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- Judge orders Muslim woman to remove burkha during court appearance then bans her from entering plea after she refuses
- Genevieve Nnaji Needs A Man; Says I Want My Own Mr Right
- Jehovah's Witness whose wife died after refusing blood transfusion is jailed for 13 years over child sex abuse covered up by religion's elders
- Tragic moment a wedding turns into a funeral as jubilant gunfire celebrations result in man being accidentally shot.
- Medical Director Commits Suicide
- Woman was beaten so badly by her cage fighter husband that police thought they had been called to a murder scene
- Jonathan Appoints Bongos Ikwue As Chairman Of NFC Board
- SEE Dance Queen Kaffy and Husband Playing Pregnancy Love
- Sorry, I'm Gay ––Prison Break Actor Wentworth Miller Reveals
| Posted: 23 Aug 2013 11:25 AM PDT  A judge told a Muslim woman she must remove her burkha in court before she can enter a plea after she refused to reveal her face. Judge Peter Murphy said the principle of open justice overrode the 21-year-old woman's religious beliefs, and warned there was a risk a different person could go into the dock pretending to be her. The woman, from Hackney, east London, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared before Blackfriars Crown Court today charged with intimidating a witness. She said she cannot remove the veil in front of men because of her religious beliefs. Judge Murphy told her: 'It is necessary for this court to be satisfied that they can recognise the defendant. 'While I obviously respect the right to dress in any way she wishes, certainly while outside the court, the interests of justice are paramount. 'I can't, as a circuit judge, accept a plea from a person whose identity I am unable to ascertain.' He added: 'It would be easy for someone on a later occasion to appear and claim to be the defendant. 'The court would have no way to check on that.' Her barrister, Claire Burtwistle, told the court the woman was not prepared to lower her veil at all while men were in the room. 'In front of women, it is not an issue', she said. 'It is simply men that she will not allow to see her face.'  Hearing: The woman, who appeared before Blackfriars Crown Court, is charged with witness intimidation. The case has been adjourned for legal argument about whether she has to remove her burkha  Under the veil: The judge said there is a risk that if a Muslim woman was allowed to cover her face with a veil in court a different person could pretend to be her (file photo) But Judge Murphy rejected the suggestions, saying: 'It seems to me to be quite fundamental that the court is sure who it is the court is dealing with. 'Furthermore, this court, as long as I am sitting, has the highest respect for any religious tradition a person has. 'In my courtroom also, this sometimes conflicts with the interests of a paramount need for the administration of justice. In my courtroom, that's going to come first.' The judge added: 'There is the principle of open justice and it can't be subject to the religion of the defendant whether the principle is observed or not. 'I am not saying this because of the particular form of dress by this defendant, I apply that to any form of dress that had the same issues.' Judge Murphy adjourned the case for legal argument over whether the defendant should have to remove her veil. It will be heard again on September 12, when the defendant is expected to enter a not guilty plea and go to trial. The defendant is alleged to have intimidated a witness, in Finsbury Park, north London, in June. BATTLE OF THE BURKHA: PREVIOUS CONTROVERSIES OVER MUSLIM VEILThe French caused controversy around the world when they moved to ban women from wearing the burkha in public. Politicians moved to ban the veil because they argued it was a security risk and said it was a social hindrance. The law - which sparked protests in Pakistan - was brought into effect in 2011 under the leadership of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. British politicians are also no stranger to controversy surrounding the burkha. In 2006, former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw sparked outrage when he said he had ask Muslim women to remove their veils when talking to them in his constituency surgery. Three years ago Conservative MP Philip Hollobone tabled a private members' bill which would have made it illegal for anyone to cover their face in public. However, the bill fell by the parliamentary wayside following claims that bringing in such a law could be in breach of the Equality Act.  |
| Genevieve Nnaji Needs A Man; Says I Want My Own Mr Right Posted: 23 Aug 2013 11:21 AM PDT  How does it feel to have risen this far within so short a time? (Smiles) I'm trying to handle it as much as I can. It feels fulfilling. I feel I'm having the best of my time. I feel the Lord is with me. I feel I have been able to make an impact on people and I have a lot of fans and I'm enjoying my life. It feels good. To what or whom do you owe all that? God's gift, talent, determination, pride… What do you mean by pride? They say it goes before a fall. And now you are saying it is responsible for your success?You have to have pride to be able to stand the crowd, you have to have pride to be able to stand the intimidation and arrogance of people. Especially people who feel you have to pay dues to get to where you are going. You have to have the pride and stamina to tell them boldly you know what you are doing; they didn't bring you to the industry, you will leave when you want to and you leave because you want to. Where do you want to ogennyr hope to be in the next 10 years? In the next 10 years, I know I will be married with kids. But I think it all depends on what God has fashioned out for me. I know I will still be in the entertainment industry or the fashion world or whatever. What do you like most about stardom because it appears you don't want to tell us about your love life? The fact that it opens doors for you is what I like most about it. You walk into a place and every other person is queuing up for one thing or the other, they just start to recognize you. Oh! come in, come in…It's actually a door opener for us or for me. It has brought respect, especially when you do what you are doing well. What I hate most about it is the price that we get to pay for stardom – negative publicity, the untrue scandals; actually, the only thing I hate about it is the bad press. What will you say is the worst story ever written about you in the press? So many bad things. But the one I hated most was the one of Fred Amata and I, which I don't know where they got it from. It hurt me so much. It was not just fair. How do you feel anytime you read negative things about your person in the media? Certainly, I don't feel good. What if the stories are true, but maybe you were not expecting it to be published? It's rarely been the truth. Maybe a bit of it, but that's not how it happened. The press never tells the story the way it is. It's usually a bit from here and a bit from there. For a very long time, they have not written anything true about me… How did you come into the movie industry? I have been acting since I was eight in Ripples. That was how I got into acting. For movies, I think that should be 1998 in Most Wanted. I met Torino (Emeka Ojukwu) in a bus and to my greatest surprise, he recognized me, from Ripples, when I was about eight, nine. He asked why I left the industry. He later invited me to this audition – Most Wanted. I got a role, a 'waka-pass' and that was it. But the story we heard was that Kunle Coker brought you in and that both of you even dated? Yes, Kunle Coker was actually my boyfriend. But he did not bring me into the industry. They said he was heartbroken when you deserted him. What led to the collapse of your relationship? Well, relationships come and go. Is it true that you dumped him for Fred Amata? Fred Amata? I've never had anything to do with Fred Amata. In Ripples, I used to call Fred Amata uncle. So, I don't see the reason why I should date Fred Amata. Fred Amata and I are just friends. I don't have anything to do with him. Are you now saying that apart from Kunle Coker, you have not dated any other person in the industry? I will not say that and I will not say anything on the contrary either. I don't think it is your business. It's my personal life. What do you find most attractive in a man? The fact that a man will take me for who I am, not for what he hears or what he believes. I like people who take me for the me they see. That's the most important thing. And have regard for me. And trust too. What do you think is the biggest mistake that men make with women? Everyone makes mistakes. But to me, I will not tolerate any man who hits women. To me, that's evil. Do you believe in love at first sight? I believe in infatuation at first sight. Love is a very strong feeling. It does not just come. People think infatuation is being in love. They are two different things. You don't know anything yet until you get to meet the person and you begin to fall in love. Not just physically, but externally with the person. Can you recollect the first time you fell in love? Yes! Tell us about it. I think we met at a show. This was when I was in secondary school and we shared a lot of things in common – singing. It was a case of two compatible people who were so much in love with each other and… (Interruption) So, what eventually happened? Like I said, relationships must come and go. You can't help everything that happens. Some things just happen for no reason. What's your definition of love? Love has to be understanding, caring. Love, to me, is being with somebody for 24 hours without being bored. Love is catching your breath every time you see whoever you are in love with. Love is friendship, love is understanding and love is trust. Do you believe in being faithful in a relationship? Yeah! I'm very faithful. Can you date a fan? I've never dated a fan. And I don't know if I can. But people come around to toast as per fans. But it's a matter of nicely telling them off. There are different reasons why fans like or love artistes. So, it actually depends on why my fan loves me. It depends. Althogenevieve1[1]ugh, I don't think it is advisable to date a fan. The reason being that people are in love with what they see on the screen, not the real you. What's your idea of a sensual treat? Quiet time in a place surrounded by nature, water, trees…less talk, more of feelings, let the feelings show instead. What part of a man's body do you like most? What kind of questions are these? Must I answer that? Okay, a man's chest, from the belly up. What part of your own body do you like most? I guess it's my eyes. I think I like my eyes. What's your greatest wish? That God continues to bless me. Especially with the right man and a good family. It's like you are too eager to get married? No, no, no. The thing is just that there comes a time in your life where everything is going fine. And all you say to yourself is after this, what next? After everything, you have to get married as far as you are a woman. What's your favourite colour? Blue. What are your hobbies? Singing, dancing… Let's have your bio-data. People don't seem to know much about you? I'm from Aboh-Mbaise in Imo State. I went to Kemistar Nursery and Primary School, Surulere; Methodist Girls High School, followed by one in Ikeja. I kept on moving. But ended up at Girls Secondary School, Akwakuma in Owerri, Imo State. Why have you not furthered your education? Life is not the same for everybody. Some people are so lucky, they come out of secondary school and they go straight to university because they have the back-up of people and it's so easy. It looks simple…mine was different. But I'm determined. Definitely, I'm gonna go back to school. I wanted to make money, I love my money, I cherish my own money. So, I will go back when I've made enough. But even while I'm there, I won't stop working. Tell us about your parents, what do they do? My parents are there. My mum is a teacher and my dad is retired. What was your dad into before his retirement? He was a bank manager with African Continental Bank (ACB)…I'm the fourth of eight children, the third girl. We are four girls, four boys. I come from a very strong Christian family. And I think that has been able to have an effect on my life, especially since I came into the industry. You see, even when people go out to say all sorts, my mother knows the kind of daughter she has. She knows the limit that I can go. She must have been devastated when you took in, in your teens? Well, well…I think so. What was your childhood like? My childhood was fun. It was fun. You don't get to get all that these days. What's the greatest complement that has ever come your way? My complexion. Story by AZUH ARINZE  |
| Posted: 23 Aug 2013 11:14 AM PDT  Jailed: Gordon Leighton who admitted sexually abusing a child and then had his wrongdoing covered up by the church A Jehovah's Witness who sexually abused a child and then had his wrongdoing covered up by the church has been jailed for 13 years. Gordon Leighton, 53, admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted with the allegations by church elders at Washington, Tyne and Wear. The elders knew about the 53-year-old's admissions for three years but refused to co-operate with the criminal investigation, and said what they had heard was confidential. Leighton hit the headlines in the 1990s when his wife Yvonne, 28, died after refusing a blood transfusion after childbirth on religious grounds. Judge Penny Moreland said that he had subjected his victim to 'untold damage' as she sentenced him at Newcastle Crown Court today. The judge said: 'You manipulated her with a combination of affection and attention and violence and threats.' The defendant was found guilty of two charges of indecency with a child and six of indecent assault after a trial. Prosecutor Katherine Dunn told the court it was in 2009 the victim, who is now an adult, broke her silence about what Leighton had done to her. The court heard that at a special meeting at Lambton Kingdom Hall aimed at 'keeping the congregation clean', Leighton 'admitted sexual abuse' and made excuses for his vile behaviour. Miss Dunn said: 'The elders conducted their own investigation. A meeting was arranged and the defendant was confronted with the allegations. 'After initially denying the allegations he broke down and admitted sexually abusing the complainant.' The court heard Leighton, of Washington, refused to answer any questions when interviewed by detectives and claimed his confession at the meeting was limited to reading pornographic material. Throughout the six-day trial Leighton, a Jehovah's Witness ministerial servant, denied all the allegations against him and denied he had confessed to the elders. Leighton, who has since been expelled from the church, had also denied unrelated assault charges of child cruelty, grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm, which he was found guilty of.  Sentencing: Judge Penny Moreland gave Leighton 13 years behind bars when he appeared before Newcastle Crown Court today Each was then issued a witness summons which they launched a court battle against, but they were ordered to testify by Judge Penny Moreland after months of legal wrangling. Their barrister Richard Daniels said the men had a 'duty to God' not to breach confidence. Leighton was also given a sexual offences prevention order and was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.  |
| Posted: 23 Aug 2013 11:08 AM PDT A wedding in Iraq turned into the stuff of nightmares after one of the guests who was at the party accidentally shot and killed his friend. The victim was enjoying himself on the dance floor, when a man dancing opposite pulled out a handgun. He had intended to let the firearm off in the air - a sign of celebration in Iraq - but appeared to pull the trigger too early and shot his friend in the face.  Dead: The man in yellow stands over his friend after accidentally shooting him in the face The stricken man fell to the floor like a stone. It took a few moments for the guests to realise what had happened. But as the horror started to dawn on those around the victim, who only seconds earlier had been happily dancing away, the perpetrator put the gun back in the belt of his trousers and went to the aid of his fallen friend. The last we see of the victim is him writhing in agony before the video cuts out.  Celebration: The group of young men dance at the wedding moments before tragedy strikes  Lethal shot: This is the moment the reveler who is just out of the picture pulls the gun from his belt and fires  Horror: The guests realise something terrible has happened and clear the dance floor. The gunman in yellow looks on, while a friend of the victim desperately tries to help  |
| Medical Director Commits Suicide Posted: 23 Aug 2013 10:55 AM PDT The Medical Director of City Convalescent Clinic, Medical Director Commits Suicide this morning committed suicide at his residence, 13, Aliu Street, Kosofe by Ile-Iwe Bus-stop, Ketu, western Nigeria. The body of the deceased was found by his wife dangling from the ceiling fan in one of the rooms of their two-storey building, which also houses a clinic. The reason why he took his life could not be ascertained as he did not leave any suicide note behind. A neighbour of the deceased,  , told P.M.NEWS that they woke up this morning and heard people wailing from the clinic and when they got there the wife of the deceased, who wept uncontrollably, narrated how she discovered the lifeless body of her late husband hanging from the ceiling this morning. Disu said from what he gathered from the widow, they both slept together in one of their rooms but when she noticed that the deceased was no longer with her, she decided to check in the vacant rooms. Disu stated further that the wife, while wailing, said she couldn't phantom why her middle-aged husband would decide to commit suicide. "The wife of the deceased is yet to come to terms with the reality that her husband is no more. From what she said, her late husband left her in their room. And after waiting for a while, she decided to look for her husband only for her to find the lifeless body hanging from a ceiling fan in an adjoining room," Disu said A woman, identified as Iya Kafayat, described the deceased as an easy going man who was always ready to treat an ailing patient that comes to his hospital. Iya Kafayat, who was close to tears while speaking with our correspondent, wondered what could have prompted the deceased to take his life. "I don't think it is an ordinary thing. Maybe he was charmed into committing suicide but I don't want to believe that because only the Almighty Allah knows what actually went wrong," she said. Okechukwu Obinna, one of the onlookers in front of the clinic said he is still in shock over why a loving man would decide to commit suicide, when things are apparently going on well for him. An elderly woman who had known the deceased for close to two decades said the late Medical Director could have killed himself as a result of pressure from his erstwhile wife. According to her, the deceased was married to his first wife for 10 years without her bearing him a child. "He had to marry the present wife who bore him the two kids he left behind," the woman told P.M.NEWS. She added that the hospital, where the deceased committed suicide, had been shut for close to 15 years before it was reopened. Attempts to speak with the Divisional Police Officer the Alapere Police Station proved abortive as our correspondent was directed to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide. When Braide was contacted, she said she is yet to be briefed about what happened. As at the time of filing this report people were still milling around the hospital in shock over the incident. The late Okereke left behind a boy and a girl.  |
| Posted: 23 Aug 2013 10:53 AM PDT A cage fighter beat his wife so badly after she sent him a text message saying their relationship was over that police thought they had been called to a murder scene.Mother-of-two Charlotte Small, 33, was so scared that Gary Marcel, 46, would attack her that she had already entered 999 into her phone - but he immediately snatched it off her. The thug forced his way into Miss Small's home and repeatedly kicked and punched her in the face - shouting 'no one will want you now'.   Horror attack: Mother-of-two Charlotte Small, 33, (left) after she had been repeatedly beaten by thug Gary Marcel, 46, (right) who has been jailed for 11 years Miss Small, who still suffers from memory loss, said today that her husband, who she has since divorced, took breaks during the attack before continuing to beat her. She was finally rescued after her neighbour Martin Nolan, 75, heard her piercing screams and called Kent Police.  |
| Jonathan Appoints Bongos Ikwue As Chairman Of NFC Board Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:44 AM PDT  I think it's a well deserved one. Congrats!  |
| SEE Dance Queen Kaffy and Husband Playing Pregnancy Love Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:43 AM PDT |
| Sorry, I'm Gay ––Prison Break Actor Wentworth Miller Reveals Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:40 AM PDT   With the way people are going about this gay thing I hope that one day humanity will not just stop to exists as a result of procreation decline?As you read this, Prison Break lead actor Wntworth Miller has come out to declare that he is gay. The 41yrs old actor, who was invited to the Saint Petersburg Film Festival in Russia, wrote an open letter informing them that he won't honour the invitation because of the anti-gay law in Russia. See the popular actor's revelation below: "Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline. I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. "The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly. Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice. - Wentworth MillerPls, what kind of spirit is making people choose to gay?  |
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