NSCDC Commandant Finally Breaks Silence

The Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr. Obafaiye Shem now popularly known as "My Oga At The Top" on social media, has dismissed the stories making the rounds about his suspension from work saying he is still in- charge of the command.

This is even as the Channels Television has described as wild tale, the rumour that Mr Shem has been suspended and the purported protest by his wife over the upload of the interview by the Channels.

He said; ”I am still the State Commandant of NSCSC and I am determined to work hard to expose the vandals across the State.”According to the commandant, he has been on casual leave to perform the burial rites of his father Pa Michael Obafaye, who died on February 8, 2013 at the age of 82 and will resume at his duty post next Thursday.

Shem who recently celebrated his 100 days in office said already, he has some pending files on his table which will be treated as soon as he resumes work. Since assumption of office, the Command under his leadership, has uncovered several hideouts of vandals especially at Arepo, Festac town and Epe and has paraded several pipeline vandals including three siblings.

It will be recalled that the social media was awash over the alleged suspension of Mr. Obafaye from office by the Ministry of Interior for postulating the “my oga at the top” mantra during a live interview on Lagos-based Channels Television last Tuesday.

On his wife’s visit to Channels Television, Obafaye said, ”my wife was in the village with me for my father’s burial and there is no way she could have visited the television station to carry out a protest. She is a learned person and somebody of that caliber would not have been involved in such a jinx. I see all these as a distraction which is not enough to hinder me from achieving my goal in Lagos State.”

Meanwhile, in a post in its website Monday, the Channels Television said, “the rumour making the rounds that commandant of the Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corp in Lagos has been demoted or suspended in the aftermath of a now famous phrase is false. The alleged visit by his wife to the headquarters of Channels Television to protest the upload of the interview where he failed to name his organisation’s website has been discredited as another wild tale.”

NYSC: Why We Expelled Ekundayo

NYSC authorities have defended their action on the de-camping of one Miss Tolulope Ekundayo, after she refused to wear trouser at the Sagamu Orientation Camp in Ogun. 
Remember her story, right?

Well, here's what the NYSC Coordinator in Ogun State, Mrs. Theresa Anosike said really happened:

"We had to decamp a corps member, Miss Ekundayo Tolulope Damilola, a graduate of Zoology from the Lagos State University who reported in this camp and registered on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. She was assigned the code number OG/13A/1344.

“On Friday 8th of March 2013, at about 7pm she was reprimanded by a camp official and was taken to the camp director’s office for refusing to wear the NYSC kit items contrary to the undertaking she had signed to abide by the NYSC dress code. 
We have copies of this here which we’ll give to you after this briefing.

“At about 9.00pm, she was brought to my office by the camp director with the report that she refused to wear the NYSC kit items. I was also told that she had been brought before a panel to find out why she wasn’t going to wear the kit items at about 7.00pm but she said she wasn’t going to wear those kit items because it was contrary to her faith.

“The camp director noted that since Ekundayo arrived in the camp, several camp officials had accosted her at different times but she refused to wear the kit items, claiming that she had a covenant with God and so there was nothing anybody could do. She insisted she was ready to forgo the service year rather than wear the kit items. The camp director said Miss Ekundayo’s utterances were a threat to peaceful coexistence on the camp and that that was why she was brought to my office.

“I immediately convened an urgent meeting with the resident officer one, representing the director general on the camp, the camp commandant and all other heads of security agencies on the camp. 
In their presence, I requested to know why she refused to wear the NYSC kit items and asked if she knew the consequences of her action. 
She claimed that there was no way she would go against her religious beliefs and that she would rather leave the camp quietly than be seen in any of the NYSC kit items.

“Contrary to their claim that we threw the girl out at night, we did not throw the girl out. She opted to leave the camp. As a matter of fact, once it is 6.00pm, and the flags come down, the corps members are not allowed to move out of the premises. So, we couldn’t have thrown her out.

“Secondly, we heard we sent the girl out at about 11.00pm, you can see from this undertaking that the man who came, one Apostle A.B Otaru of the Antioch Church, Sagamu who is also the PFN chairman in Remo came here, picked her up, did this undertaking and the time on this undertaking is 10.27pm and even after they left the security men were still at the gate to make sure that there was no problem.



The National Youth Service Corps says Miss Damilola Ekundayo was ejected from orientation camp because her action contravened the law regulating and prescribing the dress code for all members of the scheme.

, said Ekundayo’s refusal to wear the kits, including the khaki trousers at the camp and her insistence on putting on only skirts for the compulsory one-year programme contradicted Section 3 subsection (h) of the scheme’s 2012 bye-laws.

Anosike, who addressed newsmen in Sagamu on Friday, however, stressed that due process was followed before the corps member was sent out of the orientation camp.

She added that like her other colleagues, the ejected corps member signed an undertaking on cultism and the dress code when she was admitted into the orientation camp.

She disclosed that Ekundayo was first reprimanded and brought before a panel before she was eventually ejected when she insisted that she would not wear the proper NYSC kits due to her religious beliefs.

The NYSC state coordinator said, “

US to Slam Visa Restriction on Nigeria Over Alamieseigha

There was  indication  on Sunday that  United States  might  slam  visa restrictions on some Nigerian government officials in protest against the state pardon granted a former Bayelsa State Governor Dieprieye Alameiyeiseigha, and an ex-Managing Director of  the defunct Bank of the North, Mr. Shettima Bulama.

A diplomatic source, who made this known to The PUNCH  in Abuja, said the US was  miffed by  the Federal Government’s decision to summon its Deputy Head of Mission  for flaying  the reprieve granted the two men.

He said, “There are a lot of options open to Washington. For one, if this matter is not resolved,  they can issue visa restrictions on  government officials and then follow it up with other sanctions recognised within international law.”

The  source  said that  Nigeria currently stands at a disadvantage should the visa restrictions be  imposed.

PHOTOS: Ngozi Nwosu in UK Hospital

To God be the glory she's looking hale. She solicits your prayers.

AGAIN: FG Suspends Operating License of Dana Air

The Federal Government of Nigeria has once again suspended the operating license of Dana Air, barely three months after they were allowed to fly again following the June 2012 crash that killed over 150 people.

According to the directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, on Saturday, March 16, 2013, Dana Air was instructed to suspend all their flight operations until some safetly issues were rectified by the airline.

A Dana Air representative told newsmen yesterday that no specific reason was given to them by Aviation ministry for the action. Well, they said safely concerns...

KANO: Explosion Rocks Bus Park in Northern Nigeria; Atleast 25 Feared Dead

Multiple explosions have hit a luxurious bus park in the ancient city of Kano, North-Central Nigeria, Monday evening. The blast occurred at a busy commercial transport park at the popular Newroad Park in Sabongari area of Kano this evening. At least 25 persons are feared dead while several others seriously wounded many of whom are believed to be passengers travelling to port-Harcourt, Southern Nigeria.

A combined team of military personnels have cordoned off the area.

Details are still trickling in as at 20:45 GMT +1 local Nigerian time.

EXCLUSIVE: Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay's Dubai Wedding Details

The wedding will hold at the Sefinah Ballroom of Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Reception will hold at an exotic Island called Royal Island Beach. Guests will be conveyed in luxury boats from the wedding venue to the Island.The wedding after party will hold at Nigerian owned club, Kiza Nite Club.

The couple are inviting only 250 guests, and they will all be lodged in four different hotels - Frazier Suites, D Atlantis Hotels, Jumeirah Beach Hotel (where Annie and her people will stay) and Burj Al Arah (Where 2face, Dbanj, Don Jazzy, Davido, Timaya, Iyanya, politicians and many big boys will lodge).

Most guests will be leaving Nigeria on Thursday March 21 for the two-day wedding of the year which will hold March 22nd and 23rd and will cost over N50million. 

The Groomsmen includes;

Dapo Oyebanjo popularly known as D'banj

Anthony Olarenwaju Awotoye popularly known as Tony Tetuila

Chibuzor Orji popularly known as Faze

Olarenwaju Fasasi also known as Sound Sultan

BlackFace is conspicuosly missing here.

His childhood friend, Larry Gaga is his bestman.

Annie Idibi has on her part chosen her cousin Maryann as Chief Bridesmaid.

From all of us here, we wishing Innocent Idibia and Annie Idibia a blessed union.

Please we have released these details in confidence, for those of you in Dubai, Mbok don't gatecrash, Please.

PHOTOS: Nigeria Hosts Lebanese President

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Monday 18th, March 2013 hosted President Michel Suleiman of Lebanon. The latter is on a two-day visit to Nigeria from 17th - 18th March, 2013.

See photos after the cut....

Governor Akpabio Offers PDP State Leaders N1million for 'Mr Biggs'

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio on Sunday gave N1 Million each to the six Chairmen of the Peoples’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the South-South geopolitical zone who had converged in Port Harcourt for a party reconciliation session

“If you want to prevent our members from straying to other parties, you must put food in the stomach of our supporters,” Mr Uduaghan had said.Mr Akpabio’s cash gift followed a speech by the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who had said that poverty is widespread among party members in the zone and that action needed to be taken to reduce the hardship faced by party members.

Shortly after Mr Uduaghan spoke, Mr Akpabio announced he would distribute N1million each to party chairmen at the venue as lunch money as a way of placating them not to leave the party.

He said, “My brother Governor, Uduaghan, said our members are hungry and that we must put food in their stomach so that they don’t stray to other parties. I am giving all the state chairmen of the party N1 million each for Mr Biggs. Our members must not be hungry.”

EFCC Arrests Yahoo Yahoo Boys in Enugu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested five suspected internet fraudsters in Enugu, Enugu State. They were picked up from their hide out at No. 26 and 42, Chimaobi Uba Street, GRA, Enugu following an intelligence report.

The suspects, Uche Nwakor, 27; Ejikeme Oluchukwu, 30; Ifeanyi Ejikeme, 28 ;Nnamani Ikechukwu,30 and Ibe Kodili are alleged to be serial scammers who have defrauded several victims.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects include Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Seven United States Dollars ( $8,227); Seventy Three Thousand Naira (N73,000.00); eight (8) exotic cars; nine (9) laptops; twenty one (21) mobile phones; two (2) internet routers; one (1) currency counter and one (1) Sony camera.

Other incriminating items found with the suspects include four (4) drivers’ license bearing different names with same photograph, five (5) flash drives, two (2) external hard drives, various bank cheques, ATM and Master cards, 1 HP printer, a black traveling bag with 12 different identity cards, a company metal seal, two (2) international passports belonging to the same person, among other items.

The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity For EFCC

POPE FRANCIS: Nine Things You Never Knew About The Pope

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina was elected as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. Here are nine things you should know about Pope Francis.

1. Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires in 1936. His father was an Italian immigrant

2. He’s the first pope from South America. The only remaining continents that have never had a pope come from their lands are Australia, Antarctica, and North America.

3. He’s the first Jesuit pope.

4. He only has one lung. His other lung was removed due to infection when he was a teenager

5. Bergoglio is known for his personal simplicity. In Argentina he lived in a simple apartment rather than the archbishop’s palace, cooked his own meals, and gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of taking the bus to work.

6. In 2010, when Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage, Bergoglio encouraged clergy across the country to tell Catholics to protest against the legislation because, if enacted, it could “seriously injure the family” and that gay adoption would be “depriving (children) of the human growth that God wanted them given by a father and a mother.”

7. He studied and received a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires, but later decided to become a Jesuit priest and studied liberal arts at the Catholic seminary in Santiago, Chile.

8. At the age of 76, Francis is the ninth oldest pope of those elected after 1295. (Benedict, who was elected at the age of 78, was fifth oldest.)

9. Last year, Bergoglio compared Catholic priests who refused to baptize the children of unwed mothers to the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. “These are today’s hypocrites. Those who clericalize the Church,” he said, adding, “Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the Word in body as well as spirit.”

Pope Francis I waves as he leaves Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

Reprinted with permission from The Acton Institute.

Reactions Continue To Trail Eviction of Corper

Reactions have started trailing the decamping of 2013 Batch A, female corps member, Ms Tolu Ekundayo, by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Ogun State for wearing skirt at the Shagamu orientation camp.

In a press conference organised by Ekundayo’s church, Faith Revival Apostolic Church, FRAC, in Lagos, the expelled corps member  said she was asked to leave the camp at about 11.00pm on March 8, 2013 by the Ogun State NYSC Co-ordinator, for her refusal to put on trousers.

She explained that her refusal to wear trousers was not in disobedience to NYSC authorities but in line with her belief and faith in God.

Also speaking, Apostle Paul Adenuga condemned the manner in which Ekundayo was expelled from the camp in the dead of the night without considering her safety and called on the Director-General of NYSC and the federal government to look into the matter before it gets out of hand.
“I call on Nigerians, mostly Christians that stand for the truth, not only to jointly condemn this barbaric and bestial act but to engage in constructive dialogue with the concerned authority for the change of such policy if it is official.”

NYSC reacts
When contacted, the Ogun State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mrs T.I Anosike maintained that the Service did not expelled anybody. According to her, Ms Ekundayo opted to go instead of abiding by the rules and regulations of the scheme.

She said wearing anything outside approved NYSC kits during the orientation programme was not allowed in the camp. This she said was the reason why every corps member was made to signed undertaking on cultism and dress code.

“Nobody asked her to leave. She was asked to comply with the NYSC directives or leave. So she decided to leave. When she said that she won’t comply, we asked her to put it in writing which she did. So we didn’t expel her, she left on her own.”

Governor Akpabio Purchases Multi-million Dollar Bus

This is according to Sahara Reporters. Below is how they are reporting it... 

Just months after purchasing a $45 million dollar jet, and a few days after recklessly doling out several thousands of dollars to Nigerian music star, 2Face and his wife, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has taken possession of several bulletproof sprinter luxury vans from US based Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC).

A source told Saharareporters that the governor took delivery of the Mercedes Benz made vans recently after they were customized to his specifications by TAC in Texas.

The vans will join a remarkable fleet of top-of-the-line bulletproof luxury Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) Akpabio already has in his official convoy, making the latest purchase superfluous and insensitive, insiders in the government told SaharaReporters. 

The Texas Armoring Company has displayed the luxurious interior of Mr. Akpabio’s latest toy on its Facebook page. 

The Akwa Ibom governor, who intends to run for the Senate when his second term ends, has emerged as one of Nigeria’s hardest-spending governors, with a taste for the finest things, while most of his State remains undeveloped.   He is also one of President Goodluck Jonathan’s closest confidants, and recently emerged chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, with a mandate to help Jonathan win re-election in 2015.


Insiders say some governors convert some of the luxury possessions into personal items they take with them when they leave office, or give away as presents to friends. 

Prison Break in Warri As Gunmen Kill Prison Warders And Sets Prisoners Free

We went extra miles to bring you these pictures. Viewers discretion is strongly advised as the pictures contains gory scenes.

It is no longer news that daredevil gunmen numbering about eight intercepted a Prison van fully loaded with criminals as they drove to an Area Court in Okere, Warri, Delta State.

 it was gathered that the bloody incident took place at about nine o’clock in the morning when the vehicles in which the prison warders were conveying some of the prison inmates to court was attacked at the Okere Roundabout in Warri.

View the pictures of the late victims after the cut. I REPEAT, VIEWER'S DISCRETION ADVISED!

Sources said that four of the prisons officials were killed on the spot when the gunmen suddenly opened fire on their vehicle. Three other officials were said to be lying critically hurt in an undisclosed hospital in the area following gunshot wounds they received during their gun battle with the attackers.

The armed gang were said to have operated with two vehicles which they parked at the ever-busy roundabout unknown to the prison officials.

Police authorities, confirming the report, said that the gunmen laid an ambush for the court-bound van. They further stated that three of the prison inmates who fled with the attackers after the encounter had been re-arrested by the police and handed over to the Prisons Department in Warri.

Spanish Man Gets Kidnapped in Benin by Nigerian Internet Lover

The Edo State Police Command has rescued a Spanish, Jose Anthonio Murili Turrillo who was kidnapped and held captive in a hotel room in Benin City since last Saturday by his Nigerian lover.

The victim was said to have been lured from Spain by his 28 year-old lover, along with one Kenny Oyemwina, 25. They held the Spanish man hostage and took all of his money.
The Police said “investigations revealed that the female suspect is the Spanish lover who lured him from Spain to Nigeria and he was made to withdraw all the money he had in his account.

“When the two suspects discovered that their victim had no money on him and in his account again, they forcefully asked him to call his sister in Spain to send €2000 to them before he will be allowed to go back to Spain.”

The sister of the victim however “reported to INTERPOL Spain who contacted the Nigerian INTERPOL who in turn contacted Edo State Command.”

According to the Police Commissioner, the two suspects have been arrested and would soon be prosecuted.