Nigeria navy in deadly oil clash
At least two people have been killed in a clash between the Nigerian navy and suspected militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta, security sources say. MORE>>>
UPDATE 1-Shell says oil theft in Nigeria growing again
CAPE TOWN, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Wednesday that crude oil theft at sites in Nigeria was rising, posing a problem for development and a safety risk for those engaging in the practice. MORE>>>
Road Safety Corps and Seat Belt Exploitation
Ever since the "Federal Road Safety Corps" was founded during Nigeria's military regime under General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in the late 1980s to date, the body which was meant to regulate the activities of road users has been left swinging in limbo and at the mercy of lack of clear-cut directions and responsibilities as far as control of driving vehicles is concerned. MORE>>>
Microsoft Contributes 47 Percent to Nigeria's IT and Economic Growth
THE International Data Corporation, (IDC) last week released details of a global research study showcasing the information technology (IT) industry's impact on "job creation, company formation, local IT spending and tax revenues" in 82 countries and regions worldwide. MORE>>>
Citizen Diplomacy And the Citizen
Since Chief Ojo Maduekwe intimated the public about the new focus and strategy of Nigeria's foreign policy under his watch, many commentators have set to town to either demolish or support this vision. MORE>>>
Nigeria: The Challenges Women Face in Politics
Women in Nigeria have suffered a lot of degradation, traditionally, politically and economically. In some areas, they are considered as second class citizens with no rights of their own other than what their husbands decide for them. In this write-up, Richard Alkali tries to synthesize the agonies encountered by women in their venture into politics. MORE>>>
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
It's Halloween!
Amy Winehouse says...
...celebrate with friends! Here's hoping your Halloween is bong-tastic!
Money Can't Make You This Happy
If I had to guess, I would say that Alicia Keys is getting a LOT of that good ol' Vitamin D...if you know what I mean...and I think ya do. Wink to the wink. So here she is glowing with gorgeousness while promoting her new album, As I Am, in Madrid.
What's her secret? Proactiv? Uppers? Musical genius? Whatever it is, I want some!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Images Of The Carnage Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
The above picture was captured by Emma Osodi for The News magazine. Ill-equipped fire fighters are on the scene where this oil tanker fell and jettisoned its contents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday night, October 29, 2007.
About 7 vehicles burned beyond recognition of the carnage along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway burning more than 30 people to death.
Passersby and motorists who survived the carnage watch a dead body that had been burned beyond recognition on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Another gross scene of a burned body and razed vehicles captured by Emma Osodi of The News.
Ehirim Files Classic
WIC's Nashville Picnic: A Gathering Of Igbo Efulefu
by Ambrose Ehirim
Don't let the abbreviation fool you. It has nothing to do with Women, Infants, and Children, i.e., WIC - as in America's welfare program for indigent women and their infants. It has nothing to do with worthy Igbo causes either. It is like any other abbreviation with just a different meaning. It is worthless, WIC in this case is a crooked collective pretending to be doing something commendable and laudable for the Igbo nation. This piece is about this year’s fraudulent picnic of organized Igbo efulefu, the worthless and confused Diaspora bunch that calls itself “World Igbo Congress - WIC.”
As it happened, for months, pundits at Igbo fora, especially the notorious yahoo e-mail list, have been "eloquently" telling us about effecting change in the Igbo Nation with the dramatized so-called WIC Convention to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, over the Labor Day weekend. But I really do have a problem with the do-nothing yahoo.com “Igbo Forum,” which is being run as I write without memory, and with no one, absolutely no one, thinking about the fact that the yahoo.com list is irrelevant for the simple fact that there is no record of the hundreds of posts made daily by persons who would cite that forum for records of what they stand for. Seriously, Igbo_forum at yahoo.com has depleted most of its archive and those who write there now lack the ability to confidently point anyone to what they wrote in the past.
The memory in Igbo Forum is gone. It has been said over and over again by many, myself included, that there is no more memory to make references in the event, say, one wants to retrieve a commentary or so from the archives to buttress a point. Take for instance, the extensive and exhaustive debate during the 2000 WIC Convention in Dallas, Texas, noted for its once and for all solution-oriented and problem solving, ala, ka akpachaa ya akpacha, in what I can still recall, a symposium, and in what I had called "Nony and the WIC Formula." In that fierce and aggressive debate, Nony, Okenwa Nwosu, Ken Okorie, Ndiribe Ndiribe, Ugorji Ugorji, Egbebelu Ugobelu, Ejike Okpa, and many others wrote on what bothered them regarding WIC's ineptitude. Nonetheless, WIC pros Ugorji, Okorie, Nony, and Ndiribe tried to persuade the rest of us that WIC was the backbone, the umbrella organization of Nd'Igbo, with us not knowing they were all running a show of their own interest. Where is that reference today? It's absolutely gone. Everything written in yahoo.com Igbo_forum between 1999 and June 2001 has been deleted for lack of space. How can one prove the debates took place?
And, yet, every year, the political heavyweights in Igbo Forum have not lost the momentum to tell Nd'Igbo WIC is the umbrella Diaspora organization to solve problems grand and small within the Igbo nation. Really? The fraudulent and shameless Ugorji, at a time during Governor Achike Udenwa's visit to the shores of America told me, whether I liked it or not, that WIC protects my interest in the United States. Most of us know it well WIC "ain't doing a damn thing" for Nd'Igbo, and that's very obvious from its years of impotency. So, what has WIC done to protect my interest other than its annual picnic of showcasing ego-tripping robed chiefs-with-no-Indians in America? How has WIC addressed the plight of Nd'Igbo over the years? Since WIC has not lived up to its creed, what's the need for the annual bash wasting time and money?
The disgusting 2000 WIC Convention in Dallas where Abubakar Rimi popped up from nowhere should have warned Nd’Igbo that WIC "was up to no good" and it was all about showing off Islamic Jihad-like flowing gowns, outfits, and hauls of chieftaincy titles. A sad reality, indeed. But the irony is that this whole lot of brouhaha and convention of opportunists who have lost their sense of purpose can be traced to Olusegun Obasanjo's strategy of using the buffoons and Igbo sellouts as rubber stamps in situations that call for Nd’Igbo to make their own decisions. Today, the leadership of WIC is a bunch of gullible twits and cowards who have betrayed the Igbo Nation and succumbed to Obasanjo and Iwuanyanwu’s antics, just as the money bags in Ohanaeze have done.
Yes, money bags. Rimi splashed $10,000 in the face of Nd'Igbo and could insult and use any swear word against them, saying it loud and clear "in your face." Of course, it happened in Ken Okorie’s home base of Dallas when they were all attracted to Rimi's money. Pitiful!
For sure, Obasanjo and his coattails have figured out how to handle Nd'Igbo with the right nuts and bolts screwed into their brains. WIC officers see the decrepit state of roads in Igboland. Yet, they make statements that Obasanjo is doing a good job. They witness Obasanjo’s hate and bigotry and are aware that Obasanjo is a bloodthirsty criminal. Yet, they sneak through the backdoor to endorse Obasanjo. It all came to a head when Anambra State indigenes, including those in Diaspora, could not carry out a mass rally and revolt, or denounce Chris Uba and his colleagues' act of treasonable felony, or the criminal behavior of Chris Ngige in agreeing to surrender Anambra to Chris Uba.
Amazingly, Anambra people, including the attorney general of this Orwellian and Shakespearean state, failed to rise to the occasion and prosecute Uba's criminal gang to the limits of the law. Yet WIC has the guts to hold a convention in Nashville, and Uba, as rumor has it, is now in America acquiring properties, living in the most posh of places, Parlos Verdes, California, on looted money. So what's WIC's convention for? To discuss what? Igbo plight? That Uba who "now resides in California" is justified for his acts and protected by those who help him launder money for sharing the loots and spoils of power? So, too, in whose interest is it for Uba's new home in California, running away scot-free without charge in AlaIgbo and the nations “neo-democratic fabric?” In whose interest is the rule of law being reversed while anarchy is put in place in Anambra State?
When the Ngige Vs. Uba drama, which is still playing, exploded and made headlines in the media, both Ngige supporters and Uba's followers got into it, playing the blame game as if it was normal procedure and appropriate for what had unfolded. Ironically, the pundits in Anambra State caught up in a well orchestrated gimmick that brought turmoil during Chinwoke Mbadinuju administration of chaos and instability when Emeka Offor was the Don, the fat cats who instituted anarchy in that troubled state ate their own words when shady business deals and bad faith erupted in Ngige’s and Uba's criminal activities.
These pundits had sworn "never again" would what happened in Mbadinuju's era of anarchy be allowed to repeat itself in what they had foreseen would be a genuine elected governor by the people's mandate. They were wrong and they misled the poor masses who had no idea money and favors were changing hands. However, all said and done, Ngige was elected upon the most massive rigging exercise in the state's history.
All this and within four months, WIC went to Nashville on Labor Day weekend, according to the actors and attendees. In all their commentaries and accolades, the subject-matter of Chris Uba and Chris Ngige was hardly mentioned, except in a contrived and belated communiqué. The fate of the Igbo Nation and state of the empire and anarchy instituted by the likes of Offor, Uba, and Ngige. Former Secretary-General of WIC, Luke Azubuike, who had campaigned against the reelection of Kalu Diogu, and who spins when least expected, raised his version of the truth about his assessment of WIC when he wrote:
"The campaign is over, the election is over, but what is not yet over is the deplorable state of affairs in Igboland. It is my prayer that the tough election Dr. Diogu faced would inspire him to re-evalute his leadership style and to see if he can do things differently at this time to change the political dynamics in Igboland."
Well, for once, he has been sincere. Igboland is in a "deplorable state." But, his baseless point of view did not offer any solutions to that deplorable state of affairs. The worst scenario came with WIC's tyrannical order, the so-called WIC Nashville 2003 communiqué, which is really criminal:
"That WIC demands that every Igbo organization in the United States should reserve the Labor Day weekend exclusively for World Igbo Congress Convention to ensure maximum participation of Nd'Igbo in the discussion of Igbo affairs. Further disregard would be cause for sanctions including ostracism."
With this outrageous line of communiqué, it is evident that the organizers do not have their acts together and have no idea what it is they are doing. Funny how these people are when they fail to come to terms with reality. No mention of Chris Uba whom nobody could prosecute. No mention of Chris Ngige who signed away Anambra State to the mob.
And one WIC 2003 attendee at yahoo.com igbo_forum had this to say about attendance at the dysfunctional Nashville, picnic: “Fifty-five delegates signed the attendance and they spoke eloquently." Whoever said they would not speak "eloquently?"
Also, funny was the praises and hi-fives for Alex Ekwueme, who is now seeking to position himself as a neo-Igboist. Ekwueme, ever so clever spoke eloquently of the need for a profound and centralized Igbo political party. Now that elections are over, Ekwueme pretended to lean toward APGA. These guys will not cease to amaze me. Honestly!
Then, there came the write-up of that self-acclaimed Igbo technocrat, Odindu Odunze, whose beef with General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu I had problems trying to figure out. Odunze in his infantile angst and frustration-induced hallucinations for his own failures challenged Ojukwu thus:
"If after a considerable length of time I do not hear from Chief Dim Ojukwu concerning his consent to my challenge for a debate, I will publish in its entirety, the content of what would have been the premises of my debate on why I believe that Ojukwu has outlived his political utility and ought to bow out with grace."
Now I am not an expert on leadership, references, archives, or storage. But without agreeing that these pronouncements can seem foolish, as most, if not all would think they do including Okenwa Nwosu himself who wrote without bias for the first time:
"If the tone of the published communiqué is indicative of what the newly elected WIC executive shall be up to for next 2 years, then we shall all have legitimate cause to worry and lament for the fate of our people. Could this be a manifestation of arrogance of power in party here?"
How soon we forget what transpired in the past. No reflections and no profound insight in WIC's Communiqué, I must freely confess. It is typical of a conquered and finished people.
Going back to the archives which no longer exists in Igbo Forum, in the convention sponsored by Igbo Cultural Association of Nigeria Dallas-Forth Worth (ICAN-DFW), held in Dallas in the Summer of 2000, Ojukwu was clear in calling on Diaspora Igbos to take over the mantle of leadership from his generation. The Ikemba detailed the necessity of Diaspora leadership. On that score, it is either Odunze is pretending not to know of Ojukwu's call for change of guards or Odunze was intentionally bent on mischief when he cried that Ikemba Nnewi "has outlived his political utility."
Apparently, the Igbo Diaspora, scared to their scrotum, Odunze himself included, could not take up the mantle of leadership in effecting change. So, what's Odunze talking about? Odunze was not even able to address the Ngige-Uba fraud, which fell on his lap at the WIC picnic, which DIM Ojukwu did not attend. Ojukwu’s absence at WIC 2003 was perfect opportunity for Odunze and his ilk to show what they could do in the absence of Ojukwu. Odunze did not care to call on Igbos to apply their laws firmly and swiftly to all those who break them. Rather, Odunze was obsessed with Ojukwu.
It's time to quit the picnic and face serious issues. The bottom line is, the moment pundits of the post-civil war era begin to realize that Igbo problems lie within ego-tripping elitists who have destroyed the unity of the Igbo nation in its entirety, and find a way out of the situation, the present state of confusion and lack of organizational effectiveness will continue to eternity and Nd’Igbo would continue to be and act like a conquered and finished people.
This article was published exclusively at BNW Magazine on September 2003
by Ambrose Ehirim
Don't let the abbreviation fool you. It has nothing to do with Women, Infants, and Children, i.e., WIC - as in America's welfare program for indigent women and their infants. It has nothing to do with worthy Igbo causes either. It is like any other abbreviation with just a different meaning. It is worthless, WIC in this case is a crooked collective pretending to be doing something commendable and laudable for the Igbo nation. This piece is about this year’s fraudulent picnic of organized Igbo efulefu, the worthless and confused Diaspora bunch that calls itself “World Igbo Congress - WIC.”
As it happened, for months, pundits at Igbo fora, especially the notorious yahoo e-mail list, have been "eloquently" telling us about effecting change in the Igbo Nation with the dramatized so-called WIC Convention to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, over the Labor Day weekend. But I really do have a problem with the do-nothing yahoo.com “Igbo Forum,” which is being run as I write without memory, and with no one, absolutely no one, thinking about the fact that the yahoo.com list is irrelevant for the simple fact that there is no record of the hundreds of posts made daily by persons who would cite that forum for records of what they stand for. Seriously, Igbo_forum at yahoo.com has depleted most of its archive and those who write there now lack the ability to confidently point anyone to what they wrote in the past.
The memory in Igbo Forum is gone. It has been said over and over again by many, myself included, that there is no more memory to make references in the event, say, one wants to retrieve a commentary or so from the archives to buttress a point. Take for instance, the extensive and exhaustive debate during the 2000 WIC Convention in Dallas, Texas, noted for its once and for all solution-oriented and problem solving, ala, ka akpachaa ya akpacha, in what I can still recall, a symposium, and in what I had called "Nony and the WIC Formula." In that fierce and aggressive debate, Nony, Okenwa Nwosu, Ken Okorie, Ndiribe Ndiribe, Ugorji Ugorji, Egbebelu Ugobelu, Ejike Okpa, and many others wrote on what bothered them regarding WIC's ineptitude. Nonetheless, WIC pros Ugorji, Okorie, Nony, and Ndiribe tried to persuade the rest of us that WIC was the backbone, the umbrella organization of Nd'Igbo, with us not knowing they were all running a show of their own interest. Where is that reference today? It's absolutely gone. Everything written in yahoo.com Igbo_forum between 1999 and June 2001 has been deleted for lack of space. How can one prove the debates took place?
And, yet, every year, the political heavyweights in Igbo Forum have not lost the momentum to tell Nd'Igbo WIC is the umbrella Diaspora organization to solve problems grand and small within the Igbo nation. Really? The fraudulent and shameless Ugorji, at a time during Governor Achike Udenwa's visit to the shores of America told me, whether I liked it or not, that WIC protects my interest in the United States. Most of us know it well WIC "ain't doing a damn thing" for Nd'Igbo, and that's very obvious from its years of impotency. So, what has WIC done to protect my interest other than its annual picnic of showcasing ego-tripping robed chiefs-with-no-Indians in America? How has WIC addressed the plight of Nd'Igbo over the years? Since WIC has not lived up to its creed, what's the need for the annual bash wasting time and money?
The disgusting 2000 WIC Convention in Dallas where Abubakar Rimi popped up from nowhere should have warned Nd’Igbo that WIC "was up to no good" and it was all about showing off Islamic Jihad-like flowing gowns, outfits, and hauls of chieftaincy titles. A sad reality, indeed. But the irony is that this whole lot of brouhaha and convention of opportunists who have lost their sense of purpose can be traced to Olusegun Obasanjo's strategy of using the buffoons and Igbo sellouts as rubber stamps in situations that call for Nd’Igbo to make their own decisions. Today, the leadership of WIC is a bunch of gullible twits and cowards who have betrayed the Igbo Nation and succumbed to Obasanjo and Iwuanyanwu’s antics, just as the money bags in Ohanaeze have done.
Yes, money bags. Rimi splashed $10,000 in the face of Nd'Igbo and could insult and use any swear word against them, saying it loud and clear "in your face." Of course, it happened in Ken Okorie’s home base of Dallas when they were all attracted to Rimi's money. Pitiful!
For sure, Obasanjo and his coattails have figured out how to handle Nd'Igbo with the right nuts and bolts screwed into their brains. WIC officers see the decrepit state of roads in Igboland. Yet, they make statements that Obasanjo is doing a good job. They witness Obasanjo’s hate and bigotry and are aware that Obasanjo is a bloodthirsty criminal. Yet, they sneak through the backdoor to endorse Obasanjo. It all came to a head when Anambra State indigenes, including those in Diaspora, could not carry out a mass rally and revolt, or denounce Chris Uba and his colleagues' act of treasonable felony, or the criminal behavior of Chris Ngige in agreeing to surrender Anambra to Chris Uba.
Amazingly, Anambra people, including the attorney general of this Orwellian and Shakespearean state, failed to rise to the occasion and prosecute Uba's criminal gang to the limits of the law. Yet WIC has the guts to hold a convention in Nashville, and Uba, as rumor has it, is now in America acquiring properties, living in the most posh of places, Parlos Verdes, California, on looted money. So what's WIC's convention for? To discuss what? Igbo plight? That Uba who "now resides in California" is justified for his acts and protected by those who help him launder money for sharing the loots and spoils of power? So, too, in whose interest is it for Uba's new home in California, running away scot-free without charge in AlaIgbo and the nations “neo-democratic fabric?” In whose interest is the rule of law being reversed while anarchy is put in place in Anambra State?
When the Ngige Vs. Uba drama, which is still playing, exploded and made headlines in the media, both Ngige supporters and Uba's followers got into it, playing the blame game as if it was normal procedure and appropriate for what had unfolded. Ironically, the pundits in Anambra State caught up in a well orchestrated gimmick that brought turmoil during Chinwoke Mbadinuju administration of chaos and instability when Emeka Offor was the Don, the fat cats who instituted anarchy in that troubled state ate their own words when shady business deals and bad faith erupted in Ngige’s and Uba's criminal activities.
These pundits had sworn "never again" would what happened in Mbadinuju's era of anarchy be allowed to repeat itself in what they had foreseen would be a genuine elected governor by the people's mandate. They were wrong and they misled the poor masses who had no idea money and favors were changing hands. However, all said and done, Ngige was elected upon the most massive rigging exercise in the state's history.
All this and within four months, WIC went to Nashville on Labor Day weekend, according to the actors and attendees. In all their commentaries and accolades, the subject-matter of Chris Uba and Chris Ngige was hardly mentioned, except in a contrived and belated communiqué. The fate of the Igbo Nation and state of the empire and anarchy instituted by the likes of Offor, Uba, and Ngige. Former Secretary-General of WIC, Luke Azubuike, who had campaigned against the reelection of Kalu Diogu, and who spins when least expected, raised his version of the truth about his assessment of WIC when he wrote:
"The campaign is over, the election is over, but what is not yet over is the deplorable state of affairs in Igboland. It is my prayer that the tough election Dr. Diogu faced would inspire him to re-evalute his leadership style and to see if he can do things differently at this time to change the political dynamics in Igboland."
Well, for once, he has been sincere. Igboland is in a "deplorable state." But, his baseless point of view did not offer any solutions to that deplorable state of affairs. The worst scenario came with WIC's tyrannical order, the so-called WIC Nashville 2003 communiqué, which is really criminal:
"That WIC demands that every Igbo organization in the United States should reserve the Labor Day weekend exclusively for World Igbo Congress Convention to ensure maximum participation of Nd'Igbo in the discussion of Igbo affairs. Further disregard would be cause for sanctions including ostracism."
With this outrageous line of communiqué, it is evident that the organizers do not have their acts together and have no idea what it is they are doing. Funny how these people are when they fail to come to terms with reality. No mention of Chris Uba whom nobody could prosecute. No mention of Chris Ngige who signed away Anambra State to the mob.
And one WIC 2003 attendee at yahoo.com igbo_forum had this to say about attendance at the dysfunctional Nashville, picnic: “Fifty-five delegates signed the attendance and they spoke eloquently." Whoever said they would not speak "eloquently?"
Also, funny was the praises and hi-fives for Alex Ekwueme, who is now seeking to position himself as a neo-Igboist. Ekwueme, ever so clever spoke eloquently of the need for a profound and centralized Igbo political party. Now that elections are over, Ekwueme pretended to lean toward APGA. These guys will not cease to amaze me. Honestly!
Then, there came the write-up of that self-acclaimed Igbo technocrat, Odindu Odunze, whose beef with General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu I had problems trying to figure out. Odunze in his infantile angst and frustration-induced hallucinations for his own failures challenged Ojukwu thus:
"If after a considerable length of time I do not hear from Chief Dim Ojukwu concerning his consent to my challenge for a debate, I will publish in its entirety, the content of what would have been the premises of my debate on why I believe that Ojukwu has outlived his political utility and ought to bow out with grace."
Now I am not an expert on leadership, references, archives, or storage. But without agreeing that these pronouncements can seem foolish, as most, if not all would think they do including Okenwa Nwosu himself who wrote without bias for the first time:
"If the tone of the published communiqué is indicative of what the newly elected WIC executive shall be up to for next 2 years, then we shall all have legitimate cause to worry and lament for the fate of our people. Could this be a manifestation of arrogance of power in party here?"
How soon we forget what transpired in the past. No reflections and no profound insight in WIC's Communiqué, I must freely confess. It is typical of a conquered and finished people.
Going back to the archives which no longer exists in Igbo Forum, in the convention sponsored by Igbo Cultural Association of Nigeria Dallas-Forth Worth (ICAN-DFW), held in Dallas in the Summer of 2000, Ojukwu was clear in calling on Diaspora Igbos to take over the mantle of leadership from his generation. The Ikemba detailed the necessity of Diaspora leadership. On that score, it is either Odunze is pretending not to know of Ojukwu's call for change of guards or Odunze was intentionally bent on mischief when he cried that Ikemba Nnewi "has outlived his political utility."
Apparently, the Igbo Diaspora, scared to their scrotum, Odunze himself included, could not take up the mantle of leadership in effecting change. So, what's Odunze talking about? Odunze was not even able to address the Ngige-Uba fraud, which fell on his lap at the WIC picnic, which DIM Ojukwu did not attend. Ojukwu’s absence at WIC 2003 was perfect opportunity for Odunze and his ilk to show what they could do in the absence of Ojukwu. Odunze did not care to call on Igbos to apply their laws firmly and swiftly to all those who break them. Rather, Odunze was obsessed with Ojukwu.
It's time to quit the picnic and face serious issues. The bottom line is, the moment pundits of the post-civil war era begin to realize that Igbo problems lie within ego-tripping elitists who have destroyed the unity of the Igbo nation in its entirety, and find a way out of the situation, the present state of confusion and lack of organizational effectiveness will continue to eternity and Nd’Igbo would continue to be and act like a conquered and finished people.
This article was published exclusively at BNW Magazine on September 2003
Fab Couple: Seal and Heidi
There's just something about these two that is instantly likeable...and sexy. Here, they are serving it up for The Daily Mail. Check out the article accompanying these flics, here.
Fashion Faceoff!
Star Jones is a biter! You just know she saw the pics of Sharon Stone with her animal carcass at the amFar Benefit in Rome on Friday and said, "I have to have it!" Star attended the 2007 Angel Ball in NYC on Monday night in the same shimmery gun metal halter dress and with similar accessories: a fur, diamonds and clutch. But that really does beg the question, what other way is there to accessorize? Divas after my own heart!
asefasdf
So what do we think lovies? Who did it justice?
News Desk Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Why I stand surety for Uwazuruike —EZENDIGBO
The Ezendigbo of Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu has said that his standing surety for bail of MASSOB leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was borne out of his concern for the plight of the Igbo activist. MORE>>>
I’m ready to die for Biafra – Uwazuruike
•Returns to tumultuous welcome in Enugu
Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who was granted temporary bail last week, received a heroic welcome at Enugu on Monday, where he said he was ready to die for Biafra. MORE>>>
Journalists Harassed By Governor of Northern State for Criticising Lavish Spending
Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the way governor Ali Modu Sheriff of the northern state of Borno has hounded journalists since mid-October 2007. After criticising his lavish spending, James Garuba of the "Tribune", Michael Olabode of "This day", another privately-owned daily, and several other reporters were arrested twice in a week by the State Security Service (SSS), the main domestic intelligence agency, and then placed under its daily control. MORE>>>
Tribunal Bans Witnesses From Testifying
The presidential election petitions tribunal in Abuja yesterday held that henceforth all parties in the petitions brought by General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will no more rely on witnesses in order to enable it conclude the petitions before three months as earlier scheduled. MORE>>>
Etteh Steps Aside In Disgrace
But the drama that followed her stepping down from her seat, may well be a pointer to the fact that the woman may have lost her seat as speaker. Members overwhelmingly endorsed the nomination of a representative from Benue State, Mr. Tenrgu Tsegba, the favourite of the combative opposition, as the temporary speaker to preside over the discussions on the Idoko report. Etteh’s candidate, West Idahosa had few members in his support. MORE>>>
The Ezendigbo of Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu has said that his standing surety for bail of MASSOB leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was borne out of his concern for the plight of the Igbo activist. MORE>>>
I’m ready to die for Biafra – Uwazuruike
•Returns to tumultuous welcome in Enugu
Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who was granted temporary bail last week, received a heroic welcome at Enugu on Monday, where he said he was ready to die for Biafra. MORE>>>
Journalists Harassed By Governor of Northern State for Criticising Lavish Spending
Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the way governor Ali Modu Sheriff of the northern state of Borno has hounded journalists since mid-October 2007. After criticising his lavish spending, James Garuba of the "Tribune", Michael Olabode of "This day", another privately-owned daily, and several other reporters were arrested twice in a week by the State Security Service (SSS), the main domestic intelligence agency, and then placed under its daily control. MORE>>>
Tribunal Bans Witnesses From Testifying
The presidential election petitions tribunal in Abuja yesterday held that henceforth all parties in the petitions brought by General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will no more rely on witnesses in order to enable it conclude the petitions before three months as earlier scheduled. MORE>>>
Etteh Steps Aside In Disgrace
But the drama that followed her stepping down from her seat, may well be a pointer to the fact that the woman may have lost her seat as speaker. Members overwhelmingly endorsed the nomination of a representative from Benue State, Mr. Tenrgu Tsegba, the favourite of the combative opposition, as the temporary speaker to preside over the discussions on the Idoko report. Etteh’s candidate, West Idahosa had few members in his support. MORE>>>
Monday, October 29, 2007
Créme de la Mer Giveaway!
Attention beauty junkies! BellaSugar (sister site to FabSugar) is giving away a 2 ounce bottle of the crème de la crème of face creams, Créme de la Mer!
Face cream of the gods and Madonna, this miracle potion will set you back $220, so do yourself a favor and get the goods for free! All you have to do is become a TeamSugar member, take a lil quiz and post a comment. I know, super annoying, but your wrinkle-less face will thank you! Enter here and good luck lovebugs!
10 Ways to Know You are SO L.A.
The good folks at FabSugar were lucky enough to attend Petro Zillia's Spring 2008 show during L.A. Fashion Week. The line sheets included some fun little factoids including "10 Ways to Know You are SO L.A."
You are SO L.A if:
- You check wireimage to see what you wore out last night
- You think the paparazzi are after you
- You have an agent, manager, publicist, personal assistant and a stylist
- Your dog can fit in your purse
- You have a Blackberry, an iPhone and a cell phone
- You drive to work and live a block away
- Your last acting job was starring in your own sex tape
- You're sober and hung-over
- Your hair grows ten inches in an afternoon
- You study Scientology and Kabbalah
How L.A. are you?
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Ralph Uwazuruike's Release and Injustice in Nigeria.
On Friday, October 26, 2007, Justice Binta Nyako at a Federal High Court in Abuja, granted Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) leader Ralph Uwazuruike a conditional release to enable him take care of his mother's burial which to me had long being overdue since Uwazuruike was never a security risk and posed no threat.
According to the report filed by Danladi Ndayebo of All Africa Global Media, "the judge held that MASSOB boss should return for his trial on January 28, 2008. She directed that the accused person provides two serving senators a nd two traditional rulers of Igbo extraction. In addition, he must be reporting to the Imo State police command twice in a week during and after his mother's burial."
What kind of injustice is this? What kind of country is this? When Frederick Fasheun was released on health grounds, was he asked to be reporting to his local police command until he gets well probably? When militant Gani Adams was released unconditionally, was he also asked to be reporting to his local police station to make sure he is going by the rules and not annihilating people anymore? If Uwazuruike, Adams, Fasheun were charged with treasonably felonies, why would Uwazuruike be remanded in custody while Adams and Fasheun were granted unconditional release?
But I like Uwazuruike's courage. Upon his release, he told curious journalist that the struggle for the actualization of Biafra will continue irrespective of what a bias court decides. Props must also be given to his sureties who were handy to make sure the MASSOB leader was released as prescibed by the judge. Senators Uche Chukwumereije, Ikechukwu Obiora and traditional rulers Eze Nd'Igbo of Abuja, Nwosu Ibe and Eze Nd'Igbo of Lagos, Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu were the sureties.
The struggle continues and time will tell!
According to the report filed by Danladi Ndayebo of All Africa Global Media, "the judge held that MASSOB boss should return for his trial on January 28, 2008. She directed that the accused person provides two serving senators a nd two traditional rulers of Igbo extraction. In addition, he must be reporting to the Imo State police command twice in a week during and after his mother's burial."
What kind of injustice is this? What kind of country is this? When Frederick Fasheun was released on health grounds, was he asked to be reporting to his local police command until he gets well probably? When militant Gani Adams was released unconditionally, was he also asked to be reporting to his local police station to make sure he is going by the rules and not annihilating people anymore? If Uwazuruike, Adams, Fasheun were charged with treasonably felonies, why would Uwazuruike be remanded in custody while Adams and Fasheun were granted unconditional release?
But I like Uwazuruike's courage. Upon his release, he told curious journalist that the struggle for the actualization of Biafra will continue irrespective of what a bias court decides. Props must also be given to his sureties who were handy to make sure the MASSOB leader was released as prescibed by the judge. Senators Uche Chukwumereije, Ikechukwu Obiora and traditional rulers Eze Nd'Igbo of Abuja, Nwosu Ibe and Eze Nd'Igbo of Lagos, Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu were the sureties.
The struggle continues and time will tell!
Images of Southern California Fires
The above picture was captured by Associated Press photographer, Marcio Jose Sanchez of a Southern California Edison employee Francisco Flores on the job trying to restore power to a fire-ravaged community in Running Springs.
The one above here was captured by Spencer Platt of Getty Images as smoke clouds billow into the sky from Poomacha fire which destroyed most homes in the area. The good news as the raging fire enters its second week is that two more fires in the San Diego area is said to be fully contained.
This one here captured by Allen J. Schabin of Los Angeles Times showing a desperate deer in search of food on a smoky Modjeska Canyon Road.
However, I did receive many calls from well-wishers who called to find out if I was affected by the Southern California blazes that destroyed properties worth millions of dollars. And good to know, I am safe, folks. It's time to rebuild.
News Desk Sunday, October 28, 2007
AS OMEHIA BOWS OUT AS RIVERS GOVERNOR..What we want from Amaechi— By Dokubo Asari, Ateke Tom, others
Ijaw leader, Alabo Graham Douglas, has advocated the probe of former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and his successor, Sir Celestine Omehia, by Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Speaking yesterday, against the backdrop of the deposition of Omehia by the Supreme Court and the assumption of office of Amaechi, Douglas said in an interview with Sunday Vanguard: “The issue of enquiry is what we must carry out in this state, we must. I mean, a state structure, a state finances, owner and personality and environmental cleanliness had all been fractured in eight years. We had appropriated over one trillion Naira and nothing to show for it, where did all the money go” MORE>>>
Family-of-eight escapes death in Police gun attack
OWERRI—A family of eight narrowly escaped death when a team of gun totting policemen stormed their private home and opened fire on them in their living room. Narrating their sordid ordeal to Vanguard, Mrs. Ann Ukaegbu, said that “the policemen led by an Inspector opened a seemingly endless fire on the iron door and destroyed it in the process”. MORE>>>
Presidency set to sack Iwu
THERE are strong indications that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, is on his way out of the commission, with a former top security chief from the South West zone tipped to succeed him. MORE>>>
Anxiety in Sokoto as Election Tribunal delivers judgment tomorrow - Police tighten security
The serenity of the ancient city of Sokoto has given way to anxiety as the Election Petition Tribunal delivers judgment on the state’s gubernatorial election tomorrow. The declaration of Alhaji Magatakanda Wammakko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been challenged by Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari and his party, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). MORE>>>
Ijaw leader, Alabo Graham Douglas, has advocated the probe of former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and his successor, Sir Celestine Omehia, by Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Speaking yesterday, against the backdrop of the deposition of Omehia by the Supreme Court and the assumption of office of Amaechi, Douglas said in an interview with Sunday Vanguard: “The issue of enquiry is what we must carry out in this state, we must. I mean, a state structure, a state finances, owner and personality and environmental cleanliness had all been fractured in eight years. We had appropriated over one trillion Naira and nothing to show for it, where did all the money go” MORE>>>
Family-of-eight escapes death in Police gun attack
OWERRI—A family of eight narrowly escaped death when a team of gun totting policemen stormed their private home and opened fire on them in their living room. Narrating their sordid ordeal to Vanguard, Mrs. Ann Ukaegbu, said that “the policemen led by an Inspector opened a seemingly endless fire on the iron door and destroyed it in the process”. MORE>>>
Presidency set to sack Iwu
THERE are strong indications that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, is on his way out of the commission, with a former top security chief from the South West zone tipped to succeed him. MORE>>>
Anxiety in Sokoto as Election Tribunal delivers judgment tomorrow - Police tighten security
The serenity of the ancient city of Sokoto has given way to anxiety as the Election Petition Tribunal delivers judgment on the state’s gubernatorial election tomorrow. The declaration of Alhaji Magatakanda Wammakko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been challenged by Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari and his party, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). MORE>>>
Friday, October 26, 2007
Get Out the Red Paint!
Quelle horror! Where the eff is PETA when you need them! Sharon Stone makes a frightful appearance at amfAR’s Inaugural Cinema Against AIDS benefit in Rome, Italy wearing a fur bedspread. Personally, fur is my homie, lover and friend but the point is always to look fabulous, not like Cruella Deville live and in person. I mean really Sharon, all that's missing are the little fox heads and tails strategically draped all over and thru. Yuck.
Via Faded Youth Blog
Celebrity Fragrance #1,235,083
OY! You can SO tell that holiday season is upon us because a new celebrity scent is launched at least every 10 minutes. And with each one comes an overly dramatic backstory that some publicist has written to explain the "vision" and the "inspiration" behind the scent. Take, for instance, the celeb fragrance du jour, Deseo by Jennifer Lopez.
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"With Deseo, the inspiration came from a combination of smells in my own garden. So, I called up my friends at Coty and asked them to come take a walk through my garden with me so they could experience it. It was late at night so there was kind of a dew in the air and I took them to an area where there are these beautiful geranium flowers, orange trees, lemon trees, and all this stuff mixing together that was making this beautiful smell.”
asdfasd
And it was the sweet smell of bullshit. As if! Jennifer Lopez in a garden? And it wasn't for a photoshoot? Not happening.
Luxe Links
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Sonya Dakar's at home beauty remedies for puffy eyes and dry skin - Style Dash
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Shut my mouth and call me Heidi! The Hills isn't real?!?!?! - Best Week Ever
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Lucky Shops, the ultimate shopping experience, is happening now! Don't just sit there, get thee to NYC at once! - Luckyshops.com
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Scandalicious! An interview with Donnie McClurkin's Ex-Lover - Clay Cane
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Attention young professionals! Think stylish work clothes are an oxymoron? - ShopYupster.com
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Be afraid: Patricia Field for Payless - Payless
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The best places for plus size fashion in NYC - The Budget Fashionista
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Have a great weekend poodles, and stay forever fab!
JAZZ: Weather Report's "This Is This"
If you are a jazz fan and have followed the rock-jazz-fusion beats when many jazzists crossed over from the classic tunes and big band sessions, you should know the likes of the late Austrian keyboardist Joe Zawinul and legendary saxaphonist Wayne Shorter who has been scheduled to perform at the tribute to Herbie Hancock on Sunday, October 28, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.Somehow, for that reason I have been playing the last recorded album of Weather Report when Zawinul and Shorter mutually agreed to discontinue with Report's projects. Following up traditional jazz of the 50's and 60's before the crossovers, I wasn't familiar with Shorter and Zawinul. I got a grip of it while getting deep into jazz-fusion when the mind-blowing ethnic tunes became the norm in the 70's through the 80's until recently that traditional jazz began to stage a comeback as the all-star cast would prove it at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday.
In this last album of jazz-fusion's talented musicians, Shorter and Zawinul "sincerely" thanked all that gave their "enthusiasm and talent" during the course of the band's fifteen years existence. Among them: Alphonse Mouzon, Peter Erskine, drummer Omar Hakim, bassist Alphonso Johnson, Alex Acuna, Airto Moreira, Chester Thompson, Alirio Lima, Ndugu Chancelor, Don Um Romao, Mino Cinelu, Victor Bailey, Greg Enrico, Eric Gravatt, Miroslav Vitous, Marva Barnes, Colleen Coil, Darryl Brown, Seidah Garrett, Darryl Phinnessee and several others that came along the bands path.The CD beginning with the titled track "This Is This" has everything in it, from the roots of African drum beats and rhythms to the lyrical expressions of a masquerade dance with a flavor of old-school wind instrumens on display. The album is just amazing with Zawinul showcasing his talent, the magnificent performer that he would be until his death last month. I kept replaying the track "Jungle Stuff" as the vibes and voiceovers reminds me of the legendary Chief Priest Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
The album is just great and probably the best that Shorter and Zawinul put together.
Fire In The Mountain, Run, Run, Run
The above picture was captured by Los Angeles Times Irfan Khan showing the air tanker dropping fire retardant in the San Bernardino Mountains as threat to homes drops and giving the San Diego area residents a sigh of relief in the fifth day of "Witch Fire" in the Southland. Meanwhile, authorities in Orange County are asking for help and leads that may lead to the arrest of the alleged arsonist who "ignited the 25,000-acre Santiago fire" in Orange County with an offer of $150,000 reward.
News Desk Friday, October 26, 2007
Amaechi takes over as Rivers gov: Supreme Court sacks Omehia - Amaechi returns from London today - Yar’Adua orders his immediate swearing-in - Yobe gov knows fate Nov 20
THE Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Rivers State governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, to quit office with immediate effect. A seven-man panel of the apex court unanimously ordered the immediate swearing-in of the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, as the new governor. MORE>>>
FG gets tough with airlines - Over drug trafficking by staff
The Federal Government said in Abuja on Thursday that it would close down any airline whose staff members or aircraft is used to carry hard drugs in and out of Nigeria. This came after several drug traffickers that were caught recently turned out to be airline staff members or were aided by them. MORE>>>
Soludo - FG Owes States $1.7bn
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday stated that the Federal Government was owing states almost $1.7 billion from excess crude oil account. Soludo disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a marathon meeting of the National Economic Council, where almost all the states were represented. MORE>>>
Six kidnapped from Italian oil facility off Nigeria
LAGOS (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped six workers from an Italian oil production facility off the coast of Nigeria on Friday, forcing Italy's ENI to halt production of 50,000 barrels per day, authorities said. It was the second kidnapping from an offshore oilfield in Nigeria in one week, undermining a five-month ceasefire by armed groups which had raised hopes for peace talks with the government. MORE>>>
Le Roy Tips Eagles, Lions for Glory
Black Stars coach Claude Le Roy has picked Nigeria as one of the favourites to lift the Nations Cup, which holds in Ghana early next year. MORE>>>
Petitions to Lift the Ban on Filipino OFWs Bound for Nigeria
Late last year, the Philippine government declared a total ban of workers going to Nigeria on the account of the successive kidnapping incidents in Nigeria’s oil areas which involve OFWs. The action may have been justifiable at that point. The ban affected not only New Hires but vacationing OFWs as well, even those OFWs who are working in Lagos and non-oil areas. MORE>>>
THE Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Rivers State governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, to quit office with immediate effect. A seven-man panel of the apex court unanimously ordered the immediate swearing-in of the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, as the new governor. MORE>>>
FG gets tough with airlines - Over drug trafficking by staff
The Federal Government said in Abuja on Thursday that it would close down any airline whose staff members or aircraft is used to carry hard drugs in and out of Nigeria. This came after several drug traffickers that were caught recently turned out to be airline staff members or were aided by them. MORE>>>
Soludo - FG Owes States $1.7bn
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday stated that the Federal Government was owing states almost $1.7 billion from excess crude oil account. Soludo disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a marathon meeting of the National Economic Council, where almost all the states were represented. MORE>>>
Six kidnapped from Italian oil facility off Nigeria
LAGOS (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped six workers from an Italian oil production facility off the coast of Nigeria on Friday, forcing Italy's ENI to halt production of 50,000 barrels per day, authorities said. It was the second kidnapping from an offshore oilfield in Nigeria in one week, undermining a five-month ceasefire by armed groups which had raised hopes for peace talks with the government. MORE>>>
Le Roy Tips Eagles, Lions for Glory
Black Stars coach Claude Le Roy has picked Nigeria as one of the favourites to lift the Nations Cup, which holds in Ghana early next year. MORE>>>
Petitions to Lift the Ban on Filipino OFWs Bound for Nigeria
Late last year, the Philippine government declared a total ban of workers going to Nigeria on the account of the successive kidnapping incidents in Nigeria’s oil areas which involve OFWs. The action may have been justifiable at that point. The ban affected not only New Hires but vacationing OFWs as well, even those OFWs who are working in Lagos and non-oil areas. MORE>>>
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Fab Looks of the Day
I must agree with my girl, F.U., these chicks have never, ever ever ever, looked better. Especially Venus! You better work! I'm damn near speechless. They've made mother so proud. I think I can hear someone humming "We Shall Overcome" in the distance. These pics make me happy. Like frozen waffles make Kimora happy. They could get a movie of the week poppin off these pics. "Two sisters from Compton use the game of tennis to go from box braids to breathtaking." Its a story of survival and uplift, people!
Via YBF
The Southern California Fires
The above picture was captured by Los Angeles Times Wally Skalij in what has been a nightmare to San Diego area residents, forcing more than half a million residents out of their homes with damage in the billion dollar range.
News Desk Thursday, October 25, 2007
Etteh bows, to Step Aside Tuesday
ABUJA — embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, appears set to step aside when the House resumes Tuesday for the consideration of the Idoko Panel report as her supporters hinted yesterday in Abuja that she had agreed in principle to vacate her seat to pave theway for the election of a Speaker pro tempore. MORE>>>
Ige: Court frees suspects
FOUR suspects who have been standing trial at an Ibadan Magistrate Court in connection with the murder of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, were yesterday discharged and acquitted. The suspects — Moshood Enifeni, Oluwatoyin Onafeko, Suraju Fatuga and Saidi Akande — had been charged with the December 23, 2001 murder of Chief Ige. MORE>>>
Naira sells for 5-year high N118 to dollar
The Naira appreciated to N118.50 to the dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday, its strongest level in five years and compared with N119.45 per dollar on Tuesday, traders said. The last time the Nigerian currency traded this strongly was in July, 2002 when the dollar exchanged for N117.00, dealers said. MORE>>>
US, European police arrest 20 Nigerians - For smuggling underage girls for prostitution
Police across Europe and in New York, United States, arrested 20 people suspected of smuggling young girls out of Nigeria and forcing them to work as prostitutes after intimidating them in voodoo rituals, Dutch prosecutors said on Wednesday. Thirteen of the suspects were arrested in a series of coordinated raids in cities across the Netherlands, the country’s prosecutor's office said in a statement. MORE>>>
Nyame looted Taraba money from Abuja -EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told an Abuja High Court that it has taken steps to make the ex-governor of Taraba State, Revered Jolly Nyame, to cough out the public funds he allegedly stole from the coffers of the state while in office. MORE>>>
Nigeria Wants Bigger Slice
Of Revenue From Its Oil
Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, is looking to renegotiate several contracts with foreign oil companies, a senior Nigerian official said, in a move to increase the government's share of oil revenue. MORE>>>
Vogts' Tax - NFA Refutes Receiving Letter From German Govt
The Nigeria Football Association yesterday denied receiving any letter from any government agency in the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the contract of Super Eagles' chief coach, Berti Vogts. MORE>>>
ABUJA — embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, appears set to step aside when the House resumes Tuesday for the consideration of the Idoko Panel report as her supporters hinted yesterday in Abuja that she had agreed in principle to vacate her seat to pave theway for the election of a Speaker pro tempore. MORE>>>
Ige: Court frees suspects
FOUR suspects who have been standing trial at an Ibadan Magistrate Court in connection with the murder of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, were yesterday discharged and acquitted. The suspects — Moshood Enifeni, Oluwatoyin Onafeko, Suraju Fatuga and Saidi Akande — had been charged with the December 23, 2001 murder of Chief Ige. MORE>>>
Naira sells for 5-year high N118 to dollar
The Naira appreciated to N118.50 to the dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday, its strongest level in five years and compared with N119.45 per dollar on Tuesday, traders said. The last time the Nigerian currency traded this strongly was in July, 2002 when the dollar exchanged for N117.00, dealers said. MORE>>>
US, European police arrest 20 Nigerians - For smuggling underage girls for prostitution
Police across Europe and in New York, United States, arrested 20 people suspected of smuggling young girls out of Nigeria and forcing them to work as prostitutes after intimidating them in voodoo rituals, Dutch prosecutors said on Wednesday. Thirteen of the suspects were arrested in a series of coordinated raids in cities across the Netherlands, the country’s prosecutor's office said in a statement. MORE>>>
Nyame looted Taraba money from Abuja -EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told an Abuja High Court that it has taken steps to make the ex-governor of Taraba State, Revered Jolly Nyame, to cough out the public funds he allegedly stole from the coffers of the state while in office. MORE>>>
Nigeria Wants Bigger Slice
Of Revenue From Its Oil
Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, is looking to renegotiate several contracts with foreign oil companies, a senior Nigerian official said, in a move to increase the government's share of oil revenue. MORE>>>
Vogts' Tax - NFA Refutes Receiving Letter From German Govt
The Nigeria Football Association yesterday denied receiving any letter from any government agency in the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the contract of Super Eagles' chief coach, Berti Vogts. MORE>>>
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Oh Fanny...
...how I love thee! Let me count the ways...
1. Gold Lamé
2. Silver Braces
3. Leather thigh-highs
4. Tats for days
5. Not a stitch of make-up
6. Demure pose that artfully covers your jiggly bits
Love you like cooked food, Tasia! Never change.
And while we're on the topic of lamé, have you been searching for a non-tacky way to wear the oh-so-retro fabric? It's almost impossible (see above) but may I suggest the Lamé Leggings by American Apparel:
They come in really hot shades like purple, copper, silver and black eel. So sexy and fabulously attention-grabbing. And really, what more could you want in a legging? Just make sure to pair them with softer pieces, to avoid looking like...well again, see above.
Five Must-Have Shoes
Sure, she hasn't eaten in years but celebrity stylist and living skeleton, Rachel Zoe knows her fashion. Check out her rundown of the Five Must-Have Shoes for every style-nista.
Via Piperlime
BOOKSHELF: The Bond
Last week at Esowon Books in the heart of Leimert Park's "Black Township," Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt and Sampson Davis signed copies of their new book The Bond: Three Young Men Learn to Forgive and Reconnect with Their Fathers which is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Pact sharing their relationship from growing up without a father figure in their respective lives.In this brilliant book, The Three Doctors as they are now known tells the story of how life could have been different had they been nurtured by a father while growing up. When interviewed by Amy Cox Williams of The African-American Connection, Dr George Jenkins had this to say:
"one thing I'd add to what both guys said is that our friendship was essential to our overcoming the conditions and disadvantages. We taught each other lots of things that allowed us to grow and fill the voids left by our fathers. We made each other better students and better men through our frienship."
On the other hand, Dr Sampson Davis who spoke eloquently at the book signing ceremony on the parking lot across the street from Esowon Books and in his interview with Cox Williams said:
"Fatherlessness is the nucleus for many social ills in our society. When looking at the studies and statistics, a case has been made that crime, high school drop out rates, drug use, and involvement in gangs can be often directly attributed to a young person growing up fatherless. Very often, mothers do a great job raising today's youth, but based on our own experiences, we know how important a father's contribution is for children."
Dr. Rameck Hunt who was more emotional for not having that bond with his father while growing up noted the following in that interview with Cox Williams:
"The interesting thing about all this is just that--none of us are fathers. Before any of us decide to make that decision we want to make sure we are ready. We refuse to repeat that cycle of fatherlessness... A big part of the message in The Bond is to break that cycle."
To sum it all up, The Bond is just one powerful book and straightforward.
News Desk Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Etteh: Reps on 1-wk forced adjournment
THE crisis rocking the House of Representatives over the consideration of the Idoko Panel report took another dangerous turn yesterday as the Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, extended the adjournment of the House till next Tuesday even as the opposition protested and threatened to sit and consider the report.
A peace meeting brockered by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on the matter ended in a deadlock yesterday even as the party at the meeting insisted that a judge could not preside over his own case. MORE>>>
6 more ex-govs for trial - Ribadu
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to arraign no fewer than six former governors in court for allegedly corruptly enriching themselves while in office. MORE>>>
Court gives Asuni tough bail condition
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the United States of America embassy in Nigeria not to give suspected American woman spy, Judith Asuni, traveling documents, just as it admitted her to bail with stringent conditions. MORE>>>
Grand knights
• The Sun man, 80 others initiated into the Order of Knights of St. Mulumba
The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Catholic Archdiocesan Secretariat, Onitsha, Anambra State was on September 29 filled with divine powers and goodness of God as the Deputy Group Business Editor of The Sun newspapers, Sir Christian Ochiama (KSM) and 80 others were initiated into the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM). MORE>>>
Alamieyeseigha, Dariye Loot: Britain to Return £16m
The British Government is to return to Nigeria £16,598,000 remaining part of the looted funds of the former governors of Bayelesa and Plateau states, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Joshua Dariye, when the funds are freed by the Britsh court. MORE>>>
Nigeria kidnappers target children
Two children aged five and six have become the latest kidnap victims of oil company ransom gangs in Nigeria. French oil giant Total said on Tuesday that the children of one of its Nigerian employees were abducted on Monday on their way to school in Port Harcourt. MORE>>>
Nigeria line up Australia friendly
The Super Eagles will play the Socceroos on 17 November at Craven Cottage, home of Premier League side Fulham. Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said the game would be Australia's final warm-up before its World Cup qualifiers begin in February. MORE>>>
THE crisis rocking the House of Representatives over the consideration of the Idoko Panel report took another dangerous turn yesterday as the Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, extended the adjournment of the House till next Tuesday even as the opposition protested and threatened to sit and consider the report.
A peace meeting brockered by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on the matter ended in a deadlock yesterday even as the party at the meeting insisted that a judge could not preside over his own case. MORE>>>
6 more ex-govs for trial - Ribadu
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to arraign no fewer than six former governors in court for allegedly corruptly enriching themselves while in office. MORE>>>
Court gives Asuni tough bail condition
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the United States of America embassy in Nigeria not to give suspected American woman spy, Judith Asuni, traveling documents, just as it admitted her to bail with stringent conditions. MORE>>>
Grand knights
• The Sun man, 80 others initiated into the Order of Knights of St. Mulumba
The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Catholic Archdiocesan Secretariat, Onitsha, Anambra State was on September 29 filled with divine powers and goodness of God as the Deputy Group Business Editor of The Sun newspapers, Sir Christian Ochiama (KSM) and 80 others were initiated into the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM). MORE>>>
Alamieyeseigha, Dariye Loot: Britain to Return £16m
The British Government is to return to Nigeria £16,598,000 remaining part of the looted funds of the former governors of Bayelesa and Plateau states, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Joshua Dariye, when the funds are freed by the Britsh court. MORE>>>
Nigeria kidnappers target children
Two children aged five and six have become the latest kidnap victims of oil company ransom gangs in Nigeria. French oil giant Total said on Tuesday that the children of one of its Nigerian employees were abducted on Monday on their way to school in Port Harcourt. MORE>>>
Nigeria line up Australia friendly
The Super Eagles will play the Socceroos on 17 November at Craven Cottage, home of Premier League side Fulham. Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said the game would be Australia's final warm-up before its World Cup qualifiers begin in February. MORE>>>
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Denise Cosby lives!
Lil Miss Zoe Kravitz has the "Denise Cosby circa 1992" look down to a science. This chick can do no wrong in my eyes. Here she is roaming the streets of SoHo with cat daddy Lenny K. Lenny always has been and always will be pure unadulterated hotness. Loving them!
Via Dlisted
News Desk Tuesday, October 23, 2007
I won’t intervene in House of Reps crisis – Yar’Adua
•NBA asks Etteh to quit
The President’s position on the internal bickering in the lower legislative chamber, the aftermath of a N628 million contract scam, is coming at a time the opposition in the House is demanding the Speaker, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh’s outright resignation. Its leader, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP’s) Mohammed Ali Ndume, says the issue has gone beyond Etteh’s stepping aside to allow objective and unfettered deliberation on the report of the David Idoko panel which probed the allegations against her and a coterie of House officers implicated in the contract scam. MORE>>>
Socceroos to play Nigeria in London friendly
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley says the November 17 match at Craven Cottage, home of premiership side Fulham, will be Australia's final warm-up before its World Cup qualifiers begin in February. MORE>>>
NBA Challenges Govt on Corruption
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has challenged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to make very bold statement in the fight against corruption, saying there is nothing on ground to show that the fight will succeed. Agbakoba also challenged Yar’Adua to publicly declare if he received money for his presidential election campaign from some of the governors that are currently being prosecuted or investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said Nigerians can see that the President has the capacity to fight corruption, but he is being hampered by blackmail. MORE>>>
Mozambique's ex-President, Chissano, wins African leadership prize
FOR boosting the economy of his country bringing peace to a war-ravaged nation, serving his people truthfully and turning down the chance for a third term in office, even when it was legal for him to seek it, among others, former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has emerged the first winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He also won an individual award prize seen as the largest in the world. MORE>>>
3 Nigerians listed in Nobel prize-winning work
Three Nigerian professors have been identified as contributors to the work of the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize alongside former US Vice President Al Gore, Empowered Newswire has reported. MORE>>>
Court joins NEIMETH in FG’s suit against Pfizer
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday joined Neimeth Pharmaceutical Company as one of the parties that have cases to answer in the $700 billion suit instituted against Pfizer International Incorporation over the 1996 controversial Trovan test in Kano. MORE>>>
NLC Storms House Tomorrow
Leaders of the central labour unions Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] and the Trades Union Congress [TUC] are expected to march to the House of Representatives in Abuja tomorrow to demand the resignation of the Speaker Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh over the N628 million contract scandal that has been rocking the house, Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday. MORE>>>
Okonjo-Iweala laments undue interference with EFCC
MANAGING Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has decried what she calls undue interference with and disruption of the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by government at different levels, and therefore wants it to be left alone to perform its duties of ridding the country of corruption. MORE>>>
Iberia Airlines dragged to U.S court over death of Nigerian on-board
LAGOS—Spanish Carrier, Iberia Airlines has been dragged before the U.S District Court in Michigan , for its role in the cold murder of the 23 year-old Nigerian, Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi who died aboard its aircraft on June 9, 2007. In a statement signed by the family’s attorneys, Mr. Femi Falana and U.S based international human rights lawyer, Mr. Kayode Oladele, they said: “we have filed a torture and wrongful death complaint against the Iberia Airlines of Spain on behalf of the parents of Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi who was murdered aboard the Iberia Airlines Plane on June 9, 2007. MORE>>>
•NBA asks Etteh to quit
The President’s position on the internal bickering in the lower legislative chamber, the aftermath of a N628 million contract scam, is coming at a time the opposition in the House is demanding the Speaker, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh’s outright resignation. Its leader, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP’s) Mohammed Ali Ndume, says the issue has gone beyond Etteh’s stepping aside to allow objective and unfettered deliberation on the report of the David Idoko panel which probed the allegations against her and a coterie of House officers implicated in the contract scam. MORE>>>
Socceroos to play Nigeria in London friendly
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley says the November 17 match at Craven Cottage, home of premiership side Fulham, will be Australia's final warm-up before its World Cup qualifiers begin in February. MORE>>>
NBA Challenges Govt on Corruption
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has challenged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to make very bold statement in the fight against corruption, saying there is nothing on ground to show that the fight will succeed. Agbakoba also challenged Yar’Adua to publicly declare if he received money for his presidential election campaign from some of the governors that are currently being prosecuted or investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said Nigerians can see that the President has the capacity to fight corruption, but he is being hampered by blackmail. MORE>>>
Mozambique's ex-President, Chissano, wins African leadership prize
FOR boosting the economy of his country bringing peace to a war-ravaged nation, serving his people truthfully and turning down the chance for a third term in office, even when it was legal for him to seek it, among others, former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has emerged the first winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He also won an individual award prize seen as the largest in the world. MORE>>>
3 Nigerians listed in Nobel prize-winning work
Three Nigerian professors have been identified as contributors to the work of the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize alongside former US Vice President Al Gore, Empowered Newswire has reported. MORE>>>
Court joins NEIMETH in FG’s suit against Pfizer
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday joined Neimeth Pharmaceutical Company as one of the parties that have cases to answer in the $700 billion suit instituted against Pfizer International Incorporation over the 1996 controversial Trovan test in Kano. MORE>>>
NLC Storms House Tomorrow
Leaders of the central labour unions Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] and the Trades Union Congress [TUC] are expected to march to the House of Representatives in Abuja tomorrow to demand the resignation of the Speaker Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh over the N628 million contract scandal that has been rocking the house, Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday. MORE>>>
Okonjo-Iweala laments undue interference with EFCC
MANAGING Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has decried what she calls undue interference with and disruption of the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by government at different levels, and therefore wants it to be left alone to perform its duties of ridding the country of corruption. MORE>>>
Iberia Airlines dragged to U.S court over death of Nigerian on-board
LAGOS—Spanish Carrier, Iberia Airlines has been dragged before the U.S District Court in Michigan , for its role in the cold murder of the 23 year-old Nigerian, Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi who died aboard its aircraft on June 9, 2007. In a statement signed by the family’s attorneys, Mr. Femi Falana and U.S based international human rights lawyer, Mr. Kayode Oladele, they said: “we have filed a torture and wrongful death complaint against the Iberia Airlines of Spain on behalf of the parents of Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi who was murdered aboard the Iberia Airlines Plane on June 9, 2007. MORE>>>
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Model of the Moment
Name: Andre J.
Background: Fashionista, drag-diva and all-around fierce individual hailing from New Jersey
Stats: 6 feet of fabulousness
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Why I love him: Besides holding down a fab day job at Patricia Field in NYC, Andre has parlayed his personality, panache and pizzazz into a full-time career as a well-known fashion icon and muse. Miss Honey truly inspires me because he wears his freedom, lives his life like its platinum, and damns the nay-sayers. And he just landed the cover of Vogue Paris! Oooh la la love it!
Why I love him: Besides holding down a fab day job at Patricia Field in NYC, Andre has parlayed his personality, panache and pizzazz into a full-time career as a well-known fashion icon and muse. Miss Honey truly inspires me because he wears his freedom, lives his life like its platinum, and damns the nay-sayers. And he just landed the cover of Vogue Paris! Oooh la la love it!
What's Really Hood?
The "Millionaire" Sunglasses of course! For all the ghetto millionaires out there who like to stunt, these sunglasses qualify as a "must-purchase-immediately."
Remember when Pharrell Williams and his design partner, Nigo collaborated on a sunglasses line for Louis Vuitton back in 2005? The most popular ones by far were the red Millionaire specs inspired by Scarface. Priced at $1000, they quickly sold out. Well, by popular demand, the stunners have been re-released in new ghetto-fab colors, including a bright teal, a kool-aid purple and your basic black. They now retail for approx $1,770, but someone is in the lab right now getting that $10 faux original version ready to debut on Canal Street.
Remember when Pharrell Williams and his design partner, Nigo collaborated on a sunglasses line for Louis Vuitton back in 2005? The most popular ones by far were the red Millionaire specs inspired by Scarface. Priced at $1000, they quickly sold out. Well, by popular demand, the stunners have been re-released in new ghetto-fab colors, including a bright teal, a kool-aid purple and your basic black. They now retail for approx $1,770, but someone is in the lab right now getting that $10 faux original version ready to debut on Canal Street.
Jay-Z rockin the specs on the November issue of XXL 
Omarion (with his new chick) prefers the flashy blue version
Pharrell, a rule of thumb is your sunglasses shouldn't cost more than your entire outfit.
Rihanna works her purple joints with a fresh chain
Hood-fabulousness.
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