Congolese president wins third term after 32 years in office, opposition cries foul

Congolese president wins third term after 32 years in office, opposition cries foul

Congo president Denis Sassou Nguesso was on Thursday declared the winner of presidential elections, extending his 32 years in power in a vote the opposition says was marked by "massive fraud".

Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou announced the results at 3:30am (0230 GMT) on national television, saying Sassou Nguesso had secured 60 percent of the vote in the tense weekend poll held under an ongoing communications blackout. Sassou Nguesso has ruled Congo for all but five years since 1979, having lived in Paris in exile from 1992 to 1997.

The official count gave runner-up Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas 15 percent of the vote, while General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko came in third with 14 percent.

Sassou Nguesso hailed the victory at his campaign headquarters, saying the Congolese people had "taken their destiny into their own hands" and adding that the campaign had produced a "very open" democratic debate in the former French colony.

Both of his main rivals had already rejected the partial results released Wednesday, with Kolelas' spokesman Vivien Manangou saying there had been "massive fraud".
Mokoko, who until February was Sassou Nguesso's security advisor, added: "I knew beforehand that the dice were loaded, but we had agreed to play the game."

He called for a recount, saying: "How do you want us to accept such a result?"

With telephones and the Internet cut off, neither candidate was immediately reachable after the official results were announced. 

Oil- and timber-rich Congo has been on edge since an October constitutional referendum that ended a two-term limit on presidential mandates, allowing Sassou Nguesso, a 72-year-old former paratrooper colonel, to run for office again.

Critics accuse him of rampant corruption and nepotism, blasting the referendum result as a "constitutional coup".
Authorities imposed a communications blackout during the election to prevent opposition candidates from publishing "illegal results". A government source said they blackout would remain in place until after the official results.

Most shops in the south of the capital Brazzaville, an opposition stronghold, had stayed shut on Wednesday amid fears of unrest.
Kolelas' spokesman Manangou said security forces had stormed the candidate's campaign offices on Tuesday, hurling tear gas cannisters and causing a stampede that left one person dead.
A French journalist was present but was unable to confirm the death.
Mokoko and Kolelas, along with the three other opposition candidates, have urged people to "exercise their sovereignty" in the event of a Sassou Nguesso victory.
They created their own parallel "technical commission" to monitor the vote and compile information from polling stations to compare it to the official results.
They said they could say "with certainty" that the opposition had beat Sassou Nguesso in the first round and that a second-round election should be held.
The European Union refused to send election observers to monitor the polls, saying conditions had not been met for a transparent and democratic vote.
The international community has since expressed concern over the fairness of the vote and called for the opposing sides to resolve their differences calmly.

"This vote took place in a worrying context, particularly due to the cut in communications," said France's foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.

Source: AFP

Lekki Gardens building collapse: Lekki Gardens boss Richard Nyong released on bail

Lekki Gardens building collapse: Lekki Gardens boss Richard Nyong released on bail

Richard Nyong was arrested on March 11 for the collapse of the five storey building in Lekki that killed about 35 people. Chief Superintendent of Police Mr. Eno-Edobor Thomas had requested that Nyong remained in jail while investigations were concluded but a Magistrate court in Ebute Metta granted him bail. OAP Freeze also confirmed his release. Read what he wrote after the cut..

Nigerian startups should be thinking of solving global problems

Nigerian startups should be thinking of solving global problems

*Ononobi says Startups that are solving global problems can easily scale globally
Simeon Ononobi, Nigerian tech entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of MyAds, has urged startups in Nigeria to start focusing on solving global problems instead of just thinking locally. According to him, this is the best way for the country to have startups that would grow to become unicorn companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter.

While noting that the startup ecosystem in Nigeria has grown over the years, and there are several startups that are performing satisfactorily in the market, he believes that the existence of numerous challenges that Nigerians and citizens of other countries face, presents local startups with access to a global market.

He said: “Nigeria currently has social startups that are doing very well and helping the economy grow; there are also some small startups that are striving to solve problems. What I’ve learnt so far is because we don’t think global, we think local first and I think it’s causing a lot of problems for us. We should start looking at the future.

“At a recent tech conference, guys from Russia and the USA talked about how they can expand globally first before expanding their local presence. I think we should start thinking in that direction where we don’t just solve local problems but we solve a global problem.”

Time to stop blaming government for everything
Even though a lot could be achieved in the startup sector with government’s support, Ononobi said startup founders in the country should stop blaming government for everything and strive to grow their startups even with the various challenges. Furthermore, he said startups can identify the numerous challenges and develop their own solutions for them.

“Policies are always going to be there; it’s always going to be an issue but my theme has always been don’t blame everybody else for our problems. The government is not going to be doing everything for us – we’ve been at the same spot since forever, our problems remain the same and we will always talk about the same problems when we have conversations. We do have more problems than many developed countries of the world and these problems are what startups can pick and develop solutions for them. You don’t want to solve problems that Facebook and Twitter had already solved. Instead, you can talk about electricity and the rest,” he said.

“We are seen as the giant of Africa. We should take our position as giants and take Africa by storm and take the world." 

Nigerian startups should help the average man on the street

Using MyAds as an example, Ononobi said it was a solution to a problem he personally had – a problem that several other people across the world are facing on a daily basis.

“It’s something that is going to solve a lot of problems. It’s a solution I developed for myself, it was meant to solve my advertising needs. I found a way to help people on the street and to help myself to advertise. It’s like helping businesses and helping the people on the street. The bus conductor can make money from his phone and I discovered that I don’t need to start just in Nigeria – it’s the same problem in India, Pakistan, and Philippines where people on the street don’t get to earn big bucks,” he said.

Startups that can scale globally 
Ononobi observed that the startups that can easily scale globally are those that are solving a problem being faced in their local market and elsewhere.

“If a startup is solving a problem here, that same startup can solve the same problem in Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and elsewhere. Such potentially scaleable services include products for transportation, and aggregation platforms for menial jobs,” he said. 

Experience launching a startup outside Nigeria
Ononobi-founded startup, MyAds, recently launched in India and plans are underway to launch in more countries across the world. Recounting how the experience has been so far, Ononobi said a startup that has the potential to succeed in other countries are those that solve the problems faced by the people in those countries.

“If your startup is not doing what the Indian environment needs, it is not really necessary to expand to India. MyAds allows you to earn money every time you see ads when you receive calls. It is the same everywhere in the world – everyone in Nigeria, India, and Malaysia wants to earn money. But it’s a different thing when you want to start ecommerce platform or a blog for instance,” Ononobi said. 

Advice for Nigerian startups
While admitting that Nigerian startups are battling numerous challenges, Ononobi said they can still make progress and achieve phenomenal results if they take the right steps.

“Stop thinking about it, hit it at the head, go straight out in the market and start selling your product. Don’t worry about the problems because there is always going to be challenges. If you’re a startup, you will face challenges. Let us all help ourselves. Owners of Facebook, Twitter, and Google are already billionaires, they are unicorns. Let’s help local guys succeed. Let the 180 million Nigerians help us to also become unicorns so that we can also help grow this economy. If 7 Nigerian startups go globally, we will be talking about helping other countries grow,” Ononobi concluded.

About MyAds: With minimum budget, MyAds allows advertisers to reach target users; it helps businesses to grow business by connecting them directly to users. For the app users, MyAds app rewards them when they use it to connect to great brands and products. MyAds is an app that rewards everyone. The user gets rewards, and the advertisers are able to reach their targeted users. With MyAds, everyone is a winner.

21 years old Asisat Oshoala scores on her debut as Arsenal Ladies win

21 years old Asisat Oshoala scores on her debut as Arsenal Ladies win

Lucky girl! Nigeria international Asisat Oshoala made a goal-scoring debut in Arsenal Ladies 3-1 victory against Reading FC Women on Wednesday night at Meadow Park.

Her first appearance for the Gunners few days after her switch from Liverpool Ladies became a reality as she started against Reading in her second season in the English Women's Super League.

On the resumption of the second half, the 21 year old sailed into the box and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net her first goal to double Arsenal's lead. Congrats to her!

BREAKING: Code of Conduct Says Saraki Must Face Trial

BREAKING: Code of Conduct Says Saraki Must Face Trial

The chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar on Thursday morning ruled that the CCT has jurisdiction to entertain and try the embattled senate president Bukola Saraki. He said it doesn't matter how long a crime was committed, once it is investigated and a crime is uncovered, the federal government can initiate a criminal case against the accused person (Saraki).

Actual trial will now commence on April 5, 2016. Hope there won't be another injunction again?

Psquare former manager Howie T is spilling the tea on what led the duo to breakup

Psquare former manager Howie T is spilling the tea on what led the duo to breakup

Howie T was Psquare’s manager from 2001 to 2005, before their brother Jude Okoye took over as the band’s managerHowie T, now a record label and experiential marketing executive, was Psquare’s manager from 2001 to 2005, when their brother Jude Okoye, a former musician himself, took over as the band’s manager. Here’s what Howie T told Nigerian Entertainment Today in 8 quick points.

1. ‘Well, the guys in question are adults, married with children, so I think we should respect their opinion. And the truth is, I believe they know what they are doing’.

2. ‘When I saw Peter’s Tweets, I called him and even went to see him to talk to him about it. He said Jude is the problem that he doesn’t have any issue with Paul’.

3. ‘He told me that in a normal setting, a manager is supposed to be their employee and not the other way round, but Jude always uses his influence as their elder brother to boss over them. He also said managers collect between 15 – 25 % of an artiste’s income but in their case they share everything equally and he’s not happy with that sharing formula’.

4. ‘In my opinion I think Peter is just trying to prove a valid point. He told me that he turned down a show Jude got them in Finland and when they called them for the Dubai show, he told the organisers what it takes to get Peter and Paul, what it takes to get Peter or Paul alone’.

5. ‘Secondly, things like this messes up an artiste’s creativity, Peter is a composer, dancer and singer, when they sit down to vote on songs that’ll make their album, Paul and Jude vote for more of Paul’s songs than Peter’s and these are the things that pisses him off’.

6. ‘It has gone beyond just beef now, there’s a lot of ego at play’.

7. ‘In my opinion, for peace to reign, why can’t Jude just leave them alone, Peter has told me that if they change Jude today, there’ll be Psquare tomorrow and sadly the only person that can talk to them is their mother and she’s dead.

8. ‘Well, 20 children cannot play together for 20 years

Talent of the best

Chijioke Anyacho the ARTIST who USE JUST BALL PEN TO CREATE these WONDERS..

This is Chijioke Anyacho my dear friend on facebook, a young artist who derives joy in using ball pen to 'PENT' art works and don't show it off that its not a big deal but I tell you, its a big deal cause I still find it difficult to do drawings perfectly like that.

To encourage his works, I'm sponsoring it on my blog and facebook page to enable it go viral. This is the way I know to promote our own product

Do your bit by sharing and commending the work of your own brother.

#NigeriansWithTalent

This is Basket Mouth

Sen. Ben Bruce

Let's keep it moving and getting it viral

SERIOUSLY!? Ooni Of Ife is About To Marry A 'Runs Girl'?

SERIOUSLY!? Ooni Of Ife is About To Marry A 'Runs Girl'?

OluFamous.Com would have ignored this story, but because it affects the most respected Yoruba monarch, I believe it's wise I bring it here so Ooni Ogunwusi and his people can investigate the dirty details before they go pay her bride price, just to be sure it's not an "elebolo" that is coming into the palace.

The lady who's making the revelations about Wuraola's "dirty lifestyles" is well known to her, so if all her claims her found to be false, after proper investigation, actions could be taken against her.

Is it true that Wuraola, who the Ooni of Ife is about to marry, had twins for a former governor? Was the s*x mate of a former Senate leader? Ran away after her legal husband went broke? See details...

Friend Exposes Sonia Itohan Wuraola Otiti’s Dirty Secrets
Open Letter To Ooni Of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi’s New Queen, Itohan Sonia Wuraola Otiti & Adopted Sister Jennifer Obayuwana

It’s amazing how Jennifer is suddenly flaunting Sonia as her sister. Why haven’t you ever shown her as your sister all these years? You waited till the accounted Olori title came.

Jen you and your father are just users willing to identify with anyone you can extort money from to buy your outrageous.... Sonia is your sister, where were you guys when she was roaming all over Abuja? When she hits a big maga you identify with her to get him to buy your watches and luxury.

Sonia remember that if anything happens to this your marriage to Ooni that is the end of you. Gone are the days when you can come out and find another person.

You are also too possessive and destructive to share your man with another woman. In fact nothing drives you nuts than your man having other women. You are destructively possessive.

Will you now be breaking things in Ife palace when you see him with women? Will you now be driving any woman that comes near him in your usual way?

You married Elie Khouri legally at AMAC (Abuja Registry). Until December you were still married. Is the Ooni marrying another mans wife?

Abi Ifa and Ife Chiefs no dey check the hands of who dey enter their palace again?

You lie so much and claim so much. You remember your days with your friend Fati after Saminu (former Governor of Jigawa) dumped you disgracefully and Hajiya at coomassie crescent who was also your love-vendor?

Try and pay all the people you owe cos you are a No1 debtor.

You married Elie to spite Abacha family. Now you are marrying Oba to spite Elie. 

His whole family went against him marrying you. You gave his mother so much hell. Talking down at her and disrespecting her your normal way of behavior. You sucked Elie dry all his little expatriate change you took it sent him into debt and you ran away. You were still sleeping around while married to Elie to fund your lifestyle.

You think God is sleeping? Your story will come to light as it has always done.

Correct your ways. Your quest for money, fame and power: this is your last bus top. You don enter one chance bus wey you no go fit comot...

Are you still going to hold this marriage ceremony in John Obayuwanas house as your father's house? Because Na him house you dey always use shine.

Since you are so ashamed of your father's Benins flat (block of flat apartment) I am surprised you never used sense to build him a befitting house to cover up.

You owed at Maitama shopping complex moved to Garki still owed. You can’t pay rent.

Are you now back to Christianity? Cos you were born Christian changed to Islam bearing Zainab for Hausa men. Now you are marrying a Christian abi Ifa’ist are you now Chrisfa or Christian or Muslim?

From Itohan at Benin to Sonia to Zainab to Wuraola, Iya clap for yourself. You're the queen of rebranding.

- [Zainab Lawani writes from Abuja]

*Another Twist To The Story...
Sonia (now Wuraola Otiti) was previously married to former Jigawa Governor Saminu Turaki. The marriage packed up due to a scandal involving her twin pregnancy because Turaki was battling impotency at that time. The marriage ended after the twins died at birth.

Sonia now Wuraola who was a UNIBEN dropout reportedly dated former Deputy Senate Majority leader, Abdul Ningi. Their affair crashed over allegations of infidelity.

Wuraola is still legally married to a Lebanase billionaire named Eli Khoury. Eli was the third man.

Wura who is in her early 30s met Eli and relocated to Dubai in 2015.. As at mid last year, she still flaunts him on social media as her husband. She has since deleted all her social media accounts.

Why did the Ooni got entangled with this highly controversial lady?

- Sincerely, I don't have anything to say on this because ladies of these days their way no dey pure. I think it's up to Ooni Ogunwusi and his people to decide to investigate or marry her like that. Simple!

Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins Oscar Academy Award

Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins Oscar Academy Award

I'm at last happy , one of my favourite actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, finally broke his Oscars jinx and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The movie that got him the award is The Revenant. Congrats to him!

So It's True That Jonathan Did Not Complete Any Road?

So It's True That Jonathan Did Not Complete Any Road?

The vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo had said Goodluck Jonathan never completed a single road in Nigeria, but many people said it was a lie. Well, the Presidency believe that such people can't differentiate between repairing some bad portions of an existing road and the construction of a new road.

Now, VP Osinbajo's spokesman, Laolu Akande, has thrown a challenge; anyone who can name just one road that was constructed - start to finish - by Jonathan or Yar'Adua government should name the road.

So it up to us now . Do you know any road that was fully constructed by FG in the last 10 years?

Fresh Revelations over Governor Wike's Supreme Court Victory

Fresh Revelations over Governor Wike's Supreme Court Victory

The fact that Governor Nyesom Wike was sacked by both the Tribunal and Court of Appeal, which was the last bus stop for Governorship cases before the last amendment of the Act, remains controversial.

A fresh hail of dust has been kicked up over the recent judgment of the Supreme Court to return the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Nyesom Wike, as the elected governor of Rivers State. The judgment was given despite overwhelming evidence that appears to show that it lacked fidelity.

According to SR, reliable sources have revealed that the allegations made by Dakuku Peterside, Wike's major opponent and candidate of the APC, should not be dismissed, as there are bold hints that Wike did meet the Supreme Court judges during a burial ceremony in Mbaise, Imo State, in the run-up to the Supreme Court ruling. 

Peterside, had mounted a legal challenge against the declaration of Wike as the winner. He initially got a reprieve when the Election Petitions Tribunal and Court of Appeal deemed the election that produced Wike as dodgy.

But in a shocking twist, the Supreme Court overturned the judgments of both lower courts, a development that sparked a blast of public criticism. Notably, there are widespread allegations that the Supreme Court may have been compromised to declare Wike as validly elected despite glaring evidence of widespread violence and the non-use of card reader machines during the election. 

The allegation grew louder when Peterside openly claimed that Wike had met secretly with some of the judges that heard the matter. 

“Credible information confirmed that Nyesom Wike had earlier confessed to some persons of having met one of the Justices of the Supreme Court in Mbaise during an important burial ceremony, another at Owerri in a hotel and yet others in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively,” Peterside had said. “These Justices were on the panel that decided the matter in Wike’s favour.” 

Our sources now assert that the burial ceremony in Mbaise was of no less a personality than Ugoeze Bernadette Nzenwa, mother of Justice Mary Odili, a Supreme Court Justice and wife of Peter Odili, ex-governor of Rivers State. Wike has publicly acknowledged Odili as his adviser during the legal battles.

One of our sources recounted: "At the funeral, Wike met Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, one of the apex court Justices. It was most convenient for both of them as it looked like a coincidence like they ran into each other at the funeral service. The funeral was a perfect cover. I can also confirm that he met Justice John Inyang Okoro, another Supreme Court Justice in Owerri, Imo State. The meeting with Okoro was facilitated and arranged by Peter Odili through his wife, Justice Mary Odili. Meetings with Supreme Court Justices were arranged within and outside Nigeria.”

A bigger source of suspicion and questions about the fidelity of the Supreme Court judgment is the role of Justice Mary Odili in the weeks leading to the judgment. At a special thanksgiving service to celebrate the decision of the Supreme Court, Governor Wike told the congregation that that Dr. Peter Odili was his adviser during the legal battle. “Let me thank Dr. Peter Odili. He will call me at midnight to tell me what to do. He will say: ‘go to so so place’. I took all his advice and here we are today,” Wike told the crowd at the service. Wike's words have provoked questions on what kind of advice Odili, a medical doctor, could be offering in purely a legal matter that was before the apex court. Was Odili getting vital tips that swung the case in Wike's favour from his wife, who is in the Supreme Court? Who were the people Odili told Wike to see when the matter was before the Supreme Court? Questions have continued to swirl around the role played by Justice Mary Odili. A source familiar with the matter said suspicions of underhand dealings are strengthened by Wike's meeting with Justice Ngwuta at a funeral service organized by the Odilis.

"Could it be that attending the service and meeting with Justice Ngwuta was one of the pieces of advice the Odilis gave to Wike?” asked the source. 

It’s widely documented that Wike made attempts to meet the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed, but was openly rebuffed. On account of that attempt, the CJN publicly warned all governors with pending election cases not to come near him. Our sources maintained that while Wike failed with the CJN, he succeeded with some other Justices in the Supreme Court. His success was mainly attributed to the Odilis.

After the meeting in Mbaise, sources said, Justice Ngwuta was persuaded to contribute to the plan to ensure that the apex court returned Wike as governor. With him and Mrs. Odili pulling the strings, it was not difficult to get the buy-in of the other judges.

It is for this reason that the decision of the Supreme Court on the Rivers State Governorship Election is viewed as a product of compromise, not that of justice, and a legalisation of poll robbery.

On the issue of violence, legal analysts are wont to refer to an earlier Supreme Court judgment on the relocation of the election tribunal from Port Harcourt to Abuja. The Supreme Court had ruled in favour of moving the tribunal to Abuja because there was violence before, during and after the elections in Rivers State.

But in a curious twist, the same court, in the governorship election judgment, said the APC and its candidate, Peterside, did not provide evidence of violence in Rivers State. Suspicious!

A glare of hope! Starving Akwa Ibom child branded a witch is discharged from the hospital

A glare of hope! Starving Akwa Ibom child branded a witch is discharged from the hospital

Hope, the little boy who was left for dead in Uyo, Akwa Ibom after being branded a witch was discharged from the hospital today. Danish aid worker, Anja Ringgren Loven shared photos of Hope smiling while playing with other children in the orphanage and wrote;

"Finally finally finally !!!! Today Hope was discharged from the hospital !! The children have been so excited all day ! My son David Jr. and I are now back in Denmark because tomorrow I will start my tour around the country. And oh how I wish I was there today. Looking at these pictures of the children playing with Hope makes me totally speechless. Our dream came true! Can you imagine! This is what humanity is all about! Children see magic because they look for it and now Hope has finally found his magic"

Doyin Okupe list road networks constructed by FG in the last 9 years in reaction to VP Osinbajo claims

Doyin Okupe list road networks constructed by FG in the last 9 years in reaction to VP Osinbajo claims

He listed them as a reaction to claims by Vice President Yemi Osin‎bajo that the Federal Government in the last 10 years did not construct a single road. Continue...

 

Aggrieved members of PDP team up with some APGA members to form a new party

Aggrieved members of PDP team up with some APGA members to form a new party

Following the crisis currently rocking PDP over its new leadership, some aggrieved members of the party today teamed up with some members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to form a new party to be known as the Peoples Mega Party, PMP. At the group's maiden meeting today March 1st, the members chose Perry Opara, an aide to former political adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, as its protem chairman. Addressing the meeting, Opara said;

“The major people who are in the party are former members of the PDP who are disenchanted by the high level of corruption, high level of impunity and high-handedness in the PDP. They have decided to form something very new and they are of the opinion that they should hand over the party to younger elements who are less corrupt and who can fight for the interest of the people. It does not mean that it is only people from the PDP, we have APGA chairmen from many states of Nigeria identifying with the new party, people from Labour Party, LP, and the Accord Party, AP. There are also disenchanted people from the APC that feel that they want a new place and that is what it is. Today marks the birth of this new party.”he said

TELLS THE STORY OF NIGERIA’S FAVORITE COVER STAR, IN A TRUE GRASS TO GRACE STORY, WHICH TY CALLS ‘A DIVINE INTERVENTION."

TELLS THE STORY OF NIGERIA’S FAVORITE COVER STAR, IN A TRUE GRASS TO GRACE STORY, WHICH TY CALLS ‘A DIVINE INTERVENTION."

 

"I only started thinking it was important to make behind the scenes video of my photography sessions. I hardly make time to go through the footages simply because I find it uncomfortable looking at myself on screen and for the obvious fact that I sound different and embarrassingly loud when I shoot.

A few days later however, l sat with my Filmmaker friend Emma, and as we combed through go-pro footages to see if we captured the very moment… I noticed Jumoke, the bread hawker from the Sabo market bakery, who walked entirely by coincidence unto the set of our THISDAY style shoot for Tinnie Tempah.

 

The moment did not look special at all,  lf anything, she stood there a little confused. Some people were asking her to leave the set and others were asking her to stay. l signaled if it was ok to take her photograph and she agreed and I carelessly pressed on my shutter so she could move ahead.

My subject of interest was the Okada driver that had slowed down just before she . Okada riders have that cool Lagos vibe and always happen to add a bit of swag to street portraits. I was wrong to have paid her such little attention because I noticed every frame with her in it was perfect. I had found a second subject in the Tinnie Tempahstory, a young beautiful hawker who could have served as a love interest of some sort!

 

When the edition of THISDAY Stylecame out last week and the images hit social media, I was proven right as this girl split the limelight with the main subject effortlessly. Questions and comments started to fly: Was she a model? How did we convince the model to balance all that bread on her head?

The buzz about her multiplied when I clarified that she  indeed wasn’t a model at all but simply a bread-seller who stumbled on our set. I immediately began my search for her, if these many people felt she was beautiful enough to be a model, then maybe she was meant to be one! I was going to find a way to make it happen.

 

I had assistants leave word we were  searching for her with mechanics in the area where we photographed her and to my delight, the very next day she showed up at my studio “Aso kan na ni mo wo kiri lati ana" meaning I have been wearing the same outfit since yesterday. Jumoke the model the Internet has been searching for weeks speaks almost no English.

She explained how someone showed her her own photograph in this same outfit on his phone from Facebook. A mallam then led her to my studio that morning. She narrated her journey to Lagos. She was a hair stylist from lre in Osun state but was not making enough profit between she and her husband, a sliding door installer from the same village, to care for their two young children.

At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery, she relocated to Lagos with her 14 month old daughter to give bread hawking a try, leaving her husband and older 5 year old behind. As I listened to her, I wondered if the beauty I had seen on my screen as I edited my image was a fluke.. well until she smiled, I realized that I was wrong! I had in fact, underestimated the beauty of this 27 year old woman.

 

As always, it was her eyes and of course her perfectly chiseled features that jumped out at you when she chuckled. This lady belonged in front of my camera. After a conversation with her husband, telling him the story of our meeting, I decided I was going to photograph her that very afternoon. Within an hour, Bimpe Onakoya, one of Nigeria’s leading makeup artists andZubby, one of my favorite hair stylists, were at my studio to work magic.

They had both followed the story online and were more than happy to help create magic for her. Olajumoke, with curly extensions out, revealed a short natural Afro that beautifully hugged her face.Bimpe also had decided to keep the make up minimal. She stepped in front of my camera and I almost didn’t recognize her. She moved different too. Jumokelooked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life. I knew we had found a star.

 

During the Course of the day, Ema Edioso who was making a short documentary about the process had asked her what she really wanted to do. "Ka ma kiri Buredi ko suwon" meaning I will keep selling bread till the people are tired. But she said it wasn’t the most profitable business out put enough food on her table making between N300-700 daily profit, lt also put a roof over a head albeit a roof she shared with scores of other hawkers.

 

Though she was a trained hairdresser back home in Osun state, her family could not afford the necessarily ‘freedom’ ceremony, a passing out ritual that gives them unwritten permission to start a full fledged salon. We all decided that the makeover would be incomplete if it ended in the studio.

Everyone started to reach out to their contacts and through Bimpe, we were able to get her a meeting with Ugo the pioneer of Make-Me salon. As a result of the buzz she generated from theTHISDAY cover, Olajumoke is now close to starting an internship at Make-Me salon and has been offered an additional internship with Sari Signatures, a famous Lebanese owned salon in Victoria lsland.

 

Uju Marshal, our Style cover girl from barely a few weeks ago, advised on whatOlajumoke be paid for this particular shoot. And Godson Uka Egu got her a modeling contract with Few Modelling agency! To top it all, she’s also hadPayporte reach out to her to be the model on their next billboard campaign.

How great is that! This is clearly only the beginning of another chapter inJumoke’s story. Though it seems accidental it’s clearly a divine intervention! All of us at the THISDAY Style desk wish her many more amazing things to come. This is slowly evolving as magic made in fashion heaven. AWESOME!"

We know this isn’t the last we’ll hear ofJumoke, she’s definitely a rising star.

Source: Fashion

Exclusive: For fighting, GLO halts Psquare’s endorsement deal

Exclusive: For fighting, GLO halts Psquare’s endorsement deal

L-R: Paul Okoye and Peter Okoye.

Following the recent misunderstanding between the Psquare brothers Peter, Paul and Jude Okoye few days back, Nigeria’s biggest telecommunications company Globacom has refused to renew P-Square’s contract as the company’s ambassador.

As Mike Adenuga recently renewed the contract of its ambassadors, he decided to halt Peter and Paul Okoye endorsements. However, GLO further explained that if the situation remains the twin brothers would seize to be GLO ambassadors immediately their current contract expires.

A top manager in GLO, who spoke with Naij.com, on the condition of anonymity disclosed that the decision was imposed due to the show of shame that ensued between the company’s representatives and Peter, one half of the P-Square twins during the grand finale of the Dance with Peter talent hunt show.

He also admitted that GLO had defaulted on some of its promises made as the sole sponsor of the show but expressed dissatisfaction on how Peter overreacted by insulting our hierarchy in the process.

Naij.com gathered that when Mike Adenuga heard of the development, he felt embarrassed and gave the order that Psquare can no longer be his company’s ambassador. However, further efforts to reach Psquare as at the time of filing this report proved abortive.

Source: Nigeria Latest News

Pianist 'strangled and beaten to death by her husband on their anniversary'

Pianist 'strangled and beaten to death by her husband on their anniversary'

A concert pianist was strangled and beaten to death by her husband after he became jealous of her musical success, a court heard today.

Double bass player John Martin is accused of murdering Natalia Strelchenko on the couple's second wedding anniversary following a string of furious arguments.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, said:

 'This is quite simply a case of anger. Pure and simple anger. This defendant was not getting what he wanted and reached a point where he lost his temper in a very dramatic fashion.'

Describing her injuries, he said:

 'The blows inflicted upon Natalia Strelle by this defendant were of such severe force and of such number that her central and left-sided facial bones were left free floating from the rest of her skull.'Her jawbone was snapped in half and indeed, in addition to that, other parts of her skull were severely fractured.'Even though she was rushed to hospital soon after that assault, she was declared dead about a hour after.'

Martin, 48, who is originally from Norway, denies the murder and the manslaughter of his wife.

Daily Mail

Soldiers beat,arrest DPO,others for allegedly molesting Army Captain

Soldiers beat,arrest DPO,others for allegedly molesting Army Captain

There was panic Monday morning at the Railway Post, Umuahia, Abia State when police officers attached to the post allegedly manhandled a man later identified as an Army captain for packing his 18-seater Mitsubishi bus close to the fence of the Police station.
  According to eye witness accounts, the Divisional Police officer in-charge of the police post was said to be driving into the station when he spotted the bus and ordered the owner to repack the bus claiming that it was blocking his way.

Vanguard reports that , the Army captain who was in mufti, was said to have come out, greeted the DPO and quickly wanted to repark his bus. But the police officer was said to have ordered him to come closer and explain why he should block his way to the station. The army officer was said to have continued to plead with the angry police officer when he refused to allow him to remove his vehicle to re-park. Rather, he was alleged to have ordered his men to arrest the man, who at that juncture unveiled his identity, which was doubted by the police officer who insisted that he must be arrested.

 The scene attracted passers-by and people doing sundry businesses around the area, who also joined to plead with the police officer who refused to budge and insisted that the soldier must be arrested. 

“He must obey my arrest order; you people should tell him to obey my arrest order. You must obey my arrest order, you said you are a captain, you must tell me how many wars you have fought. “I have fought in three Boko Haram states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe before coming here, you must show me your identity today; drag him into the cell now,” the DPO whose identity was not immediately known was yelling.

 However, the tables turned against the ‘powerful’ DPO when four soldiers arrived at the police station and discovered the man being molested was actually an army captain, and they became angry that an officer was calm and gentle to plead, yet he was being disgraced by the police officer. They called for reinforcements and in less than 15 minutes, four Hilux vans loaded with soldiers, arrived the police station.

They later took away the DPO and another police officer with them to their base, after giving them the beating of their lives. The police have colonized the parking lots around the area, harassing and ordering motorists not to park vehicles around the area, as they always block the road that passes through the station.

That moment when a wife disrupted the 'secret wedding" ceremony of her husband

That moment when a wife disrupted the 'secret wedding" ceremony of her husband

 Chin and his wife, Ngozi Madukaife-Akano, Sept 2015 A Nigerian born UK based doctor, Dr Chin Akano, recently came to Nkwerre  Imo state,Nigeria to get married, but unfortunately for him, his wife of over 19 years,Ngozi Madukaife-Akano, a UK trained Nurse, disrupted the marriage ceremony!

Picture of Chin on his traditional marriage to the new wife.
 He posted this on his Facebook 
wall and people are congratulating him.

According to eye witnesses who witnessed the fight, the new bride and her sisters attacked Ngozi Madukaife-Akano (the new bride) and tore her clothes to shreds. The shocked husband just sat down in one corner and observed the whole drama playing out before him. 

It took the intervention of some elders to calm down the first wife and lead her out.

New Wife....

Chin and his wife of over 20 years with the kids 

''Let me sound a note of warning to you woman of easy virtue.You have the guts to take photos in my home n post on social media.You defiled my home the temple of God in December Now you're planning to marry my husband on the 11th of February at Nkwerre.

You want to secretly break a home of 20yrs with 2 innocent children? Let me tell you now that we are on your case,it's not going to be a walk in the park for the day you stepped in to my home is the day your misfortune started.We are waiting for you and I hope you are ready?after this time you will not try to break another family.

You have seen a nice house and ready made man so you want to jump in not knowing how we toiled.The God of my two innocents sons is already heaping coals of fire and brimstone upon your head.you want to try me a child of God but you have hit rock bottom because the chastisement of my peace is upon him.Wait for it!Step in to my home again and you will see that Jehova Jireh still works wonders.

Why didn't you Marry the father of your daughter?baby mama? You're trying to get pregnant for my husband, you will end up a baby mama for 10 men I assure you that you're a thief,everyday is for the thief and one day is for the owner.Feb 11th we are waiting for you let your feet step once more in to my home''! the first wife wrote this message to the new wife just before the wedding.

SDK reports that the wife has now travelled back to the UK with her husband, while the new bride has parked into the couple's mansion at Nkwerre in Imo state. 

Ailing Actor, Olumide Bakare leaves UCH Hospital

Ailing Actor, Olumide Bakare leaves UCH Hospital

Ailing actor, Olumide Bakare who is in need of 7 million naira to survive after been knocked down with a seirous heart related disease a couple of weeks back,  has finally left University Hospital College, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Olumide Bakare  was diagnosed for blood clot in 2013 before it generated to “Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm and Pulmonary Embolism” which has to do with heart related issues.

Yoruba movie gist reports that the injection he takes, cost hims #14,000 plus per one and it’s called Clexane injection which he takes 4 per day and he has been taking that for 21 days before he later cried to Nigerians for help.

He has now been discharged from UCH.