ISIS beheads second Briton, threatens to kill US war veteran next

ISIS has beheaded British aid worker Alan Henning (left and inset). The militants posted a video of the horrific beheading online last night. In the video, the executioner who is described as Jihadi John because of his English accent said Alan's blood is on the hands of the British parliament.

Before he was beheaded, Alan also blamed his death on his government. He told the camera
"I am Alan Henning. Because of our Parliament's decision to attack the Islamic state I as a member of the British public will now pay the price for that decision.'
He was beheaded shortly after that. ISIS then brought out Iraq war veteran and U.S. citizen Peter Edward Kassig (right) and threatened to kill him next.

I’ll continue as Eagles coach - Keshi

Stephen Keshi insists he is focused on taking charge of Nigeria for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations double-header against Sudan despite having no contract in place.

The 52-year-old lost his permanent position after the World Cup but was brought back for the Super Eagles’ last two matches.

He has had no word from the newly-elected Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, but says he will continue in the role.

“I’m still working based on the previous arrangement agreed with the Sports Minister Tamuno Danagogo,” Keshi told BBC Sport.

“I’ve not heard from the new NFF board because elections only happened on Tuesday so it is not a problem.

“My immediate focus is on the important matches against Sudan this month because it is very crucial for us to win both games.”

Keshi, who led Nigeria to their third African title in 2013 and the last 16 in Brazil, must lead his side to a recovery after their poor start to qualifying for next year’s tournament in Morocco.

Following a defeat by Congo and a draw with South Africa, the Super Eagles are third in Group A, with only the top two teams guaranteed a place at the finals.

It places extra pressure on the African champions to win their match away to Sudan, which will take place on 11 October, and the return fixture four days later in Abuja.

“I have named a squad strong enough for these games and the plan is to get the players together early enough to prepare. When you take care of business on the pitch then other things will be secondary.”

25 officers, 92 soldiers face court martial in Jos

A total of 117 Nigerian Army personnel, comprising 25 officers and 92 soldiers are facing a military court martial at the Headquarters of the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, Jos.

The officers comprise two Lieutenant-Colonels, a major, eight captains and 14 lieutenants.

Investigations revealed that the military personnel, whose cases are being handled in batches, were initially scheduled to appear before the General Court Martial at the Headquarters of the One Division, Kaduna, but were taken to Jos for security reasons.

It was learnt that the officers were posted from the 7th Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army to the Division One of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, to face the Court Martial for the purpose of jurisdiction.

The General Officer Commanding the One Division, Maj.-General KC Osuji issued the convening order for the General Court Martial of Army Personnel in Kaduna on August 6, 2014.

“Pursuant to the powers conferred on me under Section 131 (2)(d) of the Armed Forces Ac Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN)2004, I Maj. Gen. KC Osuji, Gen. Officer, Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, hereby order the details of officers as mentioned below to assemble at 1 Division Officers’ Mess, N0 Kanta Road, Kaduna or any other venue convenient to the members at 900 hours on 9 June, 2014, or any other date and time suitable for the purpose of trying by the General Court Martial, the accused persons named in paragraph 5…,” the order read in part.

The membership of the panel includes Col. JJ Ogunlade (President); Col. MT Waboke, Col. JO Sokoya, Col. AA Bamgbose, Col. A Garba, Col M Kadri, Col MW Abubakar and Lt. Col B Garke as members; Lt Col. OS Obot (Waiting member); Capt. A Mohammed (Judge Avocate); and Lt GB Sulieiman (Liaison Officer).

The military authorities concluded the trial of the first batch and inaugurated another panel on August 6, 2014 to try 117 cases comprising 25 officers and 92 soldiers.

It was learnt that the GCM found most of the soldiers of the first batch guilty of the various charges against them and awarded various prison sentences and punishment to them.

Investigations revealed that most of the officers and soldiers involved in the second batch of court martial in Jos are being tried in relation with offences related to the abduction of the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, on April 14, 2014.

It was further gathered that the officers and soldiers are being charged for acts of misdemeanour except mutiny.

The source said that the offence of mutiny, which attracts capital punishment, was being tried only by the General Court Martial at the Mogadishu, Cantonment, Abuja.

When our correspondent contacted the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Olajide Laleye, he confirmed that those undergoing trial in Jos were Army personnel from the One Division who were asked to move to Jos to face the Court Martial.

He said that the court martial had been in existence for more than a year and was meant to try all offences committed within the Army and not only those emanating from the ongoing operation in the North East.

Laleye stated, “The General Court Martial in One Division has been in place for over a year now. The Court martial has been in existence for over a year.

Must Read! Abubakar Shekau: Nine Lives Or Nine Liars

So long as the Francophone media is bent on dragging Nigeria to its begging knees, Shekau will never die. The controversy on the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau is one that is entirely manufactured by Globalist media. It is nothing less than media terrorism by the desperate colonialists. But these globalist media cannot be solely blamed.

It is us who have Boko Haram sponsors in the Presidency and as our army Chiefs after all. Protected, supported and paid with billions by our President. We have no credibility and as long as this nation keeps such clueless and adamantly wicked men at its helm, the globalist media will continue to disgrace and terrorize us and will keep Shekau immortal.

The globalist media has stubbornly insisted on denying the fact that we have killed two of the very Shekaus they have themselves shown in videos as the actual person. They pretend not to notice the very different people who all impersonate Shekau in the many videos they release as a singular person, but when we kill these very people they just publicized then they say it wasn’t him and push out the next available video of another of his impersonators, gleefully, as soon as Boko Haram sells it to them.

The latest bump-head Shekau we killed has been promoted by them on many occasions as the one and only Shekau. Now they are releasing video of droopy left lip, almond eye Shekau. The minute we kill this one again, they will bring out the next and the next, in frank terrorism and with an ultimate plan to frustrate Nigeria into submission for foreign complete invasion and destruction as was done to Libya; thanks to our participant, wealth blinded, terrible leadership.

It is ironic that in 2011 when America “killed” Osama who we all know was already dead since 2001, and never showed us even a single picture of his dead body, none of these very media questioned the blatant lies. But now they invest heavily in giving our Shekau nine lives.

It’s not their fault; it is our fault for electing leaders with no shoes because we were colonially battered into a dumb foreign tribalist culture. With our President who scores world worsts every time, recently of note, doing abominable things like using the #BringBackGoodluck” slogan, how will they ever fear and respect us? After all, when late President Umaru Yar’Adua killed Mohammed Yusuf, the actual Boko Haram leader believed and touted to be immortal, dem no born any globalist media well (translated: No media had the guts) to broadcast video’s of his aspiring impersonators.

A little time, 2015 or 2019, this will all be over. #VictoryForNigeria. We stand by our Civilian-JTF and active soldiers, those engaged in the battle front, not the morbidly obese, cash bloated, Abuja barrack land usurping Boko Haram sponsor Army ogas at the top.

8 foods that are dangerous to the human system

Human beings like to eat, but we need to be careful about what we put in our mouths. There are some foods that are really dangerous to the human system, that are delicacies in other parts of the world.

1.  Sannakji (baby octopus) – It is eaten while still alive, so be prepared to battle fighting tentacles. The suction cups can get stuck to your throat if you don’t chew thoroughly, leading to asphyxiation. It’s a delicacy from Korea.
2.  Raw cashews – The double shell surrounding the raw cashew contains urushiol, a resin that can create significant skin rashes and can be toxic when ingested. Urushiol is the same chemical found in poison ivy. It’s found on the raw cashew shell.
3. Blood clams – They have been known to have hepatitis A, C and E. Usually quick boiled, it still leaves many viruses and bacteria. Typhoid and dysentery are present. It’s eaten in Asia.
4.  Cassava – Cassava is one of the world’s most popular staple foods, often being used as a tropical delicacy, used in the form of tapioca starch or flour. The leaves and roots contain cyanide, so if it’s not properly washed or cooked, cassava can be deadly even in small doses.
5.  Nutmeg – In large doses, nutmeg contains myristicin, a psychoactive substance. Myristicin poisoning can induce convulsions, palpitations, nausea, eventual dehydration and generalised body pain. It’s also a strong deliriant.
6.  Tuna – This fish accumulates toxic mercury in their flesh, as a result of industrial pollution. Mercury side effects include; finger curling, cognitive impairment, coordination movement and heart disease.
7.  Blowfish – Blowfish contains tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes the flesh foul tasting, which is often lethal. To humans, tetradotoxin is up to 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide. There is enough poison in one blowfish to kill 30 adults. It’s a Japanese treat.
8.  Hakarl – It contains uric acid and trimethylamine oxide. It is poisonous when eaten fresh, having the potential to cause illness and possibly death to those who ingest it prematurely. It is an Icelandic meal.

Culled from The Nation

Bloody Sallah: Boko Haram attacks Adamawa, 70 killed

The Sallah started on a sour note for three villages in Adamawa State, as Boko Haram attacked and killed about 70 residents in Michika Local Govern­ment Area in a renewed attack.

A resident of Garta, one of the villages raided by the sect members who identified himself as Joseph said the insurgents arrived his village around 6pm raiding homes and shops.

He said, “They burnt most of the shops and houses after looting them, as most people had to climb the nearby mountains to save their lives.

“For now I can’t say the number of casualty as we are still in the bush and we learn that they attackers just left the village this morning.”

The Islamic insurgent group also destroyed their houses and farmlands.

Among the villages attacked is Kuborshosho, the village of former governor of the state and Minister Youths Development, Mr. Boni Haruna, who lost close relations, one of whom was a 99-year-old man, who was slaughtered by the dreaded group.

The other villages they attacked are Kubi, Garta and others, were still under attack as at the time of filing this report.

According to report, four of the former minister’s uncles, aged aunties, nieces and their siblings narrowly escaped death by the whiskers as good Nigerians evacuated them from the war-torn zones of Michika and its environs to Yola, the state capital.

According to sources, the villages were attacked on Thursday night through Friday, and the insurgents went further to attack those who escaped to the mountains.

As at time of filling this reports, sympathisers, who had gathered at the residence of the minister, condemned the attack and appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action towards stopping the evil activities of the Islamic sect.

Farmlands ready for harvest were destroyed, while shops and warehouses belonging to the residents, were burgled and precious items carted away be the insurgents.

Source: Nigerianeye

From Our News Desk

UPDATES: Mutiny: Trial of four Lt. Cols, 93 other soldiers begins. I’m alive, says Shekau in new video. Mimiko rejoins PDP, says it’s in national interest. Lagos EVD volunteer workers demand unpaid allowances. Obasanjo’s ex-spokeswoman, Remi Oyo, dies at 61. Panic as America quarantines 81 Ebola suspects. Prosecute Ekiti court attackers, NJC tells IG. Nobody can stop Fayose’s inauguration –Mark. Atiku’s enemies deceived him into fighting Obasanjo – Osuntokun. APC wants political candidates to undergo psychiatric test. NSCDC parades seven for fuel theft. I asked for divorce –Ini Edo. Multichoice introduces DStv Open House services. Nigerians are missing my late father –Abacha’s daughter. Outrage Over Mbu’s Detention Of AIT Reporter. Money Laundering EFCC Appeals Ruling Discharging Ikuforiji. 2015: Sambo Can’t Win Kaduna For PDP – El-Rufa’i. Creation Of Additional Polling Units: We’ve Good Intention – INEC. Victor Moses Tops Best African EPL Award. Okorocha frees 94-yr-old convict, others. UK Prime Minister David Cameron in Afghanistan after visiting RAF base in Cyprus. Oshiomhole abolishes 35-year retirement policy for workers. Heavy rains submerge houses, others in Makurdi. Police deploy 7,000 officers for Eid-el-Kabir in Kwara. Podolski hints at Arsenal exit. Cote d’Ivoire harvests 1.74m tonnes of cocoa in 2013/2014 season. UEL – Results: FC Zurich 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach, Villarreal 4-0 Apollon Limassol, Torino 1-0 FC Koebenhavn, Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Besiktas, Celtic 1-0 Dinamo Zagreb, Dinamo Moscow 1-0 PSV Eindhoven, Inter 2-0 FK Karabakh, Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Napoli, Dinamo Minsk 0-3 Fiorentina.

Photos: Nigerian airforce pilot reportedly beheaded by Boko Haram

new video is reported to have been released to AP by Boko Haram men showing the beheading of a man said to be a military pilot who co-piloted the missing Naval air force jet.

The video also shows burnt out and crumbled plane parts with Nigerian military markings.

Two pilots and an Alpha jet have been missing since Sept. 11 2014. In the Earlier Video released by Boko Haram, They claimed to have shot down the Jet.

A new video allegedly shows Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau disputing claims of his death, and the beheading of a man who identifies himself as the pilot of a missing Nigerian Air Force jet. It shows burnt out plane parts with Nigerian military markings, the first indication that Nigeria's homegrown Islamic extremists have the capability to shoot down aircraft. The man beheaded with an axe identifies himself as a wing commander, saying he has not seen his second pilot since the jet was shot down
Before his beheading, the pilot reportedly gave his name, rank and date of birth, which is 1975 and also said

"I'm a pilot of the Nigerian air-force. On September 11th, I was assigned on a mission to Kawuri, Borno state. During the mission we were shot down and our aircraft crashed. To this day, I don't know the whereabouts of my second pilot. I was taken into the care of (Boko Haram). At the time of the crash, I sustained cuts and broken hand and some other injuries to the head

How Taiwo Oshadipe reportedly died

Details are still sketchy but according to what her twin sister reportedly told a journalist, Taiwo Oshadipe died in the early hours of today in her sleep. Her sister said Taiwo had fallen ill about three weeks ago and had been treated at a Lagos hospital. She was getting better and seemed okay when she went to sleep last night only for her not to wake up.
"She went to sleep last night in her usual bubbly self. This is unexplainable. We are still in shock" a source close to the family said...

Mimiko decamps to PDP

The Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko on Thursday officially decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Labour Party.
He and his supporters were received back to the fold by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus and top party men at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

Mimiko said he left the PDP  eight years ago when internal democracy within the party shrank.
Noting that he has no particular office to run for in 2015, he said that he has come back to the PDP towards supporting President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election next year.
He said: “Unfortunately at some point in the party’s history, that room for democracy got greatly conscripted. Thus, some eight years ago, when we had need to run for office and the space for internal democracy within PDP had considerably shrank, we chose to leave, but then, not to align with the then emergent opposition party in the land, the ACN.”
“Rather, we chose to move away from both and pick up Labour Party, a party that was quite modest in its aspirations for national elective offices and completely unknown in Ondo State where we wanted to run for office.
“Precisely on December 14, 2006, we publicly announced LP as our choice of platform. To the glory of God, four months later, in the April 14, 2007 election, we got the mandate of our people to govern Ondo State. Although our election was stolen by the political tendency in power in Abuja at the time, thanks to a judiciary that continues to be profoundly alert to its duty in a democracy, we managed to retrieve our mandate two years later.
“Today, just barely one year into our second term in office, it is obvious that we do not have any office to run for either now or in 2015. Yet, we feel compelled to join hands with the tendency that is aboard today in the PDP, led by a President that is as focused as he is patriotic, a team that has demonstrated so much promise in its commitment to democracy without which the challenges facing our nation cannot be overcome.
“And as someone who is positioned today by providence to speak for the people of Ondo State and our collaborators and admirers across the nation, I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind that the interest of our people in Ondo State, the South West Zone and that of Nigeria too, will be better served in the PDP in the evolving political configuration in our nation.”

Dimeji Bankole loses 7 year old daughter to sickle cell disease

Former House of Reps Speaker Dimeji Bankole has lost his 7 year old daughter, Yewande Semiat Bankole to sickle cell. She died in a London hospital yesterday October 1st. The family released a statement today. Find it below...
"With gratitude to Almighty Allah and with heavy hearts we announce the demise of our daughter Yewande Semiat Bankole aged 7yrs at a London hospital. Yewande is the grand daughter of Chief Alani Suara Bankole and the daughter of Rt Hon. Dimeji Sabur Bankole.
Yewande was born with HbSS Sickle cell disease. She was a radiant girl who struggled with the disease. We originally managed her condition at a Lagos hospital but later transferred to a London hospital. Sadly we lost her at 10.30pm on Wednesday October 1st, 2014.
Her remains will be buried according to Islamic rites.
We wish to thank you for your prayers and support at this very trying time.
May almighty Allah make our affairs easy…
Signed: Bankole family

EFCC arraigns two over N6.1million car deal fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today October 2, 2014 arraigned the duo of Alhaji Abdul Ahmadu and Bello Isa before Justice Farouq Lawal of the Kano State High Court on a 3-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining money by false pretence.
The accused persons allegedly induced one Alhaji Mohammed Sani Utai to part with the sum of N6, 100,000 (Six Million One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) under the pretext that they were going to sell a Mercedes Benz GLK car to him.
After obtaining the money in various tranches, the car was neither delivered nor was his money returned.
One of the charge reads, “that you Alhaji Abdu Ahmadu and Bello Isa sometime in 2012, at Kano within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kano State with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N2, 600, 000 (Two Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira only) from Mohammed Sani Utai by falsely representing that you had a Mercedes Benz GLK for sale and that you were capable of securing delivery of the said Mercedes Benz car to him, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Justice Lawal adjourned the case to October 13, 2014 for hearing of bail application and commencement of trial

Ini Edo tweets about her crashed marriage, says she never cheated on her ex

Breaking: Shekau appears in new video, debunks death claims

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dismissed Nigerian military claims of his death in a new video obtained by AFP on Thursday and said the militants had implemented strict Islamic law in captured towns.

“Here I am, alive. I will only die the day Allah takes my breath,” Shekau said in the 36-minute video, adding that his group was “running our… Islamic caliphate” and administering sharia punishments.

Nigeria’s military said last week that Shekau was dead and that a man who had been posing as the group’s leader in the videos had been shot dead after fighting with troops in the far northeast.

The claim was debunked by several sources monitoring the insurgency in north east Nigeria. It was even further thrashed when the 7 seconds video on the Shekau look-alike went viral on the internet: the captured man who was later killed did not look like the man who normally taunted Nigeria’s leaders and their military in video clips.

The new 36-minute video showed Shekau, in combat fatigues and black rubber boots, standing on the back of a pick-up truck and firing an anti-aircraft gun into the air.

Standing in front of three camouflaged vans and flanked by four heavily armed, masked fighters, he then speaks for 16 minutes in Arabic and the Hausa language widely spoken in northern Nigeria.

There was no indication of where or when the video was shot.

The heavily bearded Shekau, who appeared to be the same as those in previous clips, said the military’s claim that he was dead was propaganda.

“Nothing will kill me until my days are over… I’m still alive. Some people asked you if Shekau has two souls. No, I have one soul, by Allah,” he said, apparently reading from a script.

“It is propaganda that is prevalent. I have one soul. I’m an Islamic student.

“I’m the Islamic student whose seminary you burnt… I’m not dead,” he added, apparently referring to the destruction of the group’s mosque in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in 2009.

There have been two previous claims by Nigeria’s security forces that Shekau was dead — once in 2009 during unrest in Maiduguri — and again in 2013.

Following each previous claim Boko Haram has issued denials in video messages.

Elsewhere in the new video, the militant leader said the group had implemented strict Islamic law in the towns that it had captured in recent weeks.

Ghana plans to export electricity to Nigeria

Ghana says it is planning to export thousands of megawatts of electricity to Nigeria, Ivory Coast and other neighbouring countries that have power deficit.

The Ghanaian President, Mr. John Mahama, who made the disclosure at the Africa Global Business and Economic Forum in Dubai on Wednesday, said his government had made huge investments in power generation that would enable the country to export excess electricity to Nigeria and others.

“We have given priority to electricity generation in our country. We have prioritised energy in such a way that we want to become the hub for power production in West Africa. We want to generate electricity to the point that excess power can be exported to Nigeria, Ivory Coast and other countries that have power deficit,” he said.

To achieve this dream, Mahama said his country had secured export-import financing from China as well as special funds from Abu Dhabi to commence series of power generation projects, adding that a third hydropower dam project was already at an advanced stage.

The Ghanaian leader spoke in a panel discussion along with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Mulatu Wirtu of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Mahama added, “Where Africa faces some of its challenges lies its biggest opportunities. We are leveraging on public-private sector partnership to build infrastructure. Be it roads, electricity, ports or communication systems; if we create the right environment, investors will come.

“Creating the right environment that will attract foreign direct investment is key.”

In achieving this, the Ghanaian leader joined Kagame and Wirtu to emphasise the need for African governments to strengthen anti-corruption agencies in their various countries.

“Issues of accountability and transparency are very important. There must be mechanism to fight corruption. We all have institutions but the major thing is resourcing them to effectively fight corruption and perform effectively,” he noted.

According to Kagame, African governments must create a system that is not sympathetic to corruption, saying this would help drive the required Foreign Direct Investment into the continent.

He said, “It is one thing to have the institutions; it is another thing to allow them to work. Governance and structure must be in place to make them to work,” he said.

“African governments must fix infrastructure, investment in development of education and skills, and also enhance connectivity among African countries.”

For The First Time, US Shuns Nigeria’s Oil

The search for alternative energy by the Barack Obama administration in the United States of America (USA) has begun to take a toll on Nigeria’s crude oil export as the US for the first time failed to import a single barrel of crude oil from Nigeria.

This troubling scenario experienced in the month of July, according to industry watchers, may spell doom for the Nigerian economy.

Obama’s vigorous search for alternative energy to drive the world’s largest economy poses grave dangers for Nigeria whose economy is highly dependent on revenue from oil.

Nigeria used to be the fifth largest exporter of crude oil to the US.

However, experts said despite declining revenue, depleting foreign reserves and pressure on the exchange rate, Nigerian economy remained “robust enough to withstand the shock waves hitting the economy.”

While US crude imports rose by 569,000 barrels per day in July, imports of Nigerian crude fell to zero for the first time.

Data obtained from the US Energy Information Administration during the week showed that US imports rose to 7.623 million bpd up from 7.054 mbpd in June.

Despite being at their highest since December 2013, imports are down from 8.058 mbpd in the same month a year ago.

Imports from Nigeria fell to zero in July, down from 89,000 bpd in June, all of which had gone to the US Atlantic Coast.

Nigeria had remained remarkably upbeat despite lower-than-expected revenues, low foreign investment and a weak infrastructure base.

While President Goodluck Jonathan has rolled out a slew of robust, but seemingly disjointed plans in several sectors of the economy, his government has failed to articulate a stimulus package to deal with the current public revenue crisis and record unemployment, or to weld the plans into a coherent whole.

Reports indicated that before now, the US has reduced crude imports from Nigeria by 91 per cent, putting the country’s crude exports in disarray.

The US, which was hitherto the biggest importer of crude from Nigeria with over one million barrels per day, early this year imported an average of 100, 000 bpd till June 2014.

Data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) revealed that by the end of last year, the US dropped to the 10th highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, with 1.438 million barrels.

Specifically, Nigeria exported 1.438 million barrels of crude oil to North America by December 2013, down by 15.111 million barrels in December 2012.

Obviously, Nigeria has started witnessing the negative effect of shale oil exploration in the US and other parts of the world. Prior to July, the country’s crude oil export to North America had dropped by 91.31 per cent in one year.

North America accounted for 22.19 per cent of Nigeria’s total crude export by December 2012, but it dropped to 2.23 per cent by December 2013.

According to an NNPC report, “Prior to the decline, the US was the highest buyer of Nigeria’s crude, purchasing 14.279 million barrels in December 2012, thereby accounting for 19.15 per cent of Nigeria’s total crude export and 86.28 per cent of total crude export to North America. By 2013 end, the US dropped to the 10th highest importer of Nigeria’s crude.

The NNPC report stated that by December 2013, Europe was the highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, accounting for 47 per cent of Nigeria’s total export, followed by Asia and Far East, accounting for 26 per cent, while Africa accounted for 12 per cent.

The report stated that South America accounted for 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total crude export, while Oceania/Pacific and North America accounted for three per cent and two per cent respectively.

Also, India emerged the highest importer of Nigeria’s crude in December 2013, with 13.086 million barrels, followed by the Netherlands with 9.866 million barrels, and France 4.497 million barrels.

Nigeria exported 4.869 million barrels of crude to Brazil in the period under review, 4.6 million barrels to Spain and 3.895 million barrels to South Africa.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on crude proceeds to service over 85 per cent of its budget.

The present scenario, no doubt, compels President Jonathan and his economic team to roll up their sleeves and come up with a way out for the country’s economy.

Jonathan, PDP can’t claim credit for defeating Ebola — Governor Fashola

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has said that the true heroes behind Nigeria’s success in curtailing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease are not those campaigning across the country.'

In his Independence Day address in Lagos, Wednesday, Mr. Fashola said that credit should not be taken away from the health workers who helped curtailed the virus.

At various rallies across Nigeria, ruling party politicians have continued to cite Nigeria’s success on the virus as among the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party.

“I have heard some stories emanating from campaign podiums with claims of conquering Ebola,” said Mr. Fashola.

“The question we must ask is whether those who make these claims saw Ebola?

“It is women like Stella Ameyo Adedevoh to whom such a claim rightly belongs.

“It is young Nigerians like Dr. Morris Ibeawuchi, who first made contact with the case patient and continued to treat him who saw and conquered Ebola.

“He got infected, from doing his job, got sick, survived and is back to his job.

“It is first responders from the Lagos State Ministry of Health like Dr. Jide Idris, Dr. Yewande Adesina, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Dr. Kayode Oguntimehin who saw Ebola.

“They responded to the call from First Consultant Hospital. They spent 12 (Twelve) hours daily in the early days supervising the construction of Ebola containment facility when the epidemic broke.
“The Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital which later became the epicenter of Ebola management used to house tuberculosis patients and patients with infectious diseases.

“Those patients vented their anger on these people when they had to be moved to create room for the Ebola centre. I know they spat at Dr. Adesina for doing her job.

I saw a vision of the Synagogue tragedy - T.B Joshua

Nigeria’s popular televangelist and General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly referred to as T. B. Joshua, has claimed that he saw a vision of the incident that killed at least 115 persons in the church guesthouse.

The preacher in a massage posted on his Facebook page warned that those making comments that are not likeable will face the wrath of God and will join those who died at the building collapse whom he referred to as martyrs.

The victims, mainly South Africans, died when a six-storey guesthouse belonging to the church caved in on September 12.

The embattled clergyman, who said he knew something tragic was to befall his ministry, noted that he prepared his parishioners on how to handle the tragedy.

In a statement posted on the SCOAN’s official Facebook page, TB Joshua warned his critics against accusing him of failing to foresee the disaster that befell his ministry.

“For those who are outside the Lord, they would not know. When you are outside God, you will not know what I am talking. When you are outside the light, you cannot understand what I am talking.

“For the three weeks before the incident, if you heard my message and sat down, you would know I was giving you a vision and prophetic word on how to handle the situation at hand. Trials and tests are for our belief. I go by the directives of God,” TB Joshua claimed.

Accusing his critics of being “used by Satan,” the televangelist said they were just out to “disturb” the faith of his local and international members with “negative words.”

According to him, all the “Satanic agents” criticising him over the circumstances surrounding the incident, would soon “suffer for it.”

Since none of his critics is unable to help him raise the victims from death, TB Joshua argued that they should stop rubbishing his ministry or risk paying dearly for it.

Those who could not stop what happened (building collapse), he said, should be “careful of their tongues” as “anybody can go for it.

“I have been on this journey for 27 years. Do you think God can close His eyes and rubbish everything here? They are asking God to bring more evidence of whether He is the one who called me. Warn everyone to be very careful. This issue at hand is a delicate issue.

“People are using this to gain money and friends. This is a warning. Whatever people want to write let them write; they will be the ones to read it. I said our God would get back to them. He has started somewhere. He is coming. If your brother is involved, unless he can resurrect the people who died, he will join them. If you can resurrect the people who died, you can go free.

“The servants, the people who sent them; the people who heard the stories all around and those who want to use it for themselves and to disturb my spirit, you may likely join them. Be careful. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Let us be very careful with our tongues,” he warned.

Urging those questioning his calling not sway his followers, he added that they should extend love and affection to the victims and relations of those involved in the tragedy.

The prophet insisted that the 115 victims were martyrs, adding that their relations would see the continuation of the work of God “they died and suffered for.

“Your responsibility is to the victims and the relations of the victims and martyrs of faith. If you say you are born again, wherever the victims and their relations are, wherever the relations of the martyrs of faith are, look for them. Let them know you are praying for them. What you eat; let them eat it.

“What you wear; let them wear. What you have on your table, let them have it on their tables, too. Share what you have with them – your love, prayer, affection and strength. Share it with them at this time. This is what we call ‘born again’ – my pain is your pain. Your joy is my joy.

“The multitude of people who claim to be with T.B. Joshua in prayer – if the same people turn to the families of the victims and martyrs of faith, don’t you think life would be better for them than before? Join them; look for them, as many other things they are doing now,” TB Joshua added.

French opposition lawmaker elected Senate speaker

The French Senate on Wednesday elected a member of the opposition as its speaker, after the upper house made a stinging swing to the right in weekend elections.

The election of Gerard Larcher of the right-wing UMP as Senate head puts him in a powerful position, as he would constitutionally be first in line to take over as head of state should leftwing President Francois Hollande resign, fall ill or be removed from office.

Sunday’s Senate elections saw the right claw back a majority and the far-right National Front enter the house for the first time with two seats.

While the Senate does not wield as much influence as the lower house National Assembly — which has the final say on voting bills through — the swing to the right comes as another blow for Hollande, who is the most unpopular president in modern French history.

Hollande’s Socialist government is struggled with an economic crisis in France, where zero growth, sky-high unemployment, a bulging deficit and heavy taxes are taking their toll.

Rightwing parties had controlled the Senate since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958. But in 2011, the upper house flipped to the left in a historic move that planted the seeds for then-president Nicolas Sarkozy’s eventual defeat to Hollande in 2012 presidential elections.

EPL: Welbeck shines as Arsenal trash Galatasaray

Danny Welbeck struck his first-ever hat-trick but Wojciech Szczesny was sent off as Arsenal crushed a disorganised Galatasaray 4-1 in the Champions League.

The England international struck twice in the first half and once more in the second, frequently darting past a hapless back line with clever poked finishes each time.

Alexis Sanchez hit Arsenal's third just before the break, slotting home with precision into the far corner while under pressure in the penalty area, as Arsene Wenger's side registered their first points of the group stage.

It was not a night without problems for the Gunners, though, as midway through the second half Szczesny darted off his line in a vain attempt to snatch the ball from the feet of Burak Yilmaz, succeeding only in fouling the striker, who then put the resulting penalty past substitute David Ospina.

The visitors perked up a little as they tested Ospina but Arsenal could have had more, Santi Cazorla being denied as his prodded finish was narrowly cleared off the line in the dying moments.

Mathieu Flamini, Cazorla and Alexis came into the Arsenal XI as a result of midfield trio Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere sustaining injuries during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Tottenham. The latter was able to take a place on the bench despite his ankle complaint.

Galatasaray captain Selcuk Inan was a late withdrawal due to illness, meaning that Yekta Kurtulus came into midfield as Cesare Prandelli plumped for a 3-5-2 formation to which his side struggled to adapt during a challenging opening period.

Visiting defender Felipe Melo made a vital interception to stop Welbeck getting on the end of Alexis's low 20th-minute cross but the same combination put Arsenal ahead two minutes later.

The Chilean cut in from the left flank and slid a pass through to Welbeck, who peeled off the back of Melo to slot home.

Galatasaray made matters worse in the 30th minute as an ill-judged back header from Aurelien Chedjou sold Melo short and Welbeck left the Brazilian in his wake to finish clinically.

A torrid evening for Melo might have ended early when he was only booked for a two-footed lunge on Alexis but, after a section of the Galatasaray support interrupted proceedings by throwing flares onto the pitch, it was the Chilean winger who ran riot - collecting Mesut Ozil's pass and scorching through the visitors' beleaguered defence to find the bottom corner.
Burak made no mistake from the spot, sending David Ospina the wrong way, although the replacement goalkeeper saved impressively from the goalscorer and Altintop in the final 10 minutes before Cazorla saw an effort chacked off the line by Semih Kaya at the other end.

Galatasaray now have it all to do in Group D - this thrashing following their opening 1-1 draw at home to Anderlecht.

REVEALED: How I made my money, fathered 30 children - Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he made his money and also built a house for his mother at the age of 15.

Atiku, who is one of the presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress, in his new book titled ‘My Life’, which he authored, said he bought a mud house for her mother in Ganye, Adamawa State.

He gave the explanation under chapter six of the book, entitled ‘Making Money’.

He said he recognised very early in life that he had a good nose for business and this made him to apply for and obtained a Federal Housing loan.

The loan, he said, which amounted to N31,000, was the equivalent of his salary for five years as a customs officer.

He said, “I was granted a plot of land by the Gongola State Government at Yola Government Reserved Area. I hired a foreman and began building my first house.

“With close personal supervision, the bungalow was completed on time and to my taste. I rented it out immediately.

“The rent I collected in advance on the house was substantial enough for me to purchase a second plot. I built my second house and rented it out.

“I continued to plow back the rent into the building of new houses and within a few years, I had built eight houses in choice areas of Yola. I also built a new house for my mother and rebuilt the old mud house I bought for her in Ganye when I was a 15-year-old student.”

The former Vice President said property investment could be rewarding, because, according to him, returns on it could also be high depending on the location.

Kaduna, for instance, he added, was a good place to invest in property before the emergence of Abuja.

He explained that he built his first house in Kaduna with the rent he made from other property and that later, he bought six more plots and built residential houses and rented them out to individuals and institutions.

Atiku also added that of all the businesses into which he would venture, he listed what he described as a small oil services company as the most successful and most lucrative.

US Secret Service director resigns

The head of the US Secret Service, tasked with guarding US President Barack Obama, has resigned following several high-profile security lapses.

Julia Pierson offered her resignation to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday.

Joseph Clancy, a former special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division of the agency, has been appointed to step in.

The move follows a major breach of the White House security on 19 September.

“Today Julia Pierson, the Director of the United States Secret Service, offered her resignation, and I accepted it,” Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson wrote in a statement.

“I salute her 30 years of distinguished service to the Secret Service and the Nation.”

Obama also expressed his appreciation to Pierson for her long history of public service, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday.

Pierson offered her resignation because “she believed it was in the best interests of the agency to which she has dedicated her career”, Earnest added.

High-ranking members of the US Congress had been calling for Pierson’s resignation in the wake of her testimony before a House oversight committee on Tuesday.

There she acknowledged the Secret Service security plan was “not executed properly” during a recent breach of the White House.

On September 19, suspect Omar Gonzalez, 42, allegedly scaled a fence and gained entry to the famed US residence while carrying a knife.

On Wednesday, Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to charges against him, including entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Prosecutors say he jumped the main fence around the White House and gained entry inside through an unlocked door, then barrelled past a guard and ran into the East Room before being tackled.

Happy 54th Nigeria!”- Watch Sterling Bank customer send heart felt Independence Day messages

Sterling Bank has given its customers the chance to make a wish for Nigeria as it celebrates its 54th Independence Day Anniversary today; October 1, 2014.

Filled with hope for the future and voicing words of prayer; customers captured from different branches, wished for better leadership, a more secured nation, good health for their fellow Nigerians, and a nation free of Ebola amongst other things.

Customers admitted that irrespective of the country’s present situation; it was not time to give up and were mostly grateful that the nation still existed.

A favorite line from the video was customer’s simple yet heart-warming pronouncement; he said “I wish Nigeria the best, being the only country that I have”
From ‘The One Customer Bank’: Happy Independence Day Nigeria.

Sterling Bank Plc. is a leading commercial bank in Nigeria and one of the country’s fastest growing banks. Originally incorporated in 1960 as NAL Bank (the country’s first investment banking franchise), it acquired the operations of the erstwhile Equitorial Trust Bank in November 2011 in pursuit of its growth and expansion plans. The bank currently operates out of 165 branches, about 4,648 POS and 241 ATMs across the Nigeria.

Photo: Dubai police bust Nigerian gang involved in armed robbery

Dubai Police have arrested a gang comprising five Nigerians (pictured above) who were involved in armed robbery at the Al Mustaqbal money exchange in Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Road in Ajman.

The gang managed to steal Dhs2,75,000 including various foreign currencies.

Deputy Ajman Police chief said that the incident took place last week when the gang members entered the exchange and attacked and assaulted its employees, threatening them with toy guns before emptying the premises of its cash and fleeing.

The gang members entered the country on a visit visa, which expired long time ago.

He added that the police operations room received a call about the robbery at around 10.30 pm last Thursday.

However, the suspects managed to escape before the police arrived on the scene, as the employees failed to activate the alarm in order to alert the police.

Lt Col Abdullah Saif Al Matroushi, director-general of CID at Ajman Police, said that police formed a special team to investigate the case.

“The police team used sniffer dogs to trace the movement of the suspects and found the shirt of one of the suspects and a toy gun used in the crime.

The police also used the footage obtained from surveillance cameras installed at the exchange house and the street, which assisted in revealing their car plate number and its description.

In cooperation with the Sharjah and Dubai Police, the team managed to identify the suspects and their location.

One of the suspects was arrested in a street in Sharjah. He then led the police team to his accomplices in Dubai.

In coordination with the Dubai Police, the team raided the house of the suspect and arrested the other four.

The sixth suspect is still on the loose and the police is on the lookout.

Borno state Governor grants 22 prisoners amnesty to mark independence

Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, today October 1st granted 22 prison inmates amnesty during an unscheduled visit to the Maiduguri Maximum Security Prison in celebration of Nigeria's independence.

Governor Shettima said the amnesty granted to the prisoners followed the recommendation of the State Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

Addressing the prisoners, he said "You are in prison today because it has been destined by the Almighty God. It does not mean the end of your lives. Even some holy prophets were in one time or the other imprisoned but they came out the better" he said
Before leaving, he donated a 27 KVA power generating set to the prison and also announced approval for the release of N5million to the prison authorities to enable them carry out general renovation of decaying facilities.

Three Boko Haram members sentenced to 25 years each

The Federal High Court in Lagos today Tuesday September 30th sentenced 3 Boko Haram members to 25 years imprisonment each, The Nation reports.
However, journalists were not allowed to cover the judgment. Only lawyers in the prosecution and defence teams were allowed in court.
A source, who witnessed the verdict, but craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told reporters that the fourth defendant was acquitted.
The court, on December 3 last year, barred journalists from covering the trial of 17 suspected members of the sect.
Justice Ibrahim Buba made the order following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ade Ipaye.

Men of the Department of Security Services (DSS) had prevented journalists from covering the suspects’ arraignment last November 27.

The accused are – Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, Musa Audu, Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.
The Attorney-General, it was learnt, had entered a nolle prosequi (Latin for “do not prosecute”) in respect of two of the defendants, who were subsequently discharged.
Later, another 11 were also discharged in the course of the trial following another nolle prosequi by the prosecution.

Only four – the first to fourth defendants – went through a full trial.
The suspects were first charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and being members of a proscribed organisation.

They allegedly committed the offences on March 21 last year, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and at No. 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-Iganmu, Lagos.
They were alleged to have in their possession three packets of explosive construction pipes, 15 detonators, and 11 AK47 rifles with 30 rounds of live ammunitions.

Source: The Nation

EFCC Arraigns 60 year old Man for N37.5m Scam

Find the EFCC Press statement below...
A 60-year-old man, Vincent Odionu was on Monday September 29, 2014, arraigned before Justice M.A. Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 2-count charge that borders on stealing, forgery and impersonation
The accused person who is an agent to a brokerage firm, Lion Stockbrokers Limited, allegedly conspired with others to sell the shares of Onwubu Gibson Anake ( deceased) in several blue chip companies ( RT Briscoe, CFAO, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, First Bank, Oando, Nigerian Breweries, etc) without authorisation. The total value of the shares sold by the accused is put at Thirty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira only.

One of the counts in the charge reads,” That you Vincent Odionu sometime in March 2008 in Abakaliki, Ebony State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N1,268,000,00 (One Million Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Naira only) by means of fraudulent encashment of GTBank Cheque belonging to Onwubu Gibson Anake issued by lion Stockbrokers Limited when you falsely represented yourself at Fidelity Bank as Onwubu Gibson Anake, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The matter was adjourned to October 22, 2014 for consideration of bail application.

Texas man tests positive to Ebola in the US

The first case of the deadly Ebola virus diagnosed on US soil has occurred. A Texas man who just returned from Liberia to the US has tested positive to the deadly Ebola virus.

Announcing the development today September 30th, America's Center for Disease Control said the unidentified man was asymptomatic when he arrived back from Liberia recently and only started showing suspicious symptoms yesterday, prompting his immediate check-in into a Dallas hospital where it was confirmed he had the dreaded viral disease after preliminary test was carried out on him.

He has now been placed on strict isolation while a trace of all contacts he's made since his return back to America has commenced

Ini Edo's marriage packs up, removes husband's name from instagram

After five years together, actress Ini Edo's marriage to her US based husband Philip Ehiagwina has crashed. The couple who lived separately for most of their marriage decided to formally split in early August. There are reports that Ini's people have even returned the bride price Philip paid in 2008.

Ini has since removed her husband's name from her social media accounts and she also removed wife from her bio on instagram. Her bio used to read - actress and wife...but wife is no longer there. A source that I spoke with said they have been having problems for quite a while because of trust issues before they decided to finally end their marriage. They have no children together.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

Happy 54th Independence Anniversary to Nigeria and Nigerians...
And happy new month to all esteemed readers. Wishing you and your loved ones the very best this month & always!