FREE ZONE ARENA: March 2013

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

"Get ready to give us a warm welcome"-Robbers letter to Residents in Ogun

Residents of Lambe area of Ogun state have received an audacious letter from some fearless robbers urging them to give them a welcoming hospitality when they attack their community in the coming days.

The daredevil men of the underworld who described themselves as friends of the community said in the letter written in Yoruba language and pasted conspicuously on many walls on Akin Akindele, Community Road and Jelili Popoola Streets, that they are coming ‘very soon’ and are not afraid of the police or other security agencies.

The advertising body of Nigeria were having a conference at the banquet hall of Sheraton hotel in Ikeja this afternoon when they noticed severe leaking in the roof. The attendees had to move to a separate part of the room, but less than a minute later, the roof caved in and guests had to rush out of the conference room out of fear...

The attendees complained that no management of Sheraton came out to apologise to the guests, that they were more concerned about guests not taking pictures but a concerned guest managed to take a few and sent it in. See another photo after the cut...

According to reports, Jay Z and Justin Timberlake's Legends of Summer tour has been outselling Jay Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne tour by 5 to 1! Ouch!

Also, Justin Timberlake's new album, The 20/20 Experience, went platinum in it's first week. Kanye might not be feeling Suit and Tie, but it seems everyone else is....

Regina Askia was once a big deal in Nigeria, but no one believes her in the US

The former beauty queen and actress moved to the US many many years back where she dropped her glamour cloak to become a wife, mother and a registered nurse. Totally different from the life she led in Nigeria. She shared her current situation on her Facebook page. See the rest of after the cut...

Chief Oluwole Awolowo

Publisher, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, the publishers of the Tribune newspapers, Chief Oluwole Awolowo, died in a United Kingdom hospital on Wednesday at the age of 70.

A statement from ANN Plc on Wednesday said Oluwole, a son of the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, died as a result of the complications he suffered in a car crash about seven years ago.

The statement by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the company, Mr. Edward Dickson, said, “Chief Awolowo died 5.40pm Nigerian time at Wellington hospital, St Johnswood, London, following complications arising from a car crash that occurred on September 30, 2006.

Shop for free:5,000 to benefit from church’s N10m vouchers

No fewer than 5,000 underprivileged persons in Lagos State will benefit from Global Harvest Church’s N10m shopping vouchers during the Easter celebration.

Senior Pastor, GHC, Victor Adeyemi, said the less-privileged would use the vouchers to shop for food items, clothing and other materials freely during the celebration.

Adeyemi said the programme entitled, ‘Shop for Free’, is a social impact activity geared towards bringing smiles on the faces of the poor during festive periods.

“The poor are at the very heart of our Lord. He fed them and provided their daily needs, but our nation has been on the verge of social challenges which has resulted in unemployment, insecurity and high rise of poverty across the country,” Adeyemi said.

Eating right for every part of your body

Ours is an age of high stress, what with all sorts of issues clogging our thinking, keeping us awake at night, and driving us silly during the day.

We worry about identity theft, internal and global insecurity occasioned by terrorism, economic issues, health scare… The list is endless.

We engage in work—in the office, while commuting, at home, everywhere. Obviously, modernity and its trappings have come at a huge price, and we all seem caught up in its grip.

In our bid to catch up in one area of life or the other, we have become so busy that we engage in diet of convenience, eating foods that are lacking in essential nutrients that should nourish every part of our bodies to good health and keep them going against all odds.

Our diets, because we get and consume them mostly on the go, are now full of sugars, fats and empty calories that literally bloat us up, giving us unwieldy weight that can make the scale squeal uneasily.

Yet, experts assure that we can help our body realise its full potential by eating right, such that, in a short while and henceforth, our health sill peak, literally from head to toe.

How to beat please-send-me-money scams

To many people, it is no more news that Internet scammers have devised a trick to make unsuspecting victims part with their hard earned money. It comes in the form of an email from a supposed close friend claiming to be stranded somewhere and requesting for some money to help him get out of the tight corner he found himself.

Usually written in not-so fluent English, the tone of such a letter is urgent and it reads, “Hello, how are you doing! I hope you are fine? I’m sorry I didn’t inform you about my trip to the United States for a conference. I’m presently in New York City, but I got robbed at gun point on my way to the hotel where I lodged. All the cash, credit cards and phone were stolen from me. Thank God I am alive and my passport is save.

“I would like you to assist me with a loan to sort out my hotel bills and get myself back home. I have spoken to the Nigerian Embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively.

“I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with. I’ll definitely refund the money as soon as I return to Nigeria. Let me know if you can be of any help. I don’t have a phone where I can be reached. Please let me know immediately.”

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing. Is he speaking literally or figuratively? Also, you can make new friends...just make sure you keep the old ones...:-)

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Robber Rapes Wife While Husband Stays Outside

A man who was caught breaking into a Cape Town home tried evading capture by telling the owner of the house he was having sex, it was reported on Monday.
The 34-year-old Philippi home owner, who did not want to be named, told the Daily Voice that he saw the lock of his shack had been removed on Friday afternoon.
He said he tried entering but the door was locked from the inside. He asked who was there and eventually got a reply.
“The man inside my own house said to me I must wait because he’s still having sex with a girl so he’ll open up when he is done. I couldn’t understand how someone would want to walk into a stranger’s home and have sex,” the owner said.
After repeatedly knocking on the door, the man opened up for him and then stabbed him with a tool. He ran away but was later caught by the community and beaten up.
“When he was lying on the ground, we searched him and found my wallet and flash drive,” the man said.
It was not clear whether the alleged burglar was charged by the police.

Kanye West Considers Naming Next Album – ‘I Am God’

Kanye West renowned for having one of the biggest egos in the music world seems to be taking things over the top (climbing the tree beyond the leaf). Kanye West’s supposed possible choice for the title of his forthcoming sixth studio album – I am GodAccording to a BBC report, West is considering calling his next album I Am God, leaving the world in no doubt about what the rapper thinks of himself.

The report claims the potential title is intended to be a slightly tongue-in-cheek idea, but given the rapper’s propensity for self-adoration that might be slightly hard to believe.
Meanwhile, the Cruel Summer rapper and his missus Kim Kardashian are said to be considering calling their first child North, meaning the baby boy’s full name would be North West.

Independence Day Bombing: Henry Okah Jailed For 24 Years

Johannesburg - Nigerian Henry Okah was jailed for 24 years by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
"Effectively, the accused [Okah] is therefore sentenced to 24 years imprisonment," Judge Neels Claassen said as he handed down sentence.
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.
Car bombs
The charges related to two car bombs in Abuja, Nigeria, in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on 1 October 2010, the anniversary of the country's independence.
The second bombing took place in Warri on 15 March 2010 at a post amnesty dialogue meeting. One person was killed and 11 seriously injured.

The singer recently shot the music video for her hit single ‘I wish’. directed by Clarence Peters. The video explores Waje’s deep emotional core with themed scenes never been done before on Nigerian TV.

A few highlights to look out for? Waje the black bride with the funkiest chandeliers you ever saw. There is also Waje, all bare and vulnerable with nothing but her heart to cover her. The video for I wish drops Thursday 28^th March, Waje’s album is due in the final week of April. See more photos after the cut...

The Ogun State Police Command has debunked rumour that headless bodies of three suspected female students were dumped in an area in Ijebu Ode on Monday.

A message circulated via BlackBerry about the incident caused confusion in the town.

It reads, “Three headless bodies suspected to be that of females were thrown off a Range Rover Sport Jeep at Ijebu Ode-Ibadan Road just now.

“One is fair in complexion with University of Lagos identity card (Yetunde Ajao) inside her bag. The second is an Olabisi Onabanjo University student, Oyindamola Esan, also fair in complexion and tall.

“The last one is short, plump and dark with no identity. Please kindly notify their families and friends if you know them before the bodies are run over by vehicles.”

File photo: TERROR ABODE—Residents at the building used as hideout by the suspects at Ijora, Lagos.

Fresh facts emerged, Monday, on the presence of more illegal aliens suspected to be terrorists in Ijora area of Lagos, as information at Vanguard’s disposal revealed that the suspects, who are Malians and Chadians, were occupying a three-storey building owned by a state government.

Last Thursday’s raid by the Department of State Security, DSS, and men of OP Messa, led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists and recovery of arms and explosives in a building on Aromire Street, Ijora.

However, investigations revealed that the three story-building alleged to be used by the suspected terrorists is also located on Aromire Street, Ijora, close to the house that was raided last week.

Man ‘arranges’ teenage sisters’ rape

The police in Ogun State on Monday said a 40-year-old man, Lekan Saibu, had been arrested for allegedly being the mastermind of the rape of his two teenage sisters in Ijebu-Ososa by two other men.

The two men, who were also arrested are Jonathan Kaigbon and Gbenga Adekoye.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “They raped and robbed the two sisters, aged 18 and 16 years respectively.

“Saibu gave the two suspects N80, 000 to harass and molest his younger sisters who had disagreed with him over the sharing of their late parent’s property.

“He has already confessed to the crime, so it’s a very straight forward case and we are charging three of them to court tomorrow (today).”

Saibu told Metro that he hired the two other suspects to “deal” with his sisters following disagreements over their inheritance.

He said, “I asked them (Kaigbon and Adekoye) to threaten my sisters so that they can leave the property to me. I never paid them to rape my sisters as they have done.”

The command also paraded three other suspects for allegedly operating an illegal financial institution in the Remo.

We will be in Brazil –Eagles

Despite the heartache the Super Eagles gave Nigerians with the 1-1 draw against Kenya on Saturday the players are optimistic that the journey to Brazil will be completed with a quality run by the team. The players who spoke after the match in Calabar said the draw on Saturday was not enough to create panic amongst Nigerians.

Stand-in captain Vincent Enyeama said he was very hopeful on the outlook of the road to Brazil.

“It’s not over yet. We will be in Brazil by the grace of God. One draw is not enough for people to get worried. We all need to be positive about this and look forward to the next game.

“This one has ended like this but we are going over there too and anything can happen. What we are pleading is support from all Nigerians. And I’m particularly appealing to the media. We all celebrated the trophy recently and so we should all join hands in the run to Brazil,” he said.

And in reviewing the match he added.

LA Times Columnist, Joel Brinkley (pictured above) wrote that Nigeria is the most corrupt country in the world and feels president Goodluck Jonathan should be impeached. He wrote an article titled Nigeria’s Squandered Opportunity on Friday March 22nd. See it below...

Just outside President Goodluck Jonathan’s office sat 17 ambulances, just in case he or one of his aides fell ill. They were seldom if ever used.

No actual health-care facility nationwide had as many, and in fact a few still have none at all. But as soon as a Nigerian newspaper took a photo of the ambulances and published a story about them, they suddenly disappeared — probably to an underground garage.

Jonathan is president of Nigeria, which should be among the world’s most prosperous nations. After all, it produces an estimated 2.4 million barrels of oil each and every day. With oil now selling at $93.61 a barrel, that’s $224 million in income daily. And yet many hospitals can’t afford to buy an ambulance. The reason, in my view: Nigeria is the most corrupt nation on earth.

It gets more interesting. Continue...

If everything goes according to plan, Wizkid will soon be returning to his former music label, EME Music Group, this is according to a reliable industry source. The source revealed to me exclusively that Wizkid and EME bosses have been going back and forth for the last couple of weeks through their lawyers trying to agree on new terms of them working together again.

"Wizkid leaving EME was just his way of pushing the bosses at the label to take him seriously and increase his earning percentage. When he joined EME he wasn't a star but then he became a mega star and was making a lot of money for the label and they still didn't increase his earning percentage so he took a walk. Now they are working on a new contract that will favour Wizkid." The source said

I hear in the new contract being drafted, EME will not take a dime from Wizkid's international deals. When they start working together again, remember you read it here first! :-)

"I don't go where I'm not invited' - Blackface Tweets

Blackface and 2face were best buds for many years. They formed a band in the 90's, churned out hits after hits, and were doing really well until 2004 when 2face went solo. Sad they didn't stay friends!

Sugary drinks kill 180,000 annually

Sugar-sweetened sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks may be associated with about 180,000 deaths around the world each year, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are consumed throughout the world, and contribute to excess body weight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. Using data collected as part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study, the researchers linked intake of sugar-sweetened beverages to 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 cancer deaths. Seventy-eight percent of these deaths due to over-consuming sugary drinks were in low and middle-income countries, rather than high-income countries.

Oladapo Ashiru

There are trillions of bacteria living in our digestive tract, and they make up the normal “micro-flora.” These bacteria generally play a supportive role in the health of the colon by synthesising vitamins, degrading toxins and producing natural antibiotics. Under the right conditions, however, these bacteria can overgrow and cause diseases.

Candida Albican is a typical example. They are found in the female genital tract, oral cavity, intestines, skin and other organs. The main focus for this discussion is the proliferation of Candida in the intestinal tract called the intestinal candidiasis.

Intestinal candidiasis is becoming a global health challenge, as doctors theorise the Candida or other fungi infections have contributed to the development of some forms of cancer. Studies done by Meinolf Kartars in 1999 showed that a child with leukemia went into remission after being given a triple dose of anti-fungi medicine.

In 1997, Mark Bielski stated that leukemia was associated with yeast and Candida albican. Studies have also shown that Africans, women, babies and people with low immunity are more likely to get Candida.

The following are the factors that can lead to intestinal candidiasis:

Ijaw Leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark remarried last week Sunday March 17th at the age of 86. Today is actually is 86th birthday. Happy birthday, sir! Back to the story. Chief Clark married well known medical doctor, Dr Abisola Sodipe Akindeko. The wedding ceremony took place at his home in Apapa and another one at the bride's home at Okupe Estate in Maryland.

Information reaching us right now is that three (3) human bodies were late last night dropped from a Range Rover Sports Jeep.
The said human bodies were all beheaded female bodies with the following identifications sighted in their handbags by Spirited Nigerians:
Yetunde Ajao student. Fair in Complexion.
Damola Esan - student. Tall & Fair in Complexion
The Last person has no identity on her but she is short plumpy and dark
The three (3) beheaded bodies are still lying on the road there. The Police we understand have since been contacted
The crime scene is along ijebu ode ibadan road
Its terrible what this our country is turning into & how our girls endanger their lives all because of money.

Photos: Who knows this rapist?

I'm sure by now some of you have seen this rape video. People have been passing it round on BB all day. Fortunately unlike the ABSU rape case, this one clearly shows the face of the rapist...

The girl in the video can be heard screaming while being raped and repeatedly saying 'aye mi ti baje (my life is ruined), while the rapist and his two accomplices film and laugh at her. I've sent the video to a human rights top shot, who in turn will pass it on to an AIG.

I grabbed some screen shots from the rape video, hopefully someone who knows him will identify him and get him arrested. Animals like this should be locked up. See more photos after the cut...

Ogbonna

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a jobless graduate of Biochemistry for allegedly operating a pharmacy as well as administering medical treatment to patients.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect, Kenneth Ogbonna, was arrested by policemen attached to the Area E Command, FESTAC.

According to police authorities, the suspect, who goes by the pseudonym, doctor, is a third-class graduate of Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

The police also alleged that the suspect ownedan illegal pharmacy at 4C, Marwa Road, Ijegun Market, Satellite Town.

It was learnt that trouble started for the suspect after lodging a sick friend in a hotel and was administering drugs and injections to him.

Beautiful Ebony skin Ghollywood actress, Yvonne Okoro speaks about romantic scenes and why they make sex look real in their movies. Her latest movie titled 'The Contract' bagged 6 nominations. Read what she said below and tell me what you think.

"I think sometimes when you are acting, you feel like doing something that you want to be remembered for. Maybe in the course you overdo it. It depends on the script. I think in Ghana we wanted to start something, like a Trans-setter. I remember in those days, when people are kissing and they do it tackily, and we are thinking if you can’t kiss, then don’t do it. So I think we ended up doing it well or we are overdoing it. The truth of the matter is it exists in our culture.

Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama has admitted that he had no clue to the Kenyan free-kick that beat him on Saturday in the World Cup qualifying match played in Calabar. Francis Kahata put Kenya ahead with a curling free kick that left the best goalkeeper of South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations stranded. And in reaction to the goal Enyeama said he was taken aback by the style of the player.

He said, “It was one of the best free-kicks I have ever seen. Truly I never expected such a kick from a Kenyan; that’s the kind of shot you expect to get from a Brazilian, South Americans. But you saw what happened; the ball curled very well into that angle. I was surprised by his skill. One of the best free-kicks I have ever seen. I have seen a lot of free-kicks but not a top corner like that.

“It was a perfect kick into the right corner.”

The card on the car clearly says 'wedding gift from Senator David Mark', but the senate president's senior adviser on media, Kola Ologbondiyan, has released a statement denying it. Ologbondiya said:

Senator Mark did not visit Dubai for Tuface wedding rather he attended the 128th Inter parliamentary Union (IPU) conference currently holding in Quito, Ecuador. He was also not represented at Mr. Idibia's wedding. It is also instructive to state that the President of the Senate, Senator Mark, did not make a car donation of any kind to Tuface before departing Nigeria for Ecuador neither did he purchase nor send any car to Dubai as a wedding gift for the musician or his wife. Who made the donation on behalf of the President of the Senate?

It is therefore a puerile lie for anybody to state that Senator Mark bought a Ferrari car worth N47m for Tuface. The allegation is wicked, ridiculous and irresponsible.

Signed: Kola Ologbondiyan
Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the President of the Senate David Mark

The Chevy Corvette is worth about N7m and if the Senate president says he didn't buy it, then we should give him the benefit of doubt. I doubt a man of his caliber will buy a wedding gift and then publicly deny buying it. I'm sure 2face Idibia's team will address this when they get back from Dubai.

Mikel Obi set to wed Delta Soap beauty queen, Sandra Okagbue?

This is according to City People. Below is how they are reporting it:

"The two love birds who have been dating for almost 3 years now have decided to seal the relationship. Their introduction comes up next Sunday March 31 at Sandra's family home in Onitsha. This development will definitely not come as a surprise to most of their friends. This is because their romance has grown stronger by the day that Sandra has been a live-in-lover of the Chelsea midfielder in his UK home.

They met about three years ago during one of Mikel's visit to Nigeria and they've been together ever since. According to family sources, Mikel is so in love with Sandra that he has invested millions to settle her family, most especially the family's residence located at Ajao Estate, which had Mikel's financial blessing

Sandra Okagbue won Miss Delta Soap beauty pageant in 2010 and she's the daughter of the late Obi of Onitsha, Obi Ofala Okagbue.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

"We don't own a private jet yet, but hope to buy one in the future' - PSquare

When asked if the rumour that they bought a private jet was true, P-Square replied:

"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.

Do they plan to buy a private jet someday?

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.

Photos of the day: Rare sight of two Popes together

This is the first time in more than 600 years that two popes will be alive at the same time and in each others company. Usually one would have to die before the other takes over...but Pope Benedict XVI retired last month.

Pope Francis flew to Castel Gandolfo by helicopter today to visit Benedict who has been living at the papal villa since he officially retired on February 28. They prayed together in the chapel before sharing a private lunch.

Saudi Prince jailed in the UK for killing his servant flown home to serve the rest of his sentence

The grandson of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Prince Saud Bin Abdulaziz, (pictured left) who was jailed for life in the UK in 2010 for killing his servant was on Monday March 18th flown back to Saudi Arabia to serve the rest of his sentence. But why would the British government do that? They really expect the grandson of the King of Saudi to be locked up forever in Saudi? I hear!

Bishop Oyedepo's first daughter, Love Oyedepo married her beau Steve Ogah today Saturday 23rd of March at Canaanland. Happy married life to them.

2face and Annie Idibia get a 2013 Corvette sports car as wedding gift

The couple got the 2-door sports car after the wedding ceremony yesterday but I don't know for sure who gave it to them. Congrats Annie and 2face!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Monday, March 25, 2013

Sunday, March 24, 2013