A cow been strangle by a snake

Women arraigned for cutting neighbour with blade

Hannah Okurabe
 

Two women – Temitope Abigeal and Temitope Remi – have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ebute Meta on a three count of conspiracy, assault and grievous harm.

Abigeal (26) and Remi (28), both choristers at a Cherubim and Seraphim church at Progressive Road, Ebute Meta, were said to have assaulted Hannah Okurabe (18) with razor blades at Abule Nla junction, a few metres away from the church.

The March 17, 2013 incident was said to be the result of an earlier fight over the church’s choirmaster, Joseph Unuigbe.

 A father of two, Unuigbe is married to Folashade, who is also a member of the same church.

The charge read, “That you Temitope Abigeal and Temitope Remi at about 18.30 hours at Abule Nla junction, Apapa Road, Ebute Meta West, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit assault and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

“That you, Temitope Abigeal and Temitope Remi in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully use a razor blade to cut one Okurabe Hannah on her cheek, eyelid, left ear and back of her neck which caused her grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 243 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.”

Their counsel, identified simply as Mr. Chukwudi, made a bail application.

The prosecutor, Mr. Ishola Samuel, objected to the bail application, saying that the complainant was presently admitted to the Lagos Island General Hospital.

Samuel said, “If bail is granted, the defendants are likely to abscond from the court and that would prejudice the interest of justice. In view of this, I ask this honourable court to discountenance the bail application of the defence counsel.”

The Magistrate, Mrs. M. O. Tanimola, ruled that the charge was a bailable offence.

She said, “Bail is hereby granted the two defendants in the sum of N200,000 each in like sum. Defendants are to produce two responsible sureties who are gainfully employed and with evidence of tax payments to the state government in the last three years.

“The sureties must be relatives of the defendants and their addresses are to be verified. Case is adjourned to the April 17 2013 for mention.”

The suspects are said to be currently remanded at the Kirikiri Minimum Prison.

Secondary school dropout consults for teaching hospital

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Usen Effiong, for posing as a medical doctor and consulting for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for more than two months.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, said Effiong, an indigene of Ukot Usung Itam, in Itu Local Government Area was caught based on intelligence report from the UUTH.

He said, “The police arrested Effiong in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital impersonating a medical doctor.

“The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, Dr. John Udobang denied ever knowing the young man. He is not a member of the association.”

He said the police had investigated Effiong and found out that he was actually impersonating a medical doctor, adding that the law would take its course.

Udobang told PUNCH Metro that he received a call from the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, UUTH, Dr. Sunday Udo on the activities of Effiong.

He said, “Udo told me that they caught someone who has not finished secondary school parading himself as a consultant in the teaching hospital as a medical doctor.”

Udobang explained that he went to the teaching hospital where he interviewed the suspect and found him with stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (blood pressure apparatus).

He said, “We also found some prescriptions and forms that he wanted to fill to become a member of the association of resident doctors”

“Later, when they went to look for him, he was found in the doctor’s consulting room eating.

“He has confessed that he is not a doctor, and has not finished his school certificate, and has been coming there to consult in the last two months.”

Asked how it was possible for an SS II dropout to be consulting in a teaching hospital, Udobang replied that people used to see him but did not know his intention.

He said, “The Dean whose table he was sitting on used to see him and thought he was a medical student or a newly employed doctor that he has not known.

“It was after one of the younger doctors saw him and asked the Dean who he was that they started investigating him.”

Suspected cultist impregnates 7-year-old

By EMMA AMAIZE


WARRI — POLICE at Orerokpe, Delta State, have arrested a suspected cultist, simply called Monday, for allegedly raping and impregnating a seven-year-old girl (names withheld).
Vanguard learnt that the girl was living with her 27-year-old aunt, Destiny, in Ometa village, where Monday allegedly had carnal knowledge of her.
It was gathered that the victim fell sick after the incident but Destiny did not suspect it was as result of pregnancy until she alerted the child’s mother, a widow, who said she should be taken to the hospital.
The young child was taken to a clinic where a pelvic scan conducted on her confirmed she was pregnant.
A family source said: “The suspect was subsequently, arraigned in court yesterday, and remanded in prisons custody.”
As police rescue kidnapped principal, vice principal.
Meantime, police in Delta State have rescued the Principal and Vice Principal of Okuname High School, Agharho, Mr. Michael. Akpoduma and Mrs. Gerah Edith respectively, kidnapped by three gunmen, March 25.
Police officers and members of a vigilance group in the area stormed the kidnappers’ den in Okuname forest to rescue the victims, yesterday.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the the rescue of the victims said the kidnappers initially demanded N10 million and later reduced it to N5 million to free the victims, adding: “No ransom was paid.”
The principal and vice principal were driving home in the principal’s Camry car, March 25, when they were ambushed at a bad spot and seized.
They took them away in another snatched  Camry, which they later abandoned.

Tuface/Annie Idibia wedding: I was not invited – Blackface

By Charles Mgbolu
Blackface has via a tweet confirmed that indeed he had not been among the 250 guests invited for the mega wedding of the year (so far) Tuface/Annie as he had gotten no invitation from Tuface to attend the ceremonies in Dubai.
Blackface tweeted

Mother gets 30 years jail for starving kids to death

TOKYO (AFP) – A 25-year-old mother whose two young children starved to death surrounded by rubbish after she locked them in her apartment has been sentenced to 30 years in jail in Japan, reports said Wednesday.
Single mother Sanae Nakamura regularly left her daughter, 3, and one-year-old son, in the apartment in western Osaka while she spent the night at her boyfriend’s house, reports said.
She had begin leaving them alone in March 2010, the Asahi Shimbun said, adding that sometime in early June that year she stopped coming home.
But when she did eventually return later that month the two tots were dead, the paper said.
Nakamura was convicted of murder by Japan’s lower courts and sentenced to 30 years at earlier hearings, which found she had known that leaving the children without sufficient food would kill them.
The country’s supreme court on Monday upheld the sentence, the Asahi and Kyodo News reported on Wednesday

Pornography Case: Covenant University was right – Court

By Onozure Dania
Justice Mobolaji Ojo of an Ogun High Court sitting in Ota, Wednesday, dismissed the suit filed by 20-year-old Longji Felix Vwamhi, a 400 level student of Information and Communication Technology department of Covenant University, challenging the institution over his expulsion for  being in possession of pornographic materials in his laptop. The case was dismissed for lack of merit.
It will be recalled that Vwamhi was expelled on November 27, 2012 following the outcome of the Disciplinary Committee set up by the university which found him guilty of being in possession of pornographic materials and indecent dressing.
The Covenant University, its vice chancellor and chancellor are the first, second and third defendants, respectively while Felix’s mother, Mrs Indo Felix Vwamhi,  of Block House 13 Mbora  Estate, Abuja is a co-plaintiff in the suit.
In his judgment, Ojo found out that the student has indeed violated the university regulations as contained in chapter 4 section 35 of its student hand book which prohibits public display or possession of pornographic films  or photograph.
He pointed out that the student also admitted being in possession of the laptop containing the pornographic materials and sharing same laptop with friends in the school.
He also stated that the panel set up by the university to try the student did not violet section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended and the principles of “Audi Alterem Partem and Nemo Judex in Causa Sua” . That one cannot be a judge in his own course.”
According to him, the claimant did not state categorically that the chairman of the panel was biased being the Dean of Students Affairs whose staff investigated the student in question.
The Judge  also faulted the claimant’s counsel for his  inability to file counter affidavit against the issues raised by the respondents, adding that, in a situation where the party to a dispute could not file counter affidavit it would be assumed he admitted.
Justice Ojo however, stated that  the school authority should reconsider the letter of a passionate appeal made by the student’s father to revisit and review the decision of the Student Disciplinary Committee to avert possible miscarriage of justice and colossal human and material wastage.
He urged the university authority to tamper justice with mercy and recall the student stressing that he needs  encouragement to complete his education having spent four years already.

MEND Threatens Mayhem Over Sentencing Of Okah

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has rejected the 24-year jail term passed Tuesday on Henry Okah, the leader of the militant group, by Justice Neels Claaseen of the South Gauteng High Court in South Africa.

MEND in a statement signed by Comrade Azizi warned that hell would be let loose if the verdict is allowed to stand.

According to the group, “Boko Haram has killed more innocent Nigerians than any other militant group in the country and yet their spokesperson was handed a three-year sentence. This is the height of injustice to our region and people which will be resisted by all means necessary.

“Consultations are ongoing with some stakeholders and elders of the region while our position will be made known thereafter.

Henry Okah: Jailed 24 years

The gate of hell has just been let loose.”

Okah was jailed Tuesday by South African court for 24 years after he was convicted of 13 terrorism charges over twin bombings in Abuja on 1 October, 2010.

“Effectively, the accused Okah is therefore sentenced to 24 years imprisonment,” said Judge Neels Claassen.

Twelve people were killed in the bomb attacks in the Nigerian capital as the country was celebrating the 50th anniversary of its independence.

The state argued that Okah showed little remorse during the trial, and that his intentions in the bombings were to “obtain maximum casualties.”

MEND, which in 2010 was a well-equipped armed group fighting for a greater share of the Delta oil wealth, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Okah, who has permanent residency in South Africa, has denied any involvement in the bombings, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated.

He was also found guilty of terrorism charges related to two explosions in March 2010 in the southern Nigerian city of Warri, a major hub in the oil-rich Delta region.

Aero Workers Block Gates

Striking workers of Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s second largest airline, stormed the headquarters of the troubled airline on Tuesday, blocking its entrance gates and locking management staff in their offices in another day of protests that have now lasted thirteen days.

Aero Contractors planes remained grounded on Tuesday, a day after the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, warned the airline to re-employ hundreds of dismissed workers or face more protests, and four days after the National Industrial Court declared the sack of workers illegal.

NLC in a letter signed by its acting National Secretary, Emma Ugboaja and titled, “Don’t Provoke Nigerian Workers”, warned that the Nigerian workers would rise against Aero Contractors if their call was not heeded. “We are surprised that despite huge opportunities provided by the existence of vibrant, well informed, mature and responsible trade unions in the aviation sector, the management of Aero Contractors decided to ignore all available industrial relations mechanisms by dismissing over 655 employees of the company and locked out the entire workforce since March 13,” NLC said.

The striking Aero Contractors workers who blocked the entrance gate of the company. PHOTO: Simon Ateba

The labour union said such action was totally unacceptable and promised to do “everything possible” to defend the rights of the workers. Officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, began recertifying Aero Contractors on Monday, as the airline prepares to resume flights, but striking workers have vowed to resist any resumption without prior resolution of the crisis.

“Do not provoke us,” said Comrade Benjamin Okewu, President Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN.

“We are law abiding Nigerian citizens but we are wounded lions. We would like to resolve this crisis peacefully or call on NLC and TUC to take charge,” Okewu told police officers who had come to maintain peace and order.

Workers sat in front of Aero gates in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, reading newspapers, dancing, singing and vowing to spend the night there.

“We are ready to die. We want to die for our rights. Some of us have worked for seven years and we are dismissed by the Ibrus just like that without pay,” a worker said as he slept on the road, briefly disrupting vehicular movement.

The Divisional Police Officer of the local airport, Sam Eromosele, called on the workers to go to court and exploit all legal means.

“I am sure justice will be done,” he said.

But the workers refused to leave and continued singing, dancing and calling on Aero to pay them.

They vowed to close the Nigerian airspace if their demands were not heeded.

—Simon Ateba

Henry Okah jailed for 24 years

Henry Okah
| credits: naijagists.com

South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday has sentenced the leader of the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, to 24 years in prison.
On 21 January, Okah was found guilty on 13 counts of terrorism, including engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.

Details later.

Japanese scientists create artificial sperms from stem cells

By Sola Ogundipe

The Japanese have done it again! For the first time in human history,they have successfully utilized sperm cells created with stem-cell techniques to fertilize eggs and produce live, normal offspring.

They  used embryonic stem cells of mice to make primordial germ cells,which are the precursors for sperm cells.

Scientists have for ages  tried to create sperm by using stem cells in earlier in-vitro studies using mice and human cells, but up until now they haven’t been successful.

The breakthrough research by the Asian scientists, led by Professor
Mitinori Saitou from the Kyoto University, is published  as an
abstract in the journal Cell,, entitled: “Reconstitution of the Mouse Germ Cell Specification Pathway in Culture by Pluripotent Stem Cells”.

They then transplanted them into the testicles of infertile mice,
after which the cells produced normal-looking sperm. The mature sperm cells were used to fertilize eggs and produced healthy, fertile offspring.

These findings will encourage further research into the process of how primordial germ cells develop, something that has been difficult to investigate because these cells don’t grow in vitro.

Whether future findings eventually will lead to new discoveries in
human fertility remains a question. Human and mouse embryonic stem cells have different properties and any research of this kind with
human stem cells will of course become an ethical issue as well.

Ngozi Nwosu transformed … discharged from hospital

By Charles Mgbolu

Last month, ailing actress Ngozi Nwosu of Fuji House of Commotion fame flew to the United Kingdom to have a much needed heart and kidney transplant, with great relief we can tell you the operation was successful and Ngozi is now out of hospital.

Ngozi Nwosu well again!

We cannot tell how long she’ll be in the UK before returning home, however pictures she sent show how dramatically she’s transformed from the weak, emaciated Ngozi that left the Muritala Mohammed International airport, Lagos, last month.

Since early last year, the Fuji house of commotion troublesome wife and talented actress who played Peaceful Peace has been a shadow of her old self as she continued to emaciate following her body’s on-going battle against undisclosed heart and kidney related ailments, her friends in the industry panicked and raced the earth to raise money for her treatments but even their efforts were not enough until Governor Fashola stepped in.

The governor donated 4.5 million naira after reportedly reading of her ailment in a publication. Another 2 million was raised by her friends and corporate organisations who donated their widows mite to the distress call.

Ngozi had been temporarily delayed as her doctors in Nigeria prepared her referrals to the hospital in UK that would be handling her case forthwith. As soon as it was ready, Ngozi took the next available flight out of the country.

Since the story of her medical condition broke, her fans have continued to pour out their hearts to her in prayers and in kind words and with unshaken hope that she will come back to them again … alive and well!

Zambia arrests former president over Nigeria oil deal

BY MICHAEL EBOH with Agency Report

Former Zambian president, Mr. Rupiah Banda, was Monday arrested by the country’s law enforcement agents over allegations of corruption and abuse of office, following a crude oil import deal with Nigeria.

Banda was also alleged to have misappropriated about $11 million during his three-year reign as President of the country.
The country’s authorities are accusing him of procuring oil which did not benefit the country.

He was said to have imported crude oil from Nigeria, without actual deliveries, despite the fact that the funds were deposited into the bank account of his son.

Banda, who was released from police custody and is due to appear in court on Tuesday, however, said the moves against him are politically motivated.

He was questioned for close to three hours after his arrest related to the oil deal Monday before he was released on bail.

Banda denies the charges, and his lawyers claim the arrest is an attempt by current President Michael Sata to silence him.
After his release, Banda appeared before his supporters and told them to remain calm, reassuring them he would win his case in court.

Earlier this month, parliament lifted Banda’s presidential immunity, clearing the way for him to be prosecuted for several corruption and abuse of office charges.

Banda lost to President Michael Sata in 2011 elections. The new government has been pursuing the corruption investigations against the former leader and his political allies.

Banda, born 13 February 1937, was President of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.

During the Presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, Banda held important diplomatic posts and was active in politics as a member of the United National Independence Party (UNIP). Years later, he was appointed as Vice-President by President Levy Mwanawasa in October 2006, following the latter’s re-election.

He took over Mwanawasa’s presidential responsibilities after Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in June 2008, and following Mwanawasa’s death in August 2008, he became acting President. As the candidate of the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), he narrowly won the October 2008 presidential election, according to official results.

Opposition leader Michael Sata defeated Banda in the September 2011 presidential election, and Sata accordingly succeeded Banda as President on 23 September 2011.

Robbery suspect nabbed while selling stolen item to owner

By Evelyn UsmanSadiq Adetumobi,23 is currently cooling his heels at the  State Criminal Investigations Department,SCID,over the recovery of  stolen fabrics  worth millions of naira in his possession.

Robbers as gathered, broke into some shops  at Idumota market Monday, carted away assorted  fabrics.

Two days later, some  of the stolen lace materials were reportedly  recovered from Sadiq following which he was subsequently arrested.

Sadiq

But in this interview with Crime Guard, he claimed to be oblivious of the stolen materials.

According to him, “ at about 3am on Monday, I saw three persons walking round my area with bundles of clothes. I accosted them and said they can not pass through  our domain without giving me a share of what they had. So, one of them gave me two bundles of the lace materials.

Next day, I took the materials to the market to sell, only to be arrested. I did  not know that the person I took the clothes to was the owner of the stolen goods.

When I got there, I met a woman who showed interest. I told her it was N25,000 at first but she said she would pay N5000. Without much ado, I told her to bring the money and she asked me to wait for his apprentice to get her money”

Unknown to him, while he was waiting, the owner had contacted the police. As he stretched out his hand to collect the money from the shop owner on her arrival, the policemen caught him and handcuffed both hands.

Asked  what he was doing outside at an ungodly hour, he replied, “ we usually stayed on top of the bridge to collect toll from container drivers who usually took the route  at night. That was where I was with other boys when I sighted the people with the bundle of clothes”

His claim of being innocent of the crime will however be determined at the court.

Five suspects in prison over possession of human skull

For allegedly killing  a 7-year old boy and as well be in possession of a human skull, five accused persons were yesterday remanded in prison custody by  an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, Oluwaseyi Salako, 30; Akeem Shotayo, 32; Akeem Akinbowale, 33yrs; Segun Olabode, 46 and Ifarotimi Balogun, 47, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of fresh human skull and murder.

The prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the offence was committed on March 9 at about 7 a.m. in Abeokuta.

He told the court that the accused whose plea was not taken were said to have   unlawfully killed 7-year old Ope Ogunseye by machete.

He also alleged that the defendants,  between March 9 and 14, in Abeokuta, were caught with human parts.

“The defendants on March 9, at about 11 a.m. in Mokonolu compound, Isale Ijeun, were found in possession of a fresh human head,” Eigbejiale said.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened the Criminal Code of Ogun, 2006.

Magistrate Matins Akinyemi adjourned the case to April 23 for mention.

Only ‘one thing’ can split us – Psquare

Nigeria’s pop duo, P-Square of  Peter and Paul Okoye were in Malawi last weekend, where they thrilled their fans with their electrifying performance and moving dance steps. Showtime Celebrity cornered Peter Okoye who provides insight into what could make him break up with his twin brother. He also talks about the making of their latest album, Alingo and their new plans to conquer the southeast African countries  with their kind of music.  

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

You are always on the road, how many days do you guys have to yourselves?

We have been trying as much as possible to create  time for ourselves. But most times, we don’t get it. We need more time to rest because performing for 2-3 hours on stage is not usually an easy task. Despite the fact that we have been travelling over the world, we took a break in January, and right now, we have resumed business again.

Sometime ago, it was rumoured that your latest album, ‘Alingo’ was banned which was later refuted. How did you receive  the news?

We heard about the ban. But when they ban a particular song, they  are indeed helping to promote that song. By the way, if they ban a song from being broadcast in Nigerian stations, will they  stop MTV, Channel O, Soundcity and other cable networks from playing the same song. It’s not possible.

What is the making of Alingo?     

Psquare for the past five years hasn’t  done any dance video and our fans expected to see something of that nature from us. So, ‘Alingo’  was just the first song we had even before the ‘Invasion’ album came out. We didn’t take the song seriously until when our fans started loving it. And before we knew what was happening, it caught fire. We have no choice than to give our fans a  video.

P-Square

You put in a lot of energies to do the video?

Yes, it was my own idea. When the song started picking up, we thought it is important to give our fans something they have never gotten from Psquare in the past five years. The last time  we did something  similar to this, ‘Roll It’ was over five years ago. It took us a lot of time and energies to produce the album. Our senior brother, Jude who is also our manager shot the video. Interestingly, most people didn’t know that the video was shot  in  Nigeria. We went to an abandoned warehouse situated some ten minutes away from our Lagos residence to shoot the video.

Sometime last year, you guys did a remix of Beautiful ‘Onyinye’ with Rick Ross, American artiste. You also got  signed to Konvict Music,  owned by Akon. What’s the situation like presently?  

Our relationship with Akon is great. We have known Akon for over six year but we were not looking forward to working with him until last two years when he attended our concert in London. After watching us perform on stage, he developed interest in working with us.

Then, he was planning to open a branch of his Konvict Musik record label in Africa and he was in need of business partners who would help him coordinate the business. That was  how we teamed up with him  to establish Konvict Musik in Nigeria. We are representing Akon in Africa just as he is representing in America. That’s the whole idea.

It was also rumoured some time ago that you guys bought a private jet. Was it true?

There was nothing like that. I guess because it was included in our list that whenever we are going for a specific show,  the organsiers must provide us with a private jet. We had a deal with a private jet company which always hire their private jet to us whenever we are in need of it. It’s like, we have a private jet at our disposal. I remember, I once tweeted that a private jet has been included in our list.  That was how people started speculating that Psquare has bought a private jet. But we always  travel with the jet all the time.

But do you have a plan to buy a private jet?

To be honest with you, the way things are going, we are planning to buy one. And it’s not because of the cost implication of hiring a private jet, but the fact that we want to meet up with our concerts.

What would you say, you haven’t done since you started your musical career?

I think  we have virtually done everything. But I don’t want our fans to start speculating in respect of when would Psquare break into the European or American market. Africa is the next big thing for Psquare even though Americans are in dire need of our kind of stuff. They have exhausted everything they have to offer. For me, I will rather be a king in my own vicinity than to try to be a king in another man’s land. We have achieved everything except that we have not been able to structure the industry. The problem is that when we try to do so, some greedy fellows always frustrate our efforts. For me, I’m not complaining but I just feel it is important, we structure the industry for a better tomorrow.

Was a 35-man committee members inaugurated last week by PMAN Peace Initiative to restore peace in the troubled musicians’ house?

I’m not aware of it. In fact, I’m hearing it for the first time. The committee they claim to have set up, are they musicians or people they feel they want to  use to pilot the affairs of the association. When we came into the industry, it wasn’t like what we are seeing today. Psquare was among the  musicians that structured the industry the way it is today. we were  among the first set of emerging musicians that started making money from selling our  CDs. When they are setting up such a committee, what stopped them from involving people like us.

If they don’t carry people like D’banj, 2face and Psquare along, then, there is a problem. It means they are just wasting their time. This is not because we are successful in what we are doing, but it’s because the industry is driven by individual effort. So, if they are taking such a major decision that will affect everybody in the industry and they don’t involve us, then , there is a big problem. I’m not a member of PMAN, and I don’t have any problem with the association.

Are you not interested in the restoration of peace in the industry?    

I’m not interested in PMAN  because the past leadership of the association failed us. We don’t need to be PMAN members to succeed in our  careers. The association hasn’t done anything for us. I don’t need them.

The peace Initiative is trying to unite the musicians again?

When they were setting up  the interim administration, they ought to have started  from the top and engage those musicians who command respect in the industry. There is no musician in Nigeria today who does not respect  2face. We can be bigger than him in Africa, but I have so much respect for him because he was among the younger generation of Nigerian artistes who broke even several years ago. It’s so disrespectful that an interim administration was set up  without our knowledge. If they don’t get the three top Nigerian artistes; Psquare, 2fac and D’banj, then, they are wasting their time. I love our industry they way it is at the moment. We don’t want a situation where , in the name of association, somebody will start dictating  the pace for us. The more good we are, the more we want to make more money for ourselves.

Which country would say is your largest market in Africa?

At the moment, it’s East Africa. Anytime Nigerians say, they are through with Psquare, will take our things and relocate to East Africa. But South Africa is a place where we have been working for the past one year building market for our songs. We took a break in January, this year, and between February and March, we have been to Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. We were in Angola two weeks ago and just last week, we stormed Malawi. So, our potential market at the moment is South Africa. We have built all these markets by ourselves alone.

The impression most people have about you is that Psquare is arrogant? 

I think Psquare is very intimidating and we are not arrogant. When you saw me today, did I look  arrogant?  That’s a wrong impression people have about us. There is Peter and there is Paul. Peter is stubborn, bad and controversial, but they say Paul is quiet, cool headed and all that. But you see, you cannot  steal from Peter to pay Paul. If  you steal from Peter to pay Paul, you are indeed paying Psquare.  I’m a very controversial person and I’m not expecting every news about me to be positive. Psquare is not arrogant, it’s just that the people are scared of approaching them, considering the way we operate. When you see Psquare stepping out, we look very intimidating. But the people who are very close to know  that we are not arrogant. Beyonce could visit a shopping mall today, and the whole place will be shut down. That does not make her arrogant. It is her management that has made it to be so.

How is life without your mother?

It has been hectic. We haven’t decided to do a new album at the moment. But  while she was alive, she was always with us in the studio.  We don’t know how we are going to do it this time around. She was a minister of God  before she passed on. She had her own Church which Paul and I built for her. Anytime, we want to release a new album, she would pray on the album  for almost a week before we got it  released into the market. Her church is still functioning till date and her prayer  partners are still there. Once in while, we do communicate with the leadership of the church and it was our desire to see the church continues to function after her death. Wherever she is today, she will be happy that the church is still functioning because it’s a monument for her.

But did you guys really know what happened to your mother?  

People must always speculate . It got to a point, I said to myself that those people who are accusing us of being responsible for our mum’s death must be ignorant of how close we were to her.  We didn’t want that rumour to distract us. In fact, when people are insinuating such things, the best advice is for you to block your ears and never allowed it to distract you. I’m human, and I don’t except people to say positive things about Psquare all the time.  Psquare have made its worst mistake in the past, and nobody noticed it. We are not perfect. And we know why people were accusing us of being responsible for our mother’s death. It’s because we are successful in what we are doing for a living. Even in my Igbo nation, once somebody starts to progress, his kinsmen will start to associate his riches with money ritual. We have overgrown such insinuation.

We have seen great musical groups split in the industry. Will Psquare ever split some day?

Like I said earlier, each time, people look at Peter and Paul, they conclude that we are perfect. But they don’t know that I fight with Paul the  same way he fights with me. We quarrel and fight with each other the same way you quarrel and fight with your siblings. The only thing that matters most is that  we don’t bring such quarrel into our business.

I always tell my friends, the only person who will tell us to split is our mother but she’s no more. Even if she were to be alive, would she allow us to split? The day we are going to make up our minds to split, it will be an open decision. May be, when I say I want to retire or Paul says he wants to continue with his career in music. That does not mean that I wouldn’t give him my support.

What has kept two of you together?   

Of course, we are blood brothers. And we always think of where we are coming from. Our parents never had anything. They were not rich people. If Paul say today that we must split, I will only look at him and laugh. Sometimes, I’d swallow my pride to ensure that peace reigns between two of us.

Have you tried to intervene in those popular split in the industry?

The best way I can intervene is to keep Peter and Paul together. Let them watch and learn from us.

But he’s your twin brother? 

It goes beyond brotherhood. The Jacksons split. There was this group that wanted to split some time ago, I intervened and made them see reasons they should remain together no matter the odds. Yes, money might be the cause of the split. But I don’t share money with Paul. That’s the way we have been  working because we never had anything from the out set. I’m not saying this because you are interviewing me, between Paul and I, money has never been a problem.

Have you had any cause to date the same woman?

Every woman wants to hang out with Peter. This is because everybody knows that Peter is more outgoing than Paul. But I doubt if woman can cause a problem between Paul and myself. Money would have been the devil that will cause a problem between us than woman.  Any woman that wants to cause between us is wasting her time.

How did you grow up with Paul?  

Our growing up was fantastic. I’m the person who was always on the stubborn side. Then, I would go out there and cause some stir, and they would put the blame on Paul because  we are twins.

P-Square

We were always wearing the same clothes. I and Paul grew up doing things together. It has remained like that till date. That’s the way our mum trained. What Paul does not like today, I will not like either. May be, this is what has been holding together.

Have you had any cause to date the same woman?

Every woman wants to hang out with Peter. This is because everybody knows that Peter is more outgoing than Paul. But I doubt if woman can cause a problem between Paul and myself. Money would have been the devil that will cause a problem between us than woman.  Any woman that wants to cause between us is wasting her time.

Recently it was rumoured that you are into oil and gas business? 

Yes, it’s about to kick off. My music is doing very well in the market,  and investing in other areas will help to boost my pocket. Which is not a bad idea.

Every successful man wants to continue to invest in other areas of life. Are thinking in that direction?  

Psquare is not only involved in music alone. We are into real estate business. We have been doing it for a long time now.

A business man who is keeping his money in the bank, what’s he keeping for, without investing it. We also do banking business, but real estate pays us more.

We know that Psquare is a product of talent show, ‘Grab the Music’. We also know that when you emerged the winner, you went home without anything. But these days, winners of a reality TV show  usually go home with mouthwatering prizes. So, looking back, how would you comment on the new trend? 

When you win a talent show, what comes first is ego. You have millions of naira around  and a brand new car at your disposal, the world is in your palm At this point, you are building yourself to the next level. I don’t say the winner should not have the car, but he should not let the car to distract him. At the time, we won the talent show, we were given a keyboard which is still in our house till today. The keyboard was just N80,000,00. In fact, that keyboard, is part of the instrument in producing most of our albums. The keyboard has made millions of naira for us. My piece of advice is that when you win such a competition, think of where your are coming from and invest your money wisely

Boko Haram: Police arrest 500 foreigners in Lagos

By IFEANYI OKOLI
No fewer than, 500 nationals of some neighbouring countries resident in Lagos, were yesterday arrested by the state police command in connection with Thursday’s arrest of two Boko Haram suspects at Ijora area of the state.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the arrests which was coordinated by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau,SIB, and police divisions across the state, were carried out during raids of several locations in the state.

A video grab made on March 21, 2013 from a video distributed to reporters by purported intermediaries of the Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, shows the suspected leader of the Nigerian Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Imam Abu Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Abubakar Ash Shekawi, also known as Abubakar Shekau, at an undisclosed location in Nigeria. AFP

Some of those arrested, according to eyewitness included women and young children.
But sources at the command said that the raid was reportedly ordered by the state Police Commissioner, Umar Manko, who asked his men to fish out suspected Boko Haram infiltrators into the state.

According to the police sources those arrested were detained at the Police Command’s Headquarters, Ikeja, where they were rigorously interrogated, documented and vetted.
Most of the arrested were later discovered to be Chadians, Nigeriens  and Malians  who had no proper documentation to stay in the country.

”We are waiting for the CP’s order on what to do with the foreign nationals who do not have any business Lagos” the source stated.

The National Vice Chairman,  Arewa Youth Development Association of Nigerian, Shuaibu Dansudu, who was at the command headquarters, to secure the release of some Hausa residents of Oke-Odo Market, Ile-Epo and Oja commended the police for making efforts at ensuring that members of the deadly Boko Haram sect do not infiltrate the state.
Dansudu however, asked the Federal Government to do all it can to ensure that the sect’s insurgency was put to an end.

”Government needs to do all it can to ensure peace in all parts of the country even if it requires granting them amnesty. We can not continue to live like this,” he pleaded
Meanwhile, residents of Oyegbemi Street, at Ijora 7up area of the state where two Boko Haram suspects were arrested have commended the security agencies for apprehending the suspects.

Oluwa Idowu, a resident whose uncompleted building is situated next to the area where one of the  suspects was arrested, urged landlords in the state to properly vet their would-be tenants before letting their apartments to them.

”I was shocked when I heard the news  but I am not familiar with the man because he just moved in three months ago. But I am grateful to God that he was arrested before he succeed in carrying out his plans. But this issue is an eye opener to landlords and home owners in this state.

We must be wary and properly vet people we rent our apartments to; so we do not fall victims to evil.

By doing so, we will assist the security agents in discharging their jobs,” She stated.

Police arrest 2 teens in Ga. baby killing

By RUSS BYNUM | Associated Press 

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A pair of teenagers was arrested Friday and accused of fatally shooting a 13-month-old baby in the face and wounding his mother during their morning stroll through a leafy, historic neighborhood.

Sherry West had just been to the post office a few blocks from her apartment Thursday morning and was pushing her son, Antonio, in his stroller while they walked past gnarled oak trees and blooming azaleas in the coastal city of Brunswick.

West said a tall, skinny teenager, accompanied by a smaller boy, asked her for money.

"He asked me for money and I said I didn't have it," she told The Associated Press Friday from her apartment, which was scattered with her son's toys and movies.

"When you have a baby, you spend all your money on babies. They're expensive. And he kept asking and I just said 'I don't have it.' And he said, 'Do you want me to kill your baby?' And I said, 'No, don't kill my baby!'"

One of the teens fired four shots, grazing West's ear and striking her in the leg, before he walked around to the stroller and shot the baby in the face.

Seventeen-year-old De'Marquis Elkins is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, along with a 14-year-old who was not identified because he is a juvenile, Police Chief Tobe Green said. It wasn't immediately clear whether the boys had attorneys.

Police announced the arrest Friday afternoon after combing school records and canvassing neighborhoods searching for the pair. The chief said the motive of the "horrendous act" was still under investigation and the weapon had not been found.

"I feel glad that justice will be served," West said. "It's not something I'm going to live with very well. I'm just glad they caught him."

West said detectives showed her mugshots of about 24 young men. She pointed to one, saying he looked like the gunman.

"After I picked him, they said they had him in custody," West said. "It looked just like him. So I think we got our man."

West said she thought the other suspect looked much younger: "That little boy did not look 14."

The slaying happened around the corner from West's apartment in the city's Old Town historic district. It's a street lined with grand Victorian homes from the late 1800s. Most have been neatly restored by their owners. Others, with faded and flaking paint, have been divided into rental units like the apartment West shared with her son. The slain boy's father, Luis Santiago, lives in a house across the street.

A neighbor dropped off a fruit basket and then a hot pot of coffee Friday as a friend from the post office dropped by to comfort West.

Santiago came and went. At one point he scooped up an armload of his son's stuffed animals, saying he wanted to take them home with him. He talked about Antonio's first birthday on Feb. 5 and how they had tried different party hats on the boy.

"He's all right," Santiago told the boy's mother, trying to smile. "He's potty training upstairs in heaven."

West said her son was walking well on his own and eight of his teeth had come in. But she also mourned the milestones that will never come, like Antonio's first day at school.

"I'm always going to wonder what his first word would be," West said.

Beverly Anderson, whose husband owns the property where West has lived for several years, said she was stunned by the violence in what's generally known as a safe neighborhood where children walk to school and families are frequently outdoors.

Jonathan Mayes and his wife were out walking their dogs Friday, right past the crime scene, and said they've never felt nervous about being out after dark.

"What is so mind-numbing about this is we don't have this kind of stuff happen here," Mayes said. "You expect that kind of crap in Atlanta."

It's not the mother's first loss of a child to violence. West said her 18-year-old son, Shaun Glassey, was killed in New Jersey in 2008. She still has a newspaper clipping from the time.

Glassey was killed with a steak knife in March 2008 during an attack involving several other teens on a dark street corner in Gloucester County, N.J., according to news reports from the time.

"He and some other boys were going to ambush a kid," Bernie Weisenfeld, a spokesman for the Gloucester County prosecutor's office, told the AP Friday.

Glassey was armed with a knife, but the 17-year-old target of the attack was able to get the knife away from him "and Glassey ended up on the wrong end of the knife," Weisenfeld recalled.

Prosecutors decided the 17-year-old would not be charged because they determined that he acted in self-defense.

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Associated Press Writer Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta and news researcher Monika Mathur in New York contributed to this report.