Jerry Douglas' Blog

Super Eagles and Chelsea of England midfield star, John Mikel Obi, was a relieved man on Friday afternoon after the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continental soccer ruling body, cleared him for the quarter final duel against the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire. Looking relaxed and in the company of roommate Victor Moses, Mikel said he was hurt when it was reported that he had picked up two yellow cards. “I am the one that is always at the receiving end of hard tackles and I knew that I had only one yellow card but the media was going about it that I have two.” He said he had become a little confused but was happy and relieved following the official confirmation of his status, and ready for the match. “I know that Africa wants the best of both countries in the quarterfinal and personally I’m looking forward to the midfield battle against Ivorien Yahya Toure, that will be one good spectacle that Africans will like to see and I know that Toure is also relishing it

A raw video by journalist Deji Badmus exposing the rot at the Nigerian police college in Lagos. RELATED:   Nigeria Police Training: Expecting Something From Nothing (PHOTOS) VIDEO: Nigerian Police Colleges - 50 Recruits Share One Head Of Fish Jonathan Blasts ChannelsTV For Police College Documentary PHOTOS: President Jonathan Pays Surprise Visit To Police College In Lagos PHOTOS: Police Residential Quarters As Shameful As The College Source:  Sahara Reporters

In the interview with BBC’s Komla Dumor, Wizzy talks about how his family, most especially his father, have adapted to his overwhelming success. Wizzy also responds to Dumor’s question on why most young Nigerian singers only sing about wealth and materialism. ‘Occupy Nigeria…I was fully supportive of that. I’m always ready to push stuff but at the same time, I just want to have fun. So you have to be realistic with it. If you want young people to listen to you, you have to use what they like to attract them to listen to you‘. Watch video below

**I would Have Gunned Down Abdulsalami. **I noticed how Abacha's body changed when President Yasser Arafat security operatives shook hands with him **Abacha and MKO's death were organized. "My Boss, General Sani Muhammad Abacha, died at the early hours of Monday, 8th June, 1998. I had prepared him for a workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Information for that day as he was expected to deliver an address as the Special Guest of Honour. His speech was drafted and fine tuned by the Chief Press Secretary, Chief David Attah who had submitted it to the Aide-De Camp for vetting and necessary amendments by the Commander-in-Ch­ief. When I got to the bedside of the Head of State, he was already gasping. Ordinarily, I could not just touch him. It was not allowed in our job. But under the situation on ground, I knelt close to him and shouted, “General Sani Abacha, Sir, please grant me permission to touch and carry you.” "Contrary to insinuations, speculations an

Pop Singer, Durella is out with a new single 'I see You'. He is yet to release his third album after signing to a new label in 2011. Listen to song below

Nicki Minaj discussed nearly getting arrested in Dubai for giving a police officer a hug, during a recent appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. “I went to Dubai. I almost got in so much trouble because the guys in Dubai are so cute. It’s not even funny. One of the rules [is] you can’t hug a man if you’re not married to the man. And so when we were leaving, there was this one guy that was so freaking cute, I was like, ‘Bye!’ because I just wanted to have this one last moment to savor the moment with him”. Minaj continued, “Literally, I didn’t know he was a cop. They don’t have a police [uniform]. It was like a private airport. They were just dressed in their regular garments. I went to give him a hug, and it was literally, I almost felt like time stopped in Dubai. I felt like everything froze. Every single person turned around in slow motion like, ‘Nooo!’” Minaj concluded, “Everyone in my team thought I was going to be put in jail. It was the scariest thing. He k

The former England captain, a free agent since leaving LA Galaxy in December, joins the Ligue 1 leaders on a five-month contract. Beckham considered offers from around the world but has opted for a club in the knockout stages of the Champions League, backed by wealthy Qatari owners and led by Carlo Ancelotti, who was manager at Milan during his first loan spell there. Addressing the press at his official unveiling, Beckham said: "I'm excited. it's something we've been talking about for quite a while and it's finally happened. "I'm very lucky. I'm 37 years old and I had more offers now than I've had in my career. I chose Paris because I can see what the club are trying to do. "It's an exciting city, but now there's a club that's going to have a lot of success over the next 10, 15, 20 years. To be part of something that's growing is something that's very exciting to me." Beckham confirmed he had offers

According to some sources, during Winners Chapel Cross Over Service on Tuesday January 1st in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun state, worshippers of the church made donations of over 700 exotic cars to the church.  People who felt they had been richly blessed in 2012 came to the Cross Over Service with different donations, most significant were the number of exotic brand new cars and SUVs that flooded Canaanland. The people who donated them dropped the car keys and documents during offering. The church auctioned the cars at very cheap prices to its members. Some cars were sold for at less than N300k. Source:  Linda Ikeji's Blog Source:  Naij.com

At long last, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will today arraign a member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, over a seven-count charge bearing on corrupt enrichment. The charge stems from allegations by a businessman, Chief Femi Otedola, that Lawan demanded and received $620,000 as a bribe from him while he (Lawan) was the chairman of the House AdHoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime. The arraignment of Lawan alongside the secretary of the adhoc committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, seems an indication of the Federal Government sudden readiness to up the tempo of its anti-corruption campaign. RELATED:  $3 Million Bribe: Keyamo Files Charges Against Farouk Lawal $3 Million Bribery: Otedola Defeats Lawmakers In Preliminary Case FG Files Corruption Charges Against Farouk Lawan Over Otedola Bribe On Wednesday, a former Assistant Director of the Police Pension Office, John Yusuf, was rearraigned and rema

Former Military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), yesterday undertook a critical view of the predictions made by soothsayers, including the United States of America that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015 and suggested ways to ensure the predictions do not become a reality. General Babangida spoke  where he was the chairman of the public presentation of two books in honour of former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. Said he: “As Nigerians, we are aware of the great doubts that have been cast about what 2015 portends for the continuing existence of our nation. I am aware that Nigerians have taken great umbrage at these predictions. Even Lord Lugard who founded what has been called Nigeria gave it a life-span of 100 years. “I regard it as a challenge to our intelligence to ensure that these portends and prophesies do not become self-fulfilling. We should engage these p

The Nigeria Football Federation members largely see the Sunday match against Cote d’Ivoire as the biggest obstacle to landing the trophy when the final match is played on February 9. As the build to the game continues, the NFF officials have reminded the players that they would not go back on their pledged to dole out $15,000 to each player if they are able to beat an Ivorian side inspired by Didier Drogba and African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure. The Eagles or Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire will face the winner of the quarter final match between hosts South Africa and Mali at the next stage. On Thursday, a top NFF official reconfirmed to MTNFootball.com that the said amount is what the players would receive for their effort. In Rustenburg on Thursday the Super Eagles officials, though, tried to play down the monetary offer insisting they were not “the cash officers for the team and could therefore not speak on it.” It was learnt that they are acting on past experiences whe

The Court of Appeal in Lagos will Friday (today) decide whether or not to quash the death sentence passed on the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (aka Rev. King), by a Lagos High Court, Ikeja on January 11, 2007.   The appellate court headed by Justice Amina Augie on November 5, 2012 had heard arguments of parties on the appeal filed by Ezeugo, through his counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo. Ojo had argued that the lower court judge, Justice Joseph Oyewole, who handed down the death sentence, erred in law in many respects. But the prosecution, represented by the Lagos State Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro, (SAN), urged the court to uphold Oyewole’s judgment. “We urge your Lordships to dismiss this appeal,” Pedro said. Oyewole had convicted Ezeugo and sentenced him to death by hanging for the alleged murder of a church member, Ann Uzoh. The cleric was on September 26, 2006, first arraigned on six counts of attempted murder. The p

Convicted leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, has asked a Johannesburg High Court to allow him call witnesses to testify for mitigation of his sentence. The court at its last sitting on January 21, 2013, found Mr. Okah guilty of conspiracy to commit terrorism by masterminding two car bomb attacks in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on October 1, 2010. The court reserved the pronouncement of the sentence to January 31, 2013. Okah’s attorney, Lucky Multulanla, told the trial judge, Neels Claassen, on Thursday that his client wishes to call at least five witnesses from Nigeria and outside Nigeria to testify for the mitigation of the convict’s sentence in the interest of the Niger Delta community, stated the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). "My Lord, my client wants to be given the opportunity to call some witnesses to come from Nigeria and other countries to testify on mitigation of his sentence. "Moreover, given the attestati

Tragedy struck, yesterday, in Ikosi area of Lagos, after a high tension wire snapped off a pole, electrocuting a staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Limited, PHCN, and a security guard. Casualty figure would have been higher if not for the residents of the area who were alerted by shout of fire from landlord of the one-storey building, identified simply as Alhaji, at about 5.10 a.m.Also destroyed was a Peugeot 504 vehicle belonging to owner of the compound where the live wire landed, at 34, Aladelola Street, Ketu. But the guard, simply identified as Garuba, who had been working for 30 years there, rushed out of his shed to examine the landlord’s abandoned vehicle that was on fire, but unknown to him, the fire was caused by a high tension wire which dropped on the vehicle. In Garuba’s attempt to contain the fire, he reportedly packed some sand and unconsciously stepped on the naked wire which electrocuted him. Eye witnesses also said the PHCN staff, identified a

Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang has reassured the people of Taraba State that their governor, Danbaba Suntai, who is on medical treatment in Germany as a result of the injury he sustained in a plane crash in October 2012, is recovering and will return to his duty post soon. Jang stated this yesterday shortly on arrival at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang from an overseas trip in company of his wife, Ngo Talatu. The governor, who was said to have visited his colleague at the German hospital, was also quoted by his Director of Press, Mr James Mannok, to have said, "Suntai’s health condition has not only improved but he’s in stable state with good sense of memory." He expressed optimism that Suntai will soon return to his duty post in Taraba State. Jang said during his trip he also visited Mozambique, where he and the Nigerian’s Ambassador to the country, Ambassador Matilda Kwarshi met with the Mozambique’s President and held far reaching deliberations on

The Special Offences Court sitting in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos has sentenced two people to prison for driving against the flow of traffic and for assaulting government officials. Mr. Abdulrasheed Maiyaki, a 35-year-old man from Kogi State, was sentenced to 100 days imprisonment without the option of fine for driving against traffic. The other person, Mr. Tunde Mukaila, 35, who allegedly assaulted government officials in the course of their duties, was sentenced to one year in prison. It was learnt that Maiyaki was arrested by the task force officials at Mangoro, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on January 17, 2013. Mukaila was also accused of damaging public property, apart from beating up the government officials. Chairman, Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to other motorists. He said, “The task force would continue to arrest those who violate government’s law.

The Senate yesterday said it was worried that over one month after human bodies were found floating on Ezu river in Anambra State, no community or family had come up with claims of missing members.   To this end, the upper legislative chamber has commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to the strange development, saying the inability of the country to unearth the cause of the incidence could adversely affect its reputation. The Senate, after an intense deliberation on the issue yesterday during its plenary, gave a marching order to its Committees on Police Affairs and Security and Intelligence to immediately carry out a thorough investigation into it and report the finding within two weeks. It will be recalled that over 35 dead bodies, mostly male, were discovered floating in the river in the early hours of Saturday, January 19, 2013, by some villagers of Amansea in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Senate President, David Mark,

Thursday, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega explained why he did not honour the invitation of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, blaming it on communication gaps. The House of Representatives had Wednesday threatened to arrest the INEC Chairman for not honouring its invitation to appear before it. READ MORE:  Reps To Arrest Jega, Odimegwu But Jega has in a letter to the chairman of House Committee on Public Accounts explained why he did could not appear before the lawmakers. The INEC Chairman is expected to appear before the committee on to explain the expenditures of the commission between 2003 and 2011, following the queries raised by the Auditor General of the Federation on INEC’s accounts, within the period under review. Dr. Abel Guobadia completed the tenure of Justice Ephriam Akpata in 2005 and Prof. Maurice Iwu who was appointed as INEC chairman was the chairman of the commission ti

A year into the administration of Captain Idris Wada as Kogi State governor, the story has been that of mixed feelings. Last Sunday, January 27, marked the first year anniversary of the Captain Idris Wada and Mr. Yomi Awoniyi administration in Kogi State. This followed the termination of the tenure of erstwhile governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, which was at the instance of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the tenure of five state governors. As a result, the duo of Wada and Awoniyi assumed office as the ninth chief executive of the 21 year-old state with the last 365 days recording memorable events of mixed feelings. Wada, a professional pilot, credited to have trained some of the best pilots ever produced in Nigeria, won the governorship election on December 3rd, 2011 and he took the oath of office on 27 January, 2012 alongside Awoniyi, scion of the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi as deputy. During their electioneering, both the governor and his deputy presented convincing cr

On Sunday, January 27, a fire swept through the packed, popular Kiss Nightclub in Santa Maria, Southern Brazil, killing over 230 people - enough to fill a large airliner. Brazilian authorities have said that of the 143 people still hospitalised, more than 70 are in a critical condition. READ MORE:  Brazil Declares 3 Days of Mourning Over Nightclub Tragedy The Kiss Nightclub is popular with young people in Santa Maria, which is home to a number of universities and colleges, including the Federal University of Santa Maria. At least 80 of those killed were students from that University, Brazilian authorities disclosed. Brazilian Police investigating the blaze have said that it likely started when a country music band performing at the Kiss Nightclub lit a flare which ignited flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling. That initial error was compounded by the over-capacity crowd, near-total lack of emergency infrastructure such as fire alarms or sprinkler systems, the police

West Brom have denied giving Peter Odemwingie permission to talk with QPR despite him arriving at Loftus Road in an apparent bid to force a move. The striker, 31, was the target of an unsuccessful R's bid of about £3m last week and has put in a transfer request. "Albion would also like to make clear that Peter has not been given permission to speak to QPR," read an Albion statement. "Talks [between QPR and WBA on a fee] have so far proven fruitless." QPR have denied that Odemwingie was admitted to club premises. Odemwingie's Premier League prowess The former Lille striker has scored 30 times in 80 Premier League appearances, including a hat-trick against Albion's rivals Wolves Odemwingie had earlier appeared optimistic that a deal could be reached. "I hope they will be happy with what they get and, of course, they want to get in players themselves. I just hope that everything will be sorted out in the next few hours," Odemwingie told Sk

A South African court yesterday found Niger Delta militant leader Henry Okah guilty of masterminding twin car bombings during the 50th Independence Day celebration in Abuja 2 years ago in 2010. The bombing on October 1 killed at least 12 people and wounded three dozen. Judge Neels Claassen said South Africa had proved Okah’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He added that Okah’s failure to testify meant evidence against him remained uncontested. Henry Okah faces a minimum sentence of life in prison, said prosecutor Shaun Abrahams. Sentencing is expected on January 31. “This is clearly indicative that South Africa cannot be seen as a safe haven for international terrorists,” Abrahams told the Associated Press news agency. Okah was arrested in Johannesburg one day after the October 1, 2010 bombings. He is a leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which claimed responsibility for the blasts. Okah still faces charges relating to two explosions in March