Enemies are jealous of my rising international profile - Goodluck Jonathan

     
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has again denied allegations that he is sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers.

He added that the allegation was being sponsored by those who were intimidated by his rising profile in Nigeria and abroad.

The former President said this in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, on Thursday.

There had been publications that the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government had begun probing Jonathan over alleged link to the Niger Delta Avengers.

The statement, however, said, “It is sad that the publications wore the cloak of deceit from the same misguided characters that are hell-bent on pulling down the former President despite his clear record of diligent service to his country and long-standing commitment to the good of the society.

“There is no doubt that there exists such people who may have scores to settle with the former President, but are now feeling frustrated by the fact that his national and international profiles have continued to rise despite their recourse to endless muck-raking character assassination. Such people will stop at nothing to continue to throw obstacles, albeit futilely, on his path.

“We are aware that the same people approached other well-meaning newspapers with the same false information, but they were wise to turn it down on account of its absurdity.”

Jonathan advised the media to be professional and do more of investigative reporting instead of making reference to allegations of aggrieved militants.

He said no responsible security agency would release such falsehood to the press.

The statement added, “From what we know about intelligence gathering, there is no responsible government agency that would rush, as claimed in the newspaper stories, to adopt the accusations of a questionable rebellious organisation as its own findings, without applying the professional processes of rigour and due diligence.

“Our media houses should be careful not to make the country a laughing stock by being hoodwinked into passing off the perverted voices of irritant groups as that of our well-respected official and security authorities.”

The ex-President said newspapers promoting spurious allegations against him were toying with libel and destroying the image of Nigeria.

“Apart from toying with the serious issue of libel, those newspapers lending themselves to be cheaply used by miscreants are also doing gross disservice to our collective good and the image of the country,” he said.

FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS: Sunday August 21st, 2016

     

This page is for gamers and lovers of sports 18+ 

Home team to win (1),

The draw (X)

Away team to win (2)

You can book any of the games, don't forget to thank me later and check again for next prediction

ITALIA SERIE A

AC Milan v Torino                       Home Win 1-0

Atalanta v Lazio                           Away Win 0-1

Bologna v Crotone                      Away Win 0-1

Chievo v Inter Milan                    Away Win 0-2

Empoli v Sampdoria                    Away Win 0-1

Genoa v Cagliari                          Away Win 1-2

Palermo v Sassuolo                    Away Win 0-1

Pescara v Napoli                         Away Win 0-2

SPANISH LA LIGA

Sporting G v Ath Bilbao               Away Win 0-1

Sociedad v Real Madrid              Away Win 0-2

Atletico Madrid v Alaves            Home Win 2-0

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Guingamp v Marseille                  Away Win 0-1

St Etienne v Montpellier               Away Win 0-1

PSG v Metz                                    Home Win 2-0

HOLLAND EREDIVISIE

FC Groningen v FC Twente                  Draw 1-1

FC Utrecht v AZ                                      Draw 1-1

Sparta v Go Ahead Eagles                   Draw 2-2

Heracles v Feyenoord                   Away Win 0-1

PORTUGAL SUPERLIGA

Feirense v Moreirense                  Home Win 1-0

Arouca v Nacional                         Away Win 0-2

Benfica v Vitoria                            Home Win 2-0

Abia Governor Wins Appeal on Stay of Execution

   
The Court of Appeal has held that Justice Okon Abang was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction ‎in a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered on June 27 even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered.

Justice Philomina Ekpe, who read the lead judgment, held that what Justice Abang ought to have done in line with time-honoured doctrine of “stari decisis” was to have transferred the motion to the Court of Appeal for determination.

The appellate court ruled in favour of the appellant, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, on his appeal challenging Abang’s decision‎ to hear the application for a stay of execution of his judgment when he was duly informed that the appeals had been entered.

Justice Ekpe in her lead judgment held: “The lower court (Justice Abang) has made a complete somersault of the entire suit. Once an appeal is entered into, there is nothing left for the trial court to adjudicate upon. All the trial court was supposed to do was to transmit the record of proceedings to the appellate court.

“But it deliberately chose to do otherwise. This is against Order 4 Rules 10 and 11 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011. The lower court acted ultra vires.”

Justice Abang ‎had insisted that he had jurisdiction to hear a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered on June 27 even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered at the Appeal Court.

‎In her contributing judgment, Justice Morenikeji Ogunwumiju who presided at the hearing of the appeal also held that Justice Abang “deliberately stood the law on its head”‎ when he erroneously assumed jurisdiction to hear the motion and adjourned it till a later date.

She further held that Justice Abang lacked jurisdictions to interpret the provisions of the Court of Appeal being the rules of a superior court.

Judgment is still ongoing in the main appeal challenging Justice Abang’s Judgment which removed the governor from office.

Details later.

Abia: Another victory for Ikpeazu as Appeal Court upholds PDP’s appeal

    
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has won the fourth suit in the appeal against the nullification of his election by Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court, Abuja.

The five man panel of the court ruled that the originating summon which formed the basis of the judgment was incompetent as it was not signed by any legal practitioner.

The judgment was the fourth ruling in the six appeals against the judgment of Okon Abang which nullified the election of Governor Ikpeazu.

Justice Abang had consequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to issue a certificate of return to Uche Ogah.

The fifth judgment is now being delivered.

Details later

BREAKING: Abia Governorship Tussle: Ikpeazu wins first appeal

   
An Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, faulted the judgement by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which sacked the embattled Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.
Justice Abang had on July 27, 2016 sacked Ikpeazu as governor over tax evasion.

The judge had on July 8 insisted that he had jurisdiction to hear a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered.

Delivering the ruling, the Justice Helen Ogunwumiju-led five-man bench held that Abang’s judgment was made in error.

Reading the judgement, Justice Philomina Ekpe, held that Justice Abang in line with time-honoured doctrine of “stari decisis” should have transferred the motion to the Court of Appeal for determination.

Justice Ekpe also held that Justice Abang wrongly interpreted the provisions of Order 4(10) and (11) of the Court of Appeal rules when he held that the said provisions were only applicable to an interlocutory ruling of the lower court.

The judge read that Justice Abang lacked jurisdictions to interpret the provisions of the Court of Appeal being the rules of a superior court.

A member of the panel, Justice Ogunwumiju, held that Abang by justifying his jurisdiction to hear the motion, when an appeal has been entered, “deliberately stood the law on its head.”

8 Nigerian Celebrities Without A University Degree

      
Nowadays education is very important but not everyone is able to graduate from school due to family situations, busy schedules and various other reasons.

But, believe it or not there are people who can be successful without getting a Bsc, MSc or Secondary school leaving certificate.

Below are eight popular Nigerian celebrities who never had the chance to wear that 'dazzling' graduation cap and gown!

1. 2Face Idibia

For someone who performed at school shows and parties, as well as other  schools such as the University of Nigeria and Enugu State University of Science & Technology, 2Face never got to complete his education.

The crooner attended Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State, enrolled at Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu (IMT), where he did his preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration and Management and eventually dropped out to pursue his music career.
He was once quoted in an interview on Channels saying,  “I got robbed sometime in school. All my audio cassettes that I recorded they took them. I was sad for like a year plus. I dropped out and I am like look I am not continuing this thing I am going to follow music. I actually confessed to my parents. I told them the truth that I am not going back to school. I am going to Lagos, Festac town. All this waka wey I dey talk so, na molue… staff, sometimes na fight we go fight. Them go pursue us from bus".

2. Wizkid

Wizkid started singing at 11years as Lil Prinz, he released a track album entitled "Lil Prinz" in 2001. However, he started his music career fully with Banky W’s music group, Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) in 2009.
He once cited Naeto C and OJB Jezreel as one of the people who mentored and coached him while he was 15 years old.
You would have thought with all that going the 'Ojuelegba' crooner would pursue an education in music. Rather, he dropped out of Lead City University in his second year.

Anyways, he is making the money so nobody minds.

3. Genevieve Nnaji

So, Genevieve's father worked as an engineer and her mother a nursery teacher. She attended the Methodist Girls College, Yaba, Lagos gained admission into the University of Lagos and dropped out after getting her first role.
She has since gone on to be one of the best Nigerian actress' and has been referred to as the Julia Roberts of Africa.

4. 9ice

Indigenious singer, 9ice attended Abule Okuta Primary School and CMS Grammar School. He was studying law at the Lagos State University but for some reason dropped out to concentrate on music.
Funny enough, 9ice has added politics to his long lists of achievements.

5. D'banj

Let's not forget 'Oliver Twist' singer, D'banj who reportedly dropped out of school when he was in 300 Level while studying Mechanical Engineering!
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo is now a Nigerian singer-songwriter businessman and one of the leading musicians in Africa.
He has won several awards including the MAMA 2015 Evolution award.

6. Don Jazzy

Michael Collins Ajere aka Don Jazzy is a don in the Nigerian music industry.
The prolific music producer and C.E.O of Mavin Records dropped out of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in his first year. No chill!
But it looks like things are working out for him regardless.

7. Mercy Johnson

Mercy Johnson, currently one of the highest paid actresses in Nollywood never even made it past the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams.
She once revealed she got into the Nigerian movie industry because she failed the university entrance exams (JAMB) several times.

8. Ramsey Nouah

Nouah grew up in Surulere, Lagos, where he attended Atara Primary School and Community Grammar School. He once revealed in an interview that he didn’t get a university degree.
Ramsey whose entire career is a huge success obtained a diploma at the University of Lagos, after which he pursued a career in acting.

6 Nigerian Celebrities That Have Being Dubbed as Gay

     
For years now, these celebrities have battled so much to refute the gay rumours that have seriously been trailing them. Despite their efforts, the rumours keep escalating.

The media and blogs are filled with gay rumours about these celebrities.As a matter of fact, none of the people carrying the rumours has any concrete proof that any of these celebrities are actually gay. So they are likely mere rumours.

1. DENRELE EDUN

Denrele is the one that is worst hit by this gay rumour. His weird lifestyle may have necessitated this rumour.He once talked about the gay rumours trailing him in an interview. Excerpt below:

Is Derenle Gay?

I think people believe what they want to believe.

But a lot of people believe you are. And to prove them right, a picture of you Charley Boy went viral on the internet recently…

“I don’t read the news, I make the news.The thing is people tend to look for loopholes when they see you doing well. And since people feel I am feminine in nature, then they think I’m gay. But the truth is I don’t really care about what people say because I’m not fashioned according to what the society expects. And also I think for my personality, if I were gay, the news would have grown from speculations and would have been in people’s face.On the part of Charley Boy and me, I was not expecting the paparazzi that came with the picture.

2. CHARLY BOY

His weird lifestyle also contributed to his gay rumours. Pictures of him kissing Denrele increased the rumours too. He was once quoted to have said he’s gay and the head of illuminati in Nigeria.
But he later denied it and threatened to sue the newspaper that carried the news.

3. UTI NWACHUKWU

Uti is seen as gay by so many people. They alleged that Alexx Ekubo his erstwhile best friend who was sharing a flat with him then, was his gay partner. They always travelled out and also attended events together then which fuelled the rumours.

However, Uti took to social media, facebook and twitter warning and threatening seriously all who were spreading false rumours about his se-xuality.

He said: “I am going to say this just once. All false gossip mongers about my se-uality are hereby warned. A scape goat will be chosen verysoon. This is no threat.
”who god has blessed/elevated, no man can curse/bring down! once there’s wonderful news about me, the devil’s agents try to interrupt but they always fail cause they use lies…congrats to the false rumour mongers. i’ll say it once ..be warned. very very soon a scape goat shall be found. i pray none of my current or former friends are involved cause the wrath of the almighty jehovah lord god of israel will spare no one…the egyptian plague shall be child’s play compared to what is coming.they shall know i serve a living god. same god that has crowned me. baba god noooniii!! to you be all the glory honour worship adoration and praise forever more! amen…i love you ufc..remain blessed”

4 ALEXX EKUBO

He was rumoured to have dated Uti Nwachukwu. He’s rumoured to be dating IK Ogbonna currently.Alexx addressed his rumoured gay affair with Uti then when he said

It’s hilarious! Back in the days, when you have a friend who you go out with often, it was cool, people called him your best friend. Now, when they see twoguys together, people begin to have weird thoughts.You see, in this business of entertainment, what you need is someone that believes in you to grow. Uti is big, and he helped me a lot prior to now that I’m beginning to gather my momentum. He is a ‘BigBrother Africa All Stars’ Winner. You can hate him but you can’t take that away from him. A lot of these local celebrities, outside Victoria Island nobody knows them. Uti is someone who grandmothers and pepper sellers know. We were in Ghana recently and the President of Ghana saw Uti at the Airport and recognized him. You can’t hate on success.

5. IK OGBONNA

He’s been called gay by people but he has denied it severally.

IK Ogbonna was a guest at the Pulse TV studio where he refuted the gay rumours associated with his name.The actor who turned up with his gorgeous Colombian girlfriend, described the rumours as ridiculous as he stated that he loves women with nice curves.

According to the actor when asked about how he feels about the gay allegations

“They say IK Ogbonna is gay, Jesus Christ!!!, does this guy look gay to you? (takes off hissunglasses). When I heard that one, I couldn’t stop laughing, I am still laughing.«First and foremost, I have a foundation that won’t let me do certain things,I was reading a partof the bible with some people theother day – Leviticus 18 : 22, and God calls it an abomination.
«I am not even attracted to my own self,I love myself as a person but I cant imagine to get (makes sound). Besides, my love for women is out of this horoscope, I love to feel it”
disgust it even the bible does. My love for women is even so much that you must be extremely feminine for me to love you.”

6. BANKY W

Nigerian R&B singer, Banky W reacted to rumours about his s-exuality.The singer mentioned this during an interview he granted to Y! Magazine saying

‘It’s hilarious to me and completely false. I’m not. Maybe it’s because I’m not married, and I practice safe se-x and thus have no children yet.’

Rapper Waka Flocka Accused of Holding his Step-Daughter in an Inappropriate Way

  American rapper, Waka Flocka Flame has been criticized after he shared a photo of himself carrying his step-daughter, Charlie, into a pool while on a family day out with his wife Tammy Rivera.

Many of his followers on IG felt he held Charlie inappropriately. What do you think?

Nnamdi Kanu won’t renounce Biafra - IPOB

      
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the stories credited to Mr Gbomo Jomo and the members of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is willing to renounce Biafra agitation in exchange for his freedom.

In a statement by its spokesman Emma Powerful, IPOB said MEND and Gbomo Jomo were among those speaking from both sides of their mouths.

The statement reads: “The last time, they accused former President Goodluck Jonathan and others of sponsoring the freedom fighters, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the public ignored them.

"Now, they have turned around to accuse IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Biafra struggle continues"

Reasons why I named my dog ‘Buhari’ — Man explains

     
The Police in Ogun State, yesterday, released unconditionally, the 30-year-old trader, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, who was arrested last Saturday for naming his pet dog ‘Buhari’.

The embattled trader, who was visibly angry after his three-day incarceration in police cell, was let off the hook around 5pm on Tuesday after the intervention of both the Serkin Hausa and President-General of non-indigenes in the state.

It was learned that the prompt intervention of the elders made the complainant to withdraw the case he reported against the trader at Sango-Ota division which was later transferred to Police headquarters at Eleweran.

However, police sources said both the complainant and suspect were made to sign an undertaking not to cause any breach of peace again. Speaking to journalists after this release, the trader, a father of two from the Niger Delta, who trades on second hand clothing lamented that he was made to suffer for no just cause.

Narrating his ordeal, Chinakwe said “It is annoying because the complainant is from Niger Republic and I am sure he is one of those illegal aliens in this country. He connived with one Police Sergeant from the Northern part of Nigeria called Musa, who works at Sango Police division to humiliate me. Worse still, the Divisional Police Officer there, did not help matters as he refused to entertain any plea from me after I was arrested that Saturday night. He simply ordered his men to throw me into the cell.”

Continuing, he said...

“I did not commit any offence. I named my beloved pet dog Buhari, who is my hero. My admiration for Buhari started far back when he was a military Head of State. It continued till date that he is a civilian President. After reading his dogged fight against corruption, which is like a canker worm eating into the very existence of this country, I solely decided to rename my beloved dog which I called Buhari, after him. I did not know that I was committing an offence for admiring Buhari.

“I was intimidated and thrown inside the cell with hardened criminals for about three days. While I was there, the complainant from Niger Republic and Sergeant Musa from the North kept on taunting me saying people from my part of the country are trouble makers and that after detaining me, they will throw me into prison where I will die unsung.

”Even when my wife came with our baby on her back, they stopped her from giving me food. One of my friends that came to see me was also maltreated. “While taking me to Eleweran the next day, they handcuffed and chained me together with that my friend. Fortunately, when we got to police headquarters, both the Commissioner of Police and other officers were angry with their colleagues at Sango-Ota. ”They were wondering loudly why I was brought to the headquarters over such a minor case. It’s very unfortunate that I have to be so humiliated in my own country because of the antics of a foreigner in connivance with my brother from the North.”