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A Sudanese court has upturned the death-by-hanging sentence passed on Meriam Ibrahim, 27, for marrying a Christian against the wish of his Islam-biased family. Meriam, who was sentenced to death for marrying a Christian, was also sentenced to receiving 100 lashes of the cane, while her marriage was pronounced dissolved. The earlier verdict had drawn global outrage and condemnation. Meriam was pregnant at the time her death sentence was delivered, and she put to bed in prison with her legs chained, following her insistence never to renounce her Christian faith within a four-day ultimatum she received. In early June, there was news that she her execution will be delayed for two years for her to nurse the baby. But the government subsequently promised her husband, Daniel Wani, that his wife would be released. Meriam had been imprisoned with her 20-month-old son. Visitors were originally not allowed to see her. But when her husband finally saw her, he sai...
The African Union peacekeepers in Somalia said on Monday that the airstrikes they launched against radical Islamist fighters Al-Shabaab’s hideout in the south of the country left 80 militants dead. The AU Mission said in Cape Town that, the two separate airstrikes hit the Anole and Kuday localities in the Lower Jubba region, as part of a sustained effort to destroy Al-Shabaab’s military capabilities. The Somali government has been battling al-Shabaab for years with the backing of AU troops. Source: Punch
Italian Nicola Rizzoli has been appointed to referee the Wednesday's match between Nigeria and Argentina. Faverani and Stefani will assist, with the Norwegian Moen as the fourth man. The Bosnia-Iran match will be refereed by the Spaniard Alonso Fernandez, while the Argentine Maidana will referee Honduras-Switzerland and Ivorian Doue will referee Ecuador-France.
The ruling PDP has commended the outgoing governor of Ekiti, Mr Kayode Fayemi, for conceding defeat and congratulating the governor elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, the PDP described Fayemi as a true democrat. The statement read in part: “This exceptional show of statesmanship has indeed earned Fayemi the respect and admiration of Nigerians as a man of honour, a true democrat and a patriot.’’ It also called on politicians in the country to imbibe the same spirit and “jettison all forms of bad loser syndrome ahead of the 2015 general elections.’’ Fayose emerged winner of the keenly contested Ekiti state governorship election which held on June 21.
Police in Zimbabwe have arrested the editor of a state-owned newspaper who was appointed two months ago. Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzayi was detained after computers were seized from his office on Thursday. A police spokeswoman told the state-owned Herald paper that he was being held over articles he had written. Earlier this month President Robert Mugabe accused his information minister of using state-owned media to sow divisions in the ruling Zanu-PF party. Correspondents say there is tension in the party over who should succeed 90-year-old Mr Mugabe, who was re-elected president last year. Mr Kudzayi was among several newspaper editors recently appointed by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo. Mr Mugabe had referred to Mr Moyo as the "devil incarnate" for firing editors at state-owned newspapers who were loyal to Zanu-PF. Mr Moyo has fallen in and out of favour with Mr Mugabe and was re-appointed as his information minister last September. ...
"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all of the time." ...
As the remains of prominent Ibadan businessman and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao is buried today, a Lagos 2015 governorship aspirant, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has joined many notable Nigerians to pay tribute to the memory of Pan-Yoruba leader. Ambode iidentified the late Arisekola as a distingusied leader in various aspects of life. According to a post on his facebook page, Mr. Ambode said: "As the remains of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland and Deputy President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao is being committed to the mother earth at his Oluwo Kekere residence in Ibadan today, I pray that Allah grant him eternal rest. He would be deeply missed by all for his widely acknowledged philanthropy, statesmanship and entrepreneurial leadership. Adieu Aare Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao."
Younger brother of Ivorian football stars, Yaya and Kolo Toure , Ibrahim, has died at the age of 28. The Toure brothers are presently in Brazil, representing their country in the ongoing FIFA World cup. Ibrahim Toure was also a footballer. Yaya, who play for Manchester City FC, and Kolo who is of Liverpool FC were given the news of Ibrahim’s death only hours after the team lost their second World Cup match 1-2 to Colombia on Thursday. Sorry guys, stay strong!
“Man thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment.” ----L. Ron Hubbard Do you like fish? The Japanese do. A lot. They especially like to eat fresh fish. But the waters around Japan have not held many fish for quite a long time, and getting fresh fish to eat was quite a challenge to the...
The Federal Government has revealed a plot by the Boko Haram insurgents to carry out a massive attack in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Coordinator of the National Information Centre and Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, made the revelation yesterday during a media briefing on the update of the fight against insurgency and effort to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. According to Omeri,“The Nigerian security services have received intelligence report to the effect that insurgents intend seizing petrol tankers and planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the tankers and driving them to crowed places in Abuja.” “We are using this opportunity to appeal to the public to be on the alert particularly when they see any tanker driving dangerously,” he said. Courtesy: PM News
Nigeria and Italy are presently holding talks on a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA), under which not fewer than 700 Nigerian prisoners in Italy would be repatriated to Nigerian where they are to serve out their prison terms. Fulvius Rusticu, the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, explained that under the agreement, Nigerian prisoners who qualify for the transfer must return home to complete their prison terms. He said, “...the logic in signing a PTA is that we think that it is better for Nigerians and even Italians to serve their terms at home. Already to be in prisons is not a nice experience, being abroad is even worse, so given the prisoner the chance to return home is in their own interest." According to official figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no fewer than 15,316 Nigerians are in various prisons abroad with the largest number of 752 in the UK.
In furtherance of its resolve to stamp out terrorism globally, the United States government would soon open talks with its Nigerian counterpart over possible extradition of arrested members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, for trials in the US. According to a US source, if the initiative pulls through, then everybody who had been indicted for having anything to do with Boko Haram as well as the terrorist attacks in Nigeria was duly prosecuted by the United States, United Nations and the international community. Source: BBC
Did you hear the gist about the 60-years-old woman who reportedly gave birth to a baby this Monday, at a Lagos hospital? No? No you have... The woman, identified as Christy Omolara Irurhe, had been barren for over 30 years, and is now believed to be the oldest mother who has given birth through IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation) treatment in Africa. Congrats, ma! *wink*
Acclaimed Africa's richest businessman, Aliko Dangote is presently imbroiled in a land sispute with residents of Ibeju-Lekki, who are accusing him of desperately attemtping to push them out of their homes. According to local chiefs, as well as landlords in the area, Dangote has intensified deployment of demolition equipment into the Idasho community, and nine other inclusive villages, to clear out their farmlands and displace residents from their homes. Their worries, which they expressed in separate letters, petitions, and interviews, is that Mr. Dangote ‘shows off,’ with “brazen defiance” against the court processes over the disputed land. Mr. Dangote is said to claim that he paid for the expanse of land to Lekki Free Zone Company, which the court said has no title to the land. "Even though he had chances of acceptance due to his fame, and possession of wealth, we have cause to doubt his businesses come with clean practices, as is his showing in his...
Today, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, erstwhile governor of the Central Bank, CBN, is the emir of Kano (not news). He succeeded his uncle, the late Ado Bayero. But the very intelligent and outspoken (don’t forget proud) banker has always had his interest on being Kano emir even while he remained in the banking sector. In other words, his journey to the emir’s palace began a very long time ago. In one of his earliest interviews (2009), Sanusi, then governor of CBN, was quoted as saying: “I have ambitions to be the emir of Kano.” He had also emphasized that he would not be interested in heading the nation’s apex bank for a second term. “I informed the president (Jonathan)…I would not be interested in serving for two terms (as CBN governor),” Sanusi had once told reporters. Now Sanusi has achieved his lifelong dream. And that’s a lesson for some of you. Always define your goal(s) ahead of time. *wink*
Former captain of the Super Eagles, Austin 'Jay-Jay' Okocha has expressed his disappointed over the turnout of yesterday's match, in which Nigeria tied Iran to a goalless draw after 90 minutes of play. Many Nigerians were shocked that the Super Eagles were unable to score against an under-rated Iranian side. While speaking to newsmen, Okocha faulted Nigeria's coach, Stephen Keshi, for the lack of tactical play which the players exhibited. He said, "We were poor but we hope to get better as the tournament progresses...We did not do enough in terms of our tactical play. Keshi did not do enough work on the team. The tactical play of Eagles was so bad, I hold Keshi responsible for this." The former Eagles' play maker however observed that the introduction of Osaze into the gmae was a boost. "Osaze was more creative when he came in, and we needed more in this game,"e said.
Did you know that Thomas Edison, the great inventor, once came home from school when he was a little boy, with a note from his teacher that read: “Your boy is too stupid to learn, get him out of school”? Today, however, we all know Edison for his many achievements and breakthrough inventions. I’m not sure there are many who know or remember the name of that class teacher. Lesson: Don’t let criticisms take the wind out of your sail. If you fall, get up. Begin again. Double your effort. Do not turn face and run back with your tail between your legs like a whipped little puppy, each time something the goes wrong, for if you faint in the days of adversity, you’re a weakling. Don’t stop now. What is your field of endeavour? What business are you into? What are you passionate about? Put your back into it, whether at home or at work. And as you do, keep your eyes on the goal. One day, sooner than you think, you will be celebrated.
Trust the Kokomaster D'Banj to throw up posers now and then. He sometimes plays pranks with reporters, always in his elements as he chats freely. In a recent conversation with newsmen, D'Banj tersely gave the impression that he could be married (we know that can't be true sha!) When asked about when he wold likely get married, the Kokomaster replied: "Who said, I am not married? My private life must remain private, especially to the press." The surprised reporter then asked: "Meaning that D'banj is secretly married? Answer: "It could be so." !?!