Best Dressed male at AMVCA 2016

Wow! Our men are so stylist. Who is the best Dressed male at the just concluded AMVCA 2016..

AMVCA 2016 Award List

The 4th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards that were held at the Eko Hotels in Lagos, Nigeria lived up to everything they were billed to be and more!

There was stunning fashion, top-notch presenters, thrilling performances and of course big winners for the night! Have a look at who walked away with a prestigious AMVCA award this year:

BEST TELEVISION SERIES

WINNER: ARIYIKE OLADIPO – DADDY’S GIRLS



BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY (MOVIE/TV SERIES)    

WINNER: FOLARIN FALANA – JENIFA’S DIARY



BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES)

WINNER: DANIEL K. DANIEL – A SOLDIER’S STORY



BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (MOVIE/TV SERIES)  

WINNER: FUNKE AKINDELE – JENIFA’S DIARY



BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES)

WINNER: ADESUA ETOMI – FALLING



BEST MOVIE – SOUTHERN AFRICA

WINNER: JOYCE MHANGO CHAVULA – LILONGWE



BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR    

WINNER: SAMBASSA NZERIBE – A SOLDIER’S STORY



BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (MOVIE/TV SERIES)  

WINNER: TUNBOSUN AIYEDIHIN – BEFORE 30



BEST SHORTFILM OR ONLINE VIDEO

WINNER: OLUSEYI AMUWA – A DAY WITH DEATH



BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES – YORUBA

WINNER: ABIODUN JIMOH AND JUMOKE ODETOLA – BINTA OFEGE



BEST MOVIE – WEST AFRICA (DRAMA/COMEDY)

WINNER: CHINNY ONWUGBENU, GENVIEVE NNAJI, CHICHI NWOKO – ROAD TO YESTERDAY



BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES- IGBO

WINNER: PAUL IGWE – USEKWU IGBO



BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES – HAUSA

WINNER: SALISU BALARABE – DADIN KOWA



BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES – SWAHILI  

WINNER: SINGLE MTAMBALIKE – KITENDAWALI



BEST MOVIE – EAST AFRICA

WINNER: ELIZABETH MICHAEL – MAPENZI



BEST OVERALL MOVE

WINNER: STEPHANIE LINUS – DRY



BEST WRITER OF A MOVIE / TV SERIES

WINNER: TRISH MALONE – AYANDA



BEST COSTUME

WINNER: UCHE NANCY – DRY



BEST MAKEUP

WINNER: LOUIZA CAROLE – AYANDA



BEST LIGHTING

WINNER: STANLEY OHIKHUARE – COMMON MAN



BEST DIRECTOR

WINNER: AKIN OMOTOSHO – TELL ME SWEET SOMETHING



BEST PICTURE EDITOR

WINNER: SHIRLEY FRIMPONG – MANSO



BEST DOCUMENTARY

WINNER: REMI VAUGHAN – RICHARDS



BEST ART DIRECTOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES)

WINNER: FRANK RAJA ARASE – THE REFUGEES



BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

WINNER: PAUL MICHAELSON – TELL ME SOMETHING



BEST SOUND EDITOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES)

WINNER: MARQUEX JOSE GUILLERMO – DRY



Congratulations to all the phenomenal winners!

WIKE’S VICTORY: Oyegun calls for probe of S-Court Judges

ABUJA—National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun, has called for the investigation of Supreme Court judges.
Oyegun made the call against the backdrop of his party’s loss of Rivers State governorship seat to the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
It will be recalled that the supreme court last week affirmed the election of the state governor, Nyesom Wike, and dismissed the prayers of the APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside who prayed for cancellation of judgment of the state election petition tribunal.
But speaking in a meeting with a delegation of the party from the state, led by Peterside, Oyegun, who expressed shock over the ruling of the supreme court, said there was “something fundamentally wrong in the judiciary."

 Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

On the demand of meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari which was canvassed by the delegation, Oyegun promised to schedule a meeting between the President and  members of Rivers APC to address the state of the party in the state.
Oyegun said: “The APC National leadership has not neglected party leaders and supporters in Rivers State. The state has always been in the front burner of discussion and decision in the party. There is obviously something fundamentally wrong in Rivers State which needs to be investigated and addressed.
“Your visit has had a sober effect on me. This meeting will kickstart urgent actions to address what went wrong. As of today, there is an attempt being made by INEC to bar us from elections in Anambra and other states. We must address these issues. I still find the judgement  on the Rivers State governorship election totally astonishing. There is something fundamentally wrong in the judiciary.
“We have lost very important resource-rich states to the PDP. No matter how crude oil prices have fallen, it is still the most important revenue earner for the country.
“I will take up your request to facilitate a meeting with the President. We will do that as soon as possible and also make it clear that there are problems which as a party, we must address.”
Speaking earlier on behalf of the delegation, Peterside said since they lost the case, the feeling of the people in the state was that of orphan.
He stated that the only consolation they had was the ministerial appointment given to their leader and former governor of the state, Chibuike Ameachi.

22-year-old Ndifreke Joseph Clement surrenders to the police after killing cousin over Girlfriend

22-year-old Ndifreke Joseph Clement, a native of Akon Itam, Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, who handed himself over to police at Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, said he slashed his cousin’s throat after beating him to coma because Edet slept with his girlfriend in August 2015.
He said “I cannot remember the exact date now, but it occurred in a night in August 2015 in the one room apartment we shared. On that day, I returned from work to meet the door locked.
“I knocked on the door and waited for over five minutes before my cousin could come to open the door. When I went into the room, I saw my girlfriend weeping and blood running from her nostrils.
“I asked her what happened and she said Ubong beat, wounded and forcefully had sex with her. But after opening the door for me, Ubong went away and did not come back until very late in the night.
‘We fought for a very long time’
“When I asked him why he did what he did to my girlfriend, he started punching me and I retaliated.
“We fought for a very long time before I could subdue him. I then picked my cow-butchering knife and cut his throat, carried his dead body and dumped it in the bush very close to the house and threw the knife into the pit toilet.
“I have brought myself to the police even when nobody knew that I killed him. I have come to plead for forgiveness because since I killed my cousin, I no longer have peace of mind. I am always disturbed in my mind and dream.”
The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said the suspect would be arraigned for the court to decide whether he had any right to take the life of another person.

Femi Fani- Kayode Welcomes Baby Boy

Former beauty queen, Precious Chikwendu, the fiancee of former Minister of Aviation and spokesperson of the 2015 Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode on Monday gave birth to a baby boy. According to available information, the child was born at Diff Hospital, Abuja

Maritime Varsity: Ijaw youths demand apology from Amaechi

WARRI—Reactions have continued to trail the decision of the Federal Government to scrap the Nigeria Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, in Delta State, with the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western zone, demanding an apology from the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

        Nigeria Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, in Delta State

Also, an Ijaw leader and former acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, has described as an error of judgment, the reported move by Amaechi to scrap the university which was set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Pastor Aginighan, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement, said that the proposed action was against President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance to redress challenges of underdevelopment facing the region.
Aginighan, who is the founding National Secretary, Ijaw National Congress, INC, expressed fears that the reported move by the Minister of Transport would upset the atmosphere of peace in the region, stressing that the coming of the university brought joy to the Ijaw nation and people of the region.
Meanwhile, IYC Western zone, comprising Edo, Delta and Ondo States, made the call at a meeting in Bomadi, presided over by its chairman, Freedom Atigbi.
In a communiqué by the Information Officer, Napoleon Kenerekedi, the youths said it was an insult to the Ijaw nation for Amaechi to say that Gbaramatu Kingdom was unsafe for Nigerians from other parts of the country to come for learning.
The council said he should not only apologise but rescind the decision, “If the terrain is not conducive for Nigerians from other parts of the country, then it should also be unsafe for continued oil exploration activities by multinationals and the Nigerian government.”

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS GOVERNOR WIKE’S ELECTION

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike declaring that the election was conducted in line with the Electoral Act.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Kekere-Ekun, the Supreme Court unanimously validated the election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on the grounds that he won with the lawfully valid votes.
The Supreme Court panel lead by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed declared that it will be giving reasons for its judgment on February 12.

Photos of  Governor Wike's Victory

Here is what Kim Kardashian thinks about breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding in public can be a sensitive subject, one that Kim Kardashian is hyperaware of. The mother-of-two took to her website, kimkardashianwest.com, today to dish on her thoughts on the debate, plus her tips for breastfeeding. As it turns out, Kardashian has a pretty refreshing view on the matter.

"I know some people find breastfeeding such a private, personal experience, while other people are very open and even breastfeed in public. Now that I'm a mom, I say whatever makes you comfortable goes." Amen to that. The Keeping Up With the Kardashian star does admit, despite this, that she would only breastfeed in public if it was an emergency and she was fully covered—understandably, since she's photographed almost everywhere she goes. As for those breastfeeding photos that some post on Instagram? Kardashian doesn't mind them, either.

When it comes to tips on breastfeeding, the entrepreneur has one: Nipple shields. "I use a nipple shield most of the time when I feed. I find the baby feeds better, and it allows me to never get irritated nipples or anything because they're protected by the shield." For more of her tips on breastfeeding, head over to kimkardashianwest.com.

Kate Moss
From her boho outerwear to slinky slip dresses, Moss, both model and mother, has easily become one of the greatest contemporary fashion icon




Kerry Washington
As it turns out, Kerry Washington is as captivating off-screen as she is on, not only on account of her poise and grace but also because of her bold and elegant fashion choices. She is never afraid to sport a bright color, graphic print, avant-garde silhouette, or even feathers! The red carpet is always a little more exciting when she's around.I

KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN POSTS THE FIRST FULL LENGTH SELFIE OF KIM AFTER THE BIRTH OF SAINT

Kim Kardashian has not been posting full-length selfies (and she's only posted one solo face one). And it's been an unnerving time.

But good old Kourtney is here to calm our nerves now, posting the first picture of her sister Kim since she finished enduring "the worst experience of her life" (pregnancy). And it's surprisingly low key.

I

Home Remedies you can find in your kitchen

Natural-born soothers

You already know that consuming the right foods can boost your intake of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. But there are a few out there that could also alleviate some of your most pesky daily problems, like hiccups or even rashes like eczema. Though it's important to keep in mind that serious conditions need the attention of a doctor, it might not hurt to reach for one of these  items the next time you have a minor health problem.

Ginger for menstrual cramps
Traditional Chinese medicine has relied on ginger for more than 2,000 years. "Ginger can improve blood flow and reduce inflammation in your muscles, including those in the uterus where cramps originate," says Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, New York.

What's more, a preliminary study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine even found that ginger was as effective as ibuprofen for relieving period pain (more research is needed). To make your time of the month a little more bearable, try brewing up a cup of warm ginger tea.

 

Cranberries for urinary tract health

Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, a compound that fends off the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTI). "E. coli is one of the top offenders in triggering a UTI," Dr. Rosser says. "This substance has been shown to prevent infection by keeping the bacteria from attaching to the bladder walls." If you already have a UTI, cranberries probably won't cure it, but consuming cranberries daily may help protect against future infections. About 20% of women who get a UTI will contract another one, so drinking one to two glasses a day of 20% pure cranberry juice will help prevent recurrence, Dr. Rosser says.

 Calcium-rich foods for PMS
Prone to irritability and mood swings before your period? You're not alone. About 85% of menstruating women experience at least one PMS symptom each month. The good news is tweaking your diet might help lessen your symptoms. "It's been shown that people with PMS have lower blood calcium levels than those without PMS," Dr. Rosser says. The National Institutes of Health recommends adults consume about 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. You probably already know that dairy products are rich in calcium, but so are almonds, broccoli, leafy greens, and sardines.

Oatmeal for eczema
Calm itchy, inflamed skin using this breakfast food. Oatmeal soothes rashes because it's packed with phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties. Create a soothing bath by grinding 1/3 cup of plain oatmeal (no flavors!) into a fine powder using your blender; pour the powder into lukewarm water and stir in evenly with your hands until the water is a milky color, suggests Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. Another option: use 1/4 cup of oatmeal and enough water to make a paste that you can apply directly to the skin for 10 minutes, she says.

 

Sea salt for dry skin

You don't need an expensive skincare product to treat rough patches on your knees, elbows, and heels. A sea salt scrub made at home will work just as well. "Sea salt is a good exfoliator because it has thicker grains that do a good job of clearing away dry skin," Dr. Mariwalla says. Just mix one cup of sea salt with 1/2 cup of a light massage oil. "Use a bowl to make sure the mixture stays moist, like wet sand, and not runny," Dr. Mariwalla says. It's best to keep this scrub away from your more sensitive areas like your face and the back of your arms, though. It can be harsh on skin that doesn't require as much exfoliation.

Futo Polalized Over Appointment of New VC

OWERRI—The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, has been polarized as the institution shops for a new Vice Chancellor, VC, that will take over from the incumbent, Professor Chigozie C. Asiabaka, in the next five months.

Strong feelers from the FUTO community revealed that there were serious plans to significantly alter the content of the advertisement already published by the institution.
Confirming the fear during a check yesterday, a senior FUTO staff alleged that “while the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council appears favourably disposed to a particular contestant, others believe that the VC has his own candidate.”
The same senior staff said that “an extra-ordinary meeting of the Senate is scheduled to hold today (Tuesday), in the  Senate Council Chamber”, but also alleged that the Governing Council would also meet  January 28, 2016, to also deliberate on the same issue.
The staff equally showed  the copy of a memorandum, REG/SEN/COM.3/XIV, dated January 21, 2016, and signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Senate, Mr. Orje Ishegh-Nor.
According to the memorandum, the “appointment of Senate Representative in the Search Team for the appointment of the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor”, is top on the  agenda.
As at the last count, about seven professors from Owerri senatorial zone have applied for the post, while a few others from Orlu senatorial zone and Anambra State, have equally sent in their applications.
Meanwhile, Professor Asiabaka has stoutly denied the allegation that he is grooming one of the contestants to take his place.
Asiabaka, who made the denial when he fielded questions from journalists in Owerri, also said that he never contemplated doing such a thing.
“I am not grooming anybody. Such a thing is not in my agenda. God gives power to whoever he likes. He also takes it when he like. Those who want the office should apply and wait for the outcome of their application”, Asiabaka said,

4,400 Rats killed in six Lagos Markets

The Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Monday said that it had destroyed no fewer than 4,400 rats at six major markets in the state under its de-rat market programme.

Its president, Mr Samuel Akingbehin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his association carried out the exercise at Onigongbo, Oshodi, Oke-Odo, Ikotun Idanwo, Ojuwoye and Mile 12 Markets.

He said that de-rating the markets was part of the association’s efforts to curb the spread of Lassa fever in the state.

The exercise is strategic in our effort toward the prevention of communicable diseases,’’ he said.

NAN reports that this was part of efforts by the public and relevant agencies to de-rat markets that were the causes of the Lassa fever that had broken out in many states.

The disease, since its outbreak, had killed at least 76 victims and over 200 cases across 17 out of the 36 states are quarantined and under observations.

Akingbehin appealed to traders from across the state to show an understanding toward the efforts of the association to rid the markets of rats and rodents.
He said that the plan was to de-rat markets in one local government area per day starting from 5p.m.

The association decided on this time to allow traders and buyers transact their legitimate businesses.

“We also decided to put the exercise in the evening due to the nocturnal nature of rodents and our members had recorded successes in the markets visited till date.

“It took us about three hours to cover the Oshodi market when our members went there for the exercise.

“Today, Monday, we will be visiting Suru-Alaba Market in Orile-Ifelodun LCDA by 5pm with about 400 EHOs to de-rat it.

“We are still calling on all other executive secretaries of the local government areas to assist us toward the elimination of rodents in our markets and our environments,’’ he said.

Governor Wike said Peace has Returned to Rivers State during the Holy Ghost Rally of RCCG Today

WITH PORT HARCOURT HOLY GHOST REALLY, DEVELOPMENT HAS COME TO STAY IN RIVERS SAYS GOVERNOR WIKE
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the successful hosting of the Holy Ghost Rally of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, RCCG, in Port Harcourt means that peace and development have come to stay in the state.
Addressing the Holy Ghost Rally of the RCCG in Port Harcourt on Sunday where the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye ministered, Governor Wike said "I know with the Holy Ghost Rally peace has returned to Rivers State.

"Peace and development will continue to be in this state as a result of the Holy Ghost Rally."
He prayed God to always protect and preserve Pastor Enoch Adeboye to continue to serve humanity with God's words.
Governor Wike assured the RCCG members that the traffic situation around the stadium would improve in 2017 as alternative routes would have been constructed.
Preaching on the topic "the power in the right hand of God ", Pastor Enoch Adeboye stated that God has the capacity to do the impossible and transform any situation.
He said that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally was the first time the programme would be holding in the morning which translates to unique visitation of God to the area.
Pastor Adeboye prayed God to always bless Rivers State and ensure that the will of God is done for the state.
The programme attracted thousands of RCCG worshippers to the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium Port Harcourt.

Glamorous Kimberly Tucci Photoshoot, an Australian mother expecting quintuplets

After nearly a year of trying to get pregnant with her third and final child, Tucci became pregnant at the end of July. This photo was taken at just 11 weeks

At her first ultrasound, the sonographer spotted multiple gestation sacks. Five, to be exact.
“My suspicion of a possible multiple pregnancy grew due to the quick rise of the pregnancy hormone,” Tucci wrote on her Facebook page, Surprised By Five. “I was excited at the possibility of twins but absolutely nothing on this earth could have prepared me for what happened next.

“[The sonographer] started to count ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE!” Tucci said. “Did I hear that correctly?? FIVE?? My legs start to shake uncontrollably and all I can do is laugh. The sonographer then told me the term for five is QUINTUPLETS!!”

(There’s just a one in 55,000,000 chance of conceiving quintuplets naturally, by the way.)
Tucci then called her husband, who quickly drove to the doctor’s office.
“I could see the excitement in his face,” she said. “He told me, ‘We can do this.’'

 Yup, she’s having quintuplets. This is her at 25 weeks looking like an actual goddess.

 She also wrote on her face book page that she will be having four girls and one .

 27th Week of Pregnancy

I have made it to 27 weeks and I'm still at home and active!! Whoop Whoop 🎉
I'm starting to feel very uncomfortable and sore, as you can imagine I'm stretched to capacity!! The babies sit as high as under my ribs and stretch out to around my sides! I can't even begin to imagine how painful it will be to have my uterus contract back after all this is over!! I will admit it will be nice to have my body back, enjoy some wine and oysters and sleep through the night without needing the bathroom at a minimum of 12 times, the babies like to dance around on my bladder whilst I'm trying to sleep.
I'm very thankful to have made it this far and to have been blessed with five healthy babies.
Incase you missed our news we are having four girls and one boy ❤
‪
With nausea, body pain, itchiness, stretch marks, frequent urination, and difficulty sleeping and eating, Tucci’s pregnancy has been anything but easy. But all five babies are healthy, and Tucci remains positive.

Tucci said the experience is worth it.“Yes!!! I will keep pushing through.”

We must advise Buhari correctly —Ebun Adegboruwa

Lagos lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, says President Muhammadu Buhari ought to be properly advised on human rights issues amid to the on-going anti-corruption crusade so that he is not accused of vendetta.
Corruption has become a big issue in Nigeria. What is your take?
Apart from the scourge of military coups, no other thing has dealt more harm to Nigeria than corruption.
Once a leader comes in and says ‘I want to fight corruption’, it  gingers the people because corruption  has led to  the  collapse of infrastructure and so many other things; for a leader to endear himself to Nigerians, all he needs to do is to assume office and  proclaim  anti-corruption war.
Have we always had this with past leaders?
Of course, virtually every leader had claimed to attempt to fight corruption.
As a matter of fact, former President Olusegun Obasanjo started this with ICPC and EFCC.
Some people criticised it then that it was not necessary
No. What some of us said at that time was that the two bodies shouldn’t be set up  to the detriment of the other agencies of government like the police because the police is everywhere while the EFCC is only in Lagos and Abuja.
Do you agree with the claim that  some form of witch-hunting is going on?
When Buhari was campaigning, he made war on corruption a campaign issue and, since he came to power, that has been our national anthem. You wake up in the morning, it is anti-corruption, you go to the toilet, you evacuate anti-corruption and it has now become the only song we hear and it seems to have become a distraction.
We support the war against corruption because it has eaten deep into almost every facet of our national life.
In the judiciary, an emergency should be declared because what is going on there is not normal.
If you really want to fight corruption, the gateway to that battle is the judiciary because the President cannot fight corruption.
When you talk about fighting corruption, you’re talking about the Office of the Attorney General and the courts and the statutory law enforcement agencies like the ICPC and EFCC, but, if you can follow me to the offices of some of these agencies, you will discover that we are not serious about fighting corruption.
In the EFCC office in Lagos, for instance, there are no tables; no electricity; the operatives I’ve met several times using their personal stationeries, personal computers to conduct investigations.
You may want to find out why high-profile cases collapse in court.
Manpower is not enough.   There is no method of research to properly investigate a corruption case.
Let me tell you what they do:   When you get a Yahoo-Yahoo (Advance Fee Fraudster) person, an ordinary person who has no money, you beat him up, hang him, get confessional statement from him; and the next day he is in court; he has been so intimidated and battered and he has no lawyer.   In a week’s time, the case is done away with and you get a conviction.

So what happens in high-profile cases?
Ha, in that instance, when you get a public figure who has resources, he goes there with, maybe, two SANs. So, when he sits with you, he folds his hands, waits for you to bring all the evidence you have. You try to force him to write something, the refuses. So, you carry your half-baked corruption charge against him to court and lawyers pick it and begin to tear it to shreds. Then, in another one week, you come with another amended charge and, the following  week, you come again, from 101 counts, you reduce it to 50 and then   you reduce it to 10 and eventually the case is struck out.   Remember Timi Sylva and Fani-Kayode’s cases. The problem really is not EFCC’s; look at the budget and find out how much was earmarked for the agency.
After the EFCC may have finished – even if it had done a thorough job – you will still take your case to court.
Go to courts in Lagos today, electricity is not there.  The average number of  cases before a judge in a day is about 50.   There is no way a human being can conduct a serious trial of 15 cases in a day.

Let’s talk about the independence of the judiciary
The executive arm of government has hijacked the judiciary.
The judicial workers have been fighting for the past five years to liberate the judiciary because the judiciary in almost all the states is in the hand of the Commissioner for Justice in terms of funding because he who pays the piper  dictates the tune.   The judiciary must go cap in hand to get its funds from the commissioner.   The same thing happens at the federal level.
Most judges in Lagos have an average of 20 judgments (outstanding) to deliver, over 30 rulings.   In every country, the executive implements policies and it can seize people’s land by force or imprison people anyhow.   But when the judiciary is effective, it curtails the excesses of the executive.   Therefore, it is in the executive’s interest to stifle the judiciary by starving it of funds.
A  senator has a personal assistant on research, another on media and so on; the same thing for a minister.   But go to the court and see what a judge goes through.   He sits in the court from 9am to 3pm before he rises  and goes to his chambers. Then he starts to research into cases.   Check all the lives of the retired Chief Judges in Lagos, they have one form of illness or the other on account of their years in service. We are not caring for these people.   Investment is not  made in the judges.   All we are hearing about this so- called anti-corruption war is about arrests, bail or no bail, handcuffs and so on and, when the cases collapse, you will turn round  to accuse  the judges of corruption.

What actually is your problem with the anti-corruption war?
During the campaign, a documentary was aired  on AIT which some people considered offensive.   The PDP, through its spokesperson, hammered Buhari.   So, when I saw  Raymond Dokpesi  in court, I have an idea why he is being tried even though there are allegations against him.   I saw the PDP spokesman in court and  I understand why.   I also understand that in 1985 when there was a coup against Buhari, some officers played prominent roles then and one of them is Dasuki;  so I saw  him in court and I have an idea why.   After Ayo Fayose’s tenure as governor of Ekiti, I expect to see him in the EFCC office.   So, people raise the issue of vendetta.   We must advise the President correctly.
I cannot understand why people are saying human rights must be subsumed under a war against corruption.   We cannot  say that people  will no longer be granted bail because they are facing corruption charges.   Corruption trial, terrorism trial will come under human rights.   Felony is a bailable offence.
Section 36 of the Constitution says people are presumed innocent until proven guilty so you cannot just keep people in detention. And the reason is that if the man is found not to be guilty, he would have suffered for an offence he was not guilty of.   So you allow him that presumption.
Look at the case of Dasuki.   J B Daudu is standing for him.   He has been the eye of the law in this country.   He was the President of the NBA. Why should any reasonable person expect or think that Daudu would encourage his client to jump bail, knowing the consequences?
It seems we are being hypnotised with this anti-corruption war.   Look at the high-profile cases and all you hear are stories about bail or no bail and EFCC arresting this and that but when you get to the real trial you don’t get to hear anything because it would seem the proper investigation has not been done.   That is what some of us have been saying and that is what we want reversed – encourage the EFCC  operatives to conduct proper investigation.   Look, there is nothing in bail.   The real deal is when you march your suspects to court and confront  them with hard facts.
In one high profile case here in Lagos, bail became the main issue and people were coming to court in ‘Aso Ebi’. Keyamo, standing for EFCC, said ‘grant the man bail on self recognizance and I will face the trial proper.   He got a conviction here in Lagos until the Supreme Court upturned the verdict years after.
But when the issue is all about vendetta, ‘oh, he’s the spokesperson of the PDP, let’s put him in handcuffs and humiliate him’, you might not get anywhere.   This was a man you arrested in his house and he did not resist arrest.   What is going on is not trial.

What do you have against this government because it would seem you have something against it?
Me?   That cannot be true.   I have no grievance against this government or the war against corruption.   We are blessed with the President that we have, a devout Muslim, a well-trained soldier who is disciplined.   We are blessed as a nation with the Vice President, a professor of law, a SAN, a pastor in the RCCG, who rose to the highest position  of Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and revolutionized the judicial system in Lagos.   But we must guide them right.   We cannot say because we have idols in government, then we should shift the goal post of justice.   In any clime, we know the conditions under which you can grant somebody bail, but we cannot now say because we are fighting corruption, so we must change the rules arbitrarily and say ‘let the accused prove his innocence’, I cannot support that.
When people went to court in February 2015 to try to stop Buhari from contesting, I was in court in Abuja spending my resources to defend the President that he should be allowed to contest.   The judiciary was independent at that time because Jonathan did not interfere.
The Attorney General made a statement that judges are going to be sent to jail because they are granting bail to suspects according to the Constitution!

Some people are of the view that once suspects are granted bail, the case drags on and on and appears never to be concluded?
To prosecute Chief Ibori, the UK government spent millions of Euros, sending investigators, combing virtually all over the world and, by the time the charge was presented, he had no choice, the evidence was overwhelming.   Can we do that in Nigeria?   How many lawyers does the EFCC have?   Only two prominent lawyers are helping EFCC prosecute its cases – Rotimi Jacobs and Festus Keyamo.   Any SAN you approach to handle an EFCC case would not agree.

Would you agree to prosecute on behalf of the EFCC?
I have called them to say I am ready so that we can fight this anti-corruption war together but that is a private matter.
But talking about bail, I cannot sit here and encourage what is going on because it would turn round to haunt every other aspect of our lives.
A husband, angry with his wife, can push to lock the wife up because then it would no longer be anti-corruption.   It cannot work.

But the gravity of what these people have done, the lost lives, infrastructure deficit?
The gravity of a crime is defined by a charge and the law.   In Nigeria today, bail comes in three categories, misdemeanor, felonies and capital offenses.
With the law today in Nigeria, any offense is bailable.

What of terrorism?   Because there is a debate now on the gravity of terror…
(Cuts in)  Look, if you want us to have a debate, that is another matter.   But if you are discussing the law, then the law is the law.   Human rights  is intrinsic, you cannot remove it from that individual’s being.
I have no problem with anybody being arrested and re-arrested and charged.   The reason for the argument on the bail matter is that if somebody is being charged, you must have had your evidence – bank statement and all that – before you even charge him.   If the issue is not about witch-hunting or just arbitrary punishment, once you charge him repeatedly over and over, people will see through that and concluded that you are just doing what you’re doing to just punish the individual.   The multitude of charges is not a problem for me, bail is not a lenience for freedom forever.

What do  you expect this government to do that it is not doing?
I would have expected this government to hand  over the judiciary to the Vice President to say ‘this is your field, please take it over, reform the judiciary so that when we take a case to court, we can be sure of the outcome’.   And please, let us do proper investigation so that when we take a case to court, we would have successfully prosecuted the individual and not all the needless energy on bail and media trial because if the case is not strong and the accused is set free, people will turn round to blame judges for corruption.

R Kelly Claimed that he was sexually abused as a child by a relative

Controversial rapper R. Kelly has claimed that he was sexually abused as a child by a female relative.

The music star, who was found not guilty on all 14 counts in his 2008 child pornography trial, explained that he now forgives the relative in question as it could have been to do with something they had been through in their life.

Speaking to Chris Heath of GQ magazine, he said: ‘I, well, definitely forgive them. As I’m older, I look at it and I know that it had to be not just about me and them, but them and somebody older than them when they were younger. I looked at it as if there was a sort of like, I don’t know, a generational curse, so to speak, going down through the family.’

Asked why the generational curse didn’t pass down to him, Kelly replied that he ‘opted to break it’ but added that misunderstandings occurred as his song lyrics were ‘taken far too literally’.


Kelly said that the abuse began when he was just 8 but continued up until his teenage years and shared that while he was initially ‘ashamed’, he began to sometimes ‘look forward to it.’

Admitting that the experience made him ‘hornier’ and more ‘sexual’ than he should have been at a young age, he addressed the question of whether he wished the family member in question was brought to justice for the abuse by replying: ‘As I’m older, I’ve only learned to forgive it. Was it wrong? Absolutely. But it’s a family member that I love so I would definitely say no to that one. To be honest, even if my mom, I saw her kill somebody, I’m not gonna say, “Well, yeah, she definitely should go to jail.” It’s just something I wouldn’t do

Buhari Redeems Pledge to Eaglets..30 Years After

Observes minute silence for Akhionbare
THEY waited for 30 long years, a period in which one of them, Kingsley Akhionbare, joined the great beyond, but yesterday at the Aso Rock Villa members of the victorious team of the China 1985 FIFA U-16 Championship were made to smile as a grateful nation finally rewarded them for service to the country.
Incidentally, President Muhammadu Buhari was the Military Head of State when the team, led by Sebastian Brodericks, beat Germany 2-0 to win the Kodak trophy. But he was removed in a palace coup before he could fulfill his promise of rewarding the members of the team.
But in a elaborate ceremony yesterday, each of the players were rewarded with N2 million, while their coaches were given N 1.5 million.
Before the event started, the president called for a one-minute silence in honour of a member of the team, Kingsley Aikhionbare, who died in London in 1996.

Apart from the members of the 1995 set, the winners of the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, were also given N1.2 million each, their Head Coach – N900, 000, Assistant Coaches – N600, 000, while the Team Secretary and Medical Team were rewarded with N300, 000 each and other officials got N200, 000.
The players of the 2015 CAF U-23 Cup of Nations team each got N500, 000; Head Coach got N500, 000; while
Assistant Coaches and other Team Officials got N300, 000 each.
Apart from footballers, the President also announced financial rewards for various categories of athletes, who brought honour and laurels to Nigeria in various international competitions, especially in the last seven months of his assumption of office as a democratically-president of Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Buhari praised the athletes for always proving to the world that the Nigerian spirit is indomitable and assured that the Federal Government “would not relent in its efforts to ensure that our sportsmen and women continue to excel in international competition"s.