P. DIDDY INVOLVED IN SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT.

DIDDY AFTER ACCIDENT

Diddy was involved in a serious car accident in L.A. moments. TMZ has just obtained a photograph of Diddy after the accident, and he was so shaken up by the crash … he had to lie down on the grass. Diddy was involved in a serious car accident in L.A. moments ago, Nollywoodgossip has learned. According to TMZ, a car turned left in front of Diddy’s SUV and Diddy’s driver smashed into the other vehicle.

Diddy's Car Wreck

 Officers were called to the scene and cops claim everyone involved in the accident complained of pain, including Diddy, his driver, and the other driver. It’s unclear how seriously anyone was injured, but law enforcement sources tell TMZ, no one was transported to a hospital … despite an ambulance being called.

SOURCE: TMZ

P-Square react to rumours they sacrificed mum for fame.

                               

Ever since Mrs Josephine Okoye, mother to rave twins, P-Square, died a few months back, there have been funny stories in some circles. Some feelers are of the opinion that the duo sacrificed their mum for more fame and money.

P-Square have now decided to react to the story, via an official press release which read: “We feel so bad to know that our mum is no more. But who are we to question the Almighty God. Traditionally, we are supposed to bury her and not the other way round. It is just that it happened so soon. Indeed, her death was a big blow to us.

                                                                                                

“Then, it is too bad to hear that people are accusing us of being responsible for our mum’s death. We are not blaming anybody. People are free to say what they want to say. We begin to wonder whether there is anything that will ever make us to go for the life of our beloved mother.

“Her life cannot be quantified in terms of money or fame. So, our answer to this question is that we have no hand in our mum’s death. We only blame the death that snatched her away from us if not so, people won’t be pointing accusing fingers at us. She died after a brief illness.”

Range Rover Ambassador Genevieve Nnaji, to return brand new Evogue

                           

In June 2012, Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji was unveiled as the brand ambassador of Range Rover Evogue and we all heard she got $100, 000 and a brand new Evogue from the deal. But new facts have emerged about the endorsement deal and I got this direct from inside sources.

Genevieve was offered one of two deals by Coscharis Motors; (1) Take $100, 000 and drive a brand new Evoque for only six months after which she will return it or (2) Take $50, 000 and a brand new Evogue valued at over N10million which she can keep.

I heard the actress took the former, (she already has very expensive cars) so will eventually return the SUV.

Smart choice girl, or what do you think?

Andy Uba, Arthur Eze at war over N250m Enugu property.

Senator Andy Uba

Two Anambra State businessmen and political heavyweights, Senator Andy Uba and Prince Arthur Eze are now at war over two property said to belong to one Major Emmanuel Okwuosa also from the State. An Enugu State High Court had ordered that the said property be sold to enable Arthur Eze recover the one million United States dollars owed him by Okwuosa.

However, Senator Uba, representing Anambra South in the Senate, is claiming ownership of the two property namely, Plots M17 and O/19 Independence Layout, Enugu, which the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, ordered to be attached for sale in favour of Prince Eze on October 10, 2012. The court had granted an ex-parte application brought by Obi Orakwue, counsel to Prince Eze pursuant to Section 44 of Sheriffs & Civil Process Act, 2004; Order IV Rules 1 (2) & 16 (1); Order VII Rule 7 Judgment Enforcement Rules and ordered the attachment and sale by private contract of the immovable property of Okwuosa, who was indebted to the applicant to the tune of US$1 million.

But following the issuance of the Writ of attachment and sale against the said property by the court, in suit number E/147/2012, Senator Uba filed an application as an interested party/appellant. Uba, in his application, claimed that the two property in question were bought for him by Major Okwuosa from one Chief R. O. Nkwocha family in the sum of N250 million. Uba, while appealing against the decision/order of the court urged the court to make an order halting the sale of the property.

In the seven grounds of appeal set out by Uba through his counsel, Chuma Oguejiofor, he told the court that Okwuosa had purchased the property for him and with money he had provided to the knowledge of the prior owners of the property, R.O. Nkwocha family of Enugu Ukwu, Anambra State, adding that he actually made available N250 million for the purchase and registration of the property.

Uba said that he had confronted Okwuosa severally to submit the title document to the property but he informed him that they were still with the lawyers and later with officials of the Lands Registry, Enugu, adding that he had a shock of his life when he learnt that “fraudulently and without his consent, that the 2nd defendant/respondent (Okwuosa) had registered the property in his own name at the Lands Registry Enugu.” Uba contended that Okwuosa could not have registered “validly property that does not belong to him in his own name” and as such could not also confer on any person, title he never had on the property.

In a 26-paragraph counter affidavit opposing Uba’s motion, dated October 19, 2012, Prince Eze’s counsel, Orakwue, told the court that Uba was not the owner of the two property but Okwuosa, who had his interest duly registered in his names at the Lands Registry vide Irrevocable Power of Attorney and Deed of Assignment. He insisted that Okwuosa and his company, Major Concepts Limited, were in physical possession of the said two plots.

“I believe that the applicant (Uba) had no funds to have acquired the two immovable properties said to have been bought in the sum of one hundred and twenty million naira only (N120, 000,000) given his past positions as mere domestic servant of former President Obasanjo, and a taxi driver in Los Angeles, United States of America,” the affidavit said. Urging the court to refuse Uba’s application, Eze further stated that it was rooted in bad faith and designed to frustrate him as the plaintiff/judgment creditor from reaping the fruits of his judgment.

However, when the case came up last Wednesday before Justice Umezulike, Uba’s counsel, Chuma Oguejiofor sought for time to reply Eze’s averment in the counter affidavit, which he said, touched on Uba’s character and doubted his source of wealth, prompting the judge to adjourn the case to October 29, 2012 for definite argument.

SOURCE: The Sun

ESUT: 21 Students Arrested For Allegedly Torturing And Forcing Some Female Students To Have Sex.

                             

The Nigerian Army in Enugu has paraded 21 Enugu State University of Science and Technology students for allegedly torturing and forcing some female students to have stuff among themselves.

The students, most of who confessed to being cultists, told journalists that they took video shots of the lésbian act because they had been offered money by some influential Nigerians.

The idea, the suspects said, was to take tapes of the scenes to their partners in Europe.

Shortly before parading the suspects on Saturday, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj. Gen. Sarkin Yaki Bello, who spoke through the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said the cultists, were arrested in their hideouts at Agbani on the outskirts of Enugu between July 8 and 12, 2011.

Bello said the patrol team of 103 Battalion moved to the ESUT following persistent gunshots at the institution on July 4 and arrested one of the masterminds of the crime, Mr Franklin Anikwe, with five rounds of ammunition.

The GOC said he had directed that a thorough investigation be carried out in order to fish out the pepetrators.

He said, “It was the preliminary investigation conducted by the division’s intelligence group that led to the arrest of the 19 other suspects. Some of the items recoverd from them are four locally made pistols, 10AA cartridges and video clips where the female students were forced to have illicit stuff with themselves during the raid.”

Also recovered were 10 mobile telephone handsets, including the one used for recording the dirty scenes.

AMAZING TONTO DIKEH: “I listened to my songs, I did well. I’m shooting the videos soon.”

To every hardened critic and those that think she will be a flash in the pan, Tonto Dikeh has a message for you all: There is no stopping her. 

In an exclusive interview with Stella Dimok-Korkus, Tonto speaks extensively about her music career and how she plans to build on from her first two singles:

 What prompted you into singing?

I love music and I wanted to do my own thing, to contribute my own music.

You got monstrous negative response to both singles. How did feel with all the attacks?

I listened to my songs over and over again and I told myself I did well. In all I see only the positivity in it,I made History. 

Peoples opinion of how my music was has further strengthened my belief that dreams die when you let the next man’s opinion get to you and I am using now to pass a message to everyone out there, if you can just do it. 

Don’t let anyone’s opinion kill whatever dream you have or try to stop you from taking the next step. 

You tweeted that you were not giving up. Does that mean you will become actively involved in music?

I love my acting career and I don’t see myself jumping into full time music. I am however shooting the musical video of my songs,I will not let the hating stop me.

You released your song on Wednesday October 17, 2012 and two days later despite the negativity your song had hit 5.2 million download on the internet. How do you feel?

The most unanticipated and hated song became the most talked about,most controversial,most downloaded and of course the most listened song. I feel great Stella, no regrets.!

We look forward to the musical videos.till then I am sure comedians will soon add

Your song jokes to their shows.

Hopefully. Thank you and here’s a loud shout out and thank you to everyone who stood up for me.

HONDA Makes Car Specially For Women.

Japan-based car maker Honda has released a unique car model that is aimed exclusively at women; the first automaker to do so. Appropriately named the Honda Fit She's, the car sports lots of pink and is embezzled with quirky extra's that are perfect for a lady.

Going for an all around style of "adult cute", Honda decided to make pink the sole color inside and outside of the car. With an all metallic pink exterior, the interior is adorned with pink stitching everywhere from the steering wheel and seats to the floor mats and shifter. There is also pink metallic metal around all of the displays and controls. 

If that is not girly enough for you, there is also an adorable little heart in place of the apostrophe in the "She's" logo at the back of the car that is also complete in about 3 shades of pink.

Of course if pink isn't your color, the car also comes in shades of brown and white. Pink isn't the only women-geared idea that Honda has put into the car. 

They also thought of a special windshield glass that protects from an amazing 99% of UV rays as well as an air conditioning system called "Plasmacluster" that can apparently improve skin quality. 

Priced at $17,500 the Honda Fit She's is hoping to be attractive to women in Japan who are just now starting to enter the workforce despite previous years of being forced to stay home.

A UK Court Convicts Nigerian Man For Human Trafficking Of Girls To The UK For Prostitution.

A Nigerian human trafficker who terrified his victims into silence through “juju” witchcraft rituals and sexual violence was convicted Friday of trafficking girls to work in the sex trade across Europe.

Former security guard Osezua Osolase faces jail when he is sentenced on Monday for tricking impoverished young Nigerian girls into travelling to Britain before farming them out as sex workers for up to £70,000 a time to continental gangs.

Police identified flight records and forged passport records to show that he recruited 28 girls and escorted many of them abroad over a 15-month period from 2010. But Osolase boasted to his victims that he had been running the scam for more than a decade.

Osolase deliberately targeted some of the most vulnerable girls in the world – orphaned, ill-educated and homeless – and brought them to Britain where he kept them captive.

The 42-year-old ensured their obedience by binding the young girls to him with “juju” rituals – a powerful force in parts of Nigeria – that left girls fearing that they would die if they ran away or spoke out against him.

But in a major breakthrough for police, officers traced three of their victims – aged 14, 16, and 17 at the time – who were prepared to give evidence after they were stopped by authorities while travelling to the European cities on false travel documents.

One of the girls told how she was taken to a house of witchcraft in Lagos. The teenager was given a blood-like mixture, told to bathe in it and wrap sodden cloth around her. A priest cut hair from her armpits, some of her finger and toenails and took blood from her hand. The woman was told that the body parts taken in the ritual would be used to find and kill her if ever she tried to run away.

The majority of Osolase’s victims were trafficked to Italy, Spain and France where there is a high demand for West African women to work in the sex trade, police said. However, detectives believe that he funnelled his wealth back to Nigeria and had no trappings of wealth at his home in Northfleet, Kent.

Detective Inspector Eddie Fox said: “Osolase led these girls to believe a better life awaited them in the UK, he preyed on vulnerable girls who had no one to care for them and would not be missed. “Juju is a well established belief but Osolase corrupted it in a bid to gain control and bend the wills of his victims. He exploited the girls and took advantage of the fact they had nobody.’’

SOURCE: Vanguard

More Births In Flood Camp As Woman Gives Birth To Twins.

Another set of multiple births was recorded during the week at one of the relief camps for flood victims in Anambra State, bringing the number of multiple births in the relief camps in the state to three.

The Fr. Joseph Memorial High School, Aguleri, has witnessed the birth of two sets of triplets. The Chairman of the Transition Committee of Ogbaru Local Government, Mr. Steve Chukwuma, stated this on Friday when the Dozzy Group of Companies donated 3,000 bags of rice to victims of the flood disaster in Anambra State.

 

He said, “The twins were delivered at the Central School, Odekpe camp; another pregnant woman at the camp was also delivered of a single baby. But I cannot immediately recall the names of the new mothers.”

 

The chairman, who said he had never witnessed a flood of this magnitude, said the people were still counting their losses, and compiling facts and figures.

 

The Head, Human Resources and Administration of Dozzy, Mr. Chima Akuchie, who presented 200 bags rice to the camp management at Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, said the company wanted to identify with the victims in the time of their need.

 

He said the donations had also been taken to camps in Ihiala, Okija, Aguleri, Onitsha and Ogbaru. “As we discover more camps, we will take relief materials to them,” Akuchie said.

The Anglican Bishop of Ogbaru, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, who received the bags of rice on behalf of the relief camp committee, identified hunger as a major challenge to the displaced persons in camp.

 

He thanked Dozzy for the support and prayed God to bless the company more so that it would continue to render help to people that were in need.

 

The bishop dismissed reports of rape and diversion of relief materials in the relief camps as far as the Ogbaru camps were concerned.

 

He however said there was one case in which a consignment of relief materials being sent to Ogbaru was hijacked by other flood victims who told those bringing in the materials that the camps in Ogbaru had been cut off by the flood.

History Was Recorded, As Nigerian Student Obtains A 4.0 CGPA Out Of 4.0 In A Turkish University.

A genius could be referred to as an exceptional child who is academically sound. But, how would you describe an individual who never misses a point in his examinations from first year in the university to the final year? If there is any adjective to qualify such a person, that word could best describe Tunji Olu-Taiwo, an Engineering student of Eastern Mediterranean University in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus who obtained 4.0 CGPA out of 4.0 CGPA, the first ever in the department.

Encomiums have continued to be showered on Tunji Olu-Taiwo from various quarters, because his impressive performance has placed him in the spotlight.

Over the years, Nigeria's human resources have ranked among the best in the world partly due to the profound efforts of critical-minded parents that stimulate the astuteness that hides within every student, begging for whom to push the trigger.

Tunji Olu-Taiwo, who hails from Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State, emerged the best graduating student from the Faculty of Engineering, obtaining a status of High Honours (first class).

Tunji is the first African to have bagged such a status in the Department of Engineering, obtaining a degree in Engineering on a Grade Point Average of 4.00 out of 4.00 (straight A's).

Amid great honour and eulogy sang by the students and academic, expressing marvel at the development, Vanguard met with Tunji in an online chat to speak more on his success.

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg as Role Model

"I am looking up to Mark Zuckerberg, he is a genius I love to emulate," Tunji said. Mark Elliot Zuckerberg (born May 14, 1984) is an American computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur. He is best known as one of the five co-founders of the social networking site, Facebook. Zuckerberg is the chairman and chief executive of Facebook. Inc.

Further Study"I plan to further by specializing in the field of software engineering. “Software Engineering is a course I have cherished right from time. I know I owe the society more with this, that is the reason that I wish to go further in that regard for this dream to be fulfilled.”

Hopes and challenges in Nigeria

Tunji expressed hope in Nigeria when he said; "there is no place like home," adding; "I like the fact that no matter the difficult situations Nigerians find themselves in, they still try to be happy."

Advice for the Government

Poverty, I believe is the greatest distraction, frustrating process of seeking admission into universities and lack of steady electricity are some dire challenges the people, especially students, usually grapple with, in his honest opinion. Tunji advised the government thus:

“Admissions should be done on a per semester basis. I will advise that the Federal Government should try to provide constant electricity. This, to me, will automatically eradicate about 50 per cent of Nigeria's problems. Also, a simple advice for all students is that the road to success is not on a straight path. Patience is a very important virtue that should be put to good use.”

His Background

“My father, Dr. Mike Olufemi Taiwo is a dental surgeon and a retired army officer. He is from Lagos State. My mother, Mrs. Ajoke Lillian Olu-Taiwo is a business consultant. She hails from Kogi State.

My parents modelled my life the way it is today. They took time to instil discipline in me. I was born and raised in the great city of Kano. I grew up in a large Catholic family, with three brothers and four sisters. I started reading at a very young age. My parents made sure I did my assignments and that zeal still remains in me up to this moment.”

Tunji's father who spoke with Vanguard about Tunji's up- bringing said; "I brought up all my children in Kano. I noticed that many parents allow their children freedom to wander about after school which I detested so I made it mandatory for my children to remain home-bound. I was part of their lives. I made sure their home works were done and their books studied on daily basis. I was their mentor and at the same time, their friend.

“Nevertheless, because all work without play makes Jack a dull boy, so I provided indoor games for my children. When they were big enough to play table tennis, I played the game with them. It was fun.

“I also taught them chess and was always beating them, but when Tunji came from Cyprus, he started beating me hands down and I began to marvel. I was not too surprised about the result he made," said Dr Olu Taiwo.

SOURCE: Vanguard

Rivers State: Governor Amaechi's New Plane Admist Flood Problems In His State.

                            

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has acquired a brand new Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS) for his exclusive use.

Mr. Amaechi’s lavish new “toy” comes at a time hundreds of thousands of residents in his state are displaced by the worst flooding crisis in the state’s history.

The newly purchased jet left Montreal-Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Quebec to Dakar Yoff International Airport. And then it was delivered to the state government on October 7th 2012.

The jet was primarily purchased from Bombardier in Canada for $45.7 million through the Bank of Utah Trustee account. “This is an ungodly act,” said a Port Harcourt-based human rights campaigner.

“Why should Governor Amaechi’s priority be to acquire a jet at a time the state is experiencing the worst flooding in its history, leaving many Rivers indigenes homeless?” he added.

Last year Mr. Amaechi traded off the state’s current Embraer Legacy 600 claiming it was too expensive to maintain. There were also unconfirmed claims that the jet was struck by lightning.

The oil-rich Rivers State already owns an AW139 helicopter which it leased to Aero Contractors. The state then turned around to patronize Aero’s VIP Sikorsky S76C helicopter at a cost one critic described as “exorbitant and unjustified.”

Last year, the state government sold its Dash 8-Q200 aircraft to Cross River State for $6 million. Cross River State then leased the plane to Aero Contractors to undertake commercial flights to and from Obudu airstrip in the state.

                         
                              

                             

                           
                             

SOURCE: NigerianEye

PHOTO SPEAK: FASHOLA'S SCAM ON LAGOSIANS

AFTER

SOWETO MAN RAPES HIS OWN MOM.

South African Police are hunting for a 33-year-old suspect who allegedly raped his 55-year-old mother in Matatiele’s Luphindo village

It is alleged that the suspect, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, forced his way into her bedroom and threatened her with a knife before dragging her to a neighbour’s house, where the alleged rape took place.

Matatiele police spokesman Lieutenant Raphael Motloung said after the incident, the suspect ran away, leaving his traumatised mother locked in the house.

Recounting the events, he said it is alleged that on October 14, at about 7pm the victim was asleep next to a male friend in her bedroom when the son knocked at their door.

Apparently the suspect came home hungry and shouted outside the house, telling his mother he wanted food. 

“He was making a noise and his mother was worried about neighbours and went to open the door for him. Once inside the house he kept asking for food but his mother told him to cook for himself as she had already gone to bed,” said Motloung.

It is alleged that the suspect got angry and went to the bedroom, where he threatened to stab the friend and his mother with a bush knife he was carrying.

“He then pulled the blanket off them and dragged his mother to a neighbour’s house. 

“It is alleged that he kept her there for the whole night and repeatedly raped her until the early hours. He then ran away.”

The victim reported the matter to the police and they conducted a search but it has yielded nothing and the suspect is still at large.

Motloung said it was worrying to see many older women being victims of crime in communities and called on people to report such cases to the police

SOURCE: SowetanLive

PORNOGRAPHY: Zambian's Top Politicians Daughter Fined For Pornography.

The 20-year-old daughter of a top Zambian politician was found guilty of making obscene materials and fined $2,000 on Thursday, after she featured in a steamy 16-minute s.e.x tape.

Iris Kaingu -- daughter of MP, former minister and deputy head of the opposition Michael Kaingu -- was found guilty of producing pornographic material likely to corrupt morals.

"I therefore impose a fine of 10 million kwacha on the convict," magistrate Prince Mwiinga said handing down the sentence.

Iris and a male acquaintance featured in the video that was widely circulated on the Internet last year, resulting in her expulsion from college, where she was studying accountancy.

Her father was last week banned from parliament for two weeks after being found guilty of ripping up President Michael Sata's speech to the National Assembly.

Kaingu described Sata's speech as "a disgrace" before tearing up the text.

SOURCE: lusakatimes.com

BREAKING NEWS: Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sentenced to four years in jail for tax fraud.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to 4 years in jail following a tax fraud trial.

An Italian court delivered verdicts today against the former Prime Minister and others in a six-year-old tax fraud trial.

Prosecutors in the case had demanded that Berlusconi be given a sentence of 3 years and eight months, along with a sentence for Fedele Confalonieri - the chairman of his Mediaset conglomerate - of three years and four months.

Berlusconi stepped down in November of last year, after Italy came under increasing financial pressure to deal with its extraordinarily high debt.

Berlusconi was continually criticised inside and outside of Italy for his failure to come up with persuasive financial reforms.

The allegations in the case related to a scheme to purchase rights to broadcast US movies on Berlusconi's private television networks through a series of offshore companies and had falsely declared the payments to avoid taxes.

The prosecutors also alleged that they inflated prices for the TV rights of some 3,000 films as they relicensed them internally to Berlusconi's networks, pocketing the difference amounting to around €250 million.

Other charges of false accounting and false statements in financial reports were thrown out because the statute of limitations expired.

Prosecutors also demanded six years for Paolo Del Bue, a founder of the private Swiss bank Arner, who is accused of money laundering, and three years and eight months for Hollywood producer Frank Agrama.

The trial began in July 2006, but was put on hold by a now-defunct immunity law that shielded the Berlusconi from prosecution while he was premier until it was watered down by the constitutional court. The trial also faced delays as Berlusconi cited conflicts with his schedule as premier.

Berlusconi has been tried numerous times for his business dealings. He has always denied wrongdoing and alleged that the cases were politically motivated. In each case to date, he has been cleared or seen the statute of limitations expire.

The statute of limitations in this case is set to expire sometime next year. In Italy, cases must pass two levels of appeal before the verdicts are final.

Berlusconi is also on trial in Milan on charges of paying for sex with an under-age teenager and trying to cover it up. It is believed that Mr Berlusconi will appeal against the ruling.

SOURCE: THE INDEPENDENT

TARABA STATE: Governor Danbaba Suntai, 5 Others Survive Crash.

Cessna 208 Plane Flown By Governor Danbaba Suntai

The Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, survived a plane crash in neighbouring Adamawa State on Thursday, but his condition is said to be critical. Five other passengers, including the governor’s security detail for the journey, survived the crash.

While initial report said the governor died in the crash, the aviation ministry and the Taraba and Adamawa state governments said that he survived.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, gave details of the crash and said no passenger on the aircraft died.

The statement said, “An aircraft, Cessna 208, with six souls on board including crew, operated by the Taraba State Government departed Jalingo, Taraba State for Yola this evening and reported contact with the Yola Control Tower (1720Z) and field in sight at 38 miles estimating landing at 1730Z.

“The pilot subsequently lost contact with Yola Control Tower and subsequent effort to raise the aircraft failed.

“Search and Rescue was immediately activated and the site of incident located with all victims alive with various degrees of injuries. The victims have been evacuated to the hospital for treatment pending further investigation of the incident.

“This is the correct version of the incident; every other one that is contrary to this is incorrect.”

Mallam Maijamal, the   Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, also told one of our correspondents on the telephone that Suntai survived the crash.

“Suntai is alive. He is at the Adamawa German Standard Hospital. Governor Murtala Nyako is with him there and he is doing everything possible to make sure that he gets necessary medical attention. Forget all rumours contrary to this, please,” he said.

The other five passengers in the plane are also receiving treatment at a hospital in Adamawa State.

“It was a small plane. It looked like a jet. It crashed just behind the NNPC depot,” an eyewitness said.

Reports also shows that the the governor was “badly injured”, and that arrangements were being made to fly him to a hospital abroad.

“I just spoke to a close family member and she confirmed that though the governor is badly injured, he survived the crash. Arrangement is being made now to fly him abroad in the morning. But it is not that easy; such arrangement takes about 24 hours,” a source close to the family who preferred anonymity disclosed.

Findings show that Suntai, a licensed pilot,  flew the Cessna 208. 

According to Wikipedia, “Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna.

“The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers. The aircraft is also used for cargo feederliner operations.”

It was also gathered that the Cessna that the governor flew had been sold to the state government by a Nigerian businessman. Its original number was N2255R, but the state government changed it to 5N-BMJ. It reportedly crashed about 38 miles to landing in Yola, Adamawa State.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party said it received the news of the crash with shock.  The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said, “We received the news of the plane crash with shock. We are officially awaiting news of the true position right now and we urge all our members in Taraba and Nigeria to pray for him,” he said.

According to the Aviation in Nigeria blog, the governor is a keen pilot who obtained his licence from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State in 2010. At least one of his children is said to be a licensed pilot.

The website, which is run by Nigerian aviation enthusiasts, says that the governor also owns a helicopter. Residents of Jalingo say that the governor is known to fly his helicopter around the state.

He is also said to have built an airstrip in his village, Suntai. Jalingo, the state capital, has a partially completed airport started by Suntai’s predecessor. Construction was abandoned after the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria reportedly stopped works, citing ‘runway defects’. The state later announced that it would construct a new airport for N10bn. The new airport is to be sited on the Mambilla plateau.

Air Taraba, the state government’s proposed airline has an EMB145 aircraft which is likely to be registered as 5N-BOZ.

The airline website says, “Air Taraba is the modern official airline of Taraba State in Nigeria. Founded on the principles of safety, comfort and professional service Air Taraba operates out of Taraba Airport and provides a wide spectrum of expert aviation services.

“With a fleet of modern aircraft, experienced pilots, friendly flight crews and vigilant ground staff, Air Taraba sets a new standard of private aviation in West Africa. Our private aviation, charter and cargo services offer unprecedented access to Nigeria’s south-eastern regions, as well as many additional destinations worldwide.” However, the airline has yet to start operations.

SOURCE: PUNCH