A gasoline tanker traveling on narrow road in a residential area in Ibadan caught fire from a local cooking fire place leading to fire explosions that have now gutted 25 houses and 45 shops in Omitowoju area of Ibadan city in Oyo state.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said they are working to stop the raging inferno before looking into the number of casualty caused by the fire.

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a guardian, Edwin Alagbaso, for allegedly torturing a 12-year-old rape victim.

Alagbaso, who used razor blade, knife and an iron rod to punish the victim, blamed her for “causing the rape”.

A 22-year-old man, Uche Chibueze, who raped the minor, was also arrested by the police.

Chibueze, on April 15, 2013, had sex with the victim near the home of her guardian located at number 1 Magente Street, Pipeline, Akute.

Chibueze, however, told our correspondent that he did not rape the victim since it was consensual.

He said, “I was at a friend’s gathering when she came to me saying she had spiritual problem and wanted to know her real family. I told her that she should follow me to Solution Church which was nearby and she agreed.

“On our way to the place, I took her to a corner of the street and took off her clothes. I also took off my shorts and I had not fully penetrated when a resident caught us and raised the alarm. I tried to flee but they apprehended me. I explained to them that it was not rape but they did not listen to me.”

It was learnt that Chibueze and the victim were taken back to Alagbaso’s house. The guardian in a rage picked a knife and stabbed him in the palm.

“The man (Alagbaso) went for a kitchen knife and wanted to kill me, but I grabbed it from him. He, however, stabbed me in the palm,” Chibueze said.

Unable to do anything with the child molester, Alagbaso was said to have picked a razor blade and inflicted injuries on the scalp of the 12-year-old.

Not done, he allegedly used an iron rod to beat the victim and later used a knife to cut her in the legs.

As the victim was reportedly bleeding from the head and other parts of the body, the residents, who had been pleading, intervened and took her to the hospital.

The residents also invited policemen from Ajuwon Division.

Alagbaso, however, told that he beat the victim to prevent her from being raped in future.

He said, “When I got home from work, I looked for her everywhere but did not find her. She left my three little children at home alone in the dark and went out with Chibueze. It was while she was out with him that he raped her.

“I punished her by shaving off her hair so that she would not look attractive again and men would not want to rape her in future. I also beat her so that she would not go out without permission because if she dies, people will blame me since I was the one that brought her to Lagos.

“I did not mean to beat her up to that extent, but I was angry. It was the devil that pushed me to beat her so much. However, the police do not have the right to detain me since I am the guardian and I have the right to correct her.”

She was responding to treatment. The victim said although Alagbaso’s wife was her aunty.

She said, “He beat me up so much that I thought I would die. He brought me to Lagos in 2010 but I only started attending school some months ago and he does not allow me to go to school all the time. Sometimes, he tells me to stay at the shop.

A copy of the medical report made available to our correspondent read in part that her ‘vaginal hymen was partially intact’.

It stated further that she sustained injuries to the scalp, swollen fingers, bruised abdomen and swollen eyes and mouth.

The Director, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Dr. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, said the victim should be taken away from Alagbaso.

She decried the rise in cases of child abuse and rape and commended the police for the timely intervention.

When contacted for comment, the spokesman for the state police command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident.

He said, “The rapist and the guardian are both in custody. The guardian has a case to answer for inflicting injuries on the victim with razor blade. They will be brought to book.”

The Pastor whose identity was kept secret and other leaders of the church were shielded by church members when the hoodlums invaded the place.

Within an hour, the church became a Mecca of sort, as people raced there to witness the development.

The father of the deceased said to be an artisan does not attend the church but his wife, Olayinka, does.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was born and christened in the church and celebrated his second birthday two Sundays before the incident in the same church.

It was gathered that on Sunday, at about 11.30 a.m. while the service was on, the deceased and other children were playing close to the septic tank and when Feranmi fell inside it, his mates instead of informing their parents ignored him and continued playing.
When eventually his mother asked after him and was informed by his mates that he fell inside the septic tank, Feranmi was already stone dead.

Hell was let loose as the rescue mission raised by the church leaders brought out the lifeless body of the boy while efforts to apply first aid failed.

Doctors confirmed him dead by the time he was rushed to a hospital.

Vanguard gathered that the pastor is currently under police protective custody.
Mobile policemen, at press time, were still keeping vigil in the church while the entrance to the church was under lock and key.

The state police command confirmed the death of the boy and said his body had been deposited at the state specialist hospital in Akure.

The Police image-maker, Wole Ogodo, who said peace had returned to the area, however, noted that the pastor would be invited for questioning.

“The man had deep cuts in the head and arm inflicted by Idak and Ikwo during a fight in the bush behind our house,” Otop Idebe, Kokoette’s cousin said

“They claimed that their brother had made so much money from the sale of their father’s land while they were away and so when another parcel was sold they demanded that the money be shared equally among all the surviving children and when their brother objected, they were not happy which led to the fight.”

However, Idak one of the suspects, told Vanguard: “On that fateful day, we were told that Kokoete gave the names of three of us, including one of our siblings, Efangha, to a native doctor for money rituals.

“So when he came to our kitchen to cook cocoyam, we warned him not to use our kitchen again because we did not like sharing a kitchen with any man, besides that he sold our father’s land and had the gut to keep the money to himself without giving us our share.”
Giving a graphic account of how the man was killed, she said: “Kokoette insisted on using the kitchen and a quarrel ensued and while still exchanging words, Kokoette went to the toilet in the bush behind the compound and Ikwo followed him with a big stick and a machete. After a short while, I heard Kokoette screaming, so I ran to the place to stop them only to see Ikwo using the machete on him.”

Ikwo, in her statement to the police, said something different, noting that it was the deceased that trailed her to the bush, where she went to stool and they started a fight.

The suspects were arrested by the police in Ikot Nakanda in Akpabuyo and transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Diamond Hill in Calabar.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. John Imoh (DSP) said they would be charged to court after the police had concluded investigation on the matter.

Arianna Huffington is the President and Editor in Chief of the Huffignton Post Media Group. See photos of Omotola as she jetted off to New York to attend the annual Time 100 Gala...

Two residents, who pleaded anonymity, said the deceased was an ‘internet businessman’. One of them said the likely motivation for his assassination was a N2 million deal he just concluded.

They added George just rented and furnished an apartment at Apapa Road.

It was learnt that just before his murder, George reportedly answered a phone call, and the caller requested to know where he was. George answered that he was at Abe Igi.

George’s father, Mr. Gbolahan George, said, “I was told that the assassins were four and were in Keke Maruwa (tricycle). They parked at the entrance of the street; two got down and walked to where Olamide was sitting with his friends. The one with the gun did not know him, so the other person who accompanied him pointed at Olamide.

“Immediately Olamide was identified, he was shot in the head and the chest.”

“I was called around 2:30pm and was told that my son’s body was at the morgue in Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. I reported the case at Area C Police Command.”

Gbolahan George said his son was not of a dubious character.

“He is a DJ, and not a scammer. And he is very gentle and pleasant. He wanted to write JAMB and get into Lagos State University.

“Olamide was also about to wed his girlfriend, Yetunde Adeyeri, who is five months pregnant before his untimely death. And that was why I gave him N500,000 to rent a one-room self-contained apartment at Apapa Road.”

Our correspondent saw family members cleaning blood stains from Olamide’s Golf Volkswagen car with number plate, LND 879 AG.

The Chairman of CDA, Bank Olemoh Street, Mr. Wilson Ojei, said, “I know Lamide as an easy young man trying to survive. Nobody had any complaints about him except for the occasional youthful exuberance, which is common among other young men in the community. From indications, the attack was not from within the community; the assassins were outsiders.

“We have been instructed by the police to cut the tree at Abe Igi.”

The police spokesperson, Lagos State, Ms. Ngozi Braide confirmed the incident.

She said, “The case was reported to Area C Police Command. We are investigating the killing and I can assure you that reasonable arrest has been made.”

■Best Male Vocalist 2002 Affinity Awards
■Music of the Year 2004 Excellence Recognition Awards
■Outstanding Contribution to the Entertainment Industry 2004 Award for Excellence
■Best Male Vocalist 2004 A.M.E.N Awards
■Song of the Year 2004 A.M.E.N Awards
■Best New Act Male 2004 A.M.E.N Awards
■Best Video 2004 A.M.E.N Awards
■Song of the year for “African Queen” 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
■Best Album of the year 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
■Best Hip Hop and R&B Artiste 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
■Musician of the Year 2004 City People Awards for Excellence Best Male Video 2005
■Best African Video of the year 2005 Channel O Music Video Awards
■Best African Act 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards
■Nominated Best African Act 2005 MOBO
■Best African Act 2005 Kora Awards
■Best Musical Artiste 2005 Afro Nollywood Award African Song of The Year (Non Ghanaian) 2005 Ghana Music Awards
■Special Recognition Award 2005 Hip Hop World Awards
■The Outstanding Musician of the Year 2005 Black Heritage Awards for Excellence
■Best Song of The Year 2005 G.C.E International Awards
■Musician of The Year 2006 The Future Awards
■Africa Break Through Artist of the Year 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
■Best Album of the Year 2007 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
■Best African Act 2007 MOBO Awards
■Song of the Decade 2007 Nigerian Music Awards
■Best R’n’B / Pop album 2008 Hip-Hop World Awards
■Best African Act 2008 Australian African Awards
■Best selling Nigerian Artist 2008 World Music Awards, Monaco, Spain
■Best R&B MTV Africa Music Awards 2009
■Artist of the Year 2009
■MTV Africa Music Awards Best Male 2009
■MTV Africa Music Awards Best Video for “Enter the Place” 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards
■Artist of the Year MTV Africa Music Awards 2010
■Best Male MTV Africa Music Awards 2010
■Most Gifted West African Video 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards
■Best Pop Video for “Implication” 2010 SoundCity Awards
■Best Western 2010 SoundCity Awards
■New Champions For An Enduring Culture 2011 16th edition of the Annual THISDAY Awards presented by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
■Best International Act: Africa BET Awards of 2011
■Album of the year 2011 Hip-Hop World Awards – “The Headies”
■Artist of the year 2011 Hip-Hop World Awards – “The Headies”
■Best R’n’B / Pop album 2011 Hip-Hop World Awards – “The Headies”
■Most Gifted African West Video for “Only Me” 2011 Channel O Music VideoAwards
■Most Gifted Video of the Year for “Only Me” 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards.

Sanusi, in a paper presented at the 1st Ochendu Youth Empowerment Lecture Series held in Umuahia, Abia State, also listed lack of policy on social safety nets, poor societal attitude to technical and vocational education development, as well as inadequate teaching facilities in formal/vocational schools as obstacles to economic growth.

The central bank governor, who spoke on the theme: ‘Youth empowerment as panacea to insecurity in Nigeria,’ lamented the high unemployment rate in the country.

In the paper, a copy of which was emailed to our correspondent, Sanusi said unemployment had risen from below 15 per cent in the period 2002-2008 to over 20 per cent from 2009 to 2011.

He said, “Insecurity, as noted earlier, can be triggered and fuelled by factors such as unemployment, among others. The unemployment situation in Nigeria has remained worrisome. It has risen from below 15 per cent in the period 2002-2008 to over 20 per cent in the period 2009-2011, according to information from the National Bureau of Statistics.

“This coincided with the period of heightened insecurity situation in the country. There are many major contending perspectives to the understanding of insecurity in Nigeria.

“These include ethno-religious conflicts, politically-based violence, economic-based violence, corruption, unemployment, maladministration ethics, faulty culture and political interference.”

He added, “Insecurity has taken various forms in different parts of the country in recent times. Predominantly, it is armed robbery in the South-West, while cross-border bandits and terrorism have become manifested in the North.

“In the South-South and East, the act of kidnapping, youth restiveness and other violence have become rampant. Specifically, the spate of kidnapping across the country and the incessant wave of crime and armed robbery points to the fact that insecurity is a big challenge to development in Nigeria.”

He blamed the high poverty level in the country on the Federal Government’s inability to provide a social security programme that would solve the basic problem of the people as it was being done in other developed countries.

Everton are expected to produce €5.5m if they are to get Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi from Serie A club Lazio.

The Toffees are reportedly close to concluding talks on the 20-year-old.

According to Mercato, Everton have already contacted Lazio regarding the Nigerian midfield international who has played nine times for Nigeria.

Onazi is far from a regular for Lazio, he has made just five appearances for the club in Serie A games, but he has been a regular for them in their Europa League campaign.

With South African Daylon Claessen already on trial at Goodison Park and transfer rumours linking Everton with a summer move for Real Betis midfielder Juan Carlos in the summer, the possibility of the Africa Cup of Nations hero going to England is not being ruled out.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are hopeful of fending off interest from Arsenal to secure a summer deal for Nigeria international Godfrey Oboabona.

The 23-year-old is desperate to leave current club Sunshine Stars at the end of the season, and his agent has been actively offering him around European clubs.

Oboabona already has a number of potential suitors, but was expected to undergo a trial with Arsenal last month in a bid to try and win a contract with his boyhood club.

The Gunners eventually decided against offering him a deal – yet have maintained their presence at his matches and continue to monitor his progress.

Lille and Rennes from the French league are known to have approached the defender, who can play centre back or in midfield, but it’s thought that Newcastle are now the front runners for his signature.

Magpies manager Alan Pardew is desperate to add to his defensive options in the summer with a reported £1m on the cards.

Oboabona has 16 caps for Nigeria and Newcastle know they face a battle with the Home Office in order to secure a work permit to wrap up the transfer.

The convict was arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms punishable under sections 1 (2)a and 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R.II Vol. 14 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Prosecution led by Deputy Director in the state Ministry of Justice, Mr. E. Ferdinard, told the court that “Aruhor Ezekiel, on or about the 26th of July 2010 at Umu-Otu quarters within Ogwashi Uku judicial division robbed one Idakpo Friday of his Nokia handset, MP3, wallet containing N2,000, school identity card, clearance card and some complimentary cards while armed with a gun.”

He was also charged for “robbing one Ijie Theophilus of his phone and wallet while also armed with a gun.”

All victims, according to prosecution, were students of Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, while the convict was a student of Ozoro Polytechnic Ozoro, Delta State.

1. Never wake up early…
Keep stretching & turning in bed until you get too hungry to continue dozing if there are no bedbugs,
why hurry to get up??

2} Never plan how to spend your money..
Whenever you get money, start spending it right away and when it’s finished, you try to count and
recall how you spent it..

3} Don’t think of saving until you have real big money…
How can you save when you earn so little?? Those telling you to save are not sympathetic to your
burning needs..

4} Don’t engage in activities usually reserved for the “uneducated “…
How can you a graduate
engage in petty trade or home based production?? That’s for people who never went to school.

5} Don’t think of starting a business until an angel comes from heaven & give U capital..
How do they expect U to invest before U get millions of dollars?? Even though more than half the
businesses in your town were started with a few hundred dollar, you as a smart person can only start with millions.

6} Complain about everything except your own attitude:
Blame the system the government& the banks that refuse to lend you money. They are all bad & do not want you to get rich.

7. Spend more than you earn.
To achieve this, buy consumer product on credit & keep borrowing from friends & employers.

8. Compete in dressing.
Make sure you wear the latest clothes among all workers in your offer..
Whenever your neighbour buys a new phone, u get one that is more expensive..

9. Get yourself a nice second hand car that costs more than three times your gross monthly pay..

10. Give your children everything they ask for since you’re such a loving parent. They should not
struggle for anything because you do not want them to suffer that way, they will grow up lazy & hence poor enough to ensure they can’t help you in old age…

Four people have lost their lives in a fatal motor accident along the Mokwa -Minna road this morning.
The accident occurred when a petroleum tanker lost it breaks on the highway and collided with a stationed truck loaded with 600 bags of cement and immediately caught fire which resulted in the death of the four occupants of the tanker and burning of four Vehicles.
Confirming the accident to Channels Television in Minna, Niger state Police Public Relations Officer, Richard Oguche, explained that the driver and the conductor of the tanker were burnt beyond recognition.
He further mentioned that the corpses of the four deceased persons have since been deposited at Mokwa General Hospital while the injured people are receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper, Punch, again affirmed its dominance of the country’s media landscape on Thursday winning the country’s most prestigious science media award.

The acting Editor of Sunday Punch, Miss Toyosi Ogunseye, was adjudged Science Journalist of the Year (2012) at the prestigious Nigeria Academy of Science Award, which held at the University of Lagos.

Punch’s entry for the prize, which is the sole media prize awarded by the country’s foremost scientists, was described as an example of “outstanding journalism.”

The panel of judges chaired by Prof. Gabriel Adewoye cited Ogunseye for her “outstanding contribution to the knowledge of science through the print media.”

According to Adewoye, Ogunseye’s three-part series story: ‘The rich also cry’ is an example of “excellent investigative journalism.”

Adewoye said, “The winning entry was the clear winner of this year’s award. All the judges agreed that Ogunseye showed depth, clarity and an understanding of the issues highlighted in the story. It was investigative journalism as its best.

“Apart from saving lives, she also championed a policy change as the factory that was polluting the environment, was shut down.”

A member of the panel of judges, Prof. Sogo Sofola, also said Ogunseye won because she displayed “outstanding journalism.”

Part one of the series, ‘The rich also cry: A tale of deaths and diseases in a heavily polluted upscale estate’, focussed on the concerns of the residents of a heavily polluted upper-middle class estate in Lagos. The second part: ‘The rich also cry: Killer metals in the blood’ detailed the results of blood and urine tests conducted on the residents, which confirmed the presence of killer doses of metals in their bodies.

PUNCH paid for the tests which were conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lagos. The concluding part of the series: ‘The rich also cry: When investment is a curse’, explained the interplay of environmental and economic forces responsible for the pollution.

The past President of the academy, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, praised Ogunseye’s work. According to Obe, the winning entry is an example of how science journalism should be conducted.

Obe said, “The reportage of science issues should continue to be encouraged in our society. Stories like those of Ogunseye are needed for our society to grow and develop.”

Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Art and Civilisation, Prof. Tunde Babawale, said no nation could develop to its optimum if it ignored science.

Ogunseye, who has BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Lagos and a MSc in Media and Communication from the School of Media and Communication, Pan-African University, is a recipient of 13 other awards.

She went home with a plague, cash price and a laptop.

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.

•Take more plantain or unripe bananas. They help to rejuvenate the sexual organ with high level of potassium. Include garlic in every meal. Garlic is generally a good anti-oxidant and a good remedy for impotence in particular.

•Unripe plantain, pure honey and walnuts could also be ground, mashed or pound together to make a gel or paste. Sun-dry the gel to form a cake or flakes. Once totally dry, it is capable of improving erection and also prevent early or premature ejaculation.