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Messages - smartoo
76
« on: March 27, 2014, 07:07:31 pm »
If you were an alien sitting out in space and
the only information you had about us
Earthlings was from television and movies,
your idea of female friendship would look
something like this:
1. Every woman has either a BFF that she
has been friends with since childhood/high
school/college or a tight-knit group of
quirky, well-dressed besties, and these kinds
of friendships last forever.
2. Regardless of which of those options
women have, they talk to their friends
several times every day.
3. While the women themselves might be
complicated, their friendships are not.
4. If a woman's life doesn't look like this, it is
because there is something fundamentally
wrong with her.
Does your life look like this? Mine certainly
doesn't, and while I am sure that there are
some women who genuinely have this kind
of experience and these kinds of
friendships, I am fairly sure those women
are the exception, rather than the rule. In
truth, this perfect picture of how female
friendship is supposed to look is just a
representation of some of today's most
pervasive myths about what happens when
women are friends. Buying into these myths
and adopting them as the holy grail of how
things are "supposed" to be is dangerous,
for us and for our daughters. It creates an
unrealistic and overly romanticized idea of
what it means to have a friend, and to be a
friend. And most importantly, believing these
myths about friendship sets us up to miss
out on the actual friendships that are
available to us, simply because they don't
match up to the myth.
Let's break that cycle by breaking down this
idealized version of friendship into the
myths that sustain it and get real about
what our friendships are really like.
Myth #1: BFFs and Besties The idea that
two or more people can be "Best Friends
Forever" may be one of the most damaging
myths our society embraces. Don't get me
wrong, I know people who have found this
kind of friendship and it can be real and
when it is, it is awesome. But it is not
something that happens for most of us and
that is why it is damaging. It sustains the
idea that "real" friendships last forever
which minimizes the significant impact
more transient relationships can have on
our lives.
In truth, believing that you and your friend
(s) will grow and change in ways that are
always complementary and that will never
lead you in different directions is unrealistic
and may actually cost you your friendship in
the end. Friends come and go over the
course of our lives and we are likely to have
several people at different stages who feel
like a best friend.
Myth #2: Being Friends Means Being in
Constant Contact (Facebook Doesn't
Count)Honestly, I haven't had this kind of
friendship since I was in college and it was
much easier back then because we all lived
in the same dorm, took the same classes,
and did the same thing on Friday night. And
yet, I have found myself questioning how
"good" my friendships are because I don't
have this kind of constant daily contact with
the friends I would consider the closest.
In truth, some days I don't even have
anything all that interesting to share with
my husband, who lives in the same house,
shares most aspects of my life, and does the
same thing I do on Friday night. So the idea
that I would have something meaningful to
share with my friends that often seems a
little silly. It is okay to have as much or as
little contact as each individual friendship
requires. Not talking every day or even every
week is not a sign that you aren't good
friends; it is a sign that you are grown
women with busy lives.
Myth #3: Real Friendships are Easy to
SustainThe older I have grown, the less
true this has become. There was a time that
friendships just "were" and I didn't have to
work too hard to make them or sustain
them... it was called high school and had
everything to do with proximity. But in the
grown-up world, we are raising children,
running errands, and hoping to find a single
hour for ourselves so we can go to yoga.
This leaves little time for female bonding,
heartfelt chats, and girls night out.
In truth, having friends, keeping friends, and
especially making new friends requires time,
energy, and effort. We live in a world where
meeting new people and establishing new
relationships of any kind is hard work. This
is why so many people have turned to
online dating to find a mate. Friendships are
no different than romantic relationships in
this regard which is why websites geared
toward helping people make friends
are flourishing. Let go of the idea that "real"
friendship only happens organically; it is as
mythical as the idea that all you need to
make a marriage work is love.
Myth #4: If Your Friendships Don't Look
Like This, There is Something Wrong with
YouThis is the most damaging myth of all
because it simply isn't true. We all have
different needs and are at different stages
in our life which means the things we need
from others, including the kind of
friendships we need, differs too.
In truth, some of us love having lots of
friends, and some of us are more
comfortable with one or two. All that really
matters is that you have the type of
friendships that work for you and that those
friendships bring happiness into your life.
So if you are looking around and wondering
why you don't have friends like Carrie and
Miranda or Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel,
stop. Instead of comparing your reality to
the fantasy these myths told you to strive
towards, look at the friendships in your life
and judge them based on how those
friendships are supporting you, fulfilling
77
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:38:46 pm »
The Obama administration on Thursday
formally proposed ending the National
Security Agency's bulk collection of all US
phone data.
Nearly 10 months after the Guardian
exposed the controversial program
, based on leaks from Edward Snowden,
President Obama announced that he would
seek legislation that would require the NSA
to seek an individual order from the secret
Fisa court before phone companies turn
over data on their customers.
"I have decided that the best path forward
is that the government should not collect or
hold this data in bulk," Obama said in a
statement. "Instead, the data should remain
at the telephone companies for the length of
time it currently does today."
The move goes further than Obama’s
position on bulk surveillance in January,
when the presidentleft the door open to
the possibility of the data being held by a
private-sector third party. That position was
vigorously opposed by the phone
companies and criticised by proponents and
critics of the NSA alike.
Bulk phone data would no longer be
collected by NSA under the latest proposals.
Instead phone companies would, in
response to a court order, turn over a
suspicious phone number as well as all the
numbers it called and received, and all
numbers those numbers called and received,
on an “ongoing and prospective basis”,
according to an administration official.
The administration has yet to decide on a
specific time limitation for querying the
data, but “there would be some limited time
period,” the official told reporters on
Thursday. “That’s something we’re going to
have to talk with Congress about.”
The Obama administration is seeking
legislation to enact the changes, but it has
not settled between competing proposals
currently before Congress.
“I am confident that this approach can
provide our intelligence and law
enforcement professionals the information
they need to keep us safe while addressing
the legitimate privacy concerns that have
been raised,” Obama said.
But the NSA is not yet out of the business of
harvesting phone data in bulk, which it has
done in secret in various forms since late
2001. The administration said it would seek
approval from the Fisa court to continue the
programs for another 90-day period under
restrictions in place since January, until
Congress passes a bill along the
administration’s guidelines.
A senior administration official indicated
that the legal standard by which the court
could order phone companies to turn over
customer data would be a "reasonable
articulable suspicion" of a phone number’s
connection to terrorism or espionage. That
is a lower threshold than relevance to an
ongoing terror investigation, the language
of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, the current
authorisation the administration claims for
bulk domestic phone data collection.
Since January, the NSA has been permitted
to query its phone data troves only after the
Fisa court first certifies it possesses
reasonable, articulable suspicion of a
record’s connection to terrorism. “So that
provides, I think, a good baseline, and a
good point from which we can work with
Congress to develop the proposal,” said the
senior official, who would not agree to be
identified.
It also aligns with a proposal with a bill put
forward on Tuesday by the leaders of the
House of Representatives intelligence
committee, Republican Mike Rogers of
Michigan and Democrat Dutch
Ruppersberger of Maryland, which uses that
standard.
But a key difference between the
committee's proposal and the one outlined
by administration officials on Thursday was
a judge’s prior approval for individual phone
numbers. The House panel wants the
surveillance judges to review the specific
collection after the fact, something the
administration rejects in all but emergency
cases.
A rival bill proposed by members of the
Senate and House judiciary committees
would require prior judicial approval for
specific phone data, but would set the legal
threshold for acquisition of the data higher
than what the administration desires.
78
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:36:56 pm »
The tech giant Google said on Thursday that
it is investigating reports that its video-
sharing website, YouTube, had been
blocked in Turkey, days after similar action
was taken against Twitter.
A source at the prime minister's office told
Reuters that the government had taken
action against YouTube after voice
recordings, purportedly of senior officials
discussing a potential military operation in
Syria, created a "national security issue".
The source said that Turkey was in talks
with the video-sharing platform and may lift
the ban if YouTube agreed to remove the
content.
"We're seeing reports that some users are
not able to access YouTube in Turkey. There
is no technical issue on our side and we're
looking into the situation," Google said in a
statement emailed to the Guardian.
The move came after Turkey's telecoms
authority (TIB)blocked access to Twitter on
Friday. That created outrage in Turkey,
where social media is widely used, and a
courtoverturned the block on Wednesday.
The prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is
battling a corruption scandal, and a stream
of anonymous postings purportedly
revealing government wrongdoing has
appeared on the social media platform in
recent weeks.
Friday's Twitter block came hours after
Erdoğan vowed on the campaign trail to get
rid of Twitter. He said on Tuesday that the
network "was threatening national security"
and that it had refused to co-operate with
the Turkish authorities.
79
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:27:20 pm »
More than 250 people died in last Saturday’s
boat capsize on Lake Albert between the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda,
a minister has said.
This is a sharp increase on the initial death
toll, partly a result of the vessel carrying
many more passengers than the official
capacity of 80.
The boat was taking Congolese refugees in
Uganda back to their home country.
Boat accidents are common in both
countries because of poor safety standards
and overloading.
Congolese authorities have declared three
days of national mourning for the victims of
last Saturday’s disaster – among whom
were many children.
On Tuesday they made up more than half of
the then death toll of 107. About 300 people
are now thought to have been aboard.
“It is with deep sorrow that we confirm to
the nation the death of 251 of our
compatriots who had boarded the boat
from the Ugandan side of Lake Albert,” said
Congolese government spokesman Lambert
Mende Omalanga, adding that “we have
managed to have something like 50 people
who have escaped.”
Congolese authorities are helping to support
survivors, while arranging funerals for the
dead, he said.
Saturday’s disaster happened just days after
DR Congo launched a campaign to enforce
the wearing of life jackets on all boats on its
many waterways.
It is common for boats in both countries to
have too few, if any, life jackets on board.
On Monday, the UN high commissioner for
refugees Antonio Guterres said he was
deeply shocked by the disaster.
“My thoughts are with those who have lost
dear ones, and the survivors,” he said in a
statement.
“I am grateful to the government and other
actors who have mounted a rescue-and-
recovery operation and are assisting the
survivors.”
The boat was one of two which left on
Saturday from Uganda’s Hoima district on
the eastern side of the lake, which lies on
the border with DR Congo.
The boats were carrying refugees who had
been living at a camp in Uganda, and had
decided to return to eastern DR Congo of
their own accord, the UNHCR said.
80
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:24:16 pm »
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has
sent a query to coach of the Super Eagles
Stephen Keshi, demanding answers for his
failure to attend the technical committee
meeting, which was held on Tuesday.
The Big Boss chosoe to attend a reception
and media roundtable, which was
organised by TomTom in Lagos, prompting
the NFF to send the letter. Keshi was also
asked to respond to other issues, including
being absent for the presidential reception
in February and leaving the country without
informing the federation.
“It is important we draw your attention to
previous actions whereby you travel out of
Nigeria without NFF’s express permission,”
the NFF wrote to Keshi in a letter widely
circulated in the media.
“Specifically, you travelled out of Nigeria
before 13 February 2014, the day President
Jonathan received the Africa Nations
Championship (CHAN) team, causing us huge
embarrassment.
“Your request for leave approved by the NFF
was from 15 February – 10 March 2014 but
you left before 13 February and returned 26
March.
“The Technical Committee meeting on 25
March was called off because you said you
had flight hitches from USA.
“As a responsible organisation, we have no
other option than to issue you a query to
explain how all these events unfolded,”
wrote Emmanuel Ikpeme, the NFF’s director
of technical.
He is expected to respond within 24 hours.
81
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:19:10 pm »
A 33-year-old unemployed man, Murphy
Nmereke, alleged to have stolen a
motorcycle worth N113,000, on Thursday
appeared before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in
Lagos.
Nmereke, of no fixed address, is facing trial
on a two-count charge of conspiracy and
theft.
The prosecutor, ASP Godwin Eze, told the
court that the accused committed the
offences on Feb. 13 at about 3.00 p.m. at
Saka Street, Onireke, Ojo, Lagos.
Eze said that Nmereke stole a motorcycle
valued N113,000, belonging to one Mr Jibrin
Abubakar.
“He was arrested by the police on patrol,
while trying to bolt away with the
motorcycle,” the prosecutor said.
Eze said that the offences contravened
Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of
Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to
the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that anyone found guilty of theft is liable to
three years imprisonment.
The Magistrate, Mr Taslimi Shomade, granted
the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000
with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case to April 25, for
mention. (NAN)
82
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:17:34 pm »
Governor Rotimi Amaechi
Mr. Amaechi has been having a running
battle with the NJC.
The National Judicial Council on Thursday
suspended the Rivers State Chief Judge,
Peter Agumagu.
Mr. Agumagu was suspended for allegedly
going against the Council’s directive that no
judge in Rivers should accept to be acting
chief judge of the state, based on Governor
Rotimi Amaechi’s appointment.
Mr. Agumagu was first appointed the acting
Chief Judge of the State by Mr. Amaechi last
year.
His appointment was, however, in February,
voided by a Federal High Court presided by
Justice Lambo Akanbi.
Mr. Akanbi had ruled that by the provisions
of the law, only the most senior judge in the
state judiciary can be appointed as Acting
Chief Judge. Mr. Agumagu was then not the
most senior judge in the state.
The NJC, the highest decision making organ
of the Nigerian judiciary, had recommended
Justice Daisy Okocha, the most senior judge
in the Rivers judiciary, as the Chief Judge of
the State. The NJC made the
recommendation to Governor Amaechi.
Mr. Amaechi, however, jettisoned the NJC’s
recommendation and, based on the state
judicial council recommendation, appointed
Mr. Agumagu as the state’s chief judge. He
and the state government then filed a suit at
the Federal High Court, to, among others,
determine if the state governor must do the
bidding of the NJC in choosing a chief judge.
In his ruling on the matter on March 18,
Justice Lambo ruled that the NJC’s
recommendation was not binding on the
governor.
“With greatest respect to the National
Judicial Commission, who is my employer, I
cannot allow the argument of the defence
counsel, that the governor must accept the
recommendation of the NJC,” the judge
ruled.
“The body that is most suitable to make
recommendation of a nominee of a chief
judge of the state is the state Judicial Service
Commission (JSC), because they have local
knowledge of the most suitable candidate,
than the National Judicial Commission.”
Mr. Lambo, in the ruling, said his judgment
was not contradictory to his earlier one in
February. He said the law states different
conditions for appointing an acting chief
judge and a chief judge of a state.
Mr. Lambo also ruled that according to
Nigerian law, it was not mandatory that the
most senior judge be appointed the state’s
Chief Judge. He said the judge to be
considered, must however have spent at
least 10 years on the bench, a qualification
met by Mr. Agumagu, who was then the
President of the Rivers Customary Court of
Appeal.
Following the court ruling, Mr. Amaechi on
March 18 swore in Mr. Agumagu as the
state’s chief judge.
For giving such a ruling, sources told
PREMIUM TIMES that the NJC also queried Mr.
Akanbi.
It is not clear how the Rivers State
Government will react to the NJC’s
suspension of Justice Agumagu; or whether
the judge would cease to act as the state’s
chief judge.
The State’s Commissioner of Information,
Ibim Semenitari, did not return calls or
respond to a text message sent to her.
More details later…
Comment
83
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:15:55 pm »
 Facebook has announced that it will acquire Oculus VR, makers of the Oculus Rift for $2 billion (N329 billion). Thesocial networking giant stated on Tuesday it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire Oculus VR, Inc., the leader in immersive virtual reality technology, for $400 million (N65.9 billion) in cash and 23.1 million in Facebook shares. The Oculus Rift project gained prominence on Kickstarter, raising over $2 million in the summer of 2012. The company went on to raise more than $91 million (N15 billion) in venture funding in 2013. With this exit, the Oculus Rift is easily the most successful Kickstarter project of all time. Oculus has already built strong interest among developers, having received more than 75,000 orders for development kits for the company’s virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift. While the applications for virtual reality technology beyond gaming are in their nascent stages, several industries are already experimenting with the technology, and Facebook plans to extend Oculus’ existing advantage in gaming to new verticals, including communications, media and entertainment, education and other areas. Given these broad potential applications, virtual reality technology is a strong candidate to emerge as the next social and communications platform. “Mobile is the platform of today, and now we’re also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow, and Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate,” Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook. According to Mr. Zuckerberg, the company plans to expand Oculus beyond gaming. “After games, we’re going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with adoctor face-to-face — just by putting on goggles in your home,” he said. “We are excited to work with Mark and the Facebook team to deliver the very best virtual reality platform in the world,” said Brendan Iribe, co-founder and CEO of Oculus VR. “We believe virtual reality will be heavily defined by social experiences that connect people in magical, new ways. It is a transformative and disruptive technology, that enables the world to experience the impossible, and it’s only just the beginning.” Facebook says that Oculus will remain headquartered in Irvine, California, and will continue developing the Oculus Rift platform, its ground-breaking virtual reality platform. This is Facebook’s second major acquisition in less than two months. Last month, Facebook bought WhatsApp in a $19 billion
84
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:11:50 pm »
The police on Thursday arraigned four men
in an FCT Chief Magistrates’ Court in Karu for
forging a dead man’s signature and
attempting to withdraw N135,000 from his
account.
Stephen Dughnal, Barnabas Luga, Moses
Alari and Paul Felix appeared before Chief
Magistrate Hadiza Shagari on a three-count
charge of joint act, forgery and attempt to
commit an offence.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Silas Nanpan, identified
the dead man as AB Ogwe, who owned
Mangrine Hotel in Nyanya, Abuja.
Nanpan said that the first and second
accused persons (Dughnal and Luga)
worked for the late hotelier who treated the
four men as his children.
He said that the case was reported at the
Nyanya Police Station by one Olagunju
Akumoda, who works at the Nyanya branch
of Ecobank Plc.
“The first and second accused persons
walked up to a cashier at the bank and
presented a cheque with forged signature
without knowing the account had been
blocked by the deceased’s relatives.
“The cashier suspected a foul play and
quickly reported the matter to the branch
manager of the bank who ordered the
security guards to arrest them before they
could escape,” he alleged.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel, Mr John Onushe, applied orally
for their bail “on liberal terms” which the
persecutor did not object.
Shagari granted them bail for N50,000 each
with two reliable sureties who must be
resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
She ruled that one of the sureties must be a
federal civil servant and adjourned the case
until May 7 for hearing.
85
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:10:18 pm »
Tragedy struck Ogun state Police Command
as one its officer, Corporal Sunkanmi
Ogunbiyi, ran amok, shot dead his wife,
Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, killed four
other persons and injuring three gravely
before taking his own life.
Among those the enraged officer gunned
down this morning are his landlady, two
year old baby girl, a cyclist said to take his
baby to school, a man and a woman.
The Police Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who described the
incident as “unfortunate,” said the officer
who carried out the shooting to death of
the affected persons this morning, had
been having “domestic conflicts” with his
wife.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police
(DSP) said the Commissioner of Police, Mr
Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered a forensic
investigation in the incident.
86
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:08:20 pm »
 Emeka Enyiocha who recently welcomed his third child got into a public fight with his younger brother on Monday night of March 24, 2014 at the Surulere area of Lagos. The married father of three, Emeka Enyiocha had employed the services of his younger brother, Maduabuchi to help him run his bar located on Modupe Johnson Street who in turn employed someone else named Onyeka to help him manage the bar. On that fateful Monday, trouble started after Emeka walked into the bar about 11.00pm in the night, confrontingthe barman about certain sales he had made earlier in the day. Apparently not satisfied with the reply he got was reported to have suddenly bounced on the boy, beating him black and blue. During this process, Emeka’s brother, Maduabuchi decided to intervene by helping the boy ( who happens to be an orphan) but he instead Emeka started a fight with him even went ahead to pursue him into the street with a long stick, caught up with him and head butted him, giving him a cut in the face and breaking his hand. Residents of Modupe Johnson Street tried to intervene but Emeka, in anger called officers from Bode Thomas police station and had his brother and the barman arrested. They were locked up at the Bode Thomas police station for 24 hours and were released on Tuesday..b
87
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:02:52 pm »
The Chairman of Multichoice Nigeria,
Dewunmi Ogunsanya lost his wife over the
weekend. Mrs Ogunsanya died following
complications from cancer she had been
battling with for a while. May her soul rest in
Peace.Amen
88
« on: March 27, 2014, 06:00:38 pm »
Unless urgent action is taken by the Federal
Government and other stakeholders, those
displaced by insurgency in the North Eastern
part of the country may die of hunger in
their thousands.
This is due to acute shortage of food being
experienced by the displaced persons in the
various communities where they had taken
refuge.
To make matters worse, the stock of food
items in the kitchen of the National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) can
only last for three months at most.
According to a document on Multi Sector
Rapid Assessment made available by NEMA
to the Nigerian Tribune, the agency and the
State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)
of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states had
provided emergency food items to 200,000
internally displaced persons and host
families. It noted that now, over 49,000
internally displaced persons living with their
hosts require immediate food assistance.
According to the report, the vast majority of
communities visited revealed that meal
consumption had dropped from three to
one per day, adding that livelihoods in the
affected communities have been lost, left
behind or completely destroyed by
insurgents.
Futhermore, an overwhelming number of
the displaced persons reported that they
would not have enough seeds to plant in
the next planting season.
Apart from food crisis, there is also water,
sanitation and hygiene problem in the Boko
Haram states.
The report also showed that sanitation
problem is horrendous with an average of
500 persons to one laterine.
The report indicated that there are 1,500
functioning boreholes and over 1,000 non
functioning boreholes in emergency states.
NEMA said it was currently providing water
through water tankers from its zonal office
in Maiduguri and water tankers drawn from
other zones.
The report also showed that sanitation
problem is horrendous with an average of
500 persons to one laterine.
89
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:56:10 pm »
Signs of a huge crack in the on-going
National Conference emerged yesterday,
with the North’s delegates threatening a
walkout over the unresolved mode of
voting.
The Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu
Barkindo Mustapha, dropped the bombshell
immediately the delegates settled for the
day’s business.
Dr. Mustapha was nominated for the
conference on the platform of the National
Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.
Although conference Chairman Justice Idris
Kutigi called for comments on whether the
conference would call for memoranda from
the public on its assignment, Dr. Mustapha
sidetracked the issue to deliver what some
delegates described as “an attempt to
frighten the South”.
Dr. Mustapha’s comment, a delegate said,
“may have been rehearsed at a meeting of a
group of northern delegates last night”.
The royal father warned that the North
should not be pushed to the wall.
He threatened that if pushed to the wall,
they would simply walkout of the
conference.
To underscore the point he was making, Dr.
Mustapha declared that when they walk out
there would be great consequences for the
country.
Some delegates attempted to shout him
down, but he was not deterred.
Even when the shout of “no, no, no”
persisted, Dr. Mustapha was not dissuaded.
At first, Justice Kutigi attempted to call him
to order; he later urged him to continue.
The royal father made it clear that he was
sounding a “note of warning” before it is
too late.
He noted that it was obvious that if the
country broke up many of those shouting
him down would have no place to run to.
And for all he cared, the people of Adamawa
and a lot more people he did not specify will
be accommodated in Cameroon.
His kingdom, he said, extends to the
Republic of Cameroon, especially the place
called Adamawa State in Cameroon.
He said: “I just want to sound a note of
warning and that is why I requested to be
given time to speak before the start of
business today,
“The note of warning I want to sound is
that we should not take a cue from the so-
called civilised people of western countries
because they are always after their own
interest and they can use anything –
coercion, force and other means to protect
their interest.
“Listening to the debates and the behaviour
of some delegates here, it really beats my
imagination how a gathering of people like
us will behave like the way we are behaving.
“Mr. President delivered his address here
and he laid down what we are supposed to
discuss, but many people here, sorry to say,
especially some elder statesmen who
claimed to be strong loyalists of Mr.
President…”
There was shout of “point of order” from
those who felt belittled by what Dr.
Mustapha was saying.
Justice Kutigi said: “Mr. speaker, the issue is
whether you want the public to be invited to
serve memoranda here.”
Dr. Mustapha responded: “Mr. Chairman,that
is not my request.”
There was more shout of “no, no, no”
Justice Kutigi interjected and said “Order,
order; Mr. speaker, please continue”.
Dr. Mustapha went on: “But, unfortunately,
these people are in the forefront to
contradict what Mr. President said. At the
rate we are going, in the long run, this
conference may not achieve its purpose.”
There was another bout of “no, no, Mr.
Chairman, no”.
90
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:54:43 pm »
Lagos State government, yesterday,
declared that the state is expecting 263 days
of rainfall this year and this may be
accompanied with strong winds, lightning
and thunderstorms.
It added that rainstorms would be common
over the coastal cities areas with occasional
flash flood and ocean surges that would
greatly affect persons living along the flood
plains but the magnitude of devastation
shall depend on the activities of the people.
It would be recalled that the state
government last year, announced rainfall of
between 249 and 275 days with
intermittent stoppages.
The state Commissioner for the
Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, stated this at
the presentation of year 2014 annual
seasonal rainfall prediction and socio-
economic implication for the state as earlier
predicted by Nigerian Meteorological
Agency, NIMET, held at Ministry’s office,
Alausa, Ikeja.
“The Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP,
rainfall onset date for this year began in the
first week of March in the southernmost
part of the country and late June in the far
northern parts. However, rainfall onset in
Lagos Stare has since commenced from 14
March, 2014 in Ikeja, with a three days
marginal error was given.
“The strong winds, lighting and
thunderstorms which are regular
phenomena during the onset and cessation
of rainfall was also predicted to occur in
stronger magnitude during this year’s
raining period,” he stated.
91
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:52:53 pm »
The Senate in Abuja on Thursday passed a
bill that will legally protect persons with
disability from discrimination.
Sponsored by Sen. Nurudeen Abatemi-
Usman (PDP-Kogi), the bill seeks to integrate
such persons into the society and establish
a commission for persons with disability.
The bill, titled ‘Discrimination Against
Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill,
2014′, prescribes a fine of N1m for
corporate bodies and N100,000 or six
months imprisonment or both for an
individual who contravenes the law.
Sen. Adamu Gumba (PDP-Bauchi) presented
the report of the Senate Joint Committee on
Sports, Social Development and Women
Affairs on the bill.
Gumba, who is the Chairman of the joint
committee, said that over 10 per cent of
Nigerians had disabilities.
“Over 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population is
said to be disabled by sheer providence or
accident and these people are daily
confronted with several challenges.
“One of the most prominent among these
challenges is gross marginalisation
occasioned by discrimination on the basis of
their infirmity.
“Therefore, one would agree that without
necessary legislation, the challenges that
these set of people encounter would be
difficult to overcome,” he said.
Gumba recalled that the sixth National
Assembly had passed a similar bill but the
president withheld his assent.
He said it was suspected that the president
withheld his assent because the Federal
Government planned to rationalise its
agencies to reduce the cost of governance.
He said the current initiative took
cognisance of the position and attempts to
propose a small agency that would be cost
effective.
During the clause by clause consideration of
the bill, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen.
Hayatu Gwarzo (PDP-Kano), objected to the
joint committee’s amendment of clause six.
Clause six was amended to provide that
“from the commencement of the bill, all
future public buildings and structures either
moveable or immovable should be made
accessible to persons with disability.”
Gwarzo argued that the clause in the
original version of the bill which called for a
transitory period of five years within which
all public buildings and structures be made
accessible to persons with disability should
be retained.
The clause generated a lot of debate but
eventually the senators voted to retain the
original clause.
The bill states that anyone who approves or
directs the approval of a building that
contravenes the building code will be liable
to a fine of N1m or two years imprisonment
or both.
The joint committee also amended clause 30
which stipulates that five per cent
employment be reserved in all public
organisations for persons with disability.
The Senate took into cognisance the fact
that some organisations might have only
two employees.
The clause was amended to read that any
organisation which had up to 50 employees
should reserve five per cent slot for people
with disability.
The Senate also approved that the Director-
General of the National Pension Commission
should be a person with 15 years
experience with adequate qualification in
pension matters.
The senators gave the approval when they
began clause by clause consideration of the
report of the Committee on Establishment
and Public Service.
The report is on an Act to repeal the Pension
Reform Act 2004 and enact the Pension
Reform Act 2013 to make provision for
contributory pension scheme.
Further consideration of the report was
adjourned to another legislative day.
92
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:50:03 pm »
Nollywood Director cum producer, Moses
Inwang and his fiancee, Emem Udonquak
are set for their nuptials that has been foxed
for Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Ibom Unity
Park, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Since the lovers were first spotted together
at the premiere of Apaye in Lagos, the plans
for their wedding has been on a fast lane.
Moses Inwang is known for directing
numerous blockbusters including Uche
Jombo-Rodriguez‘ “Damage” as well as Torn,
Private Enemy and Chase. Emem was
honoured as the Calabar Carnival Queen for
2011/2012.
The lovers recently released their pre-
wedding pictures which was shot in Lekki
at the background of the Ikoyi-Lekki toll
gate.
93
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:44:50 pm »
Crusoe Osagie
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
yesterday formally gave approval to Dangote
Cement Plc to commence the rolling out of
42.5 higher grade of cement into the
Nigerian market.
The agency said it had inspected the
company’s manufacturing facilities across
the country and found the processes to
have been upgraded to efficiently produce
the 42.5 cement grade, which provides
higher strength in building and
construction.
SON made this declaration during Dangote's
pre-media launch of its newly-introduced
42.5 cement grade, Dangote 3X cement, in
Lagos, stressing that the indigenous cement
manufacturer had been given full
certification by the standards agency to
produce the high quality cement.
The SON Director General, Dr. Joseph
Odumodu,
94
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:39:07 pm »
Q: “I’m in love with high heels in and out
of the office, but they kill my feet. Do
comfortable ones exist?”
A: No high heels will probably ever be as
comfortable as a good pair of sneakers, but
some are certainly less comfortable than
others, and it’s not just a matter of how
high the heels are. Of course, a proper fit is
essential, but beyond that there are five
easy-to-spot design features that can have a
huge effect on your overall comfort.
1. Heel placement
If the heel is too far back, it won’t support
your weight properly. The center line of the
heel should be directly under the center of
your own heel. Thicker heels often do this
automatically, or you can look for narrow
heels that dip in slightly at the top.
As good as the shoe on the left looks, the
way the heel drops straight down in the
back probably makes it less comfortable
than the shoe on the right. Black-and-White
Heels,ACNE, $490; Snake Print Heels, DUNE, $
130
2. Sole thickness
High heels are much more comfortable with
a little padding, especially on hard surfaces,
so some sort of a platform is always a good
idea. If your shoes don’t have a platform, try
adding a gel insole.
Despite being just as tall, if not taller, than
the shoe on the left, the shoe on the right is
probably more comfortable on city
sidewalks thanks to that thick platform.
Turquoise and Black Heels,ASOS, $85; Purple
and Blue Colorblocked Heels, RAVEL, $85
3. Sole rigidity
Steer clear of shoes with rigid soles made
out of wood or hard plastic. Leather and
rubber soles have more give, so they move
with your feet and adjust better to
inconsistencies in the ground.
Despite having a relatively thin sole, the
rubber and leather combo on the right is
probably more comfortable and easier to
walk in than the unyeilding wooden wedge
on the left. Brown Platform Wedge Sandals,
STEVE MADDEN, $100; Brown Wedge Sandals,
6 TABOO, $241
4. Heel Thickness
The wider your heel, the greater your
stability. Wedges can be even more stable,
provided they are not too narrow and the
entirety of the sole touches the ground.
Chunkier platforms like the one on the right
often have a rounded sole, which helps keep
your weight back on the balls of your feet,
instead of forward on your toes, to give you
greater stability so high off the ground. Hot
Pink Pointed Toe Pumps,JEFFREY CAMPBELL, $
138; Hot Pink Chunky Platforms, NEW LOOK, $
47
5. Security
The easier it is for you to slip out of your
heels, the harder they will be to walk in.
Your shoes should feel like an extension of
your body, not something foreign that could
fall off at any moment. A slingback or a
pump is preferable to a mule, but a boot or
something with a strap that goes across the
front of the foot and/or ankle is even better.
Despite that chunky heel, the shoes on the
left could be deceptively uncomfortable due
to the inevitable slippage when you lift your
foot. Black Mule Heels,ZARA, $100; Black
Patent Leather Strappy Heels, FOREVER 21, $
33
95
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:37:08 pm »
Mr Chidi Lloyd, Majority Leader of the
Rivers House of Assembly, was on Thursday
discharged and acquitted by a High Court in
Port Harcourt over a charge of attempted
murder.
Justice Ledan Nyordee, who delivered the
judgment, said there was nothing the court
could do in the matter as the police was not
willing to prosecute the case.
Lloyd was arrested and charged with
attempted murder of Mr Michael Chinda,
(PDP- Obio/Akpor 11) in the state legislature.
Lloyd was alleged to have hit Chinda on the
head with a mace during a fight between
the supporters of Gov. Chibuike Ameachi
and anti-Amaechi legislators in July 2013.
NAN also recalls that the state legislative
complex was closed down after the free-for-
all.
Embattled Rivers House of Assembly
Leader Hon Chidi Lloyd at the High
Court in Rivers State in Company of
The Police recently. Photo;
Nwankpa Chijioke
File: Embattled Rivers House of Assembly
Leader Hon Chidi Lloyd at the High Court in
Rivers State recently. Photo; Nwankpa
Chijioke
The State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice had written the
court to inform it that the police did not
send the case file to his office.
Justice Nyordee said the court was
handicapped in the matter as the police was
not willing to prosecute the case and cited
the relevant section of the constitution to
support the court’s decision.
NAN further recalls that the matter had
suffered several adjournments due to the
police “inability’’ to make the case file
available to the attorney-general.
Mr Beluolisa Nwaofor (SAN), counsel to the
accused person, told reporters that “my
client is free as far as this matter is
concerned.
“You will recall that the attorney-general and
commissioner for justice had written the
court to inform it that the police did not
send the case file to his office’’, Nwaofor
said.
96
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:35:36 pm »
 A South Carolina man is in trouble with the law after hehit his girlfriend with a workbook from his anger management class during an argument. Please, save the irony jokes. We get it. An incident report said 23-year-old Tyler Ford assaulted 22-year-old Sheelah Thompson during an argument about their relationship on Monday night in Spartanburg County. Thompson reportedly cut Ford with a box cutter after he tried to strangle her. Ford then rolled up the book and hit Thompson on the cheek. Ford told a deputy his girlfriend cut him because she was angry after he hit her with the book. Both were arrested and charged with criminal domestic violence. It wasn’t known if either had a lawyer.
97
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:32:53 pm »
A member of the Special Task Force, STF, in
Plateau State ( names withheld), has
allegedly **** a four-year-old girl in Kassa
village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of
the state.
Villagers said the suspect was in the habit of
raping minors as this was the third time he
had committed the act by luring victims into
his makeshift tent.
The Chairman of the Local Government,
Emmanuel Loman, confirmed the incident,
saying “a policeman attached to the STF in
Barkin Ladi **** a girl at Kassa village
yesterday.
“The girl has been bleeding profusely and is
currently hospitalised at the Barkin Ladi
General Hospital.”
He added, “it is sad that some security
personnel posted to restore law and order
have abandoned their duties for something
else. What has restoring order got to do
with defiling a minor?”
He called on the Commander of STF, Major
General David Enetie, to ensure that the
culprit faces the wrath of the law as the local
government would also follow the case to
its logical conclusion.
The Medical Officer of Barkin Ladi General
Hospital, Bapigang Audu, said: “A minor of
about four years was, yesterday, rushed to
the hospital and from results conducted so
far there was forceful penetration as her
hymen was broken.”
Audu further lamented the high rate of ****
cases in the locality, stressing that over 10
cases of **** had been brought to the
hospital in the past six months.
98
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:30:37 pm »
The Nigerian President and head of the
delegation to the Nuclear Security Summit
2014, holding at The Hague has restated
Nigeria’s commitment to convert limited
stock of highly enriched uranium to lowly
enriched uranium.
In achieving this President Jonathan who
arrived Netherlands on Sunday has said
“Nigeria is working in collaboration with the
United States United States of America and
China for the conversion of Nigeria’s limited
stock of Highly Enriched Uranium used in its
research reactor to Lowly Enriched
Uranium,”
The president said that Nigeria was in
support of the immediate commencement
and early conclusion of negotiations on a
“non-discriminatory, multi-lateral and
internationally and effectively verifiable
treaty banning the production of fissile
materials for nuclear weapons”.
“Nigeria shares the view that fewer nuclear
weapons translate into more nuclear
security, while at the same time reducing
the risk of proliferation.
President Jonathan meeting Mark
Rutte (Photo Credit: Prime Minister
Of Netherland's Office)
President Jonathan meeting Mark Rutte
(Photo Credit: Prime Minister Of Netherland’s
Office)
At the moment a reactor for academic
purposes –used in training how to run a
nuclear power plant runs on enriched
Uranium weapon grade material said
Professor Sunday Jonah of the Centre for
Energy Research Training Ahmadu Bello
University Zaria, a centre under the Nigerian
Atomic Energy Commission. He made the
remark at the Nuclear Knowledge Summit
NKS at Amsterdam. This is the primary
motivation of Nigeria in the proceedings in
the Netherlands.
Long before President Barak Obama’s
initiative to raise awareness on global
nuclear security, the Nigerian government
had setup the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory
Authority with the mandate to track the
usage of radioactive sources in the
exploration of oil and medical facilities. The
Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority is
mandated by the Nuclear Safety and
Radiation Protection Act of 1995. However,
with the increasing activities of insurgents
and Nigeria’s limited stock it became
imperative for Nigeria to begin to guard
itself against nuclear terrorism.
President Jonathan has also reiterated the
commitment of the Federal Government to
sustain its weight behind an executive bill
submitted to the National Assembly to
accommodate the country’s obligations
under international treaties on nuclear
safety and security. This he remarked was in
line with Nigeria’s commitment to non-
proliferation of nuclear weapons and the
peaceful use of nuclear technology.
“Nigeria accords high priority to all global
efforts toward ending the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction and their
means of delivery, including nuclear
weapons.
“To this end, Nigeria has since the last
summit in Seoul, strengthened the legal
framework for fighting terrorism through
the adoption in 2013, of an amendment to
its Terrorism (Prevention) Act, thus ensuring
the implementation of more robust counter-
terrorism measures in the country.
“Nigeria’s ratification of some international
treaties and conventions in the realm of
nuclear safety, security and safeguards has
necessitated the review of the Nigerian
Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act resulting in
the recent decision of the Government to
submit a new bill to parliament for
consideration and passage into law in order
to accommodate our obligations under
these instruments.
99
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:23:01 pm »
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Akinwumi
Adesina, on Thursday blamed the Nigeria
Customs Service for the billions of Naira the
country losses in revenue owing to the
Federal Government’s 100 per cent tariff
regime on the importation of rice.
A motion before the House of
Representatives had indicated that Nigeria
recorded revenue losses since 2012 as
importers reportedly subverted the
government’s policy by smuggling rice into
the country through land borders.
The tariff hike was to discourage
importation and encourage local production
of rice by Nigerian farmers.
However, the motion observed that
importers subverted it by engaging in
massive smuggling.
The House had resolved that its Committee
on Customs should investigate the issue
with a possibility of proposing a review of
the policy.
But, at a public hearing by the committee in
Abuja on Thursday, the minister argued that
if the NCS did its job, smugglers would not
be having a free reign.
He said, “The NCS must do its job of policing
the borders, while my job is to encourage
local farming of rice.
“The rice that is being smuggled are not
carried on the head or brought in by ghosts.
The rice comes in trailers and in large
quantities.
“Our target is that we should have a enough
rice to feed our people and ultimately
become a net exporter of rice.”
Akinwumi advised against placing emphasis
on the loss of revenue by the customs and
losing sight of the “real intentions of the
policy, which is to promote growth, create
job opportunities and reduce poverty.”
Giving a breakdown of the impact of the
policy, he recalled that in 2012, the country
was producing only 1.4million metric tonnes
100
« on: March 27, 2014, 05:21:53 pm »
The office of the Attroney-General of the
Federation on Thursday arraigned five civil
servants in an FCT High Court for forging
letters of appointment into the Federal Civil
Service.
Those arraigned are Musa Murtax, Joseph
Amawhe, Emeuryde Oghenekaro, Ezema
Obiora, and Marcillina Eke.
They are arraigned on five counts bordering
on forgery.
The prosecutor, Mrs Elisabeth Alabi, told the
court that the accused, between 2011 and
2013, conspired and produced appointment
letters into the civil service.
She alleged that they altered circular No.
HCSF/CMO/867/1/129, page 3 of the Head of
Civil Service of Federation deployment letter,
and included the name of the second
accused (Joseph) and Eke (the fifth accused).
The prosecution alleged that it was done
with intention to present the fake letter as
genuine so that the two could benefit from
deployment benefits.
The prosecutor said the offence was
contrary to the provisions of section 97 of
the Penal Code and punishable under
section 364 of the law.
If convicted, they could serve 14 years in
prison each, with fine or both.
They pleaded not guilty after the charges
were read to them.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Peter Limo,
prayed the court to grant them bail on
liberal grounds.
Limo said that they were currently on
administrative bail and urged the court to
allow them to continue.
He said that the accused had deposited their
international passports and also reported to
the prosecutor’s office twice weekly.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf granted the
accused counsel’s prayers.
Baba-Yusuf ordered that the administrative
bail continue until May 16 for continuation
of hearing.
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