Senator Ndume Contacted Boko Haram Leader 73 Times In One Month Says SSS-PREMIUM TIMES

An embattled Senator, Mohammed Ndume, who is facing charges for alleged links to the militant group, Boko Haram, contacted the group’s spokesperson 73 times within a month, investigators told a federal court on Wednesday.

Mr. Ndume was arrested late 2011 by the State Security Service, SSS, and accused of sponsoring the Islamist sect.

Mr. Ndume claims his contact with the group was necessitated by his membership of the Presidential Committee mandated to help restore peace to the troubled North East of the country.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for series of bombings and gun attacks that have plagued Northern Nigeria resulting in more than a thousand deaths.

The SSS said Mr. Ndume, who is from Borno State, the hotbed of the crisis, was constantly in touch with an alleged spokesperson of the group, Mohammed Konduga. Mr. Konduga was convicted and is currently serving a three-year jail term.

Mr. Ndume’s phone call history is central to establishing his relationship with the sect; and on Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja brushed aside the senator’s objection to admit the phone call logs as key evidence in the case.

The SSS told the court that the senator’s call log showed that he spoke with Mr. Konduga 73 times in October 2011. At the resumed hearing of the case, Aliyu Usman, a forensic expert with the SSS, while giving evidence said the history of the communication contacts was contained in the two mobile telephones obtained from Mr. Ndume and Mr. Konduga.

Mr. Usman said the communication between the two persons took place between October 3, 2011 and November 3, 2011, adding that they were in the form of text messages and voice calls.

The telephone lines used were those of MTN mobile network, and the details of the communication were obtained from the network, he added. Mr. Usman said adequate forensic analyses were carried out on the data extracted from the two phones before storing them on three DVDs.

Mr. Ndume’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, again objected to the tendering of the DVDs as evidence on Wednesday arguing that they were secondary evidence and should have been accompanied by a statement.

He argued that the items were in violation of the Evidence Act.

“The essence of Section 102 of the Evidence Act is to guide against the tendering of fake computer generated materials,” he said. But the prosecution lawyer, Thompson Olatigbe, said the items had already been admitted by the court and as such they became primary evidences.

On the absence of certification, Mr. Olatigbe argued that the witness merely transmitted the contents of the two phones into DVDs and produced hard copies, as according to him, the elements would be subjected to further tests by the court.

SOURCE: SaharaReporters

VIDEO: Obasanjo Dances Gangnam Style In Ghana.

Two-time president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, was spotted dancing to the massively popular song, ‘Gangnam style’ by South Korean rapper, Psy.

The Ota farmer, was in Ghana, where he led an ECOWAS team of observers to monitor the presidential elections, which the incumbent John Mahama won.

Baba Iyabo took time out to have some fun and entertain voters, electoral officals and everyone else around.

WATCH VIDEO...
                         

Suspected Pipeline Vandal: " I thought Pipelines are no man's property".

A suspected female pipeline vandal, yesterday explained why she was into the illicit business.

Jelilat Olalekan said she decided to embrace crime because fuel belongs to the government and not an individual.

Mrs. Olalekan was arrested alongside four others, Muritala Kareem, Musiliru Ashiri, Ahmed Lamidi, and Elizabeth Folorunsho by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos.

They were seized on December 5, by the operatives on patrol along Konu village in Ikorodu, a suburb of the state. Mrs. Olalekan said: “I am a business-woman and no one will get an offer to make hundred percent gain that would not rush into such business. My only mistake was that I failed to investigate the source before venturing into the business.

“When I discovered that the fule is coming from the NNPC pipeline, I decided to continue since its government’s money. I am truly sorry, if I can be forgiven, I will not repeat it again.” The policemen also impounded one DAF truck with registration number XA813JND containing 100 gallons of 50 litres of PMS.

The suspects were allegedly on their way to dispose of the stolen product when they were arrested. Assistant Commissioner of Police Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the Task Force, confirmed the arrest. He said the Taskforce is determined to reduce vandals’ activities to the barest.

According to him, it was due to the rate at which vandals siphon petroleum products from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines that informed his decision to double surveillance in target areas.

He said: “It was during our regular patrol on December 5, that we ran into these suspected vandals. “We are determined with the help of the communities where these pipelines are buried to curb the activities of these vandals. Meanwhile, I wish to urge Nigerians to desist from patronising these vandals. Anyone caught buying the product would be regarded as an accomplice,” Ibadin said.

Kareem, 41, who lives in Awori village in Epe, Lagos said Mrs. Olalekan lured him into the business. His words: “I have always been a happily married and contented man till the day I met Madam Olalekan. She came to my shop and told me she wanted to introduce me to the oil business. 

I told her I was not interested but she insisted that it was genuine. I was introduced to one Elizabeth and Taye, who sold 50 litres of Diesel for N4,800. It was later that I discovered that I was buying vandalised products. “Initially I wanted to stop, but because Christmas season is approaching, I decided to do one more deal. It was while we were on our way out of Konu that we were arrested.

Kareem went on: “We sell 50 litres for as low as N6, 000. If you go to the regular petrol station, you will buy 50 litres as high as N7, 750. This explains why we have so many customers including individuals and petrol stations, ” Kareem said.

He said greed lured him into the business, adding: “I am so sorry, I only did it to raise money in order to enjoy Christmas. My children will be disappointed in me. Please forgive me for their sake.”

Mrs. Folorunsho, 36, an indigene of Owo in Ondo State, said she went into the business to fend for herself when her husband died. She said: “I was a full time housewife before my husband died. After his demise, there was no one to take care of my children and I. I started carrying loads for people. 

It was during one of such errands, that I was introduced to the business by one of my customers. I am quite aware that my suppliers are vandals, but there was nothing I could do about it. It is better than to go into prostitution. I am so sorry and pray that government will provide people like us with an alternative source of living.”

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba warned vandals to be weary of sabotaging government effort in giving account of its natural resources. Mba reiterated government’s desire to protect pipelines and warned that anyone caught would be prosecuted.

The suspects, he said would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

UNITED KINGDOM: 40 Nigerians Repatriated.

Some 40 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on Wednesday in the monthly repatriation exercise, Mr Lawal Isah, Head of Immigration at the Nigerian High Commission in the UK, has said.

The repatriation of the Nigerians is jointly organised by the Nigerian High Commission and and the UK Border Agency.

Isah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London that the returnees were in two categories — those without legal rights to remain in the UK and those who have been repatriated after having served various prison terms.

He said two officials of the high commission and the UK Border Agency usually accompanied the returnees.

It will be recalled that a similar exercise last month also saw 40 Nigerian being repatriated from the UK and Ireland. (NAN)

SOURCE: NAN

BOKO HARAM: Chief Of Defense Staff, Advice Islamic Militants To Form A Political Party.

The Chief Of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim has called on the members of Islamic Militant, Boko Haram to form a political party, if they feel so strongly about their opinion that they want to impose it on other people, adding that their crusade is 100 percent sin as far as both the Holy Quar’an and Hadith is concerned.

Admiral Saad stated this on Wednesday, in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital during a courtesy visit paid on the Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima at the Maiduguri Government House.

The CDS, who was in Maiduguri to assess military formation told Governor Shettima that, he has studied both the Quar’an and Hadith and found out that there was no where in both the Holy Books where it sanctions such opinion that informs the decision of the sect members to carry arms against innocent people and established authorities.

Admiral Ibrahim said it is a sin for young people to channel their strength or put it into buying weapons to destroy lives, adding that they should instead put their resources into agriculture to yield twice in a year.

Also speaking the Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar told Governor Kashim that the Federal Government would continue to send troops and equipment to enhance security of lives and property in the state.

“Challenges are always there and men can conquer challenges, as such; we would continue to support the state government in what ever way we can to tackle the crises in the state.” the IGP said.

While responding, Governor Shettima said it was not stateman’s like to support the removal of the JTF from the state. According to him, “I would never support the removal of JTF from Borno, but will continue to do our best by encouraging our youngmen to do what is right.”

DELTA STATE: Over 120 Militants Surrender Arms.

Ex-militants of the Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, of the late John Togo, yesterday, surrendered their arms to Delta State Government with a promise never to return to criminality.

Leader of the NDLF, Peter Perebowei, now a born again Christian, said: “We are now prepared to work with the state government to ensure peace and tranquility,” adding that anyone caught henceforth in any criminal act was on his own.

The former dreaded leader of NDLF, John Togo, was killed by operatives of Joint Task Force, JTF, last year during a battle at his camp near Ayakoromo, in Burutu Local Government Area of the state, and his corpse is still lying at Warri Central Hospital morgue.

The arms surrendered by the repentant militants to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozorie Macauley and Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the state governor, Navy Commodore John Kpokpogri (rtd), were nine AK47m; seven GPMG; six AK47 riffles; two G3M; one FM riffle; one G3 riffle; one RPG; one FM magazine and a laptop computer.

Ammunitions submitted include 188 metal link (NATO); 111 × 7.62mm; 28 × 7.62mm special; 60 ×2.5mm pistol ammo respectively.

Receiving the arms and ammunition in the presence of top military officers in Warri, Macauley, charged them to change their ways from criminality as they had sworn to an oath before God and man never to return anti-social vices.

SOURCE: Vanguard

ENUGU STATE: Churches Pray For Governor Who Has Been Away Since September.

Governor Sullivan Chime(Enugu State)

Founder of the Adoration Prayer Ministry Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has declared a six-day fast and prayer for Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.

Chime has been away from the state since September. The governor, who was last seen at a public function on September 9, is said to be ill and receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in India.

 

Although the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, said Chime embarked on his accumulated leave on September 20, there has not been any clear statement on his whereabouts.

However, Mbaka in his adoration on Wednesday, said in the confusion the state had found itself, only God could remedy the situation and prayed for His intervention.

 

The Catholic priest said, “Chime will not die. He will come back to finish his tenure. All those who are praying or waiting for news of his death will be put to shame.”

 

Meanwhile, two other churches, End Time Prayer Ministry and World Outreach International, had on Tuesday night also declared a prayer session for the recovery of the governor.

 

Rev. Gad Eya of the World Outreach told his congregation that the prayer became necessary in view of the governor’s importance to the people of the state.

 

He said, “No situation is beyond God’s intervention. At this time in the state, it calls for God’s intervention and everybody must turn to God for His mercy on the governor.”

PROF. OKONJO IWEALA'S MUM: Kidnappers Reduce Ransome To N200 Million.

Family members have established a discrete contacts with kidnappers of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Eighty-three-year-old Okonjo was kidnapped on Monday.

It was also learnt that the kidnappers had also reduced their ransom from $1bn to N200m. Sources told our correspondent on Wednesday in Asaba, Delta State, that the reduction followed negotiations between Onyema, one of the sons of the abducted woman and the kidnappers

A highly-placed security source told NE that secret negotiation had commenced with the kidnappers because of the fragile health of the retired professor of Sociology and pressure from higher quarters.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, in an interview on Wednesday in Asaba, after a meeting with his Divisional Police Officers, expressed confidence that the detained professor would be rescued soon.

The CP said, “We are looking at the whole place because in any palace, there are supposed to be palace guards – that is local security before you talk of that of the police.

“And so, we are looking at the obvious flaws and then, take the necessary action. We do not want to jump the gun. In the past, we have been able to rescue about 30 people without payment of ransom. “I am sure that the strategy we are putting in place will yield dividends.

“We know that anything that has to do with kidnapping, there is always an insider factor. It has always been there, just like armed robbery.” Aduba added that the police had extended their dragnet “within and without”.

A source said the kidnappers decided to delay contact with the Okonjo family as a result of heavy deployment of policemen, army and other security operatives around the palace and the community immediately after the kidnap

On Wednesday, it was, however, observed that the heavy security presence in the last few days around the home of the Okonjos in Ogbe-Ofu quarters had been relaxed.

But the policemen refused visitors access to the compound, saying, “No visitor is wanted here.” Traditional chiefs that make up the Obi-in-Council met behind closed doors at the palace grounds in connection with the kidnap of the Obi’s wife.

Undercover security operatives flooded drinking joints, markets and public places in search of useful information.

Sources told our correspondent on Wednesday that the investigators had also invited some domestic workers of the Okonjos for interrogation as it was believed that some of them might have connived with the kidnapppers to carry out the operation.

SOURCE: NigerianEye

Photo Speak: Davido(Nigerian Popular Musician) In bed With Girl

Sometimes, I just wonder what girls really think when they do this.... Any suggestions? I am completely lost on the issue of girls uploading pictures of themselves in bed with celebrities they spent the night with.

Cold War Brews Between President Jonathan, VP Sambo

A cold war brewing between President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo came out in the open last weekend as the two political figures attended two different events with their political allies. Mr. Jonathan was in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, to bury his brother, Meni, while Vice President Sambo was in Kaduna to give his two daughters, Aisha and Huwaila, out in marriage.

 

A top official of the Peoples Democratic Party told SaharaReporters that many members of the party were baffled that the president fixed the burial of his brother on the same day that his vice president had set for his two daughters’ marriage.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Sambo’s daughters’ wedding had been scheduled months ago. “The president knew about the wedding and received his invitation long before his brother died on November 20,” said our source, adding that First Lady Patience Jonathan had been tapped to be “Mother of the Day” at the nuptials.

 

Several sources disclosed that the relationship between the President and the Vice President started to deteriorate when Sambo received reliable indications that Mr. Jonathan was determined to run for another term in office. The prospect of the president’s going for a second term has alarmed Northern political figures, among them the vice president, who had been calculating ways of retaking Nigeria’s highest political office.

“We know that some northern elders have been putting pressure on Vice President Sambo to position himself to challenge the president,” said a source close to Mr. Jonathan.

 

Other sources in Aso Rock told us that President Jonathan was well aware that Mr. Sambo is exploring options for running for the presidency in 2015. “He has been trying to raise his profile and rally political heavyweights and operatives to his corner,” said a Jonathan associate. The source accused the VP of “trying to flex his political muscles, but he should know that, even if Mr. President decides not to run, he [the president] will still have a say in who succeeds him.”

One of Mr. Jonathan’s men said that they came close to declaring war “after Vice President Sambo selected a powerful delegation and went with them to pay a condolence visit to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on the loss of his daughter.”

 

A political observer described the scenes in Yenagoa and Kaduna last weekend as resembling “a realignment of political forces around President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo.” Those who mourned with Mr. Jonathan in Yenagoa included Senate President David Mark, who also has presidential ambitions, as well as numerous Nollywood players. On the other hand, such personalities as Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari and several Northern political figures, traditional rulers and business executives attended the vice president’s more festive event.

 

A source close to the vice president disclosed that Mr. Jonathan was in a precarious position. “He is waging an ongoing political war against [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo,” said the source.

A confidant of President Jonathan’s admitted that members of the president’s camp were angry at Mr. Obasanjo for trying to remotely control the ruling party long after his exit from power. The People Democratic Party recently stated that there was no plan to reconcile the president and Mr. Obasanjo.

On his part, Mr. Obasanjo has said in private and public forums that President Jonathan is bound to leave in 2015. The former president’s statement is at odds with Aso Rocks’ strategy of leaving Mr. Jonathan’s opponents guessing as to his next plans.

SOURCE: SaharaReporters

US MILITARY: Camouflage Material That Can Make Soldiers Invisible.

The US military is backing the development of camouflage fabrics that could one day make their soldiers completely invisible.

The so-called "Quantum Stealth" camouflage material is said to render its wearers completely invisible by bending light waves around them, the Daily Mail reported.

Its makers claim the material, which is in effect similar to the invisibility cloak worn by Harry Potter, can even fool night-vision goggles.

However, its development is apparently so secret that the Canadian company behind it says it cannot even show the technology in action and offers only mock ups of its effect on their website.

Nevertheless, Guy Cramer, CEO of Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp, sayid that he does not care that some observers remain sceptical as to his company's claims since "the people that need to know that it works have seen it."

"Two separate command groups within the U.S. Military and two separate Canadian Military groups as well as Federal Emergency Response Team (Counter Terrorism) have seen the actual material so they could verify that I was not just manipulating video or photo results," Cramer said.

"These groups now know that it works and does so without cameras, batteries, lights or mirrors...It is lightweight and quite inexpensive. Both the U.S. and Canadian military have confirmed that it also works against military IR scopes and Thermal Optics," he said. (ANI)

SOURCE: DailyMail

N4 BILLION FRAUD: Ex Kogi State Governor To Be Declared Wanted By EFCC.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday said it had concluded arrangements to declare Kogi State ex-governor,Alhaji Abubakar Audu, wanted over alleged N4bn fraud.

A statement by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the decision followed alleged evasion of arrest of the embattled former governor.

 

EFCC said he “fled when operatives of the commission stormed his 32 Suleiman Barau Street, Aso Villa, Asokoro-Abuja residence in the early hours of today.”

 

According to him, Audu was alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4bn while he was governor of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003.

 

He added, “The latest effort to arrest the ex- governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed his appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by the EFCC. The Supreme Court ruling therefore clears the way for his fresh arraignment.”

 

Uwujaren added, “Audu was arrested in Jos in 2006, after a six months manhunt by operatives of the Commission, before his earlier arraignment at the Kogi State High Court on December 1, 2006, on an 80 counts of conspiracy, fraud, criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of public fund.

 

“The EFCC had, while the case lasted at the High Court, cause issuance of nolle prosequi by the former Attorney- General of Kogi State, Dr. John Agbonika and the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), on February 8, 2007 for the case to be discontinued at the Kogi State High Court, as the commission claimed to have lost faith in the handling of the matter by the State High Court.

 

“But rather than discontinue the matter in the spirit of the nolle prosequi, the trial Judge, Justice Medupin, went ahead and referred two questions to the Court of Appeal for determination.”

 

In the judgement delivered by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to consider the questions referred to it for determination after being aware from the records of Appeal that a nolle prosequi had been filed.

 

Uwujaren said, “Part of the setback suffered by the Commission in the prosecution of the case was the filing of several applications by the defendant for stay of proceedings at the high court pending the final determination of the appeal.”

 

“Audu had on December 12, 2011, through his lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, filed the stay of proceedings motion supported by 11-paragraph Affidavit. This was 26 clear days after the Supreme Court of Nigeria on November 16, 2011, struck out a similar application he filed on January 24, 2011.”

Ex Governors wife Kidnapped In Ibadan: N200million Ransom Demanded

Titilayo, wife of former governor of Western State, Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi, (rtd), was Monday abducted by some unknown gunmen. Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi was made Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in 2007.

Mrs. Tayo Rotimi was grabbed in front of her company, AOP Logistics Limited, on New Ife Road at about 6:30pm by four armed hefty men. She was leaving the office after the close of work.

The kidnappers are demanding N200 million ransom.

Five of the company’s workers are being held by the police, who have launched a search for the abductors. The home of Gen. Rotimi, a former military governor of the Western Region in Ikolaba, Ibadan, was deserted yesterday. Oyo State police spokesman Ayodele Lanade said: “It is true the woman was kidnapped on Monday at about 6.30pm. Our men are on the trail of the criminals.”

It was learnt that the abductors came in a green Nissan Primera car, which they drove in reverse into the company’s gate. The police said they suspected a foul play, considering the manner the kidnappers drove into the premises and forced their victim into their car .

Lanade said “the incident was different from other cases of kidnapping in some parts of the country because, in this case, we learnt that the driver of the woman was with the abductors when they took her away. “And we found out that there is a rift between the woman and her workers because she was said to be owing them three months salary and there was agitation by the aggrieved workers.

“In the course of demanding for their unpaid three months salary, some of them were sacked . So, it seems there is a foul play in this case. It’s not in anyway related to other kidnapping cases in Southeast and Southsouth ,” the police spokesman said.

The company’s workers were praying yesterday for the quick release of their managing director. General Manager Mr Omini Ikpi recounted how she was abducted. He said: “The MD was about driving out of the gate when she was abducted by four gunmen who blocked her with a grey Nissan car. They shot sporadically into the air to scare people away.”

Ikpi said at the time of her kidnap, Mrs Rotimi had her bag containing two BlackBerry phones, a laptop and other valuables. Her shoes dropped when she was being dragged away from her black Prado into the kidnappers’ car.

“Immediately she was kidnapped, Egbeda police station was contacted and they brought a patrol van. I believe there is an informant in this company. The police have arrested three of our security guards and two workers while the investigation is still on going.”

The Chief Security Officer of the company, Mr Usman Illiasu, said although he was not on duty during the incident, he was told by security men on duty that the abductors came with sophisticated weapons.

Illiasu said around 4pm (yesterday), Mrs Rotimi’s phone was called and it was picked by a male voice who said she will be killed if her family members failed to bring N200 million for her to be released.

He said:” The driver of her car has been arrested with other co-workers, and our workers here could not work today (yesterday) and we have all been praying for the safety and quick release of our boss.”

PROF OKONJO IWEALA: Two Policemen Arrested In Connection With Kidnap Of Mum.

Two policemen have been arrested for the abduction of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s mother, Delta police chief Ikechukwu Aduba said yesterday.

Besides, the abductors are said to have contacted the family. Details of the conversation with the family remained unknown last night.

The family made an emotional appeal to the kidnappers to free Mrs. Okonjo, saying the 82-year-old grandmother was frail in health. Mrs Okonjo was abducted on Sunday from her home in Ogwuachi-Uku, Delta State.

The police had earlier arrested a suspect, who had just left the palace when the hoodlums stormed the place and kidnapped Mrs. Okonjo. Aduba said: “We are not aware of any ransom and we will never support the payment of ransom”.

“For those who believe in the force, we have always rescued their victims unhurt without the payment of ransom. A case in point is the son of the SSG who was rescued without ransom and several other cases. “We cannot cover up anybody; investigations were carried out and the two police officers who were supposed to be on duty are now in detention,’’ he said.

Aduba said that there were usually insiders in every kidnapping and bank robbery, among others. He said the police had strengthened its artillery, which led to the arrest of 20 armed kidnapers in the past few days. “For me, we have been doing our best, the state criminal investigation and the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) have been able to round up 20 kidnappers of four separate gang.

“We rescued some victims yesterday at Akukwu-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area. “Also Thursday last week, we intercepted a gang of kidnappers that were heading toward Ogwashi-Uku and we recovered their guns. “There is a 24-hour patrol in this state and within five minutes of getting distress a call we are there, the kidnap of the Queen is an unfortunate incident,’’ Aduba said.

The commissioner reiterated that those with “hostage value’’ should be very careful and watch their backs. He advised them to endeavour to report any suspicious movement around them. He said that security was the responsibility of all, not only for the police force. “Around lunch time on Sunday, some gunmen came to the compound and forced the gate open and took my mother away. 

The family is upset and traumatised,” the minister’s younger brother, Onyema Okonjo, told Reuters at the house. “To abduct a grandmother more than 80 years old is sad. We appeal to them to release her as soon as possible because her health condition is not good,” Onyema added.

Senate President David Mark yesterday urged the abductors to release Mrs. Okonjo.

In a passionate appeal, Mark urged them to honour the time-tested biblical injunction that “we should honour our parents and, by extension, those who are old enough to be our parents”.

In a statement by his Media Adviser Kola Ologbodiyan, Mark said abduction of any Nigerian is condemnable, adding that the abduction is an attack on Nigeria’s international reputation.

Urging the police to ensure the safe release of Mrs. Okonjo, the Senate President said the abductors should be brought to book. “Abductions are causing the nation’s reputation grave harm in the comity of nations,” he said.

Minister of Police Affairs Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd) has instructed Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to deploy Special Police Officers from the Force headquarters, Abuja to assist in locating and freeing Prof. Okonjo from her captors.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on ‘Budgeting for Effective Policing in Nigeria ’, the minister said: “It is a very disturbing issue. In unraveling this matter, the police must take into cognizance that we have a role to let others know that such incidents will be given equal treatment. It could have been the mother of anybody’.

“Already, the IGP has deployed his men and they are working round the clock on the issue. The IG is on top of the situation. However, I have instructed the IGP to deploy specialist officers from Abuja if need be, to help in fishing out the culprits”.

The palace of the Obi of Ogwuashi-Uku has been surrounded by policemen since the abduction on Sunday. Police said someone purporting to be one of the kidnappers phoned on Monday to make some demands, but it was impossible to say whether the call was genuine.

“We have to identify the source of the call … Anybody can make spurious calls and demands,” said Delta State police spokesman Sergie Ezegam, without giving details of who was contacted or what was demanded.

“We still don’t know the reason for her abduction. What we know is that this is a crime, the woman’s life is in danger and we are making frantic efforts to rescue her,” he added.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has received threats in the past, her special adviser Paul Nwabuikwu said on Sunday.

Security operatives have continued to lay a siege to Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State where the Queen Mother of the kingdom was kidnapped.

Security operatives were all over the palace yesterday. Residents in the neighbourhood were restless.

LAGOS STATE: If Fashola Still Smokes, Okada Riders Can Ride

Governor Fashola (Lagos State)

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Lagos on Monday, came short of a war front, as Motorcycle (Okada) riders encountered armed policemen, causing gridlock on the Yaba-Ojuelegba road. 

Apparently acting on orders, the policemen surrounded the NLC building, take-off point of the protest. This however did little to deter the organisers, Joint Action Front (JAF), as they remained adamant, saying they needed no permit to hold a peaceful rally. 

As tension grew, the police who were already overwhelmed by the gathering, called for reinforcement from nearby stations. Four of the people distributing leaflets among the crowd were later arrested, an action which further angered the protesters. 

Protesting further against the obstruction of the rally, JAF Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, told the police team thus "If Fashola still smokes despite warnings that tobacco smokers are liable to die young; motorbike operators also have a right to continue their operations with provided warnings that bike passengers are liable to be injured in an accident".

Scientists Finally Explain Why People Are Homosexuals.

Scientists may have finally solved the puzzle of what makes a person gay, and how it is passed from parents to their children.

A group of scientists suggested Tuesday that homosexuals get that trait from their opposite-sex parents: A lesbian will almost always get the trait from her father, while a gay man will get the trait from his mother.

The hereditary link of homosexuality has long been established, but scientists knew it was not a strictly genetic link, because there are many pairs of identical twins who have differing sexualities. Scientists from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis say homosexuality seems to have an epigenetic, not a genetic link.

Long thought to have some sort of hereditary link, a group of scientists suggested Tuesday that homosexuality is linked to epi-marks — extra layers of information that control how certain genes are expressed. These epi-marks are usually, but not always, "erased" between generations. In homosexuals, these epi-marks aren't erased — they're passed from father-to-daughter or mother-to-son, explains William Rice, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California Santa Barbara and lead author of the study.

"There is compelling evidence that epi-marks contribute to both the similarity and dissimilarity of family members, and can therefore feasibly contribute to the observed familial inheritance of homosexuality and its low concordance between [identical] twins," Rice notes.

Rice and his team created a mathematical model that explains why homosexuality is passed through epi-marks, not genetics. Evolutionarily speaking, if homosexuality was solely a genetic trait, scientists would expect the trait to eventually disappear because homosexuals wouldn't be expected to reproduce. But because these epi-marks provide an evolutionary advantage for the parents of homosexuals: They protect fathers of homosexuals from underexposure to testosterone and mothers of homosexuals from overexposure to testosterone while they are in gestation.

"These epi-marks protect fathers and mothers from excess or underexposure to testosterone — when they carry over to opposite-sex offspring, it can cause the masculinization of females or the feminization of males," Rice says, which can lead to a child becoming gay. Rice notes that these markers are "highly variable" and that only strong epi-marks will result in a homosexual offspring.

Though scientists have long suspected some sort of genetic link, Rice says studies attempting to explain why people are gay have been few and far between.

"Most mainstream biologists have shied away from studying it because of the social stigma," he says. "It's been swept under the rug, people are still stuck on this idea that it's unnatural. Well there are many examples of homosexuality in nature, it's very common." Homosexual behavior has been observed in black swans, penguins, sheep, and other animals, he says.

Rice's model still needs to be tested on real-life parent-offspring pairs, but he says this epigenetic link makes more sense than any other explanation, and that his team has mapped out a way for other scientists to test their work.

"We've found a story that looks really good," he says. "There's more verification needed, but we point out how we can easily do epigenetic profiles genome-wide. We predict where the epi-marks occur, we just need other studies to look at it empirically. This can be tested and proven within six months. It's easy to test. If it's a bad idea, we can throw it away in short order."

MIKE TYSON: Former Heavy Weight Champion Turns Female

Mike Tyson (Malik Abdul Aziz)

**successfully had gender reassignment surgery in the US. 

**underwent complete facial feminisation, orbital bone contouring and nasal surgery in an operation lasting over 16 hours. 

**I would grow breasts and have a vagina. - before surgery. 

Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world Mike Tyson (Malik Abdul Aziz) is said to be “feeling fine” after undergoing successful gender reassignment surgery at a clinic near Beverley Hills. 

Once known as “The Baddest Man on the Planet”, the boxer said having his first menstrual cycle “would be a dream come true”, and that from now on he would be known as Michelle. “Some people might think it strange that I’mnow a woman,” said Tyson, who underwent complete facial feminisation, orbital bone contouring and nasal surgery in an operation lasting over 16 hours. 

‘But even at the height of my career, when pound for pound I was regarded as the best fighter in the world, I never lost touch with my feminine side and knew that one day I would grow breasts and have a vagina.’ 

Iron Mike was given the all-clear for gender reassignment surgery following a successful course in hormone replacement therapy which, in his autobiography, the boxer blamed for his 1996 defeat at the hands of Evander Holyfield. Although at the time Tyson insisted he was fit enough to carry on with the fight, referee Mitch Halpern stopped the bout in the 11th round saying Tyson looked flushed, was sweating profusely and appeared to be lactating heavily from his left breast. 

Tyson, said he hoped being female would finally convince the American people that his “bad-boy” days were over and he had turned over a new leaf.

How network problems prevented Obama from calling President Jonathan twice

Both Presidents Barack Obama and Goodluck Jonathan wanted to talk on phone, but twice calls from the White House to Aso Rock failed to make the connection.

Authoritative sources confirmed during the week that efforts by President Obama to personally speak with Jonathan to return his congratulatory message has been aborted at least twice by the failure of the telephone system in Aso Rock.

After Obama’ s second-term election victory three weeks ago, President Jonathan was among the first world leaders to congratulate him, offering him a hand of fellowship.

In response to the congratulatory messages, Obama on the Thursday of the same election week, started calling back some of the world leaders, who had congratulated him, to appreciate their letters and words of felicitation.

At least, three White House press statements by Press Secretary, Jay Carney, since the week of the election, have listed names of leaders Obama has been able to speak to in return for their congratulatory messages. Based on those statements made available to The Guardian, the US President has not been able to reach out to the Nigerian president.

But US sources confirmed that President Jonathan is one of those Obama was personally keen on talking to, in acknowledgement of their early congratulatory messages.

Specifically, on Monday November 12, according to US sources, White House officials, having coordinated with the US Embassy in Nigeria, and the Nigerian Embassy in the US, got a number to call Aso Rock, but, on two occasions on that day, both calls were simply not picked up, causing a diplomatic embarrassment for Aso Rock. The number had been given by Aso Rock officials to enable President Obama reach President Jonathan.

A source explained that what should have been done, as is normal in diplomatic etiquette, is for the Nigerian President to have a hotline to reach leaders of other countries that are strategic to the country, so that such important calls are easily facilitated.

Sources close to the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the practice and put the blame squarely on Aso Rock telephone system and some of its operators and officials.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Prof Adebowale Adefuye, confirmed that the US President wants to talk to Jonathan since after the election, but stated that it is yet to happen.

But he quickly added that the plans were still being worked out to make it a reality. He explained further that during this past week, President Obama was away in Asia and then returned for the Thanksgiving celebrations, a big holiday, which Americans mark every third Thursday in November. In most cases in the US, the holiday starts on the preceding Wednesday (November 21) until the following week, which is Monday, November 26.

Source: Odili.net