How 1,733 NDDC contractors disappeared with N70.5bn

AUDITOR-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura, yesterday, made a startling revelation on how contractors, who handled projects for Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, between 2008 and 2012, disappeared with N70.5 billion mobilisation fees without going to site, let alone executing the projects.
Ukura, who spoke through Mr. Emmanuel Akpan, an Assistant Director, Public Accounts Committee Division, in his office at a public hearing organised by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, insisted that the commission’s projects were abandoned.
He added that the Auditor-General’s office, based on findings made so far, strongly believed that the total sum of the scam stood at N70,495, 993,761.
He said: “The real value of contracts on which monies have been collected by NDDC contractors during the period under review, as at the time of auditing, was N70.4 billion and not N11 billion the NDDC office is claiming.
“There is need for NDDC officials to prove that contractors involved in the close to N60 billion gap they are trying to create have actually gone to site and executed their projects.”
Ukura further disclosed that no fewer than 1,733 contractors were involved in the scam.

OBOH's lens TORCHBEARER

Constance Anwulika Nduba, OBOH's Lens will follow you as you display a rare combination of enjoying life, displaying beauty and using a good brain.

Well, until you sue us.

ASSident

A container-laden trailer, number plates APP-92-Xll, lost control and run rammed into a bus, Danfo, at Toll Gate, Sango, between Lagos State and Ogun State, yesterday.

Natural insemination: How far a couple went to have a baby

Just how desperate are you to have a child? After exploring all avenues available to you medically, are you willing to seek outside help? Like natural insemination? Artificial insemination is when a donor sperm is introduced into the female vagina with the hope that the patient would eventually get pregnant. This method is resorted to when the male partner’s sperm counts are too low to father a child – or they are just blanks. All over the world, a lot of women are playing God by sneakily seeking the help of a virile man to help them get the much longed for child. These days however, with infidelity being condoned, some men have come out to support their wives in their quest to get pregnant, to the extent of agreeing to Natural Insemination (NI).

One of such women recently quoted in a foreign press alleged that: “My husband knows what he wants to know. We have conceived through natural insemination and had sex with more than one donor over a few months. There is no doubt that it is emotionally charged and my husband found it difficult. Also, the sex with someone other than my husband is surprisingly enjoyable, sexy and kinky and if we are going to be honest, it’s cheating. We accepted all that and it worked for us. I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I agreed that my husband is wonderful and I will love him and be grateful to him forever, for giving us this opportunity to have a proper family.

Kidnap kingpin directs operation from Rivers prison

A 33-year-old suspect, Cyprian Nwanfo, paraded by the Rivers State Police Command, has revealed that their gang leader controls operations from prison.
Cyprian Nwanfo disclosed that their kidnap gang activities are controlled from the prison by their leader, one Prosper David.
According to Nwanfo, Prosper would call to give them instruction on who to kidnap, how much should be collected as ransom and how it should be shared among members of the five-man gang.
To convince police he was saying the truth, Nwanfo spoke with Prosper with his phone. Prosper, who did not know Nwanfo had been arrested, told him to lie low because police were on their trail.
He said their recent kidnap victim was a female, who paid 10 million Naira as ransom, adding that Prosper got three million naira as his share, which they routed through Proper’s wife.

Little Afghan boy, Murtaza Ahmadi, 5, gets a signed shirt from Messi

An Afghan boy who endeared himself to millions when pictured wearing a homemade Lionel Messi shirt has been given an authentic replacement kit by the star footballer himself.

Murtaza Ahmadi, 5, became an online sensation after pictures emerged of him playing football in a blue and white plastic bag with Messi's name and number scribbled on the back.

After an appeal was launched to track down Messi's self-declared 'biggest fan', the Barcelona star's management team organised for him to be sent an authentic national team shirt.

DailyMail online

All she cares for is the sex

FOR over 15 months, I’ve fallen madly in love with a girl I thought I had a future with, not knowing that all she wanted from me was sex. She told me to my face that I was reading too much into the relationship. 
As far as she’s concerned, both of us are enjoying a fantastic sexual experience and I shouldn’t have got emotionally involved. As if this isn’t devastating enough, she told me she was relocating abroad where she once studied. Her older siblings are there. 
She refused to give me her forwarding address and said I shouldn’t bother with e-mails as she would change her e-mail address as soon as she gets there. 
I’m completely gutted. I thought we had something special after spending so much time with her. We met at a friend’s birthday party and we got along almost instantly. In the months we’d been together, we’ve had mind-blowing sex. The girl is simply amazing! In spite of the fact that most of our best times together were sexually based, I fell hopelessly in love with her. 

Can friends ever be lovers?

My boyfriend and I are in our late 20s and we’ve been an item for close to a year now and I really love him. The problem is that we were very good friends for years and sex has never really got off the ground, making our relationship far from being passionate. He seems quite happy with the way things are now - doesn’t he want us to make love?

Kano village head rapes, infects 13-yr-old girl with HIV

There was angerin Kano yesterday, as residents got to know about the infection of a 13-year-old girl with HIV after being raped by the Village Head of Goron Maje, Dambatta Local Government Area of the state.
When the victim’s suitor requested for a HIV test as a wedding prerequisite, she was confirmed positive.
The suitor called off the wedding and the matter was brought to the public domain when the girl’s parents lodged a formal complaint before Kano Emirate Council.
The Village Head, who is believed to be in his early 60s, allegedly lured the 13 years old to a corner shop attached to his residence some months ago and raped her.
Security sources in Kano said the teenager confirmed to her parents how she lost her virginity to the village head some months back in a violent encounter, adding that the village head threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Spy police nabbed over false promotion signals

Lagos State Police Command has arrested, Felix Igba, a spy police officer, who forges promotion letters for his colleagues, making them believe that the letter originated from the office of the Commissioner of Police.
It was learned that sometime in October 2015, ACP Oloruntola, attached to SCIID Panti, Yaba, reported rampant circulation of promotion signals originating from the CP’s office bearing his name and signature.
Vanguard gathered that the signal, which allegedly emanated from the Force Welfare Department, was signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police with the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID.
It was later discovered that Felix Igba, a Supernumerary (SPY) Police Inspector, issued forged promotion signals to some of his colleagues, after collecting N30,000 from each SPY policeman for the promotion signals.

$24bn oil swap/OPA deals: They lied against me—Diezani

Former Minister for
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has described the narratives of her former group managing directors, GMDs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with regard to the ongoing legislative probe of the oil swap and OPA deals as fabricated tissues of lies.
The embattled former minister’s denial comes as she strongly refuted claims that she approved $24 billion for Renewal of the Crude Oil/Refined Products Exchange Agreement, otherwise called oil swap deals without contracts.
From the inception of the deal in 2009, Federal Government was meant to realise about $1.82 million per 60,000 barrels per day, bpd, against the then losses of $1.47 million being recorded by the corporation.
It is uncertain if all the proceeds from the deal were remitted to the federation account.
During their appearances before the legislators last week, Mr. Austin Oniwon, who was GMD, NNPC, from May 17, 2010 to June 12, 2012, and Mr. Andrew Yakubu, June 12, 2012, to August 2, 2014, said Alison-Madueke had granted them approvals for contracts extension.
In a statement meant to set the records straight yesterday, she rejected some newspaper and online reports, which claimed that she granted an “extension” instead of ‘Approval for the Renewal of Contracts’ for the swap arrangements.
Alison-Madueke, who is currently undergoing extensive cancer treatment in London, was quoted as describing the latest attack as “fabricated tissues of lies deviously concocted to sustain the escalating evil narratives against her person.”

WAEC wants N1.85m to process list of best students

West African Examination Council, WAEC, has allegedly demanded N1,850,000 to process the list of best students for 2014/2015 May/June Senior Secondary School Examination.
This was contained in a letter by WAEC to a non-government organisation, Edubox, which requested for the list in order to reward the students.
In a letter dated December 8, 2015, Chief Executive Officer of Edubox, Mr. Sanusi Tosin, wrote WAEC, requesting for the list of the students.
The letter read: “The above named organisation (EDUBOX) hereby request, from your establishment, the list of the best outstanding students in the May/June West African Examination Council for the 2014/2015 academic session in each of the states in Nigeria.
“It is the aim of the organisation to reward these students, with the purpose of inspiring the younger generation. This platform, also, will be used to empower youths that are aspiring to go further in their educational pursuit.”

Housewife beaten to death over adultery

A housewife, Jacinta, was allegedly beaten to death by her husband, James Uguru, over adultery in Ndubia Inyimaegu community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, ASP George Okafor, revealed that the suspect had angrily beaten his wife to stupor when the deceased stopped him from chasing after her alleged lover boy.
The Lagos-based Uguru was said to have become suspicious of the wife’s alleged promiscuity following rumours making the  rounds on the matter in the community whenever he visits home to see his family.

… and the phone rang

Harper Lee dies at 89

If you do not know her, well google it up.

Here is a little piece on her:

FOR more than half a century “To Kill a Mockingbird” has been revered as a literary classic, the story of Scout and Jem Finch, a young sister and brother (and their naughty friend, Dill Harris, based on Truman Capote) who are all trying to make sense of the bewildering, bigoted American South in the 1930s. The novel sold 40m copies, won a Pulitzer prize and was made into a much-loved film, starring Gregory Peck as the siblings’ father, Atticus Finch, a heroic white lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. Its fame was enhanced by the way the author, Harper Lee, who was only 34 when the book came out, reacted to becoming famous. Now 89 and living in a home, she has refused all requests for an interview.

Harper Lee

I'm alive, says Ngige; as man slumps, dies in National Assembly

A man in his late 50s, yesterday, slumped and died at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly.
This is just as an online publication has said that it was the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, that slumped at the National Assembly during his ministry's budget defence.
Meanwhile, the minister, on his Facebook account, debunked the death rumour, saying he was hale and hearty.
The deceased, whose identity was not known at press time, reportedly slumped at the third floor of the House of Representatives about 10a.m.
An eyewitness said that the deceased slumped in front of the office of Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs and efforts by a medical team to revive him failed.
Although an online publication had mentioned the name of Senator Ngige as the deceased, sources around around where the victim collapsed that the man did not look like the minister.
The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the deceased collapsed as he tried to open an office of one of the lawmakers.

Anita finalises divorce from Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Lawyers to Anita, the former wife of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of Christ Embassy, have said that she had finalised her divorce to the preacher, adding that she was no longer a part of, or involved in, the church, also known as Believers LoveWorld Inc.
Anita Ebhodaghe, formerly Anita Oyakhilome, a pioneer member of Christ Embassy, where she rose to become a pastor, got married to Oyakhilome in 1991, and they have two daughters.
A statement by her solicitors, Attwaters Jameson Hill, said the divorce was finalised on February 8 and hinted that she had dropped Oyahkilome from her name, while also severing all ties with the church.
The statement, published on the United Kingdom-based law firm’s website reads: “We have been requested by Anita Oyakhilome to confirm that on February 8, 2016 a decree absolute was pronounced in the High Court of Justice Principal Registry of the Family Division dissolving her marriage to Christian Onehirokpeana Oyakhilome.
“Anita Oyakhilome would like to confirm that she is no longer involved in or part of Christ Embassy, A.K.A. Believers LoveWorld Inc.”

How to help the quintuplets family

Rasaq Yusuf Babatunde, father

Mother

Three of them are normal in size and weight. One of them is in the incubator, while the remaining one is at a special care unit.
Rasaq Yusuf Babatunde gave his account details as Guaranty Trust Bank, 0131404208, in case anyone wants to help.

What if another works with “40 More” joint?

No b joke!

Watch diver cut free a whale shark

This stunning underwater footage shows the amazing moment a diver rescued a gigantic whale shark from a fishing rope.

The video shows the whale shark struggling with a rope tied around it, slowing digging into its body.

A diver spots the giant fish and seizes the chance to set it free. 

It takes just thirty seconds for the diver to remove the rope which may have tortured the gentle giant for years.

DailyMail Online

Toyota recalls 2.9 million cars over seatbelt defect

Global recall affects 4x4 models produced between July 2005 and January 2016.

Toyota Motor Corp is conducting a global recall of 2.87 million 4x4 vehicles because their rear seatbelts could be damaged in the event of a crash.

The world's largest carmaker said in an email on Thursday that the lap-shoulder seatbelts in the vehicles' second-row seats could come in contact with the metal seat cushion frame in a severe frontal accident.

"There is a possibility that, in the event of a high-speed frontal collision, the seatbelt webbing could contact a portion of the metal seat cushion frame, become cut and separate," the statement said.

"If this occurs, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury to the occupant."

ALJAZEERA

ISIS behead teenager over Western music

File foto

A teenage boy has been beheaded by ISIS for simply listening to Western music.

Ayham Hussein, 15, was arrested by militants after allegedly being caught enjoying pop tunes on a portable CD player in the group's Iraqi capital Mosul.

He was dragged before a Islamist kangaroo court which sentenced him death in a public execution.

DailyMail Online

PSquare is back again

Two years after they were rumoured to have broken up, Nigerian pop duo, P’square are back in the news again as one-half of the singing duo, Peter Okoye yesterday moved against their management company owned by their elder brother, Jude Okoye.
In a series of tweets, Peter who has been on a business trip in the United Kingdom lamented the poor management style of their brother, warning everyone to desist from doing any business on behalf of P’square with Jude.
“Please whosoever makes any transaction with Northside Entertainment or Jude Okoye on Psquare’s behalf does so at  his own risk,” Peter warned.
Peter’s responses came after Jude had taken to his twitter page to urge their fans to pray for Peter, noting that, “He’s been going through a lot lately.”

Looking for a title as the difference is not clear

Boutros Boutros-Ghali dies at 93

The first African former  UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, has died, aged 93, the UN Security Council has said.
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who led the UN between 1992 and 1996, died at a Cairo hospital yesterday, after being admitted with a broken pelvis.
He took office in 1992 at a time of growing influence for the UN, following its decisive role in the Gulf War, serving one five-year term.
However, he faced criticism for the UN’s failure to stop the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and Washington was angered by his opposition on NATO’s bombing campaign in Bosnia.
The 15-member Security Council observed a minute’s silence after the announcement of Boutros-Ghali’s death, which was made at the start of a session on Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.

Woman gives birth to 5 babies in Ibadan

A family of two suddenly became seven as a 28-year-old woman in purdah, Mrs Sakirat Rasaq, was delivered of quintuplets, three boys and two girls, yesterday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
The father of the babies, 32-year-old Quranic teacher, Alfa Yusuf Ewenje, said they got to know about the babies during a scan when the pregnancy was three months.
He said: “After the scan, we took her to Adeoyo hospital and they told us that she needed bed rest. They started managing her till yesterday (Monday) when we came here for delivery.
“I am greatly handicapped now because I only make living out of my Quranic teaching class. I want well-meaning people to come to my aid.
“I am using this medium to appeal to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his wife, Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, and the Federal Government to come to my aid so that my joy will not turn sour.”
His wife, who described herself as a lucky woman, could not be photographed because of her faith as she is in purdah.
The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Deji Bobade, said mother and children were doing fine, adding “they need your financial assistance.”

LASU defeats Indian university in international law contest

The faculty of law, Lagos State University (LASU), excelled in India, outwitting the host of the 8th edition of the Gujarat National Law University International Moot Court Competition on international trade law (GIMC) 2016. The LASU team comprising Michael Babalola, Taiwo Okuneye, Mabawonku Olanrewaju, who are all graduating students of the university, and Rufus Olaoluwa, head of the department jurisprudence and international law, defeated the host at the second round of the competition. Speaking to TheCable, Babalola said it was a great feeling of success to have defeated a law-focused university, revered by its neighbours.TheCable

Is he a sex maniac?

I recently met my boyfriend at a friend's party and we’ve been having a very passionate affair. We make love most nights and don’t get out of bed until late at the weekend. 
Recently, I was given a challenging responsibility at work and needed my sleep more than sex. A few nights ago, I woke up early in the morning to find my boyfriend masturbating next to me in the bed. 
I didn’t let on I was awake, but I was shocked. We’ve been having so much sex I feel insulted he couldn’t take a break for the four weeks my work-load would ease. 
Is he some sort of a sex maniac? 

Another ‘lunatic’ caught with 18 ATM cards, jewelleries

DETECTIVES in Ondo State, yesterday, arrested a middle-aged man, who claimed to be insane, in possession of an unspecified amount of money, jewelries and no fewer than 18 Automated Teller Machine, ATM, cards of different banks.
The man was arrested in Ijapo area of Akure, after some resident in the area suspected him to be an armed robber monitoring the area.
After he was interrogated by the residents of the area, he was reportedly handed over to the police in Ijapo, when he could not explain his mission.
While confirming the arrest, Police spokesman, Femi Joseph, said the suspect would undergo medical tests to ascertain his mental state.
He said: “We do not want to presume that he is a mad man. There are medical tests he needs to undergo for us to believe him. If at the end of the day he is found to be a robber, as it is being speculated, he will face the wrath of the law.”

Area Commander dies in Valentine's Day tragedy

The Lagos State Police Command was, yesterday, thrown into mourning following the death of one of its Area Commanders, Osung Ekpo, in a swimming pool on Valentine's Day.
Ekpo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, reportedly drowned in a swimming pool in Ajah area of Lagos, Sunday.
As the news of his death filtered in, officers and men of the Area ‘K’ Police Command, Morogbo, broke down in tears, describing their boss as an amiable officer.
Ekpo was said to have gone to a hotel in the company of some friends, Sunday, where some of them decided to have a swimming exercise.
While a version of an account said Ekpo hit his head on a concrete wall when he dived into the pool, another version had it that he swam to the deepest part of the pool.

2-year-old Nigerian "witch" rescued by a charity worker

Now smiling

Healing

This is the heartbreaking moment a starving two-year-old Nigerian boy is given water by a charity worker after being left for dead by his family because they thought he was a witch.

The boy, now named Hope, was found emaciated and riddled with worms after being forced to live off scraps thrown to him by passersby for eight months.

He was finally rescued after being discovered naked and wandering the streets on January 31 by Anja Ringgren Loven, a Danish woman living in Africa. 

VALENTINE: What's the Meaning of Love

Man's ability to excuse his (in)action is wonderful. This particular ingenuity has manifested in our quest for, and display of, love. Recall the things you did (good and bad)and what you bore to prove love for someone or something, and you will know what I mean.

The simplest manifestation of love, to me, is giving in humility. And since one good turn deserves another, humility then begats humility.

I mean, if John loves James, it will humble John. James, if he loves John, responds with humility too. I am actually talking about John 3:16. Bros G so loved He gave. The giving demanded a "coming down," which He did in Jesus' arrival on earth. Same qualities kept manifesting before He performs any miracle: "He had compassion," the Bible always always say.

I used John and James? Its because I do not believe love has types. Eros, phileo, agape! It is man excusing his (in)action. Love is love. Or does God have types? Or are you talking of lust?

There are just rules that guide manifestion.

HAPPY VALENTINE.

... as train dismembers woman in Lagos

A middle-aged woman sitting across the rail track at Shogunle area of Lagos State was, yesterday, crushed to death by a passenger train.
The incident happened few metres away from the Arena Shopping Complex, Oshodi, as it was gathered that the Ogun-bound train left Oshodi Station at around 4.45p.m., heading toward Shogunle Station.
The woman was sitting on the rail track, oblivious of the approaching train in spite of the blaring horn. The fast-approaching train dismembered her body.
Passers-by and sympathisers, who gathered round the corpse, were shocked as many of them lamented that in spite of burglary fencing by Lagos State Government, some residents still encroached on the track.

25-yr-old boy kills father over fight with mum

A young man, Mfreke Archibong Effiong, was yesterday paraded by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for allegedly killing his father, Mr. Archibong Effiong in Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA of the state.
While parading the 25 years old, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Delia Nwawe, said the suspect hit his father with a big stick on the head.
The suspect attributed the incident to provocation as he never set out to kill his father.
Mfreke said he came back from farm on Monday to meet his father beating the mother.
He said the mother was trying to explain what happened, but his father attacked him with a broken bottle. He said he was trying to defend himself when he hit his father with the stick on his right arm.

YABATECH closes over students's protest

Students of Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, have been protesting the death of one of them, Dazan Charity, which they blamed on negligence on the part of the school's health centre and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Meta.
The authorities shut the school for 4 weeks. Below are picture of students leaving and of sme of the offices and bus of the centre damaged during the protest.

N

Wonderful ways migrants attempt crossing into Europe

Bumper ride

A chair

In a suitcase