Pulse List: 7 New Year's resolution we never keep

We promise ourselves that we won't break these New Year resolutions but we fail early on.

Th New Year is a few hours away. 2018 is just around the corner and in usual tradition, young Nigerians are making New Year's resolutions.

Making a New Year resolution is what we do at the beginning of a New Year. We make these resolutions and somewhere along the line, we lose it.

For many people, it is a yearly tradition and the resolutions revolve around the same things.

Below is a list of New Year resolutions that we know we are not going to keep in 2018.

1) Save more money

 

We always tell ourselves that we are going to save more money in the New Year. Does this happen? No. In 2018 many of us will spend till we get to the last N1,000 in our bank accounts. Then when its December we swear not make the same mistake the following year.

2) Get fit

The gyms are always full at the beginning of the year but as the months roll by, we forget about keeping fit. Everyone promises to hit the gym regularly at the beginning of the year but by June, July it is all a distant memory.

ALSO READ: 4 tips to keep your New Year's resolution on track

3) Drink less

 

A lot of people make resolutions to reduce their alcohol intake which is a good thing. Only a few see it through. Before you know it, these peeps are back with a bottle of booze in their hands.

4) Smoke less

 

Smoking nicotine is bad. Making a New Year resolution to smoke less or quit smoking is a good thing. Let's hope in 2018 these people find the mental strength and resolve to actually do it.

5) Eat healthily

 

Everyone wants that killer body or summer body as they say. Some swear to themselves that they would stay off junk food and eat only healthy meals. Well...your guess is as good as ours.

6) Not be addicted to social media

 

Social media is a drug and towards the end of the year, most people tend to be sick about how much control it has over them. As part of their New Year's resolution, they promise to cut the amount of time they spend on Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat. We know that's a resolution that never lasts long.

7) Read more

 

We all want to read more books and within the first few months we do read a few books but as the months roll by we tend to forget about this New Year resolution.

Violent Love: Man in court for beating girl to a pulp for refusing to go out with him

Abiodun, who resides at Agbede, Ibadan in Oyo State, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties.

The Police on Friday arraigned a 25-year-old motor  boy, Isiaka Abiodun, who allegedly beat up a girl to pulp for refusing to go out with him before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused was arraigned before the Magistrate, Mrs O.I Raji, on a charge of assault.

Abiodun, who resides at Agbede, Ibadan in Oyo State, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of  N100,000 with two sureties.

Raji ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

According to the prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, the accused committed the offence on December 14 at Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that the accused beat up Miss Success Enebe for refusing his proposal.

“The accused asked Miss Enebe out but she refused his proposal. Few days later, the accused attacked her  using a plank and injured her on the head.

“After the attack, the accused ran away, leaving Miss Enebe bleeding from her injuries.” Egunjobi  said.

He said the offence contravened Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

The section stipulates three years imprisonment for assault.

The case was adjourned until January 9 for mention.

Petty Thief: Court jails 2 labourers for 6 months for stealing yam

Yaqub warned them to desist from committing crimes and ordered that the tubers of yam be returned to the owner.

A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada in Nasarawa State, on Friday, December 29 sentenced two labourers to six months imprisonment each for stealing 50 tubers of yam.

The judge, Upside Yaqub, however, gave the convicts, Habibu Kabiru, 25; and Salisu Hamidu, 22, both residents of Old Orange Market Mararaba, an option of N5, 000 fine each.

Yaqub warned them to desist from committing crimes and ordered that the tubers of yam be returned to the owner.

The convicts had pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, trespass, mischief and theft.

Following the guilty plea, the Prosecutor, Agabi Auta, urged the court to try them summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Earlier, Auta had told the court that the complainant, Utume Clement of Kudu village, Mararaba, reported the incident at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, on December 22.

He said that the convicts and one Musa Iliya, now at large, went to the complainant’s farm at Kudu village, Mararaba, and harvested 50 tubers of yam.

The prosecutor said the convicts were apprehended while trying to put the yam in a sack and were handed over to the police immediately.

He said the offences contravened Sections 79, 347, 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.

Desperate Times: Unemployed woman allegedly carts away church property

The accused unlawfully entered into Foursquare Gospel Church and stole some property.

A 45-year-old unemployed woman, Olabisi Usman, who allegedly stole church property valued at N154,000, was on Friday, December 29, hauled up before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused was arraigned before a Magistrate, Mrs Y.O Ekogbulu, on a charge of stealing.

Usman, who resides at Meiran area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ekogbulu said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, said that the accused committed the offence on November 26, at Olagoke Street, Meiran, Lagos.

He said that the accused unlawfully entered into Foursquare Gospel Church and stole some property.

“The accused stole one musical speaker, one tiger generator, a standing fan, a ceiling fan and four plastic chairs. Total value of items stolen was N154,000,” he said.

Okuoimose said that the accused was a tenant in the church premises and entered through the window to steal.

“The accused, who just packed into the compound two months earlier, was later found out to be behind the theft.

“When she was arrested and questioned, she confessed that she stole the items and sold it to one Malam.

“But the buyer could not be located,” he said.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 308 (2)of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused may be jailed for three years if found guilty of stealing according to the provisions of Section 287.

The case was adjourned until January 17 for mention.

Has Nike leaked Philippe Coutinho's move to Barcelona in website gaffe?

Barcelona spent most of last summer trying to prise Philippe Coutinho away from Liverpool, but the Premier League side rebuffed all bids. But the rumours won't go away. Will Barca will be back in for the player in January? Well, our friends at Nike -- who sponsor the Brazil international -- seem pretty confident he'll be at the Camp Nou. An advert popped up on their site urging you buy a Barca shirt with his name on it! The advertisement, on the company's official website, said Coutinho was "ready...

Mother Like This: Court remands mother in prison for allegedly pouring hot water on son

The accused, a 40-year-old petty trader appeared before Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, on a charge for murder.

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ court on Friday remanded Mary Eze, in Ikoyi prison for allegedly pouring hot water on her seven-year-old son for misplacing N200 which led to his death.

The accused, a 40-year-old petty trader appeared before Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, on a charge for murder, but her plea was not taken by the court.

The Investigating Police Officer, (IPO) Insp. Chris Akpanomo, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 8,  at No. 670, Ikorodu Road, Owode Elede in Ikorodu.

He alleged that the accused had sent the deceased with the last N200 she had, to buy food for her, but he returned to tell her that he had misplaced the money.

According to Akpanomo, out of annoyance she poured hot water on him, locked him in the house and went about her daily routine.

He added that it was his persistent shouts that attracted neighbours, who rushed him to the hospital where he later died.

The offence contravened section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which stipulates a death sentence for convicts.

The Chief Magistrate ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons pending the outcome of legal advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP’s).

She, however, adjourned the case until January 24, 2018 for legal advice.

Man City fail to match Bayern for longest winning run in Europe's top 5 leagues

Manchester City's winning streak ends at 18, but more unfortunate for Guardiola is the injuries suffered on Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne. Manchester City's record Premier League winning run is over at 18 consecutive victories, with Crystal Palace claiming on 0-0 draw against them on New Year's Eve. That means they fall one game short of the record across Europe's top five leagues. Pep Guardiola's side have the longest winning streak in the English top flight, and while he has failed to make it to 19 with City he still actually holds the record from his time at Bayern Munich. ESPN FC's correspondents look at the best runs in Europe's...

In Tanzania: Albino children hunted for their body parts get a new new shot at life

Two Tanzanian boys with albinism got new prosthetic limbs after they had their arms cut off.

The killing of albinos is common in Tanzania.

One out every 1,500 Tanzanians is an albino. Despite the high rate, albinos are not seen as ideal human beings.

Superstitious beliefs have led to the killing of albinos in the Great Lakes region in Tanzania.

Tanzanian beliefs

They think that persons with albinism are not human,” Vicky Ntetema told “Nightline” on ABC. “If there's any disaster, there is drought, there are floods, hurricanes … they are blamed for that.”

 

Ntetema is the executive director of Under the Same Sun, an NGO based in Canada dedicated to the plight of dedicated albinos.

“The witch doctors are like gods,” Ntetema said. “They tell their clients that bones and other organs of persons with albinism if mixed with a magic potion … will make them successful, will make them win elections, will make their businesses boom, will help even in their love affairs.”

The Story of Baraka and Mwigulu

Two Tanzanian children, with albinism  Baraka, 7, and Mwigulu, 14  are victims of this backward way of thinking.

When Mwigulu was 10 his arm was cut off. "One day we were coming from school,” he said through a translator. “We saw two people who were walking ahead of us. … One covered my face. And the other one starting cutting me. He cut the first time and he missed … He cut the second time and this time succeeded. Then he took my arm and ran away with it" he said through a translator.

ALSO READ: In Ondo, albinos get free eye glasses, sun protection creams

At just four years old, albino hunters broke into his home and cut off his hand. "Baraka himself was screaming,” Ntetema said. “The mother was left alone -- to defend Baraka." She ended up with some serious head injuries.

The law however caught up with the perpetrators. Three men who attacked Baraka were sentenced to 62 years. Mwigulu's attackers, six men, were sentenced to 20 years each.

Vicky Ntetema

Vicky Ntetema was once a journalist, a radio reporter for BBC Africa for 18 years. In 2008 she had an award-winning report which saw her go undercover as a businesswoman in search of business parts.

While the report got her awards it also got her into trouble. After the report came out she had to go underground. Ntetema also received a lot of death threats, some from officials in power she claimed.

Prosthetic Limbs

This summer both boys Baraka and Mwigulu travelled to New York to get prosthetic limbs. They stayed at the  Dare to Dream House in Staten Island, New York for three months. The Dare to Dream House is run by Global Medical Relief Fund, a nonprofit which facilitates treatment for young victims of war or natural disasters who have lost limbs.

 

This was the second time the boys were in New York. They were there 2 years ago to get prosthetic limbs which they eventually outgrew.

Happy Ending

The prosthetic treatment of Baraka, Mwigulu and 2 other Tanzanian boys was arranged by Global Medical Relief Fund’s executive director Elissa Montanti. Over the span of two decades, Montanti has raised enough money for over 200 amputee children.

 

A few weeks later after their arrival, the four boys got their prosthetic limbs.

Ironic: This white man has been posing as a Nigerian Prince to scam people

67-year-old Micheal Neu, was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a “Nigerian prince" fraud scheme that defrauded people of thousands of dollars.

Louisiana police have arrested a man parading himself as a Nigerian prince, and successfully scamming thousands.

The man, 67-year-old Micheal Neu, was reportedly arrested on suspicion of involvement in a “Nigerian prince" fraud scheme that defrauded people of thousands of dollars.

ALSO READ: Nigerian man gets jailed 4 years in UK jail for fraud

Newsweek reports that he now faces 269 counts of wire fraud and money laundering after being taken into custody after an 18-month long investigation.

The Slidell Police Department revealed in a statement that Neu acted as a “middleman” for a group of Nigerian scammers, obtaining money and wiring funds to his co-conspirators.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the scammers are said to operate by posing as Nigerian royalty or high-ranking officials and persuading victims to provide them with financial assistance or personal information to retrieve a non-existent inheritance.

"Most people laugh at the thought of falling for such a fraud, but law enforcement officials report annual losses of millions of dollars to these schemes," Slidell police said in a statement.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said in a released statement. "Never give out personal information over the phone, through e-mail, cash checks for other individuals, or wire large amounts of money to someone you don’t know. 99.9 percent of the time, it’s a scam.”

ALSO READ: Scammer charged to court for N81m fraud

The police also revealed that their investigation is ongoing but that the fact that many of those accused of involvement in the scheme live outside the U.S., and this has proved to be a problem for the investigation.

Although these scams have become notorious, thousands still fall for them.

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Feeling like a baller? Here are some of Lagos’ havens of sophistication

Casa Ilashe is a private beach club designed for the ultimate getaway from city life.

Lagos has some of West Africa’s best hotels, private beaches and shops. If you’re in Lagos this festive season and you’re in the mood to celebrate, here are some ideas on where to live it up!

 

1. Casa Ilashe

Nestled in a rustic little area directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Casa Ilashe is a private beach club designed for the ultimate getaway from city life. With serene beach houses and a scenic view of the ocean, all you need is a Cîroc cocktail and the trifecta is complete.

2. ALARA

While you’re out on the town at Africa’s leading concept store, don’t forget to stop at NOK by ALARA.  There’s a lovely vodka-cocktail, Dre Beets, waiting for you to enjoy – just make sure you make the cheeky Cîroc request.

 

3. La Manga Luxury Beach Villas

We can’t get enough of these beach resorts. What’s not to love? Setting sun, white sands, the shorts and shirt/bikini life, Cîroc cocktail in hand, jet-skiing, boat rides, name it! The beach houses at La Manga are Spanish-inspired architectural masterpieces with exquisitely finished bedrooms and sliding doors opening to a view of, you guessed right, the open sea.

This is a sponsored post.

Travel Tips: Top 3 destinations to ring in 2018

In no particular order, here are 3 of our favorite cities to be when the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s.

One of the most frequently asked questions this festive season is ‘How do I celebrate the New Year?’

We are all in the constant search for the most vivid New Year experiences. In no particular order, here are 3 of our favorite cities to be when the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s.

1. New York

The iconic countdown ball drop at the Times Square has hosted top performers such as Mariah Carey, Fergie, Jason Derulo and many more. The grounds are always full but some hotels nearby offer fantastic views of all the festivities.

 

      2.  Dubai

If you saw the record-breaking feat in 2014, this will blow your mind. Until 2016, this city held the world record for the largest fireworks display and is already making plans to reclaim that record come January 1 2018. Dubbed Light Up 2018, this edition promises a brilliant display and a few surprises for its revelers.

 

      3.   Lagos

January 1 2018, Cîroc The New Year is the only place to be. This exclusive beach party is taking place at New Ember Creek with your favorite superstar DJs, DJ Cuppy & DJ Spinall set to rock the show. We can’t wait for this one!

Strictly by Invitation.

This is a sponsored post.

Richmond Gates Estate: The Nigerian ‘Beverly Hills’ celebrates Christmas

Built by Haven Homes, Richmond Gates Estate offers a quiet oasis for celebrities and expatriates with their families.

Richmond Gates Estate by Haven Homes in the Lekki Peninsula recently threw a Christmas party for her residents and as expected, the resident celebrities were not missing in action.

Richmond Gates Estate is an emerging city for celebrities. With its quiet streets and cul-de-sacs, state-of-the-art security systems, 24 Hr uninterrupted electricity, the estate is haven for celebrities.

Built by Haven Homes, Richmond Gates Estate offers a quiet oasis for celebrities and expatriates with their families. With long years and experience in estate development, Haven Homes latest product, Richmond Gates estate, was built with celebrities’  vips and expatriates  privacy in mind such that from the building to the winding driveways, the idea is to create a special area that will become an haven for celebrities convenience in the ever bustling Nigerian commercial city of Lagos.

Situated in Lekki, with a standard recreation centre and a shopping mall, Richmond Gates Estate is a paradise on earth. It boast of a standard swimming pool and gym. No stone was left unturned to make the estate feel homely and extraordinary in beauty and luxury.

Top Nigerian celebrities A List celebrities are already residents in the estate and many more are coming. Celebrities love their privacy and Richmond Gates Estate is doing what Beverly Hills is doing for Nigerian celebrities.

This is a sponsored post.

Wole Soyinka: This man is one of the coolest Nigerians ever, so put some respect on his name

Wole Soyinka deserves the utmost respect from Nigerians of all ages.

The kids of today might only know Wole Soyinka as the 83-year-old man with the coolest Afro in the world.

The silver-haired literary giant might seem to be a relic of an old generation in the eyes of millennials. This is because most cool kids on Twitter don't know their past.

Wole Soyinka is one of the coolest Nigerians to have ever walked the face of the earth. And whatever issues you have about his political silence these days please put some respect on his name.

 

The Nobel Laureate has lived a rich and fulfilling life that would take the best of Hollywood writers to conjure. Here is a brief history of one of the coolest Nigerians ever.

Origin

Wole Soyinka comes from the fine Egba stock in the Yoruba tribe. Born in 1934 in Abeokuta city, the English Professor is the cousin to another cool Nigerian, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

 

As a matter of fact, his mother was the daughter of  Rev. Canon J. J. Ransome-Kuti. Just a bit of trivia for you guys,  Rev. Canon J. J. Ransome-Kuti was the first Nigerian to release an album.

Educational Background

He attended prestigious Nigerian schools such as Abeokuta Grammar School and Government College in Ibadan. In 1952, he went to University College, Ibadan and studied English Literature, Greek and Western history.

Wole Soyinka wrote one of the greatest Nigerian books of all time 'The Lion & The Jewel' which was published in 1962 by Oxford University Press.

ALSO READ: Wole Soyinka refuses to speak on Buhari's 2nd term

Political Rebel

Three years later, in 1965, Wole Soyinka pulled off a brazen move that has remained the stuff of legends. He held up a radio station at gunpoint and reportedly replaced the tape of the speech of the premier of the Western region with a tape that had accusations of malpractice. Wole Soyinka was arrested and spent a few months behind bars for this.

The great author and poet would be more involved in Nigerian politics after this. After the coup in 1966, he met with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in an unofficial capacity in Enugu in 1967. Soyinka did his best to avert the civil war but was imprisoned for 22 months.

 

During this period, Wole Soyinka wrote a lot on toilet paper since he didn't have access to writing materials. At the end of the civil war, he was freed along with other political prisoners.

Nobel Laureate

Wole Soyinka continued churning out literary works and in 1986 he became the first African to be awarded the Nobel prize for Literature.

Exile

Still, an activist, his criticism of the Abacha led government made him go into exile in 1994. He would later be charged with treason in 1997. Wole Soyinka would later come back into the country after the death of the dictator has been one of the few Nigerians who has spoken up against injustice, corruption and bad governance.

With a career spanning six decades, Wole Soyinka has touched every facet of Nigerian life from politics, arts, culture, movies and more.

People should put more respect on his name.

Father From Hell: Man kills his 6yr old daughter in Abeokuta

Andrew Koku has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly killing of his own daughter.

Andrew Koku a resident of Ayedere, Abeokuta, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly killing of his own six-month-old daughter, Precious koku.

According to the Police report, Omowunmi Teleda, the mother of the child was said to have filed a complaint at the Adigbe Police Division that she quickly went out to see her first child that she had with her ex-husband, leaving the six-month-old baby behind with Andrew the suspect.

“She told the police that when she returned to the house, she met Precious dead.”

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer, said Omowinmi explained that the baby was healthy when she left home.

The PPRO said, “The development made her to suspect her husband, who happened to be the only person with the baby.

“Consequent upon her complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Adigbe division, Sunday Oladipo, detailed detectives to the scene and the suspect was arrested on December 24.”

During interrogation, the suspect confessed that to the crime,  he then claimed that he killed the baby because he feared that his wife would leave him.

Ahmad Iliyasu, the police spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police,  had directed that the case be transferred to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.

Article by Ayomide Adebola

Yusuf Buhari: President Buhari's son puts him on list of African leaders with exuberant children

Zimbabwe's Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe is a prominent controversial figure due to his exuberant character.

President Muhammadu Buhari's son, Yusuf was involved in an accident on Boxing Day, December 26, 2017, at the Gwarimpa district of the Federal Capital Territory. He was reportedly racing at top speed against a friend on a power bike causing him to crash and sustain a head injury.

Very tough discomfort if you are the offspring of the President of Nigeria, a status that offers access to state luxury and privileges. No one can afford to ride a power bike if they are poor right? This is because one has to be in a certain state of mind to desire it - rich!

 

For Yusuf, this ruins his long streak of maintaining a quiet life as the son of the most powerful man in the entire country. Credit to him for living up to the conservative personality that defines his father, does anyone remember the "I belong to everybody, and I belong to nobody" speech?

ALSO READ: President’s daughter, Zahra speaks on her brother’s accident

Buhari who has had a year of medical issues himself becomes one of the African presidents who had trouble due to the behaviour of their children.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, the president of the Republic of the Congo became a subject of scandal after a sex tape of his daughter, Claudia Sassou emerged on the internet.

As Newsdze Zimbabwe reports, a boyfriend of the latter had threatened to release the clip if she does not make a payment of $50,000 to him. Claudia however called his bluff which resulted in huge consequences.

 

The video showed the 50-year-old woman unclad while engaging in a sexual intercourse with the blackmailer who was anonymous throughout the scene. She appeared to have given consent to the philanderer to carry on with the recording based on eye contact.

This is not a new thrill for the first daughter who has had her name mentioned in an earlier scandalous affair. Claudia, an adviser to her father on communication was involved in corruption allegations concerning the purchase of a mansion valued at a sum of $3.4 million in France.

Though not particularly related to scandal, only a lack of shame. Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, the son of ousted President Robert Mugabe stirred negative reactions when he posted a sad face on Facebook when his father was removed from power. Other users criticized him for not seeing anything wrong with the long rein as well as his excessive playboy lifestyle.

He "regularly hits the African headlines as one of the continent's most outrageous spenders," the Daily Mail UK described him in a report. He once wrote on his Instagram, "$60,000 on the wrist when your daddy run the whole country ya know."

His character has a bearing of someone who associates his position as an opportunity to tour the world as opposed to helping build it.

ALSO READ: All you need to know about accident involving president's son

It is great to learn that Yusuf Buhari is doing better and recovering well following an announcement by his sister, but if he wants to do better than Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe and help the cause for nationwide development, he should stay away from riding  a power bike at top speed and injurying himself.

He is only allowed to do this if the campaign is a potential F1 sponsored "Safer Security for Children in Gwoza".

Yusuf's injury is a fall for the Nigerian youths in influential positions. They should start seeing their position as an opportunity to drive a change that will allow for a widespread involvement of young people in government.

In Zimbabwe: Pandemonium as indebted nurse was stripped naked on graduation day

The angered nurses who had to cough out a sum of $95 have insisted on pressing charges.

Students in a Zimbabwe nursing school caused pandemonium during a graduation ceremony where a learner, Eurita Churu, was stripped naked for defrauding some graduands.

The commotion which occurred in Harare Garden was facilitated by a man identified as Evans Mudavanhu, who promised to provide jobs for the honourees as soon as a payment of US$95 is made. This was expected to cover for the cost of food served on the graduation day, name tags, uniforms and certificates but none of these were fulfilled, H-Metro reports.

 

This prompted a group molestation of Churu which was serious enough to invite the attention of the police. An officer was seen in a picture trying to protect the woman accused of fraud as the aggressors made to put off her dresses which was not successful, however they were able to have her bra exposed.

The abused as well as others distinguished as Trisah and Sarah were taken to the police station where 300 students from the nursing school have promised to lodge a complaint concerning the matter. Their interest lies in finding the main culprit, Mudavanhu.

“We want Evans here because he is the one who sent Eurita, Trisah and Sarah to demand money on a training they said was being funded by a nongovernmental organization,” one of the angry learners said.

“What irked us is that they are failing to give us our certificates only to give us fake ones written different things.

“Mudavanhu was ordering these ladies to ask us pay US$95 each to cover cost of food on this graduation day, name tags, uniforms and certificates.

“Mudavanhu demanded US$10 from those who wanted to be helped in getting attachment to hospitals like Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Harare among others.

“He even bedded some of the students promising them jobs,” she added.

ALSO READ: Prostitute stripped naked after burgling customer's home in Onitsha [Video]

When contacted by H-Metro in connection with the allegation leveled against him, he reportedly pleaded with the news agency to squash its interest in publishing the story in exchange for a bribe.

Apparently, it refused the offer based on a quote from an article it published, "h-metro refused to entertain mudavanhu’s bribe offers".

 

This points to integrity in journalism which isn't widely practiced. Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, became the subject of a bribery scandal earlier in the year 2017, that saw an estranged friend, Lekan Fatodu.

ALSO READ: Sahara Reporters demanded $1M bribe from Senate President, says Omisore

Fatodu, who is a UK based journalist and PR practitioner, alleged that the media executive  published disparaging articles about him after refusing his request for a bribe.

A text message showed a conversation between the pair. It contained Sowore's demand for a cut in monies awarded to Fatodu in a Federal Government of Nigeria contract.

Dishonouring the Dead: Zimbabwean man caught having sex with prostitute at wife's burial

A man who heard the philanderers vocalizing during sexual intercourse reported them to neighbours.

In Gweru, Zimbabwe, a man named Luscious Chiturumani was caught having sex with a prostitute while attending his late wife's burial.

Hmetro reported that the subject who visited his in-laws resided in Chiredzi for the occasion introduced his company as his sister. Both were allocated a room where they were found having sexual intercourse in the morning following their arrival.

 

Reports gathered revealed that a man who was smoking by the window of where the pair were sleeping heard strange sounds which encouraged him to inform people living within the vicinity.

It was feared that the duo might be in danger. Upon opening their room, they were found entwined in the act of love making.

ALSO READ: Congo's president rocked by scandal following viral sex tape of daughter

Grace Mtethwa, a relation of the deceased who died after a brief illness was not impressed by Chiturumani's behaviour stating that she had never encountered such an instance before.

“It is very much disgusting what my uncle has done. Humbwa chaiwo.

“He has proven to be a dog and lacking any sense of morality. How can someone come all the way from Gweru to have sex here aaah? I had never seen anything like such in my entire life.

"He was not able to fully pay the dowry of the deceased but he found the courage to bring a prostitute saying it was his sister," she said angrily.

ALSO READ: Drunk couple caught having sex at a funeral service

 

The disgraceful act was welcomed by mob justice according to Hmetro.

Chiturumani, who was physically abused in form of slaps and kicks received, was made to walk half naked with his company. Both had a car expected to take them away waiting as the crowd made to punish them for dishonouring the dead.

Pulse List: 5 types of people we don't want to see on Twitter in 2018

Twitter is cool but we would prefer not to see these types of people in 2018.

2017 is nearly over and most of us are hoping not to see some things re-occur on Twitter.

The social network was a madhouse in 2017 with a lot of things going down. Some of them were good and some of them were just plain bad.

Here are 5 things we don’t want to see on Twitter in 2018;

1) Pick Me Up Twitter

 

This is the self-righteous part of Twitter NG where its members blow their trumpets and paint themselves as saints. Pick Me Up Twitter comes off as very lame and annoying. Going into the New Year we don’t want people telling us how they are the ideal boyfriend/girlfriend material.

2) Rape apologists

 

There is no excuse for rape but some people on Twitter don’t get it. Whenever a case of sexual assault or rape comes up on the TL, they blame the victim for getting raped. In 2018, we should have a zero tolerance towards this type of people.

3) Gender Wars

ALSO READ: Bambiala Twitter has taken away our innocence

Some of us really got sick of the gender wars that happened a lot on Twitter this year. Everyone needs to chill on the men versus women argument in 2018. Twitter used to be a place fun, let’s not forget that.

4) Pro-Domestic Violence guy

 

There is always one guy that tends to bring up a reason why men should beat up women. He tells you domestic violence is bad but adds a ‘but’ and offers a reason why women shouldn’t ‘provoke’ men into anger. Nah, bro. There is no place for you on Twitter in 2018.

5) Catfish scammers

 

 In 2017, I bet a good looking woman slid into your DM or timeline to beg for money. Most times, the person behind the account is a fraudster. We had a lot of these accounts around this year but thankfully a couple of them were exposed. In this New Year, we don’t these catfish swindlers hanging on our timelines.

Fuel Scarcity: A young person's guide in dealing with fuel scarcity

During this period of fuel scarcity there are ways for you to cope.

The fuel scarcity is no joke. It hit us hard in December 2017.

Hopefully, the queues would disappear before the New Year but right now we are in the thick of it.

It’s hard to go about your daily business when there is serious fuel scarcity in town. Bus fares have doubled and tripled and let’s not even talk about Uber and Taxify rates.

 

Still, life must go on despite the fuel shortage. There are ways to go about your daily life or business despite the everyday struggle that is fuel scarcity.

For young people, this is how you can deal with the fuel scarcity.

Stock Up On Fuel

 

Fuel is an essential commodity. Make sure you have enough fuel to last you for 7 days. This includes your generator and car if you have one. You have to stockpile enough fuel so that you won’t be in a queue every two, three days. By stocking up on fuel you can plan tour days better and save more money.

ALSO READ: A young person's guide to buying petrol during fuel scarcity

Prioritize

 

During a period of fuel scarcity, it is important that you prioritize. This is not the time to switch on your generator because you want to charge your phones or switch on the Television. Generators should only be used at night for at least 4-5 hours. During this period you can charge phones and power bank as well. This is also not the period to use up all the fuel in the car because you want to hang out with your friends. If it is not really important there is no point going out.

Public Transport

 

If you don’t have a car and you want to get somewhere urgently it is better you try public transport or the yellow cabs over Uber and Taxify. The surge during this period costs a fortune. Yellow cabs are cheaper and buses are way cheaper compared to the pricey global taxi brands. Better yet, take BRT. The prices are fixed no matter what.

Go Early

 

When going out whether in your car or by public transport please ensure that you go early. The roads are very unpredictable during this period. The long queues at fuel stations have been known to cause major traffic on the roads which last for hours. If you must go and see someone set off early or you would most likely regret it.

Accident in Delta State, Nigeria: A child dies in highway accident that sent vehicle tumbling

People gathered at the scene were heard giving various analysis concerning the auto crash which killed a child.

A tragic accident on a highway in Igbodo, Delta State, has sent a vehicle tumbling down, claiming the life of child.

This was confirmed in a video where a man was heard assessing the damage. The scene of the auto crash had people murmuring in choruses as they tried to process the loss. It was hard to ascertain if anyone survived the impact.

 

The car which was turned on its back had engine oil spilling from it. One of the people who visited the scene was seen gathering some luggage which likely fell out of the ride during the crash.

Christmas season in Nigeria is often associated with multiple car crashes, mostly as a result of the high number of people travelling to their hometowns for the holiday. Some make their journey in the dead of the night.

Though this offers a speedy movement due to lesser motorists on the road, environmental factors such as poorly lit roads and armed robbers make navigating a big risk.

ALSO READ: Multiple accidents on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge injures about 5 persons

The reckless attitude of drivers might also be a point to considered as one of the reasons why there are a lot of accidents on Nigerian roads even when it is not the holiday.

Some people have been observed to enjoy massive speed at the expense of their lives.

Traffic management agencies have not been able to implement safety measures expected to help curb rampant accidents.

 

For example, the attention to maintaining speed limits is often a common subject when discussing ways to prevent car crashes but there is no laid down mechanism targeted at bringing offenders to book.

Perhaps, when motorists start to see more seriousness in traffic management officials, they might consider buckling up.

For now, they need to get their acts together in time for a new year of safer roads I hope.

A Perv and the Girl: With N100, 70-yr-old ex-soldier severally rapes little girl now pregnant

The victim who is now five months into pregnancy felt threatened by the former military person.

In Ibadan, Nigeria, Mr. Shuaibu Ahmed, a 70-year-old ex-soldier initiated a sexual assault on a girl of 14 who is five months pregnant, by paying her N100 after getting her disvirgined.

The victim in a report by Vanguard News revealed that her tormentor who also threatened to kill her if she divulged details of their activities acknowledged that he deflowered her. It was further confirmed that the former military person also known as 'Papa Soldier' gave her a higher N200 denomination in a subsequent meeting.

 

He interchanged between these values according to the teenager who insisted that she didn't not resist the septuagenarian because of the money but due to a fear for her life. All these began when she was sent by her sister to Papa Soldier's house to collect some compact discs. A day she will forever remember in horror.

“Sometime last year or thereabout, my sister sent me to Papa Soldier’s (Papa Soldier) house to collect some compact discs for her.

“The man was sitting in front of his house when I got there. He said the CD was inside on the table. As I went inside, he tiptoed in after me and hurriedly locked the door when I had entered. He removed my clothes, underwear and forced himself on me.

“I tried to shout, but he blocked my mouth and threatened to kill me. After he was through, I saw some whitish substance on me. It was then he told me he had deflowered me and that I should not tell anybody about it.

“Since then he has been having sex with me and each time he would warn me and even threaten to kill me.

“At times, he will give me N100 or N200. The day he deflowered me, he gave me N100. I was not enticed by money; it was his constant threats that frightened me.

“I could not tell anyone because I didn’t want to die. I just finished JSS 1. I had not started menstruation when he first forced me. It was after that encounter I started seeing my period," she narrated.

ALSO READ: Raped at 16, Megan Gibson willingly had one-night-stands until therapy

Thanks to a woman who lives in her neighbourhood who noticed that the physical changes in her was suggestive of pregnancy, the girl's father who was quite distraught upon learning that his child was sexually abused, has informed the police who now have the suspect into custody at Mokola Police Station.

 

According to the neighbour who spoke anonymously, Papa Soldier has been transferred to the state police's Criminal Investigation Department.

Trusted people are mostly the rape culprits

Several cases of rapes against minors were perpetrated by those close to the family of the victims who are slow to suspect due to trust. Other times it is often based on the naivety of the abused.

A police officer in Anambra State, Corporal Barau Garba offers a good example.

 

The security agent reportedly abducted a 14-year-old girl who he turned into a sex slave. According to a human rights activist and journalist, Comrade Alhassan Haruna Dambatta, the officer accosted the girl who lost the money given to her for an errand that took her to the city of Onitsha from Asaba, Delta State.

Garba reportedly promised to take the teenager who was of northern heritage to her parents but that never happened until the child reached out to them over the phone.

Perhaps, there is a relationship between the high rate of rape in Nigeria and the way women are perceived in the society.

 

Numerous tribal cultures see folks of the female gender as objects who have limited influence in decision making. Their natural role remains domestic duties in their homes.

ALSO READ: Nigerian man jailed in the UK for raping, impregnating teacher

This has resulted in an intense activism and discussion about feminism which promotes equal importance and opportunities for both men and women. Though one may find the latter in leadership positions which gives them power over men, it can be perceived that the traditional society has not given them a true confirmation that they truly belong at the table of men.

Make Nigeria Better: While escaping from Indonesian immigration officers, Nigerian man suffers heart attack and dies

Obinna who was evading the Indonesian immigration officers, took shelter at his friend's residence where he died.

In Indonesia, a Nigerian male citizen, Obinna, suffered a heart attack which led to his death while attempting to escape a raid carried out by immigration officers  in the country.

He reportedly sought shelter at the residence of a friend where he passed away while lying on a rocker. The Linda Ikeji's blog stated that the officials found him dead after forcefully breaking into the apartment where he was hiding.

 

A picture of the deceased showed him in a reclined position with a cloth covering his whole length. His body has been deposited at a morgue according to reports.

ALSO READ: Man falls off 8th storey building while escaping police

Nigerians are leaving their country

In search of brighter opportunities, some Nigerians who got tired of hoping for a positive change in their country have turned to any country beyond the shores of Africa.

 

While the United States of America and the continent of Europe remains a favourite destination, other Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia have become popular choices.

ALSO READ: Nigerian shot dead by police in Malaysia

Most Nigerian citizens visit these nations with no particular reason but hope to find odd jobs in order to sustain themselves. As an alternative, many have taken to drug trafficking which has fetched some the capital punishment.

Recently, a group of Nigerians were flown from Libya back to their country following reports of human trafficking that saw the deaths of the Nigerian nationals.

 

In the midst of this, a global attention was brought to the reported slavery in Libya.

World celebrities including those in Nigeria lend their voices to the social crisis which once again brought up a discussion concerning the ill-treatment experienced by the black race.

Christmas Food Palaver: Ex-boxer beats wife to death over money for yuletide cooking

It was also reported that Everitus had fled the community after coming to terms with reality of his actions.

An ex-boxer, whose name has been given as Everitus is currently being wanted by the police in Anambra State over the death of his wife, Fidelia.

According to a report by Punch, Everitus allegedly ended his wife's life during a disagreement at their home in Uli, in the Ihiala Local Government Area over her demand for funds to cook for Christmas.

It was also reported that Everitus had fled the community after coming to terms with reality of his actions.

Irked youths seek revenge

The report also narrated how some irked youths in the community sought revenge on Everitus, when he was nowhere to be found.

The matter was said to have been reported to the police at the Ihiala division as the youths, who vented their anger, moved to destroy Everitus’s country house in Amamputu village.

The angry mob, it was reported, allegedly set Everitus’ country house ablaze.

ALSO READ: Man in prison for beating pregnant wife to death

A source gives insight into the murder

A source in the community had reportedly explained the several phases of Everitus and Fidelia's marriage which led to the eventual death of the wife.

The source said, “The man and the wife had been married for some time now. They usually have disagreements. The man was a retired boxer who has become a pastor of a charismatic church.

“The wife, who is a trader in Ekeagbagba Market, had asked him for money that she wanted to prepare food for Christmas.

“That was what started the fight. He beat her to death over the issue. The man is on the run, while the case has been reported to the police.”

In similar occurrences, over ten different husbands reportedly murdered their wives during disagreements and marital issues.

In 2016 alone, about 15 different cases were reported in different states of Nigeria.

Scarred Memories: Raped at 16, Megan Gibson willingly had one-night-stands until therapy

Megan Gibson was raped twice. The second was an incident that occurred following her marriage.

Megan Gibson, a US woman who was raped at 16, talked about the trauma caused by the act which made her to seek one-night-stands until she found therapy.

Now based in Okinawa, Japan, the rape victim who is now a wellness therapist with three children disclosed that she nursed suicidal thoughts in response to the incident.

 

Dealing with the aftermath of a forced sexual intercourse with a man about 10 years older than her forced her into a feeling of guilt.

All seemed like a past to be buried after getting married and starting a family, but a sad fate will have her taste a similar encounter while at a party held before relocating to Japan in September 2014.

ALSO READ: How policeman abducted 14-yr-old girl, raped her for days

This time around it was the law that failed her, making sure that people she considered as friends got away with the sexual assault.

 

“Before we knew it, we had orders to go to Japan. One huge house party and a fun night to celebrate our send off, and my world came crashing down again.

“I couldn’t believe it. How did this happen again? I was assaulted by people I considered my friends.

“I reported them, clung to justice, and prayed they would never hurt another again, but my case never made it past the investigation. Every agency failed me," the Daily Mail UK quotes Gibson in a report.

The issue of rape is a global plague that has seen women suffer in silence

In Nigeria, there is a confidence around it that encourages perpetrators brag about it on social media. Recently, a man named Enyeobi Donatus brought attention to himself after sharing a guide on how best to rape a woman on Facebook.

This brought about the involvement of the S.T.E.R Initiative, an N.G.O dedicated to fighting rape in Nigeria. It launched an investigation that had the suspect who worked at a maritime company, on the run.

 

Another youth, Vhyktoh Gustor, found enjoyment in telling his Facebook friends how skilled he is in forcing women to sex on first dates. These incidents portray Nigeria as a country which hasn't displayed a sternness concerning its intolerance when it relates to rape.

With the youths chiefly leading the menace, there are concerns about the future.

Former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria edging closer to Barcelona move

Gab Marcotti explains why Ernesto Valverde deserves a tremendous amount of credit for Barcelona's dominant start in La Liga. The FC crew rate the first half of the season for Barcelona and Real Madrid, as Barca continue to run away with La Liga. With the calendar soon turning over to the new year, the gossip ahead of the January transfer window is heating up. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest rumours. Barca to finally land Di Maria? Barcelona are moving ahead with plans to sign Angel Di Maria, with the offer from last summer to Paris Saint-Germain still standing at €45 million and €15m in bonuses. Sport reports that the Argentina international may join the exclusive club of players to have played for both Real Madrid and...

Pulse List: 5 activities that are considered bad in dreams

There are certain activities that happen in dreams that are seen as troubling.

The Yorubas have a saying that dreams are stupid. We have dreams that defy logic and seem weird to us.

There is a school of thought that believes that no dream is stupid, no matter how silly it is. These people believe a dream holds a lot of meaning and is a snapshot of an event that will likely happen in one's life.

This has led to myths concerning certain types of objects in your dreams. Interpretation of dreams is taking seriously in Nigeria because of the belief that dreams indicate possible futuristic events.

 

Here are some of the popular activities that are considered bad when they occur in dreams;

1) Eating in your dream

 

It is widely believed that eating food in your dream is a bad omen. The popular interpretation of this is that you are being poisoned by your enemy. This particular belief has been duplicated so many times in Nollywood over the decades.

2) Having sex in your dream

 

According to Nigerians, when this happens in your dream you have been initiated to the spiritual world and demonic possession. It is believed that men and women get tied to demons when they have sex in their dreams.

3) Flying

 

This is another activity in dreams that is widely perceived to be bad. Spiritualists in Nigeria say anyone who flies in his or her dream has been initiated into witchcraft. Flying in dreams is seen as a sign of evil association.

4) Dying

 

When you die in your dream it is believed to be a premonition of what is about to happen in real life. It is widely believed that evil forces are after you and they have placed a bounty on your head.

5) Physical Combat

 

The popular belief is that when you fight in your dream, it means you are fighting against dark forces of the spiritual world. Even some Christians believe this is true and that is why they pray and fast if they dream they are being assaulted or beaten.

Curious Cat: This app is helping young Nigerians shoot their shot but it has a big problem

Curious Cat is that trendy new app that allows you to ask questions without fear of being judged.

"Curiosity once killed the cat" goes the old saying. These days Curious Cat is helping young people express themselves anonymously.

Origin of Curious Cat

Created in early 2016 by Marco Balbona and his cousin Nuno, the app is officially defined as "a Q&A social network...where you can ask and receive questions, sometimes anonymously" according to the website.

 

In essence, it is a great app for shooting your shot, thirsting after your crush and asking that Twitter cool kid some personal questions. Curious Cat has really picked up on Nigerian Twitter users late 2017.

Nigerian User Experience

Titi who says he uses Curious Cat "off and on," says she joined the social network "Cos everyone was (on it),  so I decided to see what’s about."

Her experience on it so far ranges from "okay" to "nice". She's part of the young people on Curious Cat. Hardly a day goes by without you seeing someone replying a question from Curious Cat on your timeline. With the way the app is built, you can reply questions on it and make it show on your timeline. This gives you the ability to give your followers access to your confessional booth.

During this Christmas period, I decided to be like Titi and follow the trend have a first-hand experience.

My First-Hand Experience

The first question I got from Curious Cat on Boxing Day was which rapper I prefer "Olamide or Reminisce?" To stay on the safe side, I gave a political answer - "actually both of them."

 

The next question was "How's your wife in Ibadan and the twins?" This is an inside joke in the Loose Talk podcast. I gave a cool reply to it. Things started becoming weird after that. I started receiving questions that I dare not reproduce here.

And this is the bad thing about Curious Cat. Under the guise of anonymity, people ask sexual questions that most times lean towards sexual harassment. When you get a sexually explicit question about your beard, it becomes a bit disturbing.

Sexual Harassment and Cyber Bullying

Cyberbullying and creepy sex posts are part of Curious Cat. "I barely reply them, most times (I) delete them," says Titi who gets asked sexually offensive questions frequently. 

Balbona understands this problem and created a solution. The app now has features to moderate and block such questions. "We’ve had a few people complaining about bullying, but we’ve given users the tools to prevent it," he told New Statesman in August 2016.

Still, you tend to see a lot of freaky things on there. Trolls will be trolls I guess. I got off from the app after I got hit 11 answers and six followers. Curious Cat isn't just for me. Some of the questions there made me uncomfortable.

Confessional Apps & Twitter Accounts

Despite this flaw in the genetic makeup of Curious Cat, people still flock to it. The answer isn't far-fetched. The app belongs to a long line of apps that are confessionals like ask.fm.

 

In Nigeria, this trend of expressing yourself anonymously has been around for two, three years. Twitter accounts such as the now suspended Sub Delivery Man and My Hoe Story have given an opportunity to young Nigerians to ask, comment and confess without the fear of being judged.

No one knows how long Curious Cat is going to be around for but while it is still hot on these Twitter streets you can give it a try. Don't just be offended when you get really nasty questions.

Is It Magun? Promiscuous housewife invites chain of deaths involving lovers

Clement's was confirmed to have claimed responsibility for the death of Lukmon Olowo.

In Lagos, Nigeria, the dealings of a promiscuous housewife, Mrs. Promise Clement, has led to deaths involving two of her lovers. The passing was reportedly facilitated by her husband.

The woman who is also deceased died on Sunday, October 29, 2017, in a car which belonged to one of her flirty company identified as Lukmon Olowo. They were found dead in his Toyota Corolla vehicle located around the Area G Police Command, Ogba.

 

However, there have been reports that the second lover Femi, a 35-year-old Disc Jockey was expected to die in place of Olowo.

According to the New Telegraph News, community members resided in the area where the deceased once lived confirmed that Clement's husband had initially laid down a trap for the DJ who was reportedly warned against sleeping with his wife.

ALSO READ: The Yoruba charm that prevents extra-marital affairs

Though Femi successfully evaded death in an earlier attempt, he wasn't so lucky in subsequent moves allegedly made by the husband of the late housewife. He suffered an attack during a church service that made it compulsory to have him admitted at a hospital. His father who believed that his condition was beyond a medical attention insisted on having him discharged. His death came shortly after this.

“The DJ’s father moved him from the hospital to a church for prayer. After a while, he was returned to the hospital.

“The DJ later died at the hospital. He had since been buried by his family. The church and hospital couldn’t say what was wrong with him.

"His death came as a shock to every one of us in the community. In fact, since the death of Lukmon, we have not been seeing Femi in the area," a resident of Clement's community told the New Telegraph.

ALSO READ: See faces of married lovers who died after sex in Lagos [Graphic Photos]

Confirming the rumours that Clement's husband was responsible for the death of the lovers, another resident said:

“I suspected that Femi’s death was caused by Promise’s husband. He must have punished Femi for sleeping with his wife.

"Promise’s husband had before the incident warned Femi several times to stay away from his wife. In fact, when the incident happened, Femi told some of us that the trap that Lukmon fell into, was meant for him.”

 

The New Telegraph also stated in its report that the late housewife and her host Lukmon were partly naked with the latter's genitals somewhat exposed, a factor that suggests that both were having a sexual intercourse before their deaths.

Pidgin English: The language that unites 75m Nigerians

Pidgin English is the unofficial lingua franca of Nigeria.

I can't clearly recall when I started speaking in pidgin English but it was sometime during my early JSS years.

How It All Started

This was a period when boys wanted to join the cool and hip teenage clique badly. We wanted to dress and talk like the older guys who were already in on pidgin and rocking combat pants with killer boots.

Pidgin English has no barrier, both rich and poor say it although to varying degrees. Therefore it should not be any surprise that I learnt how to speak Pidgin English in a secondary school tucked away in the fancy part of Apapa.

 

The language was new and exciting and I liked the way it rolled off the tongue. It was a new way to talk and express our feelings at an age when our hormones were raging.

Phrases like 'na wa o', and 'how far?'  were used during friendly convos when it was lunchtime. School was still school and we still had to speak proper English of course but whenever it was break time or when we had a free period, we switched to the language of the streets.

Waffi Pidgin

After a year or so of speaking in pidgin, a new guy came to our class. He is from Delta state, Warri to be precise. Deltans are not only known for speaking good pidgin, they are also famous for speaking waffi- a dialect of Nigerian pidgin English.

 

He was a standout guy and it didn't take him long to blend with the crowd. Outside class, when we were 'yarning' we noticed his Pidgin English was different from ours. He had cool words to describe things and situations that we never knew existed.

ALSO READ: Thierry Henry tries to speak Pidgin English

A Mixture Of Nigerian Languages

It was from him I started using the word 'omo' which is still prevalent in Pidgin English till date. 'Omo boy how far?', or 'omo I don't understand' are used when talking to your guy. Omo which is a Yoruba word for 'child' just goes to show you how much Pidgin English has blended popular words from the major tribes. Some of these words include 'shebi, 'nna', and 'abi'.

BBC Pidgin

It is believed that Pidgin is spoken and understood by up to 75 million people in Nigeria. It's no wonder that the BBC Pidgin was launched in August 2017 to cater for this large number of people. BBC Pidgin is not the first of its kind in Nigeria. In 2007, Wazobia FM was the first fully pidgin radio station in the country. Its success spurred the likes of Naija FM to open up shop.

Pidgin In Nigerian Pop Music

Moving beyond radio, Pidgin English is popular in Nigerian music as it helps to reach all types of people. The late great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti once said: "You cannot sing African music in proper English." Pidgin English helps break down the tribal barrier in the country.

Pidgin In Sports

Even in sports, people are gravitating towards Pidgin English content. The Twitter account @ManUtdInPidgin tweets all things Manchester United in pidgin. The account was created in August 2015 and has 36,000 followers.

 

The English language is learnt in school but Pidgin English is learnt on the streets with friends and that is why it is more intimate to use during social conversations.

Seeking a Husband: ​Beautiful Nigerian lady desperate for marriage takes search to Twitter

Sylvia Sauce hopes to meet a man with a dual nationality. Will she mind a Ghanaian-Nigerian husband? Mostly likely.

​Sylvie Sauce, a beautiful Nigerian lady has explored Twitter as a last resort as she hopes to experience marriage before the end of the year 2017.

She made sure to mention some of her physical endowment before making to list all the attributes she expects from her would-be husband who must earn not less than N300,000 as salary, of dual nationality and also a good cook.

Harmless desires right? Well, not for a bunch of Twitter users who took her to the cleaners for her long line of requests which they perceive as way too costly. Some of the brutal remarks she received suggests that.

 

Sauce, whose post got over a thousand retweets thinks the negative reactions that have trailed her tweet was as a result of her followers’ inability to meet up with her demands. This has made them to feel threatened according to the damsel.

 

ALSO READ: 'At 40, I am desperate to get married'

Though this might be a fact, but is getting married before the end of the year a realisable venture? Definitely not if one is considering that grooming a successful relationship requires time and devotion.

A question that might have probably come across the minds of those who have had a thorough look at her Twitter timeline where she shared an explicit image is if she actually intends to get married or is basically just horny.

With just about about five days to go, let’s see how things pan out.

Imo State, Nigeria: An entire family of 5 wiped out by food poisoning reportedly carried out by relation

An act of food poisoning reportedly carried out by Vitalis' brother killed his wife and three sons in a week.

In Imo State, Nigeria, a family of five consisting of three boys and their parents were reportedly killed by an act of food poisoning allegedly carried out by their relation.

The tragedy which occurred in the Amuku Obolo Isiala Mbano local government area of the eastern state brought cause for alarm for Agbalanze Onyeka Okeke who made the allegation via Facebook on Monday, December 25, 2017, a day many went about celebrating Christmas.

His comment was accompanied with a burial poster listing the family members. The couple were identified as Vitalis and Uju Nwosu, aged 56 and 42 respectively.

 

The burial of the family is expected to take place on Thursday, December 28, 2017.

ALSO READ: 3 reported dead after amala meal

No explanation has been submitted concerning what motivated the alleged killing of its members but most will hardly find shock in blood relations aiming for the death of one another over a contentious event which is often times trivial.

Recently, a youth named Prosper was apprehended while trying to use his parents for money rituals. He was found with dresses belonging to his folks. The suspect when questioned disclosed that he intended to use the wealth gathered from the activity to take care of them.

He is a youth who at the age of 24, felt he had suffered too much. But has he? In a society where young people are driving the changes observed in their communities, he is just one bad egg.

Love By Force: Man attacks girlfriend for attempting to leave him

Aisha Dikko, 21, is presently recovering at a General hospital, kurfi, in Katsina state following an attack by boyfriend.

Aisha Dikko, 21, is presently recovering at a General hospital, kurfi, in Katsina state following an attack by boyfriend.

Aisha who was rescued by a good Samaritan was left for the dead by her boyfriend, Abubakar Sule (23).

Dikko was reported to have been tricked into a bush at Tamawa village in the Kurfi Local Government Area of kaduna by her boyfriend of five years, who allegedly slashed her throat with a knife and left her believing she's dead.

The alleged notorious boyfriend, Sule, who is currently in the police custody admitted that he is guilty of the charges, claiming that he attacked her because she was planning to marry another man.

However, Sule is expected to be charged to the court very soon based on the allegations against him. Reports from THE PUNCH states that the state Commissioner of Police, Beseng Gwana, confirmed the incident, while declaring that Sule would be charged to court soon.

He said, “the Suspect abandoned the lady in the bush thinking that she was dead, but the victim was later found by a Good Samaritan and was rushed to the General Hospital , Kurfi.

"The suspect was traced and apprehended. He confessed to have committed the crime out of jealousy, because the victim had been betrothed to another man.”

Article by Afeez Adenowo

VietJet Air: Air hostesses dressed in sexy bikinis are what airline describes as friendly staff

VietJet Air has come under criticism for allegedly using sex to sell flight seats. This has happened in a similar campaign.

VietJet Air's promotional calendar for the year 2018, will get your attention not only for the huge discount, air hostesses dressed in sexy bikinis will motivate you even more.

This might seem great to randy air travelers who don't mind any form of distraction, but the South China Morning Post (SCMP) has criticized the airline for "using sex to sell seats". The marketing campaign of the Vietnamese carrier revealed women described as workers at the company dressed in an explicit manner.

 

SCMP in its report has linked this to a case of sexual harassment currently escaping the attention of the authorities, but a spokesperson for the airline rejected this position terming the company's initiative as a part of customer service.

“The hot and sexy models have always been the favourite of many VietJet passengers,"

“Not only displaying their gorgeous looks, the models posed in different cabin crew and staff roles to showcase the airline’s high-quality service and friendly staff,”  the rep observed.

ALSO READ: 'Ghana Must Go' bags no longer allowed at airports

The South China Morning Post countered this claim made by VietJet Air in an article published by the news agency on Tuesday, December 26, 2017. It described the women as models with diverse nationality as opposed to being Vietnamese.

"Of course, the women in the calendar don’t work on any of the airline’s 49 aircraft. In fact, most of them are not even Vietnamese.

"On board this risqué branding exercise are 20-year-old American model Celine Farach, the Thai runner-up of Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2017 Kwanlada Rungrojampa, and Vietnamese runner-up in Asia’s Next Top Model 2017 Nguyen Minh Tu," a quote in the report reads.

With 23 domestic and 10 international destinations within its Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City travel route, this type of agenda is not a rare thing for VietJet Air which was accused on repeating a similar tactic and describing its new marketing campaign as a “hot item for all aviation fans and travellers”.

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In August 2012, the controversial airline was fined a sum of 20 million đồng for allowing five models to perform a sexy Hawaiian-themed dance on a flight to Nha Trang, the SCMP reports.

The concern has basically been that the intense marketing strategy has no space and perhaps goes against the characteristics of a conservative country like Indonesia. The nation's ambassador to Vietnam had quickly made a public statement mentioning that VietJet’s flight attendants would not be dressed in bikinis following an announcement in August concerning the airline's intention to expand its navigation to Jakarta.

Defending the Nation: A proud Nigerian soldier at war is wishing you a merry Christmas

The military person appeared delighted to take up arms against hostilities in defense of Nigeria.

A viral video of a Nigerian soldier wishing his countrymen a merry Christmas in a broadcast sent out from a hostile territory should make you feel lucky if you are in a better condition.

The military person began the clip with an opening chorus acknowledging support from God. He soon proceeded to stating that though he has found himself in the thick of a bush, the pride of being a Nigerian soldier stays firmly rooted in him.

 

"My people happy Xmas in advance," he started.

"Enjoy yourself eh. Just thank God that you guys are out there, you guys can even eat chicken. Anything you like you can just eat. But we, we are inside the bush. We feed on anything natural and we are happy. We are proud of it. That is why we are soldiers. Enjoy. (Laughing out loud)."

The rare show of commitment by a Nigerian soldier to his duty is an indication that not every security agent is corrupt and belligerent in nature. Persons like the unnamed soldier are a reason to nurse hope concerning the future of Nigeria which has seen a long period of mismanagement by politicians.

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Democracy in Nigeria has hardly served the intended purpose as a bunch of people have found themselves to be living in abject poverty. Many have argued that the military regime offered better comfort to the masses and one is inclined to agree if sorry state of fuel scarcity is the subject.

 

Under President Muhammadu Buhari, the idea of change has become some sort of a trick which has only treated the electorates to one of the familiar failures of the government, fuel scarcity for example.

Traffic Laws: This video of Frank Donga will discourage you from running the red light this Christmas

Reckless drivers have contributed to the accidents recorded on roads. An amount of patience is not such a bad idea.

Nigerians can be an impatient group of people when it concerns driving as suggested by this video of Frank Donga who has proved that running the red light can be a harmful affair this Christmas. For an example, like ruining your landlord's car in an accident.

In a skit posted on his Instagram, the actor was heard privately urging another driver to disobey the traffic light which at the time required everyone to stop. Donga thinks the fuel acquired from the long queue at a petrol filling station should not be wasted on the obvious road sign.

 

Though a humorous message bringing an awareness regarding the sorry state of scarcity of the important commodity, it also brings to the fore the common issues associated with infractions committed by motorists who are always in a rush to get to their destinations. As seen in the footage, this can only result in a damaging event such as a car crash.

It is disturbing to note that many road disasters could have been avoided if drivers were able to maintain calmness behind their wheels. A typical day in a Lagos traffic is one of verbal curses where everyone are trying to move at the same time.

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There is no difference between the rich and the poor in this instance as they all exhibit the same type of behaviour - an inability to obey traffic laws and they are not alone. Law enforcement personnel such as the policemen and soldiers have been found in many instances driving at opposite lanes just so they can avoid congestion observed on roads.

Soldiers are in an unholy partnership with danfo drivers

I recall hearing a danfo driver disclose one of his hacks when it concerns evading traffic. Quite common yet alarming. What this individual had to do was get a soldier in front seat and the rest was a piece of cake. What this means is that no one, for example officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), will be able to stop him in his lawless expedition. Apparently, the presence of a soldier instills fear in the hearts of traffic managers and even the policemen.

 

It is pretty much a case of constant crisis on Nigerian roads. Perhaps, relevant authorities need to be stern about executing new legislation as there are some set of people who make it a business to see them disobeyed.

In Lagos, B.R.T lanes are reserved for urban buses provided by the government who have insisted that no other type of vehicle can ply the designated route. However, there have been a number of occasions where offenders get away with violating the law. This begs the question, "how can a government maintain order when it is perceived as only slightly committed to its innovations?"

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There is a nationwide disregard for traffic laws. The government and the parastatals responsible for upholding laid down regulations should look into fixing this in time for the new year 2018, which hasn't really served any prospect of excitement to most.

Many are looking forward to the Russia World Cup 2018, more than an anticipation of good governance in Nigeria.

Fetish: Foul odour gives suspected ritualist away, found with stinking baby corpse

The suspect was found with the corpse while attempting to visit Lagos. He claimed he was on a mission to bury it.

The foul odour of a decomposing baby concealed in a polythene bag blew the cover of Ajiboye Olusola, a 42-year-old man who was apprehended by the policemen in Ogun State at the Sapade Motor Park on Friday, December 22, 2017.

Commuters who boarded a vehicle with the suspect raised an alarm which invited the presence of the police due to the offensive smell that oozed out of the carriage.

 

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer for Ogun state noted that Olusola mentioned that he was taking the corpse of the infant for a burial in Lagos when questioned, Punch News reports.

A statement offered by the PPRO disclosed that the suspected ritualist had embarked on a trip from Kwara state until he was arrested. His explanation concerning how he came to be in possession of a human body appeared unconvincing which prompted a decision to take him to a police station.

“The suspect was arrested at Sapade Motor Park when he was about boarding a vehicle with the corpse, which was wrapped in a polythene bag. The odour coming out of the bag aroused the suspicion of people at the motor park, and they quickly alerted the police.

“Upon the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Isara division, CSP Yusuf Taiwo, led policemen to the scene and the suspect was promptly arrested. Upon searching his bag, the corpse of a dead baby was found.

“On interrogation, the suspect claimed that he was coming from Offa, Kwara State, and heading for Lagos, where he intended to bury the baby. Not satisfied with the claim, he was taken to the Isara division for further investigation,” Oyeyemi mentioned.

ALSO READ: Meet 24-yr-old Prosper who attempted to use parents for money rituals

Meanwhile, state police commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, gave an order insisting that the suspect be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, located in Eleweran according to Punch.

Ritual killings in Nigeria - is it tied to bad governance?

Killings inspired by an intention to fulfill fetish interests is one of the highlight of a crime infested Nigeria battling with political crisis and poor governance. It is believed that the latter is the main motivation when it concerns engaging in wealth making sacrifice.

A desire to get money has promoted a nature of wrongdoing among Nigerian who are getting more desperate than before. This has made it rather comfortable to link the rate of crime to the state of the economy which favours only the rich.

Perhaps it is not out of place to assume that maybe the people can rediscover their humanity when the elected representatives in government start to offer them what they are entitled to - good governance as opposed to making a promise of change which remains yet to be effected.

ALSO READ: Can Nigeria end a year without an intense fuel scarcity problem?

 

The Christmas holiday has been a hard one for the populace who have had to deal with difficulties associated with the scarcity of fuel, a menace that has become a yearly challenge.

While some blame the oil marketer for inventing a crisis for personal profit, the one chiefly responsible for the plight is the leader of the country whose enormous power should be enough to ensure that the subjects are well catered for. What do you call an inability to do this?