GistNaija.com : 2012-10-28

Monday, November 5, 2012

Celebrity Birthday: Happy Birthday Muna

Munachi Abii stunning in red as she turns 25

Ex-beauty queen and rapper ,Muna Abii, turns 25 today (November 5, 1987). Her full name is Munachi Gail Teresa Abii Nwankwo.

During her second year at the Benson Idahos University in 2007, Muna won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant.

Muna released two hot new pictures from her recent photoshoot in Atlanta USA. She is currently recording her debut album and expanding her brand home and abroad. Her website Munaworld.com will go live early next year.

Aki & Pawpaw Plan Big For Their 10th Anniversary

Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme will be celebrating their 10th year in Nollywood.
A series of events are currently being put together to mark the anniversary. The duo will inaugurate a skills and talent factory, aimed at discovering and harnessing the skills of talented individuals. The skill and talents factory will be coordinated through their foundation.

Biafra Mass Protest: Atleast 100 People Arrested and Charged With Treason

people holding a portrait of Col Ojukwu and waving Biafran flags

At least 100 people have been charged with treason in south-eastern Nigeria after a march supporting independence for Biafra, their lawyer says.

Members of the Biafran Zionist Movement declared independence, raised the Biafran flag and then marched through the region's main town, Enugu.

More than one million people died during the 1967-70 Biafran conflict - mostly from hunger and disease.

Most of those arrested were young men but some were veterans of the war.

They were all remanded in custody.

The BZM first gathered on Sunday to mark the birthday of former Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, who died in November 2011 and was buried in March.

Richard Mofe-Damijo’s Wife Spotted With Butterfly Tattoo On Her Breast

Ever since Jumobi tied the knots with Richard Mofe-Damijo in December 2000, she has rarely been seen at public functions.

And this is despite the fact she was a star presenter with Africa Independent Television (AIT), before her marriage.

The 40-year-old was spotted at Agatha Amata’s birthday over the weekend, and what became the talking point, was the butterfly tatto on her right breast. It cannot be ascertained at this point, if the mother of two, had it before she was got married to the current Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, or she got it done recently.

However, the former Lunch Break anchor, was looking really good at the party.

You Stole My Wife, You Are A Fool At 25: Angry Ex-Husband Accuses Fabregas of Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas and his girlfriend Daniella Semaan have been flaunting their young love all summer, spotted cuddling on several idyllic holiday locations.

But now her millionaire ex-husband has come forward to say it was during one of those holidays that he found out his wife was cheating on him – just as they were trying for a third baby.

Cristiano Ronaldo, has said that if he is given a chance, he will vote for himself to win the next Ballon D’Or.

National team captains are among those who are eligible to cast their vote, and the 27-year-old has not had the privilege, as Nuno Gomes has been Portugal’s captain until recently.

“If I could, I’d vote for myself,” he said in an interview with France Football.

“I am what I am and I’m happy with that. Being too humble isn’t good. In Portugal we say that too much humility is vanity.”

His comments come few days after Lionel Messi, revealed he will be voting for his Barcelona and Argentine team mates for the Ballon D’Or.

The Real Madrid forward, also used the opportunity to reiterate that his “sadness” at Real Madrid, did not have financial causes.

“I play for the passion of football, and for the love of the teams I represent. If I was playing for money, I’d be at another club,” he stated.

“All players love it when teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United or Chelsea dream about them, but that’s not in my thoughts.”

Osaze Makes U-Turn: Ready To Play For Nigeria

Stephen Keshi has set the records straight, over the reports over the weekend that West Brom’s forward, Osaze Odemwingie, has retired from international football.

The Super Eagles manager, in a release by Ben Alaiya on Monday, said the interview he granted Supersports, were actually about the frustrations the former Bendel Insurance player had faced under previous coaches of the national team.

“What [Odemwingie] told me was that after fighting so hard to qualify Nigeria for the South Africa 2010 World Cup, he was dumped on the bench when the tournament proper started and that he fears a repeat following the manner he was substituted in the [2013 Africa Cup of Nations] qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali [in February], which was under me,” Keshi is quoted to have said.

“Well, I told him that if I had my way all the players who featured in that match should have been substituted but I had only three substitutions to make because we played poorly in the encounter.

“He told me he understands my position and that he is now ready to return to the national team fold. We actually spoke for over one hour on Sunday [November 4], so there is actually nothing amiss about [him]. He has said he will join others to come and fight for a shirt and that is the new rule in the national team.”

TRAGEDY: 20 People Die Scooping Fuel From Fallen Tanker (WARNING: Graphic Images)

Tragedy struck at the weekend at Umuokpo in Amairinabuo Community of Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State when a fuel tanker exploded, killing several people and injuring others.

Unconfirmed report had it that over 20 people, who rushed to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker, were burnt to death, while others, including 10 persons, said to be on danger list in a mission hospital in the area, sustained various degrees of burns.

However, another source said only three persons had been confirmed dead.

Maker of ‘My Pikin’ teething mixture, Kola Gbadegbesin Okunlola, is dead.

He had been standing trial alongside his company, Barewa Pharmaceutical Limited, and two staff of the company, Adeyemo Abiodun and Egbele Austin Eromosele.
Okunlola died on 27 October, 2012, aged 58 years.

Sources said Okunlola died at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, where he was admitted when he suffered haemorrhage stroke.

In the month of November, FORBES will publish its annual official ranking of the 40 richest people in Africa. A lot of research has gone into the making of this list and this year, we’ve uncovered several hidden holders of wealth across the continent.

Many of them are names you’ve probably never heard. In the coming days, this author will list at random, ten relatively unknown high net-worth individuals from various African countries, pulled from our extensive wealth database.

This is the first part in the series. Here are ten low-key, ultra-wealthy Nigerian tycoons, entrepreneurs and business leaders. Each of them is worth at least $50 million. There are no politicians or criminals here — just good, successful businessmen.

Kola Aluko
Source: Oil, Aviation services

Kola Aluko, a Nigerian energy and aviation tycoon,

Managing Director, Coscharis Group of Companies, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, has vowed to ensure that he collects back all the money due to him that Managing Director, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has allegedly fraudulently appropriated through a failed business transaction between the duo.

Maduka, in a statement Sunday from the Coscharis Group, which he owns, detailed his encounter with Ubah, saying he had entered into partnership with Ubah in response to his request for ehe entrepreneur to assist the oil dealer grow his business.

Stop Making Your Wives Pastors –Pastor Bakare Blasts Nigerian Pastors

“The major problem is that some pastors refused to obey what the Bible says. We are expected to seek the kingdom first and then all other things shall be added unto them. But today, some of us seek all other things first before the kingdom of God.”

Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, has condemned the fast growing practice of some pastors, especially in Nigeria, making their wives automatic pastors, for selfish reasons.

“We saw that corruption fought back at the end of 2007 in Nigeria when corruption took over, when the leadership of Nigeria embraced corruption and they were ready to fight those who were fighting corruption and replaced those who were fighting corruption with corrupt people to turn things upside down.

“Nigerians must remember that it was (Michael) Aondoakaa who was the Attorney-General of the Federation as at that time. I don’t need to say anything in addition.”

It's either this guy called K-Solo is being funny or he doesn't really know what he wants. How can you date a lady for good seven years, dump her to marry the mother of your child, and turn around to be madly in love with that same lady.

In fact, the second coming of the love is so strong that you're already engaged to her few days after legally married wife delivered a baby boy?

K-Solo (real name Solomon Oyeniyi) has officially proposed to his long time ex-girlfriend, Bimbo Timson. The music producer, who has worked with top artistes like Paul Play, Timaya, 2Shotz and many others, proposed to Bimbo at a fun spot in Ikeja, Lagos.

K-Solo took Bimbo to Yellow Chilli, G.R.A., Ikeja to officially engage her. The two "strange" lovebirds, according to sources, were all over each other as they spent ample time doing their thing. The marriage proposal was done in the presence of some industry friends who attended it.

It is believed that K-Solo is planning to secretly get married to Bimbo very soon.
(See more photos below)

Erstwhile Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Dr Oby Ezekwesili

The Federal Government, weekend, was advised to quickly tackle the rising rate of unemployment in the country as its rate was estimated to be around 40 per cent of the entire population.

The immediate past World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, who gave the advice also said: “I am one of those Nigerians who are praying for Nigeria oil to dry up so that our government can quickly take immediate actions towards diversifying the nation’s source of revenue.

Alternative to oil should emerge immediately to cure the oil politics in our nation.”

It was indeed a black Saturday in Akwa Ibom State, as a man, his whole family were among more than 20 members of the Jehovah’s Witness Church that got perished in a fatal road accident along the Utu Etim Ekpo road, in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state.

The tragic incident which occurred on their way to the Church’s annual convention in Ikot Ekpene Local Government area of the state also left 40 other members of the church severely injured.

It was gathered that more than 70 members of the church had hired a Lorry from Ukanafun Local Government Area to Ikot Ekpene for the three-day annual district convention on Friday, but on their way, tragedy struck, leaving many members of the church dead.

The corpses and those injured in the accident were said to have been taken to nearby hospitals and mortuaries.

Five killed as church building collapses in Anambra

Five persons were killed and over 100 others including children and a priest injured when a church collapsed in Nnewi, Anambra State yesterday.

The incident occurred during the Sunday service.
The elderly wore sullen faces and the youth shouted on top of their voices amid pandemonium at the Ezinifite community, Nnewi South local government, after the incident. The St. Thomas the Aguiros Catholic Church that gave way was under construction.
Over 2000 worshipers were attending mass when the incident occurred. One of the dead, according to church sources was Mrs Okoye the woman leader of Ezinifite Improvement Union (Women President General).

Mrs Okoye, until her death was the step mother of the main financier of the church building project— Chief Leonard Ike Okoye — an Aba-based business mogul.

CAN to Jonathan: take drastic measures against sect

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday advised President Goodluck Jonathan to adopt radical steps to conquer the new method of killing by the Boko Haram sect.
CAN described killings in the North as ‘senseless and uncalled-for’.

A communiqué issued in Abuja at the end of the meeting of the 19 Northern States and Abuja Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the 17 Southern States CAN held in Abuja and jointly signed by Chairman, 17 Southern States CAN, Primate Nicholas Okoh and Chairman, 19 Northern States and Abuja CAN, Archbishop Peter Jatau (Emeritus), said:

The Federal Government may have commenced considering the criteria for compensating members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, particularly those who had suffered one form of injustice or the other.

Also there were indications on Sunday that the government might be willing to pay compensation to the sect’s members “who were seen to have been killed unjustly.”

Wande Coal To Launch His Own Record Label, Got Don Jazzy's Support

Wande Coal will in a couple of months unveil his own record label called BLACK DIAMOND.

The label is already registered and has 2 artistes on it with their singles to be released in 2013. The record label, which is being managed by Wande’s manager Abbey Nana, has been Wande’s dream since his days at Mo’Hits before moving on with Don Jazzy as an established artiste under Mavin Records.

Sources close to Wande disclosed to Music Gist that he was inspired to float his own label about 2 years ago when he started having problems with D’banj over the release of his 2nd album. He made efforts to leave Mo’Hits Records but was held back by Don Jazzy who promised to straighten his career for him no matter what.

That Wande is floating his own label might give people reasons to speculate a fight between Don Jazzy and Wande since he is signed onto his label Mavin but we can authoritatively tell you that they are on good terms and have an understanding about Wande’s move.
Don Jazzy ,we learnt ,has given Wande the grace and support to float his label and also promised to support him.

City People Magazine

Photos from Tolu Odukoya and Olumide Ijogun’s White Wedding

The white wedding of Tolu Odukoya and Olumide Ijogun held yesterday November 3rd 2012 at Tolu’s father’s Fountain of Life Church. Big Congrats to them.
See more photos below:

Photos from Tolu Odukoya and Olumide Ijoguns white wedding

Late General Mamman Shuwa

Boko Haram has denied that it operatives had a hand in the assassination of General Mamman Shuwa.

The civil war veteran and former member of the supreme Military Council was killed last week at his Maiduguri residence.

The latest news on General Shuwa’s death shocked many people. Speaking through Abu Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, Boko Haram said that they had no axe to grind with the retired general.The group also warned people from further spreading the rumour that they killed him.

Then who killed General Mamman Shuwa?

Meet The Next Movie Star 2012 Housemates

Sixteen housemates will be contesting in the 8th edition of the reality TV show, The Next Movie Star.
The show has been discovering and grooming acting talent for the African film industry since 2005. It brought notable stars such as Tonto Dikeh, Uti Nwachukwu and Lydia Forson to limelight.

The show will begin airing on November 3, 2012. It will be on the NTA Network, as well as on several other TV stations in Nigeria. Following are pictures and profiles of the 16 housemates, who will be participating in the show this year.

Check out the 16 contestants for this year..

Contestant #1 – Perpetua Andy

Perpetua Andy

Sex: Female
Date of Birth: November 19, 1991
State of Origin:

Gabby Douglas Named as one of Essence Magazine Woman of the Year

Months after winning Olympic Gold, Gabby Douglas is still making waves. She was recently named one of the Essence Magazine Woman of the Year 2012.

Gabrielle Douglas remains America’s Sweetheart as she’s still covering magazines. So it’s no surprise she’s been named as one of ESSENCE’s 2012 Women of The Year.

In the issue, Gabby reveals:

“In my dreams I didn’t think about how many shows I would be on and how many people would tweet me…it’s so cool!”

Stella Damascus Sent A Heart Warming Message On Supporting Flood Victims

Popular Nollywood Actress, Stella Damascus, has sent out an emotional and heart-felt message on supporting the flood victims. Read The message below:

I got a message from someone I work with who wanted me to go on television for an interview. When I asked what the interview was about, he said it was about my involvement with the Delta State Relief Campaign for the flood victims.

I turned the invitation down because I knew there was no way I would do it, hoping he will not get offended by my action. He asked why I did not want to do it as he had seen so many others doing things for the world to see their good works.

I commended all the people who were doing wonderful things for my people but immediately made him understand that all I have been doing, have been from my heart.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dopemu residents of Surulere, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, must be regretting their decision to employ a 20-year old boy, Obong Thompson as their houseboy.

Their reason is that Thompson defiled the six-year old daughter of the madam who employed him as a houseboy. It was revealed that he waited for her parents to go to work before rough-handling the little girl.

He grabbed her, pulled off her clothes and had carnal knowledge of her right in her parents house.

FILE - In this April 1983 file photograph, Milt Campbell, winner of the 1956 Olympic decathlon gold medal is seen. Campbell, who became the first black to win the Olympic decathlon in 1956 and went on to play professional football and become a motivational speaker, died Friday Nov. 2, 2012 after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 78. (AP Photo, File)

Late Milt Campbell

Milt Campbell, who became the first African-American to win the Olympic decathlon in 1956 and went on to play pro football and become a motivational speaker, has died, his family said. He was 78.

Linda Rusch, Campbell's partner of 13 years, said Campbell died Friday at his home in Gainesville, about 55 miles northwest of Atlanta. She said he had been fighting prostate cancer for a decade.

VIDEO:Nuhu Ribadu and Steve Orosanye Fights Each Other At The Presidential Villa Over Disagreement

GistNaija.com reported yesterday about the fight between Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of Petroleum Revenue Special task force, and his deputy, Mr Steve Orosanye over some disagreement in the reports they presented to President Jonathan at Presidential Villa. If You Missed it, then CLICK HERE.

The video of the fight is what you see above. Click the Video above to watch it.

Video by Channels TV.

Tanker, Filled With Petroleum Products, Explodes In Kano

A tanker filled with petroleum products exploded on top of a major bridge in Kano at the weekend, setting ablaze a number of motorcycles near the scene of the incident.

Several persons within the vicinity of the accident escaped death by the whiskers, as they barely jumped to safer locations before the tanker, which had lost control on the bridge, burst into a fiery flame.

These are the pictures of worshippers attending church service at Saint Rita's Catholic Church in Kaduna town. Remember was last week bombed by suicide bomber where atleast 8 people were killed and 120 members injured.

In a church service led by the injured parish, Reverend Fr Mike Boni Bazza, the worshippers said no amount of bombings will make them abandon their church and religion.

That is the spirit!! No amount of Boko Haram's attack will prevent us from going to church to serve our God.

Reverend Fr Mike Boni Bazza

See More Pictures after the cut...

Nigeria's actor, Joseph Benjamin has won the highly coveted prize of African Actor of the Year at the 17^th African Film Awards (aka Afro-Hollywood Awards) held last night, Saturday, November 3, at Stratford Town Hall, London.

Joseph Benjamin defeated fierce rivals like Van Vicker (Ghana) and Jafta Mamabolo (South Africa) to emerge victorious on the night.

The event which was colourful had in attendance British stars of African descent, producers and investors.

Congrats Joseph Benjamin. Naija is very proud of you.

Suspected Boko Haram Member Bombed Police Station In Yobe

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members around 4:30 am Sunday morning attacked with explosives a police station, a primary school and two cellphone towers in Fika, Yobe state, setting all the targets ablaze, the military and residents said.

Two policemen were believed to have died during the bombing of the police station.

According to Lazarus Eli, military spokesman in Yobe State, “We heard that there were some attacks in Fika by suspected Boko Haram terrorists. They attacked two telecommunication masts, a police station and a primary school.”

A resident said he had seen the bodies of two policemen being brought out of the razed police station, but Eli said he could not immediately confirm whether there were casualties.

Nigeria's Super Eagles player and West Bromvich Forward of EPL, Osaze Odemwingie, has finally decided not to play football for Nigeria again.

This was confirmed by Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi:

“I spoke to Osaze before the Liberia game and he told me that he had decided not to play for Nigeria anymore,” Keshi told supersport.com.

“Osaze told me that he has no problems with me as a person and that he took his decision even before I assumed position as national team coach.

“He said he was unhappy at how he was treated in the past in the national team. He explained that prior to Nigeria’s participation at the 2010 Fifa World Cup, he played in all the qualifying games but was dropped at the finals.

Emeli Sande'

The Music of Black Origin(MOBO) Awards 2012 was recently held at UK. Our own Nigeria's Dbanj made us proud. He won the "Best African Act". But Dbanj was not the one who won the show. Scottish Music Legend, Emeli Sandé, stole the show. She won 3 awards.

Scottish recording artist and songwriter Emeli Sandé turned out the biggest winner at the 2012 Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards which took place on Saturday, November 3, at the at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, UK.

Sandé walked away with three awards – ‘Best R&B/Soul’, ‘Best Female Act’ and ‘Best Album’ for her 2012 debut release ‘Our Version of Events’.

British rapper Plan B followed closely with two awards for ‘Best Male Act’ and ‘Best Hip Hop/Grime’ category.

Nigerian pop singer D’banj won the ‘Best African Act’, taking the reins from Wizkid who picked up the award last year. ROC Nation act Rita Ora was adjudged the ‘Best Newcomer’.

US R&B-HipHop girl band TLC were awarded Outstanding Contribution to Music, with singer, actress and TV show host Dionne Warwick receiving the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award.

Trey Songz, Conor Maynard, Emeli Sandé, Misha B, JLS, Stooshe, Labrinth and Wiley all blew the crowd away with electric performances.

Check out the full list of winner below…

The Akwa Ibom Chief Judge, Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua, in Uyo, on Saturday swore in, Mrs.Valerie Ebe, as the first female Deputy Governor of the state.

Mrs Ebe took over from the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Nsima Ekere, who resigned his appointment on October 31.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Ebe’s nomination was confirmed by the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly on November 2, based on the letter sent to the house by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has urged the governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, to stop the clampdown on commercial motorcyclists, known as Okada.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in Lagos, Mr. Taofeek Gani, said it was a mark of good leadership to reverse policies that adversely affected the lives of the people, just like President Goodluck Jonathan did with the removal of fuel subsidy and the proposed introduction of N5000 bill.

Gani accused the Action Congress of Nigeria-led administration of passing the traffic law to open up more avenues for the generation of revenue for the party to the detriment of Lagos residents.

Two suspects, Emeka Ibeh and Chinedu Onwurah, were recently apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 6.435kg of narcotics. Both suspects were arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).

NDLEA Abuja Airport Commander, Hamisu Lawan, confirming the arrests, said 32-year-old Ibeh was caught with 5.200kg of substances found to be methamphetamine hidden inside his luggage, while Onwurah, also of the same age, had ingested 1.235kg of substances that tested positive to cocaine.

The suspects, regretting their actions, told CRIME DIGEST how the search for greener pastures led them into drug trafficking. Ibeh reportedly left Nigeria in 2005 after his secondary education to Guinea Bissau and returned to Nigeria last January after a fruitless search for fortune.

Former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on Saturday escaped an attack by hoodlums who trailed his vehicle to Ilupeju-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

The driver of the former governor, Mr. Nathaniel Saliu, told journalists on the telephone on Saturday, that he was not that lucky as the hoodlums who trailed his vehicle from Ilupeju to Ire-Ekiti caught up with him and beat him mercilessly.

Saliu said the hoodlums who were in a Hilux van dragged him out of the car and asked him where Fayose was.

Indications emerged at the weekend that the Federal Government is not enthused and may, therefore, not accept the peace proposal presented by the dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect, Sunday Vanguard can reveal.

The single most important pointer to this can be traced to the experience of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan’s late boss, who had attempted to strike a deal with the then fledgling sect by releasing some of its members.

Upon the release, the sect members regrouped and re-launched its offensive while mobilizing and swelling its ranks.

A dependable intelligence source said, at the weekend, that “that experience is still very fresh in the consciousness of those who were privy to that

Prezzo and Goldie at Tolu Odukoya's Wedding

Tolu Odukoya, the daughter of late Bimbo Odukoya, just got married. We have shared this with you. But if you have missed it, read it HERE. It was a colourful wedding.

But One thing captures our attention . Big Brother Africa's Love Birds, Prezzo and Goldie, were together present at the wedding(Picture Above).
E be like say Prezzo and Goldie still get much love for each other.

Tonto Dikeh’s Confession – "Don Jazzy Disvirgined Me".

Nollywood actressTonto Dikeh is back in the news again. Tonto Dikeh shocked many fans and followers on twitter when she tweeted that she was disvirgined by Mavin boss, Don Jazzy.

‘I got disvirgined by @DONJAZZY” i think this a lil bit Too Much info.’

Don jazzy responded to her comment by making a joke of it, ‘lol me dat im still a V,’ (‘V’ meaning Virgin).

Read Their tweeter posts below

My sources gathered that Tonto and Don Jazzy once dated in the past. Ok Now! We dey wait.

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