JAMB candidate caught with pistol, ammunition on way to exam hall!

NIGERIA:

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Friday confirmed the arrest of a 26-year-old man in possession of a French-made pistol during the just-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Matriculation Matriculation Board, JAMB.

The suspect, said to be from Awka, was arrested during a routine stop-and-search at Akenfa, a suburb of Yenagoa.

Frank Hannachu, the Commander of the NDLEA in Bayelsa, told newsmen that the suspect was arrested in a commercial bus conveying JAMB candidates for the examination to Bayelsa.

“The bus stopped for routine checks; the suspect was found with one French-made pistol with eight rounds of live ammunition.

“When he was interrogated, the suspect said he was coming from Awka to write the (JAMB) examination and that he was a member of a cult gang.

“He has been handed over to the police where he is being detained at the state police command headquarters for further investigations,” Hannachu said.

The NDLEA boss also said that between January and April, the agency had seized a total of 48.966 kilogrammes of different drugs and arrested 95 suspects, made up of 75 males and 20 females.

He decried the increase in women participation in the illicit drug trade and appealed to the public to always volunteer information that could lead to the arrest of drug dealers and consumers.

He hailed the agency’s synergy with the state government and commended Gov. Seriake Dickson for donating three vehicles to facilitate the agency’s operations in the state.

How Omotola made TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ list!

WEEKS after she was named by respected American journal, TIME Magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people, facts have began to emerge as to why Omotola was listed.

Omotola made the list because of her exemplary works as an activist, according to recent findings. Just few years ago, she staged a protest against Shell Petroleum’s environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta region where she comes from.

Also, Omotola has taken her trade internationally by having a duet with American international R&B artiste, Valentino, thereby making her the first contemporary actress to do so.

Just last week, she travelled to the US for the dinner organized by TIME Magazine for the ‘100 Most Influential People in The World’. The event had the high and mighty of the world in attendance. There is no doubt that this feat will further boost Omotola’s growing brand which may somewhat set her on a popularity clash with her rival Genevieve Nnaji.

EFCC probes Amaechi over missing $10m!

The crisis over an aircraft owned by the Rivers State Government deepened on Thursday, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission commenced a discreet probe to determine Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s link to the alleged inflation of the cost of the plane by $10m. The aircraft has been the subject of a row between the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

It was learnt that the anti-graft agency is looking into the ‘high possibility’ of alleged money laundering in relation to the purchase of the aircraft.

A source said on Thursday that while the state government claimed to have purchased the Bombardier aircraft with $57m, records available to the EFCC showed that it may have been bought for $47m, thereby creating room for suspicion on how $10m was spent.

It was learnt that the state House of Assembly approved the purchase of the controversial aircraft within 24 hours.

It was further gathered that operatives of the EFCC might also be looking into how two aircraft purchased by the Rivers State Government under former Governor Peter Odili were managed.

One of the aircraft was sold to the Cross River State Government while the other aircraft manufactured by a Brazilian firm, an air ambulance, was said to have been phased out.

Investigations further revealed that the company wrote the Rivers State Government to say it was longer manufacturing the spare parts of the aircraft and so it was returned.

A source said the anti-graft agency was probing the management of the aircraft because rather than just phasing it out, it should have been traded in for another aircraft.

It was learnt that a focus of the investigation was to find out if there was any link whatsoever between the new aircraft and the aircraft in the area of cost.

Contacted, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said he had not been briefed on the matter.

“I’m not aware of this,” he said on the telephone.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has said that the aircraft it grounded does not belong to the state government.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, told our correspondent on Thursday that the aircraft belonged to a private firm, contrary to claims by the Rivers State Government that it owned the controversial plane.

He said, “The document we have does not show Rivers State Government as the owner of the aircraft. The registration is saying that the plane is owned by a company and not Rivers. So it is you people that will ask Amaechi how he came in contact with the aircraft. What is his relationship with the owner of the aircraft? That is his own business and I cannot answer that question for him.

“From the records we have, we have told you the owner of the aircraft. So whether it is from his friend or whoever, is it for me to know? It is not for me to know. Because from our records there is nowhere Rivers State Government is stated as the owner of the aircraft.”

He admitted that the aircraft was registered in the name of Bank of Utah in the United States, stressing that the governor should tell the public what he knows about the controversial plane.

Ndubuoke explained that the plane, before it was grounded, only had approval to move from Accra to Port Harcourt. He wondered why the crew decided to fly to other destinations outside the aircraft’s approved routes.

He said, “The clearance for the aircraft was sought by Caverton Helicopters on March 27. Amaechi did not seek clearance and the Rivers state government did not seek clearance.

The route they were given the clearance to fly was Accra-Port Harcourt-Accra.

“That does not mean it is the only place that they can fly. But that was the route with which they applied for the clearance. So if they now want to fly to Owerri or Akure, they need to reapply for another clearance. That is just the true matter, nothing more, nothing less. Their movement to Akure was illegal because it was not captured in the clearance.”

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency had last Friday refused to grant approval to the governor’s aircraft to leave Akure airport.

According to NAMA, the development was due to the failure of the pilot of the plane to submit the required manifest of passengers on board. The airspace agency also said it was untrue that the aircraft was grounded by the airspace manager at the Akure airport.

The Managing Director, NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, argued that contrary to the politicisation of the incident, the agency carried out its functions in line with the global aviation standard.

He was reported as saying, “By regulation, the manager has no power to clear any aircraft at that time of the day because Akure Airport operates day light operations. Approval must be given through the manager to the tower.”

On Saturday, NCAA had declared that the controversial aircraft operated illegally in the country.

As a result, the civil aviation authority grounded the Bombardier-BD 700 Global Express aircraft with registration number N565RS. It said the plane had an expired clearance approval effective April 2, 2013.

The Director, Airworthiness Standards, NCAA, Mr. Benedict Adeyileka, explained that while the aircraft was still operating illegally, it had been sighted in several places, including Owerri and Akure.

The NCAA also stated that the grounding of the aircraft had nothing to do with the President. Ndubuoke said, “The media always say that government grounded the aircraft because of issues with Amaechi. Reports have it that it was because the President and Amaechi are having problems, and that that was what may have led to the grounding of the aircraft.

“But I don’t know how the President will come from Aso Rock and say ground this airplane. In fact, I don’t how that will happen and I wonder why he will do that in the first place. So what we are trying to say that it is not true.”

Contacted, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, said he would not react to speculations about the state government’s aircraft.

“I have no comment on the issue because I cannot react to speculations,” he stated.

However, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in a statement on Friday faulted claims by the Ministry of Aviation that the aircraft was flown into Nigeria with forged documents.

The statement reads in part, “No aircraft can fly into Nigerian airspace illegally and land at various airports within the country unchallenged. The Rivers State Government-owned aircraft has been in operation since October 2012;

“The allegation that a state government would use the name of Caverton Helicopters to obtain various clearances is preposterous and embarrassing;

“The claim that the aircraft insured is owned by Acass Canada Limited of 6700 Cote de Liesse, Suite 206,Montreal, QC H4T 2B5, Canada is a deliberate distortion of facts. An insurance issued to Acass was used for entry into service while flying between Canada and the USA for pre-delivery tests. Rivers State Government took delivery on 5th October, 2012 and duly insured the aircraft and the certificate of insurance duly states this. Please note below:

“The Rivers State Government has been flying this aircraft since October 2012 with this same certificate and with the knowledge of the Ministry of Aviation. The ownership of the aircraft is not in question as we have clearly explained the relationship between the Rivers State Government and the Bank of Utah. “This is a verifiable relationship and is common place in the aviation sector as practitioners and stakeholders know. The Deed of Trust is proof that the aircraft is held in trust by the Bank of Utah on behalf of the Rivers State Government.

“We believe that all administrative procedures should and must be complied with. However, the state government is worried at what is beginning to seem like a witch-hunt of it and related parties that have conducted business with it. We will continue to engage with aviation officials and follow through with all administrative requirements and processes as is most appropriate.”

Also, the Majority Leader in the Rivers State House Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, explained on Thursday that the current administration traded off two aircraft it met on the ground because they were not durable.

Lloyd added that the state house of assembly approved the purchase of the aircraft based on the durability of the new one.

“When this state government came on board, it met two aircraft on ground. It also discovered that the two planes were not durable. Even the manufacturing company said that particular type had been phased out.

“The current administration decided to trade off the two planes and bought a more durable aircraft currently being used. The aircraft had been on the ground for almost a year, why is it being talked about now?” Lloyd wondered.

Lagos State Polytechnic graduate raped to death three days after graduation!

A 21- year -old lady, identified simply as Nofisat, was raped and slaughtered to death by unknown assailants in her home at the Magbon area of Ogijo in Ogun State.

The incident happened on Wednesday at about 2p.m.

The victim had just earned her Higher National Diploma from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu on Saturday, April 27 and was still in a celebratory mood when the suspected culprits stormed her residence and raped her to death.

Nofisat was said to be the only person at home as her mother a school teacher and her siblings had gone to school.

Neighbours said the victim’s mother came back from school and saw her naked in a pool of her own blood as the rapists were also said to have slit her throat.

It was gathered that the police have arrested two men said to reside in the same premises in connection with the brutal murder.

A postmortem examination that will help the police in the investigation has been stalled as the victim’s remains have since been buried according to Islamic rites at the Alaba Muslim Cemetery at Ogijo at about 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Police inspector responds to distress call, but ends up committing murder at scene!

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Umar Manko, has announced the arrest of a Police Inspector for allegedly killing a man with his official rifle.

Mr. Manko made the disclosure in Lagos when  he met with the  newly-elected  officers of  the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) on Friday.

The police commissioner said the suspect allegedly went for a distress call, but later committed the crime under unprofessional circumstances.

“We are not interested in what led to the distress call. But we are interested in the fact that a life was lost in the incident. The Inspector acted unprofessionally.

“He has spent 28 years in the Force, so he should have been more careful.

“Right now, he has been arrested and transferred to the State CID, Panti for investigation.

“He will be prosecuted for murder,’’ Mr. Manko who said he was ready to expose and deal with any police officer found wanting in the discharge of his duties said.

Until his arrest, the police inspector was attached to the Elere Police Division in Lagos State.

Meanwhile, Manko has emphasised the need for a level playing field for the police and journalists reporting crime to interact and exchange views as partners in the fight against crime.

The police commissioner decried speculations in reporting crime, saying journalists on the crime beat should try to cross check their facts before going to press with their stories.

“Let us be objective in our reportage. Let us build on the good relationship we share.

“If I do anything wrong and you publish it, I have no problem with that. But I will not be happy about outright falsehood,’’ he said.

Manko then congratulated the new officers of CRAN, asking them to help ensure a better  working relationship.

“As long as I remain here as police commissioner, I will continue to partner with CRAN,’’ he said.

Earlier, the CRAN Chairman, Christopher Oji, had said he and his team were in Manko’s office to introduce the new executive committee members to him.

“We are also here to intimate you with our yearly programmes,’’ he said.

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry Grace the June Issue of ESSENCE!

We all need somebody to lean on — even Oprah Winfrey.

In the June 2013 issue of ESSENCE magazine, cover stars Winfrey and Tyler Perry describe the ways they've helped and inspired each other through the years — a friendship and partnership that has culminated in a TV deal giving Winfrey exclusive rights to broadcast all the original shows written, directed and produced by Perry this year and ever after.

"We both know how rare this is," says Oprah. "Where else in the history of our African-American culture have two really, really successful people who can do whatever they want said, 'Let’s come together and be even more powerful—let’s take it to the tenth power?'"

On mixing their friendship with business, Perry adds, “…The most important thing about coming together was making sure we would not lose our friendship because of the business. We had to establish ground rules. The main one: Both of us have to continue to live in our truth. If she doesn’t like something, say it. If I don’t like something, I’ll say it. And we’ll figure it out and keep moving on…”

For Perry, working with Oprah on new OWN shows like the drama The Haves and the Have Nots (premiering May 28) and the sitcom Love Thy Neighbor (May 29) “challenged me to push myself in terms of my writing and level of thinking,” he says. “I’m hoping that the energy of our coming together will go out to other people.”

Justin Bieber Stops Turkey Concert Twice To Honor Muslim Custom!

Justin seems to be changing his ways. Instead of angering his fans by being late, the singer’s been bombarded with tweets of gratitude after he paused his concert twice on May 2 in order to honor the Muslim prayer call.

Justin Bieber, we are impressed. The 19-year-old pop star took time out of his May 2 concert in Turkey to honor the Azan, which is the Islamic call to prayer and occurs in the main mosque five times a day.

Justin Bieber Honors Muslim Tradition — Fans Delighted

Fans were “shocked” and “delighted” by Justin’s choice to honor the Muslim tradition, E!Online reports.

Fans flocked to Twitter to share their delight.

One user, @maysoonzayid, wrote, “Arab artists DON’T stop there shows…Go Justin. BieberStops Turkey Concert 2 Honor Muslim Prayer Call.”

Another fan wrote on Twitter, “The fact that Justin Bieber stopped his show in Turkey for the adhan when Muslim artists don’t even do that is really commendable,” with another saying, ” I just gain a lot of respect for justin bieber after hearing that he stopped his concert twice to honor muslim prayer.”

After the show, Justin tweeted, “Turkey was right. 4 more shows to go. Dubai is next. #believetour.”