Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • Man slaughters three in-laws in Edo

    A 44-year old man, Edoghogho Omorogbe, has been arrested for killing his mother in law, sister- in- law and a six- month old baby.

    His victims were identified as Mrs. Alice Omorogbe 52, Mrs. Blessing Efe 25 and her baby.

    Edoghogho killed his victims on September 10, 2019 at their residence at Iguadolor Community in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State.

    A two-year-old girl inside the room at the time of attack was spared.

    The mutilated bodies of victims were discovered the following morning.

    woman and her daughter who were slaughtered

    Edoghogho said he killed his in-laws because of the way they were hiring boys to beat him anytime he had issues with his wife.

    According to him: “I am a tipper driver but since the rains started I was doing menial jobs.

    Read Also: Three ‘kidnappers’ held in Abia

    “I killed them out of annoyance because my mother -in- law used boys to beat me up. She would say I am talking to my wife. If I quarrel with my wife, she will send boys to beat me up.

    Their residence where they were killed

    “I didn’t know the cutlass will meet the baby. After I killed them, I ran away. Later I came out and went to tell my father what I did. I have not seen my wife since I killed her mother and sister.”

    Edo Police Commissioner, Danmallam Abubakar said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

  • Nollywood legendary movie ‘Living in Bondage, ’gets sequel

    After 26-years, a sequel to Nollywood’s foremost blockbuster film ‘Living in Bondage’ is set to hit the cinemas.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sequel titled ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free,’ is written by Nicole Asinugo and Chukwudi Obasi, and directed by veteran actor Ramsey Nouah.

    The new movie scheduled for release on November 8, features Kenneth Okonkwo, who starred as ‘Andy’ in the original thriller, among other cast members.

    Other actors in the sequel include Kanayo O. Kanayo, alongside Enyinna Nwigwe, Nancy Isime, and Munachi Abii.

    The plot of ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free,’ tells the story of Nnamdi, Andy Okeke’s mysterious son, and his unbridled quest for the ‘big life’ that pushed him into a perilous journey.

    NAN reports that ‘Living in Bondage’, acclaimed to be the movie that chronicled Nollywood’s journey to prominence, is a 1992 Nigerian two-part drama thriller film.

    READ ALSO: Ramsey Nuoah to direct Living in Bondage sequel

    The film was shot ‘straight-to-video’ and produced in Igbo, and starred Kenneth Okonkwo and Nnenna Nwabueze in their breakout roles.

    It tells the story of Andy (Kenneth Okonkwo) and Merit Okeke (Nnenna Nwabueze), a young couple facing harsh economic challenges that eventually pushed Andy to join a cult.

    Members of the fraternity swore their loyalty to ‘Lucifer’ and kill their loved ones in ritualized sacrifices for wealth.

    Andy met the ‘demands’ of the cult and eventually became very rich, however the nemesis that unfolded became the intrigues that define his ‘Living in Bondage.’

    (NAN)

  • Returned migrant shot dead in Libya

    A Sudanese migrant was shot dead in Libya after the coast guard stopped the boat he was on from attempting to cross the Mediterranean and brought him back to shore, UN agencies reported on Friday.

    The incident occurred on Thursday in Tripoli, when many of the 103 migrants, who had been on board resisted, being sent back to Libyan detention centres.

    International Organisation for Migration (IOM) officers witnessed armed men beginning to shoot in the air.

    When several migrants began running away, the Sudanese migrant was struck by a bullet in the stomach, IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle said at a news conference.

    “This was tragedy waiting to happen. The death is a stark reminder of the grim conditions faced by migrants picked up by the coast guard after paying smugglers to take them to Europe,’’ Doyle said.

    Read Also; NEMA receives 153 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    Charlie Yaxley, a spokesman for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said the incident was proof that Libya is not a safe haven and that migrants must not be returned to the civil war country.

    UN agencies have repeatedly highlighted the severe malnutrition, lack of water and overall inhumane treatment in Libya’s overcrowded detention centres.

    In July, 53 people died and 130 were wounded in airstrikes on a migrant and refugee centre in a Tripoli suburb, amid fighting between the UN-backed government in Tripoli and rival forces led by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.

    Among the 5,000 migrants detained in Libya, more than 3,000 are kept in active conflict areas, according to the IOM.

  • How Nigeria spends $1.2bn to import fish annually – Emefiele

    The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele says about 1.2 billion dollars worth of fish is imported into the country annually.

    Emefiele disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing some state Governors and the media on the feat recorded so far in agriculture for economic growth.

    He explained that current fish production stood at 0.8 million tons while the demand was 2.7 million tons, giving a deficit of 1.9 million tons.

    He said the apex bank’s current initiative was to enagage the coastal state governors to develop the blue economy to address the deficit of 1.9metric tons as well as eradicate the huge import bill for fish.

    According to him, this is a very huge economic opportunity for the states to create an enabling environment for investors.

    In a similar development, the governor said that major innovation to deepen the poultry business was the recent partnership between the bank and tertiary institutions to pilot the “The University–Based Poultry Production Programme” in twelve 12 Universities across the six geo-political zones.

    Read Also; House halts CBN’s charges on deposit plan

    He added that the objective was not only building future agripreneurs but making the universities able to improve their internally generated revenue.

    “For the pilot phase, five Nigerian Universities, namely; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Ilorin were enrolled.

    “These Universities have submitted revised proposal to their respective sponsoring banks,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governors of Ekiti, Adamawa, Lagos, Ogun, Benue, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Anambra, Imo, Edo, and Borno states attended the meeting.

  • Court sends ex-Petroleum Ministry’s senior official to prison over $9.6bn judgment

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja has ordered that a former Director, Legal Services of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga be remanded in Suleja prison, in Niger State.
    Mrs. Taiga, who was arraigned before the court on Friday on an eight-count charge of bribery, among others, is to remain in prison until September 25, 2019 when her bail application would be heard.

    Upon her arraignment on Friday, Mrs. Taiga pleaded not guilty to the charge in which she was, among others, accused of receiving bribe, through her offshore bank account in signing the Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) between P&ID Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Petroleum Resources Ministry on January 11, 2019, and over which an arbitration panel, which sat in London awarded about $9.6billion damages against Nigeria.

    After she pleaded to the charge, filed and being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), her lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), prayed the court to allow his client to be remanded in the custody of EFCC pending the determination of her bail application, on the grounds that she was suffering from hypertension and diabetes.

    Read Also:  P&ID $9.6bn judgment: FG arraigns ex-Petroleum Resources official on bribery charges

    Lead prosecuting lawyer, Bala Sanga however objected to Olanipelun’s request and argued that the proper place to remand a defendant, whose plea had been taken, is prison custody.

    In a ruling, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi upheld Sanga’s argument and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Suleja prison.

    Justice Adeniyi directed that the defendant be accorded due medical treatment while she is in custody, pending the hearing and determination of her bail application.

    The judge subsequently scheduled September 25 for the hearing of her bail application.

    The EFCC also accused Mrs. Taiga violating various laws by entering into the GSPA without prior approval by the Federal Executive Council and a certificate of no-objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Enterprise.

    The charge is in relation to the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA), in respect of which a British court upheld P&ID claim to the $9.6bn damages awarded against Nigeria by an arbitration tribunal

    The EFCC alleged that Mrs. Taiga signed as Nigeria’s witness to the GSPA while the then Minister who was the head of the Ministry, Rilwan Lukman (now late), signed as Nigeria’s representative.

  • Embracing our differences

    I deciphered that we all like colours. Why? The answer is based on the universal acknowledgement that colours are beautiful. I would say that Mother Nature secretes pleasure from colours. Mother Nature gets elated upon sighting colours. This is why she beatifies some with black; brown; white; yellow; and many more.

    Mother Nature has palaces, and it is in these palaces of hers that she has placed us. These palaces are what we now call Africa; Antarctica; Asia; Australia; Europe; South America; and North America.

    I need to tell the whole world that these palaces have been given to inhabitants in order to cause a change in it. It is like a family where parents are blessed with children. To make that family organised, the parents could allot different rooms to those children; and they expect that they all take care of their rooms.

    Juxtaposing this with my stance, I would like to tell the world that we are in the rooms of Mother Nature because she has allotted rooms to us and she has given us a truth; and by truth, I mean what we possess to redefine our minds and world.

    We all need to form a universal circle with the truths given to us so that the world would be beautiful. It is saddening to realise that the world has arrived at a port where one African individual is a xenophobe to another African individual.

    The South African crisis has stolen many growing lives that should serve as a cursor of change for the continent since we have all failed to accept the truth that we are to work together, as to repaint the ugly face of our common earth; instead we murder ourselves; we murder the beauty that should fill every heart.

    History is the eyes at the back of our head; and if should use these eyes to survey the past, we would outright notice how Nigeria helped pull the South African nation out of the grotesque manacle of Apartheid.

    It is also evidently proved that Nigeria has contributed to the growth and development of the South African nation, the same way the South African nation has fostered economic growth in Nigeria. We cannot exchange hate for hate. The only demon that can destroy the demon of hate is love. Love is the orbit of perfection that the universe desires.

    Boycotting South African industries in Nigeria—MTN, Shoprite, DSTV—will only worsen the status quo as many Nigerians are employees in these companies. What I see here is a productive relationship between two countries, about to be destroyed by fear.

    Fear is that obstacle in our heart that stops us from moving closer to another individual. That man or woman you neglect is your mirror; but if you neglect him/her you might not be convinced of who you really are or the qualities present in you.

    I remember a time at a garden, where I saw a bird. Tersely, I had this surgical thought that I wished the bird could draw closer to me, so we could mingle and exchange friendliness but I was afraid it would fly away. I realized also that the bird could have the same intention but it felt that I could harm it, too. I did not move; I was still fixated on that spot but the bird was frighteningly walking around. It drew closer a bit and sang its song. I whistled back; but the fixity of my strength was still on that sit.

    What I realized from this event was the fact that there is only one thing that quells us from relating with others: FEAR. That bird had the sensual feeling of harm. I had the feeling that it would fly. This is spawned by the collective unconscious. The collective thinking of birds is that the human being can harm them, whilst the collective thinking of the human being is that birds fly. This is what breeds fear.

    What entangled our minds that moment was fear (Xenophobia). But I want humanity to arrive at the knowledge that we are the mirror of ourselves. This is true, in the sense that we cannot see our own faces. We need a mirror to see our true reflections.

    This is why I would say that that neighbour and neglected friend of yours could be your mirror in that there is a part of you that is lost and that is why you were born naked; we cloth ourselves.  From time to time you need to check, through this mirror, if you have not been stained in the face.

    I think we all need to reconstruct our collective thinking by sending fear into eternal exile. We should stop thinking about the harm we can cause ourselves if we move closer to another individual; rather, we should think about the unending harm we would cause our planet; our continent; our lives; our common future, if we fail to unite and change the sick state of the world.

    We need to recognise that one nation is to another nation a woman. We mate with ourselves to procreate change. One nation would be barren without the presence of another. It is for this reason that I put, metaphorically, that we all come from one mother; and that is Nature. No one is superior to another.

    Mother Nature finds and/or seeks pleasure through colours. We dwell in her abodes; her palaces. Consequently, it is our duty to procreate change in the abodes she has found for us. How we outgrow underdevelopment is to plant, in our hearts and minds, the wisdom of Nature; and this wisdom is to make us embrace our differences and see ourselves as one world.

    When I examined the Christian religion or culture, I realised that they do not say “I am a white Christian or black or whatever.” They say “we are Christians.” Thus, if religion could connect us together as one world, if continental or intercontinental relationship could affix us, or if language could flow through us like the same blood, it means we are not different.

    Those colours are just there to please Nature. Therefore, I want the world to hold my words as a staff when I say that the future of humanity depends on our global interconnections. We all have dreams; imaginations that we need to conjoin, as one planet, and turn into reality for us to have a future that is more civilised than this present one.

    Nature is our teacher but she has her agents (we are all agents of Nature). I am one of these agents and I have decided to change the world through my words by apprising the living and the unborn that we need to embrace our differences because this is how we form the culture of peace. Peace is a culture that must be formed; one way to form it is through international cooperation. We need to heal ourselves of racial segregation; and these words are the antidotes. This is why I want every heart that reads these words to know that a single person cannot hold the world from falling and breaking apart.

    We are all pillars, created and placed in continents to hold the planet from destruction. It is high time we stopped gashing the latterly beautiful face of Earth. It’s high time we quelled warring against ourselves whether we are of the same colour or a different one. It is high time we know that the orbit of the human life is love; the orbit of human spirituality is love.

    Love is an energy that connects the human spirit together; and love lives in the heart. We can restore the dying energy of love in our hearts if we all peacefully come together to embrace our differences. Why must we always leave harsh, inhumane stories (like this deleterious xenophobic incident) in history book for coming generations to read?

    Humanity is sick but it seems we are comfortable with this sickness because we have failed to give ourselves the antidote to our sickness since the antidote is right there in our heart: Love.

    The dreams and hopes that we all have are camped in the belly of our minds, undigested, unbeknownst to our expectant eyes because we have failed to bring the world into a spherical point of contact—Oneness. Oneness is a way the human spirit merges to form a single individual, higher and larger than the planet itself, capable of holding the universe from falling asunder, as to reshape and repaint the planet until her beauty is profoundly found.

    We should take my words as a letter written to our hearts and reply with a change of thought and action when I put, metaphorically, that the world is a coin with different sides that cannot be separated. We are for complementariness.

    There is a nature that Mother Nature wants to culture in the nature of humanity. That nature is the nature of commensalism as one planet.   What I want humanity to know is that we are all equal in the eyes of Nature, that is, no one is superior to another.

    The Earth cannot neglect the presence of the Sun; they mate together to equip us with growth. We need ourselves to heal ourselves, to heal the world. Let us make the world (it is “the” world not two worlds) one planet and embrace our differences because embracing our differences is embracing peace (not war) that would spawn our desired beautiful world.

    John F. Kennedy says “Together we shall save our planet or together we shall perish in it” (p.38). When I read his words, I said to myself that what I want to do to change the world, not just myself, is to plant my words as seeds in the hearts and minds of every human being—living and unborn—until we all grow a tree of oneness in our hearts by embracing our differences and seeing ourselves as equal children of Nature. We have to stop wasting innocent lives, unfurling ugly histories. We must all embrace our differences.

    oluwaseyioso01@gmail.com

  • Passion alone won’t make you succeed in music industry – Owens

    The Chief Executive Officer, Money Making Machine Gang, MMMG, Mr Agbontan Godson Owens aka Owens Leo has disclosed that to excel in the music industry it requires more than passion.

    Speaking in a media chat, Owens said that money plays a key role in delivering the kind of quality music his fans will admire. The endowed artiste said MMMG as a record label is a coinage that he finds very motivational. “Name does several works in our life,” he added.

    He said music was his passion from childhood. “I love good music and I can sing as well. But I was never opportuned to chase that career at a tender age. In 2009, I venture into the music business and my record label was officially launched in 2017. This year I signed my first artiste“White man”.

    Speaking on challenges so far, Owen said “ Since 2017, it’ has not really been easy but we’ve both been together. My artist was first working with me as a hypeman in the club, then I found out that he actually got the talent and he’s a good entertainer. I decided to sign him after listening to his songs, which I noticed had good messages to deliver, unlike the regular Naija jams. His songs are inspirational and motivational.

    “We believe in working before eating, hence the reason for his genre. It was not easy because I was not financially buoyant. But I managed to release some songs while I also collaborated with some of my Russian friends. My music journey took me to Greece but I was only able to stay in Russia for 2 years while pursuing my education. I was unable to complete my education in Russia because the cold was too much. It wasn’t good for my chest, so I had to return to Africa and enrolled in Adonai Institute in, Benin Republic where I eventually finished and went for my youth service in 2016. I studied Computer Science and I have the plan to go for my Master very soon. ”

    Owen shares success tips to other young artistes – “You need to have another source of income. For instance, I have been trying to establish several businesses that will ensure the money keeps coming and for posterity sake. I have Saloon and also a night club where people can relax and have fun. Am a very ambitious person and I have the plan to set up more businesses. I usually stock farm products like red oil, melons and ogbolor when its cheap and sell when it increases in price.

    “ Music business needs the money and without funds to push it, your passion is wasted.”

    Reacting to a viral post of himself and Davido, on social media, he revealed that there is a working relationship between tge multiple award-winning singer and himself.

    His words, “I am working with Davido on something. Collaboration with Davido is cooking already. Am also looking at working with Burnaboy and Olamide.

    Owen is not bothered about what the future holds. To him, only present event and happenings matters. “The future is not sure for anyone, Maybe, you can call me the only man who doesn’t believe in insurance, because my life itself is not assured.”

  • Nigerians spent N1.2bn in cinemas for July, August

    Nigerians spent over 1, 294, 602, 827 billion naira watching movies in the cinemas for July and August.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figures are according to data provided by the cinemas and compiled by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN).

    Following its lead in June, ‘Bling Lagosians’ led the first week of July by raking in 37, 409, 372 million naira. However, it was one of the only two Nigerian films in the top 20 movies.

    The other was Kunle Afoloyan’s ‘Mokalik’ starting the month at number nine while ‘Avengers: Endgame’ sank to 18th position, earning 151, 966 Naira that week.

    By the second week, ‘Spiderman: Far from home’ edged ‘Bling Lagosians’ out of the first position. It had a 34 per cent decrease in revenue while ‘Spiderman’ earned 64, 072, 680 million Naira.

    ‘Spiderman’ remained on top for the third week, although earnings decreased by 36 per cent. However, general grosses dropped by 20 per cent while ‘Lion King’ debuted for a few days, raking in 4, 040, 854 million Naira.

    By the fourth week, ‘Lion King’ had settled in and climbed to number one with 108, 447, 093 million Naira. ‘Bling Lagosians’ stayed at number three with ‘Mokalik’ at number 13.

    Other Nigerian films in top 20 included ‘Rant Queens’ at number eight, ‘The Gift’ at number eleven, ‘Wakill’ at 15 and ‘Coming From Insanity’ at 17.

    Buzz around ‘Lion King’ dropped by the fifth week with earnings down by 33 per cent, totalling 73, 040, 701 million Naira. All the top 20 films earned 136, 936, 341 million naira in total.

    Infographics showing revenue for July, August (NAN)

     

    ‘Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw’ debuted and snatched the number spot with 104, 443, 577 million naira. On Nollywood’s side, ‘The Set Up’ entered late into the week and raked in 187, 500 naira.

    Although revenue dropped by 48 per cent, ‘Fast and Furious’ maintained the number one position while ‘The Set Up’ made its real box office debut at number three with 25, 634, 606 million Naira.

    By the next week, all films maintained their positions but the ‘Bling Lagosians’ sank to number eight after spending eight weeks in the box office. ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ debuted leading to a week total of 113, 615, 730 million Naira.

    In week nine, ‘Angel Has Fallen’ climbed to the number one spot, making 64, 227, 240 million naira. ‘The Set Up’ was pushed to fourth position with a 49 per cent drop in revenue.

    For the last weekend in August, ‘Bling Lagosians’ settled at number 20 with ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ struggling at number 19. ‘The Set Up’ had dropped to number five.

  • BBNaija: Housemates party with 2baba on his birthday

    Music legend, Innocent Idibia aka 2baba paid a surprise visit to the housemates of the ongoing BBNaija season four.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, on Thursday night, the ‘African Queen’ singer stormed the house with Larry Gaaga and Efe Omoregbe.

    The housemates, who did not see the surprise coming, got to celebrate 2baba’s birthday with him as Biggie set up the party in the arena, complete with food and musical performances.

    Prior to the party, housemates took turns to ask the legend questions about the industry and success tips that every celebrity should have.

    He said, “Keep your head straight. Respect people, respect your craft. Develop yourself. There is no limit to what you can do.”

    Frodd asked how he kept calm despite the pressure before a performance. He said, “You have to keep your game face on. You have to block it out. You have to go out and satisfy your fans.”

    To celebrate his birthday, he was welcomed into the beautifully set up Arena, where the Housemates chorused a happy birthday song for him and cut the cake.

    The housemates also had karaoke games with Seyi, Tacha, Omashola and Cindy creating funny moments.

    Larry Gaaga and 2Baba took the lead in dancing as they grooved hard to their classic songs, while Mike showcased his Zanku skills.

    NAN reports that the party also features performances from Okeimute, Kholi and a band, Alternate Sound.

    To wrap it up, 2Baba introduced his new product to the lucky Pepper Dem top ten as he talked to them about launching his branded headphones.

  • Three ‘kidnappers’ held in Abia

    THREE suspected members of a notorious kidnap gang have been arrested in Abia State, the police said.

    Two of the suspects were arrested by mobile policemen on stop and search operation along the busy Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the third by regular police through intelligence.

    Also recovered from the suspects were a mobile phone and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card later discovered to belong to a kidnapped victim, a woman, who was still in their custody when they were arrested.

    Two of the suspects were nabbed while ransom negotiations were going on with the kidnapped woman’s husband, said to be a banker.

    Police sources told our reporter that the mobile policemen flagged down a commercial bus in which the suspects were travelling, and upon interrogation, determined that the two men were members of a notorious kidnap gang.

    The kidnap was later released by police, while the suspected third member of the gang was picked up.

    The three suspects were said to have made confessional statements of being behind a series of kidnappings in Aba and other parts of the state.

    The state police boss Mr Etim Okon confirmed the three suspects were in custody and would be arraigned once investigations were over.