Welcome to Olokunbola's Blog |
- 5th winner emerges in the BIG Games Toyota Corolla give away
- Mercy Johnson narrates humble beginning, says she once lived in an uncompleted building
- Teen Threw Boiling Water on Girl’s Face For Unfriending Him on Facebook
- Teacher, Allegedly Asked Students For unclad Pictures of Themselves
- Annie Idibia Gives Tuface A Cute Baby Girl
- When you are not Jesus nor Peter Pastor Tries To Walk On Water, Drowns In Front Of His Congregation
- Kardashian and boyfriend, named 2013 worst celebrity neighbours
- Salesman gets N100,000 bail over N8,500 goods theft
- Four remanded in prison for alleged armed robbery
- I was dragged on the floor after asking SARS men for my arrested son – Widow paralysed by stroke after police brutality
- Most Lagos water passengers wear fake life jackets
- Dangote $9.2 billion richer in 2013, Gates leads the world »
- Frenzy over crocodile caught in Lagos posh estate
- I can act nude for $50m – Amanda Ebeye
- Photos: Maheeda gets completely naked for her new music video
- The most dangerous selfies yet? Scores of teens compete to come up with the riskiest pose for the 'Selfie Olympics'
- INCREDIBLE! New Year’s Twin Babies Born in Separate Years! [PHOTOS]
- Emmanuel Adebayor Gives Out Loads Of Shoes To Celebrate This Season+ Obafemi Martins Trip
- Iyetade Soyinka To Be Buried 10th Of January, 2014
- Yay! Annie and 2face Idibia welcome baby girl
- Reno Omokri responds to El-Rufai's claims that he's No.7 on GEJ's snipers' list
- Photos: P-Square attends May D's birthday party
- Man flogs orphan to death over Christmas rice
| 5th winner emerges in the BIG Games Toyota Corolla give away Posted: 04 Jan 2014 07:43 AM PST  It's been five exciting weeks filled with tears of joy, celebration and brand new Toyota Corollas courtesy BIG Games! Congratulations to Mrs. Charity Steve-Onyewuchi, a 35-year-old, mother of four, working at Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). She is the5thwinner of a brand new Toyota Corolla in the BIG Games Toyota Corolla Giveaway! This is her first car ever! Continue.    Start the New Year in grand style by playing to win one of seven corollas still up for grabs!All you need do is text BIGto 5045 from an MTN line and you could be the next winner. You could also give your friend who has an MTN line a chance to win a Corollaby following thesesimple steps: Step 2:Tell us which friend you want us to give a free ticket by putting both @biggamesngr and your friends Twitter name in a tweet (for example: @biggamesngr please give @faith a free entry ticket) Once we are notified, they will be sent an entry ticket. For all the latest news, updates and giveaways, Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/biggamesngr |
| Mercy Johnson narrates humble beginning, says she once lived in an uncompleted building Posted: 04 Jan 2014 07:13 AM PST   Sometimes when I cry in movies, it isn't the script that makes me cry. When I recall my humble beginning, I give thanks to God. When I remember how we moved into an uncompleted building and had to take cover whenever it rained because of the condition of the house; how my brother did a menial job as a bricklayer to earn a living and those days when we rolled over a stick to cover the windows up till the point when I started acting and raised money to cover the roof… I recall those days we were living with lizards because the floor and the walls of the house were not plastered, or when I had scars as a result of my several falls." Continue.. How she got into acting.. "After my secondary school education, I failed the University Matriculation Examination (UME) and came back to Lagos to get a degree. While that was on, I watched Genevieve Nnaji in a movie entitled: Sharon Stone. I later approached a friend for assistance to feature in a movie. He said I had a great body and that I would make a good actress. He later took me to the National Theatre, but a role did not come until a year later, when I had my first lead role in a film entitled: The Maid. The Maid was my starting point and it was quite challenging to play the lead role because it was my first movie. I was fidgeting when I saw the likes of Eucharia Anunobi, whom I regarded as a screen goddess during my secondary school days. I never thought I would make it with people like that. So, when I saw her, I was so excited and considered standing beside her as sacred. She actually realised that and later helped me by giving me the needed courage." What has marriage changed about you? Marriage has taught me lots of things and I've learnt a lot since I got married too. I know that if I had gotten married earlier, I wouldn't have made most of the errors I made. It's good to be married to somebody who is so organised; he brings you up the right way and reminds you of whom you're supposed to be. You seem to be enjoying marriage a lot. You even once said that as soon as Purity (her daughter) clocks one, you would be going back to the labour room … My sister, marriage has been sweet for me because I have the best husband and daughter in the world. Being a married woman, I have learnt to tolerate things more. It has changed my perspective of life and the way I react to things. But getting married and being an actress are two different things. How do you balance up? When I'm not at location, I spend quality time with my family. And guess what? My husband has always been there for me and Purity. It's obvious we are his priority. He's a loving husband and father. Your husband does not complain about those times when you are away? He doesn't; he understands the nature of my job. He's the best thing that has happened to me. People usually say men are not reliable. In the case of my husband, he's a blessing. What was the point of attraction between you and Mr Okojie? What attracted him to me was his fearless approach. You know sometimes, you meet some guys and they get intimidated about you, but not with him. The first time we were supposed to have a date, he said 'Let's go to my house so you can cook for me' and in my mind, I was like "Seriously, this guy doesn't know my name." So, I said "My name is Mercy Johnson" and he said 'Yes I know  |
| Teen Threw Boiling Water on Girl’s Face For Unfriending Him on Facebook Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:48 AM PST  A spurned teen took revenge on a girl by burning her face with boiling water after she unfriended him on Facebook, according to police in India. The Independent reports that the boy, from Bihar state in northern India, came to the 15-year-old victim's house on Wednesday and said he had left his I.D. in the home. He then allegedly shoved the girl's mother aside and poured water on the victim's face. The Times of India reported that the girl was taken to a hospital where she's being treated for burns to 20 percent of her face including her right cheek and right side of her neck. Other outlets have identified the boy, but The Huffington Post has not because he is a minor and has not been charged as an adult. Police are currently looking for him after he fled, following the incident. He is an undergraduate student at a Muzaffarpur college. In a translation of a statement to police obtained by the Hindustan Times, the victim said, "My father is a teacher and he (the accused) used to come for tuitions to our home. I accepted his (Facebook) friend request a year ago because I found him decent then. But of late he had become abusive and so I unfriended him last week." Gawker reports that "with Facebook steadily becoming the exclusive means of communication among teens in India, tragic news stories involving young Indian Facebook users are similarly on the rise." In October, a 17-year-old Indian girl reportedly committed suicide after her parents banned her from Facebook, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.  |
| Teacher, Allegedly Asked Students For unclad Pictures of Themselves Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:36 AM PST  A Colorado teacher is facing charges after he was accused of asking students to send him unclad photos of themselves. The Fruita Police Department says 58-year-old public school teacher Randy Majors is facing 3 counts of s*xual exploitation of a child and 5 counts of attempted s*xual exploitation of a child. According to an arrest affidavit, a parent told police she was going through her 16-year-old daughter's Facebook account and found a message asking her daughter to send unclad pictures of herself and to not tell anyone. Authorities say Majors admitted he had asked a couple of girls for indecent pictures. Majors could not be located for comment and court records did not indicate he has an attorney.  |
| Annie Idibia Gives Tuface A Cute Baby Girl Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:34 AM PST  Congrats to Annie and Tuface!  |
| When you are not Jesus nor Peter Pastor Tries To Walk On Water, Drowns In Front Of His Congregation Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:32 AM PST  demonstration on Gabon's beach in the capital city of Libreville. Referencing Matthew 14:22-33, Kabele said that he received a revelation which told him that with enough faith he could achieve what Jesus was able to. According to an eyewitness, Kabele took his congregation out to the beach. He told them that he would cross the Kombo estuary by foot, which is normally a 20 minute boat ride. Sadly by the second step into the water Kabele found himself completely submerged. He never returned. This is not the first incident of this nature in Africa. At Ibadon zoo in south-west Nigeria, a self-proclaimed Prophet claimed to be able to do what the Daniel of the bible did by walking into a den full of lions. Though he was warned numerous times by zoo keepers, the Prophet thought of them as nothing more than enemies of progress. The Prophet, with a crowd of people watching, put on a long red robe and proceeded to enter the cage full of lions. Within seconds of opening the door, the lions ripped the Prophet from flesh to bone. The bible should come with a warning label, "Don't try this at home."  |
| Kardashian and boyfriend, named 2013 worst celebrity neighbours Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:27 AM PST  Kardashian and boyfriend Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have been named as the worst neighbours of 2013 in a new survey. The TV personality, Kardashian, and her rapper boyfriend, West, topped the list of celebrities Americans would rather not have as neighbours, according to a survey by real estate blog, Zillow. On the site's annual Celebrity Neighbour Survey, one quarter of respondents claimed the couple, which is engaged to be married, made for the Worst Neighbours of 2013, bumping them up from second place last year. A mere two per cent of the Americans surveyed said they would enjoy living next to West and Kardashian in 2014. "No one wants to live next door to a family who has cameras following them everywhere and seems to seek out as much attention as possible," Zillow Chief Marketing Officer Amy Bohutinsky said. "However, with more than one-third of surveyed Americans preferring a non-celebrity neighbour, what remains clear is that many people don't want to live next to any celebrity, regardless of why they are famous."According to the blog, though, those averse to West and Kardashian likely won't have them for a neighbour unless they live next to the Bel-Air home the couple bought earlier this year. But outside of Bel-Air, prospective home owners are apparently also steering clear of homes next to music celebrities: Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga. The most desirable celebrity to live next to in 2013 was comedian, Jimmy Fallon, according to the survey. Eleven per cent of respondents said the Late Night host would make for an acceptable neighbour. Other popular prospective neighbours include Country music couple, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton and Basketball star, Lebron James. Zillow, however, did not disclose how many people responded to its survey. In another development, Kardashian on Sunday posted a picture of a miniature black Lamborghini West bought for their six-month-old daughter, North West, for Christmas. The mini black sports car is an exact replica of West's $750,000 car, and has the same paint finish. Kim posted the snap under the caption: "Like father, like daughter." Kim Kardashian: A controversial beauty Kimberly Noel 'Kim" Kardashian, better known as Kim Kardashian is a name that has garnered a lot of fame, albeit, controversially. Born October 21, 1980, the gorgeous American TV personality, actress and entrepreneur came into prominence through her then-friendship with Paris Hilton, the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels and later, through a leaked scandalous sex tape showcasing her sexual exploits with her then-boyfriend, Ray J. Kardashian is also known for her successful workout videos and lavish lifestyle. The sexy celebrity was born in Los Angeles, California to parents, Kris (née Houghton) and Robert Kardashian. Her parents divorced in 1991 and her mother remarried to the 1976 Summer Olympics decathlon winner, Bruce Jenner, the same year. As a teenager, she attended Marymount High School, a Roman Catholic all-girls school in Los Angeles. In 1994, her father garnered public attention as the primary defence lawyer for football player, O.J. Simpson, during his murder trial. Robert died of esophageal cancer in September 2003. Kardashian married music producer, Damon Thomas, at age 20. Thomas filed for divorce in 2003, though Kardashian later credited their separation to physical and emotional abuse on his part. Prior to the finalisation of her divorce, Kardashian began dating singer, Ray J. In February 2007, the controversial sex tape made by Kardashian and Ray J in 2003 was leaked. Kardashian filed a lawsuit against Vivid Entertainment, which distributed the film as Kim K Superstar, and later dropped the suit and settled for $5m. In the same year her sex tape leaked to the public, Kardashian and her family were commissioned to star in the reality television series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Its success has led to the creation of spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Kourtney and Kim Take Miami. In 2010, Kardashian was named the highest-paid reality television personality, with estimated earnings of $6m. Celebritynetworth.com put Kardashian's networth at $40m as at 2013. The celebrity also co-owns a garments boutique named "D-A-S-H" with her sisters, and has released a range of clothing lines and fragrances, which prove her entrepreneurial abilities. In May 2011, she became engaged to NBA player, Kris Humphries, then of the New Jersey Nets, whom she had been dating since October 2010. They were married in an extravagant wedding ceremony on August 20, 2013 in California. At the wedding, Kardashian donned a $2.5m 65 carat sparkling diamond headpiece by Lorraine Schwartz, a $2m 20.5 carat diamond engagement ring, and 28 carat diamond earrings worth $5m. In all, she was wearing well over $10m worth of jewellery on her big day. Not to mention the $150,000 she spent on hair and makeup. After 72 days of marriage, Kardashian filed for divorce from Humphries, citing irreconcilable differences. Several news outlets surmised that Kardashian's marriage to Humphries was merely a publicity stunt, to promote the Kardashian family's brand and their subsequent television ventures. It was even said that Kardashian would do anything to stay in the news. It was later revealed that she had been dating American rapper, Kanye West, while she was legally married to Humphries. Kardashian is still dating West, with whom she has a daughter, North. The couple are engaged and planning to soon get married. A few days after Christmas, the couple were sighted along with some of Kardashian's family members, catching a private jet to an exclusive ski resort in Aspen for vacation. Kardashian and West are often seen by the media and the public as two of a kind, with their extravagant lifestyles. Apart from being a rapper, West is also a famous producer as he rose in fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. Recently, West bought two armoured vehicles said to have cost $1.2m each to protect Kardashian and their baby daughter. The public had wondered if the couple had received kidnapping threats due to their high profile status. Kardashian and West also purchased a house reportedly worth $11m earlier last year. As part of the renovation process, the interior of the entire mansion has been torn down and plans are afoot to increase the total living space from 10,000 square feet to 14,000 square feet. The mansion is currently undergoing renovations which include ripping out wrought iron staircases, chandeliers and fittings – to make way for a more modern feel to their home. West's tastes meant additional costs for gold-plated bogs worth $487,000 and luxury beds worth $75,000.The couple plan to add top of the line luxury amenities like a basketball court, bowling alley, hair and makeup salon, movie theatre, fitness centre, baby nursery and indoor swimming pool in the future. The couple were recently singled out by President Obama for their opulent lifestyle warping the American dream. The pretty actress seems to be quite fond of expensive cars, as, she owns a bunch of them. Kardashian bought a white Ferrari 458 Italia in 2011 for a hefty $325,000, adding up another classy ride to her existing pricey collection. She also owns a 2010 Maserati GranTurismo, a Convertible Bentley GTC Continental, a 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8 Porsche Panamera Turbo, a 2010 Range Rover. She once owned a white Rolls Royce Ghost which was subsequently traded for a newer model and black coloured Rolls Royce Phantom Series II car in December 2012 for $405,000. Kardashian bought her 2013 Mercedes G63, worth $150,000, when the posh vehicle was yet to be released or even reached showrooms. The beauty wasted no time in bragging about her new purchase to her fans on the social media, tweeting 'Got the first one!' along with pictures of the vehicle. Kardashian also enjoys vacationing as she has been sighted in tourist destinations like La Romana in Dominican Republic, charming Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Punta Mita in Mexico and Anguilla, a Caribbean Island. She has often been spotted on several occasions carrying Hermes Birkin bag, which is her favourite bag brand. An avid bag collector, Kardashian owns a collection of bags, with estimated price in millions of dollars. She once went shopping with her mother, while she was in Paris, where they spent more than $100,000 purchasing seven Hermes bags including an infrequent "crocodile skin version", at one of the brand's boutique.  |
| Salesman gets N100,000 bail over N8,500 goods theft Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:26 AM PST   A Sango-Ota Magistrates' Court in Ogun State on Thursday slammed a N100, 000 bail on a 28-year-old salesman, Isibor Festus, over allegation that he stole his employer's property worth N8,500. The Magistrate, Mrs. Titi Bello, who pronounced the bail, also ordered the accused to produce. Bello said the surety, who should be resident within the court's jurisdiction, should be gainfully employed. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Festus lives at No: 12, Adeola Street, Ifo, near Sango-Ota, is facing a charge of stealing. Earlier, the prosecutor, Corporal. Rosemary Brown, told the court that the accused, an employee of Justrite Superstores, Ota, committed the offence on November. 29, 2013 at 7.00 p.m. She said the accused stole two shirts valued at N5, 000 and a wristwatch valued at N3, 500, property of Justrite Superstores. The offence, Brown noted, contravened Section 390 (b) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.  |
| Four remanded in prison for alleged armed robbery Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:25 AM PST An Ota Magistrates' Court in Ogun State, on Tuesday remanded four men; Isiaka Ayorinde, Ayodele Olarewaju, Qudus Adesola and Bunmi Thomas in prison for alleged armed robbery. Ayorinde; 38, Olarewaju; 24, Adesola; 27 and Thomas; 22, whose addresses are unknown, are facing a two-count charge of armed robbery and conspiracy. The prosecutor, Corporal Rosemary Brown, had told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the offences on December 6, 2013 at about 1.35 a.m. Brown said the accused persons and the others at large, attacked the complainant, Mr. Oladimeji Balogun, at Oladimeji Street, Ajibanwo in Ota. She said the accused dispossessed the complainant of a Samsung cell phone valued at N12,000, a wrist watch valued at N3,500 and jewellery valued at N17,000. "The accused and others at large used one locally-made gun to dispossess Balogun of the items during the attack," she said. The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 1(2), (a) and 5(r) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 398 of the Criminal Code, Law of the Federation 2004. The Magistrate, Mr. Alliu Soneye, said the accused persons should be kept in prison, pending an advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions. He adjourned the case to March 6, 2014 for mention.  |
| Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:23 AM PST  It was a plaintive call at noon on Friday. The caller was 13-year-old David Adeojo. The voice was clearly of a young boy in distress. When he narrated the reason for his calling, it was apparent the boy wanted help; someone to intervene in the case of his grandmother languishing at the medical emergency ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. "My grandmother and I went to SARS (State Anti-Robbery Squad) yesterday (Thursday) because she was afraid they had killed my uncle who was arrested four months ago. They shouted at her and dragged her out. But later that day, she slumped and became paralysed," the boy said on the phone. Our correspondent visited the ward where 55-year-old widow and evangelist, Bose Bajulaye, was receiving drip at LASUTH soon after, and her physical condition told a lot about the suffering the woman was going through. Her physical appearance looked like that of a 90-year-old woman even though she is just 55. She rambled; unable to focus on who it was that had entered the ward. An activist, Mr. Darlington Ajitemisa, whom she had initially contacted when the issue of his "missing-in-custody" son came up, took a moment to rouse her. When Bajulaye eventually resettled to explain her plight, each word came out of her mouth with tremendous effort and pain. "Four months ago, my son was arrested and taken to the Ojodu Police Division, Lagos on the allegation that he stole a tricycle and sold it," she began. Each sentence took minutes for the ailing woman to complete as she narrated events leading to her present state to this correspondent but she eventually explained that her son, 33-year-old Joseph, indeed stole the tricycle. "I was told that he had struck up a short friendship with the owner of the tricycle. But on that particular day, four months ago, the man said my son was to help him to go and purchase noodles. But in the process, my son took his tricycle away. "My son is very rascally but he had never stolen before. So, it was strange to me. I thought the man was just lying. But when I confronted my son, he said he indeed stole the tricycle. I slapped him and asked what he did with it. He said he sold it for N150,000 and used the money to rent an apartment. But the complainant said he bought the tricycle for N410,000 "I begged the police and the complainant to allow me to pay back the money monthly but the owner of the tricycle disagreed. He said he wanted his money once. I had to visit the apartment which my son rented in Igando area of Lagos." Bajulaye, who said she was a caterer until she stopped working and chose to preach the gospel three years ago, met with the estate agent from whom his son rented the apartment. According to her, the agent confirmed that his son paid N150,000. She said he was sympathetic and promised to return the money as soon as he was able to rent out the apartment to another accommodation seeker. The widow said, "I went back to the Ojodu Police Division not long after that and they told me that the complainant had reported at SARS headquarters in Ikeja and that the officers from there had taken my son. "I went to the SARS office and I was warned never to come back and look for him. How would I not look for my son even if he stole something. I begged them but they ordered me out. "I contacted a lawyer for help but I noticed shortly after that the lawyer refused to pick my call again. I contacted another lawyer but the lawyer too said he could no longer handle the case because SARS men threatened him. "I went to the agent for the refund but he said SARS men had come to collect N160,000 from him. He said he added N10,000 to the N150,000, which he gave to them. But when I went to the SARS office, I was told never to return there. I asked for my son and nobody gave any answer. That was few weeks ago." She said a lawyer who is currently handling her case could not confirm if her son was still alive or not. Bajulaye said when she went to SARS again on Thursday, two officers named Idoko and Baba Ngana, who were aware of the case, threatened her and asked some policemen to drag her on the floor out of the premises. She was in pain after her treatment at the hand of the SARS men. But the widow was desperate. She had not seen her son since he was reportedly taken to SARS four months ago. "I feared he might have been killed," she said. Ajitemisa (activist) later advised her to report the case to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko. When she got to the police headquarters in Ikeja, a police officer followed her to the SARS office. She said Idoko and Baba Ngana were furious at her. They asked her to stay outside as the policewoman from the headquarters sort out the issue. But while she stood outside, she slumped. Her 13-year-old grandson, who called this correspondent, narrated the incident. "While we were standing outside, mama said she was becoming very tired and could not see properly. She then sat on the floor. But as she sat she fainted. Some people poured water on her but when she woke up, she could no longer stand on her own and some policemen took her to LASUTH," he said. At the moment, Bajulaye has no money for treatment as the policemen who dropped her off at the hospital made no provision for her treatment. "Idoko was one of the people who brought me here. But he lied to the nurses that I only came to SARS to report a case and slumped in the process," she told Saturday PUNCH. A nurse, who was sympathetic about Bajulaye's case was blunt when she explained that there was no way Bajulaye could be given proper treatment apart from the drip she was on because there was no money. "She has partial stroke and her blood pressure is alarmingly high," the nurse, who did not want to be named, said. The reality is grim for Bajulaye. She has a stroke with no medication coupled with the psychological torment that her only son could be dead without any explanation. But questions persist; like what has happened to Bajulaye's son? But the SARS commandant in the state, Mr. Abba Kyari, could not be reached on Friday as a call placed to his mobile phone indicated his line was not available. However, after this correspondent spoke with the police spokersperson, Ngozi Braide, she contacted the officer in charge, SARS. She was to later relate the report she got from the O/C SARS. "The version I got from SARS is different from what the woman told you totally. What I was told was that she was accompanied to SARS by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration. but after a thorough check, there was no record that the son was ever brought there. I was told she fainted after receiving the news and the police took her to the hospital," Braide said. She explained that Bajulaye could not have been brutalised as she claimed "since she committed no crime." "If she needs help, she can come to me to see how we can help about her case," Braide said. Ajitemisa, however, expressed reservation about the whereabouts of Joseph. The activist said there was no indication yet that Bajulaye's son had been killed or not. "The police should expect a massive demonstration from concerned people of the state if they do not produce the young man. Killing of suspects is a massive issue with SARS," he said.  |
| Most Lagos water passengers wear fake life jackets Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:20 AM PST  Nigeria's waterway system has always been seen as a viable alternative means of transport but it has seen its share of deaths. In Lagos State with a population of over 17 million people, journey on the highly congested roads sometimes becomes a harrowing experience. Here, the government has been at the centre of the call for shift to water transport. Official statistics indicate that 1.8million people travel by water in Lagos every month. However, once in a while, tragedy strikes, casting a long shadow on safety of passengers on waterways in the state even though, as Olokunbolablessing learnt, there is an enforcement of the use of life jackets. One may have been tempted to conclude that tragedies on waterways in the state have simply fizzled out through the use of life jackets. Only if it were that simple. Strings of deaths In October 2012, 10 people drowned in a boat mishap at Imude in Otto-Awori Local Council Development Area of Lagos, when a passenger boat conveying passengers from Idoluwo-Ile (a coastal village) to Ikotun, capsized. A passing speedboat created a big wave that upturned the passenger boat about halfway to its destination. For the passengers who were mandated by the 'captain' of the boat to wear their life jackets before the beginning of the journey, nothing bad could ever happen, or so they thought. If there was going to be an accident, they were surely covered. But how wrong they were! Out of the 20 passengers in the boat, most of whom were children, 10 went under, with their life jackets on and drowned. They were on their way back from the Eid-el-Kabir celebration at the time. Approximately one year after, in October 2013, a similar accident occurred at Sagbokoji Village in Apapa area of Lagos. Yet again, a passing ship that had just pulled out of its dock, whipped up enough wave to make a 10-passenger boat seem like a mere paper floating on the water. It was early morning. The boat was ferrying traders to the village for the day's trade. With life jackets and all, they all went under but only eight came back up. Two passengers, including a 10-year-old girl, drowned. Sagbokoji's Village Head, Chief Anthony Ovime, said all the passengers used life jackets because the state government had made it compulsory. "I am surprised that some of the passengers died because there is no boat operating in this village that does not have enough life jackets on board," he told this correspondent. A community leader in the village offered an explanation on why they died despite the fact that they used life jackets. "The quality of the life jackets contributed to their death. The use of life jackets is enforced here and you can verify for yourself. The passengers that did not float like the others probably could not swim. "If they could swim like the others, the bad life jackets they were wearing would not have been a problem." For the rescued passengers, their survival could not be attributed to the life jackets they were wearing but their swimming skill. In April 2011 as well, 10 people drowned after their passenger boat capsized between Oriba Village and Epe area of Lagos. Small money, cheap life jackets It was curious that most deaths on Lagos waterways occur in areas where standard ferries do not ply; where poor villagers have to make do with rudimentary canoes, armed with their wits, swimming skills and life jackets that would not save them in the event of mishap. Saturday PUNCH set out on a journey to find out about the quality of life jackets used in some of these areas. At Liverpool area of Apapa, the underbelly of the bridge there serves as loading dock for traders and passengers from various surrounding coastal villages. Either in the morning or evening, the place is always a beehive of activities. It did not take long to notice that there were at least five different types of life jackets being used by the many passengers boarding the boats. Most of the life jackets were well worn. Few of them had buckles. They simply slung it over their head. A boat operator, Mahmoud, later said out of all these, one was the original. He held up, a three-piece life jacket made with a thick flexible fibre inside and covered with glossy rubbery material. It was obvious the life jacket would float in water. "New ones of these cost as much as N20,000. But those ones the passengers are wearing cost about N2,000. Some are even sold for N500. They are sewn by tailors but these ones are manufactured in companies," Mahmoud said. Asked why he did not give the 'original' ones to his passengers, the boat operator turned to this correspondent with an incredulous look on his face. "How can I afford to give these expensive life jackets to my passengers when they pay either N50 or N100 per trip? They cannot afford these life jackets. These ones are reserved for those who want to charter our boats and pay good money." But what if the boat of these passengers capsizes? "Most of the passengers who use this place live in waterside (coastal areas). They know water well. Apart from that, my boat boy and I can swim. If there is any problem, we will handle it," Mahmoud said. When one of the cheap life jackets was examined, the floating material put in it was not the kind of fibre used in the other type. It was a thick and stiff material, which the operator described simply as floater. Thrown in the water, it floated. But this kind of life jacket will later be put to test at the Sagbokoji local jetty. Our experiment: Swimming saves us At the local pier, the only link the people of Sagbokoji have with the main Apapa, there are no ferries. The residents said they wished the government would arrange for a ferry to take them to and fro the village because their small boats are increasingly endangered by passing ships. There was no single three-piece life jacket (the kind described as 'original' at Liverpool) in sight here. Only few of the lifejackets did not look too worn. Some of them had torn, revealing white package cushioning, the kind found in the packaging of new electronics. Saturday PUNCH set out to test how effective the life jackets were. Bereft of any swimming ability to make the venture a safe experiment, this correspondent could not personally put the efficacy of the life jackets to test. But two swimmers, Anthony Tudonu and his friend, Augustine, volunteered to take on the challenge. The party set out. Midway to Sagbokoji, approximately the same place where two passengers drowned two months before, Tudonu and Augustine donned their life jackets and jumped in the water. They had been previously given instruction not to make any attempt to float at first since they had affirmed that they were adept swimmers. "Let yourselves go. Let's see if your life jacket will bring you up," they were told. It was noticed that none of the life jackets in the boat had any functional buckle. This correspondent was given one, whose single strap he had to tie around himself. Tudonu and Augustine put theirs on and also tied the straps around their waists. Augustine who was the first to jump in the water, stayed up for a moment and the life jacket's strap gave way. It easily floated off above the boy's head as the life jacket had no attachment to his body. Tudonu also jumped in the water and a similar thing occurred. But they both stayed afloat despite the life jackets' uselessness. The boys said they were "born in water". "We are Egun (a riverine tribe with Badagry origins). We have lived on water all our lives. No matter how big the water is, we can swim it. We use the life jacket because Lagos State Waterways lifeguards will arrest us if we don't," Tudonu said. At the pier, a LASWA uniformed lifeguard stood watching the boats loading and offloading. His concern was the use of life jackets; whether they were tattered or utterly useless was not his job to monitor, it seemed. A boat operator, Jidu Ifije, said there was no way they could afford quality life jackets from the fares they collect from passengers. "How long will I be able to put together more than N10,000 for each of the 10 life jackets I need to provide in my boat? That is over N100,000. When will these N50 fares I am collecting be able to make that possible?" Passengers too seem to know that the life jackets they wear on the boats leave much to be desired. While some of them said they had nothing to worry about since they could swim, some said putting it on simply gives them a sense of safety. We sew the cheap life jackets – Tailor From the beginning to the end, it costs less than N700 to make a life jacket, the kind used at the Sagbokoji and Liverpool piers. Mrs. Jojo Masano, a tailor in Apapa, said she buys the materials for the life jackets, which she sews for boat operators, at Jankara Market in the Lagos Island. She said, "It depends on what they want. For example, some people request for the N500 ones. Most of the operators here use the type we produce for N1,500. "We use the fabric used for umbrella or we use linen. The one either umbrella fabric is the one we sell for N1,500. We buy the floater, (the white package cushioning) at the market also." She said she was aware some people died at Sagbokoji in October. "Those who died must have used life jackets of poor quality. We expect the water to be rough in August; that is when many boat operators come to us to sew more life jackets. "I sewed a personal lifejacket for the use of my daughter anytime she goes to school. It is a cheap one though, but I will get enough money to sew a more quality one for her in a couple of months." The rich never die Most of the traders seen in Liverpool and Sagbokoji would not be able to afford a N500 fare from Ikorodu to Marina, which a passenger would pay to board an organised ferry with quality life jackets. The residents of these 'slum' coastal areas would probably see the white-collar passengers, who have the wherewithal to board the real ferries on daily basis as the 'rich'. None of the mishaps on the Lagos waterways in recent years has involved a ferry. Also, as a result of the money the ferry services make from passengers, they are able to afford standard life jackets. Ikorodu-Marina is one of the water routes where there are functional ferry services. Every category of passengers can be found here. For the banker in his crisp suit to the oil company employees to the casual worker who would rather not brave the humongous daily road traffic between Ikorodu and Lagos Island, the ferry service offers a necessary alternative. Saturday PUNCH noticed that the life jackets here bear a sharp contrast to those found in poor coastal areas. A passenger, Mr. Dipo Alonge, who queued up for his Metro Ferry Service ticket to Marina, said the first time he boarded the ferry in 2011, the first thing he had to examine was the life jacket. "I noticed that the life jackets were good. I think the company is careful not to bring sub-standard life jackets here because the state government may sanction them or worse, withdraw their operating licence. "The journey to Marina takes me less than 45 minutes. You can imagine what it will be like if I have to go by road. I would have been sacked in the insurance company where I work." An official of Metro Ferry Service, who did not want to be named, said morning and evening were the peak periods at the jetty. "We have never had any mishap and we don't expect one. That is not to say if it happens, we are not adequately covered. Our life jackets are not the cheap ones sewn by tailors," he said. But if the situation in Ikorodu was an ideal situation, what this correspondent saw at the Agboyi-Ketu jetty was the tangential opposite. For about 50 minutes spent at the jetty as boats came and go, no single life jacket was seen. No passenger requested for one and no operator offered any. The jetty, serves small communities such as Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3, Oko Agbon and Papa. 74-year-old passenger, Pa Ibrahim Odunsi, who jumped out of one of the boats with evidence that he was used to it, said it would be "a waste of time" requesting for life jackets. "The journey to Oko Agbon that I came from is very short. Have you ever heard of any mishap here in the past five years? We have nothing to worry about," he said. Asked if he could swim in the event of an inadvertent mishap, he said he was a good swimmer when he was younger but was sure, "people around here will come to the rescue." One of the boat operators, Bili, said they had life jackets. But none could be seen in his boat at the time. Asked how he procured the ones he had, he said a tailor who specialises in it sewed it at the rate of N1,500 each. But a sanitation superivisor, who said he had been working at the jetty in the last three years, Mr. Babatunde Adeosun, shed more light on the situation at the jetty. He said, "There is a life guard stationed here but why people here are not usually forced to use life jackets is that the journey is short. The operators do have the cheap life jackets. They cannot afford the expensive ones because they collect little money from passengers. The farthest community they have to reach by boat is not more than N50. "Most times, the operators do not even collect money because they are indigenes of these communities and when they see people they know, they give them free passage. "There was a time a ferry operator brought a ferry here with intention of plying the Ketu-Marina route. The people said they could not afford the N500 he wanted to charge at the time. They requested that he reduced it to N200. He told them that would be operating at a loss. He had to leave. No ferry service has operated here since then." He said the residents of the area would rather brave the road traffic and pay less than use water transport. Techonology behind a life jacket A life jacket is a flotation device designed to keep a person's airway clear of the water whether such person is conscious or unconscious in case of any eventuality. A standard one is made from two layers of bonded polyurethane which can be inflated or from foam. According to a brochure of the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers, lifejackets are designed to keep one afloat in water and give extra time till rescue comes. "Time can mean the difference between life and death, because it does not take long to drown. In fact, it takes 60 seconds for an adult to drown and 20 seconds for a child to drown. Before you shove off (in your boat), make sure everyone aboard is wearing a life jacket and all straps, are fastened," the PFDM said. A standard life jacket fits snugly on the body in a way that it does not entangle a passenger or floats off the body. Mr. Merry Tokula, an offshore fabrication worker, whose work requires consistent use of life jackets, explained that there are many different types of life jackets, with each serving different purposes. He said, "The one we use in offshore work is different from the kind used for rescue purposes. There is a type of life jacket specific to commercial boat operation. "What people don't understand is that a life jacket may make the difference between life and death for you in case of a mishap even if you are a good swimmer. Swimming in a big swimming pool is different from swimming in a large river. "A good life jacket should be tight around the body in such a way that without effort, it makes the body buoyant. The floating material inside it must not be heavy and should not soak in water by any means. You don't just use any material to make a life jacket. Attention is given to thick water repellant materials combined with a buoyant polyurethane material within it. Some sophisticated life jackets even use canisters that inflate it with air automatically immediately it becomes immersed." 'We do our best in enforcement' The Managing Director of LASWA, Mr. Yinka Marinho, said his agency had faced the challenge of changing the orientation of passengers and boat operators on the use of standard life jackets for a long time. He took this correspondent to a different part of LASWA's yard in Ikoyi, where numerous life jackets, which he said were seized from operators on account of their disfunctionality were packed. Marinho said, "We have gone as far as impounding boats in a bid to enforce the use of standard life jackets. It is simple. If you put on a life jacket and you do not fasten it or put on one that does not have good straps, in the event of a mishap, it will float and you will sink beneath it. "In Lagos now, 1.8 million people travel by water every month. Because of this, the use of life jacket is first on the safety focus of LASWA. Places like Sagbokoji have a more serious issues owing to their closeness to the path of big ships. The waves generated by passing ships can be quite enormous, thereby putting the small boats in danger. "The enforcement of life vests in some of these places is like a driver who sees a road safety official and quickly crosses his seat belt over his chest but removes it as soon as he passes the official. Even though, we have our life guards at these different places, there is a limit to what they can do because the passengers themselves try to deceive them into thinking they have properly worn their life vests. They say they are 'fishes' and even go as far as trying to beat up life guards who try to go a step further to enforce proper usage." Marinho said there was no excuse for a boat operator not to be able to afford a standard life jacket. He said some of them had been operating for a long time. He added that the government planned to distribute 5,500 life jackets for use of passengers especially in the rural coastal communities. The quality of most of the life jackets seen at the local docks in Lagos bears not much resemblance to the standard ones he showed this correspondent in his office. However, outside Lagos, there is no indication that there is much enforcement of the use of life jackets, especially in rural communities where daily travel is by water. Two major incidents in Niger State in the last few months ago attest to this. In September 2013, more than 42 people were confirmed drowned when their passenger boat capsized on River Niger close to Malilli village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger. Another 100 of the passengers were unaccounted for. A similar mishap led to the death of 18 passengers one week after, also on the River Niger, at Kokoli Village, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger. A family lost six daughters in the mishap. None of the passengers were said to have used a life jacket. Recently, on Christmas Day, 12 people died in a boat mishap along the Ikoli River at Ayama in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The following day, 40 people died in a boat mishap on River Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. In these two cases the victims reportedly did not wear life jackets. Unfortunately, there isn't a federal law yet specifically targetting the use of lifejackets. A doctor and writer, Tony Marinho, raised the alarm over the lifejacket culture in the country. "How much is a simple lifejacket? Over 2,000 fellow Nigerians drown annually – ten plane loads of Nigerians – still no Lifejacket Law," he said.  |
| Dangote $9.2 billion richer in 2013, Gates leads the world » Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:18 AM PST  The man who is the most generous giver on earth, Bill Gates is also the richest individual, according to a Bloomberg report today. Gates net worth ballooned by $15.8 billion to $78.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index, as shares of Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, rose 40 percent in 2013. Bloomberg says that the 58 year-old software tycoon recaptured the title of world's richest person on May 16 from Mexican investor Carlos Slim.  In Lagos: Aliko Dangote, Bill Gates, Fashola Gate's increasing wealth is typical of the experience of the world's richest in 2013. Bloomberg says the world's richest even got richer, in a trend that will further sadden the world's poorest as the rich take everything away. Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest person and founder of Dangote Group, one of the continent's largest conglomerates, added $9.2 billion during the year. He's the 30th-richest person in the world. His fortune is now well over $30billion. Bloomberg's billionaire's index showed that the 300 richest people in the world increased their deep pockets with $524 billion. "The aggregate net worth of the world's top billionaires stood at $3.7 trillion at the market close on Dec. 31, according to the ranking. The biggest gains came in the technology industry, which soared 28 percent during the year. Of the 300 people who appeared on the final ranking of 2013, only 70 registered a net loss for the 12-month period. "The rich will keep getting richer in 2014," John Catsimatidis, the billionaire founder of real estate and energy conglomerate Red Apple Group Inc., said in a telephone interview from his New York office. "Interest rates will remain low, equity markets will keep rising, and the economy will grow at less than 2 percent." Most of Gates's assets are held in Cascade Investment LLC, an entity through which he owns stakes in about three dozen publicly traded companies and several closely held businesses, including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Corbis Corp., a photo-archive company. Less than a quarter of Gates's fortune is held in Microsoft. He's donated $28 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Global stocks soared in 2013 for the best annual gain since 2009, with the MSCI World Index advancing 24 percent during the year to close at 1,661.07 on Dec. 31. The Standard and Poor's 500 Index rose 30 percent to close at 1,848.36, its best yearly gain since 1997. The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 17 percent to close at 328.26. Companies in the S&P 500 are worth $3.7 trillion more today than they were 12 months ago following a year when Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke signaled the curtailment of economic stimulus. The bull market, born at the depths of the credit crisis, enters its sixth year fueled by near-zero interest rates and conviction among investors that it's finally safe to own equities again.  |
| Frenzy over crocodile caught in Lagos posh estate Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:17 AM PST  It is rare to find wild animals roaming free in neighbourhoods, so Omole estate in Lagos was recently thrown into a state of excitement when a crocodile was caught in the gated neighbourhood. The animal, which residents described as "very large", became a spectacle at one of the gates to the estate, on Sunday, December 22, 2013. For residents not used to seeing wild animals lurking in their neighbourhoods, the sight was unexpected. The animal had earlier been caught by the estate's security operatives around 2am on Omotunde Akinsola Street, by Today's Car, after it strayed from a swampland at one end of the neighbourhood. Three bullets shot at the animal did not kill it. So the initial buzz of excitement generated by the incident soon turned to apprehension for residents. Some of them described the crocodile which was over six feet long, as frightening. A resident living by the swamp where the animal was caught, who identified herself as Ogechi, said she heard three gunshots that morning, and had thought they were meant to scare away robbers. "Now, there is a general fear in the area caused by the incident. It's amazing finding such a wild animal around where people are living; I think it's very dangerous because a crocodile should not be going about in a neighbourhood," she said. "I heard three shots around 2am and I thought maybe there were robbers around. I didn't know an animal was being shot." For Ogechi, however, her lifestyle was bound to change as a result of the incident. "I will be more watchful because of the incident and even stop going out in the night," she added. Another resident, Aanu Oladapo, feared that there were more dangerous animals where the suspected crocodile had come out from. Oladapo said he had heard stories that wild animals paraded around the swampy area in the estate, but had not believed until the recent incident. "I'd heard that such animals sometimes come out from the swamp but I never believed until now. I saw the crocodile live myself and it was really too big to be roaming a residential neighbourhood," he said with a measure of concern. Although, Garba Umaru, who works as a private security guard in the neighbourhood, had no cause to fear for himself. Considering his profession, Umaru was confident that he could take care of himself. However, Umaru's confident stance and voice seemed to waver with emotion as he spoke about his five young children. Umaru, who put his "help in God", said "big crocodiles can swallow a person, so my children's safety is in God's hands." Indeed, there have been concerns raised by construction workers about the threat of wildlife to the community. The workers often sight wild animals in the community since they usually lead forays into new development sites. A construction worker working on a new building by the swamp, Shedraq Benson, said workers often see the wildlife or their imprints on marshy grounds. Benson said he often sees imprints of crawling snakes and reptiles on marshlands that had just been cleared for the start of building development. He said, "Sometimes, we see large snakes and crocodiles. Once, I saw the imprint of a very large snake. By the marks left on the ground, I could see that a large snake which was more than a foot in width had just crawled on the ground. I was afraid to work on the site that day for fear of meeting it face to face." Benson added that he had also once seen a bigger reptile than the one recently caught by security operatives in the neighbourhood. "Two of us saw the crocodile, but our machetes could not cut it at all. So we went to see if we could get a gun but it had gone by the time we got back," Benson said. Benson's work partner, Pius Okere, killed a crocodile that also strayed from the swamp in 2012. However, Okere said the crocodile was small. "The ones we're killing are not the big ones; they are probably the kids. The big ones are still inside the swamp," he said. Meanwhile, the two security operatives who captured the crocodile have been made local heroes by their deed, even though their deed is what animal rights activists would look at with dismay. One of the security operatives, Abu Alli, said he shot the animal three times after being notified by his colleague, identified as Itoro. Recounting the incident, Alli said, "My colleague sighted the crocodile moving inside a residence, but he didn't have a gun. He managed to divert the animal's movement into a drainage, where it got stuck because it was too big. "So he came to call me and when I got there, I shot it three times. I'm sure that one of the bullets hit it in the head, but it didn't die. We later tied a rope round its leg and drew it to the estate gate, where residents had a view of it in daylight. The incident happened at about 2am and by noon, someone bought it from us for N20,000. The animal was still alive when we sold it." However, Alli said he had been surprised by his newfound popularity status in the neighbourhood since the incident, adding that security personnel had to be more vigilant in future. "It surprised me that everyone has been talking about the incident. But I don't think we did anything wrong by shooting the crocodile because it could have wounded somebody. I'm glad it didn't attack anyone, so what we did was justified." Wild tales Since the incident though, the neighbourhood has had its fair share of wild tales and gossips. Different accounts of the incident with varying sizes of the animal have been rendered from mouth to mouth in the estate that the facts have been blurred somewhere between the lines. A commercial motorcyclist in the estate, who identified himself as Musa, told Saturday PUNCH that the animal that was caught had even spoken in human voice. "It was very huge and almost as tall as this motorcycle. It spoke and demanded for human being to eat," Musa insisted.  |
| I can act nude for $50m – Amanda Ebeye Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:11 AM PST  Amanda Ebeye tells Ademola Olonilua why she does more of soap operas than Nollywood movies You once said that some of your friends who are actresses encouraged you to become an actress. How did they manage to do that? I had a particular friend who was taking me for auditions. Back then, auditions were held at the National Theatre and Winnie's Hotel in Surulere (Lagos). Actors would hang around and wait for audition notices. Those were the two most likely places artistes converge for auditions. My friend knew I always wanted to act and she was acting partly but in smaller roles. She was and is still more of an actress than a model till date. We are not really close friends anymore. You became popular in the television series, Clinic Matters; is there any difference between you and the character you portrayed in the soap? Yes, it's a world of difference between the character, Abigail and I. Abigail is known to be very nosy, she is two-faced and has issues and controversy surrounding her. She also gossips a lot. I talk but not to the detriment of other people. I was only portraying a character to the best of my understanding at that time. But do you gossip, and are you temperamental in real life as you act in the soap opera? Yes. I could be a little bit temperamental but not a big time gossip like Nurse Abigail. I talk too but who doesn't? I can never scandalise, lie or bring people down; never. On several occasions I've had a lot of people say, maybe when I get upset, I yell. They assume I am just as Nurse Abigail in reality. It is very funny because whatever I portray is what I would have done if I was truly that character. It is not who I am. If I was a gossip, a liar, a prostitute, a pilot; it is all in my head, it is my imagination, my creation and not who I am in real life. But when people talk like that, I feel honoured because I feel I gave the character my best shot. Has your celebrity status helped you get favours? Yes, I get loads of favours because people are always nice to me, especially my fans. I get easy favours and preferential treatment. I don't have to queue; I don't have to pay for certain things. You are also a model; how did that happen? I got into modelling before acting. My family lives in Benin. It was actually modelling that brought me to Lagos. I had jobs with Unity Bank, UBA, Emzor Paracetamol and others. How did your parents take it when you got into modelling? My mum was more interested in my education. My dad didn't want to hear of it but my mum didn't mind as long as I got a degree. Immediately I finished my studies, she allowed me. Can you remember how much you were paid for your first role and how you felt about it? I can't really remember. I think it was N5, 000 or thereabout. I didn't care about the money, I was so happy. Valucci was the director's name and I got there just when the audition was about to end. The name of the movie was Weeping Tiger. I was late for the audition but the director saw me and still called me to read. That was how I got the role. I was in Jim Iyke's music band. It was unbelievable. I was walking on sunshine because it was the happiest day of my life. Why do you do more of soaps than movies? There was a time I stopped doing movies and concentrated on soap operas. That was between 2009 and 2011. And since 2011, I have been doing strictly movies apart from Bella's Place that is owned by Royal Roots. Can you act nude? I cannot act nude but like I have said before, if you pay me about $50m, I will. Please who is the first to pay? Nollywood actresses have on some occasions shaved off their hair for a role. Can you do same? I can shave my hair because I'm an actress. If the role requires it, if it is a beautiful script and the money is good, I will do it. It will not be because it is the trend. It is not because Mercy Johnson did it so I should, no, that is not a good enough reason. Right now, the script has to be outstanding for me to be interested in shaving off my hair. Your mother is a fashion designer. Did it influence your decision to become a model? I'm not a dress model, I wasn't ever. I was more of a photography model, so my mum being into designs had nothing to do with it. What were your early days like? I was a stubborn kid. I was never a tomboy. I don't know how to bounce or sag for the world but stubborn fighting for my rights and the rights of others, yes. I always wanted to defend others in need. That's why often they used to say I knew how to 'buy' other people's matter. But my friends would say I had and will always have the heart of a child because no matter how much I fight you, I'll always feel bad and be the first to tell you sorry. Can you remember your first kiss ever? How did you feel? Yes I can and it was wonderful. I felt it was the best thing at that time but I don't think so anymore. Most times, rich men love having affairs with actresses, do you have any 'sugar daddy' or has any approached you before? I'm sorry I don't have any, sugar daddy, because I don't get attracted to you become of what you have. There are other criteria you have to meet and not money. You might be poor but if we work, then we can flow. You don't have to be rich. I'm simply not ruled by anything but my feelings. So, if I don't feel for you and you have the whole world, it simply won't work. So, what might rule others can't rule me. If you could turn back the hands of time, what would you want to change? Some movies I did last year. Oh lord I wish I could wipe them out. Are you in a relationship? No, I'm not in a relationship at the moment. What kind of man are you attracted to? I like a God-fearing man; one that respects me and can protect me. I would love a man that loves me; someone that can be my best friend and is knowledgeable and smart because I need to learn from him. Some women complain that Nigerian men are not romantic. Do you agree with that school of thought? I don't agree with it because not all the apples in a bag taste the same way. Some might have gone soggy, some might still be fresh, and some might have spoiled completely. So, there might be some Nigerian men that are not romantic, but there are quite a lot of them who are. That's my belief. Would you rather marry a Nigerian or a foreigner? I am very indifferent. I would get married to whoever God wants me to be married to. What are you currently working on? Right now, I'm enjoying the holiday season with my family. After the festivities, work begins. I want to have this little time when I don't have to think about work.  |
| Photos: Maheeda gets completely naked for her new music video Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:47 AM PST |
| Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:22 AM PST There's a new game this year called the 'Selfie Olympics' and after three days, it's already become an internet sensation among teenagers and those who are young and careless at heart. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter users are asked to join in the game of making the most dangerous and outlandish selfie ever and to then post it on social media. Business Insider reports that a facebook page created this morning already has 30,000 likes. There are over 28,000 pictures on Instragram already, and the selfie game is trending on twitter. The photos display anything from a girl riskily hanging by the door from her shirt snapping a selfie, to an older man with six-pack abs taking a photo without his shirt. One popular selfie olympics photo teenagers are taking displays the photographer throwing an i-phone or i-pad into the air to take a selfie mid-flight--hopefully not pre-break. Selfie daredevils have gone as far as to do a headstand in the sink or even somehow levitate in the air. Previous photo trends have included 'Planking' in 2011 and 'Vadering' in 2013, reports the website Voxxie. The 'Selfie Olympics' seem to be the most dangerous social media trend yet.  Dangerous for viewers: It seems like teenagers aren't the only ones tuned in to 2014's selfie trend  Dangerous for technology: Hopefully this selfie doesn't cost this teenager his i-phone  Can't stand it: This selfie of a teen doing a handstand in the sink could very wrong very quickly  Getting some air: This selfie defies gravity and reality  Taking selfies in their sleep: This teen managed to take a selfie of himself balancing on the door all while taking a little snooze  A leg up: Teens try to out do each other one selfie at a time  Dangerously funny: This selfie shows the photographer holding his 'mini-me'  Eat that: One gymnast dared to take a selfie whilst eating pizza and striking an athletic pose  Not so easy rider: This teen tried to incorporate his little siblings bike into this risky pose  Brush up your skills: This teen can brush her teeth while she takes a selfie with her toes  Upscale: Climbing doors seems to be popular among selfie Olympics players  Toe-tally Selfie Olympics: The toes is a popular tool among Selfie Olympics contenders  When one door opens: A teenager decides to snap a photo for the Selfie Olympics    |
| INCREDIBLE! New Year’s Twin Babies Born in Separate Years! [PHOTOS] Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:19 AM PST  As people around the world partied their way into the new year, two mothers gave birth to two of the last babies of 2013 and two of the first babies of 2014. While born just minutes apart, their twin babies entered the world in two different years. On Dec. 31, 2013, at 11:58 p.m., Yaleni Santos Tohalino gave birth to baby girl Lorraine Yaleni Begazo, who weighed at 6 pounds, 4.9 ounces, at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C.Soon after, her twin brother Brandon Ferdinando Begazo was born on Jan. 1, 2014, at 12:01 a.m., weighing at 5 pounds, 10.4 ounces. "I feel wonderful full of joy and happiness and a full sense of realization," the twins' father, Warren Begazo, told ABCNews. "This is her first children ever, and they're beautiful and she's really happy." On Jan. 1, 2014, at 12:00:38 a.m., younger twin Sophia Salgueiro was born, weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces. "They kind of got that golden ticket. They've got different birthdays," the twins' mother, Lindsay Salgueiro, told ABCNews "They're going to be best friends for life." "We really did celebrate New Year's Eve," Begazo said. "Not a bad way to end the year and not a bad a way to start the year off," said Salgueiro. Both the mothers and babies are healthy and looking forward to going home.   |
| Emmanuel Adebayor Gives Out Loads Of Shoes To Celebrate This Season+ Obafemi Martins Trip Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:17 AM PST |
| Iyetade Soyinka To Be Buried 10th Of January, 2014 Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:16 AM PST  The late daughter of professor Wole Soyinka will be buried on the 10th of January 2013 in Ibadan. Late Ms. Soyinka died on December 28, 2013 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, after a brief illness. She is survived by two children, a daughter, Oreofe and a son, Adeoto. According to family members, her death has brought "great sadness and an overwhelming sense of loss," describing her has their cherished daughter. She was 48. You may visit www.iyetade.soyinka.muchloved.com, to write a condolence message.  |
| Yay! Annie and 2face Idibia welcome baby girl Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:15 AM PST   |
| Reno Omokri responds to El-Rufai's claims that he's No.7 on GEJ's snipers' list Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:14 AM PST   See Reno's response to a question concerning El-Rufai's claims after the cut...     |
| Photos: P-Square attends May D's birthday party Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:13 AM PST |
| Man flogs orphan to death over Christmas rice Posted: 04 Jan 2014 03:12 AM PST  The Ogun State Police Command said, yesterday, that it had arrested a man, Kayode Olubunmi,37, for allegedly killing his cousin,Haruna Adeoye,20, over a bowl of Christmas rice. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a statement sent to newsmen in Abeokuta. Adejobi explained that the tragic incident occurred on the Christmas day at Ajegunle, Ita-Oluwo, Ogijo in Sagamu local government area of Ogun State at 10:30pm. According to the Police, the suspect killed, Adeoye, an orphan for eating a bowl of rice given to them by a friend on Christmas day. " When the suspect, who went on a visit to his friends' place, came back drunk, he flogged the deceased to death with a stick for eating the rice he instructed him to keep for their dinner. "Haruna was an orphan who had been staying with the suspect for years and Olubunmi could not state why he killed him. "He has confessed to the crime, he is with us at SCID Eleweran and will soon appear in court ", the Police said. Culled from Vanguard  |
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