Nedu Echianu's Blog

Prof. Musa Yakubu of University of Ilorin has said that having sex in the early morning lowers blood pressure and reduces risks of heart attack. Yakubu of the Department of Biochemistry made the assertion in a paper, “Knocking Down the Barriers to Four O’Clock Activities and Reproductive Inadequacies”, presented at the 163rd Inaugural lecture of the university on Friday. He said that having sexual intercourse, three to four times a week, was good for love life. “Research has shown that sex boosts immune system by stimulating the body’s first line of defence and production of immunoglobulin A (IgA), against cold and fever,” he said.

A group of heavily armed kidnappers Thursday abducted Margaret Emefiele, the wife of Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Sahara Reporters quotes a source close to Mr. Emefiele who pleaded anonymity as saying that Mrs. Emefiele was kidnapped along the Benin-Agbor Road. The source added that the kidnappers have made contact with their victim’s husband, adding that they were demanding a huge sum in ransom. Mrs. Emefiele’s kidnap represents one of the most high-profile kidnap cases in 2016.

Suspended lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Thursday gave his colleagues in the House of Representatives three days to return all questionable allowances they paid themselves. Mr. Jibrin said any lawmaker who fails to heed his call should be prepared for the backlash that would follow when he publishes details of how such official perpetrated the fraud. Mr. Jibrin’s statement came a day after he was suspended by the House for 180 legislative days —approximately a full calendar year as the House sits three times a week— after being found guilty of violating House ethics and lawmakers’ privileges.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated the Governor-elect of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on his victory in yesterday's gubernatorial election. Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, described Obaseki's success as well deserved and expected by those who have keenly followed the electioneering campaigns in the state in the last few months.

GENEVIEVE NNAJI An icon in her own world, a screen goddess and the queen of Nollywood, many describe her as an industry of her own. The Best AMAA Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, Genevieve Nnaji is arguably the most popular actress in the Nigerian make-believe movie industry. She has over 10,000 registered fans on her website genevievennaji.ning.com and receives about 3,000 letters from fans all over the world every week. In September 2009, Oprah Winfrey named her one of the 100 most famous people in the world. She is also by far the highest paid actress per movie and the first to earn a million naira in a single movie. By 2009 she raised the bar and she was paid $45,000 in movie IJE produced by Chineze Anyaene. A model and also a singer, in 2004 she became the Face of Lux and subsequently was involved with a beverage drink and detergent.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday took a swipe at the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, declaring that his advice on the prevailing economic crisis was ignored two years ago. Obasanjo also blamed Jonathan for lifting the ban on importation of products like toothpick, which he said could have been taken over by local industries without encumbrances.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday suspended Abdulmumin Jibrin, a lawmaker from Kano at the centre of the unfolding budget padding scandal, for 180 legislative days. The House seats three days in a week and this consequently means that Mr. Jibrin’s suspension would last more than a year. In a motion recommended by House Ethics Committee chairman, Nicholas Ossai, and adopted by the whole House, Mr. Jibrin will also not be able to hold any position of responsibility for the span of the current National Assembly.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman of Daar Communications, owners of AIT and a contestant for the national chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was spotted on a queue at Ward 1 Unit 8. Agenebode in Edo state where voting has already commenced....  Source: nationalhelm.net

Keeping It Real With Adeola - Episode 232 (Why The Change Must Begin With President Buhari and national Assembly)

The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for alleged forgery was stalled on Wednesday, because the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar, said he had not prepared his response to a fresh motion by the defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the court. Mr. Umar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami. Mr. Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, are facing trial for alleged forgery of the Senate standing rules used to elect them as leaders of the Senate in June last year.

1. The executive should forward an Economic Stimulus Bill containing all the fiscal stimulus packages, investments and incentives which will receive accelerated consideration and passage at the National Assembly. 2. The fiscal and monetary authorities must harmonise all policies that lower interest rates for investors in the real sector and small/medium scale farmers. 3. The government should adopt peaceful means in the Niger Delta to restore Nigeria’s oil production back to 2.2 million barrels per day.

Sam Allardyce has left his post as England manager by mutual agreement with the Football Association after one match and 67 days in charge. It follows a newspaper investigation claiming he offered advice on how to "get around" rules on player transfers. Allardyce, 61, is also alleged to have used his role to negotiate a deal worth £400,000 to represent a Far East firm.

German data protection authorities on Tuesday said they had blocked Facebook from collecting subscriber data from its subsidiary WhatsApp, citing privacy concerns. Facebook and WhatsApp promised in the wake of the Silicon Valley giant’s 2014 acquisition of the messaging app that they would not share data, Hamburg’s Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Johannes Caspar recalled in a statement. He added that Facebook would be required to delete any data already received from WhatsApp in Germany.

In what is clearly a defiance of the Nigerian government, the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, vowed not to release the abducted Chibok girls unless his captured members were released by government agencies. In the 39 minutes video posted on YouTube Saturday, Mr. Shekau also asked Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari to ‘repent’ and follow the ways of the Boko Haram. Mr. Shekau, who spoke for 27 minutes in Arabic reading from a prepared script, called Mr. Buhari a cow worshiper and a liar. He also said that until his captured members were released, parents of the Chibok girls should forget about their children.

The Senate Monday ordered the slaughter of cows found roaming within the Federal Capital City (FCT) Abuja metropolis. In the alternative of slaughtering such roaming cows, the upper chamber said that the cows should be arrested and a fine of N50, 000 imposed per cow. This is the declaration of the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye at an interactive meeting with the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Brutai in Abuja on the seizure.

Lots of Zimbabweans are in a financial trauma as you read this, all thanks to the popular Ponzi scheme called MMM. Thousands of people living in Zimbabwe, among them civil servants, vendors and more, were said to have lost thousands of dollars to fraudulent online pyramid scheme MMM Global Zimbabwe after the system collapsed recently. The social financial network, which relied on an accelerating number of new members to pay off the old, abruptly terminated its services without any prior notice last week leaving participants stranded.

The specter of the poor state of the average Nigerian journalists, albeit in most parts of the continent, is better exemplified by Maxwell Oditta and Comrade Chuks Ehirim. Both were not just your run-of-the-mill journalists; they had paid their dues combining over 37 years in the profession. Oditta died on Saturday, July 22, 2016, while Chuks Ehirim passed on almost a month before, June 16. Ehirim and Oditta died in penury and avoidable deaths if the necessary finances were available for required medication.

The Bible doesn't say that being a faithful Christian will lead to material wealth, says the Rev. Billy Graham who responded to a question about the teachings of prosperity gospel preachers by noting that Jesus and His disciples were never rich. In a question-and-answer column published on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website on Wednesday, Graham was asked whether God wants people to be wealthy. "Does God want everyone to be rich? I heard someone on TV claim that this is what the Bible teaches, but I wonder if it's true," the reader asked Graham. "We struggle every month just to pay our bills, and yet my husband and I have always tried to put God first."

It easily could have been a case of mistaken identity as a very familiar looking pitch invader met his idol during the Red Devils' clash with Leicester City. Goal.com reports that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may have made headlines for dropping Wayne Rooney, but at one stage during his side's clash with Leicester City, he had two Zlatan Ibrahimovics on the pitch!

The disputed leader of Boko Haram has released a video message denying a claim by the military that he was killed or badly wounded in air strike last month. Abubakar Shekau appeared healthy in the video in which he spoke in Arabic, Hausa and the Kanuri language. It is not clear when it was recorded.

Continue resting in peace Big Boss.

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has revealed that he has intentions to buy English Premier League club Arsenal within the next four years. Super Sport reports that the 59-year-old, who is Africa's richest man and worth $10.9 billion as indicated by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has refused to back down on his ambition to own the English club having first made his intention known just over a year ago. However, Dangote, who owns a multi-trillion conglomerate group, recognises that an immediate takeover of Arsenal would not happen owing to "more challenging headwinds".

The police in Katsina said yesterday that it arrested Blogger, Jamil Mabai for criticising the purchase of 3000 coffins for distribution to mosques by the state governor, Aminu Masari. Mabai had criticised the rationale behind the purchase of 3000 coffins at N40,000 each when the governor is yet to pay outstanding salary to civil servants in the State. He wondered whether the governor wants the people of the State to die with the purchase of the coffins.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has alerted Nigerians on an alleged plot by former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu to buy over the Judiciary in a bid to get judgement in the appeal court for the position of Senator representing Abia North. It would be recalled that Ohuabunwa, a senatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party PDP had on March 6 2016 won a rerun election against Uzor Kalu who ran for the position on the platform of the Progressive People's Alliance PPA after an appeal court judgement nullified the 2015 election.

Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, the actress's lawyer has confirmed. Robert Offer said she filed for "dissolution of marriage" on Monday, adding the "decision was made for the health of the family". "She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time," Offer added in the statement. The couple have been together since 2004 but only married in August 2014.

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari who is currently in New York to meet with the leadership of the Stop TB partnership Nigeria met with the U.S First Lady, Michelle Obama at her broadway event about Global Girls' Empowerment on Monday evening.

Solicitor to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Goodluck Jonathan, First Law Associates, has given the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, 14 days with effect from September 18 to defreeze her accounts and tender a public apology to her. Senior Partner, First Law Associates, Timipa Okponipere Esq. in an open letter to EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, urging the Commission to leave Mrs. Jonathan alone, warned that if it refused to conform: “We shall file an action at the African Commission on Human Rights at the Gambia demanding N5 billion in exemplary and punitive damages.”

A 28-year-old man arrested for alleged pick-pocketing, has committed another crime of stealing N1,200 belonging to a police officer at the station where he was detained in Lagos. The spokesperson of the Lagos Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos,  said the suspect, Deji Ayoola, who was arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) for pick-pocketing, allegedly stole N1, 200 during an interrogation.

Top blogger, Linda Ikeji, gorgeous.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has described the Nigerian contingent to the Rio Paralympics in Brazil as true heroes, who gave their best to their fatherland.  Ekweremadu noted that with 12 medals, including eight gold medals, and six World Record-breaking performance, the Team had not only put up the best performance ever by any Nigerian contingent to the Paralympics, but had shown that ability was in the mind.

At least 29 people have been injured in an explosion in the Chelsea district of New York City, officials say. The cause of the blast late on Saturday remains unclear. Mayor Bill de Blasio described it as "intentional" but said that there were no known links to terror. The force of the blast blew-out windows and could be heard several blocks away.

The Indigenous People of Biafra has said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is critically ill in Kuje  prison. The group said it got the information from Kanu’s lawyers who visited him recently, In a statement issued by the  Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful,  on Saturday, the group said Kanu was suffering from chest and abdominal pains as well as a violent cough. The group alleged that Kanu’s poor health might not be unconnected with the bad treatment he had been allegedly subjected to by prisons officials.

   …Ogun, Lagos tops list The official confirmation that the Nigerian economy is in recession by the Federal Government on August 31, appears to have further stimulated more suicide cases across the nation. In the last six months, seven out of the 36 states of the federation sampled, have recorded over 62 cases of suicides according to statistics from the various police commands. Ogun and Lagos states have the highest figures of 25 and 12 respectively. Although, psychologists had predicted this, while citing financial and economic troubles that many Nigerians are currently facing, many are still surprised at the huge statistics.

The Presidency has issued the statement below admitting that the speech read by President Muhammadu Buhari contained insertions plagiarised from a 2008 speech by U.S. President, Barack Obama. A statement by a presidency spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said an investigation had been launched into the matter and that officials so far identified to have committed the blunder would be punished.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of plagiarising  a part of the ‘Change begins with me’ campaign speech he delivered last week. The Cable reports that Adeola Akinremi, a columnist with ThisDay, was first to make the allegation, saying Buhari’s speech bore marked resemblance with the one delivered by Barack Obama in his November 2008 presidential election victory speech at a rally in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. “President Muhammadu Buhari made a terrible mistake last Thursday. He plagiarized President Barack Obama’s speech to launch ‘change begins with me,'” he wrote in his column.

Following the ruling of a High Court in Plateau state which committed the Chairman of the League management company LMC Shehu Dikko and Salish Abubakar, its Chief Operations Officer, to 14 days in prison for contempt (Read the full report HERE ) the LMC who are the organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League have appealed the ruling as can be seen in this tweet from its tweeter handle. 

A High Court sitting in Bukuru, Plateau, has committed, Shehu Dikko, Chairman, League Management Company (LMC) and Salish Abubakar, its Chief Operations Officer, to 14 days imprisonment for contempt. The judge, Justice Ishaku Kunda, in his ruling, committed to Jos Federal Prison on Friday for disobeying the orders of the court. Kunda, who gave the order of committal, also issued a warrant of arrest of Dikko and Abubakar.

Ex Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State,has blasted the EFCC for declaring him wanted over an alleged N76bn fraud in the media. In a statement addressed to EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, Shema said the act was unwarranted.  “Without any formal invitation to me, the EFCC purported, by a letter dated June 17, 2016, sent to a wrong address of Wole Olanipekun & Co. asking the law firm to make Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema available for an interview with the undersigned on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. The letter was signed by Hyecinth A. Edozie.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned Nigerians to be careful of any deposit money institution that is not insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) especially the trending MMM Nigeria community. The bank through its the acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, made this known against the proliferation of wonder banks in the country in recent times. Okoroafor said such deposit money institutions were dubious present Ponzi schemes. “At times like this when the economy has suffered some decline, Nigerians should be very careful with those they deal with. Any institution that is not licensed by the CBN to accept deposits should not be given money to keep under any guise,” he advised.

A girl, in a bid to "shame" a guy who has been pestering her with sex requests on Facebook for FOUR years, has exposed the messages she received from him (including the dirty ones)... Sandra Nicholas, a law graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, took to her Facebook page to post the chats which can be seen after the cut...

A Limpopo Pastor has committed suicide after he sent pictures of his pe_nis to his church Whatsapp Group.Pastor Letsego of Christ Embassy who is married thought he was sending the picture to his lover, who happens to be a member of the same church To make matters worse he even went on to caption it “wife is away,its all yours tonight”. He then realised his mistake after having hit the send button with congregants expressing shock and outrage over the mishap.The Pastor is alleged to have immediately exited the group and stopped answering his calls.He was found 24 hours later hanging in his rented church house.

... Lists 12 referees for exclusion from NPFL matches Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors have been sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC) for disruptive behaviour of their fans in recent matches just as Enyimba’s Masseur, Mr. Ifeanyi Kalu was handed a one year ban from all activities of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and his club fined N250,000. In a related development, the LMC has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) requesting the exclusion of 12 Referees from further officiating of NPFL matches pending investigations into their respective performances in recent matches.

A recent video has been going viral across Chinese social media of how a husband beats his cheating wife and her lover. The video captures the moment the husband and his friends storm the hotel room where his unfaithful wife and her lover were sleeping together. The husbad grabs the lover by the throat and hits his wife with a belt in this shocking video. We usually see wives beating mistresses and cheating husbands. Well this video has the husband beating his cheating wife and her lover.

Nigeria Professional Football League side Heartland FC of Owerri were involved in a road accident in the city of Maiduguri, where they will be the guest to El-Kanemi Warriors in a league tie. As at the time of reporting, no death was reported but Vanguard reports that some of the players sustained serious injuries and they are presently being taken to hospital for treatment. It was gathered that about seven players were injured, while three officials are reportedly badly wounded from the accident that occurred as the team were making their way from the airport to the city centre.

I can't confirm the authenticity of this piece of information, but for laughs I'm dropping it here for my blog followers... The South African Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande has announced plans to have witchcraft included in the curriculum from 2018. Speaking to representatives from student unions around the country, the minister announced the shocking move and urged future university entrees to consider taking Witchcraft. “There is a lot we can learn from witchcraft, like how they fly in that winnowing basket. Imagine if we learn that skill. It will eradicate traffic jams and everyone will just get in their basket and fly. It also means we will not be importing fuel anymore.” Blade said.

The former governor Ibrahim Shema is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC for criminal conspiracy, inflation of contracts, abuse of office, diversion of funds and embezzlement running into billions of naira. He was governor of the state from May 2007 to May 2015.

More than one thousand militants who have been operating in the Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta oil producing areas of Imo state under the aegis of the Niger Delta Avengers of Imo state allegedly responsible for the killings, blowing of oil pipelines and carrying out other heinous crimes in the areas on Wednesday, 2016 surrendered their weapons and embraced peace claiming that the long-time negligence of their areas by the oil companies and lack of development in their areas forced them into militancy. The event which took place at the Government House, Owerri, saw the agitators giving reasons for taking to militancy and why they have decided to embrace peace, with their commanders confessing some of the ugly things they had done and asking to be forgiven and be reintegrated into the society.