Ex- Governor, George Akume bows to greet Regina Daniels

A former Governor of Benue State, George Akume has been pictured bowing his head as he greeted Regina Daniels. In the photo which has now gone viral, with many condemning the greeting, Regina is seen standing near her billionaire husband, as George made out to greet her and bowed.

Many have frowned at it, asking why a respected politician will do that, as others said, it was only a sign of respect for her billionaire husband, Ned Nwoko. See picture below...

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/ex-governor-george-akume-bows-to-greet.html

Woman PLUCKS OUT 73-year-old man’s eyes in Enugu

The 73-year-old man, Chief Oforbuike Ani, a native of Amodu Akunanaw in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, who died after a widow allegedly plucked out his eyes, has been buried.

The 38-year-old widow and mother of five, identified as Blessing Nwatu, was alleged to have hit the old man with a brick, where he was sitting in his compound on February 21, 2020.

After the victim had fallen down, Nwatu allegedly used a knife to pluck out his eyes and left him in a pool of his own blood.


It was gathered that neighbours, who got wind of the incident, called one of Ani’s sons living in Enugu, the state capital, who came and took him to hospital, where he died on February 28.


Punch correspondent, who visited the Okpebe community in Amodu on Tuesday during the victim’s burial, reported that residents described the incident that resulted in the man’s death as a taboo.

One of the sons of the deceased, Barry, told Punch Metro that his father’s killing hit him like a thunderbolt, but thanked God that the perpetrator had been arrested.

He stated, “On February 21, 2020, I received a call from my father’s best friend that I should come home immediately because my father was seriously ill. I thought maybe it was his usual illness. So, I rushed home.

“While on my way to the village, I started receiving calls that I should come home because a woman used a knife to pluck out my father’s eyes.

“When I got home, I saw my father lying down in a pool of blood in the compound with his two eyes plucked out. I asked a woman I saw in the neighbourhood where the perpetrator was, but she advised that I should take my father to hospital first. I took her advice and rushed my father to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla.

“I met a doctor at the Emergency Unit and he asked me what happened to my father; I could not tell him much, because I didn’t have the details and he told me to get a police report before the hospital would start treatment.”

Barry explained that he begged the doctor to commence treatment to save his father’s life, while he went to the police station to report the incident.

He added, “He accepted to commence treatment and I went to the Agbani Police Division, where I reported the incident. Immediately the DCO saw the pictures of the incident, he followed me to the hospital to see my father. It was at the hospital that the DCO called his men to go to my community to arrest the perpetrator.

“When I left the hospital with the DCO, I got a call from the doctor asking me where my father’s eyes were and if I picked them. I told him no and he said that I should go and bring the eyes. I came back to the village but could not find them. I went back to tell the doctor that I couldn’t find them.

“Since February 21, 2020, the doctors started battling to save my father’s life, but on February 28, he passed away and because he had instructed that his body should not be kept in the mortuary, we had to bury him today (Tuesday) according to his last wish.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the incident, told punch correspondent that the perpetrator had been arrested and was charged on Friday and remanded in a correctional centre.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/widow-plucks-out-73-year-old-mans-eyes.html

COVID-19: Outrage as Reps resolve to shut down for 2 weeks

Condemnation has continued to trail the House of Representatives’ resolution to suspend plenary for two weeks to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the National Assembly.

Civil Society groups which spoke to Daily Trust condemned the decision of the lawmakers, saying it is unjustifiable.

Though, the House did not specify when the plenary would be suspended, the Green Chamber, in a resolution at plenary on Tuesday, said the two-week break would give members opportunity to be tested for the virus and make adequate preparation against spread of the disease in the National Assembly.


The resolution was sequel to the motion; tagged “Need for Emergency Response to Tackling of Coronavirus in Nigeria”, sponsored by Idem Uyinan (PDP, Akwa Ibom).


The Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) who added the prayer that the House should close for two weeks, which was unanimously adopted, said the period would allow the management to put in place adequate preventive measures.

“So that all of us can be tested. This is a very serious matter because you don’t know who you are having a hand shake with,” he said.

Also, another lawmaker, Isiaka Ibrahim, lamented that Nigeria is at zero level in terms of control centres.

Awaji-Inombek Abiante, (PDP, Rivers) on his part, regretted that the House stepped down a motion asking for the transportation of stranded Nigerians back home from China, saying, “now, our fears have caught up with us”.

Still speaking on the motion, Obinna Chidoka (PDP, Anambra) called on government to put in place proactive measures that will prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

He noted that outside the health sector in Nigeria, there was no place that people patronise more than the National Assembly, and called for serious preventive measures at the complex.

Chidoka also advised government to establish more isolation centres, and for the legislature to be strict in oversight functions to ensure that the health sector lives up to expectation.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/coronavirus-outrage-as-reps-resolve-to.html

Mentally-ill man stabs woman in Edo state

A middle-aged mentally-ill man caused a steer on the Oba Ovonramwen Square Ring Road in Benin, Edo State, on Monday, when he stabbed a 23-year-old woman, who was walking in the city centre.

The incident caused pandemonium as some youths quickly rushed to the scene and overpowered the man before he could cause more damage.

An eyewitness, identified simply as Adora, said the victim was just walking in the crowd when the man suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed her.

“We were walking together and the woman was probably rushing to work and was not aware of the man’s presence until he had stabbed her,” Adora stated.

She said immediately the victim was stabbed, she fell to the ground and was covered in her own blood.

“She was quickly rushed to the Central Hospital for treatment,” Adora added.

The incident angered a group of youths nearby, who pounced on the man, disarmed him and beat him to a stupor.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/mentally-ill-man-stabs-woman-in-edo.html

23 Iranian Members of Parliament test positive for coronavirus

Iran’s coronavirus situation is rapidly deteriorating. It’s symbolic that at least 23 Iranian Members of Parliament (MPs), as well as the country’s head of emergency medical services, are now infected with the virus.

Iran now has over 2300 confirmed coronavirus cases, 77 fatalities, and the situation seems to be spiraling out of control.

To say that Iran is struggling with Covid-19 would be an understatement.

The country now has the most fatalities outside of China, and there are concerns that the number of cases is much higher than the confirmed number. Prayers for Iran... prayers!

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/23-iranian-members-of-parliament-test.html

Gombe state enrols 70,000 Almajiris in schools

Gombe State Government on Tuesday said it has enrolled 214, 000 children into public schools in the state between September 2019 and January 2020, with 70,000 of them being the Almajiri kids.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, made the disclosure at a ceremony for the distribution of uniform and instructional materials to pupils in Jalinga village, Funakaye Local Government Area of the state.

School uniforms, bags and writing materials were distributed to pupils in public primary schools and Girl Child Learning Centres under the Federal Government’s Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.


Yahaya disclosed that 70, 000 Almajiris were integrated into formal system while 40, 000 girls were enrolled into formal Girl Child Learning Centres in the state.

He added that 104, 000 children, hitherto, school dropouts were also returned to the schools to enable them to continue with their education.

The governor said he inherited over 500, 000 out-of-school children when he assumed office in 2019.

The educational system was also replete with various inadequacies, he said.

He explained that parlous state of education prompted his administration to declare State of Emergency in education to reinvigorate the sector.

According to him, the state government has so far spent N2.9 billion on renovation of 400 classrooms in basic and post basic schools in the state.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/gombe-enrols-70000-almajiris-in-schools.html

Inside Michael Jackson's son Blanket's first $2.6m home as he turns 18 (photos)

Michael Jackson's youngest son Blanket "Bigi" splashes out $2.6million on a new pad in Calabasas as he turns 18.

His first home boasts of six bedrooms and seven bathrooms as well as a garage with the space for three flashy vehicles.

The Mediterranean-style home is built on 6,4000 square space which is among a guard-gated community to provide 24/7 security for the celeb offspring.

Stylised hedges line the driveway and manicured lawn leading up to the front door of the impressive starter mansion which Bigi will make his first home.

Among the picture-perfect lawn, there is a generous-sized swimming pool and wooden sunbeds out in the back garden.

Inside, it is grand entrance to the six-bedroom home with a sweeping curved staircase and a glittering chandelier.

In just weeks after turning 18 on February 21, Bigi has got himself a new home.

He is the youngest son of the late King of Pop.

Michael also has daughter Paris, 21, and Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., 23.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/inside-michael-jacksons-son-blankets.html

Kylie Jenner sparks b.o.o.b job rumours with busty bikini pics

Kylie Jenner has left her fans baffled with some very busty bikini photos. The makeup mogul, 22, took to Twitter on Monday night to share a picture of herself in a brown two-piece.

Her cleavage threatened to spill out of the flimsy top, which sparked many fans to question if she'd had a b.o.o.b job.

She drew attention to her chest by posing with her fingernail on the bridge of her bra in one snap, and in the other she pushed her b.o.o.b.s together by bringing one arm up in front of them.

"What's meant for me will always be," Kylie captioned the post alongside a heart emoji.


Many of her Twitter followers drew comparisons to old pictures of the mum-of-one when she sported visibly smaller breasts.

One tweeted: "Does she admit to implants yet? She looks beautiful, but she can't still be saying she never got implants, not that it matters if I could I would too."

"Surgery is something else," another posted.

A third commented: "Crazy what makeup and plastic surgery can do to someone."

"What plastic surgery have you not gotten?" another said.

Kylie has repeatedly denied getting a b.o.o.b job.

She claimed a Victoria's Secret bra had made her chest look bigger and also said she used a "whole load of tape" to give her b.o.o.b.s a lift.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/kylie-jenner-sparks-boob-job-rumours.html

Criminal gangs take over Lagos – South-South waterways

Community-based criminal gangs have taken over the nation’s waterways, from Lagos to the South-South part of the country, collecting tolls from all vessels sailing through that route.

Vanguard Maritime Report gathered that worst hit are barge owners from Warri axis who have been moving their barges to Lagos following the new trend of movement of cargo by barges from the ports to the private jetties.

A barge owner who recently moved his barge from Warri to Lagos said his company had to part with about N1.2 million to be able to access the route. He listed about five points where these criminal gangs made up of heavily armed young men, approach every passing vessel in speed boats.


The barge owner said he had to part with N200,000 at three of such points and N300,000 at two others, noting that at two of the points, officials of the Nigerian Navy were around and did nothing as the young men moved about their criminal activities.

He said he does not mind paying the toll since there is business in Lagos that will cover the amount and also cost of the voyage to Lagos.

On how much is made from the barge operation in Lagos, he said renting of a barge for the period of one month attracts about N5 million.

Recall that several stakeholders have complained about the level of insecurity along the waterways in the Southern part of the country resulting in higher shipment cost for vessels going to ports in those locations.

However, speaking to Vanguard Maritime Report the President of Ijaw Youth Council, Eric Omare, denied the existence of such gangs in the Warri axis, adding, however, that it could be on the route from Lagos through Ondo before getting to the Delta area. Omare said, he could, therefore, not speak for those areas.

He said: “Yes but I think that the main fact that the area has been identified and how it is being done is enough for any serious government to handle it.

“The essence of the existence of government is to solve problems as a normal challenge, so they can be addressed. What is lacking in all these is the government’s inability to address this challenge.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/criminal-gangs-take-over-lagos-ssouth.html

Gbam! Vladimir Putin proposes ban of same-sex marriage

Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft amendment to Russia’s constitution that would enshrine marriage as between a man and a woman in a conservative update to the country’s founding document.

The measure was reportedly part of a 24-page document submitted by the president that would also name Russia as the successor to the Soviet Union; explicitly mention Russians’ “faith in God”; and ensure the “defence of historical truth” regarding the Soviet role in the second world war.

The amendments would also proscribe the cession of Russian territory to foreign powers, deepening the conflict over the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea.

The draft submissions have not yet been made public but were described to journalists in a series of briefings by high-ranking members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.

“For me, the most important proposal would fix the status of marriage as a union between a man and a woman,” Pyotr Tolstoy, a vice-speaker in the Duma, told reporters on Monday in remarks carried by Russian state news agencies. “And I am happy that this amendment has appeared under the signature of the head of state.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/putin-proposes-ban-of-same-sex-marriage.html

Nigeria emerges Africa’s largest economy

South Africa, iis now confirmed as the continent’s second-largest economy.

The answer to the question of whether South Africa or Nigeria, the two countries that account for almost half of sub-Saharan Africa’s gross domestic product, is the biggest economy on the continent has long depended on which exchange rate you use for the West African nation.

But now both the official naira rate of 306 per dollar and the weaker market exchange rate of around 360 that almost all investors use put Nigeria tops.

Nigeria’s growth beat forecasts in the fourth quarter, helping its economy to expand the most in four years last year as oil output increased and the central bank took steps to boost credit growth.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/nigeria-emerges-africas-largest-economy.html

Boris Johnson insists coronavirus threat would not stop him from greeting people with a handshake

Boris Johnson has insisted the coronavirus threat would not stop him greeting people with a handshake. The Prime Minister even said he had shaken the hands of everyone at a hospital where infected patients were being treated.

He was speaking at the unveiling of the  UK's battle plan to treat the virus.

This included a warning that as many as one in five employees could be off work at the peak of the outbreak.

France recommended last week that people do not shake hands to prevent the spread of the virus, while Switzerland has said its residents should consider dropping the everyday greeting of kissing each other on the cheek.

Mr Johnson however, exhibited no such caution.

"I'm shaking hands," Mr Johnson said when asked how he planned to handle visiting dignitaries.

"I was at a hospital the other night where I think a few there were actually coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody, you'll be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/boris-johnson-vows-coronavirus-will-not.html

Man commits suicide over wife’s alleged infidelity in Delta

A 48-year-old father of six, Mr Felix Edore, has reportedly committed suicide in the Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was learnt that the man took his life after finding out that his wife of over 16 years was allegedly cheating on him.

The victim was a cab driver shuttling between Abraka-Eku and Sapele.

Southern City News gathered that Felix took his life by drinking an insecticide, Sniper, on Friday and he was rushed to a private clinic in the Amukpe area of Sapele, where doctors battled to save his life, but he reportedly died on Saturday.


“The cab driver, who used to shuttle between Abraka-Eku and Sapele, took his life because of his wife,” a source said.

A resident of the area, who also spoke to Punch correspondent on condition of anonymity, described Felix as an easy going man, who was passionate about his job and had just bought a second-hand car that he was using to ply the route.

A neighbour, identified simply as Mama Rita, said, “Felix decided to end it all when he suspected that his wife was indulging in extra-marital affairs.


“The deceased was married to the wife and they had six children; the man was always complaining of his wife’s alleged infidelity and most times they would quarrel over it, and he was always saying he would kill himself because of her infidelity.

“So, that day, we never knew that he had bought the Sniper insecticide and before we knew what was happening, he drank the insecticide in his car and people, who saw him, raised the alarm; that was how we found out and rushed him to hospital, but he died on Saturday.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/man-commits-suicide-over-wifes-alleged.html

Coronavirus: World Bank pledges $12bn in emergency aid

The World Bank has committed $12bn in aid for developing countries grappling with the spread of the coronavirus.

The emergency package includes low-cost loans, grants and technical assistance.

The action comes as leaders around the world pledge to shield their countries from the economic impact of the outbreak.

It follows warnings that slowdown from the outbreak could tip countries into recession.

The aid is intended to help countries improve their public health response to the crisis, as well as work with the private sector to reduce the economic impact.

"What we're trying to do is limit the transmission of the disease," World Bank Group President David Malpass told the BBC.

The organisation said it would prioritise the poorest and most at-risk countries in distributing the aid to counter the effects of the virus, which has spread to more than 70 countries around the world.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/coronavirus-world-bank-pledges-12bn-in.html

I spend $2m monthly on charity – Father Mbaka

Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Tuesday, said he spent an average of $2m monthly on charity.

The Catholic priest disclosed this while presenting N18.8m bank draft to the management of the Annunciation Specialist Hospital, Enugu, on behalf of Multi-Life Savers for the Less Privileged, a non-profit arm of his ministry.

He equally gave N50,000 and a bag of rice each to 200 Enugu members of the Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria.

Mbaka explained that the N18.8m was to cover accumulated free medical services that the hospital had rendered to indigent people on his bill, amounting to over N14m.


He said, “We are basically here to continue the relationship that this wonderful health facility has with our charity organisation and Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria.

“We presented a bank draft worth N18.8m to them to cover the accumulated bills of indigent patients they had treated at our instance, plus a deposit for other indigent patients that would come here in future.

“We do this every day and it is on record that there is no month that I don’t spend at least $2m on charity. So, this visit is just one out of several charity outings that we undertake without any publicity.”



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/i-spend-2m-monthly-on-charity-father.html

Kwara removes Saraki’s name from state varsity

The Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday amended the Kwara State University Law and changed the name of the institution from Abubakar Olusola Saraki University to Kwara State University.

The Kwara State University (Amendment) Bill 2020 was one of the four amendment bills passed by the Assembly on Tuesday which it said would drive best practices in the education sector and local government administration in the state.

A statement from the Assembly read partly, “The Kwara State University (Amendment)  Bill,  2020 which reverted the name of the University from Abubakar Sola Saraki University to Kwara State University has been passed and forwarded to the governor for approval.”





source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/kwara-removes-sarakis-name-from-state.html

Kobe Bryant's fatal crash pictures taken and shared by eight Sheriff's deputies

Horrifying pictures of Kobe Bryant 's fatal helicopter crash were taken and shared by eight Sherrif's deputies, it has been claimed.

The NBA legend and his daughter Gigi, 13, were killed alongside seven others when Kobe's helicopter went down over Calabasas, in Los Angeles.

Now, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said he's shocked after learning that eight of his deputies took photographs of the crash site and shared them with others.

TMZ reports that the Sheriff made the revelation on Monday, calling the scandal a "punch to the gut".


He said that the images taken at the scene of the tragic crash have now been erased and that the deputies involved are facing disciplinary action and investigation.

The Sheriff said he felt there had been a "sense of betrayal" towards the families of those lost in the crash.

He added that the only people authorised to take pictures at the scene were the coroner and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators.

Kobe's widow Vanessa was left devastated when she found out that deputies had taken pictures of the crash, potentially including images of the remains of her beloved husband and daughter.

And it's said that she wants those responsible to be punished.

It had been reported that the deputies who took pictures at the tragic scene sent them on to numerous people outside of the Sheriff's Department.

One deputy trainee is also said to have shown photographs of the remains to a woman in a bar, but when the bartender overheard, he made an online complaint to the department.

Sheriff Vallanueva said it's not a crime for law enforcement officials to take photographs at the scene of an incident, but that it is against department policy. He issued an apology to the family.

Basketball legend Kobe, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter were among nine killed in the tragic helicopter crash.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/kobe-bryants-fatal-crash-pictures-taken.html

Senegal confirms second coronavirus case

A second person in Senegal has tested positive for coronavirus, the country's health ministry confirms.

It says the patient is an 80-year-old French national who arrived in the West African country on 29 February.

He is being treated at the same hospital for infectious diseases in the capital city, Dakar, as another Frenchman who was hospitalised for coronavirus last week.

News of this second confirmed case in Senegal brings the total number of confirmed cases on the African continent to 12.


Other countries with patients who tested positive for the virus are:
    Algeria - five people
    Egypt - two people
    Morocco - one person
    Nigeria - one person
    Tunisia - one person

Senegal is one of the 33 sub-Saharan African nations with testing facilities for coronavirus. The authorities say they are well prepared to deal with the virus.

On Monday the World Health Organization told the BBC it expects the remaining 12 sub-Saharan nations currently without testing equipment to gain facilities within a fortnight.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/senegal-confirms-second-coronavirus-case.html

South Africa knocked by second recession in two years

South Africa has fallen into its second recession in two years as severe rolling power blackouts frustrate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s attempt to revive growth.

The economy contracted 1.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to official statistics released on Tuesday, far outpacing analyst forecasts of a 0.2 per cent decline.

The contraction came after a 0.8 per cent drop in economic output during the previous quarter, leading to South Africa’s second recession — defined as two quarters of negative growth — since 2018.

The slowdown was felt across the economy with most sectors recording falls in output, said South Africa’s official statistics agency.


South Africa’s rapid return to recession will pile pressure on Mr Ramaphosa, whose pledge of a “new dawn” for the corruption-battered economy has flagged since he became president two years ago.




source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/south-africa-knocked-by-second.html

Chelsea dump Liverpool out of FA Cup

Ross Barkley said it was "a dream" to score against Liverpool as the midfielder helped Chelsea reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The result meant Liverpool suffered their second successive defeat of this stellar season in a highly-competitive encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool made seven changes to the side that lost surprisingly at Watford on Saturday - the first reverse of their league campaign after 18 successive victories left them on the brink of a first title for 30 years.

Chelsea, however, still had to overcome a Liverpool team containing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez in a hard-fought fifth-round tie.


Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian gifted Willian Chelsea's opener after 13 minutes when he hopelessly fumbled his 20-yard shot, but the European champions had chances of their own only to see recalled keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga present a formidable barrier with a string of saves.

The game was effectively settled after 64 minutes when former Everton midfielder and Toffees fan Barkley surged from inside his own half on a solo run before beating Adrian with an emphatic strike.

"It was brilliant, a massive result for the lads," Barkley told BBC One. "We needed a top performance tonight at home after two disappointing results.

"Scoring against Liverpool is massive for me. As an Everton fan, it's always a dream to score against them."






source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/03/chelsea-dump-liverpool-out-of-fa-cup.html