A few days ago, Stella Dimoko Korkus broke the news about Jim Iyke
recently finding out that he has an 11 year old son with an ex
girlfriend who relocated to the UK many years ago. . The actor has
released a statement via his media manager addressing the issue
“Jim
Iyke is aware of the viral story currently making the headlines and
wishes to state that this is not the first time that issues of this
nature have arisen. Friends and fans who follow his activities closely
will recall a number of occasions in the past when baseless claims of
paternity and even marriage were made. Nonetheless, as a responsible
man, he is always disposed to verify any such development(s) brought to
his attention and when any satisfactory outcome has been ascertained,
the general public will be duly informed without ambiguity. The only
specifics at the present time is that at the age of 22yrs-23yrs old he
dated for a brief period the lady at the center of the story who
subsequently left Nigeria for the UK. “There had been no contact between
them ever since and by implication no linkling of the existence of a
living product of that encounter. Since this is more about an innocent
child than the star himself we advise caution and respect for privacy.
Mitch Ngaman, Media Manager.”
www.lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2012/10/jim-iyke-releases-statement-about.html?m=1
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Photo: Motorcyclist sells nurse to ritual killers for N10,000
A
commercial motorcyclist, identified simply as Ifeanyi, has been
arrested for allegedly handing over a nurse, Mrs. Helen Ilonge, to
ritual killers after collecting N10, 000.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Ilonge had on Tuesday last
week took Ifeanyi’s motorcycle on her way to Igoli along the Ogoja-Ikom
Highway in Ogoja LGA.
Ilonge, the coordinator of Primary Health Care in
Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, was coming from a
programme at the Assemblies of God Church, Abakaliki in Ebonyi State,
and had alighted from a vehicle at Okpongrinya junction before taking
the bike.
It was gathered that Ilonge (51) was beheaded while
her other vital reproductive parts such as breast and vagina were
removed for ritual purposes.
Ilonge’s neighbour, Mrs. Theresa Idagwu, on Sunday
said, “Ifeanyi took the lady from Okpogrinya Junction on the pretence
that he was taking her to the village, which is 10 minutes drive from
the point. But along the way, he stopped and handed her over to
kidnappers at Ukpe.
Meanwhile, the woman had called her daughter,
Victoria, around 9pm that she had taken a bike at Okpogrinya Junction on
her way to Igoli. She said when she gets to her destination; she would
call again so that Victoria would boil water for her to take her bath.
That was Ilonge’s last call.”
Repeated calls made to the woman’s line, according to Idagwu, indicated that it was switched off.
She said Ilonge’s family became worried when the
woman did not return home. “We went everywhere- police stations,
hospitals and even her friends in Igoli, thinking that may be an
accident had occurred along the road but we got nothing,” Idagwu added.
Two days later, Idagwu said someone called Victoria
on her phone and informed her that her mother had been kidnapped. The
caller demanded a ransom of N50, 000 to be remitted in form of recharge
cards.
She said, “Since her daughter could not raise the
money, she rushed to the Bekwarra LGA headquarters where the head of
administration, Mr. Bisong Bogbo, and the chairman, Mr. Linus Edeh,
provided the money with which she bought recharge cards and sent to the
caller.
“The voice claimed that he needed the recharge cards
so he could sell and run away from his master who is a ritual killer. He
claimed that he had been serving his master for a long time and wanted
to run away. He said once he gets the cards, he will break the door
where the nurse is being kept and release her.”
The LGA’s head of administration, Bogbo, confirmed that the cards were sent to the kidnapper through Victoria’s telephone.
He said immediately the alleged kidnapper confirmed receipt of the cards; he switched off his telephone.
Luck, however, ran out of Ifeanyi. Policemen tracked his telephone line and discovered that he called Victoria from Abuochiche.
Further investigations, it was gathered, showed that Ifeanyi had been selling the cards in the village immediately he got them.
When he was arrested, Bogbo told our correspondent
that Ifeanyi led the police to one of the ritual killers identified
simply as Elvis.
Elvis, according to Bogbo, confessed that the nurse
had already been killed and some of her vital organs removed before
Ifeanyi asked for the recharge cards.
Elvis also said the remains of the woman were buried in a swamp.
At the council headquarters, one of the late nurse’s
colleagues, Mr. Gabriel Ogar, said she was probably the kindest woman he
ever worked with.
Ogar said, “I have worked with five coordinators, but
I know that she is just the best so far. She worked to the admiration
of Governor Liyel Imoke and now she has been killed leaving her five
children without a helper.
“Her husband died 12 years ago and since then she has
been the one taking care of the children and only one has graduated.
Please let the government do something for those poor children.”
When contacted on Monday, the state Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Osita Ezechukwu, said the police were still investigating
the matter.
He said four suspects had been apprehended by the
anti-homicide unit, adding that when the investigation was completed the
suspects would be prosecuted.
“We have taken confessional statement from them.
Those who are not involved have been allowed to go while those who are
involved are still in detention,” Ezechukwu said.
Culle: Punchng
SSS quizzes Zannah over alleged Boko Haram links
Senator Khlaifa Ahmad Zannah was, Monday, quizzed for over six hours by operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, over his alleged links with the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
Zannah, who represents Borno Central in the upper legislative chambers, was summoned by the SSS Director General, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, to appear before it, yesterday, to answer questions on what he knows about his nephew, Shuaibu Bama.
Men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, had reportedly arrested the said Bama, whom they said had been on their wanted list for some time in a house believed to be that of the embattled lawmaker and decided to go after him as well.
A source at the SSS headquarters confirmed to Vanguard that the Senator turned in himself as directed by the leadership of the security agency.
The source, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said he was not sure whether Zannah would be released.
As at 8 p.m. when our correspondent spoke with the source, Zannah was still being held.
The source said: “The man (Zannah has been with us since 2 p.m. and I do not think he will be allowed to go. We need a lot of information from him given his close relationship with the wanted man, Bama, who happens to be his nephew.”
It was not possible to get information from the SSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, as she neither picked her calls nor responded to text messages sent to her phones.
But before turning in himself to the SSS, Zannah had told journalists that he knew that his nephew, Shuaibu Bama, arrested by the Joint Task Force for allegedly being one of the commanders of the Boko Haram Islamic sect was of a “bad character” and a “drug addict.”
The lawmaker, who blamed the “mixing of politics with security” for the escalating menace of Boko Haram insurgency in the area, also accused the former governor of the state Ali Modu Sheriff of colluding with the JTF to tarnish his image for political gain.
Zannah said: “I was never told or contacted by anybody that they were looking for Bama. I saw him about six months ago. “He lives around that area although for the past four months, I have not gone home.
I went for an operation outside the country. “I never knew him (Bama) to be a member of Boko Haram. But I know him to be of a bad character and a drug addict.”
Culled: Vanguard
Mark: State Of Origin Should Be Abolished In Nigeria
Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Monday said that time has come
for the country to shift from the syndrome of state of origin and
embrace state of residence.
He said that immediate elimination of state of origin and enthronement of state of residence would go a long way to cement relationship in the country.
Mark spoke to journalists in Quebec, Canada, after the opening ceremony of the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, with the theme “Citizenship, identity, linguistic and cultural diversity in a globalised world.”
He noted that one of the issues that would be addressed at the on-going constitution review is a shift from state of origin to state of residence.
He wondered why a person who has lived in a particular place for 20 years performing all necessary civic responsibilities could not become an indigene of the area.
He said, “You should know that one of the issues we’ve been discussing in Constitution amendment is shift from state of origin to state of residence because it is an important issue.
“You are resident in a place for 20 years and still, they don’t take you as part and parcel of that place.
“I think it’s a difficult task but in my candid opinion, I think if we have an open mind and we approach it from a nationalist perspective, rather than a small, clannish perspective, I think we would get it right.
“Let’s forget the business of state of origin and go to state of residence.
“Once you are resident in a place and you perform your civic responsibilities for the period, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t benefit, provided of course you don’t claim dual residency.
“Some Nigerians may be very clever. They would come from Ondo State and are resident in Benue, when the benefits of Benue are not commensurate with their expectations, they shift to Ondo State.
“We can’t have that. Once you take a particular area, you should just be a part and parcel of that particular state.”
He described the theme of the conference as extremely relevant.
The theme of the conference, he said, is not “just international, it is also national because that is the only way we can domesticate and implement the theme.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news-update/why-state-of-origin-should-be-abolished-in-nigeria-mark/
He said that immediate elimination of state of origin and enthronement of state of residence would go a long way to cement relationship in the country.
Mark spoke to journalists in Quebec, Canada, after the opening ceremony of the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, with the theme “Citizenship, identity, linguistic and cultural diversity in a globalised world.”
He noted that one of the issues that would be addressed at the on-going constitution review is a shift from state of origin to state of residence.
He wondered why a person who has lived in a particular place for 20 years performing all necessary civic responsibilities could not become an indigene of the area.
He said, “You should know that one of the issues we’ve been discussing in Constitution amendment is shift from state of origin to state of residence because it is an important issue.
“You are resident in a place for 20 years and still, they don’t take you as part and parcel of that place.
“I think it’s a difficult task but in my candid opinion, I think if we have an open mind and we approach it from a nationalist perspective, rather than a small, clannish perspective, I think we would get it right.
“Let’s forget the business of state of origin and go to state of residence.
“Once you are resident in a place and you perform your civic responsibilities for the period, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t benefit, provided of course you don’t claim dual residency.
“Some Nigerians may be very clever. They would come from Ondo State and are resident in Benue, when the benefits of Benue are not commensurate with their expectations, they shift to Ondo State.
“We can’t have that. Once you take a particular area, you should just be a part and parcel of that particular state.”
He described the theme of the conference as extremely relevant.
The theme of the conference, he said, is not “just international, it is also national because that is the only way we can domesticate and implement the theme.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news-update/why-state-of-origin-should-be-abolished-in-nigeria-mark/
Nigeria's Foreign Reserves Rise To $42Billion
Latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria have shown that foreign
exchange reserves jumped to $42.02bn by October 17, the highest in 32
months and an increase of 3.11 per cent, month-on-month.
Figures on the CBN website showed that the reserves, which stood at $40.75bn a month ago, were last around $42.02bn on February 17, 2010, when $42.22bn was recorded.
The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane, in a report made available to our correspondent on Friday, said the level could cover over 10 months of imports.
"Favourable oil prices and a stable oil production of an average of 2.2mbpd have helped boost growth in reserves level. We expect the trend to continue as long as the oil market activities remain buoyant," he added.
The stability in the forex market, according to analysts, attests to the effectiveness of recent exchange rate policy measures.
The premium between official and parallel market declined to N3.25 from the year's peak of N8.57 in June, which is the lowest premium in four months.
Forex reserves had risen to more than 29-month high of $41.12bn by September 26, and were up by 7.16 per cent month-on-month.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had said about 85 per cent of increase in reserves was from crude oil. Nigeria's crude oil production hit a record high of 2.7 million barrels per day on August 1.
The CBN had reportedly said the nation's external reserves had continued to grow since August 1, 2012.
Consequently, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stressed the need for the country to shore up its external reserves.
At a meeting with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, Okonjo-Iweala had said that there was the need to build up the reserves to $50bn before December.
She said that this would help the country to stand on its feet in the event of any global economic recession.
The CBN sold a total of $10.18bn at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System in the first half of this year. It had sold and offered and sold $14.85bn at the WDAS in the first quarter of last year.
Forex sales were less than the $285m in half of 2012. Half-year WDAS forex supply for 2011 was $14.85bn, as against $10.45bn in 2012, representing a decrease of 29.70 per cent.
http://www.punchng.com/business/money/external-reserves-climb-to-42bn/
Figures on the CBN website showed that the reserves, which stood at $40.75bn a month ago, were last around $42.02bn on February 17, 2010, when $42.22bn was recorded.
The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane, in a report made available to our correspondent on Friday, said the level could cover over 10 months of imports.
"Favourable oil prices and a stable oil production of an average of 2.2mbpd have helped boost growth in reserves level. We expect the trend to continue as long as the oil market activities remain buoyant," he added.
The stability in the forex market, according to analysts, attests to the effectiveness of recent exchange rate policy measures.
The premium between official and parallel market declined to N3.25 from the year's peak of N8.57 in June, which is the lowest premium in four months.
Forex reserves had risen to more than 29-month high of $41.12bn by September 26, and were up by 7.16 per cent month-on-month.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had said about 85 per cent of increase in reserves was from crude oil. Nigeria's crude oil production hit a record high of 2.7 million barrels per day on August 1.
The CBN had reportedly said the nation's external reserves had continued to grow since August 1, 2012.
Consequently, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stressed the need for the country to shore up its external reserves.
At a meeting with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, Okonjo-Iweala had said that there was the need to build up the reserves to $50bn before December.
She said that this would help the country to stand on its feet in the event of any global economic recession.
The CBN sold a total of $10.18bn at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System in the first half of this year. It had sold and offered and sold $14.85bn at the WDAS in the first quarter of last year.
Forex sales were less than the $285m in half of 2012. Half-year WDAS forex supply for 2011 was $14.85bn, as against $10.45bn in 2012, representing a decrease of 29.70 per cent.
http://www.punchng.com/business/money/external-reserves-climb-to-42bn/
Sallah: FG Declares Thursday, Friday Public Holidays
The Federal Government has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to mark the 2012 Eid El-Kabir celebrations.
The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro who announced this in Abuja on Monday, called on Nigerians to imbibe and emulate the worthy tenets of Islam as practiced by the holy Prophet Mohammad.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of interior, Daniel Nwaobia quoted Mr Moro as urging the citizens to pray for peace and prosperity of the nation.
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news-update/eid-el-kabir-fg-declares-thursday-friday-public-holidays/
The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro who announced this in Abuja on Monday, called on Nigerians to imbibe and emulate the worthy tenets of Islam as practiced by the holy Prophet Mohammad.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of interior, Daniel Nwaobia quoted Mr Moro as urging the citizens to pray for peace and prosperity of the nation.
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news-update/eid-el-kabir-fg-declares-thursday-friday-public-holidays/
Monday, October 22, 2012
Evander Hollyfield Retires At 50 In Poverty
As if pulling a blanket over his head to hide from a world of troubles,
Evander Holyfield will finally retire from boxing today he marks his
50th birthday. Be that as it may, Holyfield, one of the ring’s most
heroic warriors, has been defeated, not by one of his catalogue of
formidable opponents, but by the wounds of self-inflicted poverty.
From ‘Real Deal’ to ‘Meals on Wheels’
A fighting man, who battled his way out of the ghetto to a $350million fortune, will wake up this poignant morning in a grim apartment in downtown Atlanta. This is the deepest cut of all those sustained by so many fighting men who have squandered fortunes. Mike Tyson only blew $250million. But Holyfield seems more afflicted than most by the punishment inflicted by so many sledge-hammer blows to the head. Yet, even though his speech became increasingly slurred, as he fought on to an age when the majority of Americans are applying for their bus pass, he had still been hoping for one last world title shot, one last big payday to keep the wolf from the door a little longer.
Holyfield is not just calling it a day, but waiting for a phone call, which will not come. His potentially suicidal campaign for a farewell fling against Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko has fallen on ears that are more kind than unreceptive.
“I believe I can beat either of them, but I don’t have time now to fight my way back up the rankings and become the number one contender. There’s no point badgering them any longer. If I don’t get the call (today), I quit,” Holyfield said.
Forget the phone, it’ll not ring
Bernd Bonte, manager of the Klitschkos, said: “Neither of the brothers will fight Evander. Both of them would destroy him at his age and they respect him far too much to do that. He is one of their idols and that means more than however, much money the fight might make.”
The esteem, in which Holyfield is held by the Klitschkos in common with the entire fraternity of boxing, is hallmarked by the horde of memorabilia, which he must surrender to auction next month. As the only four-time winner of the world heavyweight title, Holyfield surpasses ‘The Greatest’ himself, Muhammad Ali.
That collection of WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring belts, are to go under the hammer in Los Angeles, along with the wardrobe-full of gloves, shorts and robes worn in all the most significant fights in the career of one of the greatest boxers of all time. Those treasures drip with the sweat of his epic trilogy with Riddick Bowe, the two controversial battles with Lennox Lewis and along with his blood from that infamous biting of his ear, the sensational victories over Tyson.
Although here is no telling how long his memory of the glory nights will remain sharp, the item from which he will part most reluctantly is the classic red Chevrolet manufactured in 1962, the year of his birth. It will feel as if his life has turned its full circle. Yet, even if the fire sale raises its projected $5million, it will cover only half his $10million bankruptcy.
What really happened?
Some of the answers are as old as the hardest game itself. As the money poured in, so Holyfield took to gambling much of it away in the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. As all the pretty women flocked around, so he fathered 11 children with five of them, as well as marrying and expensively divorcing three times.
As he took gratification from rising to fame through the old prejudices of America’s Deep South, so he flaunted his riches by buying Atlanta’s answer to Buckingham Palace. The most frequently mentioned statistics of that estate are the 109 rooms and 17 bathrooms. He took most pride from having not one, but two marble staircases sweeping through each end of the mansion. There were also houses in the grounds for his ex-wives and some of his children. This was a monument to extravagance born of his pride at overcoming his humble beginnings, but ultimately, beyond his means to sustain.
In echoing contrast to that call which will never come, the phone rang frequently there to be answered by a servant saying: “The Holyfield residence.”
But he remains an all-time great
Holyfield’s residence now is a small apartment in one of the less salubrious parts of his home city. The stately home was repossessed when he fell $14million behind on the mortgage repayments. Now, one of his daughters has won an order for immediate payment of $500,000 in maintenance arrears. Since he has no prospect of paying that or the $3,000 alimony due every month, he faces being held in contempt of court shortly.
However, what they cannot take from him is a phenomenal career. A Golden Gloves amateur title and Olympic bronze were followed by a reign as undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world. After winning the heavyweight crown by defeating James Buster Douglas, who had shocked Tyson and the world in the greatest of all upsets, he went on to fight all the best of the big time. He alternated between dominating the division and coming back from setbacks, including suspension with a suspected heart defect to keep reclaiming the title.
He would have been a five-time champion had the giant, Nikolai Valuev, not robbed him of a decision in February 2010 at the age of 47. He has the satisfaction of bowing out as a winner, having defeated Danish veteran Brian Neilsen in what was to be his last fight.
Win or lose, the way Holyfield always went to war in the ring was thrilling and unforgettable. Some may withhold sympathy, given the former scale of his wealth. Yet, while his excesses wee a folly, the sadness is profound.
Tyson, who is finding ways to rebuild his life, is offering assistance and advice to the man whose lavish generosity has extended to forgiving Iron Mike for chewing off his ear. Famously, a born-again Christian, Holyfield said: “I still have hope.”
He needs help, hopefully, from all the people whose lives he has enriched with his courage.
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/boxing/holyfield-turns-50-retires-broke-1.1404011#.UIUm9K4XLeg
From ‘Real Deal’ to ‘Meals on Wheels’
A fighting man, who battled his way out of the ghetto to a $350million fortune, will wake up this poignant morning in a grim apartment in downtown Atlanta. This is the deepest cut of all those sustained by so many fighting men who have squandered fortunes. Mike Tyson only blew $250million. But Holyfield seems more afflicted than most by the punishment inflicted by so many sledge-hammer blows to the head. Yet, even though his speech became increasingly slurred, as he fought on to an age when the majority of Americans are applying for their bus pass, he had still been hoping for one last world title shot, one last big payday to keep the wolf from the door a little longer.
Holyfield is not just calling it a day, but waiting for a phone call, which will not come. His potentially suicidal campaign for a farewell fling against Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko has fallen on ears that are more kind than unreceptive.
“I believe I can beat either of them, but I don’t have time now to fight my way back up the rankings and become the number one contender. There’s no point badgering them any longer. If I don’t get the call (today), I quit,” Holyfield said.
Forget the phone, it’ll not ring
Bernd Bonte, manager of the Klitschkos, said: “Neither of the brothers will fight Evander. Both of them would destroy him at his age and they respect him far too much to do that. He is one of their idols and that means more than however, much money the fight might make.”
The esteem, in which Holyfield is held by the Klitschkos in common with the entire fraternity of boxing, is hallmarked by the horde of memorabilia, which he must surrender to auction next month. As the only four-time winner of the world heavyweight title, Holyfield surpasses ‘The Greatest’ himself, Muhammad Ali.
That collection of WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring belts, are to go under the hammer in Los Angeles, along with the wardrobe-full of gloves, shorts and robes worn in all the most significant fights in the career of one of the greatest boxers of all time. Those treasures drip with the sweat of his epic trilogy with Riddick Bowe, the two controversial battles with Lennox Lewis and along with his blood from that infamous biting of his ear, the sensational victories over Tyson.
Although here is no telling how long his memory of the glory nights will remain sharp, the item from which he will part most reluctantly is the classic red Chevrolet manufactured in 1962, the year of his birth. It will feel as if his life has turned its full circle. Yet, even if the fire sale raises its projected $5million, it will cover only half his $10million bankruptcy.
What really happened?
Some of the answers are as old as the hardest game itself. As the money poured in, so Holyfield took to gambling much of it away in the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. As all the pretty women flocked around, so he fathered 11 children with five of them, as well as marrying and expensively divorcing three times.
As he took gratification from rising to fame through the old prejudices of America’s Deep South, so he flaunted his riches by buying Atlanta’s answer to Buckingham Palace. The most frequently mentioned statistics of that estate are the 109 rooms and 17 bathrooms. He took most pride from having not one, but two marble staircases sweeping through each end of the mansion. There were also houses in the grounds for his ex-wives and some of his children. This was a monument to extravagance born of his pride at overcoming his humble beginnings, but ultimately, beyond his means to sustain.
In echoing contrast to that call which will never come, the phone rang frequently there to be answered by a servant saying: “The Holyfield residence.”
But he remains an all-time great
Holyfield’s residence now is a small apartment in one of the less salubrious parts of his home city. The stately home was repossessed when he fell $14million behind on the mortgage repayments. Now, one of his daughters has won an order for immediate payment of $500,000 in maintenance arrears. Since he has no prospect of paying that or the $3,000 alimony due every month, he faces being held in contempt of court shortly.
However, what they cannot take from him is a phenomenal career. A Golden Gloves amateur title and Olympic bronze were followed by a reign as undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world. After winning the heavyweight crown by defeating James Buster Douglas, who had shocked Tyson and the world in the greatest of all upsets, he went on to fight all the best of the big time. He alternated between dominating the division and coming back from setbacks, including suspension with a suspected heart defect to keep reclaiming the title.
He would have been a five-time champion had the giant, Nikolai Valuev, not robbed him of a decision in February 2010 at the age of 47. He has the satisfaction of bowing out as a winner, having defeated Danish veteran Brian Neilsen in what was to be his last fight.
Win or lose, the way Holyfield always went to war in the ring was thrilling and unforgettable. Some may withhold sympathy, given the former scale of his wealth. Yet, while his excesses wee a folly, the sadness is profound.
Tyson, who is finding ways to rebuild his life, is offering assistance and advice to the man whose lavish generosity has extended to forgiving Iron Mike for chewing off his ear. Famously, a born-again Christian, Holyfield said: “I still have hope.”
He needs help, hopefully, from all the people whose lives he has enriched with his courage.
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/boxing/holyfield-turns-50-retires-broke-1.1404011#.UIUm9K4XLeg
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Newcastle's New kit: Muslim Stars Told Not To Play
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/newcastles-muslim-stars-told-play-new-kit-070006117.html?nc
The club announced a new £24 million shirt deal with controversial moneylenders Wonga on Tuesday, and now the Muslim Council of Britain have attempted to intervene.
United have received widespread criticism after unveiling the four-year deal with the short-term loan company, and the MCB has now piled on further pressure.
Four Muslim players represented the club against Manchester United on Sunday – Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa – and all are now being urged to make a stand.
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, assistant secretary general of the MCB, said: "There are two aspects to this. We have the rulings of the religious law and we have the individual's choice and decision on how they want to follow or not follow that rule.
"The idea is to protect the vulnerable and the needy from exploitation by the rich and powerful.
"When they are lending and are charging large amounts of interest, it means the poor will have short-term benefit from the loan but long-term difficulty in paying it back because the rate of interest is not something they can keep up with."
He added: "The Islamic system is based on a non-interest-based system of transaction."
The club did its best to offset criticism of the new deal by announcing that the Sports Direct Arena would revert to its original name of St James' Park, but it has not prevented MPs and large numbers of people through social media declaring their disgust.
The club announced a new £24 million shirt deal with controversial moneylenders Wonga on Tuesday, and now the Muslim Council of Britain have attempted to intervene.
United have received widespread criticism after unveiling the four-year deal with the short-term loan company, and the MCB has now piled on further pressure.
Four Muslim players represented the club against Manchester United on Sunday – Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa – and all are now being urged to make a stand.
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, assistant secretary general of the MCB, said: "There are two aspects to this. We have the rulings of the religious law and we have the individual's choice and decision on how they want to follow or not follow that rule.
"The idea is to protect the vulnerable and the needy from exploitation by the rich and powerful.
"When they are lending and are charging large amounts of interest, it means the poor will have short-term benefit from the loan but long-term difficulty in paying it back because the rate of interest is not something they can keep up with."
He added: "The Islamic system is based on a non-interest-based system of transaction."
The club did its best to offset criticism of the new deal by announcing that the Sports Direct Arena would revert to its original name of St James' Park, but it has not prevented MPs and large numbers of people through social media declaring their disgust.
Nigerians Should Prepare For Food Shortage - PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday asked Nigerians to be prepared for imminent food shortage.
The party said scarcity of food would be one of the effects of the floods that ravaged some parts of the country recently.
Rising from its National Working Committee in Abuja, the PDP however commended President Goodluck Jonathan for steps taken so far to cushion the effects of the flood on victims.
According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said Nigerians must know that flooding was a global phenomenon.
The statement reads, “PDP has commended the President for the firm and reassuring steps the Federal Government has taken to mitigate the impact of flooding across the states of the federation and forestall further threat to the nation.
“The Party has also called on relevant government agencies and entire Nigerians to brace up for the challenge of food shortages which the impact of the flooding may likely occasion.
“Flood disasters are a global phenomenon but our peculiar challenges of development demand deeper insight and capacity which the President has demonstrated.
“We therefore commend him for the medium and long term measures being put in place to first ameliorate the suffering of the affected Nigerian communities as well as for the steps already being taken to permanently put under check, the incidence of flooding in future.”
The party further appealed to federal, state and local governments as well as farmers to take measures to avert imminent food shortages on account of the flood.
It promised to liaise with all the relevant agencies of government to work out plans to forestall possible food shortages arising from the food.
http://www.punchng.com/news/nigerians-should-prepare-for-food-shortage-pdp/
The party said scarcity of food would be one of the effects of the floods that ravaged some parts of the country recently.
Rising from its National Working Committee in Abuja, the PDP however commended President Goodluck Jonathan for steps taken so far to cushion the effects of the flood on victims.
According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said Nigerians must know that flooding was a global phenomenon.
The statement reads, “PDP has commended the President for the firm and reassuring steps the Federal Government has taken to mitigate the impact of flooding across the states of the federation and forestall further threat to the nation.
“The Party has also called on relevant government agencies and entire Nigerians to brace up for the challenge of food shortages which the impact of the flooding may likely occasion.
“Flood disasters are a global phenomenon but our peculiar challenges of development demand deeper insight and capacity which the President has demonstrated.
“We therefore commend him for the medium and long term measures being put in place to first ameliorate the suffering of the affected Nigerian communities as well as for the steps already being taken to permanently put under check, the incidence of flooding in future.”
The party further appealed to federal, state and local governments as well as farmers to take measures to avert imminent food shortages on account of the flood.
It promised to liaise with all the relevant agencies of government to work out plans to forestall possible food shortages arising from the food.
http://www.punchng.com/news/nigerians-should-prepare-for-food-shortage-pdp/
IOC Asks Nigeria To Return Silver Medals & Collect Gold Medals
Nigerian men 4x400m team at the Sydney 2000 Olympics elevated to the
position of gold by the International Olympic Committee has been given
up to November 1, 2012 to return the silver medals in their possession
before the process of awarding the gold medals could be commenced.
The United States was stripped of the gold after a member of its 4x400m team, Antonio Pettigrew confessed to drugs use during the Games. The Nigeria quartet of Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu, Sunday Bada and Enefiok Udo-Obong clinched the silver in that memorable race.
The IOC executive board confirmed before the London 2012 Olympics that gold medals will be formally awarded to Nigeria four years after it had stripped the Americans.
In a letter to the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the IOC instructed that the silver medals and second placed diplomas awarded to the team, be returned.
“In order to proceed with the re-allocation of items in line with the new ranking, we kindly ask your NOC to return the following items received by your team in connection with the Men’s 4x400m relay event,” the letter stated.
The other members of the team include Nduka Awazie and Fedelis Gadzama who were reserves.
NOC spokesman, Mr. Tony Ubani confirmed the reception of the letter. He added that all the concerned athletes have been contacted and that the NOC will meet the November 1 deadline.
The United States was stripped of the gold after a member of its 4x400m team, Antonio Pettigrew confessed to drugs use during the Games. The Nigeria quartet of Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu, Sunday Bada and Enefiok Udo-Obong clinched the silver in that memorable race.
The IOC executive board confirmed before the London 2012 Olympics that gold medals will be formally awarded to Nigeria four years after it had stripped the Americans.
In a letter to the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the IOC instructed that the silver medals and second placed diplomas awarded to the team, be returned.
“In order to proceed with the re-allocation of items in line with the new ranking, we kindly ask your NOC to return the following items received by your team in connection with the Men’s 4x400m relay event,” the letter stated.
The other members of the team include Nduka Awazie and Fedelis Gadzama who were reserves.
NOC spokesman, Mr. Tony Ubani confirmed the reception of the letter. He added that all the concerned athletes have been contacted and that the NOC will meet the November 1 deadline.
14 People Killed In Early Morning Attack In Jos
Another round of mayhem was recorded early Wednesday in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau state, north central Nigeria, as 14 people were brutally murdered by suspected herdsmen.
Channels Television gather that the assailants in large numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, raided three villages in the early hours of Wednesday while the villagers were still asleep, killing and destroying their houses as well other valuables.
The Wednesday’s attack is reportedly coming after an incident on Tuesday in which three people were killed in neighbouring Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to the House of Representatives member, who is representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency, Mr Simon Mwadkom, four members of a family were shot at close range in Dallyam village, in Tahoss district and several others were injured as the bandits vanished.
While the attack was on, another set of terrorists killed eight people in Ranghol in Sopp ward of the local government with another two persons murdered in Lotton village in Jol ward of the same local government area.
Hoourable Mwadkom accused Fulani herdsmen for the attacks, which he claimed were organised and well executed simultaneously in the three affected villages.
This fresh attack is coming at a time when it was assumed that peace has returned to the troubled Barkin Ladi/Riyom communities which has in the past recorded diverse attacks and killings.
The Plateau State Police command in reaction to the incident through the Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Emmanuel Abuh, however confirmed that only six people were killed in the attack.
http://gidileak.com/dozen-people-killed-in-early-morning-attack-in-jos/
Policemen Watched While My Son Was Lynched - Chiadika's Mom
Chinwe Biringa, mother of Chiadika Biringa, one of the four University
of Port Harcourt students lynched last week at Aluu community by a mob
spoke via telephone on a Channels TV program, and said that policemen
were present during the killings.
She expressed her disappointment with the approach of the policemen who just looked on and did nothing to stop the gruesome murder of the four boys.
She said, “Eyewitnesses accounts revealed that policemen were at the scene of the incident. Besides, policemen at the police station confirmed to one of the bereaved parents who visited them that policemen were there.
“And the explanation they gave was that they were overwhelmed by the crowd and that they had insufficient bullets in their guns and all that thrash to confront the crowd.
“But those people were only with sticks not with guns. If they really wanted to work they would have worked. If they had done what the Joint Task Force did by firing warning shots into the air when they wanted to collect the corpses, things wouldn’t have gone awry.”
She insisted that her son and his friends were not robbers as claimed by the mob. “We don’t have security in this country. We don’t just have and our children and wards are all over the country. We are only living by God’s grace everyday, because this can happen to anybody any day.
“God knows best because nothing stops Him from doing something extraordinary to save them. But may God judge all those who had a hand in the killings.”
She expressed her disappointment with the approach of the policemen who just looked on and did nothing to stop the gruesome murder of the four boys.
She said, “Eyewitnesses accounts revealed that policemen were at the scene of the incident. Besides, policemen at the police station confirmed to one of the bereaved parents who visited them that policemen were there.
“And the explanation they gave was that they were overwhelmed by the crowd and that they had insufficient bullets in their guns and all that thrash to confront the crowd.
“But those people were only with sticks not with guns. If they really wanted to work they would have worked. If they had done what the Joint Task Force did by firing warning shots into the air when they wanted to collect the corpses, things wouldn’t have gone awry.”
She insisted that her son and his friends were not robbers as claimed by the mob. “We don’t have security in this country. We don’t just have and our children and wards are all over the country. We are only living by God’s grace everyday, because this can happen to anybody any day.
“God knows best because nothing stops Him from doing something extraordinary to save them. But may God judge all those who had a hand in the killings.”
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