George Clooney Is Married!

 George Clooney is officially taken. 

The 53-year-old married Amal Alamuddin in Venice, Italy over the weekend.

So, how did this accomplished, beautiful woman steal the heart of Hollywood's most eligible bachelor.

They were first spotted together last October, followed by an engagement this past April. 

Their tale was like one straight out of one of Clooney's movies, where an acclaimed actor who had said for years he’d given up on marriage finally meets the one.

Boko Haram Kill Pastor, Teacher, 18 Others, Razes Churches in Borno!

Some suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram sect attacked Shaffa and Shindiffu villages of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno state killing pastor Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza of the Living Faith Church, a teacher (name withheld) at Government Girls Secondary School Shaffa and other 18 others mostly Christians.

The terrorists also razed down about 10 churches such as E.Y.N No:I, E.Y.N No: II and III in Shaffa and Shindiffu villages including befitting houses mostly belonging to Christians as well as destruction of a clinic and some staff quarters and structures at the Government Girls Secondary School in Shaffa.

Unfortunately when the terrorists were about to leave Shindiffu and proceed to Turaku village another Christian community to continue their deadly act, military troops from Adamawa axis and Biu Military barracks who were on their trail ambushed them and killed almost all of them.

The attackers according to fleeing residents invaded Shaffa at about 8pm on Wednesday and wrecked havoc before storming Shindiffu Village on Thursday morning at about 11am.

culled

Woman beheaded at Oklahoma food processing plant!

Oklahoma law enforcement officials said a 30-year-old man identified by officials as Alton Alexander Nolan reportedly beheaded a woman after a workplace dispute late Thursday afternoon at a Vaughan Foods processing plant in Moore, about 10 miles south of Oklahoma City. He also reportedly tried to kill another woman. 

A sheriff's deputy shot the suspect, he was taken a hospital and is expected to survive. Information says there were no immediate indications of a link to terrorism. 

Lagos Begins DNA Test To Identify Synagogue Church Casualties!

The Lagos State Government has begun DNA test to identify bodies of victims of the Synagogue Church building collapse. Emergency rescue officials put the death toll of the incident at 115.

The government called for DNA samples from relatives of the deceased to be able to sort out the dead bodies before releasing them to their loved ones for burial.

The government said relatives and family members of victims, both locally and internationally, must come forward to donate samples for the test.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris disclosed this on Friday at Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, He said early submission of samples would aid forensic identification and DNA analysis of recovered bodies.

He said the state government considered it necessary to start forensic identification and DNA analysis of the recovered bodies in view of the need to identify each of them.

He appealed to family members, especially parents, children and siblings of nationals who believe their relations died in the collapsed building to visit the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja from Friday, 26 September, to submit samples that could aid the forensic identification and DNA analysis of recovered bodies.

The commissioner explained that those eligible to give samples for the forensic identification and DNA analysis in order of preference include parents, children and siblings of the deceased.

Majority of victims of the disaster were identified as South Africans. The South African government said 84 of its citizens died in the incident.

Officials of the Lagos State Government said authorities of the church did not obtain approval before adding four more floors to the two-storey building.

Families of affected victims have threatened to sue the General Overseer of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua, for preventing rescue workers from moving in immediately to save lives when the building collapsed.

The Federal Government has already set up a committee to investigate the incident.

Joshua had claimed that Boko Haram attacked his church citing a strange aircraft which hovered over the building several times before it collapsed, but many Nigerians dismissed his claim.

culled

Nigeria's candidate to Big Brother House Unveiled1

Lilian

Many Nigerian fans of Big Brother Africa are likely to be anticipating whether or not Lilian will act like past candidates like extrovert Beverly and the late Goldie, GEOFF IYATSE writes.

Nigeria’s Lilian, an actor and presenter, has joined fellow housemates in this season’s Big Brother Africa, which hits the screen on October 5.

She stands a chance of winning $300,000.

Popularly known as ‘SexyLeeLee’ among her fans, Lilian adds modelling and tax collecting to her swelling profile. She entered BBA hotshots for “the platform it provides and the publicity that comes with it, and of course the winning prize – the money,” according to the organisers.

BBA, which has enjoyed robust viewership, will be showed live across different hotspots in Africa.

Lillian said she was not willing to “sell herself short to win the grand prize.” If she wins, she will invest in her talk show, which is about “helping upcoming talents” and use part of the prize to get herself a house.

Lilian’s favourite food is rice and plantain; she likes watching Baggage on TV and listening to 2Face Idibia. She doesn’t have a favourite book, but likes movies like Think Like a Man, Blended, Friends With Benefits, Bridesmaids and Twelve Years a Slave. Her favourite actor is Angelina Jolie, because ‘she’s creative and can switch roles easily’.

Based in Lagos, she would like to visit California, the United States, for the opportunities the bustling city would provide her.

Lilian’s role model is Oprah Winfrey, because of her strength, while the person who has most influenced her life is her mother because “she has always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams”

She described herself as “spontaneous, easy-going, focused and confident” and said her best assets are she’s ambitious, a good listener, flexible, persuasive, competitive, independent and original.

Speaking on the reality show, M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said the viewers were in for almost as many surprises as the housemates.

“We work hard to make each season of BBA bigger than the last – and we’ve really upped the ante this year,” she said.

“BBA hotshots is going to bring viewers exciting innovations, heart-stopping twists and uniquely African glamour, 24/7 for the duration of their stay in the house. Both fans and housemates are in for some ‘unmissable’ television”.

BBA the continent’s biggest reality show which will go live on DStv and GOtv, will give the housemates a chance to compete for a massive prize $300, 000.

Political Palava in Ekiti Court As Pro-Fayose Thugs Beat Up Judge!

There was confusion at the premises of the Ekiti State High Court on Thursday morning as thugs believed to be loyal to the state Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, allegedly beat up a judge, Justice John Adeyeye, for being allegedly rude to Mr. Fayose.

The pandemonium that ensued scuttled the Ekiti State Governorship Election petition Tribunal sitting billed to hold today at the High court, Ado-Ekiti, as judicial workers abandoned their duty post and ran for safety.

Witnesses said the pro-Fayose thugs had besieged the court premises as early as 6a.m., while a detachment of policemen from the police headquarters were also seen on major streets and around the court.

Justice Adeyeye of High Court 3, who was miffed by the huge number of the thugs as they surged towards the court premises had approached Mr. Fayose and urged him to prevail on "his supporters" to keep a safe distance from the court premises, the witnesses said.

An enraged Mr. Fayose was said to have shouted the judge down. Immediately, thugs numbering about 20 pounced on Justice Adeyeye, beat him up and tore his clothes, while his co workers scampered and shouted for help.

Following the development, judicial workers hurriedly shut down the court premises thereby preventing any court proceeding for hours before the police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the surging crowd.

Justice Adeyeye is presently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

A similar scenario had played out on Monday when suspected PDP thugs stormed the high court premises, attacked the trial judge, some litigants and judicial workers in the bid to prevent hearing in a case to determine Mr. Fayose's eligibility for the June 21 governorship election.

Mr. Fayose could not be reached on Thursday morning. He did not answer or return calls to his mobile telephone.

culled

Representatives to Investigate U.S.$50,000 Arm Deal Bribery Scandal!

Reports says House of Representatives has resolved to probe an allegation that $50,000 bribe was offered to lawmakers to douse the rising anger over the $9.3 million arms deal scandal involving two Nigerians and an Israeli national in South Africa.

A private jet, with the Nigerians on board together with the Israeli, reportedly conveyed the $9.3 million cash into South Africa.

The money was believed to be intended for procurement of arms and ammunition in South Africa.

However, the South African government apprehended the suspects and seized the cash because it was above the limit legally permitted into the country.

A motion seeking to investigate the scandal reportedly brought about disagreement between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House on Tuesday.

The motion was sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader, Sulieman Kawu, and seconded by Olajumuke Okoya Thomas.

Debate on the motion led to rowdy atmosphere on Tuesday, as APC lawmakers staged a walkout following a perceived attempt by Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, to kill the motion.to investigate 

Ihedioha presided at the House plenary on Tuesday during which some members alleged an offer of $50,000 to each lawmaker apparently to kill the motion seeking to investigate the scandal.

The House on Wednesday mandated its House Committee on Ethics and Privileges issues arising from the event of the walkout by the APC members from the Tuesday's plenary.

The resolution to this effect, following a motion, was triggered by a media publication alleging that a member told the press that the PDP lawmakers in the House were paid $50,000 each to kill the motion that led to the walkout.

A member, Sam Tsokwa, described the allegation as weighty and must by investigated.

Ihedioha then threw the motion to the floor and it was resolved that the matter should be investigated.

The House referred the motion to the committee and asked it to report back on time.

Similarly, consideration of the report on drugs, narcotics and financial crimes suffered a major set back in the House following the absence of the committee chairman at the plenary to defend the bill which the leadership of the House described as very important.

It would be recalled that the Executive Bill referred to the committee for its input and possibly organise a public hearing to enable stakeholders contribute to the very important bill has been pending at the committee level without results.

The bill was, however, stepped down for deliberation on the next legislative date.

The Deputy Speaker, who expressed displeasure over the committee's delay of the bill appealed to committee members to expedite action with the view to according it accelerated passage.

The bill when passed will impact on the lives of Nigerians, Ihedioha noted.

Meanwhile, the House has urged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to "urgently and responsibly commence action on all the issues raised by communities" which it (FCDA) has also accepted to implement.

The call was necessitated by a petition brought by inhabitants of Maitama Sabo, Maitama Tsoho, Kubwa, Katampe and Nyikuru communities.

The House also condemned the action of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari Area Council in reallocating lands earlier reserved for the petitioners as well as the misappropriation of some of the allocations for the resettlement of the petitioners (original inhabitants) by officials of the FCDA and their cohorts.

culled