News, Politics, Entertainment, Lifestyle,Sports, Fashion........Ekarikabob's Blog: June 2014

Thursday, 26 June 2014

Ritualists’ den owned by a pastor uncovered in Lagos, 8 kidnapped victims rescued

A ritualist den owned by one pastor Ernest Nwankwo, the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy wasyesterday June 25th uncovered at Ogolonto area in Ikorodu, Lagos, with 8 victims rescued.

According to Vanguard, the den was discovered after a failed attempt by a woman identified as Mrs Rosemary Chukwu, a member of Pastor Nwankwo's church, to kidnap her neighbor's 7 year old son, Emeka Emmanuel to the den for rituals.

Sources in the area said around 6.30 am yesterday, Mrs Chukwu lured the little boy who was on his way to fetch water from a well down the road and took him to her house where she locked him in the toilet. To keep her neighbors from hearing the little boy's screams for help, Chukwu then instructed her own children to begin a prayer session which they did, shouting on top of their voices. Continue...

Trouble however started when the boy's mother who stays four buildings from Mrs Chukwu raised alarm after she could not find her son. A search for the young boy began which Mrs Chukwu also partook in. Minutes into the search, Mrs Chukwu was said to have excused herself, went into her house and then came out with a box on her head, saying she was travelling. Suspecting foul play, some of the area boys instructed her to put down the suitcase which was opened and the unconscious body of the 7 year old boy was discovered.

A resident of the area, Oyetoye Gbemi who spoke with Vanguard said the area boys descended on her and she confessed it was her pastor who sent her

"She told us she was travelling to the village. But one of the area boys who was among the search party, ordered his colleagues to search the box. Immediately she heard that, she flung the box away and took to her heels. We all suspected something was amiss. When the box was opened, Emmanuel was found inside, half dead. The area boysdescended on her and stripped her naked. On interrogation, she said her pastor, the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy, asked her to bring the boy. The area boysfollowed her to 319, Lagos Road, Ikorodu, where the church is situated, where they saw her pastor waiting for her. But on sighting the crowd, he took to his heels. But for the arrival of Policemen from Owutu division, the woman would have been lynched. The angry mob also attempted to set the church ablaze but were also prevented by the policemen. They, however, succeeded in torching some parts of the property.” he said

In the process of chasing the fleeing Pastor and burning some part of the church building, area boys forced open a door to a building at 7, Oshodi Street, which was directly at the back of the church building and owned by Pastor Ernest. To everyone's amazement, men and women, eight in number, chained and looking frail were found in the building. The captives upon interrogation said they were kidnapped from various places like Ogun, Anambra, Bayelsa and Oyo states. One of the captives, a 50 year old woman said she was kidnapped while returning from a night vigil. One of the rescued victim, 52 year old man pictured above without a shirt said he was a commercial bus driver and was kidnapped two years ago.

Residents in the area said the building owned by the pastor had always been under suspicion as no one ever saw anyone coming out or going in during the day. They said most of the activities carried out in the building is usually done at night.

Police sources confirmed the arrest of Mrs Chukwu while her pastor is currently on the run.

Monday, 23 June 2014

Egypt: 183 Death Sentences Confirmed in Minya

Beirut — An Egyptian court in Minya on June 21, 2014, confirmed 183 of the 683 provisional death sentences imposed after a lightning trial that severely violated the defendants' due process rights. The authorities should ensure that all the defendants have a prompt retrial in accordance with international fair trial standards.
Judge Said Youssef confirmed the 183 death sentences, including for Muslim Brotherhood supreme guide, Mohamed al-Badie, in connection with a mid-August 2013 attack on the Adwa police station in the central Egyptian governorate of Minya that left two policemen dead. On April 28, 2014, Judge Youssef had recommended the death penalty for 683 defendants. These provisional sentences were reviewed by Egypt's Mufti, the country's preeminent interpreter of Islamic law, whose advice to judges is nonbinding and confidential The court commuted four of the other provisional death sentences to lengthy prison terms, including two women and one man given life sentences and one man sentenced to 15 years in prison in addition to receiving a death sentence, and acquitted 496 others, a human rights activist who attended the June 21 session told Human Rights Watch.
"Condemning 183 rather than 683 people to die after a cursory and one-sided trial is still a travesty of justice," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director. "The punishments are deadly serious, but the trials weren't."
Only 74 defendants were present for the Adwa trial's single hearing on March 25. None were present for the sentencing on April 28 and June 21. The charges included murder, the attempted murder of five people, including a local Christian man, threatening public order, and burning the Adwa police station.
Defense lawyers had boycotted the trial after the same judge condemned 529 people to death for an August 2013 attack on the Matay police station, also in Minya, following a similarly brief trial on nearly identical charges. On April 28, Judge Youssef confirmed 37 of those 529 death sentences and sentenced the other defendants to life in prison.
Attacks on the two police stations in Minya took place in August 2013 amid riots following security forces' lethal dispersal of two large Cairo sit-ins.
Under Egyptian judicial procedure, the country's general prosecutor automatically appeals death sentences to the Court of Cassation, which can order a retrial. Defendants may also appeal to the court for a retrial. If the retrial results in a similar verdict, the defense may again ask the Court of Cassation to grant a retrial.

BREAKING: Explosion rocks Kano School of Hygiene

The police confirmed the explosion.

—————————–

A blast suspected to be from an explosive device has just occurred at the School of Hygiene, Kano.
The ‎spokesperson of the Kano Police, Magaji Majiya, confirmed the blast to PREMIUM TIMES.
He said the state’s Commissioner of Police and other officers were on their way to the scene of the blast.
He said the area has been cordoned off. He also said the commissioner will address the media at the scene shortly.
Details later‎…

Rihanna Is Loving Her Some African Men! She Calls Wizkid “Amazing”!

Sunday, 22 June 2014

Brazil 2014 World Cup breaks TV records, says FIFA

FIFA said nearly 43 million people tuned into Brazilian network TV Globo's coverage of the opening game of the football World Cup, making it the most viewed sporting event of the year.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

FIFA says World Cup has produced record performances for broadcasters
Opening game between Brazil and Croatia watched by 43 million on host network
Japanese channel doubled its best sports numbers this year for Ivory Coast game

How are you celebrating the World Cup? Join the global conversation on CNN's Facebook Pulse

(CNN) -- The 2014 World Cup in Brazil has shown the growing global interest in football, according to early broadcast figures released by the game's governing body FIFA .

The first round of group matches have shattered TV viewing records worldwide and highlighted an increase in the amount of people watching football in countries that aren't known for their ardent fanaticism.

Fans in countries such as the United States and Australia have tuned in in their millions to watch their national teams play in one of the biggest sporting events of the world.

FIFA said the first-round game between the U.S. and Ghana brought in 11.1 million viewers on ESPN, a record high for its coverage of World Cup matches.

The opening game of the tournament between Brazil and Croatia on June 12 had 42.9 million people watching on Brazilian network TV Globo, FIFA said, making it the most watched sporting event of the year.

Italy's 1-0 win over England was seen by 14.2 million on BBC1 in the UK and 12.8 million on RAI 1, the highest TV audiences in both countries in 2014.

Some 26.4 million in Germany watched Thomas Muller score a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Portugal on the ARD channel, which FIFA said was the country's biggest 2014 TV sports audience.

Japan's defeat by the Ivory Coast was seen by 34.1 million on Japanese channel NHK -- double that of its next biggest sports broadcast this year.

England loses to Uruguay in World Cup

Other viewing highs were achieved in Argentina, France, the Netherlands, Croatia and the French-speaking part of Belgium.

"These record-breaking figures show just how popular football and the FIFA World Cup are across the world, from Japan to Argentina," FIFA TV director Niclas Ericson said.

"We are seeing highly encouraging growth in interest in markets such as the United States and Australia."

FIFA said it had spent $150 million on broadcasting the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and was again investing significant amounts in the Brazil event.

It said it agreed licensing agreements with over 700 media broadcasters, ranging from television to radio and the internet.

"The FIFA broadcast production of all World Cup matches makes this competition truly global and accessible for fans all over the world," Ericson said.

"It therefore plays a crucial role in supporting FIFA's core mission to develop football everywhere, and for all."

This Lady got Fed up of Divorce and Mortgages,So decided to do THIS

This Lady Got Fed Up Of Divorce And Mortgages, So She Decided To Do THIS.

Macy Miller from Idaho always had a dream of building her own personal fortress. She finally embarked on turning that dream into a reality when she become fed up of mortgages after foreclosing on her home after a divorce. So what did she do? Build her own tiny home of 196 square feet.

Let's take a tour of the inside of the finished masterpiece. Here's the kitchen!

minimotives.com

Macy's tiny home proves that good design maximizes use of space and keeps the home still completely functional and cozy.

minimotives.com

Macy's home was constructed primarily from recycled and leftover materials.

minimotives.com

It took years for Macy to realize her dream but she never gave up, even after a little mishap during construction that led to a back injury.

minimotives.com

The home is also completely mobile!

minimotives.com

What an inviting little retreat!

Governor Kayode Fayemi Makes Concession Speech On Fayose's Victory

Few hours after the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the winner of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, western Nigeria, the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi has released a concession speech.
It could be recalled that, according to results released by INEC, Mr Fayose had scored 203, 090 votes to beat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Fayemi, who scored 120, 433.
The electoral body also announced that the candidate of the Labour Party, Bamidele Michael Opeyemi, scored 18,135 votes to come third.
Scroll down for video
While reacting to the results announced by INEC early Sunday morning, Governor Fayemi said: "If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice."
* PDP's Ayo Fayose

* PDP’s Ayo Fayose
Below is the full concession speech made by the incumbent Governor Fayemi:
"Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heedyour voice.
I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.
On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this State. Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course. The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental humanrights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.
I thank you all for listening.
May God bless the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
Meanwhile, shortly after Mr Fayode was declared winner of the Ekiti Governorship elections, President Goodluck Jonathan had gone on his official Facebook account to post congratulatory message on Fayose’s victory.
Prior to the election, political analysts had predicted the contest to be between the candidates of three parties – the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi of the APC, a former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose of the PDP, and a member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party.

Saturday, 21 June 2014

Uzo Aduba Of “Orange Is the New Black” Nabs Critics’ Choice Award For Her Role As Crazy Eyes!

Friday, 20 June 2014

Rwanda's first female pilot takes to the skies

As Rwanda's first female commercial pilot, Esther Mbabazi wants women to realize they can do anything. "Time has changed. Women are out there working, technology has changed, and everyone has the brains to do something, now it's not about how much bicep or how much energy you have."

Esther Mbabazi is Rwanda's first female commercial pilot flying regional jets for Rwandair
A tough dream job for many but for a women in Rwanda, it was previously unheard of
Mbabazi says that as a woman she is scrutinized more intensely in the aviation industry
"If there's a woman on board and something happens you know definitely you're going to be mentioned"

African Voices is a weekly show that highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera. Follow the team on Twitter.

Kigali, Rwanda (CNN) -- Esther Mbabazi wheels her bag towards the airstairs of the Boeing 737 sitting quietly on the tarmac at Kigali International Airport. Today she'll be flying from Rwanda's capital city to Juba in South Sudan.

A short hop south with a flying time of around 1 hour and 20 minutes. But for Mbabazi, 26, it isn't about the destination. As Rwanda's first female pilot, it's about the journey and her highest priority is to get passengers safely to their terminus.

"Growing up I wanted to be a pilot when I was four," says Mbabazi, who became a pilot for Rwanda's national airline carrier, RwandAir, at 24. "I'd never been inside a cockpit but I used to see a plane in the sky and I imagined that thing must be flown by someone.

Meet Rwanda's first female pilot

Pilot recalls first solo flight

Do female pilots face more scrutiny?

"I had to go for it. Even though it looked like a long shot, it was my only shot -- that's how I saw it so I went for it, and here I am."

Dream big

During her childhood, Esther's family would move on a regular basis due to her father's work as a pastor. But her desire to take to the skies never wavered, even after her father passed away in a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo, when the passenger aircraft he was traveling on overshot the runway and hit some terrain.

Read this: The woman saving Uganda's lost children

"From day one, he was always my biggest supporter or fan," recalls Mbabazi, who lost her father before turning 10."[But] an accident is an accident. Like I said, if someone gets hit by a car, you don't stop driving.

"You can't live life being scared an in fear of anything. If something is bound to happen, you can't stop it."

Going all in

Thus, Mbabazi continued to work toward her goal of becoming a pilot and achieving what no other woman in her country had done before.

Once she completed high school, she packed her things and bought a one-way ticket to attend pilot school in Uganda.

"When I went it was a one-way decision," she says. "If they bounce me, I'll just pack my things and come back -- so that was the way I joined pilot school, and it was a long journey."

2015: Mohammed Abacha To Contest For Governor In Kano State

Mohammed, the son of late head of state, General Sani Abacha who was on Wednesday freed of the 100 billion stolen funds lawsuit against him is set to run for Kano state Governor in the 2015 elections.

Mohammed Abacha

It would be recalled that Mohammed who defected to the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party in 2013 said PDP is the right party for him in the current dispensation is now set to join forces with pro Jonathan supporters and win back Kano State for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
According to competent sources told Vanguard that Mohammed’s Wednesday’s withdrawal of the N446.3 billion money laundering charge against him was aimed at giving him a clean bill to be able to run as PDP gubernatorial candidate in the next election.
A close associate of the family admitted, yesterday, that the Abachas were very excited about the withdrawal of the case against Mohammed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and that he would likely proceed with his gubernatorial campaign programme.
Some well wishers were also said to have stopped by on Wednesday and yesterday to congratulate Abacha and sympathise with him over his lingering trial by the government.
A top source in Kano explained, yesterday, that the Presidency, which considers Mohammed Abacha as one of the most influential young politicians in Kano, had primed him to challenge the rising political clout of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and secure victory for PDP in 2015.
The Presidency, it was further learnt, believes that it was the solid political structure put in place by Mohammed Abacha that secured victory for Kwankwaso, who defected to APC last year and the PDP are willing to take over Governor Kwankwaso who has the intention to run for second term in the elections on APC’s platform.
However, Kwankwaso is said to facing severe opposition from the Presidency particularly, after allegedly appointing the former Central bank of Nigeria, CBN’s Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as Emir of Kano, against the wish of the Presidency and his party, which reportedly preferred a different person. It would be recalled that kwankwaso last week said: "Hold Jonathan responsible for whatever happens to me, my family or even the people of Kano."
Meanwhile in preparation of Abacha’s takeover in Kano state, colourful and intimidating campaign posters have been placed by the side of the Kano State PDP Secretariat along New Court Road, Jedi Jedi Quarters of Kano metropolis in addition to opening of his campaign office along Audu Bako Way, also in the city.
A Kano politician described Mohammed Abacha as someone who enjoys a very “smooth rela-tionship and support of the youths of the town” and also has a deep understanding of the politics of the state.
The politician said: “Let me tell you, the junior Abacha enjoys the support of the people and also has a good working relationship with Shekarau.”

It would be recalled that on January 17, 2014, the Supreme Court ordered that Mohammed Abacha be returned to an Abuja High Court and face his trial and was charged with a 123 count criminal charges by the Federal Government of Nigeria, wherein he was alleged to be in possession of stolen properties belonging to the Federal Government.

PICTURES OF CELEBRITIES WHO WENT FROM FRIENDS TO LOVERS

21 Photos Rex