Patience Jonathan own this huge hotel structure in Bayelsa

According to an investigation by SaharaReporters, the hotel pictured above under construction  is allegedly owned by Nigeria’s First lady Patience Jonathan.
Sahara Reporters say that the hotel being constructed at Yenagoa, Bayelsa state is worth billions of Naira, in a video shot by Kayode Ogundamisi for Sahara TV, the hotel was pictured.
See photos below:

The Jonathan Family Home in Otueke…

Islamic Teacher Arrested For Raping Two Primary School Girls

A 27-year-old man, Mohammed Ibrahim, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping two female pupils of Al Adab Nurery and Primary School.
The incident was said to have happened in Surulere area of Lagos and in the school’s premises.
Ibrahim, an indigene of Niger State, was said to have raped the six and seven year olds in the toilet during school hours.
It was learnt that the defendant had only been appointed to teach Primary three students Islamic studies in the muslim school in August 2013.
He was placed on a salary of N10,000 per month which he accepted to take.
However, on December 18, 2013 he allegedly told the victims (names withheld) to help him fetch water and put in the toilet.
He was said to have followed them there, undress them and have carnal knowledge of them.
The victims were said to have cried while the act was on, which attracted attention of other kids.
Ibrahim allegedly pushed them out and pretended as if nothing had happened.
The victims were said to have been invited and interrogated by another teacher, who then related their confession to the school management.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and he allegedly confessed to the crime.
The police arraigned him on Monday on two counts of rape.
The charge read, “That you, Mohammed Ibrahim, on December 18, 2013 at about 1100 hours at Al Adab Nursery and Primary School, Abalti Barracks Surulere, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did forcefully have unlawful sexual intercourse with a child named (name withheld) aged 6 years, which caused her harm.
That you on the same date, time and place, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with a child name (name withheld) aged 7 years, which caused her harm.”
The prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odige, said the offence was punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011. Ibrahim said he was not guilty of the offence.
Odige announced the presence of the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Matthew Ebe and the headmaster of the school who did not identify himself.
The affected kids were also in court with their parents.
The defence counsel, Melda Bambo, appealed to the court to grant Ibrahim bail in liberal terms.
The magistrate, Mrs Demi Ajayi admitted him to bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties each in like sum.
“The sureties must also be at least 40 years of age, resident in Lagos and gainfully employed. They must present evidence of tax payment and affidavit of means. Their address identities and means of livelihood should also be verified,” she added.
The matter was adjourned till January 29, 2014.
Source: NigerianEye

Scientists Have Discovered A Drug That Blocks AIDS

Scientist at the Gladstone Institutes have identified the precise chain of molecular events in the

human body that drives the death of most of the immune system’s CD4 T cells as an HIV infection leads to AIDS.
“Gladstone has showed how the body’s own immune response to HIV causes CD4 T cell death via a pathway triggering inflammation, and secondly by identifying the host DNA sensor that detects the viral DNA and triggers this death response,” said Dr. Robert F.
Further, they have identified an existing anti-inflammatory drug that in laboratory tests blocks the death of these cells — and now are planning a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine if this drug or a similar drug can prevent HIV-infected people from developing AIDS.
Two separate journal articles, published simultaneously in Nature and Science, detail the research from the laboratory of Dr. Warner C. Greene, who directs virology and immunology research at Gladstone, an independent biomedical-research nonprofit.
His lab’s Science paper reveals how, during an HIV infection, a protein known as IFI16 senses fragments of HIV DNA in abortively infected immune cells. This triggers the activation of the human enzyme caspase-1 and leads to pyroptosis, a fiery and highly inflammatory form of cell death.
As revealed in Nature, this repetitive cycle of abortive infection, cell death, inflammation and recruitment of additional CD4 T cells to the infection “hot zone” ultimately destroys the immune system and causes AIDS.
Siliciano, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. “This one-two punch of discoveries underscores the critical value of basic science — by uncovering the major cause of CD4 T cell depletion in AIDS, Dr. Greene’s lab has been able to identify a potential new therapy for blocking the disease’s progression and improving on current antiretroviral medications.”

Tiwa pounding yam for hubby.

This is just really nice, Tiwa Savage being a really good wife...

Ericsson presents consumer trends for 2014

Ericsson ConsumerLab has identified some of the most important consumer trends for 2014 and beyond.

 For more than 15 years, the ConsumerLab had conducted researches to explore people’s values, behaviours and ways of using Information and Communications Technology products and services.

The global research programme, the firm said in a statement, was based on annual interviews with over 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and 15 mega cities.

The Head of Research at ConsumerLab, Mr. Michael Björn, said, “The most important trend we see is the mass demand for apps and services across all industries and societal sectors – which has the potential to fundamentally change everyday life.

“Apps change society. The fast global uptake of smartphones has completely changed the way we communicate and use the Internet. Now, we enter a new phase of rapidly-diversifying smartphone use – and people are looking for apps across all sectors of society.

“This includes everything from shopping and day care to communication with authorities and transportation. Apps are becoming more important than what phone you use.

“Your body is the new password. Sites are demanding longer passwords with a mixture of numbers, letters and symbols – almost impossible to remember. This is leading to a growing interest in biometric alternatives.”

The research found that 52 per cent of smartphone users want to use their fingerprints instead of passwords and 48 per cent were interested in using eye-recognition to unlock their screen.

A total of 74 per cent, it added, believed that biometric smartphones would become the mainstream during 2014.

It said blood pressure, pulse and steps were just some examples of how “we want to measure ourselves with mobile devices, using personally-generated data. You only need to start an app to track your activities and get to know yourself better.”

 A total of 40 per cent of smartphone users, the research added, want their phone to log all of their physical activities and 56 per cent would like to monitor their blood pressure and pulse using a ring.

Internet experience, the firm said, had been falling behind voice; as smartphone users were realising that the signal bars on their phone no longer provide reliable guidance, since a signal that is adequate for a voice call may not be good enough for Internet services.

Malawian President In Nigeria To See Her Favourite Pastor

Malawi President Joyce Banda left her country today on a South Africa Airways flight to Lagos, to begin a three-day private visit to Nigeria.
Interestingly, the official came to visit neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor the First Lady Patience Jonathan.
Mrs. Banda is heading to Lagos , where she will be staying for 3 days as the VIP guest at Pastor TB Joshua’ s Synagogue of All Nations, to receive prayers for herself and her small country.
At the departure ceremony in Lilongwe she said she wanted to use the time to reflect on 2013 and and what lies ahead in 2014. Mrs .
It would be recalled that Joynce Banda is due to face a general election in May 2014.
According to her words, she has been coming to Nigeria for prayers in the last 5 years , and this visit is normal.
"Some of you may be aware that I go for prayers in Nigeria. This year I also decided to take a three- day holiday for prayers ," she said . She calls TB Joshua her spiritual father.
She was seen off at the airport by VP Khumbo Kachali . And she is expected back in Malawi on New Year's Eve.
President Banda’s ascendancy to power is said to be connected to the prophecy of the TB Joshua who was said to have predicted the death of former Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika.
President Banda had visited Nigeria more than once before she ascended the presidency.
TB Joshua’ s Synagogue has been a favourite destination of some African leaders, including the late Professor Atta Mills of Ghana.
Source: The Paradigm

I got HIV while looking for a child’-Woman

Okoro
| credits: File copy

When did you get married?

We got married in 2004

Did you do HIV tests before you got married?

Yes, we did.  It was a compulsory test before getting married. We were both HIV negative.

When did you realise you had the virus?

It was in 2007. I got pregnant and was asked to do some random tests. That was how I found out I was HIV positive.

Do you know how you contracted the virus?

Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell because there are so many ways through which one can get the virus but you can trace it if you vividly remember the activities you engaged in for some months and years.

Can you explain what you mean by activities one engages in?

In my case, my husband married me a virgin and like I told you earlier, I was HIV negative and so was he when we got married. Certain things happened to me that exposed me to unhealthy practices and I believe strongly that that was how I got HIV.

Unhealthy practices?

I could not conceive when I got married. My husband was not worried because it was a young marriage, but his family members were not happy with me. They said all sorts of nasty things to me and tried to get my husband to send me out of the house. It created tension in my home. I went to different churches and herbalists within and outside Lagos. In the herbalist’s home, I was given incisions with a razor blade. I received the incisions on two different occasions.  Then in 2007, my mother-in-law arranged a new wife for my husband behind my back.

Did he tell you about the new wife?

No. In fact, I didn’t know until much later. It was one of my friends in the village that told me what my mother-in-law had been up to. My husband just told me that he was going to our village to see his mum. I did not suspect anything. It was on that trip they introduced the new wife to him. He rejected the wife and came back to Lagos but he did not tell me anything. One day, one of my friends called me and asked me if I knew what my husband came to the village for. She narrated the scheme to me and I confronted my husband. He said he didn’t tell me because it would hurt me. He reasoned that since he didn’t take the wife, I would be happy not knowing what transpired in the village.

It was that same year my in-laws wanted to get another wife for my husband that I got pregnant. That is why I counsel women that patience is everything. I got pregnant when God was ready to give me a child. It wasn’t the herbalist or white garment churches that made it possible. They gave me some very horrible concoctions to drink in those churches after praying on them. They took me to rivers to have my bath. When I saw that all those things were not working, I stopped. Several months after, I just discovered I was pregnant. In fact, I remember vividly that at the herbalist’s place, I didn’t give them the blade that was used for the incisions. That was the least thing on my mind, I just wanted a baby.

How many people did you see at the herbalist each time you went?

Quite a few, mostly women and it was the quest for children that took them there. They also got incisions.

Was it with the same blade?

I’m not sure about that because we went in at separate times

How did your husband receive the news of your status?

Towards the end of 2007, I got pregnant. He felt very bad when he heard about my status. He was downcast.  I thought it was the end of our marriage. I thought it was the end of everything I struggled to keep.  He shocked me when he said he was not going to leave me and it wasn’t the end of the world but that he needed to do the test too. He did it and he was negative. I gave birth to our child and she’s negative.

Do you experience any sort of stigmatisation?

No, my status is known to only my husband and I, and he has never used it to taunt me in any way. That is how I know that he truly loves me. Of course, it took him some time to get over it, it was very gradual but he took it calmly. We were both very sad. We went for counselling together. I told him that it was my desperation to have a child that forced me to seek alternative measures. He didn’t know I went to all those places. He’s very understanding and I sometimes wonder if he’s for real.

What steps do you take to ensure he remains negative?

We have two children now and they are both negative. He uses a condom and whenever we are trying to procreate, we are both placed on drugs to ensure that he doesn’t contract it.

I have spoken to a few women who share similar experiences with you. What advice would you give to women, especially the married ones that are yet to have children?

I wish our society would just leave couples alone and stop interfering with whether they have children or not. That is the problem, everyone feels they should have a say in one’s marriage. The first step is that couples should not allow family members or friends tell them what is best for them. Also women should be patient. Just look at me, if I had been patient, all these would not have happened to me.  Couples should know that God’s time is the best. I also want to say that HIV does not kill. What kills is depression and laziness. Some people will say because they are HIV positive, they will stop working and start being dependent on others. Being dependent on other people will affect one’s psyche, lead to depression and eventually death. In addition I will advise people, spread the news, but don’t spread the virus.

Kwara Group Drums Up Support For Jonathan Administration

A socio-cultural   group, the Igbomina Development Forum, on Saturday rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan in his bid to tackle the nation’s challenges.
The group, at a forum organised at Agbamu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, also called for participatory politics and internal democracy in parties to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions.
The forum, which was organised by Mrs Shola Adedoyin-Adeoti, a business magnate and community leader, appraised the current socio-political developments in Kwara and urged the Igbomina “to work for their political emancipation”.
Adedoyin-Adeoti urged the Igbomina ethnic stock to work for the development of the area, saying driving investment through private sector investment would change the economic fortunes of the people of the area.
She also commended the Igbomina for their industry and unity of purpose, arguing that only a concerted effort of the country’s ethnic nationalities would promote sustainable development.
“We are all Nigerians irrespective of our political affiliations. We should seek the development of the country by ensuring unity of purpose”, she said.
A PDP stalwart, Mr Kunle Sulyman, urged the Igbomina to sustain their passion for community development through self-help.

“I have always known the Igbomina for their hard work, industry and diligence. They are also a very principled people, who are not swayed by pecuniary benefits”, he said.

A don, Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi, urged development associations within the ethnic group to evolve programmes which would promote sustainable development.

He called on wealthy indigenes of the area to invest in their individual communities, saying this was the only way to tackle unemployment and ensure sustainable development.

Earlier, a PDP stalwart, Mr Lanre Ogundeji, had called for unity among the Igbomina while working for the common interest of the ethnic group. (NAN)

Meet The Top 10 Richest Pastors In The World

This is a list of the richest pastors worldwide.

1. Bishop T. D Jakes: Bishop Jakes lives in a $1,700,000 mansion, he has been called America's best preacher and has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine. He is a writer, preacher and movie producer. Thomas Dexter "T. D." Jakes, Sr. is the bishop/chief pastor of The Potter's House, a non-denominational American mega church, with 30,000 members, located in Dallas, Texas. T.D Jakes wears custom made suits and sports a diamond ring the size of a coin. This man of God has been endowed with a $150 million net worth.

2. Bishop David Oyedepo: Bishop David Oyedepo is a Nigerian Preacher, Christian Author, Founder and Presiding Bishop of Winners Chapel known as Living Faith Church World Wide. Has been hailed as the wealthiest preacher in Nigeria with a total net worth of $150 million and properties like 4 private jets and homes in the United States and England. After the foundation of the Living Faith Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has evolved to be one of the largest congregations in Africa and has a flourishing mission in Nairobi.

3. E A Adeboye: This messenger of God was listed in an African magazine, NEWSWEEK, as the most powerful man in Africa and one of the top 50 global power elites in 2008/2009, among others such as President Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy. Pastor Adeboye heads the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), something he has done for the last 28years.Amongst his posessions are private jets.

4. Benny Hinn: Israeli televangelist,Toufik Benedictus “Benny” Hinn has an estimated net worth of $42 million. He is best known for his regular “Miracle Crusades” – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcast worldwide on his television program, “This Is Your Day”. Hinn was born on December 3, 1952.

5. Chris Oyakhilome: This is the man behind Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ Embassy.His church has an estimated net worth of $30 million – $50 million last year, the charismatic preacher was at the center of a $35 million money laundering case in which he was accused of siphoning funds from his church to foreign banks.

6. Creflo Dollar: American Bible teacher, pastor, and the founder of World Changers Church International, Creflo Dollar, has an estimated net worth of $27 million. As his name suggests, this preacher’s “manna” comes in form of the green buck.

7. Kenneth Copeland: He runs Kenneth Copeland Ministries, was one of several televangelists whose finances were investigated from 2007 to 2011 by Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa.

According to an article by the Associated Press that ran in 2008, "His ministry's 1,500-acre campus, behind an iron gate a half-hour drive from Fort Worth includes a church, a private airstrip, a hangar for the ministry's $17.5 million jet and other aircraft, and a $6 million church owned lakefront mansion.

The article later added that while Copeland has not released up-to-date salary statements, "the church disclosed in a property-tax exemption application that his wages were $364,577 in 1995; Copeland's wife, Gloria, earned $292,593. It's not clear whether those figures include other earnings, such as special offerings for guest preaching or book royalties.”

8. Billy Graham: American evangelical Christian evangelist, William Franklin “Billy” Graham, Jr., has a net worth of $25 million. The Southern Baptist evangelist rose to celebrity status as his sermons started getting broadcast on radio and television. Graham was born on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina in 1918, he has conducted many evangelistic crusades since 1948 . He is now a world renowned televangelist raking in millions of dollars.

9. Matthew Ashimolowo: Ashimolowo, the owner of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) gets an annual income of $200,000. Having his humble beginnings as a priest in Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church that sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead. Today, his Kingsway International Christian Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the whole of the United Kingdom.

10. Temitope Joshua: Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) has an estimated net worth: $10 million – $15 million Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of its richest and most philanthropic. T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers on Sundays.

Babatunde Fashola has approved the procurement of 120 new vehicles of various brands for traditional rulers in the state.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has approved the procurement of 120 new vehicles of various brands for traditional rulers in the state.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Ademorin Kuye, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.
The commissioner, who said the vehicles would be purchased in 2014, noted that they would enable the traditional rulers to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
“Already, the 120 vehicles have been provided for in the 2014 budget and these would add to the over 30 vehicles that we have provided in the current year.
“These vehicles speak of the commitment of the state government toward improving the welfare of traditional rulers in the state and empowering our Obas to serve their people, ‘’ he said.
Kuye also told NAN that the state government was renovating palaces and building some new ones to strengthen the traditional institution and improve the living standards of the traditional rulers.
“We have just delivered a new palace for the Alara of Ilara, Epe and work would soon commence on new palaces for the Akran of Badagry and Olu of Ikeja,
“Renovation of the palaces of Ayangburen of Ikorodu and Elejigbo of Ejigbo are ongoing and we are taking all these steps to strengthen the traditional institution in the state, ‘’ he said.
The commissioner added that the state government had set up a committee to consider applications from traditional rulers seeking upgrade.

He said that the committee embedded in the State’s Council of Obas would ensure that qualified traditional rulers get the deserved elevation.

“We have different categories of Obas in the state and some of them, based on historical evidence and some other considerations, believe they should be upgraded to higher categories.

“So the committee on upgrade of traditional rulers will consider applications, scrutinise the evidence provided there-in and make recommendations to the state government for approval.

“It is State Executive Council that gives the final approval based on the merits of the recommended applications, ‘’ Kuye said.

The commissioner, who said traditional rulers were partners in progress, added that the state government would continue to work with them to ensure development in the state. [NAN]

MR UGLY Proudly Says, Girls Fight For Me Now

Mr Ugly, William Masvinu says women are throwing themselves at his feet. But he is not interested.

Scooping the Mr Ugly title twice in a row is undisputable testament that the Harare man is indeed very ugly and deserves the accolade.

Masvinu who shares his mobile with his wife Alice Chabhanga who is almost always by his side, said he does not have time for ‘girls’. “Zvevasikana handina dhiri nazvo, I have my own girl at home and one needs to be careful these days because there are diseases,” said Masvinu.
Masvinu is confident of his looks and is unfazed by people who stare at him in the streets. “My ugliness comes naturally to me and although I did a bit to prepare for the show, I let my looks do the rest. Now I am a celebrity, when people meet me in the street they shout Mr Ugly and I wave at them happily,” he said.
Masvinu, who is a part time mechanic, revealed that he has also ventured into acting and features in a film titled Fuse Yatsva which has already been produced.
“These days I spend time selling my film on the streets of Harare and people like it,” he said. Last year, the 39-year-old was quoted bemoaning the lack of corporate support for “celebrities” like him. He said as the reigning Mr Ugly Harare, he should be in the same league with superstars such as Oliver Mtukudzi. “Despite my celebrity status, my life hasn’t changed and I still struggle to make ends meet,” he said. 
“The corporate world should support me as I am a celebrity just like other musicians and top people,” he said.
But, he added, as a celebrity he now enjoys numerous free drinks and beer and often gets into shows without paying as people “respect” his celebrity status. It is just a matter of time before Masvinu proves how far he can go as a celebrity or whether he will make headlines for grabbing other people’s wives 

I did not marry her because of money-Aremu Afolayan

Newly married actor and younger brother of Kunle Afolayan, Aremu Afolayan has said, he does not

care about what people say about his marriage, stating that, people would always talk. According to the actor, his wife’s family are not rich; neither is his wife rich like people have speculated. He said, I didn’t marry her for money, but for love and people would always talk no matter what you do.

China hands 'death sentence' to 75% of solar cell makers

JA Solar's factory in Shanghai.

SHANGHAI -- The Chinese government is pushing for a drastic shakeout of the country's overcrowded solar cell industry, supporting only a quarter of players and practically telling the rest to get out of the business.
   The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a list of 134 producers of silicon materials, solar panels and other components of photovoltaic systems as meeting certain conditions, as measured by 2012 production, capacity utilization and technical standards.
   In a sector said to have more than 500 companies, the ministry's move means that three-quarters didn't make the cut -- including the core subsidiary of Suntech Power, which went bankrupt in March, and Jiangsu Shungfeng Photovoltaic Technology, Suntech's startup rescuer.
   These firms will not be able to get credit lines from financial institutions and thus will have a tough time borrowing, according to industry insiders. They will also no longer be eligible for refunds of export tariffs, a huge blow to companies that depend on overseas business. On the home front, it will be difficult for them to participate in state-run utilities' auctions, sharply curtailing their opportunities to win orders.
   "This will help eliminate the industry's excess capacity," says Jian Xie, chief operating officer of leading cell maker JA Solar. "The list will be reviewed every six to 12 months based on business development and technology standards."
   China's photovoltaic industry has been facing stiff headwinds since 2012 amid slowing demand in Europe, the world's largest market. The country's trade friction with the U.S. and Europe is not helping, either. Even Suntech, which became the world's top solar cell producer at one point, saw its core subsidiary go under. Midsize businesses are staying afloat only because of support from local governments.
Rays of light peeking through
But the market is finally showing signs of life of late. Yingli Green Energy, the world's largest player, reported a 60% year-on-year jump in sales for the July-September quarter, while Trina Solar swung to the black on a net basis.
   The average solar module price tumbled in the April-June and July-September quarters of 2012, but the decline was milder than 1% during the same period this year, according to U.S. market research firm NPD Solarbuzz. Shakeouts in the U.S. and Europe, including ailing German firm Q-Cells, gained traction, relieving oversupply.
   Global demand rose to a record 9 million kilowatts in the July-September quarter of this year amid growth in China, Japan and the U.S. A Solarbuzz analyst sees demand jumping 30% from this year's projected level to reach 45 million kilowatts in 2014.
   In China, markets offering high margins tend to attract scores of entrants, often resulting in oversupply situations. The government has declared excess capacity in several other industries, including steel, cement and shipbuilding, and is calling for consolidation.
   But it's unusual for the government to weed out weak-performing players and hinder their continuation. The focus going forward is on whether the same scheme will be used in the steel and other sectors that are dominated by state-owned companies backed by municipal government

Mikel Obi Living large

We all know Mikel Obi, Now lets check out how he is living!!

Taribo West Lost Mum

Former Super Eagles' defence trojan, Taribo West has lost his mother.
Wakaji Batubo West who passed away on Monday at the former AC Milan defender's home in Lagos, South-West Nigeria was aged 90. 
Taribo, who is the presiding pastor of Shelter in the Storm Ministries spoke to brilafm on the unforgettable memories of his late mother:
"She was a very disciplined woman, loving and I personally would miss her".
Taribo who is the 8th of 9 children noted that the family would celebrate the good memory of Wakaji Batubo in Lagos and further burial rites would be announced by the family when they meet in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.

Father and Son Die in Christmas Day Cave Dive

N

A father and son have drown after a Christmas Day dive at Eagle's Nest Sink, in Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge near Weeki Wachee, Dec. 25, 2013.

Chris de Venecia/WFTS/ABC News

A distraught woman recounted today how she asked friends on Christmas Day "if I should be worried" when her fiancée and his teenage son did not return from a dive in a notoriously dangerous area of underwater caves in Florida.

Her fears came true when the bodies of Darrin Spivey, 35, and his son, Dillon Sanchez, 15, were recovered from an underwater cave in an area known as Eagle Nest Sink in northwestern Hernando County on Wednesday night.

Friends told the Sheriff's Office that Spivey was a certified diver, but was not certified to cave dive while Sanchez was not certified to dive at all.

Spivey's fiancée, who asked to remain anonymous, told ABC News that she is still trying to process everything that has happened. She said she called 911 after numerous attempts to reach the pair. As the day went on with no word from Spivey, "I called friends and family that were more experienced to ask if I should be worried, and then I made the call."

She reported to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office that the two took out some new diving equipment that Sanchez received for Christmas to test out at Eagle Nest Sink.

A hunter told authorities he saw the father-son duo suited up and ready to go at 11 a.m., but when he returned at 6:30 p.m., he only saw their car, no divers in sight, according to the police report.

Eagle Nest Sink is a large underwater cave system located near Weeki Wachee, D., in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. Better known as the Lost Sink and revered as the "Grand Canyon" of the diving world, it is notoriously dangerous, but still draws divers from around the world.

According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, a certified underwater emergency recovery diver, Eric Deister, started searching at 8:30 p.m. Deister first found Sanchez inside a cave at 67 feet. After enlisting the help of two other divers, Robert Brooks and Matthew Vinzant, the three were able to locate Spivey at 127 feet.

The Medical Examiner took custody of the bodies, and will determine the exact cause of death.

President Goodluck Jonathan Involved In Food Poisoning Trial

The 2012 food poisoning trial involving Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, his delegation and Gambia's five-star hotel Coco Ocean has been adjourned to Tuesday, December 24.
It will be recalled that, during his two-day state visit in Gambia last November, Jonathan was allegedly served with food that had been preserved for a long period. This caused food poisoning.
Ayoub Aliris, chef of the hotel, allegedly unlawfully or negligently cooked prawns served to President Jonathan and his entourage as a starter during a special lunch hosted in honor of the visiting Nigerian head of state.
On Thursday, December 19, the chief of Coco Ocean was charged in the Kanifing court with negligence and poisoning the Nigerian President as well as his delegation. Aliris denied the charges.
President Jonathan, who celebrated his 56th birthday a little over a month ago, then suffered from a "stomach upset" and was forced to enter a hospital in London to seek medical attention.
A prosecution witness, Babucarr Gomez, also a cook at Coco Ocean, explained that a day after the lunch he received a call from his boss informing him that there was an infection in the food served to the Nigerians. Gomez, who said he was ordered by Aliris to prepare the food, said he also ate it and experienced "vomiting, stomach ache and frequented the toilet."
Source: Google News

British Airways Jet Crashes Into Building In South Africa

A Boeing 747 jet belonging to British Airways, yesterday Sunday Dec. 22nd crashed its right wing into an airport building inside the OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Pic above)
The flight, which was on its way to London, veered off the taxiway as it headed to the runway and buried its right wing in the 2-storey brick structure, injuring four airport officials, Daily Mail reports.
A statement from the South African Civil Aviation Authority's (SACAA) preliminary report, said the aircraft was cleared for takeoff on Runway 03L but took a smaller runway.
'The air crew got instructions from the Air Traffic Control to taxi using taxi way B. The crew continued onto taxi way M which is narrower resulting in the aircraft impacting on an office building behind the SAA Technical hangers.
A spokesman for OR Tambo airport said the 17 Crew and 185 passengers who were in the aircraft escaped unharmed. They were evacuated from the aircraft and spent the night in a hotel.

Odegbami Wants More Creativity In Eagles Midfield.

Former Green Eagles player Segun Odegbami has advised Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi to ensure he beefs up the team’s attacking-midfield before the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Addressing the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos in the weekend, the former IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan (now 3SC) winger said the current team lacks “creativity in the midfield” and finds it difficult to orchestrate play from the middle of the pack.
“Right now, we don’t have the creative midfield to be able to hold on to the ball for us and keep control. We lose the ball too easily.
Segun ‘The Mathematical’ Odegbami Guided Nigeria to Its First Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Title in 1980.
“And all of this is as a result of the midfield; we just don’t have that creativity in the midfield that the team requires at the moment,” the 61-year-old soccer analyst said.
He noted that the search for a new viable and competent playmaker shouldn’t be ignored by Keshi and, as such, look elsewhere aside the regular culprits in that role for solutions.
“Well, I am sure he knows what the problem is, it is for him to get the right players now aside the one’s that he has played,” the former left winger said.
“Once he can achieve that, I think the team will be a lot stronger. The team is presently strong but it could be a lot stronger with the presence of creativity,” Odegbami added.

According to him, Keshi must be careful to avoid recalling some players who have played for the Eagles in the past and have since passed their peak.

Couple Dressed Up As Shrek & Princess Fiona For Their Wedding

While most brides dream of throwing a white wedding which will make other women green with envy,  this 44 years old bride painted herself and her husband-to-be green for their fairy-tale wedding based on the film Shrek.
Amanda, 44, and Nathan Gibbs, 39, wedded after eight years together.
They had lost a number of friends to cancer, so the couple decided to wed dressed as Shrek and Fiona and use the day to raise money for charity.
Instead of wedding gifts, the couple asked their guests to donate money to Cancer Research.
Guests also came dressed up for the themed celebrations - dressing up as the Gingerbread Man, Mickey Mouse and Jack Sparrow from Pirates Of The Caribbean.

People Notice Me Everywhere I Go…Says Queen Of Nigeria’s Hairiest Women

Queen Okafor is a unique woman with unique features. She has a rare endowment from nature. Looking at her, one would think she is a man, but she is a full blooded woman.
Queen, as her name suggests, has become a celebrity of sort whenever she steps out in public as the people stare at her in amazement. Queen’s attraction is an abundance of hairs all over her body especially in the upper region- face, hands, chests etc. Although she was born without much hair on her body, she gradually began sprouting them at the age of 21 years. Today, at 26, Queen has done many things humanly possible to stop the abnormal growth, but to no avail.
Narrating her experience, Queen said she started noticing the hair at unusual places at the age of 21. According to the Anambra State born lady, she has seen the good, the bad and the ugly because of her abundant hairs. She said she has become the cynosure of all eyes wherever she goes, sometimes to her utter embarrassment. At one time, she narrated how a gay person approached her to have an*l s*x with her, promising to pay her a princely sum of N500,000.
She said this was the most terrible encounter she has had on account of her hairs. She, of course, refused the offer. She said even lesbians also “toast her” to hangout with her because they found her attractive in both ways, both as a man and as a woman. When this reporter met Queen in a bus going to Oshodi from Mile 2, in Lagos some months ago, passengers were starring at her embarrassingly. As the lady tried to hide her face, more eyes were on her, thus arousing much interest from co-passengers.
Queen eventually opened up to this reporter, maintaining that she was not using the story to beg for money or as a form of publicity stunt, but only to draw the attention of NGOs to fight for women with such rare disability as hers. Queen believes that she is a normal person with unwanted recognition from the society. She told Sunday Sun: “My name is Queen Nonyerem Okafor. I am from Anambra State. We are five children from our parents, three girls and two boys. I inherited the hairs from my mum and it runs in the family.

Once you get to 21 to 23 years in our family, you start experiencing hair growth. I am 26 years old now, when I was in secondary school, much hairs were not on my body. It started when I finished my secondary school. I am not granting you this interview as if I need help or money, no! I want to tell my story and what it means to be a hairy woman.
All I need is for an NGO to take up my case as a woman with abnormal conditions and also to act in the movie industry.” She revealed to Sunday Sun that the change on her skin initially made her uncomfortable, but following advice from good people, her confidence was boosted. In her words: “The first time it started to grow on my body, I was ashamed, but someone advised me that I shouldn’t bother, that it is a blessing not a curse. The person told me that I am unique, besides, wherever I go, I would be recognised. She advised me that I shouldn’t be ashamed, rather that I should be proud of myself.
It was her that gave me strength and boosted my self esteem. Some people think that I am a man. Some think I fixed my chest to deceive people. Men especially find it difficult to believe that I am a woman. It was when we interact that most men are reassured that I am a woman. It has made me to be very popular and recognised in public. It has boosted my confidence to socialize. People want to identify with me to know the stuff I am made of. Some want to find out where this girl is coming from.

People call and dash me money because of my hairy nature, but I don’t beg for money.” Queen said she tried to stop the work of nature by applying all sorts of cosmetics and native substances, all to no avail but it turned out to cause more harm than good. “Before the advice came, I was asking God why all these now? I was thinking of what to rub to clear the hair from my skin. I rubbed tortoise faeces and a lot of things people recommend for me to use, but it didn’t remove them, rather it caused more harm than good as I started growing bumps and sores while the hair was still coming out.

So, I stopped rubbing those things. I suffered those lumps trying to stop the growth,” she narrated. She revealed that her worst time comes when the weather is too hot and during the dry season. “When there is much heat, I feel terrible, it doesn’t itch but it really inconveniences me most times. That`s why I have to wear or put on light cloths because sweat soaks my dress when I go out.

Once you see me, you know that heat is dealing with me as a result of my hairy skin. I used to shave it off but if I want to shave all, it will cause me lumps all over my body. She said she had not taken the medical option seriously. “I have not gone to hospital. I don’t care anymore because it is from within my blood and it is hereditary. I don’t need it because I can`t be using my money on something that refuses to free me. A doctor had advised that surgery can remove it, but not in Nigeria. Maybe outside the country, but I am not interested.”

Queen revealed that her hair has not changed anything in her love life, neither does it stop men from admiring her, rather it has turned many heads to look at her. “A man that is meant for me will come when the time comes. It is not a problem. I will get married, after all, there are other disabled people that are married despite their condition. When I was 18 or 19 years old, I was supposed to have married, but it was just that the man was a hot tempered person. He was my suitor and we ended it there. He was seeing the hair coming little by little.

People are appreciating me and a lot of people are still coming for my hand in marriage. I have been seeing many men coming to ask me for relationship, even one claimed he is from a European country that he came back to Nigeria to look for a woman to marry. But most men just want a fling, they don’t want serious relationship. I was doubting if he was real or not. I have admirers just like every other girl. Most times, I have admires more than normal girls. But most men are not sincere, my mother would say that love is not by lip service.

I have been hearing things like, I want to marry you, but after sleeping with you, the man will end up dumping you for another woman. My boyfriend likes me the way I look and I have not been dumped because I am hairy. Men don’t break my heart. I don’t trust men easily because I wouldn’t allow myself to have emotional breakdown. I can`t wait for my heart to be broken. In my village, an old woman has advised that she knows that I am not yet married, but I should believe that my own person is coming. She said that when my husband will come, I will find it difficult to believe that the man is my own. She told me that is how her own daughter looks.

But now I have come to appreciate how I am created,” she said. Narrating her most embarrassing moment in high density locations like market places, she disclosed that people crave to see her face. “I came to Lagos last year to see whether I can stay in Lagos or not. Other times I have been coming and going. But the truth is that I have been enjoying my stay in Lagos now because something good is happening. Anytime I go out, people will notice my presence and look at me. For instance, the first time I went to Ladipo Market, people besieged me, both traders and touts snapping me with their phones and video.

You would be shocked how they gathered and caused chaotic situation that day, you would have written it as big news, to the extent that I went to a shopping complex and they started clapping for me, calling me Eze Nwanyi, which means Queen. They were hailing me so much. It was the most embarrassing day of my life. The traders and touts left what they were doing to follow me around and saying all sorts of things, if not for one man that offered to give us a lift, we wouldn’t have escaped those boys.

There was a time I went to Alaba International Market with a sister and traders were peeping through the window to see my face and they were saying, ‘she is all hairs oh!’ Someone has stepped down from a bus because of me, a lady. Both of us were entering a bus at Mile 2 and immediately she glanced at me she changed her mind and immediately alighted from the bus despite that the bus conductor was urging her to enter, that was the only time someone refused to ride in the same bus with me.

Queen whose dream is to become an actress, said she was forced to resign because of s*xual harassment from her employer. “If I have the opportunity of becoming an actress, I can do that but it is to get the right person to help me. I need somebody to help me because I am perfect in everything I do. I need someone to put me through but people tell me that for some producers or directors, all they are after is to sleep with you. I have not encountered that yet, but people have been telling me to be careful. People get easily attracted to me. The dark complexioned Queen shocked the reporter with her revelation on how homosexuals plead to take her to bed. She also explained why she pierced her nose.

“Why I pieced my nose was because it is fashionable, though I know I look weird already, I don’t give a hoot. It is my body, I accept the fact that I am strange. A woman has toasted me at Elegushi Beach while I was there with my friends. On that day, she called me and gave me her complimentary card and begged me to hop into her car, but I refused. She insisted and begged to be my friend, but my mind told me that she is a lesbian and she was inviting me to Ajah.

I turned her offer down because I know that most lesbians are into cultism. Some women will see me and extol my qualities, saying that they see women with hairs but that my own is the highest. In fact, one said I am the queen of hairy women. I met a guy at a supermarket and he was obsessed about me, before you knew it, he started telling me that he liked me, that I am beautiful and all that. Normal toasting, I thought he was like every other man as usual, but after the toasting, he went straight to the point, to tell me that he would like to have s*x with me through my anus, promising to give me half a million naira.

But I rejected it immediately, God forbid! I can`t tamper with my anus. I stopped seeing him and refused to pick his calls. I can`t do that. Another man begged me to bear him a child that will look like me, also promising to reward me handsomely. When I am praying, I plea with God to help me overcome them.

Nobody can r*pe me because I am fearful, but men see me and get sexually aroused because I look special because of the hairy skin, but I have not been embarrassed or defiled. Being hairy gives me protection as people see me and get afraid of me. Those guys who attack people see me and hail me. They will not like to do anything bad to me

Unilorin Lecturers To Teach From Homes By 2014 – Registrar

The Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr Emmanuel Obafemi, has said that the institution would, from January 2014, be fully digitalised.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin, Obafemi said that the development would make it possible for lecturers to be able to send assignments to their students via the Internet.
“As from Jan. 2014, University of Ilorin lecturers would be able to send assignments to their students through the Internet from the comfort of their homes,’’ adding that students would also be able to respond respond via the same channel.
He said that the school had ordered for 25,000 pieces of mini iPads from the U.S. for the students, to enable the lecturers to send assignments to them from home.
He noted that the iPads were already fully loaded with the students’ courses and each student would get one as they resume in January.
Obafemi confirmed that because the iPad was produced in large quantity, the university had subsidised its price, noting that the whole school had already been connected to the Internet.
He expressed the readiness of the institution’s administration to make the university one of the best in Nigeria and Africa.

Obafemi noted that the school would continue to encourage programmes and policies that promote global best practices in the education system.

The registrar gave an assurance that the institution would sustain the legacy of the past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

“If you come here in another five months, you will see a positively different Unilorin and well managed institution,” Obafemi said.

He commended the management of the institution and expressed delight in the fact that the university had not gone on strike in 13 years. [NAN]