Nigeria’s Deaf Eagles lift WADFU tourney 4th trophy

The Nigeria national deaf football team, Deaf Eagles, have won the 7th West Africa Deaf Football Union (WADFU) Tournament to lift the trophy for the fourth time.

The team’s Head Coach, Kamiludeen Banjo, said on telephone from Mali that the country defeated hosts, Mali 2- 1 in the final.

Eight countries participated in the competition which began on May 5 ended on May 12.

Banjo said that Mali had earlier defeated Nigeria 2-1 at the group stage, adding that the Deaf Eagles were able to surmount their opponents in the final.

“This is a great feat for the team having missed the last edition in 2016 due to lack of funds and coming back to lift the trophy for the fourth time.

“The build up to the tournament was really challenging for the players but I am happy that the players triumphed in the end.

“We are truly grateful to our Patron, Emmanuel Ibru, who sponsored the team to the competition,’’ he said.

The coach said that the team would arrive in the country on May 16, with the hope that the team would be rewarded by the government.

“We have never been rewarded for flying the country’s flag high in the tournament and that is something the players are not always happy about because of their disability,’’ he said.

The country won the maiden edition of the competition in 2010 and went ahead to win the title in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

The Deaf Eagles were also runners-up in the 2014 and 2015 editions.

Mum-of-two wins staggering £453 million .....what are the biggest divorce settlements in history?

According to Mirror report, a mum-of-two has been awarded a massive £453 million divorce settlement.

The 44-year-old housewife was given the massive payout after a bitter legal battle with her husband.

The award, to the woman from eastern Europe but has been a British citizen since 2000, is thought to be the biggest made by a divorce court judge in Britain.

British billionaire hedge fund manager Chris Hohn was ordered to pay his estranged wife Jamie Cooper-Hohn £337 million in what was then the largest divorce settlement in British legal history.

The judge ordered Mr Cooper-Hohn to hand over 36 per cent of his fortune in a settlement agreed at a private hearing in London in November 2014.

Iheanacho is not world class – Ex Nigeria striker blasts

Kelechi Iheanacho is not a world class striker and therefore, not what the Super Eagles need to become world beaters, this is according to former Nigeria striker Benedict Akwuegbu.

The Super Eagles look poised to make another World Cup appearance as they currently top their 2018 World Cup qualifying group, but despite admitting that the Super Eagles have shown remarkable improvements under Gernot Rohr, Akwuegbu is still of the opinion that a world class striker and that striker isn’t Iheanacho.

“We need a world-class striker, who scores regularly. Iheanacho is a good striker, but we need a world-class striker if we really want a team who can conquer the world,” he said.

“We will also need a good central midfielder to organise the play and a good right fullback.

“The Eagles are doing well, better than what they used to be, but we are yet to get the team who will take on the world.”

Soldiers Allegedly Torture 43-Year-Old Man To Death In Warri Over 1.5m Debt

Soldiers from the 4 Mechanized Brigade Military Intelligence, Benin, have allegedly tortured a forty-year-old man, Otunba Ajayi Oladele to death.

A referral from the military hospital in Benin City addressed to Consultant Physician at the Warri Central Hospital in Warri indicates that Oladele sustained multi-level traumatic spinal cord injury as a result of the beating from the military men, which allegedly resulted to his untimely death.

Daily Post gathered that the late Oladele was arrested on May 8 following allegations by one Kayode Adeosho that he collected the sum of N1.5m from him since January but has refused to pay back.

Rather than resort to civil authorities in addressing the matter, Adeosho allegedly used his connections in the Army to force the late Otunba pay the money.

It was hinted that Oladele pleaded with the soldiers to release him because he had delicate health conditions that needed constant use of special drugs but the soldiers refused and forced him inside their vehicle.

“The late Otunba Ajayi Oladele’s health condition worsened when the soldiers finally arrived Benin-City.

“He was kept kept incommunicado with his mobile phones and other items in his possession seized, while he was placed under arrest with his legs chained.

“He was taken before the Commanding Officer of the Military Intelligence in the Brigade, who told him that he must pay back the sum of N1.5m before his release.

“Mrs. Esther Oladele was taken before the Commanding Officer of the Intelligence Group where the Commanding Officer told her why her husband was arrested.

“The Commanding Officer directed that she should go and source for the N1.5m to pay the complainant to effect the release of her husband from their custody.

“She was later allowed to see the husband in the hospital. She wept when she saw the condition of her husband in the hospital.

“However, Oladele in his dying state denied the allegations against him.

“Later, Lt. Col. Yakubu directed Sgt. Hassan Hassan to release Mr. Oladele to his wife on bail, after signing some bail bond with written undertakings that the N1.5million would be paid.

“The said Sgt. Hassan Hassan later took them to the military hospital where the late Oladele’s one leg was still chained to the hospital bed in his dying condition.

“Mrs. Esther pleaded that her hubby was in a terrible condition and that he should be quickly rushed to his personal doctors who knows how to handle him in Warri.

Medical doctor of the military hospital issued a referral letter to the Central Hospital in Warri. He could not move any of his two legs and one of his hands. In fact, they were lifeless.

According to the source, “It was in this condition that Mr. Oladele was put in a vehicle and driven to Warri just as the Commanding Officer instructed that Sgt. Hassan Hassan and the Complainant, Kayode Adeosho with some soldiers stationed at the Effurun Army Checkpoint should accompany the deceased to Warri for the purpose of identifying Oladele’s address and the surety that took him on bail.
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“The leader of the team stated that he had directives that he should be taken first to the residence of Oladele and the surety before going to the hospital.

“The soldiers spent almost two hours inspecting and taking pictures of the apartment of the deceased, while Oladele lay down in pains.

“Upon arrival to the hospital, he died. His remains have been deposited at the Central Hospital Morgue in Warri.”

Oladele died living behind two children between the ages of two and eight and a wife.

At a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel secretariat, Mr. Kunle Edun alleged that, “The spinal cord of the late Otunba Ajayi Oladele may have been affected as a result of the beating he received from the soldiers which eventually put him in a vegetable state.”

Edun who is also the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Warri Branch said,” Our client’s husband did not commit armed robbery, murder, kidnapping or any offence at all.”

Edun condemned the alleged senseless murder of the late Otunba Ajayi Oladele saying,” It is not the constitutional responsibility of the Army to arrest, detain and/or investigate cases of debts or commercial transactions.”

He added “it is very pathetic”,‎ just as he vowed to institute a fundamental human rights suit against the Nigerian Army.

Wife of the deceased, Mrs. Esther Oladele has cried out calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and all relevant security agencies, including the Delta State Governor, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa to help her fiight the battle and bring the soldiers and all involved in the dastardly murder of her husband to justice.

Mrs. Oladele, a police woman said,” Government should fight this fight for me ooooo. Only me and my two children. They are two small to live without a father”.

Contacted, Army Public Relations Officer, 4 Mechanized Brigade Benin City, Capt Maidawa Maidawa did not respond to calls put across to his mobile phone.

Also, Sgt. Hassan Hassan of the 4 Mechanized Brigade of the Nigerian Army Benin City said, “you know 4 Brigade Benin City. Go there and make your enquiries. The woman knows the place. Let her take you there.”

“This is an operational office line you are calling. Any moment from now, someone else is going to take over the phone”, he added as he banged the phone.

Teacher Arrested For Sexual Assault On Student

A Broward County middle school teacher is behind bars after she was arrested for allegedly having sex with a student.

Authorities took 33-year-old Pamela Stigger into custody Thursday in Tamarac, charging her with two counts of sexual assault on a minor between the ages of 12 and 18 along with one count of lewd and lascivious activity on a minor.

According to the arrest report from the Broward Sheriff's Office, Stigger was found just after 2 a.m. in her car with the 15-year-old boy near Northwest 70th Avenue and 58th Street. The report said Stigger and the teen had sex in the back seat shortly before they were spotted by a deputy.


Stigger denied having sexual contact with the teen and blamed him, saying he was "attempting to seduce her" when deputies approached the car, the report said.

"The defendant said she was only trying to mentor him while they were both occupying the back seat of her vehicle," the report said.

BSO officials say the teen was a former student of Stigger when he attended Forest Glen Middle School in Coral Springs. The arrest report said she was the teen's 8th grade drama teacher and had some sort of custodial relationship with the teen.

At this point, investigators do not believe there are other victims.

At Stigger's court appearance bail was set at $37,500 for all three charges. Stigger is also ordered to wear an ankle monitor and not to have any contact with the victim.

Court Remands INEC Staff in Prison for N111.5m Scam

Justice P.I Ajaku of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin-City, Edo State on Thursday ordered that the duo of Uluocha Obi Brown, an Administrative  Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Delta State and Percy Okojie,  a renown legal practitioner and former President, Rotary Club,  Benin-City be remanded in prison custody,  following their arraignment before her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  on an 8-count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N 111, 500, 000. 00k (One Hundred and Eleven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only). 

The defendants were docked for allegedly collecting the sum of N111, 500, 000.00k  (One Hundred and Eleven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only),  as a bribe during the weeks leading to the 2015 Presidential election. They are among the over 100 INEC Officials that allegedly collected part of the $115million (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison- Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential election. 

Brown  was arrested sometime in 2016,  following an  intelligence received by the EFCC on the activities of some INEC Staff, who allegedly connived with the West African Network of Election Observers (WANEO) a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), in defrauding the Federal Government huge sums of money, running into billions of Naira during the 2015 general elections.

Count one of the charge read: “That you Uluocha Obi Brown and Percy Okojie and others now at large on the 27th day March, 2015 at Benin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to receive cash payment in the sum of N 111,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Eleven  Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only)  exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a)  of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Act”.

Count two of the charge read: “That you Uluocha Obi Brown on the 7th of March, 2015 in Benin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain, and disguised the origin of  the $80,000.00 USD (Eighty Thousand Dollars) which you paid into First Bank (domiciliary account )with account number 2024017909 knowing that the said amount forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (a) and (d)  of the Money laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges  when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussaini, asked the court for a trial date and pleaded that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.   However, counsel to the 1st defendant, Chief F. O. Orbir, SAN, told the court that he had filed a bail application for his client. He said the alleged offences were bailable and that the defendant was earlier placed on administrative bail by the prosecution and urged the court to grant his prayers. Counsel to the 2nd defendant, K. O. Obamogie made  same prayers. Hussaini opposed their prayers, submitting that  he needed  time to respond. 

In her ruling, Justice Ajaku turned down the defendant’s application for bail, stressing that the prosecution has a right to respond. She also adjourned the matter to 17 June, 2017 for argument on bail applications , 30 June, 2017 for trial and ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their bail applications. 

Kano anti-corruption agency suspends probe of Emir Sanusi indefinitely

The Kano State government anti-corruption agency has suspended investigation into the finances of the Emirate Council.

According to Premium Times, the chairman of the body, Muhyi Gado, stated that the suspension was indefinite.

Gado explained that the commission could not continue, as the House of Assembly was also conducting an investigation.

“We are not happy with the coming in of the House of Assembly into this matter and we cannot continue doing the same thing with them; that is why we allowed them to do it themselves.

“You see many would rather see the House interference as purely political while our own has nothing to do with that. We do things professionally according to the dictate of laws,” a source said.

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission was investigating alleged misuse of N6billion.

Ebola Outbreak: Nigerian Government Prepares Against Invasion

 

The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has assured Nigerians of adequate surveillance at the nation’s airports following the outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The World Health Organisation declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, saying that at least one person had been confirmed dead due to the virus in the country’s north-east.

 FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday, saying that there was no direct flight from Congo to Nigeria.

 

Yakubu also assured that all the preventive measures being put in place at the airports were still in place. She said the Port Health officials were at alert at all airports, adding that the authority had also informed them of the need to increase surveillance.

 

“We don’t have direct flights from Congo, we only have from Rwanda but I want to assure members of the public that we still have all preventive measures in place at our airports.

“There are sanitisers at our arrivals with the scanning apparatus called Thermal scanners being installed by the Port Health Services.

“The scanners have camera monitors that display pictures aside the capturing of temperature.

“Passengers still fill that form to ensure that everybody arriving the country through our airports are not potential carriers of deadly diseases.

“The port health officials are always at alert and we will also inform them of the need to increase their surveillance.

“So, there is no cause for alarm,” she said.

 

Nigeria experienced the Ebola virus in July, 2014 when a Liberian American, Patrick Sawyer, who had the disease flew from Liberia to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and died five days later.

 

In response, the Federal Government observed all of Sawyer’s contacts for signs of infection and increased surveillance at all entry points to the country.

 

Nigeria was able to curtail the disease and was subsequently declared Ebola free by WHO.

I feel at home at Barcelona – Neymar

Amid reports of interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG, Neymar has reiterated his commitment to Barcelona.

Neymar, 25, has scored 16 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions and is hoping to help his club to a double of La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies this season.

But, after reports of a bust-up with Luis Enrique’s assistant Juan Carlos Unzue at the training ground last week, the Brazilian has insisted he is going nowhere.

“I want to be here and that’s why I’ve renewed,” he told beIN Sports. “I’m happy with everything I’ve done here for the club. I’m happy with my teammates and I feel at home.

“It’s sad that Enrique is leaving, we’ve been through a lot of good things together. I like the way he works as he wants to win and he’s one of the best coaches around.

“We wish him all the best and thank him for everything he has taught us. Now we must continue.”

Meet America's newest billionaire, millennial Lynsi Snyder

As Lynsi Snyder turned 35 last week, she received an unusually rich gift: most of the remaining shares in her family's business, the cult burger chain In-N-Out.

She had already inherited 50 percent of the company when she turned 30, and her 35th birthday triggered the inheritance of most of the burger chain's remaining shares. With Forbes valuing her stake at $1.3 billion, Snyder has joined the rarified club of fewer than 300 women who are billionaires -- and is believed to be the youngest of them in the U.S. 

Snyder may not be a familiar name, but her company's business has legions of fans, including top chefs such as Gordon Ramsay. In-N-Out was founded in 1948 by her grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, who started the chain as a single drive-through hamburger stand in Baldwin Park, California. Through a series of tragic family deaths -- including her father's demise at 49 from a prescription drug overdose -- Snyder inherited control of the business. 

Keeping a low profile is part of her family's philosophy, she told "CBS This Morning" in a rare interview in 2015.

  "We back away from it, because we don't want to be in the spotlight, we don't want a bunch of attention. And we want to do what we do best, and that's serve some good burgers to our customers," she said. 

As president of In-N-Out, Snyder has expanded the chain to six states from four. The chain's menu has remained frozen in time, although fans point to the brand's consistency and dedication to freshness as its appeal. 

Every one of the more than 300 In-N-Out locations are owned by the Snyder family. By comparison, rival McDonald's relies on its franchisees to operate about four out of 5 of its more than 35,000 restaurants. 

"It's about the quality, the friendliness and the cleanliness. We keep it simple," Snyder said.

Snyder lives in a $17.4 million estate. Snyder bought the California estate from Adrián Beltré, the former third baseman for the L.A. Dodgers. The house sprawls across 16,600 square feet on 4.16 acres and includes a 2,500 square-foot guest house.

Snyder has vowed to keep In-N-Out a family business. Snyder told CBS she could "never" see a time where she would franchise or go public with In-N-Out, as burger sensation Shake Shack has famously done. "The only reason you would do that is for the money and I, I wouldn't do it. ... My heart is totally connected to this company because of my family and the fact that they're not here, you know. I have a strong tie to keep this the way they would want it," she said. - CBS

Wike to APC: We are tired of your excuses

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop giving unnecessary excuses and justify the mandate Nigerians gave the party.

He made this call yesterday, while flagging off the dredging/sand filling of Abalama in Asari-Toru and Bakana in Degema local government areas of the state.

Governor Wike said that the Rivers State government was redefining politics in Nigeria by ensuring that campaign promises were kept.

He said at the separate flag off of the land reclamation projects: “We are redefining the pattern of politics in Nigeria. You cannot use people and dump them. We cannot give everyone money, but we can execute projects that everybody will benefit from.”

Speaking on the alleged failure of the APC Federal Government to live up to the expectation of Nigerians, he said: “We are not like those who said they will make one naira to equal one dollar. Instead of actualising their promise, they are busy giving excuses”.

The governor urged the APC Federal Government to settle down and focus on fulfilling the several promises they made to Nigerians.

He said that the APC got the mandate on the strength of its promises to Nigerians, saying that it was uncharitable for the APC government to blame previous government, when it should be working.

The governor said the dredging, stand filing and reclamation projects, which run through the three Kalabari local government areas, would entrench development in the area.

He announced that the sum of N500 million had been released to complete the Degema General Hospital, pointing out that he would liaise with the Commissioner of Police to build a police station in the community to forestall insecurity

Man Paralyzed After Returning From His Village In Edo State (Pics)

The story as shared by Ezebunwo Ichemati...
FEELING SAD... YOUR SINCERE PRAYERS ARE NEEDED.....
What could have gone wrong that someone who decided to visit his village from Port Harcourt, getting to his village, he stayed for two days and he left for Port Harcourt. On his arrival in Port Harcourt he noticed that he could no longer move his legs or stand erect, the once hale and hearty man prior to his visit to Edo State is now partially unable to move or walk on his own with severe pains after that visit.
This is the story of my International Designer Prince Hon. Osaruonamen Ogbebor.

He was rushed to UPTH but was greeted with a more disappointing situation, believe me that hospital is as good as dead, their poor services, negligence, welfare, dirty wards and their unprofessional/arrogant nurses with smelling attitude will be a discourse for another day.

He waited at the emergency unit for about an hour with excruciating/tormenting pain without any attention from the hospital even with the visible notice of nurses on ground their excuse was that they have not been paid but is that enough reason to neglect a patient?

Oftentimes in UPTH cases of deaths have been recorded as a result of negligence from nurses and doctors.

After a night in UPTH, disappointed by their services, he was moved to another hospital somewhere in Port Harcourt where he is receiving treatment.

Doctors will always have a name for any symptom, they said he has a slipped disk but this sickness is mostly experienced by older adults but here we have a very young man faced with such. A young man whose already established and blooming business as a designer is threatened by his condition.

Medical or spiritual nothing is impossible, hence my call for your genuine prayers for my friend Mr Osaru.

3 Men Abduct 16-year-old Girl With Modelling Interview Story

3 men who reportedly lured a 16-year-old girl in Gwarimpa area of Abuja to attend a modelling and abducting her after she came around on 18/04/2017,, have been arrested. They were arrested after they released the abducted girl, after a ransom of N400k was paid on 20/04/2017.

It was gathered that 24-year-old Edache Echoga, the gang leader and  native of APA in benue state was arrested at kubwa area of Abuja. He confessed to the crime and admitted receiving #200, 000 as his share.

His confession also led to the arrest of the 2 other gang members, 26-year-old Festus Ajiboye, an indigene of Ondo state and 21-year-old Ahmed Hassan, an indigene of  Kano state. Both
were arrested in Lagos state on 23/4/17 after they traveled to spend the share of their ransom.

According to SayNaija, exhibit recovered from the first time kidnappers includes the phone of the victim which was used in the ransom negotiation and jewelries of the victim.

Paris Club Loot: Governor Agrees To Refund $2.5m

A faceless state governor accused of diverting developmental funds into his private pocket has been loitering around the corridors of power for pardon. 

The state governor accused of building a hotel with $3 million of the controversial London-Paris Club loan refund has sneaked into Aso Rock Presidential Villa in search of soft-landing.

 

The Nation gathered yesterday that the embattled governor had in the last 48 hours been roaming the corridors of the Presidential Villa in desperate search for help.

 

He was said to have offered to refund the balance of $2.5 million quietly to the EFCC without being further investigated, given that one of the proxies used to launder the funds had already surrendered $500,000 to the anti-graft agency.

 

It was learnt that the governor, who disguised to enter the Villa, avoided the prying eyes of journalists at the seat of power.

 

A government source said: “The governor was looking visibly disturbed, but it was obvious he was seeking help. The manner he managed his shuttle to the Villa suggested that he had something up his sleeves.

“I think he is ready to refund $2.5 million since one of his proxies has paid back about $500,000.

“The governor had audience with some government officials.

“We learnt he made a commitment to pay back quietly to avoid any political backlash.

“He also does not want to be exposed or his proxies subjected to trial.

“The truth is that this government will not give waiver to anybody or group in its anti-corruption campaign.”

 

Already, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered about N1.420 billion from some firms and a consultant who benefited from the N19 billion illegally deducted by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).from the loan refund.

 

Out of the sum, about N1.2 billion was frozen in the account of a consultant alone. A top source, who spoke in confidence, said the EFCC was already on the trail of all those who benefitted from the N19 billion cash.

 

The source said: “Apart from the N8 billion left in the NGF’s naira account, our detectives have recovered about N1.420 billion from some companies and consultants who were used to launder some of the London-Paris Club refunds.

“While a company refunded N200 million, the other paid back undeserving N20 million. We froze about N1.2 billion in a consultant’s account.

“The cash refunds have clearly shown that some of the London-Paris Club funds were siphoned for private use.

“This is why the EFCC is determined to ensure a comprehensive investigation of the scandal.”

 

Responding to a question, the source added: “The ultimate objective of this commission is to recover the diverted funds and ensure judicious use of the loan refunds by states.

“The law will, however, be applied to those used for the illegal funds. This is not a war against the NGF or any particular governor.”

 

The presidency had so far released N1. 266.44 trillion to the 36 states in the past one year, including N713.70 billion special intervention funds to states.

 

Following protests by states against over-deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refunds, pending reconciliation of records.

 

Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion, being 25 per cent of the amounts claimed. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the payment of the claims will enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship.”

 

The governors had sought for the loan refunds to states and local governments at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on May 24, 2016.

Over 120 S’African companies in Nigeria – Minister

The Federal Government has said there are over 120 South African companies doing business in Nigeria.

It, therefore, stated that there was a need for Nigeria and South Africa to improve on their relationship, which had been tainted by reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was quoted as saying this when the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Lulu Mnguni, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Segun Adeyemi, Mohammed said Nigerians and South Africans must be able to live in harmony.

Mohammed said, “For long, Nigerians have treated South Africans as their brothers and sisters. Over 120 South African companies, perhaps more than those of any other African country, are doing business in Nigeria; thousands of Nigerians regularly travel to South Africa for business and leisure, and – historically – Nigeria played a frontline role in helping to end the scourge of apartheid in South Africa.”

He said as part of efforts to end the ugly trend of xenophobia, the two countries would foster harmony through cultural diplomacy.

The minister said relevant agencies, including the National Council for Arts and Culture; the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; and the Nigerian Film Corporation, would soon embark on a series of activities in South Africa to strengthen the understanding between Nigerians and South Africans.

Mohammed said these activities would include joint musical concerts between Nigeria and South African artistes; co-production in the area of films; visit of popular Nollywood actors and actresses to South Africa as part of a Nigerian delegation going on a confidence-building trip; exhibitions featuring Nigerian delicacies to be entitled ‘’A Taste of Nigeria’’ and a town hall meeting for Nigerians resident in South Africa, with a view to encouraging dialogue on the way forward, especially in their relationship with their hosts.

In his remarks, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria hailed Nigeria for its invaluable contribution to the liberation of South Africa from apartheid.

He said South Africa was committed to reciprocating the gesture by developing stronger ties with Nigeria.

“After sharing trenches, we are now a free people, thanks to your relentless fight side-by-side with us. When we got our freedom, we had to change and develop ways of building a new South Africa and New Nigeria and new Africa,” Mnguni said.

School staff ‘failed’ boy who died after allergic reaction, parents say

The Parents of a teenager, Nasar Ahmed who died after suffering an allergic reaction to his school dinner have accused staff of failing their duty of care.

He was in an exclusion room with other pupils at Bow School in east London when he became unwell on November 10 last year. 

His inquest heard that the 14-year-old, who had a history of severe asthma and food allergies, suffered a reaction to milk in his tandoori chicken lunch and went into anaphylactic shock.

But staff at the school failed to administer his EpiPen, which may have saved his life, the court was told. He died four days later in the Royal London Hospital.

Coroner Mary Hassell on Friday returned a narrative conclusion, saying: “The staff saw Nasar’s EpiPen and considered using it, but did not.

“If the EpiPen had been used promptly and Nasar had been administered adrenaline, there is a possibility but not a probability that this would have changed the outcome.”

Speaking outside the hearing at Poplar Coroner’s Court, Nasar’s mother Ferdousi Zaman told reporters: “If he has anaphylaxis I give him his EpiPen. They are first-aiders, they are more knowledgeable than me.

“They have failed their duty of care.”
Ms Hassell said she would be writing five Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports, including to the school, his GP, Barts Health NHS Trust and the London Ambulance Service, whose paramedic told staff over the phone not to give Nasar adrenaline before they arrived.

Outlining her PFD to the ambulance service, she said: “The paramedic said don’t give the EpiPen because there were no classic symptoms of anaphylaxis. The reality of giving a dose of adrenaline is that it is unlikely to do any significant harm, whereas the potential good of giving an EpiPen is lifesaving.”

The coroner is also sending a PFD report to the Chief Medical Officer for England, asking whether EpiPens should be widely provided alongside defibrillators in public places.

In a statement, Bow School’s executive headteacher, Cath Smith, said: “We are all deeply saddened about this tragic incident and continue to offer our heartfelt sympathies to Nasar’s family. We will now consider the advice from the coroner very carefully to see what further action we should take.”

The inquest heard that a school cook told headteacher Daniel Lye that Nasar had eaten a tandoori chicken lunch containing milk at 12.20pm, about two hours before he collapsed. Nasar died from a brain injury brought on by the allergic reaction.

Staff who fought to save him had access to an inhaler and EpiPen from Nasar’s personal medical box for five minutes before paramedics arrived, but were unsure whether to use them.

Giving evidence at the inquest last week, Dr Chinedu Nwokoro, a consultant and clinical academic in paediatric respiratory medicine at Barts Health NHS Trust, called for a change to advice over the use of adrenaline injectors such as EpiPens.

He said: “If (a patient) has got respiratory compromise, give it; if (they) lose consciousness, give it; if there is any doubt, give it. It’s not wrong.”

'You can change your life when you're inside' – Prisoner's inspiring poem brought governor to tears

An inspiring poem written by a convicted criminal has been praised by fellow inmates and staff.

Louise*, an amateur poet from Limerick city has been praised by staff for the way she has turned her life around inside Limerick Prison.

Last Christmas the 34-year-old wrote a verse about her time in the jail and dedicated it to the other women serving sentences.

Such was the power that one governor even admitted the poem brought him to tears.

“It's just something I do myself,” Louise explained. “I have just always loved poetry. It is a way of expressing yourself, to write down what you feel. I have been writing since I was a little girl.”

Louise explained that her life has transformed since she entered the prison 12 months ago.
“When I came in this time I ended up fighting with people, getting into trouble, picking up P19s [discipline reports]. I was very angry with myself and everyone.

“I knew I had to do something different.”
She said: “My own experience in here is that jail is after saving my life. I am in the gym every day, I am fitter now than I was when I was 18. So it has been a positive outcome for me.”

It is her second time in prison and she is due for release in June. She says she is serving the sentence for shoplifting.

“I look at the place like a rehab rather than a jail.”
Asked what she will do on her release Louise said she is going to continue going to the gym.
“My mam is on about starting up a business making cards. Personalising the cards with the poems in it for certain people.

“I'll have a clean slate when I get out this time.”

This is Louise's poem 'Having Hope':
Four brick walls and a steady bed,
Wishing you were anywhere else instead,
Plenty of time to think what you've done,
Wanting to turn back time and run,
Run from your problems,
Run from your past,
Run from the people that want to hold you back,
Being inside changes you in many ways,
Being depressed and hoping for better days,
Writing long letters to the people you love,
Pictures of loved ones on the wall,
Ringing home with just one phone call,
You can change your life when you're inside,
Work on yourself and swallow your pride,
You can learn a lot whilst you're here.

* All names of prisoners have been changed at the request of the Irish Prison Service to protect their identities and the identities of their victims

My Family Will Soon Upload My Funeral - S.A Lady Reveals How Her Nigerian Husband Has Been assaulting Her

S.A lady, Nonhle Mamthembu Nweke,who is married to a Nigerian and based in S.A, took to social media to reveal how her husband has been maltreating her for years.

She wrote: 

I didn’t want to publicize this but this is beyond my control. i cant even go to the shop without fearing that a man i once called my husband could come and kill me and leave me by the street to be eaten by dogs………he cheated multiple times i forgave that……all throughout the years he beat me up even while pregnant with his own children …..GUESS WHAT I FORGAVE HIM FOR THAT TOO.
He stole from me, from my family LOL HE EVEN stole the ring he bought me and pawned it IN FACT HE PAWNED EVERYTHING WE OWNED EVEN A CAR FOR R5000 ……i still forgave him.even when his girlfriend sent me unclad pics of them in bed and harassed me i still forgave that.AM I NOT HUMAN?????DON’T I HAVE A BREAKING POINT??? STAY FOR THE KIDS SAKE THEY SAY!!!!!! UNTIL I’M DEAD???? i moved out and stayed alone with my kids i cant even go to the shop without fearing that the will come and attack me.

APPARENTLY in their culture there’s nothing like divorce, well in my culture there’s nothing like domestic violence……… YEAH IM SNAPPING COZ I’VE HAD ENOUGH….this morning i locked the flat went down and come out of the gate no knowing he now knows where i stay GUESS wgat he attacked me again and i’m bleeding once again..AS USUAL. HE took my bag took my phones and slapped me….his last words I WILL DISTURB YOU TILL U DIE NO ONE LEAVES ME AND GETS TO MOVE ON IN PEACE………well even while still married to him i never did find peace,but he wouldn’t know coz he spent most of his nights out with friends, even christmas days were for him and his s***S ……

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME ,AT LEAST YOU ALL KNOW NOW…….my kids will grow up without a mother,,,,,and yeah i did try the police and got zero help from there i guess it true what people say the police only act when there’s a dead body. I guess SOON MY FAMILY WILL BE UPLOADING FUNERAL#NONHLE’SFUNERAL.

Ondo govt will thank workers if they wave salary arrears – Gov Akeredolu

The Ondo State government led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday said his government will try to ensure it does not owe workers their salaries.

Akeredolu expressed hope that the workers would waive the outstanding salary arrears as part of their contributions to development.

“If they (workers) meet and say they waived two months, we will be glad but if they insist on having the full arrears, we thank them and will look for ways of paying.

“The government will continue to try and make sure we don’t owe them salaries”, he said.

Akeredolu made this promise while receiving report of Committee on Arrears of Salaries of Public Servants in Akure.

The governor also said the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), needed to be increased very soon to tackle the salary arrears.

“Before we present our budget and after presentation, I will have to address the workers to let them know that it’s not possible to use all our money to pay salaries.

“We have said this many times, we must be prepared to make sacrifices because we don’t borrow money to pay salaries, something must be done.

“I thank the people for their efforts and resilience. I know it’s not easy, but it’s also getting increasingly difficult for the government too; but whatever we do, we will try not to owe salaries”, he said.

Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi said the salary arrears owed workers by the previous administration amounted to ₦38.57 billion.

“This is not inclusive of the ₦41.5 billion representing outstanding gratuities.

“We came in on Feb. 24, we paid February, March, April salaries and also one month out of the six months salaries owed by the past government.

“Right now, what is outstanding is N34.5 billion which is like I said, outside the N41.5 billion, representing outstanding gratuities across the board.

Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea bought the Premier League

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at Antonio Conte, suggesting the Chelsea boss spent his way to the title after a £120 million transfer splurge over the summer.

Conte touched a nerve with the Argentine by claiming Tottenham held an advantage in the title race due to both the lower expectations surrounding the club and Pochettino’s longer time in charge.

But Pochettino, who is in his third season with Spurs, has rejected that suggestion, aiming a dig at the amount of money Chelsea have thrown at their latest title victory and highlighting the lack of young players in their squad.

‘I understand him. It’s difficult for him because he was always a manager who liked to work with and to develop young talent,’ said Pochettino prior to Chelsea’s title-clinching win over West Brom.

‘It’s difficult when you sign for a club like Chelsea and you have the pressure to win and you spend the money that they spent on David Luiz, Marcos Alonso, [Michy] Batshuayi and [N’Golo] Kante. I totally understand but I don’t know if I agree with him that it’s an advantage.

‘Then [Arsenal manager] Arsene Wenger should win the league every season because he is 20 years in charge, if that is the right way to measure our advantage.

‘I think it’s not fair to measure with me, as it is to measure with Wenger. Twenty years is a massive advantage. Why not win every season? It’s not a criticism [of Wenger]. It was not the best comment from him [Conte].’

It was £30m summer signing Batshuayi who scored the goal that sealed the title at the Hawthorns on Friday night, coming off the bench to score only his second league goal for Chelsea.