"We have killed Shekau, Boko Haram leader" I JTF.

¦ How he was shot, wounded, escaped to border town Military Nigeria's battle against terrorism got a boost yesterday when the military Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Restore Order in Borno State said Boko Haram leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, may have died from gunshot wounds he received in a clash with its troops. The JTF said  intelligence report indicated Shekau died between July 25 and August 3 at a border community in Cameroon where it claimed his aides smuggled him for treatment  of injuries following gunshots from heavy bombardment on the sect leader and his aides by troops around their (Boko Haram) Sambisa Forest hideout . Intelligence report available to the Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order, revealed that Abubakar Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted Boko Haram terrorist leader, may have died. He died of gunshot wounds received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on June 30, 2013. Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide a border community in Cameroun for treatment from which he never recovered. It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between July 25 and August 3, 2013. He was reported to have masterminded the kidnap of the seven French citizens and that of the elder statesman Alhaji (Dr) Shettima Ali Monguno in addition to many murders of Islamic clerics in Northern Nigeria. He was also responsible for bombings of many places of worship and public buildings including Police and United Nations Headquarters in Abuja, JTFs spokesman, Lt-Colonel Sagir Musa, said in a statement issued yesterday in Maiduguri. Sagir maintained the recent video released by a purported leader was masterminded and dramatized by an impostor, insisting that intelligence reports showed Shekau was dead. The recent video released on August 13, 20013 by the purported sect leader was dramatized by an imposter to hoodwink the members to continue with terrorism and to deceive undiscerning minds,he stated. He called on the sect members lay down their arms and embrace the Federal Government offer for dialogue. A video purportedly released by one Shekau on August  13 titled: Sallah message, claimed responsibility for the series of attacks including the Gamboru Ngala, Bama, Malamfatori and Yobe. A man believed to be Abubakar Shekau also said the sect does not kill old, chiildren and women but said  that those who do not accept the teachings will be treated as enemies. The JTF had about a year ago announced a N50 million reward for anybody who has credible information concerning the whereabouts of the Boko Haram leader. It also last week announced the killing of Shekau’s deputy, one Momodu Bama (aka Abu Saad) and his father, Flatari , said to be the spiritual leader of the sect. The United States, too, had in March, put a $7 million bounty on his head. Residents in Maiduguri, the state capital, however, said they are doubtful of JTF claim, noting that they expected the task force to do a thorough job ascertaining  the identity of the sect leader that died. We would have wished the JTF did a thorough investigation and come out with the true picture of how the man (Shekau) died rather than suggesting that he may have died, residents said. In an earlier video, Shekau had said: “I enjoy killing anyone that God commands me to kill the way I enjoy killing chickens and rams, he said in a message released last year. The US Justice Department lists 1965, 1969 and 1975 as possible years of the birth of the Islamist leader. It is believed he was born in Yobe State, which borders Borno state, where Boko Haram was founded more than 10 years ago by Mohammed Yusuf, who died in 2009.  Shekau claimed command of Boko Haram in 2010. Since then, the group’s capacity to attack a range of targets appeared to expand. Boko Haram is made up of different factions and the extent to which Shekau coordinates and commands attacks has always been unclear. But most analysts think he deliberately sought to turn the group in a more violent direction following Yusuf’s death. Shekau studied theology under local clerics in the Mafoni area of Maiduguri and enrolled in a government-run school for Islamic studies. He was said to have met Yusuf through Mamman Nur, thought to be the group’s third-in-command at the time of Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising in Maiduguri.

Strike Continues; as FG, ASUU meeting on monday ended in a deadlock

The outcome of ASUU and Federal Government (FG) Meeting held on Monday 19th August, 2013 is a sign that the Strike may last longer than expected. We can tell you now that ASUU strike continues as FG, lecturers meeting deadlocked again. Just when we thought we are reaching the end of the strike as President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly approves N40bn on the contrary, Nigerian universities might just still stay a little longer at home. Read the full details of went down at the meeting below: No agreement was reached at the meeting. The Monday (19/08/2013) meeting between striking university lecturers and the federal government ended without a resolution of the crisis. The meeting, which held at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was attended by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Labour, Emeka Nwogwu; Minister of Education, Rukayyatu Rufai; and the Benue State Governor and head of the government’s delegation, Gabriel Suswam. The lecturers’ union, ASUU, was led by the President of the union, Nasiru Fagge. The meeting lasted for over four hours (from 3:p.m. to about 7:15p.m). Recall that the Finance Minister already said FG has no money to meet ASUU’s demands ahead of the Monday, 19th August meeting. It is now very clear that ASUU is determined to get this issue resolved once and for all now. They have stood their ground after several meetings with FG.

End of Asuu Strike in Sight:: As Jonathan approves N400bn lifeline –SSANU

The end to the present strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be in sight as President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N400 billion for the infrastructural development of Nigerian universities. The document to this effect is expected to be made available today at the meeting of the presidential committee on implementation of the NEEDS assessment in the universities with the leaders of the four university-based unions – the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, made the revelation while addressing his union members at the SSANU National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the weekend at the University of Abuja. Ugwoke, briefing the SSANU members on the activities of the NEEDS assesment implementation committee, led by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam. He noted that the fund was different from the N100 billion Governor Suswam had raised from donor agencies and big companies to tackle the problems of Nigerian universities in 2013. The labour leader said: “Let me give you a tip on what the NEEDS assessment committee is doing. The president has approved that within the next four years; N400 billion would be expended in infrastructural development of Nigerian universities, to transform the universities to international standard. “N100 billion has already been raised by Suswam committee out of which 61 universities have been pencilled down, as contained in the NEEDS assessement committee. The N100 billion is expected to address needs of the universities in the areas which include re-furbishing and renovation of lecture theatres and lecture halls, re-furbishing and renovation of laboratories/libraries and the renovation of hostels. “The second category is building of new hostels of international standard, self-contained rooms, the latest model in the world. That is the standard to be built in every university, and also the state-of-the-art laboratories as well as classrooms, lecture theatres and the halls.” Ugwoke pointed out that the money had been shared and out of the N100 billion, N96 billion had been sent to universities. He added: “The committee is meeting again on Monday, and by Monday (today), the document will be out. This time around, it is not only by giving university money, but it will be monitored to ensure that the money is used to transform the universities, to bail universities out of the present situation and developed to an international recognized university standard.” Credit: sun news

Chris Brown Ordered To Complete 1,000 More Hours Of Community Services

Chris Brown** still has some work to do. The 24-year-old singer was sentenced to complete 1,000 more hours of community service on Friday, Aug. 16. The Los Angeles District Attorney accused the "Don't Wake Me Up" singer of fudging with his community service hour records, TMZ reports. In return, the L.A. County D.A. will dismiss their request to revoke the entertainer's probation stemming from his hit-and-run accident in May. Brown had previously turned himself in for the incident to a jail in Van Nuys, Calif. on Aug. 5. In court, the "Turn Up the singer" wore a white shirt and black suit, and was joined by his mother Joyce Hawkins. Brown will have to start from scratch, with his next 1,000 hours of community service supervised by L.A. County officials, compared to when he completed his hours in Virginia. The performer has a choice on what type of work he will be doing, and has 48 hours to contact the probation department. Credit: usmagazine.com

Will Smith’s Unlikely Bromance

Will Smith’s Unlikely BromanceJustin Bieber and Will Smith are so close, they're practically family. On Wednesday, the "Beauty and a Beat" singer shared a pic on Instagram of the unlikely pair captioning it, "Me and uncle Will." Judging from the photo, Smith is equally as fond of the 19-year-old. The 44-year-old Hollywood vet has his arm around Bieber's shoulder and is flashing a peace sign at the camera. Back in April, Will defended Justin against critics who scrutinize his every move, telling U.K.'s Capital FM, "There are things that are just simple and normal for a 19-year-old to do. When I was 19 there was no Twitter, the things that I was doing — I was able to have privacy because everybody's phone didn't have a camera on it." The Biebs was quick to acknowledge Smith coming to his defense, tweeting, "Will Smith is the Man." But this isn't the first time the young megastar has paid tribute to the "After Earth" star.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that"everything has been resolved" regarding the future of Luis Suarez. Arsenal has pursued the Uruguayan for much of the summer but has not upped its bid from its most recent, which was said to bemore than £40m, and the Reds boss was adamant on Friday that the saga would not"sabotage" his club's season. The forward was in attendance as Liverpool openedthe Premier League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Stoke City, and Rodgersseemed content that there would be no more question of an exit. "The only thing I will say about Luis is that Iam very satisfied how everything has been resolved and now we can moveon," Rodgers told reporters. "He is a part of this team and thisclub. The supporters are a class act here, and it is the classic Liverpool wayto support the players and the manager." Suarez is unavailable for the next five games as hecontinues to serve a 10-match ban incurred last season for biting Chelsea'sBranislav Ivanovic.

Ini Edo bounced!

Last Sunday, August 11, was one that may not have ended on a happy note for Nollywood diva, Ini Edo. It was a day when telecommunication giant, Globacom, launched its Lagos edition of the Glo Slide and Bounce concert and all the ambassadors of the brand were expected to attend and perform at the event. Among these were chart-bursting artistes in Nigeria: Tuface, Naeto C, Psquare, Burma Boy, Waje, Omawunmi as well as top Nollywood actors. Honouring the call in her capacity as an ambassador of the brand, Ini Edo arrived promptly, a little earlier than the scheduled time of 6pm and made her way to the back entrance of the Oriental Hotel, Lekki which led to the main hall. However, she was prevented entry by overzealous bouncers who advised her to wait till 6.pm. The actress complied and hung around the car park, but it was not until 9.pm that a visibly offended Ini Edo was spotted being led into the hall by the duo of Jumobi Mofe-Damijo and Desmond Elliot. This untoward treatment continued when the compere, Okey Bakassi, acknowledged the presence of all the Glo ambassadors present, calling out their names one after the other, but leaving out Ini Edo's name! This he did twice in a row and this must obviously have irked the actress. When Bakassi remembered to acknowledge her presence during his third announcement, Ini Edo had gone.

ASUU strike: N' Assembly wants NNPC, CBN, TETFUND intervention

The National Assembly is reaching out to three key agencies of the Federal Government in efforts to  end the strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The agencies are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. Findings by The PUNCH on Sunday showed that the Senate and House Committees on Education initiated the joint move "as an urgent intervention strategy to save university education from crumbling." The Minister of Finance,  Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had stated  last Wednesday  that meeting ASUU's demands would cost the government N92bn. She claimed that the government could not afford the money due to an already bloated recurrent bill. However, ASUU, replied her, saying that its demands would cost government  N87bn and not the N92bn. Our correspondent gathered that the National Assembly mediated in the more than two-month old strike by setting up a contact committee, which met with ASUU leaders and  government officials. The committee reportedly reviewed ASUU's demands and "assessed the financial implications before looking into possible funding options outside the regular budget provided by the Federal Government." A source privy to the details of the committee's work, informed The PUNCH that it "penciled down the NNPC, CBN and TETFUND, among other agencies of government that can assist in providing support funds to resolve the problem." It was gathered that the agencies had indicated interest in contributing funds to rescue university education, though it was unclear as of Sunday how much each of the agencies was ready to contribute. The Chairman, House Committee on Education, Mr. Aminu Suleiman, confirmed the intervention efforts of the legislature to The PUNCH on Sunday. Suleiman said it was the contact committee that would prepare a report on what each agency would contribute. He  clarified  that TETFUND already had a constitutional duty to fund tertiary education, while the other agencies had legal backing in their enabling laws to support education one way or another. The committee chairman   said, "The way we are looking at this intervention is that  these agencies will tell the committee what they will be able to contribute. "Whatever is left as the balance will have to be shouldered by the Federal Government. No two ways about this." The lawmaker also revealed that the contact committee would meet on Tuesday (tomorrow) and take a final decision on the amount the agencies could contribute. Asked whether the ongoing efforts  could  make ASUU to suspend the strike, Suleiman  said the union's    leadership had proposed a meeting for Monday (today). He added, "We have been in touch with ASUU and  they have  assured us that they would meet on Monday (today) to see whether they can convince their members to suspend the strike. "ASUU is a democratic body; it has to consult before taking any decision. But, the union officials have assured us that they would meet   ahead of our  (committee) talks  on Tuesday (tomorrow)." While commenting on  the  strike during a meeting with commissioners of finance and accountant-generals of the states,  Okonjo-Iweala had said that the university lecturers were asking for N92bn of extra salaries and allowances. She claimed that the government was still grappling with the effect of the 2010 salary increase and could not afford to carry the additional demands by the lecturers.  But, in faulting the minister's figure, the union said it only asked for N87bn as part of the yet to be implemented agreement it signed with the government in 2009. The University of Ibadan  branch Chairman of the union, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, who reacted to Okonjo-Iweala's figure, argued  that the N87bn was a compromise by ASUU, which had initially asked for  N127bn. Ajiboye explained that the N87bn was for computed allowances of lecturers for three and a half years. He  had stated,  "I want Nigerians to ask the minister where she got her figure of N92bn from. There was never a time that ASUU made a demand that is up to N92bn. I think the N92bn is just the imagination of the minister. "But, that is not to say that this government did not enter into an agreement with us. "This is a government that signed an agreement with us on January 24, 2012 to the effect that they would inject N100bn as funding into the universities in the first one  month and that before the end of 2012, they would inject another N300bn.''

Asuu Slams Okonjo Iweala; We demanded N87b, not N92b.

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday faulted the statement credited to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, that the union demanded for N92bn, describing the claim  as false. ASUU said it never demanded such amount as earned allowances in the 2009 agreement it reached with the Federal Government. Okonjo-Iweala had on Wednesday in Minna, said  the Federal Government couldn’t meet the N92bn allowances as demanded by ASUU. The univerisity lecturers, in a statement by the University of Ibadan  branch chairman, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, described the amount mentioned by the minister as “a the imagination of the minister.” Ajiboye explained that the earned allowances, the union and the governemnt calculated in the 2009 agreement, amounted to N87b, which covered allowances for three and half years for the lecturers in the nation’s universities. He said, the N87bn was a compromise made by ASUU to scale down from N127bn. He added that the N87bn was computed based on 15 per cent of the yearly recurrent expenditures of some nation’s universities. The statement stated, “I want Nigerians to ask the minister where she got her figure of N92bn from. There was never a time that ASUU made a demand that is up to N92bn. I think the N92bn is just the imagination of the minister.                         “But that is not to say that this government did not enter into an agreement with us. This is a government that signed an agreement with us on January 24, 2012 to the effect that they would inject N100bn as funding into the universities in the first one  month and that before the end of 2012, they would inject another N300bn.’’

For Beverley, Scandal is like wine

2013-08-14  As the Big Brother Africa show draws to an end, the chances of one of Nigeria's representatives, Beverly Osu, seem to be getting brighter despite her baggage of controversies, JAYNE AUGOYE writes If controversies are enough to make a star out of anyone, it is then safe to say that Beverly Osu, one of Nigeria's representatives at the ongoing Big Brother Africa competition, is on the way to the top. Within a short period of time, 21-year-old Beverly (as she is called in the house), who is a video and lingerie model, stands out of the pack as a result of her blunt, though arguably licentious, nature. The Babcock University model who has featured in music videos of the likes of the late Goldie, Ice Prince, Djinee and 2shotz - who she once reportedly dated – is famous as the contestant with confessions weird enough to leave a listener in shock. Upon her arrival in the Big Brother House, the Babcock University undergraduate made her presence felt by shocking her fellow housemates with the tales of how she was expelled from the convent. Unknown to them, that was just the tip of the iceberg, as she has since gone ahead to reveal several other sensitive information about herself. Such include the fact that she once terminated a four-month old pregnancy, extorted money from men along with her friends and that her mother was allegedly once deported from the U.S. because of drugs. Just when many were still trying to come to terms with the startling revelations, Beverly, who claims she is currently single, threw caution to the wind by getting under the sheets with her South African love interest, Angelo. That single action, carried out under the cover of darkness but viewed by millions of viewers across Africa and beyond, was like the proverbial last straw that many felt would break the camel's back. Yet,  all the criticisms have not been enough to send Beverly, who started modelling at age 15, packing. The controversies and scandals aside, Beverly, who is the last and only daughter of her parents - she has two older brothers – can best be described as a lucky child for many reasons. Her rating has continued to soar in spite of the many controversies she has courted. On her foray into modelling, she says it was by a stroke of luck. "I brought models for Djinee's Over-Killing video shoot and was helping Bolaji, the stylist, to get set and I was forced to do it. I was shy to my bone marrows but then again, I thank God for the forceful opportunity." Also, amongst the many 'qualified' Nigerian hopeful that were auditioned for a spot in the Big Brother House, the Delta State native was selected alongside fellow model, Melvin. While  Channel O VJ, Denrele Edun, is being rumoured as the person who encouraged her to enter for the competition, the eccentric TV personality has kept mum,  what with the many scandals his protégé, who describes herself as a B.A.D girl (beautiful and different),  has courted. Despite all the criticisms Beverly has been receiving from Nigerians following her actions, she appears to have the blessings of her mother. This is if comments by her best friend, Charity Owoh, in a recent interview, is anything to go by. According to Owoh, her friend's parents are looking forward to her return to Nigeria.   She says, "Bev and her mum are best friends. Her mum just called me now, she's our best friend. She's like the third person in our circle because whatever we do we tell her. If you watch the show, you will see that there are three people she calls every time, Charity, Denrele, and Mummy Suzy.  "Their relationship is very tight. Before Bev dates anybody, she tells her mom. (About Bev and Angelo's relationship/sex) She knows. She has seen everything. "There's the good and bad. Of course,  she's a mother;  so, she would feel the way mothers would feel but she's very proud of her daughter. She is already redecorating her room, so she would welcome her back like any mother would." If she does not get evicted this weekend, Beverly may be on the verge of making history as the first Nigerian Big Brother contestant to make it to the finals amidst a legion of scandals and controversies. Punch News.

INEC UNCOVERS OVER 93,000 GHOST VOTERS IN ANAMBRA STATE

The INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega speaking in an interactive session with media professionals and civil society organisation on voters register optimisation in Abuja, said the INEC had uncovered 93000 fake voters in Anambra state, ahead of the governorship poll in November 16 in the state.
According to Prof. Mega, the figures represents 5.6% of the voting population in anambra.
The offenders would face prosecution, he said, as the inec is working with the NBA to bring the culprites to book.
Jega affirmed that the inec was putting measures in place to curtail the lapses of the 2011 general elections.the case of multiple registration etc.
He rightly stated, "we have prosecuted over 200 people involved in electoral malpractices, it is an enormous work. We have a small legal unit. We are getting to a point where we will collaborate with NBA so that more people will be prosecuted".