Welcome to Tech and General News Arena: January 2014

Friday, 31 January 2014

Nigeria proposed Cyber Crime bill: Internet users should read more

How many of you internet users in Nigeria have seen the proposed Cyber-Crime bill which is before the House of Reps? For insulting someone online, you can get a 5year jail term. Like, for real? I don't understand why this government is not focusing on important things. They are now trying to clip the wings of news sites, blogs, readers/commenters and users of social media? They better not pass this bill into law. What about freedom of speech and expression? Find it below, culled from Punch...

What kind of report is this? Are they for real or just messing with people? According to this report, a man in San Francisco has legally married his dog in a church officiated by a priest and witnessed by family members. Read this bizarre story below culled from Nationalreport.net

On Monday history was made at the Chapel of Our Lady at the Presidio in San Francisco as the first-ever state recognized human-animal marriage took place.

Local resident 35-year-old Paul Horner was the groom during the ceremony. Joining him was his faithful dog Mac who is 36-years-old in dog years. Mac also decided to be the groom but ended up wearing a white veil at the last moment.

The Federal Government on Thursday released the modalities for the nomination of delegates to the proposed national conference.

The government, in a statement read to journalists by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the conference, which would hold in the Federal Capital Territory ,would last for three months.

Present at the media briefing were the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Senator Femi Okurounmu, and the Secretary, Dr. Akilu Indabawa.

No fewer than 492 nominees are expected to participate in the conference whose full name shall be: “The National Conference.” Continue....

STRONG indications emerged Friday that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will mid next week dump his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Vanguard gathered Friday that the decision to take the action and leave the party which gave him a platform to be Nigeria’s Vice President, was borne out of the frustration and humiliation the PDP has made him go through, just as he has concluded nation wide consultative tours of the six geo- political zones of the country where he brainstormed with stakeholders, leaders and supporters on his next political journey ahead of 2015 Presidential election.

More details soon (From Vanguard)

National Confab: NBA rejects one slot nomination

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, said it would not participate in the proposed National Conference, except the federal government, agreed to include more lawyers in the process.

In a statement it issued in Abuja Friday, NBA which is the umbrella body of lawyers in the country, said it received with utmost disappointment, the statement credited to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, which requested the association to nominate one delegate to the upcoming National Conference. Continue...

Seventy six people of Igbo extraction who were recently deported from Lagos by the state government have approached a Federal High Court for redress, asking for N1 billion as damages from the government over the action.

The court has fixed February 19 for further mention of the suit. The plaintiffs are; Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu who sued on behalf of 76 others. Joined as respondents are the Attorney-General of the state and the commissioner of police. Continue....

The Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of the newly appointed service chiefs as forwarded to them by President Goodluck Jonathan.

They include Air Marshall Alex Badeh as chief of defence staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah as chief of army staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin as chief of Naval staff and Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu as chief of Air staff. Continue...

The tide of party defection isn't anywhere near over as 16 Local Govt Chairmen and 194 Councillors have defected to the ruling opposition party, the All Progressive Congress, APC. The defectees were elected on the platform of PDP.

Announcing their defection today, the Chairman, ALGON, Kwara State chapter (under whose aegis they announced their defection) Mr. Abdulateef Okandeji said failure of the national leaders of the PDP to listen to their grievances is the main reason for their defection.

"I recall that following the refusal and failure of the national leaders of the PDP to address the observations and complaints of its founding members especially about the lawlessness, impunity and injustice which had become the norm and which led to the factionalisation of the PDP, our leaders decided to team up in what is known as the newPDP under the national Chairmanship of our own Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje. After exhaustive consultations and deliberations by our leaders spearheaded by Senator Bukola Saraki, it was unanimously decided that the best option for us would be to merge with the newly formed APC and work together in the overall interest of the good people of this country towards the advancement of democracy,” he said.

Why women in entertainment find it difficult to get married - Uti Nwachukwu

During a discussion with Dolapo Oni, Bolanle Olukanni and Michelle Dede on the Boy & Girl Talk Marriage section on Moments With Mo show, Big Brother star Uti Nwachukwu said the reason why he and most men can't marry women in the Nigerian entertainment industry is because the women sleep around with big men and they know it.

"Most celebrity women in the entertainment industry have had to sleep with one big man or the other to have the comfortable life they live. Its common knowledge".

He said whenever he hangs out with his friends and they talk about getting married to actresses, that most times the men say never because they've met these actresses in private places with these big men.

Photos: Mercy Johnson and Rukky Sanda visit iROKOtv HQ

Mercy Johnson and Rukky Sanda paid a surprise visit to the iROKOtv team at their Lagos offices in Anthony Village on Wednesday January 29th. Everyone was overjoyed to meet and spend time with the actresses, as well as show them around the beautiful new office space, recently acquired by the company. See more photos after the cut...

The battle has indeed begun in the Knorr Taste Quest kitchen, as our 14 finalists were presented with their very first task!

In this episode they were told to take basic rice to another level, with the following ingredients; Rice, Liver, Tomato, Green Peppers, Onions, Sweet Chilli Peppers, Knorr Seasoning Cube and the key ingredient Lemon. They were given only 40 minutes to do this.

The judges informed them that they would be judged based on their food presentation, management of ingredients and overall preparation of the food. At the end of the cooking time, Victor emerged as the task winner and was handsomely rewarded with Twenty Thousand Naira for his efforts.Continue....

Nollywood actress Shan George has two sons but who knew they were this grown up? The twice married 45 year old actress pictured above with her sons, 27 year old Delnoi (pictured left) and 25 year old Jaga pictured right. The young men are both graduates of University of East London. Jaga is a Hip Hop musician. See more photos after the cut...

Following the recent clash between members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and traders at the Old Motor Spare Parts (Mgbuka) market in the commercial city of Onitsha, seven regional administrators of MASSOB have been suspended by its leadership over their alleged involvement in the fracas.

The leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, announced the suspension of the leaders yesterday after an emergency meeting on the clash during which he also inaugurated a peace and reconcliatory committee to meet with the market leaders. Continue....

CHAN 2014: Ghana stop Nigeria

The Black Stars of Ghana , Wednesday stopped the Super Eagles from qualifying for the final of the ongoing CHAN in South Africa.

Ghana won 4-1 on penalty after 120 minutes of play.

What is your reaction to the Eagles defeat ?

PHOTO

Someone alluded them to be "NYSC Masquerades"...any comment ?

Your Dream Car ?

That's lovely...

11 PDP Senators Defect To APC

Eleven Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The defecting senators are as follows :
1. Senator Bukola Saraki-Kwara Central
2. Senator Umaru Dahiru-Sokoto South
3. Senator Magnus Ngei Abe -Rivers South-East
4. Senator Wilson Asinobi Ake-Rivers West
5. Sen. Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla-Adamawa North
6. Sen. Mohammed Danjuma Goje-Gombe central
7. Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan-Taraba North
8. Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume-Borno South
9. Senator Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji-Kwara North
10. Sen. Abdulahi Adamu-Nasarawa West
11. Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir-Sokoto East

Details later....

Source: Vanguard&Sahara reporters

Why I fired service chiefs---President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said that he sacked the immediate past service chiefs because of unhealthy competition which made it possible for Boko Haram insurgents to attack the Air Force operational base in Maiduguri.

Jonathan said the terrorists destroyed fighter aircraft during the attack and went scot free because of the rivalry between the former service chiefs.

The service chiefs, who were sacked included the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff, COAS, and Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Chief of Naval Staff. Continue....

Former Kano State governor and chieftain of tha All Progressives Congress, APC, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Shekarau along with thousands of his supporters, today, joined the PDP at an elaborate ceremony in Kano.
Details later.

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Service Chiefs Screening: APC Senators defy party directive and participated

All Progressives Congress, APC, senators, yesterday ignored their party’s directive to block the confirmation of the Service Chiefs recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

About seven APC Senators participated in the screening of the new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosun..Continue....

The violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on Sunday attacked another Borno village, killing a soldier and 51 other persons and razed several buildings.

The insurgents, said to be over 50, were said to have invaded Kawuri village in Konduga Local Government Area of the state, setting ablaze over 300 residential houses.

They were alleged to have also wounded several policemen as well as civilians in the attack that lasted for hours. Continue...

Days of PDP are numbered--- Fmr VP Atiku Abubakar

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said on Monday in Kaduna that the days of the ruling People’s Democratic Party were numbered, declaring that the new National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, could not do anything to change the fortunes of the party. Continue...

The former FCT minister who was called for questioning concerning a statement he made about 2015 elections is still at the SSS headquarters in Abuja. El-Rufai got there around 9am with some of his party chieftains, Gov. Amaechi, Ngige and his lawyer AU Mustapha, but he is yet to be released by the SSS men questioning him. Gov. Ameachi was said to have left there around 12pm, with Ngige leaving two hours after. His wife who also went with him, but wasn’t allowed into where he was, had to leave this evening after waiting for several hours. It is said that, the only person left with him at the SSS office, is his lawyer, AU Mustapha. It is not clear enough if he will be spending the night there or not.

Update: Information reaching us says the former FCT Minister has been detained. More details coming later....

El-Rufai shared these on Twitter....

Terrible! How Parents Locked Up Their Daughter For Almost 3 Years In A Cage Like Rabbit In Bayelsa

Where she was kept would stir emotion even in a stone hearted being. What came to the mind of many was why any parent would banish their own child to such a despicable solitary confinement.

The grubby dungeon, located in front of her family apartment, was built with carton board and roofing sheetsostensibly to ward off the elements and gave it the semblance of a dwelling place. The less than four feet high structure could be mistaken for cage for dog. Continue...

Joy Ajanaku is Prophet Ajanaku’s wife. The prophet, who died and ‘rose from death’ according to his church members and later died again last year, is said to be alive by his wife who has taken over his church activities. Till today, people are yet to know how the prophet was buried or where he was buried. But his wife insists in this interview that her husband is not dead but alive. People will know the truth when the time comes, she said. Her statement to City People; Continue....

His name is Oluwaseyi Adeloju and he is the CEO of Golden Records, with female rapper Coco Ice under his record label. Check out his collection of jewellery and how he rocks them. He is said to be one of the powerful Lagos big boys who spend fortune on jewellery. He is also footballer Obafemi Martins bestie. More images of him after the cut. The good life? Lol..See more photos below....

Popular Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot has finally relocated his family abroad. The actor’s wife and four kids have permanently relocated to the United States so the kids could have a better education. Even though they left few months before now, people thought they went for vacation, but a source in the know has confirmed, they won’t be returning any time soon. However another source has this to say about their relocation; ‘As per the call of nature between husband and wife, Desmond, has resolved not to go about sowing wild oaths all over town. “You know Desmond got married as a virgin, he will be holding on until he goes to see his wife or the woman comes to visit. He is not randy at all’, the source said. How cute hehehehe.

Homosexual Governors Declare War On President Jonathan Over Anti-gay Bill

Fresh and authentic news filtering in social circle indicates that a group of powerful politicians, who are prominent in the act of homosexuality, are the force behind the seemingly unpopular agitation against the anti-gay bill, which was recently signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan...Continue....

The verdict didn't come from me. It was the decision of The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), reason(s) for crowning The Akwa Ugo 1 of Amoli Kingdom, Enugu State; Chika Ike, the most disciplined actress in Nollywood is best known to them. The UN ambassador shared the picture online recently.

So touching! Read Juan Mata's heartfelt letter to Chelsea fans

25 year-old midfielder Juan Mata who officially became a Manchester United player this week after a £37.1 million move from Chelsea has posted an heartfelt letter on his official website to his ever-supportive blues fans. According to the Spaniard, his intention was to stay long at The Bridge, win more titles and keep his them happy but....things changed after the preseason..Continue....

Chelsea's latest and last signing (for the January transfer window), Mohamed Salah has been given the jersey no 15 shirt. The former Basel winger who was signed for a reported fee of £11m played against Chelsea four times last year and scored three times. Jose Mourinho has lavished praises on the 21 year-old player adding that he likes the fact that he can play the same way Chelsea attacking players do, "which is players with adaptability, to play right, left or behind the striker." Read more...

The married actress wrote this on her blog addressed to ladies. Hope you are inspired

Hi Ladies,
The words in the picture above mean a lot and I think it’s something we should all take seriously.
Many times as women, we tend to feel incomplete without a man by our side and would go to great lengths to ensure we don’t remain “single”. I know that feeling.
But it’s also important we do not express our vulnerability or sound too desperate that we forget to build ourselves up as individuals. Sometimes, we give up our lives, our careers, our dreams for the desires of a man and leave our own self worth and fulfillment aside. Continue reading.....

Rape happens in India every 22 minutes, according to a recent study. And that horrifying issue will forever be decried in our society, country and in the world world at large. But is snuffing life out of a fellow human being the panacea to curb incessant rape cases? Some manufacturers in The India Ordinance Factory think so and taking cues from the US firearms industry, they've produced India's first gun for women.

The pink lady gun also called "Nirbheek" was named after a 23 year-old who died weeks after she was gang-raped in Delhi, in December 2012. The 500 gram light-weight gun is small, light and can "fit into a lady's purse". Manufacturers strongly believe guns are "empowering" and more importantly, women alone are responsible for keeping their aggressors away. Other studies have also shown that women with guns in the home are more likely to be murdered than if there were no guns.

I personally think it's unsafe. What's your take?

PHOTOS: JUAN MATA ARRIVES MAN UTD+ MOURINHO THROWS MORE LIGHT ON WHY HE SOLD HIM

Juan Mata; one of the most talked about footballers this week has arrived at the Aon Training Complex to begin his medical. He was welcomed by The Red Devils' boss, David Moyes. Meanwhile, Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has thrown more light on the Spaniard's exit from the Bridge. Continue....

Whatever happens, he remains a winner to us. The eldest son of Afro-beat Legend, Femi kuti has for the fourth time lost out in the Grammy Awards again. The saxophonist was nominated in the 56th edition of the prestigious music awards in the 'World Music' category, for his album 'No Place For My Dream'. But the award was clinched by two music groups (a tie); French group Gipsy Kings and South Africa male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Below is the full list of winners. See list below....

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, may have killed his late uncle's entire family, including children, if reports from South Korea is to be believed. Kim Jong-un (right) executed his uncle, Jang Song Thaek (left), once regarded as the second most powerful person in North Korea, in December 2013 for allegedly 'trying to overthrow the Government'

South Korea's state news agency, Yonhap, reports that Kim not only executed his uncle, but also his entire family, including his children and relatives serving as ambassadors to Cuba and Malaysia.

"Extensive executions have been carried out for relatives of Jang Song-thaek. All relatives of Jang have been put to death, including even children." Yonhap wrote in a report published today January 26th. Continue...

He was escorted to the State Security Service office in Abuja by Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Chris Ngige. More photos when you continue...

Former FCT minister Mallam Nasir El-Ruafi has finally honoured the invitation of the State Security Service, SSS, days after armed men from the security agency stormed his home in Abuja to pick him up to answer some questions in connection with a statement credited to him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair. (If you missed it, read all about it here). Find an update after the cut...

"One look at the name of the applicant, the official angrily said: ‘We don’t deal with foreigners!’ But when my friend stood her ground and pointed out that even though she was married to a Nigerian, she was South African, the official said: ‘If you want a house, you will have to divorce that man.’. Wow! Read the full story below...

The World Economic Forum is a gathering of top political leaders, heads of international organizations, young global leaders, A-list entertainers etc to discuss how global governance can be improved through public-private cooperation. It held in Davos, Switzerland from January 22-25.

Here are photos of ex-bank chief Tony Elumelu at a dinner hosted by the world's richest man, Bill Gates, (pictured above) and singer Bono on the last day of the event. See more photos after the cut...

Mrs Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, one of the wives of late Chief MKO Abiola, has announced her intentions to contest the governorship seat in Lagos State in the next general elections. Mrs Onitiri-Abiola says she has 'all the formula to solve unemployment, electricity&education problems plaguing Lagos state'

Mrs Onitiri-Abiola has not revealed the political party she would contest on. She says she is still studying the existing ones and would make her choice known by the end of the month.

Saturday, 25 January 2014

INEC releases 2015 election timetable

Feb 14, 2015: Presidential, N/Assembly elections
Feb 28, 2015: Guber, State Assembly elections
June 21, 2014: Ekiti Guber
Aug 9, 2014: Osun Guber

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 14, 2015 for next year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

This was contained in a statement issued last night in Abuja by the Secretary to the Commission Mrs Augusta Ogakwu.The statement further indicates that the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections would take place on 28, February, 2015.

The Commission’s Scribe also released the detailed time table for the Ekiti State governorship elections scheduled to take place in June this year...Continue

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Friday, 31 January 2014

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Monday, 27 January 2014

Saturday, 25 January 2014