Photos: Ambode arrest traffic offenders in Lagos
Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode today ordered the arrest of some traffic offenders in the Ijora area of the state. He was driving in his convoy when he came in contact with some of the offenders. More photos after the cut...
Woman loses her mother & fiancé in a car crash 3 hours after giving birth
Crystal Matrau-Belt gave birth to son Jeremiah on Saturday, December 13, following an emergency C-section at Bronson Medical Hospital in Kalamazoo. She called her fiancé, Emil Skokan III, 34, and told him to head to the hospital. Her mother Peggy Nichols, 53, was traveling to Matrau-Belt's house at the time, so she and Skokan decided to ride to the hospital together.
"I got a text from (Emil), 'Do you want me to bring up anything?' and just said I'll meet you up there and that he loved me," she said in an interview with Karamazoo Gazette on Monday.
Three hours after she had her son, Crystal Matrau-Belt still hadn't seen her fiancé or her mother in the sea of other family members who had come to meet the new baby.
"I asked my stepdad, 'Do you know where Emil is?'" Matrau-Belt recalled. "My dad said, 'Honey, that's what we need to talk to you about.' I just all of a sudden had a sinking feeling something was wrong. I just didn't know that it was my fiancé and my mom."
Matrau-Belt's fiancé, Skokan had been driving himself and Matrau-Belt's mother, to the hospital for the birth of his son just before 4 p.m. Saturday, when he lost control on a stretch of South 26th Street near Cork Street in Comstock Township. The car hit a tree, killing Skokan and Nichols.
"Losing two of the most important people in my life at the same time as bringing a child into the world, it's like happy and the most heartbreaking thing," Matrau-Belt said. "I waited so long to be able to have a child, and to have a child but then have two things ripped out of my life, it's just really hard to deal with and even process."
Jeremiah came into the world a bit unexpectedly. Matrau-Belt, 24, had gone to her doctor for a checkup Friday afternoon, but because of her high blood pressure and because she was already 39 weeks along, her doctor decided it was time to send her to the labor and delivery unit to be induced.
Matrau-Belt was still in labor Saturday and got an epidural. Not long after, she had a bit of a scare when her blood pressure dropped and she blacked out. She was stabilized, but her labor wasn't progressing and she didn't want to put the baby at any more stress, so she opted for a C-section.
Shortly after she had the scare, she contacted her fiancé and told him to head to the hospital. Peggy Nichols happened to be on the way to Matrau-Belt's house and then planned to head to the hospital, so she and Skokan rode together.
"I got a text from (Emil), 'Do you want me to bring up anything?' and just said I'll meet you up there and that he loved me," Crystal said.
That was the last time she heard from her fiancé.
Once she decided to go for the C-section she again tried to contact Skokan, but couldn't reach him. That in and of itself wasn't unsusual, but Matrau-Belt said she felt something was amiss.
"They had brought my stepdad out of the room, but no one told me anything," Matrau-Belt said. "I couldn't get a hold of them. Instead of stressing me out, they just really wanted me to go and get the C-section done."
Matrau-Belt's stepmother stayed with her during the delivery. While she was in recovery, other family members came to visit. Once she was out of recovery, her aunt took Jeremiah out of the room and Matrau-Belt questioned where her fiancé and mother were.
Matrau-Belt and Skokan had spent her whole pregnancy disagreeing on the name for their son. On Friday, when it was evident the baby was coming sooner rather than later, she suggested Jeremiah.
"We actually for the first time decided on a name together," Matrau-Belt said, pausing to wipe away tears.
Matrau-Belt and Skokan decided Jeremiah's middle name would be James, after her stepfather's middle name.
Matrau-Belt, a Kalamazoo native, and Skokan, a Parchment native, had plans for their future together. They wanted to move out of their home in Pavilion Estates.
"He had told me a few months back that he wanted to get married, but he wanted to make sure I was ready, so we could all have the same last name," Matrau-Belt said. She stopped, sobbing.
"He wanted to step up and make sure he was a good father to him," Matrau-Belt said.
Matrau-Belt described her fiance as "caring, hard-working, really smart." He would have celebrated his 35th birthday Sunday. He loved tinkering with his fish tank and their 20-plus fish. Along with Jeremiah, Skokan is survived by two other sons, Emil Skokan IV and Kayden Skokan, according to his obituary.
Source: Kalamazoo Gazette
N8billion has been refunded to government treasury - Dino Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye today revealed that N8 billion has so far been returned to the government treasury by those who stole from it. Dino said this while speaking as a guest on Channels TV today December 16th.
“As I speak to you, about eight billion Naira has been refunded back to the treasury of government and I know more monies will be refunded”he said
Obama appoints 34yr old Nigerian, Adewale Adeyemo as his new deputy adviser for International Economic affairs
United States President, Barack Obama has appointed a Nigerian national Adewale Adeyemo, to succeed Caroline Atkinson as his deputy national security adviser for international economic affair, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Adewale "Wally" Adeyemo,34, joined the White House's National Economic Council as deputy director this fall from the Treasury, where he served most recently as the deputy chief of staff to Secretary Jacob Lew.
Ms. Atkinson has served in her current post since June 2013, a position that includes coordinating U.S. participation in the annual summits of the Group of 20 and Group of Seven countries. Ms. Atkinson also played key roles in the recently concluded climate negotiations in Paris.
Mr. Adeyemo was the Treasury’s lead negotiator on the currency agreement that was part of the Pacific trade deal. He also worked on Treasury’s response to crises in Ukraine and Greece and in 2010 was one of the first officials charged with standing up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In a statement, Mr. Obama thanked Ms. Atkinson for her service and said he was grateful that Mr. Adeyemo would carry on her work. Mr. Adeyemo had been nominated by Mr. Obama to serve as assistant Treasury secretary for international markets and development, but a White House official said Mr. Adeyemo had asked the president to withdraw the nomination given his new role.
The statement from Obama reads:
"For the past four years, I have relied on Caroline Atkinson, most recently as my Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics, as we’ve navigated pressing challenges to the global economy.
"As my representative at the G-7 and G-20, she played a key role in coordinating our response to international financial crises, worked with our allies to devise and implement targeted economic sanctions to advance our national security goals, played a vital role in our economic engagements with China, and helped to achieve breakthrough agreements on climate that will strengthen our economy and our security.
"I’ve relied on, and benefited from, Caroline’s knowledge and judgment and, as she concludes her tenure on my national security team, I am deeply appreciative of her service.
"I am grateful that Caroline’s work will be carried on by Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, who has served in my administration since 2009. At the Treasury Department, he was part of the team that helped coordinate our response to the global recession, laying the foundation for renewed growth at home and abroad.
“He helped establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he’s been our point person on a range of international economic issues, including negotiations on strong currency agreements around the Trans Pacific Partnership. I will be calling on Wally’s intellect, judgment and dedication as we sustain America’s global economic leadership, which reinforces our national security, and as we work with allies and partners around the world to create jobs and opportunity for all our people."
On his part, Mr. Lew said that Mr. Adeyemo had "developed a network of international relationships in economic offices around the world to promote U.S. interests effectively."
Former Treasury Secretary Tim Geihnersaid Mr. Adeyemo, who joined the administration in 2009, was a “natural diplomat with a great feel for policy."
The position has served as a springboard to even higher profile international finance posts.Mochael Froman, who is currently the U.S. trade representative, held the post under both Mr. Obama and President Bill Clinton. Federal Reservegovernor Lael Brainard , who previously served as a senior Treasury official in the Obama administration, held the post in the Clinton administration.
Dokpesi out of prison after he meets bail condition
Embattled former Chairman of Daar Communication, Raymond Dokpesi has met his N200 million bail condition and has been released from Kuje prison. He is pictured at a Christmas Carol service in Abuja this evening.
Photo of wounded Sheikh El-Zakzaky being pushed in a wheel barrow
Idri Ahmed shares this photo of a bloodied Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky allegedly being wheeled about in a wheel-barrow by soldiers on the day of the Zaria incidence.
TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER
Its a year when the cold hands of death took you away. Death where is your sting? You who take a man, you are that which men fear, but you are inevitable. When the cold hands of death snatched you Otunba Gbenga Adesanya early morning of December 17th 2014 at the hospital, it was like the fall of an Iroko tree. At First there was confusion, then denial, reflection and finally acceptance.
I accepted when I remembered what a psalmist said “what man is he that liveth and shall not see death?” (Psalm 89 vs 48)
Less i forget to make you know , It is easy to think of others having to keep this appointment with death, but difficult for us to remember that we too must keep same appointment. Death is appointed for all and the question of its occurrence is merely a matter of time.
Adieu, papa adieu. I love you but God loves you more. You worked hard and your legend and legacy are profound. Your departure is still a great loss felt all the time. May the almighty God grant you eternal rest. Amen.
First Son.
Appeal Court Sacks Wike As Rivers Governor
Ayodele Daniel
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been sacked by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
The court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the Rivers Stategovernorship election petition tribunal, which nullified the victory of Wike in the April 11 governorship election in the state.
Wike was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but on October 24, the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa-led Tribunal while delivering judgment in a petition filed by All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Dakuku Peterside, annulled his victory and ordered theIndependent National Electoral Commission, EFCC, to conduct fresh polls.
But the governor appealed the decision.
Delivering judgment on the appeal, Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem, ruled that the election of Wike as Rivers governor did not conform to the Electoral Act.
The three-man panel ordered a fresh election within 90 days and asked Governor Wike to vacate the seat immediately.
Project Alert rescues 9yr old Onyinyechi from the hands of her aunt (photos)
Remember the 9 year old girl Onyiyechi Nkerem who was badly beaten by her aunt? (read here), well, she's been rescued from the hands of her aunt, Chioma Okereke with whom she lived for just 4 months by Lagos based NGO, Project Alert
According to the founder of the NGO, Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, after the story was brought to her attention, they rescued the girl and were able to reunite Oyinyechi with her parents in Umunoha village in Mbaitoli Ikeduru LGA in Imo State. See more photos after the cut...
But for the intervention of Project Alert representative in Owerri, Chinedu Ifeanyi Anyanwu the youths in the village would have mobbed Chioma, Obinna her husband and Obinna's mum for maltreating the little girl.
Pictures below show little Onyiyechi; her head with wound scars; her back; her grandmother and father Bernard standing; and angry youths outside their home.
National Human Rights Commission to investigate the Army/Shiite clash
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC on Tuesday, has set up a Special Investigative Panel to investigate the circumstances that led to the bloody clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite Muslim sect in Northern Nigeria.
The clash, which took place during the weekend, took the lives of seven people and injured 10 others.
A statement by the commission, said the panel was set up by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, following a petition lodged against the Muslim sect by the Nigerian Army and some concerned citizens.
The statement signed on behalf of Prof. Angwe by Mr. Lambert Okpara read:
“In setting the panel, Prof. Angwe stressed the need for all the parties in the dispute to sheath their swords and assured that the commission will get to the root of the matter
“The Executive Secretary noted that the country is operating a democracy which demands that institutions must act within the ambit of the law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“In a democracy, the rule of law is supreme and it is important that we continue to remind everyone about the need to respect each others’ right.”
Angwe said the commission will thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to find ways to address the current issues and preventing future occurrence.
The panel made up of top management staff in legal, investigations and monitoring departments of the NHRC is headed by Mr Tony Ojukwu, Director, Monitoring Department.
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Bella Hadid in racy Love advent photos
19 year old model, Bella Hadid whet her fans' appetites with a sexy snap from her upcoming LOVE Video Advent on Monday. She gave her fans the ultimate Christmas gift following the release of the full clip which comes as part of the Advent's fifteenth day on Tuesday. Another photo after the cut...
High court sacks PDP Acting Chairman, Secondus
A High Court in Abuja, yesterday, chaired by Justice Hussein Baba sacked PDP's Acting National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus ordering him to vacate the Chairmanship seat of the PDP within 14 days.
The court order followed a suit filed by the erstwhile Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak.
The court said that Secondus assumed the headship of the party through an illegitimate process.
Justice Baba agreed with the plaintiff that the position of the Acting National Chairman of the PDP was originally zoned to the North-East geo-political zone of the country hence, cannot be occupied by Secondus.
Gulak had in his suit, challenged the emergence of Chief Secondus as the interim leader of the party.
He prayed the court to sack the defendant, contending that by the provision of the PDP constitution and its zoning principle, he (Gulak), was the proper person to replace the last Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, who hailed from the North East geopolitical zone.
The defendants had challenged the competence of the suit, even as they queried the locus standi of the plaintiff to file same.
The defendants equally challenged the jurisdiction of the high court to meddle in the domestic affairs of a political party.
Counsel to the PDP, Mr. Paul Isaiah responded by saying:
“We are going to appeal this judgement. Apart from the appeal, we are also going to file a stay of execution of the judgement because the National Convention of the party is in March next year”.
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Serena Williams stuns at the Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson Of the Year induction
Serena Williams stepped out in a sheer gown for her induction as Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson Of the Year in Manhattan, NY on Tuesday. Her older sister, Venus Williams was also present to render her support. More photos after the cut...
Man blocks busy highway traffic with marriage proposal, now faces criminal charges
A man who stopped traffic on one of Houston's busiest highways to propose to his girlfriend may not get the happy ending he was hoping for.
Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva confirmed 24-year-old Vidal Valladares will be charged with obstruction of highway, which is a Class B misdemeanor.
Silva said the charge is now winding its way through the Harris County court system. He will have the option of turning himself in, filling out the paperwork and immediately getting bonded out, she said.
It was unclear if the soon-to-be-wife or the friends who helped block traffic will be charged, as well.
In a video posted on Instagram, Valladares enlisted his friends to stand in front of lanes of traffic while he proposed to his girlfriend Michelle Wycoff in the middle of the highway near downtown Houston.
"I just wanted to do something different," Valladares said.
To get to a party Valladares made up as a ruse, the couple took the highway, which is one of Wycoff's favorite spots. Valladares took her on a motorcycle ride on freeway on their second date.
That's when Valladares told his girlfriend of a year and half to get out of the car.
"I said, 'Are you serious?'" Wycoff said. "Then I saw all my family and friends with cameras and I looked where Vidal was and he was down on one knee.
"Honestly, I didn't think about if it was a good idea or a bad idea. I was just so happy in the moment. I love him so much."
Valladares said his friends and family, who were following closely behind, stopped traffic for about 35 seconds while he popped the question
"I never really thought about causing an accident. I thought about my girlfriend," he said.
The hopeless romantic posted a photo of the proposal to Instagram with the caption, "When you shut down one of the biggest and busiest freeways in the entire country (I45) and you ask your girl if she wants to marry u, That moment is priceless love u #shesaidyes."
While the hashtag implies she said "yes" and a hug quickly ensued after he dropped to one knee, The video can be viewed on Instagram.
The charge came hours after Houston Police Department said they would not seek charges against the couple because police were not called to the scene and the situation was cleared before police could see it on patrol.
"It appears we were not called to the scene and it more than likely happened quickly before our officers saw it on patrol," HPD spokesman Victor Senties said. "While we're happy for the couple, this is not something we would want to encourage anyone to do. People could have lost their lives stopping on the freeway like that."
However, that won't necessarily be the case for any copy-cats.
"If there was a similar scenario and the officers were called to the scene to witness it, the officers would tell them to clear the roadway and if they refused, they could be arrested with blocking a roadway, which is a Class B misdemeanor," Senties said.
Texas Department of Transportation agreed that the act was both against the law and dangerous.
From Linda Ikeji
Teenager who raped and killed his maths teacher found guilty
A teenager who raped and killed his maths teacher while at school faces life in prison after being convicted. A Massachusetts jury on Tuesday found him guilty of raping and murdering his 24 year old teacher, Colleen Ritzer, at his suburban high school in 2013, after about nine hours of deliberations.
The teenager’s defence lawyers claimed he was in the midst of a psychotic episode when he stabbed her 16 times in the neck in the women's bathroom.
Prosecutors said the schoolboy, who was 14 at the time, used a box cutter to brutally stab the 24-year-old, before using a recycling bin to take her body into the woods.
In finding 16-year-old Philip Chism guilty, the jury rejected the defense's argument that he was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time of the 2013 attack and therefore not criminally responsible for his actions.
Chism was 14 when he committed the killing at his high school in Danvers, Massachusetts, but he was tried as an adult and could be sentenced to life in prison.
Prosecutors presented voluminous evidence during the month-long trial, including school surveillance videos, to support allegations that Chism followed his teacher, Colleen Ritzer, into a bathroom after school, strangled and raped her, and carted her body in a recycling bin to a wooded area off campus.
The trial at Essex County Superior Court in Salem, Massachusetts, was occasionally delayed by Chism, who at one point refused to return to the courtroom after a break telling his attorney that he was "about to explode."
President Buhari says Democracy has come to stay in Africa
During the inauguration of President Alpha Conde’s of Guinea Conakry for the second term in office on Monday, President Buhari, who was represented by his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, expressed happiness over the sustenance of democratic rule in Africa.
President Buhari said with the conduct of peaceful elections and transitions from one government to the other on the continent, it was clear that democracy has come to stay in Africa.
“It shows that democracy has come of age in Africa. All over, you can see the demonstration of peaceful elections, peaceful transitions from one government to another,” the Vice President said in Conakry, Guinea at the inauguration of Prof. Alpha Conde’s second term in office.
He also noted that peaceful elections were producing the right leaders in Africa, saying that it points to the fact that democratic elections in Africa can produce leadership in the right way and that it is happening everywhere in Africa.
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