6 Habits You Should Learn and Develop Before You Get Married

Marriage is a very big step for any couple. Just like any serious undertaking, you must prepare for marriage before you go into it. Below are a few attributes that you must have if you’re to succeed in marriage:
 
   Patience

One of the key qualities that every partner in a marriage must have is patience. No two human beings can have a productive relationship without disagreements. It will not always be rosy and your patience with each other will keep you from hurting each other and going to the extreme when you’re angry. Also, children are bound to rub you the wrong way so you have to prepare yourself for provocation and figure out how to handle it when it comes.


    Proper Communication Skills

To succeed in a marriage, you must learn the art of communication.  You must be diplomatic and cautious and learn to pass your message across without being aggressive and aggravating your partner unnecessarily. You must be able to read between the lines of your partner’s words and know when they want to talk and when they just want to be left alone.

We only target people in flashy cars – Suspected kidnapper

Suspected kidnappers

Kidnapping suspect, Sunday James, arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, has said he and his gang only go after people in expensive cars.

James was arrested along with five others- Solomon Eze, aka Pastor, Ikechukwu Chedom, Obinna Egbugha and Emmanuel Iloakazi- on April 6, 2013.

James, 29, said he had been involved in four kidnap operations.

He said, “I am from Ebonyi State but I live in Coker, Orile, Lagos. I was introduced to the gang by Victor Emmanuel, who is the leader of the gang.

“In January, Emmanuel rented an apartment in Ajah area and in February, we started the business fully. Whenever we kidnap, we take the victim to the apartment. We have kidnapped four people so far.

“The first person we kidnapped paid N1m ransom and my share was N100,000. Emmanuel received N200,000 since he was the leader. The second victim paid N1m and we shared the money in the same manner.”

Orphanage rape: Police set to prosecute director

The orphanage

Two weeks after the arrest of Director of Light of Hope Orphanage, Mr. Olatayo Atunde, the police are set to prosecute the case at the Ota Magistrate’s Court, Ogun State on Friday (today).

Atunde was accused of rape by two minors aged 13 and 14, living at his orphanage. He was subsequently arrested and later released on bail.

Project Alert, a non-governmental organisation on violence against women, had petitioned the Zone 2 Command on the issue after some officials of a private secondary school, where the minors are students, reported the case to them.

A medical report from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, had confirmed that the vaginal hymens of the girls were no longer intact.

What unripe plantain can do

Unripe plantain porridge

Many things could make a man unable to fulfill his sexual obligation to his partner. A man who is not able to “perform” sexually would experience both psychological and mental block. He may also experience emotional torment. To guard against this, take this meal:

•A meal of unripe plantain with local spices such as onions, garlic and ginger could be the answer to erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, ulcer, kidney problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

•According to nuturecure.blogspot.com, unripe plantain — cooked or roasted —induces and helps in sustaining and maintaining erection. It also helps to make semen thick and increases sperm volume.

•It claims further that roasted plantain fruit is good for men with weak erection and low sperm count. Make a habit of eating one or two roasted plantain daily. If you wish, you can eat it with vegetable soup.

Pres. Jonathan awards $40m contract to Israeli company to monitor internet communication by Nigerians?

I put the question mark there because this is so hard to believe. President Jonathan wouldn't dare do this, would he? Below is the report from Premium Times

Here is a very important information for the 47 million Nigerian Internet users. Big Brother, in the form of the Jonathan administration, is watching you, and your communication is no longer safe.

It is one of the most far-reaching policies ever designed in Nigeria’s history to invade the privacy of citizens.

The Jonathan administration secretly, and in open violation of lawful contracting procedures, has awarded an Israeli firm, Elbit Systems, with headquarters in Haifa, a $40million contract to help it spy on citizens’ computers and Internet communications under the guise of intelligence gathering and national security.

Soccer-Last-gasp David Luiz gives Chelsea 2-1 win

 

 David Luiz, lucky to still be on the pitch after a shocking challenge, scored with the last kick of the game to give Chelsea a 2-1 win at FC Basel in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final after the Swiss side had levelled with an 87th minute penalty on Thursday.

Victor Moses gave Chelsea a 12th minute lead with a soft goal but Basel, after an uncertain opening, fought back well after the break and looked to have grabbed a deserved draw until the Brazilian curled in a free kick from 25 metres in the fourth minute of injury time.
The goal silenced a raucous St Jakob Park which was still celebrating Fabian Schaer's penalty for the hosts, who are aiming to become the first Swiss side to reach a European final.
However, David Luiz was lucky to escape with a yellow card after a studs-up challenge on Philipp Degen late in the game. Schaer was also fortunate not to be dismissed for a late tackle on Eden Hazard.
Basel, playing their 19th match of a marathon European campaign which started away to Estonia's Flora Tallinn in the Champions League second qualifying round in mid-July, have beaten Manchester United and Bayern Munich at home in the last 18 months.

Nwosu, Oliha fear for Eagles

Former Super Eagles midfielders Henry Nwosu and Thompson Oliha have expressed their disappointment over the sacking of coach Stephen Keshi’s backroom staff.

Nigeria ’80 Africa Cup of Nations winner Sylvanus Okpala and ex-Lagos ACB player Valere Houandinou were sent packing along with the team’s psychologist, coordinator, media officer, camp commandant and curator by the Nigeria Football Federation following a rationalisation exercise at the national football house last week.

NFF member Emeka Inyama said the board decided to dispense with the services of assistant coaches Okpala  and Houandinou,  as well as others  who helped Keshi win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa  due to financial problems.

However, an unnamed NFF member was quoted by a section of the media as saying Okpala was sacked “for gross misconduct and disrespect towards the President of the federation”.

Producers dare not ask me for sex –Annie Macaulay-Idibia

Annie Macaulay-Idibia

Recently married Annie Macaulay Idibia says being music star, Tuface Idibia’s wife has been no challenge.

Annie, who spoke with an online news portal, Ibaka tv, on location of a movie, Girls in the mood, Annie Macaulay Idibia, says if at all there is any challenge, it will be that 24-hours is no more enough for her to take care of her two babies.

Beaming with smiles, she says,

“It has been nice, everything I thought and much more. There are no challenges; the only thing is shuffling my work, my home and my kid. I have so much to attend to; I almost feel like 24 hours is not enough. Now I have work, I have my daughter and I have my husband -my two babies to take care of. I also have my own personal runs. So, it is always very busy, my days are always extremely busy.”

Her husband, Tuface, actually sprung a surprise on her on her birthday. He showed up with cake on location. Obviously surprised by his visit, Annie describes her husband’s surprise visit as cute.

She says, “I was supposed to film half day but eventually filmed till pretty late, at about 9.30pm. I am sure he got tired of waiting. I don’t know how he did it with the director and he got the cake. I was just filming and he walked in and everybody started singing ‘Happy birthday’. It was nice and I thought that was cute. I was surprised that he came; I wasn’t expecting to see him.”

In the movie, she plays the character of a girl named Tessy who is a drug addict. The producer of the movie, Prince Iyke Olisa, says this about her character. “She was a drug addict raped at the age of 13 by her uncle. The man denied and the wife sent her out of the home. She was introduced, forced into a kind of odd life. She started living wrong and ended up a drug addict and all manner of things.”

No BBA for Tonto Dikeh

Tonto

Controversial actress, Tonto Dikeh, has debunked the story that she will represent Nigeria in the next edition of Big Brother Africa. Saturday Beats gathered that the actress had been receiving congratulatory messages from friends since the story broke earlier in the week that she would fly Nigeria’s flag in the Big Brother house.

The actress cum musician, who took to Twitter to debunk the claims, said, “Lol how y’all tink I’m gonno go in2 Bb8 Houze? Sure beats mii. Kip d rumour alive but know in ur hearts dat na lie.”

The actress further expressed her dissatisfaction with the way bloggers dish out false information to the public on Twitter.

“Sure 9ja bloggers re bored n outta n dey gave up on d truth a long time ago to b fiction/storybook writerz. You getting deze folkz excited abt bb8 n ve no clue as to wat u re saying n u design a banner on ur blog on a story u ddnt verify. Wat re u. If you are a blogger n u ve a story on mii goin 4 bb8 den u should be ashamed of yourself professionally az always,” she tweeted.

However, the Public Relations Officer and Publicist of Mnet and AfricaMagic, Yinka Epega, told Saturday Beats that any information not issued by Multichoice or Mnet should be disregarded.

The story of the 2 Russian brothers suspected in the Boston bombings

Two Russians bothers, 26 year old Tamerlan and 19 year old Dzhokhar, a second-year medical student in the U.S, are suspected to be behind the Boston Marathon bombings. Tamerlan was killed in a shootout with police last night, Dzhokhar is being intensely pursued. Below is their story...

From Boston Associated Press

In May of 2011, Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev (pictured above and below right), then a senior at a prestigious high school, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the city of Cambridge, Mass., to pursue higher education. Now, Tsarnaev is on the run, described as "armed and dangerous" and suspected of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Two brothers, one now dead, one alive and at large. After hours of only grainy images of two men in baseball caps to go on, a portrait gradually started emerging Friday of the men suspected in the attack.

F.B.I. Releases Images of Two Suspects in Boston Attack

The F.B.I. today released still and video images of two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings - including a man who was seen setting down a backpack at the site of the second blast - and appealed for the public’s help identifying the men.

One was seen placing a dark-colored backpack outside the Forum restaurant, the site of the second bombing, just minutes before the explosion, said Richard DesLauriers, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.'s Boston field office.

Omotola makes Time’s world most influential list

Omotola

Nollywood actress, Omotola Jolaade-Ekeinde, has made the list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

The TIME Magazine,  in its 2013 edition of TIME 100, released on Thursday, which encompasses world  leaders,  pioneers,  artistes and other titanic figures, listed Omotola  on its Icon List.

It includes the likes of United States First Lady, Michelle Obama; Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton; Myanmar opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi; 15-year-old Pakistani activist shot by the Taliban, Malala Yousafzai; and Beyonce.

Explaining how Omotola made the list, TIME’s movie critic, Richard Corliss, on the TIME’s website,  described her as “the Queen of Nollywood.”

“Called OmoSexy by her fans, she has made 300 or so features, from the 1996 Mortal Inheritance to the 2010 super production Ijé, shot partly on location in Los Angeles. She  brings a juggler’s grace to her roles as actress, singer, reality-show star.

Nigerian teenager, Opemipo Jaji found guilty of rape, facing life imprisonment

A Nigerian teenager who attacked and raped an 11 year old schoolgirl in November 2012 has been found guilty of rape and facing life imprisonment in the UK. 18 year old Opemipo Jaji was under a supervision order for having child porn and had just left an appointment with the Probation Service when he followed the victim as she took a bus home from school, according to the UK Daily Mail.

Opemipo took the girl to Jubilee Park in Enfield where he repeatedly raped her for three hours. The court heard today that the Nigerian Paedophile stuffed a school tie and gloves into her mouth to stop her screaming. But Opemibo denied being the attacker, telling police he had seen the girl on the bus but nothing had happened. "I am just not capable of doing something as despicable and heartless as this," he told the court.

Well, nobody believed him. Not only was the victim's blood found on his clothes, CCTV footage also captured him in the same bus with the girl, plus he fitted the girl's description of her attacker and he admitted he was at the park that evening but only to compose music. He was found guilty and will be sentenced in two weeks time.

Shocker Chinese Man Eating Roasted Baby

Seeing this picture was an absolute shocker, and our sources claim that its 100% real and that the picture was taken in china, that there is a place you can actually go to get this. This is very horrible, we have heard of cannibals, but this is a huge disrespect  to our creator and should not be taken likely

Davido explains the meaning of Gobe…

Davido has his fans on their feet again dancing to his latest track, “Gobe”. The video has a very interesting storyline and tons of energy in its choreography. 

MTV Base got in touch with Davido to find out the meaning of this song and the young star said “Gobe” simply means trouble. 

Source : MTV Base

"No woman bought the Bentley for me" actor Aremu Afolayan

The actor and producer took delivery of a Bentley Continental GT car on April 7th and since then tongues have been wagging, with some claiming a sugar mummy bought the car for him. Aremu Afolayan has reacted to the speculations, insisting he bought the car with his hard earned money. .

"I don't think a woman will love a man so much that she will buy a Bentley for him. If they think it's easy to date elderly women and get a Bentley, let them try. The problem with people is that they tend to hate what they can't conquer. I date ladies, not older women. Moreover, whoever I date is my choice."

Aremu, who is the younger brother of filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, also has a Mercedes Benz GL45

Deadly explosion at Texas fertilizer plant kills 15, over 150 injured

A deadly explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant yesterday night Wednesday April 17th has left at least 15 people dead, including five volunteer firefighters and one police officer. The blast, which measured 2.1 on the Richter scale according to Reuters, left the town of West, 20 miles north of Waco, 'like a a warzone'. Over 180 people were injured in the blast, while dozens of homes and buildings were destroyed.

Public safety officials say they expect the death toll to rise and that rescue efforts have been hampered because of hazardous chemicals in the air following the explosion. Just feels like the US has been under attack this past few days. Read full story HERE

Video: Okonjo-Iweala's interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour

 

This is an interview that you all need to watch...

Ex-minister misappropriated N3bn contract fund –EFCC

 

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Chike Nwibe, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja that a former Works Minister, Hassan Lawal, misappropriated N6.4bn for Brutu and Bagana bridges contracts.

The EFCC, on May 11, 2011, had arraigned Lawal, alongside 14 others, for alleged fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement of funds for projects in Kogi and Nasarawa states.

Lawal is standing trial on charges of  N24.3bn contract scam.

Charged with him are Adeogba Ademola, Digital Toll Company Ltd; Swede Control Interlink Ltd; Proman Vital Ventures Ltd; Nairda Ltd; Siraj Nigeria Ltd; and Wise Health Services Ltd.

Others are Dave Enejoh, Okala Yakubu, Thahal Paul, George Elzogbi, Abbey Ayodele and GIS Transport Ltd.

Nwibe, during cross-examination, said an investigation carried out by the EFCC showed that N6.4bn was the actual figure received by the contractors of the N24.3bn contract sum.

He alleged that of the figure, Lawal authorised the payment of N3bn in 2009.

He said, “I do not think it is correct to say that payment of  over N4.5bn was made before 2009 when Lawal became a minister.

7 Rules Of Life

We collected N3m ransom before releasing David-West’s wife – Kidnappers

Seven men who kidnapped the wife of a former Petroleum minister, Mrs. Taye David-West, on March 23, 2013, in Akure, Ondo State have confessed that they collected N3m ransom from her family before she was set free.

The victim, who is the daughter of the Late Asamo of Akure kingdom, Chief Adesanya Asamo, was abducted around 1am on the fateful day and was kept for 12 days before her captors freed her after the ransom had been paid.

Luck, however, ran out on them when four of the gang members, including the leader, were arrested by the police in Akure and Owo towns.

According to the state’s Commissioner of police, Mr. Patrick Dukumor, those arrested in connection with the crime are Dare Olofinji, Dada Bamidele, Fanibe Olayemi and the leader, Joseph Akogun.

Dukumor, who explained that the suspects had confessed to the crime, also said two of the five-member gang that kidnapped a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, Akure, Mrs. Olubunmi Oke, on March 21, had been arrested by detectives.

Colourful foods for longevity

In an earlier edition, we talked about the reasons to eschew Western diet, what with the findings of researchers who warn that eating a diet filled with trans fats could lead to premature death.

However, it is not enough to know which diet to ditch; we also need to know which one to adopt for healthy living.

A doctor of Chinese medicine, who is also an authority in anti-aging medicine, Mao Shing Ni, contends that human beings can find longevity at the end of the rainbow. By this, he means eating naturally colourful foods — as opposed to those laced with artificial food colourings — leads to good health, a precursor of sound aging.

Indeed, the new dietary guidelines from the American Dietetic Association encourage people to literally colour their plates with a rainbow of foods, especially to ward off health and beauty problems — from heart disease to wrinkles.

Caring for children with special needs

This is a very challenging and emotional topic for me because I am a young parent.  I understand what it means to have a child and struggle to come up with the best strategies for a wholesome care.

The night I brought my first baby home remains unforgettable because no one told me that the bundle of joy may not sleep throughout the night, as he had not adjusted to the diurnal rhythm of life outside the womb. For a few more days, we kept vigil and had to hazard guesses of what he actually wanted as he cried and refused to sleep when the rest of us were actually ready to go to bed.

Children are a gift, but they are equally a challenge when it comes to wholesome care.  As they grow older, the challenge becomes more sophisticated when they come up with more demands on the intellectual, social and emotional resources of the parents. It is amazing how, in our days, parents are still on call to ensure the marriage of their children succeed and their grandchildren are well catered for.

CAN U17: Junior Elephants end Eaglets’ unbeaten run

Nigeria under 17 coach, Ugbade

A 90th minute strike from Ivory Coast’s Dogbole Niangbo was all the Junior Elephants needed to end Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets’ 28-game unbeaten run and also revive their hope of advancing to the semi-finals of the Africa U-17 Championship in Morocco.

Nigeria had steamrolled the Black Starlets of Ghana 6-1 in their first match on Sunday, while Ivory Coast had played a 1-1 draw with DR Congo. So, the Eaglets were naturally favourites before Wednesday’s game, but they got more than they bargained for.

The Ivorians adopted a defensive play, relying on occasional counter-attacks as they were mindful of what the Nigerians could do. But the Eaglets on their part failed to utilise the few chances that came their way, giving their opponents reasons to be more confident. Each side hit the woodwork twice and anyone of them could have taken the lead in the second half.

Margaret Thatcher laid to rest

More than 250, 000 people lined the streets of London to bid farewell to UK's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who died April 8th at the age of 87.

The Queen of England, Prime Minister David Cameron, 11 serving Prime Ministers from across the globe and 17 serving Foreign Ministers were among important dignitaries who attended the funeral. If you want to see photos, go HERE

Lilian Akiyesi's camp responds to the Ezinne story

Below is a mail that was sent to me by a close family friend of Lilian Akiyesi, responding to the recent revelation that Solomon Akiyesi was married to another woman called Ezinne before marrying Lilian.

I am very close friends with Lilian's family and have decided to respond to this shocking and unfair accusation. Lilian met Solomon as a little and naïve girl in 2001. There was no one married to Solomon as at then. Down the line, Solomon got married to Ezinne who said she was pregnant as at then. Lilian moved on with her life. Years later, Solomon and his family came to ask for Lilian's hand in marriage claiming that their son was deceived into marriage as Ezinne was never pregnant and was infact confirmed in the hospital to have damaged her womb a long time ago. On investigation, Solomon's family said all rites have been retrieved and dissolved of the marriage which was based on deceit.

Continue...

Photo: Husband allegedly slits wife's throat in their home

Endurance Ajisegiri's family got a call on Sunday April 14th from her husband, Isaac Ajisegiri, informing them that she had died at their home in the Shasha area of Lagos the previous day and he had taken her corpse to the mortuary. Endurance's family immediately called the police.

So here's what happened according to friends of the late woman. Endurance (pictured above) and Isaac were married for four years and had one child together. They also ran a business together, an education consulting firm. Sometime last year, Endurance found out that her husband was having an affair with one of their employees and this caused serious problems between them. Endurance eventually moved out of her matrimonial home with her 2 year old daughter.

On Saturday morning April 13th, Isaac's friend, a guy named Stanley came to pick Endurance from her office, saying that her in-laws (mother-in-law and sister-in-law) were waiting for her at her husband's house and wanted to resolve some issues with her. Endurance went with Stanley.

The following day, her corpse was deposited at Crystal Hospital by Isaac. Her throat had been slit with a knife from inside her kitchen. Isaac told police that endurance killed herself with the knife after a serious argument. Isaac, his mother and sister (who slept in the house that night) are now in police custody. Stanley is no where to be found. The case is being handled by the Homicide Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department.

See a photo of Endurance after she was killed when you continue...*viewer discretion advised*

Western diet, route to early grave

Western food

What does your breakfast look like?

The answer to this simple question may be as diverse as the ethnic tribes that make up Nigeria, what with our attitude towards food, which borders on consuming large portions.

Among the upwardly mobile, breakfast may consist of corn flakes (which are usually fortified with some so-called vitamins), bacon, fried eggs or omelet, white bread and tea sweetened with white sugar — or other forms of sugars that researchers say are not in the least healthy.

At work, lunch may not be better, as it may be a combination of fried chicken or sautéed fish, with a generous serving of French fries, to be washed down with a large, chilled bottle of sugary beverage.

Dinner is no better, as it may consist of some take-away from the numerous fast food eateries that line major routes. Yet, experts say you eat Western diet to your peril. The unambiguous conclusion among dieticians, nutritionists, physicians and researchers is that Western diet is unhealthy and should not be taken regularly or served at the family table for that matter.

Gals, before you wear that bra!

Gals, before you wear that bra

The brassiere comes in different shapes, colours and sizes. There are 31 common types of bras, ranging from the simple to the bizarre. In fact, your social status will shape the type of bra you wear. They include adhesive bra, belly dance bra, bridal bra, convertible bra, cup-less bra, full-support bra, mastectomy bra, maternity/nursing bra, minimiser bra (for those with large busts), novelty bra, padded bra, peephole bra, push-up bra, sport bra, T-shirt bra, trainer bra, U-plunge bra, underwire bra and water bra. This last one has water or silicone gel-filled cups to make your breasts look larger.

For the average woman, wearing the bra probably comes before any other underwear, thus underscoring its importance. You can then imagine the uproar that greeted the result of a new study released last Friday by French researcher, Prof. Jean-Denis Rouillon of Besançon University, who claims to have spent the last 15 years measuring women’s breasts. He submits his ground-breaking finding: brassieres do no good, either in terms of preventing sagging or back pain!

Rape update: Ogun bars director from orphanage

Atunde and The victims

The Ogun State Government on Tuesday ordered the founder of the Light of Hope Orphanage, Pastor Olatayo Atunde, to stay away from the premises of the home located in Akute, Ifo Local Government.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi, the government also directed that victims, who levelled the allegation against Atunde be handed over to government-owned care centre.

Atunde had been accused of sexually abusing two teenage girls and other children in the orphanage which is still undergoing registration process by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

The government said its decision followed a four-and-a-half hours interview sessions which a panel it set up had with all parties in the case, including the victims, Atunde, his wife, representatives of the complainant, Project Alert and Mrs. Peju Osoba, Coordinator of Child Protection Network Committee in Ogun State.

The state panel was headed by the Attorney General of the state, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu, while the other members are Sonubi, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu and Special Adviser to the Governor on Millennium Development Goals, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello.

Man beats up landlord, attacks policeman

A man is standing trial at Sabo Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly beating up his landlord and attacking a policeman, tearing his singlet which the prosecution said cost N90, 000.

The defendant, Mr. Akinsola Ajayi, 32, was arraigned on five counts of assault and malicious damage.

When the case was called up in court, the prosecution could not read the charge sheet clearly and after several failed attempts, the Magistrate, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams, halted the proceeding in anger.

She said, “Who are you reading the charge sheet to? Is it to the court or the accused person? Are you strange to this court? You don’t know how to read the charge sheet or what?”

Folarin-Williams subsequently adjourned the case until April 23 and Ajayi was returned to detention.

The charge sheet, which our correspondent obtained, reads in part, “That you, Akinsola Ajayi on the December 5, 2012 at about 10.30pm at 13 Adebolu Street Bariga in the Lagos Magisterial district, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by unlawfully disorganising the peaceful environment o fthe  Street and throwing out bucket, property of one Ibrahim Olusesi and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 166 (d) of criminal law of Lagos State.”