunately met her there.
“We picked the lady who identified the policeman who killed Muri as Alex Okpe, and that he serves at Kakuri Police Station but deployed to guard Nigerian Brewries Plc.,” 

Andrew added.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the killer policeman was later tracked down and arrested by officers from Barnawa Police Division after the case was reported there.

Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Femi Adenaike, who confirmed the incident to P.M.NEWS, said it was true Alex Okpe was arrested and during interrogation confessed to have killed Murtala Aminu at a party venue.
Adenaike said Okpe claimed in his statement that he fired at Muri in “self defence” when he and his friends were trying fight him over his girlfriend.

He said the police didn’t send Okpe to Barnawa at that time and if he is found guilty, he would be dismissed and taken to court for trial.

“The suspect is in the cell and we have commenced investigation. And if he is found guilty, we will give him an in-house trial and summary dismissal so that he can face the law for homicide,” the state police boss said.

The blind father of the late Muritala, Mohammed Jimoh, told journalists at press conference at their High-Cost residence that as a Muslim he’s taught to accept the death of his son and bread winner as an act of God.

But he said if his son had to die, it should not be in the hands of a policeman who should have been responsible for protecting him.
“Yes my son , a first class economist for that matter and our hope, is dead, but I want justice done in this case,” Aminu said.

Until Murtala Aminu’s death, he was the youth leader, Catholic Holy Family Church, Barnawa.

He also owned a shawamar and roasted fish outlet at Narayi-Highcost.

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Area Boys Fight Over Money Found on Lagos Plane Crash Victims

Some hoodlums on Thursday were seen exchanging blows and throwing bottles at one another over the money they found on the dead victims of the Associated Airline plane crash.

It was learnt that when the hoodlums were assisting in the evacuation of the victims, they allegedly searched the victims’ pockets for money and other valuable things.

It was also learnt that they fight ensued due to alleged ‘insincerity’ in the sharing of the money they stole from the dead.

One of the hoodlums, identified simply as Loko, was heard saying, “You won’t believe that after the whole rescue thing, we luckily found money and they don’t want to share it equally.”

PUNCH

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"Nothing do me " Lagos plane crash suvivor, Feyi Agagu speaks(Photo)

                                                       Feyi Agagu reportedly walking after the crash

Feyi, the son of late former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, has said that he is alright and no one should worry about his state.

Feyi spoke when his friends, led by Jide Obanikoro, the son of a former Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro, visited him at the Surgical Emergency ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja where he and other victims of the Associated Airline plane crash were rushed to on Thursday.


The victim, who spoke normally, said he became unconscious after feeling the impact of the aeroplane hitting the ground but woke up later.

He had a neck support and some bandages but he giggled when he saw his friends wearing worried faces.
While being wheeled to the Intensive Care Unit for a body scan, the victim threw his right thumb up to his friends, saying ‘nothing do me’.

 A second victim, Femi Akinsanya, was seen on another bed talking with about seven of his relatives, including Hip Hop Musician, Sasha Alabi.
Akinsanya, who had a neck support around his neck, described his survival as a miracle.Doctorswere seen advising his pregnant wife not to move him to another hospital yet until he is stabilised.

Our correspondent was however prevented from taking pictures inside the hospital.

It was not all smiles at the hospital as a plump woman, said to be the wife of one of the dead victims, Chijioke Duru, was seen weeping profusely, rolling on the ground at the hospital.
She wailed, “Chjioke, I am finished, who will take care of our daughter, Chinasa. Why did you leave me? I am finished.”
The woman subsequently started blabbing and demanded that her husband’s corpse be handed over to her immediately. She was however taken away by another relative.

Meanwhile, sources close to Gbenga Obasanjo told our correspondent that he was in the United States and denied rumours that he was on the aeroplane.

The source said,

“Gbenga was meant to be on that plane because he was to represent his father, Olusegun Obasanjo, at the event but stayed back in Atlanta, Georgia to attend to some things.”

Feyi before the crash

Punch

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More Pictures From The Scene Of The Plane Crash Today

 

Sources on ground said one of his sons was involved in the crash alongside the commissioner of tourism in Ondo State who had been detailed to accompany the corpse from Lagos.

Agagu's casket remained intact, but failed to open after all efforts by the rescue teams has now been moved to the Air force base close to the Airport.

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UPDATE: (Lagos Plane Crash) Late Agagu's corpse retrieved , his son survives.

Update: The coffin of the late Ogun state ex-governor was found almost intact .According to Channels TV, his son survived and was one of the paople that were rescued. It was gathered that his wife took a flight earlier and had arrived Akure before the plane carrying the Late former Governor's corpse crashed. Mr Tunji Okusasanya {Mic} casket Boss is one of the dead. His niece, Actress Eniola Badmus confirmed this. Punch reports that Nine bodies have been recovered and six survivors so far.

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Plane crashes in Lagos (Conveying passengers for the burial of late Ondo state Gov.)

An Associated Airline plane carrying 20 persons to Akure Ondo State for the burial of former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Agagu crashed in Lagos airport fuel dump area minutes after take-off Silverbird Tv reports that Spokes Person of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA in the south west, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the incident said 8 bodies have been recovered from the site of the crash, 1 injured is being taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital LASUTH Reports that the plane was also conveying the late Gov.corpse whose burial was set for tomorrow Friday 4th October 2013.
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...More Info coming

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How I escaped Nairobi attack — Soyinka

(The nation)

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said that the late Ghanaian diplomat and poet, Kofi Awoonor and himself could have been together at the Storymoja/Hay Literature Festival held in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said he was invited to the same festival but could not attend.

Awoonor was killed by terrorists last Saturday at the Westgate Shopping Mall shooting in Nairobi.

Soyinka said two commitments: a public conversation with a very brave individual, Karima Bennoune, an Algerian national, whose trenchant publication – Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here, and the annual conference of international investigators in Tunis, were responsible for his inability to attend the festival.

He said: “My absence was particularly regrettable, because I had planned to make up for my failure to turn up for the immediate prior edition. Participant or absentee however, this is one edition we shall not soon forget. It was at least two days after the listing of Kofi Awoonor among the victims that I even recollected the fact that the Festival was ongoing at that very time.

“With that realisation came another: that Kofi and I could have been splitting a bottle at that same watering hole in between events and at the end of each day. My feelings, I wish to state clearly, did not undergo any changes. The emotions of rage, hate and contempt remained on the same qualitative and quantitative levels,” he added.

Soyinka spoke in Lagos yesterday during a memorial reading session tagged Humanity and Against and held in honour of the late Ghanaian poet.

He described the late Awoonor as a passionate African who gave primacy of place to values derived from his Ewe heritage. “That, in turn, means that he was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of ecumenism towards other systems of belief and cultural usages – this being the scriptural ethos that permeates belief practices of most of this continent. We mourn our colleague and brother, but first, we denounce his killers, the virulent sub-species of humanity who bathe their hands in innocent blood,” he added.

Renowned poet, Prof JP Clark explained why Soyinka and himself were not at the funeral of the late Chinua Achebe at Ogidi, Anambra State, blaming it on politicians that hijacked the funeral. He noted that Prof Soyinka and himself did not sit and plot action on whether or not to attend Achebe’s funeral in Ogidi.

“Politicians hijacked the Achebe’s funeral. I said to myself, if there is life after death, Achebe would be laughing at the politicians. So, writers could not have found a space in Achebe’s funeral. From the President to the Governors, they hijacked it,” he noted.

Clark said critics might be wondering why a memorial is being held in honour of Awoonor in Lagos unlike when Chinua Achebe died.

President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Prof Remi Raji, who read from his collection of poems, The Fire Next Time, said of the late Ghanaian poet: “African literature has indeed lost an influential voice. The name, Kofi Awoonor, was very present in our minds as young students. Though I never met him in person, his writings have been influential. The ANA has sent a condolence letter to the Ghana authority. Today’s memorial is very instructive. His death is a reflection of the urban barbarisms in the globe today.”

Other scholars who read excerpts at the memorial were Prof Kole Omotoso, Prof Femi Osofisan, Dr. Wale Okediran and Lola Shoneyin.

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