The popular Owerri 'mad man' turned a political commentator, who is known for speaking on the political situation in Imo state, is a graduate.
According to media personnel, IfeanyiCy Njoku, the man who has mental challenge and speaks English fluently, graduated from a prestigious University in the United States of America. For real?
It was learnt that Dr Linus Okorie, a Leadership development coach, motivational speaker and candidate of the Young Progressive Party, YPP ran into him during his Imo gubernatorial campaign in Imo State.
It was through an interaction that Dr. Okorie discovered that the young man graduated from a reputable University in USA, whose family couldn't manage his mental challenges resulting to his unfortunate current state of health.
Dr. Okorie voluntarily offered to take necessary measures to rehabilitate him back to the saner clime.
A septuagenarian cleric, Rev. Isaac Newton-Wusu, has been arraigned before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, for allegedly r-ping some female pupils of the Stephen Centre International School in Abeokuta.
Newton-Wusu, who is also the Director of Home School, was accused of assaulting and r-ping some pupils of the school between the ages of 12 and 16 years.
The Abeokuta centre of the school was established some decades ago to serve as a shelter and educational facility for children, who were either orphaned or had lost either of their parents to violence in Kaduna, Jos and insurgency in different parts of the North-East.
The cleric was arraigned on Thursday on five counts bordering on rape and indecent assault contrary to and punishable under sections 358, 359 and 360 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Revised Law of Ogun State, 2016.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In the charge sheet obtained by a Punch correspondent, Newton-Wusu was alleged to have r-ped one of the victims on four different occasions sometime in 2010 at his office in Abeokuta.
The septuagenarian was also accused of assaulting some of the female pupils of the school by allegedly ripping off their underwear and forcefully having carnal knowledge of them.
However, when the case was mentioned at the High Court 6 in Abeokuta, the defence counsel, Samuel Nwaji, appealed to the court to grant the accused bail.
Nwaji pleaded that Newton-Wusu should be granted bail on his recognisance, promising that the accused would not flee but would face the trial.
He prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms.
In his counter argument, the state counsel, Solomon Mareh, insisted that the cleric was not who the defence counsel described him to be.
Mareh claimed that Newton-Wusu had a penchant for tampering with witnesses.
Justice Solomon Olugbemi, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of three years’ tax payment.
She added that the sureties must be blood relations of the defendants and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Olugbemi adjourned the case till April 4 for hearing of the preliminary objection to the suit.
Jordyn Woods has moved out of Kylie Jenner's house. The 21-year-old model has agreed to give her best friend some "space" following rumours she had an affair with Tristan Thompson, who has been dating her sister Khloe Kardashian for two years. Woods will be moving back in to her family home after living in her friend's guest house in recent years.
"Kylie is extremely upset about everything that is going on with Khloe and her best friend Jordyn. Jordyn is a sister to Kylie, and she's extremely shocked this could happen, as is the whole family," a source told Entertainment Tonight.
"Kylie is trying to get all the facts before she makes up her mind, but for now Jordyn isn't staying at Kylie's. Kylie needs her space and also wants to respect her sister Khloe. The future of their friendship hangs on the facts."
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday in Kaduna reiterated his resolve to privatise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), if elected President in Saturday’s polls.
Atiku, who spoke while interacting with stakeholders from the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State at the Trade Fair Complex, said his resolve to sell the national asset was informed by the fact that NNPC has since inception in 1963 failed to meet its expectation of refining crude oil for the country’s consumption.
He insisted that he would sell off the NNPC to provide more development.
His decision, Atiku added, was based on the fact that only very few were benefiting from the operations of the national asset at the expense of the Nigerian people.
The house of Liverpool star Sadio Mane was burgled during the Reds' Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
Mane, 26, played the full 90 minutes during the goalless draw at Anfield.
But during the last 16 first leg tie, the Liverpool Echo reports that a number of people forced entry into his Merseyside home in Allerton.
Watches, mobile phones and car keys were stolen during the incident, which it's believed occurred between 6pm and 11:45pm.
A forensic investigation of the home has now been carried out by police, and officers are appealing for the stolen items to be returned.
Detective Inspector Phil Mahon said: "We are appealing for anyone with information in relation to this burglary to please come forward and assist our enquiries.
“While the occupants were not present at the time of the incident, this will no doubt be a distressing experience for them and I would ask the offenders to do the right thing and return the stolen items to the owner in any way possible.
“We know the watches in particular are of significant monetary value and I would also like to appeal to anyone who might have been offered the items for sale since the burglary to contact police.
“Likewise if you saw anything suspicious in the area, or have any dashcam or CCTV footage, please get in touch.”
Khloe Kardashian and her best friend Malika Haqq appeared to confirm the shocking cheating scandal surrounding her beau Tristan Thompson and Jordyn Woods.
Taking to Instagram evening, the scorned reality star posted a series of cryptic messages while Malika quoted Chris Brown with 'These hoes ain't loyal' in response to the news about Kylie Jenner's best friend Jordyn.
Just hours before, Khloe, 34, was pictured out for the first time since allegedly dumping Tristan as she was seen arriving at Kanye West's Calabasas studio, while joined by her sister Kourtney, who also worked out with her that morning.
On Tuesday morning Tristan tweeted that the report was 'fake news.' But then he quickly deleted the post. The party was at Tristan's house in LA.
This was followed by Malika writing under a news story: 'STRONG FACTS', before Khloe reacted with several yelling emojis.
She then commented beneath a meme regarding Kylie ejecting Jordyn from her house: 'These hoes ain't loyal'.
UsWeekly cited 'multiple sources' as saying that Khloe confronted Tristan about his alleged cheating with Jordyn on Monday and that he admitted it was true. And it appears the the entire Kardashian family has unfollowed Woods on social media.
A chiropractor who filmed himself hanging a two-week-old baby upside down by his ankles, has come under fire due to his controversial techniques.
Australian Dr Andrew Arnold posted the video to the Cranbourne Family Chiropractic's Facebook page which shows him using a controversial series of tests on the tiny baby.
He first picks up the baby, who is n-ked apart from his nappy, by holding just his ankles.
The infant is held above the bed for a few seconds, before Dr Arnold says "perfect" and slowly places him back down.
The child's parents are off camera and at one point Dr Arnold shows them a spring-loaded device called an activator, which he uses on their hand to demonstrate the power it can give.
He said: "We're going to use the activator on the lower setting and I'll just show you on your hand here."
The device is then used on the newborn, and the baby immediately bursts into tears.
The doctor does say "sorry mate" to the child.
He also holds the baby's arms above his head before he taps his head and collarbone as the infant continues to wail.
The baby is then placed on its tummy, while he pushes on the baby's tailbone, before using the activator on him again.
According to the Daily Mail Australia, the video has sparked debate into the
legitimacy of the infant chiropractic treatment, which although legal is divisive.
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said she had written to the Chiropractic Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
"The Chiropractic Board of Australia must condemn this practice," she said after seeing the video.
It's understood the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Chiropractic Board have kickstarted a confidential investigation into the matter.
See me use the word fresh in caps? Yea, it’s cus she has really stepped up. Skin now popping!!!
Writing about her special day on social media, she wrote: ‘’Happy birthday to a one in a million jewel,a cherished ruby & an awesome lily ,this reminds me of myself ,I ask of joy and happiness in my new age to accomplish my effort till the end insha Allah #birthdaygirl #piscesseason #celebration’’
Sky gazers have been enjoying the rare sight of an incredible Super Snow Moon. Amazing photographs show the glowing moon looking huge across different countries in the world.
Striking shots show the Emirates Air Line cable cars silhouetted against the backdrop of the moon in Greenwich, London.
The Super Snow Moon was also captured rising over Coquet Island in Northumberland, Wednesday.
Enthusiasts have also captured images of the astronomical event in India, with beautiful pictures of people enjoying the evening's moon at Marina Beach in Chennai.
A beautiful moon has been pictured in a purple sky behind the Statue of Liberty in New York.
The supermoon has also been seen rising over Turkey's capital, Ankara. And over the Tagus river in downtown Lisbon, Portugal.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday assured all Nigerians that the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Saturday would hold.
It said only an ‘act of God’ could stop the conduct of the polls.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in Abuja while addressing a cross-section of the diplomatic community and international election monitoring groups in Nigeria on the elections.
Yakubu, who was represented by an INEC National Commissioner, Dr Mustapha Lecky, categorically stated that everything needed to ensure the conduct of the polls on February 23 had been put in place, adding that the commission had no reason to feel things would go wrong.
The commission, he added, had developed a six-point agenda of what needed to be done to ensure success, noting that it had completed the deployment of materials as of Wednesday (yesterday).
The INEC boss said, “We have no reason to believe that anything, except an act of God, and we believe that as a prayerful nation, the act of God has been assuaged and that things will go right. We have no reason to feel that anything will go wrong.
“We have received all the materials; they have been checked, audited; people have been informed; party agents have gone there to check.”
He reiterated that the agency was committed to surpassing the achievements of previous polls in the country. INEC also said it had commenced the deployment of sensitive materials to the 774 Local Government Areas, adding that it would be concluded today (Thursday).
The commission also explained that it had achieved 100 per cent completion of the configuration of Smart Card Readers, adding “we are good to go on this score.”
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi, said the command has arrested two suspects, Tersoo Joseph, aka Adikpo, and Demenenge Iorwa, for allegedly r*ping a married woman and robbing her.
CP Bishi said, “On February 9, 2019, around 6pm, some armed robbers operating on a motorcycle behind the Bem Hotels, Ankpa Quarters, Makurdi, abducted a woman and took her to the Quararafa Quarters, Wadata, where they r*ped and robbed her of a phone and N2,000.
“During investigation, Tersoo Joseph, aka Adikpo, and Demenenge Iorwa, of Logo 1, Makurdi, were arrested in connection with the case. The suspects have confessed to the crime.”
The CP said the command had also arrested Justice Agada, 25; Emmanuel Patrick, 21; Emmanuel Atoju, 19; and Stanley Ugochukwu, 20, of different addresses, for involvement in cultism and armed robbery.
He explained that the suspects were arrested by policemen on patrol at their hideout along the Onitsha Street, Wurukum.
He added that policemen recovered two locally-fabricated pistols, two live cartridges, one knife and seven wraps of leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa from the suspects.
CP Bishi stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to cult groups and were responsible for robbing members of the public of their money, phones, handbags and other valuables.
Popular human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the armed forces to allow the Nigerian electorates to exercise their franchise without any form of intimidation on election day.
He also urged them to maintain neutrality in the electoral contests.
He gave the charge in an address delivered at the 13th Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti Memorial Lecture held at the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Secretariat, Ikeja Lagos.
It was titled: “Foreign interference in the 2019 general elections”.
He said: “Since the involvement of military personnel in the electoral process has been declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in a number of cases, the Nigerian army should be restrained from carrying out Operation Python or any other military exercise during the 2019 general election.
“In order to ensure that national security is not compromised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police, I am compelled to urge them to maintain neutrality in the electoral contests.”
To support his position, Falana cited a case, “Attorney-General of the Federation Vs. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (2007) 30 WRN 49 at 140” in which the Supreme Court held as follows: “The office of the Inspector General of Police is a creation of the 1999 Constitution. The Nigeria Police Force is also a creation of the 1999 Constitution. See Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution. Also, by the force of the said 1999 Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force shall and is under the command of the Inspector General of Police.
“The primary duty; indeed the most fundamental duty of the Nigeria Police Force is the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the country. In the performance of its duty, the Nigeria Police Force must manifestly demonstrate impartiality; it must not lean to one side against the other; it must be apolitical. It must not take part in any disputation, which has political coloration. These qualities are sine qua non to the enhancement of public respectability to it.
“Also the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by its statutory existence is an independent body with constitutional powers to conduct elections in Nigeria. It must not only be an umpire, it must be seen, in the eyes of reasonable men, to be an impartial umpire in the conduct of an election…
“Neutrality must be the watchword of the body – it must always remain fair and focused.”
Falana objected to the purported statement credited to Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El Rufai that foreign election observers and monitors, who interfere in the 2019 general elections, would “return to their countries in body bags because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country”.
He said the threat to attack and kill foreign election observers in Nigeria constitutes an infraction of the Electoral Act, 2010 and the Penal Code.
He also noted that the All Progressive Congress (APC) has accused western countries of supporting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election.
Falana asked, “Have both APC and PDP not engaged the services of lobby groups to convince the governments of western countries to believe in their ability and competence to fix the problems of Nigeria? Have both political parties not sought the endorsement of the governments of western countries?”
A group of masked gunmen, on Wednesday, kidnapped 10 passengers and the driver of a white Toyota Sienna SUV travelling to Port Harcourt from Abua in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the passengers were accosted by their abductors at the Rumuekpe junction along the East-West Road in the Emohua area of the state.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said
the gunmen came out from a nearby bush, shot into the air and took away the 10 passengers in the vehicle and the driver.
He told The Punch that, “Some young men, early this morning, came out of the bush with guns at the Rumuekpe junction along the East-West Road in the Emohua Local Government Area and blocked a Toyota Sienna SUV conveying 10 passengers.
“They fired some gunshots into the air before kidnapping all the passengers in the vehicle as well as the driver. The victims were taken into the bush, while the vehicle was abandoned on the road.”
A driver, who plies the East-West Road, said the vehicle that conveyed the kidnapped victims was still on the highway.
He stated, “The white Toyota Sienna, which conveyed the kidnapped persons, is abandoned on the road; I saw it first around 9am and by around 11am when I passed there again, I still saw it.
“I know the driver; we call him Star. After we heard about the incident, we have been running around calling his people as well as others who can help. I am praying for his and the passengers’ freedom too.”
When contacted, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, said he had not been briefed about the incident.
“I have not yet got information about this incident, but once I get the details, I will get back to you,” he stated.
Military officers with divided loyalty were yesterday ordered to resign. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said such officers should quit not later than today.
Gen. Buratai spoke as the Army renewed its pledge to constituted authority, stressing that it will not disobey orders. Besides, it vowed to deal with “those who seek to undermine our democracy by interfering in our electoral process”.
He said incitement against constituted authority will not be tolerated.
Gen. Buratai, at a meeting with General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and selected Commanders at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, cautioned politicians against making inciting statements.
The COAS spoke against the backdrop of the remarks by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and National Chairman Uche Secondus at the PDP 84th National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
The party leaders counselled the military not to obey President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that ballot box snatchers be severely dealt with as part of measures to sanitise the electoral process.
Gen. Buratai said: “It is unfortunate to hear persons who are aspiring to rule this country again inciting the army to disobedience. We have consistently stated our position in the political dispensation to remain neutral and apolitical.
“However, direct and public incitement of the military against democracy and constituted civil authority will not be tolerated. I request such persons to withdraw this inciting statement. Let me reemphasize loud and clear, that the Nigerian Army is a professional army.
“The foundation of military professionalism is discipline and without discipline an army cannot stand. One of our core values is loyalty to constituted authority. Loyalty must be hundred per cent. I shall leave you in no doubt as to our resolve to bequeath a professionally responsive army to Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Should any officer or soldier have doubts as to his loyalty to the Nigerian State as presently constituted, such a person has up to February 22, 2019 to resign. There is no room for indiscipline or disobedience to lawful orders in the NA today.”
The police in Ogun State have arrested two suspected hoodlums, said to have robbed two policewomen. The suspects, Hafiz Omidokun, 29, and Peter Babalola, 27, were apprehended yesterday at Iyana-Ilogbo where they allegedly waylaid the policewomen’s vehicle and held them hostage with a locally-made pistol.
Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said the victims were in a vehicle belonging to one of them en route to Sango Ota from Ifo when the incident occurred.
“After collecting their bags and phones, the suspects were about to mount their motorcycle when the two officers engaged them in a fight and raised the alarm.
“Sensing danger, the suspects fled, but were chased by the policewomen, assisted by passersby.
“The suspects attempted to snatch another motorcycle when they realised that they were about to be caught, but were arrested there.
“A mob soon made to lynch them, but the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sango, Oyedele Nasirudeen, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), who was earlier contacted, arrived on the scene with a patrol team and rescued the suspects.
“A locally-made pistol, an expended cartridge and a motorcycle were recovered from them. Police Commissioner Ahmed Illiyasu has ordered the transfer of the case to the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) for discreet investigation,” Oyeyemi said.
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Wednesday alleged that the Department of State Services is tapping telephone conversations between members of the opposition in the country.
They said the conversations, which were mainly the opposition’s strategies for the forthcoming general elections, were being made available to the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The coalition’s national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, made the allegation in a statement made available to journalists.
He said, “We wish to express our shock and disappointment with the All Progressives Congress and unscrupulous security agencies who we discovered are tapping our leaders’ calls and leaking our electoral strategies.
“The opposition has uncovered the constant tapping of our calls and location marking by the APC, using the DSS. We are utterly disgusted at this shameless act. This administration has proved that nothing is sacred to them anymore.”
Ugochinyere, therefore, called on members of the opposition to abandon telephone conversations and adopt physical meetings or the Whatsapp platform.
But the DSS said there was no truth in the allegation. It said the debate on the issue was unnecessary and the agency was not in the habit of eavesdropping on private conversations.
The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mr Peter Afunanya, said this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He said, “The social media is awash with wrong information of sorts, regarding the agency whose operations and activities are highly misunderstood and misrepresented.
“It is obvious that some merchants of violence are determined to use their platforms to misinform the public for their selfish and political ends. In this regard, the service warns that those bent on entrenching this mischief should be aware of the consequences of their misleading actions.
“The DSS is a responsible organisation and thus, professionally adheres to the ideals of intelligence and security governance expected of it in a democracy. The public is, therefore, urged to disregard the claims of the political group.”
All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council Co-chairman Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged party members in Lagos to intensify the mobilisation for Saturday’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections.
Noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was jittery, he said the ruling party will defeat the opposition party at the poll and put it to shame.
The former Lagos State governor also explained why Igbo in Lagos should vote for the APC, saying that the government in the Centre of Excellence has never discriminated against them and other non-indigenes in the distribution of the dividends of democracy.
Tinubu, who urged women leaders to mobilise traders for the crucial poll, also advised youths to heed President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice by shunning thuggery, ballot snatching and other forms of violence.
He advised party faithful to accommodate defectors from the rival PDP, saying that they had become legitimate members of the fold whose cooperation are required for mobiliasation for victory.
The Executive Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Olamijuwon Akala has been sacked!
The decision followed the change of party by the sacked local government chairman from the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) to the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the platform on which his father is contesting the governorship seat.
The Oyo State Government made the announcement through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bimbo Kolade, at the state secretariat in Ibadan yesterday.
In his place, former Vice Chairman Abas Bello has been sworn in an acting capacity to chair the council. Olamiju was elected on May 12, last year, on the platform of the APC, but alongside some of his councillors, he defected to the ADP to support his father’s ambition, hence is sack.
