SELENA GOMEZ EN TEEN VOGUE

Otra de las grandes favoritas de este blog y de muchos otros es la sensual chicanita selena gomez,quien ha pesar de su "baby face" nos hechiza con su cachonderia.
Pues una nueva sesion de fotos de selenita ha sido revelada,esta vez en la revista de adolescentes teen vogue,en la cual selena esta como pez en el agua en uno de sus ambientes favoritos ,la playa.

VANESSA HUDGENS EN REVISTA W

¿Cuando no? la sexy morena ex disney se las pasa deslumbrando con sus interminables encantos,esta vez en la revista w

NIGERIA: Tuesday Papers, July 31, 2012

COMPILED BY AMBROSE EHIRIM

GROUND REPORT: Nigerian Advocacy Group Caution’s on Mpape Demolition Exercises

THIS DAY LIVE: D' Tigers in Threshold of History against Lithuania

VANGUARD NIGERIA: 2012 Budget: Okonjo-Iweala insists on 56% implementation

VANGUARD NIGERIA: Outcry as oil spill takes over River Ethiope

VANGUARD NIGERIA: Ex-militants protest non-payment of allowances

GUARDIAN NIGERIA: U.S. may take drug war to Nigeria, others

GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Nigerians detained in Trinidad seek visiting Jonathan’s help

PUNCH: Lawyer alleges poor crowd management at Dana crash site

PUNCH: Policeman killed, victim shot in rescue operation

THE TRINIDAD EXPRESS: Kambon honoured by Nigerian leader's visit

SUPER SPORT: Enyimba takes it slow

FIFA: Sunshine Stars shooting for the sky

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO EXPRESS: Wrap it up, African style

ENSTARZ: NBC Olympic Schedule; Streaming for Day 4, Tuesday- Men's Basketball, Swimming, Gymnastics

LEADERSHIP NIGERIA: D’Tigers’ Coach Eyes History

LEADERSHIP NIGERIA: Brutality: Police Get New Code Of Conduct

Brightlife Music Hosts Single Release Party For Hip-Hop Sensation "Emaculent"

For Immediate Release Victoria Ihenacho, NICOCUSA 468 North Camden Drive 2nd Floor Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Email:info@nicocusa.com

Brightlife Music Hosts Single Release Party for Hip-Hop Sensation "Emaculent"

Los Angeles, C.A. (July 28, 2012) Bright "L.A. Bright" Enabulele, a Los Angeles based Nigerian music mogul and the President and CEO of Brightlife Music, will debut his headline Artist, Hip-Hop sensation Emaculent aka Emac and host the highly anticipated Single Release party of his hit single "Roll Up" from his upcoming album "15 Min To E", on July 31st 2012 at Café Entourage in Hollywood.Brightlife. Musics latest musical phenom Emaculent, has taken the music industry by storm with his hard pressing lyrics and silky-smooth delivery. Emaculent has worked with legendary artists such as Ray J, E40, and Lazy Bone. "Roll Up" the single, is exclusively distributed by Bungalo/Universal Music Group and will be available for download on Amazon and iTunes on July 31st, 2012. Emaculent is also slated to embark on a worldwide tour to promote "15 Min To E".

About the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce USA (NICOCUSA):

The Nigerian Chamber of Commerce-USA (NICOCUSA)is a US based business league founded in 2002, which serves as a liaison between business communities and their interests in the United States and Nigeria. Each year, NICOCUSA facilitates lucrative partnerships and contracts between businesses here in the United States and Nigeria, which have created jobs and literally changed the lives of thousands of people all over Nigeria.

The Nigerian Chamber of Commerce-USA 468 North Camden Drive 2nd Floor Beverly Hills California 90210 United States

The Ambrose Ehirim-Claret Onukogu Q & A Interview

Claret Onukogu is Ph.D candidate at Walden University and aspires to be a film-maker and interest in working for the United Nations. In this interview, she talks about her growing up, going to school in Nigeria, Nollywood and her problems with the Miss Nigeria In America Beauty Pageant since her crown.

Excerpts:

Tell me about yourself.

I am the first child from a family of 8 and a native of Imo State, Nigeria who resides in the United States. I am an MBA/ Healthcare Administration degree holder from South University in Savannah, Georgia, and a PhD candidate from Walden University. I am also one of the new faces and rising stars in Nollywood with work ranging in cinema, soap-opera, home-videos, and co-host of a television show (music and vibes). Some of my awards include Who’s Who among American High School students, Who’s Who among American College students, Certificates of Academic Excellence, Outstanding French Student, National Dean’s List (sophomore), Minority Academic Awards, Academic Scholarships, Miss Nigeria in America (2009-2010), and Outstanding Nigerian (World Ebony Network). I am intelligent, spiritual, brilliant, articulate, hard-working, compassionate, and admirable.

What inspired you to be doing the stuff that you now do in the Nollywood entertainment industry?

I have always aspired to be an actress particularly in Nollywood at a young age, but I wanted to complete my graduate level education before I actively pursue a career in acting. As a child, I watched many Nollywood movies and I enjoyed them. I admired the culture, language, and stories and it kept me connected to home. Acting has always been a part of me even as a child and before I decided to become a professional in the field, I did it as a hobby and I loved it, besides, the industry has evolved and is taking a new and different dimension.

How would you compare Nollywood to Hollywood?

Although Nollywood is growing at an incredibly fast pace, it has not quite reached the level of Hollywood. I am optimistic that in the next few years, it will be close to Hollywood in terms of the technology, special effects and in other areas where it lags behind.

Is Nollywood getting better?

The industry is changing. Nollywood is now in cinemas and I happen to be one of the faces appearing on the big screen. Many producers are taking the risk to redefine and create new faces of Nollywood. There are young and talented actors and actresses on the rise. Some of the actors and actresses who have been in the industry for a while have ventured into filmmaking and most of them attended renowned schools to study the art and perfect their skills. I was very impressed at the work ethics and professionalism, talent, enthusiasm and educational backgrounds of some of the rising producers and directors that I was fortunate to work with; they were simply amazing and continue to search for ways to introduce new materials and reinvent the ones that are already in existence. I am definitely impressed at the frequency of growth of the industry.

You went to school both in Nigeria and the U.S. From your experience, how do you compare both educational systems?

I schooled in Nigeria for a few years during my childhood and the educational system then might have changed because it has been a very long time. I liked the experience of being educated back home because it goes beyond the regular academic environment. I learnt culture, language, values and morals as an African woman. I also like the experience of being educated in the United States because it broadened my horizon and exposed me to individuals and cultures from different parts of the world. The educational systems from both parts of the world made me who I am today and I cherish the experiences that I garnered from them. I am very grateful to God and my parents for giving me such an opportunity.

Let's talk about the Miss Nigeria in America Beauty Pageant. You were crowned queen in 2009, right??

Yes, I emerged as the winner for the Miss Nigeria in America 2009 pageant.

I read where you still claim to be Miss Nigeria in America after three years you have been crowned. In what supposedly should have been held annually, how come you still hold the crown?

I still have the crown because MNIA Inc. and its organizers have not been able to stage another pageant since September 5, 2009. My reign ended officially on September 5, 2010, but I have not been able to handover to anyone since no pageant has been held by the organization since 2009 and the public expects to see me crown a new queen who competed in the pageant system and earned the title.

who is Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja?

Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja was the first runner-up for the Miss Nigeria in America 2009 beauty pageant and long-term friend of the organizers at MNIA Inc. She now supposedly claim to be Miss Nigeria in America 2010-2011 with a false public message from her, MNIA Inc and its organizers that I relinquished my title and handed over to her while in actuality I have already served and completed my reign exactly a year after I was crowned from September 5, 2009 to September 5, 2010. Adelaja is currently facing legal actions for impersonation and defamation of character. She is a queen that MNIA Inc and its organizers falsely created for the continuity of the organization because they have not been able to afford any pageants. By doing so, Angel Adelaja has been posing with a purchased and unmerited crown and sash as the current queen with false justification to the public for the questionable act claiming that I (Claret Onukogu), the former queen waiting to hand over to a successor who competed and merited a crown at a pageant, relinquished my title for her due to a pursuit of an acting career in Nollywood which is FALSE because she bears a different title (MNIA 2010-2011) with her crown and sash which has absolutely nothing to do with me and my reign as MNIA 2009-2010. Most individuals are baffled by this unscrupulous act by MNIA Inc and its organizers because if a crown, sash and title can be given to an individual without a competition for the year that she claims to be queen, then the purpose of pageantry is defeated.

Why is she claiming to be the current Miss Nigeria in America? Since there hasn't been any contest from when you were crowned three years ago, how was she declared winner of the beauty pageant contest?

Mr. Ehirim that is exactly the lingering question that confuses me and everyone else; since my reign ended exactly a year after I was crowned, I moved on with my acting career and other activities. The answer should be given by Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja in court as to why she has been posing with a sash, crown and title that is unmerited. She should be able to answer the question effectively and defend her title without mentioning my name because I never handed my crown and sash to her, MNIA Inc or its organizers, since my reign and responsibilities as Miss Nigeria in America 2009-2010 ended a year after I was crowned like other queens in the MNIA Inc. pageant system.

From what I read, what happened to the show since you were last crowned?

No show has been held by MNIA Inc. and its organizers since the last pageant in 2009. I have not spoken to them after the conclusion of my reign. I traveled out of the country a few weeks before the end of my reign to engage in some charity work in Nigeria, which was highly publicized and recognized, and to begin my acting career a few months after my reign ended. I was astonished when people began to contact me with questions concerning my supposedly forged resignation and relinquishing of title as Miss Nigeria in America 2009-2010 according to MNIA Inc and its organizers. The first time that I received a call pertaining to this issue, I had my crown and sash in front of me. Even though the credibility of the organization and the integrity of its organizer became questionable to me while working with them, I could not believe that they would think about committing a dubious act and using my name for its justification. Apparently, six months and a few days after my reign ended, they lied on Facebook and on their website that I relinquished my title and resigned as Miss Nigeria in America 2009-2010 which is an expensive lie and defamation of character. Since I was out of the country, I could not take any actions towards the issue until I returned to the United States. For the past few months, I have been asked by several individuals and the media about the false and slanderous news until I decided to take legal actions towards the organization and Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja and to grant interviews to the media in order to clear my name and answer the questions that have been directed to me by many individuals. I do not sanction the use of my name in any crooked and questionable act and no one including the MNIA Inc and its organizers has the right or permission to dent the reputation that I have built for myself. I could not believe that MNIA Inc and its organizers had the audacity to fabricate an expensive lie with my name in public for their own interest. From the beginning of my reign (September 5th, 2009) to its end (September 5th, 2010) MNIA Inc specified verbally and in writing that my reign comes to a halt a year after I was crowned and it did; despite the fact that there were no contracts, agreement or conversation stating otherwise and none binding me to the organization stating that my reign will extend more than a year, the organizers of the pageant who reiterated to me during my reign on numerous occasions that they could not have another pageant due to financial and other organizational commitments, thought that it would be a brilliant idea to lie to the public that I relinquished my title in order to justify them crowning a runner-up from 2009 as Miss Nigeria in America 2010-2011 on February 2011 without a pageant which is an insult to those of us who worked hard and earned our crowns. To say that I am highly disappointed in MNIA Inc. and its organizers is an understatement. Please examine a few of the messages that I received from the organizers of the pageant during my reign and its pattern of change over the years. I have also included a response from Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja to someone making inquires about her being the current queen.

Email from Chichi Dike-Emeson “CEO, Executive Director, and Founder of MNIA Inc.)” On May 3, 2010 speaking concerning the end of my reign and management by regal affairs: “The meeting will discuss your management with Regal Affairs and my expectations from you and Regal Affairs. So please come with your ideas and we will draft a game plan for your reign from now till October.”

On July 22nd 2010, the executive director of the MNIA pageant sent me an email also addressing the Regal Affairs manager of the organization stating verbatim in her exact words “September 5, 2010 is the end of your reign and I will ensure that MNIA submits to you all the is due to you. I need a close-out report from you and that should include a reflection of your reign as Miss Nigeria in America 2009. As you know we will not be having any pageant this year but the next Miss Nigeria in America will be on September 3, 2011 in Washington DC. Queen, I also need a close-out report from Regal Affairs also for management of the Miss Nigeria in America 2009.”

Close out report from the executive director on July 29, 2010:

“Dear Claret,

As we come to the end of your reign, MNIA, Inc. wants to thank you for all the work you have done in the past 12 months. As you may be aware, we will not be having the Miss Nigeria in America Pageant in 2010. Financial and other organizational commitments have forced us to move this event in 2011. Due to your hectic schedule and your ongoing work with the entertainment industry, your reign will end on September 5, 2010. MNIA has decided that in order to continue the work of MNIA, Inc, and our charitable/ non-profit mission, the 1st runner-up Miss Angel Adelaja will become Miss Nigeria in America 2010. Please note that the organization will have your EEE bonds to you before your reign is over. Please let us know if there is any thing that you may need. We wish you the best in your endeavors.”

“Los Angeles, CA – February 18, 2011 - MNIA, Inc. has announced today that the first runner-up in the 2009 MNIA Pageant - Angel Adelaja will assume the role and responsibilities as the Miss Nigeria in America 2010. In a statement issued by the President of the Organization, Angel will fulfill all remaining responsibilities of the former Queen, Claret Onukogu. Speaking on this change, ChiChi Dike Emeson, Executive Director said “We gracefully accept the resignation of the Miss Nigeria in America 2009 as of September 5, 2010.”

Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja: July 26, 2012 (Response from Angel to an individual making inquiries as to how Angel became Miss Nigeria in America 2010-2011):

“Anyway I was 1st runner up in the 2009 pageant, but the winner was asked to resign for reasons I am not at liberty to say, and as it is stated in the regulations, the 1st runner up assumes the title in situations such as these. Unfortunately there hasn't been a pageant since 2009, but there will be one this September in Washington DC and I will be handing over the crown to the winner.”

Information on the company website and a word document about Angel on google states:

“Dr. Angel Adelaja is the reigning Miss Nigeria in America (2010 -2011). Angel was the first runner up in the 2009 Miss Nigeria in America Pageant and assumed the role and responsibilities of the former queen Claret Onukogu who relinquished her title to pursue an acting career.”

Mr. Ehirim, please, you be the judge does this sound like I resigned or more like falsification of information and defamation of character? My observations and experience with MNIA Inc and the organizers of the pageant during my reign caused me to dissociate myself from them for almost two years now. It is frustrating and annoying for me to go back to issues concerning them again. It is obvious that MNIA Inc and its organizers are not straight forward and trust worthy. Besides inconsistency and questionable acts, they still owe money in the form of savings bonds and other rewards to me, many runner-ups, winners, and some other former contestants who merited items such as plaques. They lied and did not meet up to their obligations during my reign. Apparently, I am not the only one who is displeased with the unscrupulous behaviors of MNIA Inc and its organizers. From last year till recently, some of the winners who were owed for years before I came on board have approached me concerning the issue of payment or financial assistance that we never received from MNIA Inc as promised and we were planning to find a lawyer collectively to write a letter to the organization. I later decided to sue them because I felt like it will be the most appropriate thing to do at this point since it has become a trend by the organization to owe individuals especially the young ladies who competed in the pageant system. It is disheartening to know that an organization that supposedly prides itself of bringing Nigeria to positive light and empowering women is fraudulent, crooked, manipulative and prone to falsification. This was a message from the executive director on May 19, 2010 concerning my personal information for the supposed savings bond or money which I never received “Hi Claret, I cannot process your bonds without a SSN number so if you want to call me and give it to me so I can process in the bank, then you can call.” I am not the only person who completed the bond forms and never received the money and other rewards that was due to me. Legal actions have also been taken towards MNIA Inc and its organizers concerning the possession and possible use of my personal information. The United States federal government has been made aware of this problem and is actively working towards the issue. The last thing that Nigeria needs is another scam, fraud or dubious act attached to its name, not even in the form of pageantry. Please take note of the report from Better Business Bureau concerning the Miss Nigeria in America pageant:

This Business is not BBB accredited Miss Nigeria in America Pageant/ Danick, INC Phone: (202) 460-2919 1717 K Street, NW Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036 http://missnigeriainamerica.org! Miss Nigeria in America Pageant/ Danick, INC is Believed to Be Out of Business ! Additional Information BBB file opened: February 22, 2005 Contact Information Principal: ChiChi Dike, Company Contact Business Category BEAUTY PAGEANTS # of businesses with 1-4 complaints in the past 36 months. Miss Nigeria in America Pageant/ Danick, INC is in this range.

I do understand that the organizers at MNIA Inc. are entitled to do as they please with their organization but they are not permitted to use my name in any questionable act to rectify their mistakes or set-backs. Common sense will tell anyone that a supposedly yearly pageant will have winners whose reign ends yearly. If Miss Nigeria in America 2009 was crowned on September 5, 2009 then September 5, 2010 will mark the end of her tenure. I cannot possibly resign on the day that my reign ends. The fact that MNIA Inc. and its organizers can falsify senseless lies makes one wonder about the integrity and the sanity of any individual who will do such. I did not have any form of communication with Chi-Chi Dike-Emeson, her husband Kenneth Emeson and friend Queen Gideon Uchekwe, who are the main organizers and producers of the MNIA pageant, on September 5, 2010 to discuss or hand over any form of resignation. No one forced me to resign. My reign ended when it was supposed to like other queens who served for one year and Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja should defend her crown and title as MNIA 2010-2011 (however it was obtained) without any claims that I relinquished my title for her because if I did, she will have my crown, sash and title as MNIA 2009-2010. I earned my title, crown and sash and never gave them to anyone. She is assuming her own responsibilities as MNIA 2010-2011 and not mine. If the completion of my reign that ended in one year translates to a false imaginary resignation to MNIA Inc. and its organizers, then it means that they are referring to every queen who won and completed their one year tenure with the organization. I went beyond the call of duty to conclude my roles and responsibilities as a queen. MNIA Inc, its organizers and Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja should please formulate another lie to tell the public as usual. The ones they falsified have turned sour. Individuals in the public are not fools, they know how credible organizations conduct pageants. It is imperative that Africans, particularly Nigerians, should join hands in cleansing our image by eradicating fraudulent, dubious and falsifying entities that bear our names and put a halt to the activities of the individuals behind those acts that drag our names to the mud especially in the international community.

Besides what's been going on, what are your interests?

I will like to venture into the production aspect of entertainment particularly film-making. I am also very interested in working with the United Nations.

What projects are you working on now?

I have been working on my PhD in Epidemiology; I have also been taking some classes for film production and screenplay writing. Humanitarian work is still a priority in my life regardless of how busy my schedule might be; I create time to do charity work. I am currently shooting a program in the U.S. that will be shown on Nigerian television networks. I have been privileged to own and operate a webstore with variety of goods at affordable prizes (http://claretijeoma.fscstore.com).

MAS FOTOS CACHONDAS DE ANGELA VAZQUEZ

Como me gusta verlos felices,aqui les traigo otra tanda de fotos de la reina de este blog,angie vazquez,hice lo posible para recortar a los odiosos de sus hermanos,para que las disfruten mas.

MINISHORTS DE MIRANDITA COSGROVE EN CONCIERTO

Antes de su despedida de icarly,la sensual miranda cosgrove ha decidido hacer una gira musical de despedida por varias ciudades de su pais,y tal parece que cada vez usa ropa mas atrevida y encima con las altas temperaturas,deja ver esas espectaculares piernas.

PARIS JACKSON

El rey del pop dejo este plano terrenal hace exactamente 3 años,y aparte de su inmenso legado musical,nos dejo un especimen femenino que podria sernos de utilidad en en futuro.
Paris jackson es la hija mediana del cantante,que junto con su hermano mayor Prince fueron inseminados artificialmente en el vientre de una madre de alquiler,por lo cual ni siquiera se sabe con certeza si tendran los genes de Michael Jackson.
Pero el asunto es que aquella tierna niña que conmovio al mundo cuando lloro en pantalla en el funeral de su padre,ya ha dado el respectivo estiron y ya es toda una señorita.
La verdad la jovencita  y millonaria Jackson,ya ha comenzado atraer las miradas masculinas,ya que como toda adolescente americana cuelga fotos de si misma en twiter.

NIGERIA: Sunday Papers, July 29, 2012

COMPILED BY AMBROSE EHIRIM

CHANNELS TV: Nigeria produces most of W/Africa’s illegal weapons – Army

VOICE OF AMERICA: Nigeria, Tunisia Tip Off London Olympic Men's Basketball

PM NEWS NIGERIA: Captain Ore reports Aviation Minister’s threat

VANGUARD NIGERIA: How we will create new states – Dep. Senate President Ekweremadu

VANGUARD NIGERIA: Ex-deputy gov’s ADC shot dead

VANGUARD NIGERIA: ‘Nigerians can’t be going to India, US for simple diagnosis’

PUNCH: ACN, LP, PDP elect candidates for Ondo gov poll

PUNCH: Third Mainland Bridge: 3.4 million people used ferries in two months

THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Boko Haram: JonathanUnder Fresh US Pressure

THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Anambra Oil Field Ready For Commissioning Next Month

CHANNELS TV: Okorocha recalls 27 PDP council chairmen

SUN NEWS ONLINE: Abonnema waterfront demolition: drugs, arms sold like groundnuts –Govt

SUN NEWS ONLINE: Mother from hell: Woman stabs son to spite ex-hubby

THIS DAY LIVE: Hillary Clinton to Visit Nigeria Next Month

SUPER SPORT: Hoopers rule Nigeria again

DAILY TIMES NIGERIA: Pepsi Football Academy celebrates 20th anniversary

DAILY TIMES NIGERIA: Security networking will tackle terrorism - Experts

DAILY TIMES NIGERIA: Six die in Edo cult clash

LA HIJITA DE DJ MENDEZ

A menos que seas chileno dudo muchisimos que conozcan a dj mendez,un rapero oriundo de chile,y que fuera de su frontera es totalmente desconocido por el resto de nuestros maltratados paises.
Cuando en tiempos lejanos y en una dimension paralela,mtv solia pasar videos musicales,hace exactamente 10 años la figura del rapero dj mendez abundaba por la pantalla de mtv,y bueno sus videos no eran muy buenos que digamos,pero comparados con la basofia del regueton,ya era decente.
Ahora resulta que este rapero en extincion,es protagonista de un famoso reality show en la tv chilena,en el cual sale acompañado muya menudo de sus dos hijos.
Pues resulta que la hijita mayor del mencionado dj mendez,se ha convertido en el anzuelo para subir el rating del programa,y viendola bien ,no es para menos.
Le hice una chequeada al reality,y me encontre con una morena espectacular,de nombre Stephanie Mendez,cuenta con 16 años de edad,y sus curvas han pegado al televisor a mas de uno tanto,en Chile y fuera de alli.
Y aparte de que enseña sus carnes en la serie,tambien lo hace en las distintas redes sociales,donde su numero de seguidores crece considerablemente cada dia.
Para no aburrirlos mas,les dejo sus mejores fotos hasta el momento,y se que si un chileno lee este post me lo agradecera.

OTRA CALIENTA POLLAS EN LA FAMILIA

Ya miley cyrus se ha convertido en la calienta pollas mas importante del mundo,poco importa si es sexy o no, o si canta feo o si actua peor la cuestion es que nadie se atreve a refutar esto.
Pero como dicen que el "talento" se hereda de familia,su hermana menor de 12 años,llamada noah cyrus ,tambien esta comenzando a dar sus primeros cameos en el mundo del espectaculo,concretamente en el mundo del modelaje infantil.
Y vaya que me quedo impresionado,la niña casi en etapa de pubertad sale muy maquillada y usando ropa muy sexy para su edad,(lo que dariamos porque angie vazquez posara en una revista asi).
Esto ha levantado un mar de criticas hacia la famlia de miley,quien ya se ha cansado de prostituirse,y ahora su padre tambien quiere hacer dinero con el cuerpecito de su hermanita.

NIGERIA: Friday Papers, July 27, 2012

COMPILED BY AMBROSE EHIRIM

WASHINGTON POST: US returns 11 cultural artifacts to Nigeria in NY ceremony; recovered from airport shipment

AGI IT: One every 3 pregnant women is HIV positive in Nigeria

THE TIMES OF INDIA: Nigeria asked to punish killers of two Indian traders

THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Nigeria to procure $1.2bn on cassava, rice processing plants from China

THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Highest budget for defence, a fallacy, says Army chief

THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Their bra, hair wig as ‘hideout for drugs’

THIS DAY LIVE: “You Must be Creditworthy to Operate Airline in Nigeria”

VANGUARD NIGERIA: Kidnapped doctors freed

VANGUARD NIGERIA: 10 years younger in London

PUNCH: Women can vote us out in 2015 – Jonathan

PUNCH: Empower police to deal with Boko Haram – Buhari

SUN NEWS: Dana crash: Coroner issues Red Cross, Julius Berger, others bench warrants

BUSINESS DAY: Nigeria seeks $60bn war chest against economic turmoil

TRINIDAD EXPRESS: T&T to host Nigerian president for Emancipation

THIS DAY LIVE: With New Inventions, Army Aims to Check Terror Attacks

THIS DAY LIVE: Subsidy Fraud: Names of 25 Indicted Companies Revealed

BLOOMBERG: Shell to Invest $4 Billion in Two Nigerian Oil and Gas Projects

THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA: Okorocha’s battle with PDP council bosses

Ancient statues smuggled from Nigeria being returned home

Who stole 2,000-year-old figurines made by Nok culture still under US investigation

Two of the figurines American officials formally returned to the Nigerian government on Thursday. These roughly 2,000-year-old sculptures are the work of the Nok culture and were stolen from the Nigerian national museum.

On display for the ceremony were seven pieces of figurines, which resembled bits of cylindrical gingerbread men thanks to the orange hue of the terracotta..

By Wynne Parry, Live Science/MSNBC

A handful of roughly 2,000-year-old figurines began a journey back home to Nigeria Thursday after being seized at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City.

At a repatriation ceremony held at Homeland Security Investigation offices on the west side of Manhattan, Nigeria's Consul General Habib Baba Habu took legal possession of the terracotta sculptures, which he said had been stolen from the country's national museum.

Habu called today a special day. "It is the day that America has extended a gift of friendship that we will never forget," he said.

Ancient artifacts

On display for the ceremony were seven pieces of figurines, which resembled bits of cylindrical gingerbread men thanks to the orange hue of the terracotta. The two best preserved pieces, a head and torso, and a pair of legs standing on a pedestal, appeared to have once belonged to a single figure.

All are the work of the Nok culture, which existed within what would become Nigeria from more than 2,000 years ago, before disappearing in the early centuries of the first millennium. (Timeframes for their existence vary.) [Image Gallery: Ancient Rock Art of Sudan

Each of the six terracotta heads bore a distinctive face, which is typical of Nok sculpture, Habu said, explaining that the ancient artisans drew from individual people in normal life, depicting them riding horses or donkeys, for example, or with farm tools.

Nok artisans were prolific, many similar figurines have left Nigeria, Habu said: "Many of them are at museums all over the world, some were taken out legally."

Nigeria has laws that control the export of Nok pieces; however, the sculptures have flooded out of the country. In the 1990s, so many reached the European art market that the prices dropped sharply, according to a New York Times article in 2000.

A modern journey

During today's ceremony, two ornate, hardwood boxes sat near the figures. The statues had been packed within these boxes while being shipped as air cargo into the United States.

During a routine inspection in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris more than a year ago, French customs officers spotted the statues. Although they could not seize them, they notified Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in New York, the items' destination. American officials met the suspicious cargo when it arrived, officials said.

An investigation has since verified that these sculptures were cultural artifacts, not handy crafts and personal effects as described on customs' documents. That investigation is ongoing, and officials declined to give details on who they believed was responsible for attempting to smuggle the items into the United States.

"Often times brokers here in the United States receive a large number of shipments for a large number of people then distribute them. Often times, they have very little to do with the actual shipment," said James Hayes, special agent in charge of HSI New York.

This appears to be the case in this instance, said Robert Perez, director of CBP's New York Field Operations.

It's not yet clear who was responsible for removing them from Nigeria.

"From what we know the items were stolen from the national museum in Nigeria," Habu said. "There is no report of the items being stolen so now the director-general of the Nigerian museum and antiquities is now being subjected to an investigation." [Faux Real: A Gallery of Art Forgeries

Returning home

American officials plan to also return three additional items — two more Nok figurines and a carved ivory tusk — that were seized in Chicago.

Habu said he plans to have everything shipped back to Nigeria in August, where they will be returned to the museum.

He pointed to the two matching pieces, which appeared to have come from a single figurine.

"I am going to ask the government if they will agree to get expert restorers to put this back," he said.

Officials declined to assign a monetary value to the statues, saying as cultural artifacts they are priceless.

Each of the terracotta heads bore a distinctive face, which is typical of Nok sculpture.

HERMOSA FOTOS DE MIRANDA COSGROVE