NEW VIDEO - LEAD ME ON - CYNTHIA MORGAN (@CynthiaMorgan1)

LEAD ME ON

Cynthia Morgan presents visuals of her hit track "LEAD ME ON".... She  is definitely going places.

CLICKHERE TO WATCH VIDEO.

CUTTING OFF BOKO HARAM'S FOREIGN INFLUENCE.

The operations and increasing sophistication of the attacks by Boko Haram and its affiliate, Ansaru, bear the strong imprint of foreign connection and support. While the sect may have started its murderous exploits with local backing and funding, its operations have since gained international currency.

The latest suggestion of Boko Haram’s strong affiliation to international terror groups is fuelled by the recent seizure of a cache of arms shipped into Nigeria through the Turkish Airlines, a company 49 per cent owned by Turkey’s government. “I do not know whether these (weapons) will kill Muslims or Christians. I feel sinful,” Mehmet Karatas, an airline executive who allegedly confessed his guilt over the shipment, reportedly told Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan.

Although officials of the Nigerian Navy said they took delivery of some arms flown by Turkish Airlines into Lagos, these arms movements are weighty issues at a time of virtual war in the North-East. The issue should not to be taken lightly as Boko Haram attacks escalate in spite of a state of emergency declared since last May.

BOWEN UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION DATES FOR RIOTING STUDENTS.

The management of the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, has set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the cause of the March 19 and 20 protest by the students of the university.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mathews Ojo, said this at a press conference on Wednesday evening.

He said the panel, which would include two representatives of the students, was headed by the Dean of Science, Prof. Samuel Ilori.

He added that the university also planned to hold a stakeholders and parents’ meeting at Ibadan, Lagos and Osogbo from March 28 to March 31.

PETER OBI LEAVES A WHOOPING N75B SAVINGS FOR THE NEW ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT.

After eight glorious years in the saddle as governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi took a bow on Monday, March 17, 2014, and handed the baton to Chief Willie Obiano at a colourful ceremony in Awka, the state capital. In spite of his tortuous experience in office, Obi’s tenure in the state is historical as he bequeaths Anambra State an enduring legacy that will become the reference point of governance in Nigeria. 

The ambience and conviviality of the handover event was unprecedented in Anambra State’s history. Indeed, the event lived up to Mr. Obi’s mantra of finishing strong. Anambrans were full of eulogy for a man who is the epitome of true leadership and good governance. Little wonder he left a princely N75 billion in cash and assets. 

This feat sounds incredible in a country where profligacy in the nation’s corridors of power is a pop culture, and where it is difficult to draw the border line between public wealth and personal estate. The N75 billion included N25 billion local investment portfolio; bank balances of N11.5 billion as at March 14, 2014; Federal Government’s approved refund of N10 billion; and US$155 million (N26 billion) in foreign currency investment.

#IBADANFORESTOFHORROR - WHY THE RUSH TO CRUSH THE EVIDENCE?????

Befuddlement douses the recent police raid of Soka area of Oyo State on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where, by police’s account a den of kidnappers was uncovered. The graphic images of the discoveries are causes for concern.

Whose decaying body parts littered the place? Can the 20 decomposing bodies be identified? Who are the 23 people – 18 men and five women – found in the place? The poor state of their health and the fact that their legs were manacled suggests that they could have been held captive.

Neighbours have testified of possible unwholesome activities in the area, including child trafficking, sale of human parts, and newly born babies. They said their complaints to the police were untreated.

#BLACKREALVOLUTION SET FOR LAUNCH TODAY.

The suspense and anticipation surrounding the #BlackREALvolution will be laid to rest on Friday, March 28, when the movement will be formally launched. Popular musicians, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Nigeria’s king of afro-beat and 2Face Idibia, afro hip-hop exponent, have shown their support for the Movement.

There has been an upsurge in support of the #BlackREALvolution from other celebrities. Music acts such as Sound Sultan and Chuddy K, comedians Bovi and Gordons and superstar disc jockey, DJ Xclusive, have also thrown their weight behind the Movement.

Popular Nigerian musician, Sound Sultan, described the birth of the Movement as timely. He said: “I support peace and unity; I support any cause that fights against injustice and oppression. I advocate creativity, honesty and hard-work among the Nigerian youths. I support making Nigeria a better place. I will be at the launch of this Movement.”

I AM SORRY - MINISTER OF INTERIOR APOLOGIZES 2 WEEKS AFTER NIS RECRUITMENT TRAGEDY.

Mr. Abba Moro, Minister of interior affairs, yesterday claimed responsibility but yet to resign  over the tragic deaths of about 16 applicants, including four pregnant women, who died in the recent recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

The Minister said he was still pained and saddened by the circumstances surrounding the loss of lives in the recruitment exercise during the public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Interior.

But the Comptroller General of Immigration, CGI, David Paradang said that the service which by law was supposed to handle recruitment exercise was completely ignored.

#UPDATE ON #IBADANFORESTOFHORROR - EIGHT ARESTED AS AIG VISITS SITE.

The Oyo State Police Command said on Thursday that eight people had been arrested in connection with the discovery of a horror forest in  the Soka area of Ibadan.

The command’s Public Relation Officer, Olabisi Ilobanafor, who said this during the visit of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Femi Omolaja, to the site, said names of the arrested individuals would not be made public yet.

She said, “We are working hard on the case and very soon, we shall bring perpetrators of the deadly and inhuman act to book.

OUSTED CBN GOVERNOR "SANUSI LAMIDO" SHUNS FRC PANEL INVITATION.

The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria on Thursday alleged that the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of the suspended governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, spent N500bn as intervention fund in various sectors without obtaining the approval of its Board or the Federal Executive Council.

It also alleged at a sitting in Lagos in which the suspended governor was scheduled to appear that the bank under his watch spent N10bn to renovate five palaces of traditional rulers in the country under its education intervention projects.

Sanusi, however, refused to appear before the panel, which is currently investigating the activities of the CBN under his watch.

SPAIN KNOCKS NIGERIA OUT OF FIFA U-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP WITH A 3 - 0 THRASHING.

The Flamingoes have been knocked out of the ongoing Fifa U-17 Women's World Cup currently taking place at Costa Rica.

Spain will face Italy for a berth in the semi-final after the Europeans saw off Nigeria with a dominant 3-0 win with Patri Guijarron nabbing a double.

The result ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria at the tournament dating back to 2012, and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012.

The contest was played at a good tempo throughout and was end to end in the first half, before the Spaniards took the game by the scruff of the neck with two second half goals.

DERANGED POLICEMAN KILLS WIFE AND SIX OTHERS INCLUDING FIVE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY IN ABEOKUTA.

The policeman that killed his wife and five members of a family, including an auto-cyclist, in Abeokuta today, has been described as mentally deranged.

Information gathered according to "PM News" was that the killer cop, identified as Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, ran amok early this morning while still in the office and had to hurriedly leave for his house and carry out the killings.

The policeman early today at Akingbala area of Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State shot dead his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, a commercial motorcycle rider,identified as Kunle and five members of a family.

CHIMAMANDA'S "HALF OF A YELLOW SUN" SET FOR RELEASE IN NAIJA CINEMAS.

Hurray!!! More Nigerians will finally get the chance to watch the much talked about movie "Half of a Yellow Sun" based on Chimamanda's award winning novel. The movie will be available in cinemas sometimes in April.

Watch trailer HERE and BELOW.

NEW NUMBER PLATES ARE ILLEGAL.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared that the new number plates introduced by the Federal Road Safety Commission are unconstitutional and as such cannot be imposed on vehicle owners.

In a judgment delivered by Justice James Tsoho on Wednesday, the court held that the redesigning of the old number plates was not backed by any law.

Tsoho, who was delivering the judgment in a suit by a lawyer, Emmanuel Ofoegbu, against the FRSC, therefore, held that the FRSC had no power to impose the redesigned number plates on vehicle owners, who had not acquired them.

#DIEZIANIPRIVATEJETSCANDAL - REPS UNCOVER 3RD AIRCRAFT.

There were indications on Wednesday  that members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts had come under intense pressure to tread softly on their ongoing investigation into  the   alleged  financial excesses of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

It was   also learnt in Abuja that Alison-Madueke   chartered a third jet for her use, besides the two already in the records of the committee.

The Solomon Olamilekan-led committee is  investigating the expenditure of  N10bn on a Challenger 850 chartered and maintained for  the minister’s use.

UPDATE ON #IBADANFORESTOFHORROR.

A man, identified as Sulaiman Tijani, was arrested on Wednesday at Soka forest where scores of decomposing bodies and body parts were discovered on Saturday.

Another man who appeared to be mentally ill was almost lynched by angry youths who descended on him at a point close to the site.

The police were, however, able to rescue him and whisk him away. The youths said he was pretending to be insane and could be one of the kidnappers who operated in the forest.

TEN ISSUES THAT MAY MAR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

The national conference started last Monday and was eventful on its first day. However, there are 10 issues that may mar the conference.

1. Indigeneship/citizenship

The argument about whether or not the clauses that promote indigeneship in the 1999 Constitution should be expunged will likely be contentious at the conference.

Some have argued that there is the need to replace indigeneship with citizenship to engender unity and give Nigerians a sense of belonging.

Proponents of this idea believe making the adjustment will solve the indigene/settler crisis in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

MORE ON THE "IBADAN FOREST OF HORROR"

Some of the victims rescued from kidnappers’ den at the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, are gradually regaining fitness and mental ability. Read previous report HERE.

Although they have yet to give the accounts of activities in the forest, they  could remember events leading to their departure from their normal life.

One of them, Nafiu Shittu, told our correspondent at the Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, that he was a native pile medicine seller with customers in the business districts of Gate and Iwo Road.

Speaking in an almost inaudible whisper and intermittently pausing for breath, he explained that he was at work when he was kidnapped and taken to the forest.

RUSSIA HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM G-8.... PUTIN DOESN'T CARE THOUGH.

U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders have decided to end Russia’s role in the group of leading industrialized nations, the White House said Monday.

The move to suspend Russia’s membership in the G8 is the latest direct response from major countries allied against Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

“International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state’s territory through coercion or force,” the statement said. “To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine’s constitution.

“We also strongly condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations.”

LATE REEVA WAS SCARED OF ATTACK BY OSCAR PISTORIOUS, WHATSAPP MESSAGES SHARED IN COURT REVEALS.

Reeva Steenkamp told Oscar Pistorius she was “scared” of his jealous tantrums just weeks before he shot her dead, a court heard today.

In a series of WhatsApp messages read to the court, the athlete’s former girlfriend complained about his behaviour and said: “I can’t be attacked by outsiders for dating you AND be attacked by you – the one person I deserve protection from.”

The Olympic and Paralympic athlete is on trial for the murder of 29-year-old model and law graduate Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder, saying he was deeply in love with Steenkamp, whom he had been dating for a few months, and that he mistook for an intruder hiding in a toilet at his luxury Pretoria home.

Read the WhatsApp messages shown in court:

THE IMMIGRATION TRAGEDY & JONATHAN'S HOLLOW RESPONSE.

Those who might have expected a far-reaching response from the government to the shabby conduct of the recent ill-fated Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment interview that claimed 23 lives, including that of four pregnant women, cannot but be deeply disappointed at the half measures announced last week. However, in a country where people get away with all manner of heinous crimes – from mass murder to electoral fraud and treasury looting – it is only reasonable not to place much hope and expectations on government actions and decisions.

After the Federal Executive Council meeting last week, all the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, had to say about the incident was that three members of each family of the unfortunate victims would be rewarded with a job at the NIS. He also announced employment for each of the numerous others that were injured in the stampedes resulting from overcrowding at the interview venues. Surprisingly, he was silent on the brains behind the sham interview, which is where his briefing should have started.

Although Nigerians have become so used to losing innocent lives in their scores on a daily basis, there is no justification for the government to pretend as if it is normal for 23 lives to be gratuitously wasted. And having done that, those responsible, namely the Interior Minister, Abba Moro, and the Comptroller-General of NIS, David Parradang, are left with a pat on the back and the usual admonition to “go and sin no more.” This is wrong.