Heroic Grenfell Tower Firefighters 'Willing To Die To Save Others' Win Pride Of Britain Award

London’s firefighters went above and beyond the call of duty to save lives when Grenfell Tower was devastated in Britain’s worst fire since the Blitz.

In the early hours of Wednesday, June 14, firefighters were called to the 220-foot building in west London.

A blaze which started in a flat on the fourth floor had quickly spread through the 24-storey tower. The first fire crews arrived six minutes after the alarm.

Commander Richard Welch, who was one of the first senior officers to arrive at the scene, described how the flames kept spreading as more and more firefighters arrived.


He said: “Initially they had six machines.

"Then they asked for eight, and then 10, and then 15, 20 and 25. Every single person within that building was willing to lose their own life to try to save others.

"Every single person.”

The firefighters have now been honoured at the Pride of Britain Awards for their bravery as they battled the deadly blaze and saved scores of lives.

They received the This Morning Emergency Services Award at the ceremony, which champions ordinary people for their selflessness, courage and astonishing feats.

After the tragedy unfolded in June, firefighters repeatedly went into the fire to rescue residents.

Kenya: Kenyatta Wins Disputed Election Rerun

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared winner of a controversial re-run of the presidential election.

He won 98% of the vote with turnout at just under 39% - less than half that recorded in August's vote, according to the election commission.

The opposition leader, Raila Odinga, pulled out of the re-run and urged his supporters to boycott it. Mr Kenyatta was also declared the winner in the August vote, which was annulled because of "irregularities".

The unprecedented decision from the Supreme Court cancelling the result did not attribute any blame to President Kenyatta's party or campaign.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner invest close to $5 million into 3 luxury condos

Mother-daughter duo; Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian have invested millions of dollars into three brand new luxurious condominiums near their family home in Calabasas, California.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Kim K invested $1.6 million for a single unit, while Kris made individual payments of $1.497 million and $1.65 million for two further properties. The three properties were said to have been purchased off-market through a trust responsible for handling business interests away from their E! reality TV show - KUWTK - which was recently renewed until 2019 for $150m.

Barack Obama called for jury duty in Illinois and he plans to serve

Now that former President Barack Obama is a private citizen of the United States, he has been summoned for jury duty in the state of Illinois and he is planning to serve, a court official says.

Obama plans to perform his civic duty and show up for jury duty in Illinois next month. Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans made this known during a budget meeting on Friday, adding that officials will take safety precautions and make any special arrangements needed for the Obama's appearance.

"He made it crystal-clear to me through his representative that he would carry out his public duty as a citizen and resident of this community," Evans said, according to the Tribune.

Evans said that Obama's decision to show up for jury duty is "highly appreciated,"  adding that "It’s crucial that our society get the benefit of that kind of commitment."

If chosen, Obama would not be the first high-profile person to appear on a jury in Cook County. Oprah Winfrey sat on a jury for a murder trial in 2004. Also Obama will not be the first former president to be called to serve in this capacity. Ex-presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush also appeared for jury selection after leaving the White House.

Why I Am Not Signed On With Any Record Company, Singer Waje

In the music industry, being signed to a record company is a big deal for most artistes as it affords them the platform to showcase their talent.

But singer, Aituaje Iruobe, who is known as Waje has been able to forge ahead in her career without a record deal. She told Sunday Scoop that she had many offers in the past and is still getting offers, but she has decided to be a solo artiste.

“I see myself as an independent artiste. I have been like this for a while. My experience with the first professional record deal I signed made me decide to stand alone. When I started out in the industry, I was signed to a record label that did not do anything for me for a long while.


“If I see a young talent, who wants a record deal, I will tell him or her the advantages and disadvantages”, she said.

“However, there are so many people I have  had collaborations with. Even though I am an independent artiste, I always partner with people and organisations. To be honest, I cannot do everything on my own,” Waje stated.

I Once Ran Out Of A Burning Hotel To Perform On Stage - Yemi Alade

Talented singer, Yemi Alade, has undoubtedly had a good run in her music career so far. She has been travelling all over the world non-stop for the past couple of years, and her fan base keeps expanding by the day.

It is known that Alade is quite dedicated to her job but many would be surprised at the extent she can go to give her fans a good time.

In a chat with Sunday Scoop, she revealed one of the craziest moments she has ever had before mounting the stage.  “I have different experiences both on and off stage. But one I can readily recall was what happened when I was in London. Shortly before the event I went for, there was a fire at the hotel I stayed in, and I could only grab my phone, Bible and the outfit I wanted to wear on stage.


I went from there straight to perform on stage; I didn’t even know what became of the hotel because the fire hadn’t been put out as of the time I left,” she said.

She added, “Whenever I’m on stage, I shut every other thing out. I don’t want to know whatever is happening around me. I’m usually only focused on doing my job and giving my fans a good time.”

Ex President Goodluck Jonathan Warns Nigerian Students Against Creating ‘Artificial Human Beings’

Former Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday warned Nigerian students to stay away from conducting research into embryonic stem cells, saying the sanctity of humanity must be preserved.

At the graduation ceremony of the first set of graduating students at Baze University, Abuja, Mr. Jonathan said scholars can make human activities become more efficient without necessarily altering the essence of man.

“It appears our classrooms have started creating individuals who function like robots, which is not good for humanity,” Mr. Jonathan said. “Training should not be about efficiency and precision alone; it should also be about character and human dignity.”


The former president said the school had come a long way from the 17 students that were admitted at its opening that year.

While reading from a prepared speech, Mr. Jonathan was lighthearted, yet, serious in urging the younger generation to channel their energy into resolving Nigeria’s multi-faceted challenges.

“The kind and quality of education we offer today will determine how our country will be governed, and how prosperous it will become tomorrow,” Mr. Jonathan said. “This is because as young people, many of you sitting in the classrooms today, will sit in various Government offices and boardrooms tomorrow, to govern our country.”

He warned the students to refrain from scientific endeavours that could put their moral or religious strength into question.

“We are in an age when the talk of artificial intelligence evokes boundless passions, to the extent that our scientists are already tinkering with the idea of modifying human genes to create super humans.

Troops Destroy Boko Haram Grain Market In Borno

The Nigerian Army on Saturday said it’s troops destroyed a Boko Haram grain market at Boboshe village in Borno.

Director Army Public Relations, Sani Kukasheka, who disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri, said this was part of efforts by the armed forces to degrade the remnants of the insurgents.

Mr. Kukasheka said that the troops discovered a makeshift night market at Boboshe village set up by the insurgents with newly harvested farm produce on display for sale.

He said that the troops conducted clearance operations in seven villages, rescued five persons and recovered three vehicles, four dane guns, a dummy gun and mattresses.


“Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion and Mobile Strike Teams of 22 Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) on Friday, carried out clearance operations at Gawa, Bone, Kajeri I, Kajeri II, Kube, Dubula, Boboshe I and Boboshe II villages in Borno State.

“During the operation, the gallant troops discovered that the terrorists had erected a make-shift night market at Boboshe village with newly harvested farm produce on display for sale.

Mom Sentenced For Beating Child Who Messed Up Bible Verses

A Pennsylvania mom who went on a three day drinking binge before beating her daughter when she messed up Bible verses, was sentenced Wednesday.

Rhonda Shoffner, 41, received a sentence of 2½ to five years after pleading guilty to choking and assaulting her daughter, who was under the age of 13, on March 14.

The incident took place at the family's home in Middletown, where the drunken mother ordered her child to kneel on the bathroom floor to recite the verses.

She was charged with aggravated assault and endangerment after she smashed her daughter's head into the wall and threatened to kill her.


The child told police that her mother had been intoxicated for days prior when the incident occurred around 3pm.

Shoffner awoke her daughter from a nap and ordered her to call up several family members, who didn't answer, the child told police, according to PennLive.

When nobody answered the phone calls, the mom flew into a rage, the kid told cops, and demanded the young daughter get on her knees in the bathroom - a sure sign a beating was coming, the kid said.

'Please don't hit me, I don't want to get on my knees,' the kid recalls pleading.

The mom yelled at her 'to get on her (expletive) knees,' police said.

When Shoffner asked the girl what God told the man to do with his son, the girl replied 'God said to forgive his son.'

No, the mom replied, 'God told the man to kill his son,' according to police, and slammed the young girl's head into the drywall at least five times.

WhatsApp Finally Lets Users Unsend Embarrassing Messages...

WhatsApp has introduced a new 'delete for everyone' feature, allowing users to unsend an embarrassing message within seven minutes of sending it. The feature is currently rolling out to users on Android and iOS, although it is unclear how widespread and quickly the launch will take place.

Most of us have sent at least one text or image we later wished we could take back. And thanks to WhatsApp's latest update, that wish has now become a reality.

WhatsApp has introduced a new 'delete for everyone' feature, allowing users to unsend an embarrassing message within seven minutes of sending it.


The feature is currently rolling out to users on Android and iOS, although it is unclear how widespread and quickly the launch will take place.

Similarly, if you see 'This message was deleted' in a chat, it means that the sender deleted their message for everyone.

There is a catch – you can only delete messages for everyone for up to seven minutes after sending, after which point, there's no turning back.

Whatsapp also warns that even if you delete a message, the recipient may still have had a chance to see and open the message.

The WhatApp FAQ added: 'In order for messages to be successfully deleted for everyone, both you and your recipient must be using the latest version of WhatsApp for Android, iPhone or Windows Phone.'

Tiger Woods Pleads Guilty To Reckless Driving

Golfer Tiger Woods has pleaded guilty to reckless driving in a Florida court. But the former world number one has avoided a drink driving conviction after his arrest on May 29 and will instead enter a 'diversion programme'.

Woods was said to have had five different drugs in his system at the time of his driving while under the influence arrest - including the main chemical compound in cannabis.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office released the toxicology report from his arrest in which the golfer was found slumped asleep in his car with the engine running.


Woods was incoherent, but no alcohol was found in his system. The report shows Woods tested positive for painkillers Hydrocodone and Hydromorphone, anxiety disorder drug Alprazolam, the sleeping pill Zolpidem and THC.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for a euphoric high.

Woods said his arrest came due to an unexpected reaction to prescription medication "I didn't realise the mix of medications affected me so strongly,” he said at the time.

He never mentioned cannabis.

Woods, who said after his arrest he would get treatment, then struck a plea deal with prosecutors.

The 14-time major champion was set to enter the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s first-time driving under the influence (DUI) offender diversion program to avoid jail

Usher Accuser, Laura Helm's & Her Lawyer Are Fighting...Lawsuit On Hold

One of Usher's herpes accusers is reconsidering going forward with her $20 million lawsuit after suddenly ditching her attorney in the case!

Laura Helm's attorney, Lisa West, filed a motion Thursday to withdraw from the case, saying she could no longer "effectively represent" her client. However, sources connected to Helm say what really happened, in plain terms is Helm fired her lawyer.

And the bigger news -- Helm is now uncertain about continuing the legal battle with Usher at all. His attorney has already filed a motion to dismiss the case and for now, Helm has until November 5 to respond.

As earlier reported, Helm said in her lawsuit she had unprotected sex with Usher and got herpes. She contradicted that though during a phone conversation where she said they always used condoms.

Indian Doctors Separate Conjoined Twin Boys In Marathon 36-Hour Surgery

Doctors in India have successfully separated conjoined twin boys who were attached at the skull in a marathon surgical procedure that lasted more than 36 hours and involved 40 doctors.

The two-year-old twins, who suffered a rare condition occurring once in about 2.5 million births, underwent the operation at a government-run hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday (Oct 25).

"It was a team work of 40 doctors, 20 nurses and many other paramedical staff. Without their help, this would not have been possible," the All India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital said in a statement.

One of the surgeons involved said the most challenging aspect was repairing the holes left in the young boys' heads after they were separated.


The twins were born in a village in the eastern state of Odisha with shared blood vessels and some shared brain tissue. They had undergone the first phase of the separation surgery in August.

"The most challenging job after the separation was to provide a skin cover on both sides of the brain for the children as the surgery had left large holes on their heads," said Dr Maneesh Singhal, a plastic surgeon who was a part of the operating team.

"The skin was generated from the expansion of two balloons which were placed inside their heads during the first surgery in August," Dr Singhal told AFP on Friday.

"The next step will be reconstruction of their skulls," he added.

Conjoined siblings are identical twins who are born with their skin and internal organs fused together, according to the University of Maryland Medical Centre website.

About half are stillborn, and the survival rate is between 5 and 25 per cent.

They develop from a single egg, which splits in the case of healthy twins, but not fully in the case of conjoined siblings.

Enugu: 22-Year Old Girl Kills Uncle While Defending Herself From Rape

A 22-year-old lady, identified as Tina Rebecca Sunday, is being held by the police in Enugu for killing her uncle, one Friday Mathew.

The incident occurred in the Independence Layout area of Enugu on Thursday, October 26, 2017.

It was gathered that the lady, Tina, a native of Ikot Udobang Ukanafon, in Akwa Ibom State, lived with the now deceased uncle in Ezilo Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.

It was further gathered that Tina was arrested by operatives of the New Haven police station, Enugu, while attempting to escape, after committing the crime.


But the lady, in her confessional statement, has described the killing as accidental.

Tina disclosed that she killed Mathew, a 48-year-old man, while struggling to escape his attempt to have forceful carnal knowledge of her.

She said her uncle has been trying to sleep with her for a very long time.

Rebecca said she has been resisting Mathew’s amorous advances, but the uncle never gave up, until the matter took a tragic turn around 8:30 pm on October 26.

According to Tina’s account, on that fateful night, she had sent Thank-God, her uncle’s 10-year-old son on an errand to buy sugar for her, and was lying down in the room, waiting for the boy to return, when Mathew, thinking she was asleep, snuck up to her bed and tried to force himself on her.

Tina said she gave Mathew a kick on his genitals in a bid to stop him from raping her.

She added that Mathew got enraged, and both of them struggled as he moved to have his way.

The girl then got hold of stone, which she smashed on Mathew’s head.

The uncle fell down and gave up the ghost.

“Really, it was not my intention to kill him as I never intended to do so although he has been disturbing me sexually,” Tina said.

Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the development, said minutes later, Mathew’s son, Thank-God, returned from the errand, only to meet his father’s lifeless body.

Amaraizu explained that Tina allegedly told the boy to keep quiet, to avoid attracting attention.

She was said to have promised the boy that she will take adequate care of him, after which she locked up the house and took Thank-God to the home of a relative.

After dropping the boy with the said relative, Tina ran away.

Amaraizu added that the 22-year-old lady was apprehended before she could leave Enugu.

“When the child of the deceased came back and met the lifeless body of his father, he was allegedly warned by the suspect not to shout in order not to attract attention which would lead to her arrest.

“She (Tina) promised the young boy that she would take care of him, then she immediately locked up the house and went away with the boy and dropped him at one of their aunt’s place and disappeared.

“When operatives of the New Haven Division of the Enugu State Command got the report, they swung into action swiftly and were able to arrest the escaping Tina Rebecca Sunday who is now helping the operatives in their investigations,” Amaraizu said.

According to him, “The suspect is now regretting her action and begging for forgiveness as she never intended to kill the uncle.”

Italian Man Sentenced To 24 Years For Infecting Dozens Of Women With HIV

An Italian man was sentenced on Friday to 24 years in prison for infecting more than 30 women with the HIV virus, after having unprotected sex with them despite knowing that he was HIV positive, a court ruled.

Valentino Talluto, a 33-year-old accountant, seduced dozens of women via social networks for a decade before his arrest in November 2015. Police believe he had sex with at least 53 women during that time, passing on the virus to 32 of them.

The male partners of three of the women subsequently contracted the potentially fatal illness, as did an eight-month-old infant of a fourth woman.


Talluto often found an excuse not to wear a condom, telling his partners that he was allergic to them, or had just had an HIV test, the court in Rome heard.

He expressed regret for what had happened, but said he did not realise the consequences of his actions.

Prosecutors had urged the court to give him life in jail, saying he had provoked an HIV epidemic. The court rejected this, convicting him instead of "grievous and incurable bodily harm".

Many of the women only discovered they had HIV after they heard of Talluto's arrest and had a test.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has killed around 35 million people worldwide since it began in the 1980s.

Police Nab Couple Trying To Buy Baby For N15,000

The police have arrested four persons for paying N13,000 to buy a five-month-old baby boy.

Appearing before a magistrate’s court in Kano on Friday, the  suspects pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Aminu Fagge, who presided over the case, granted the four suspects bail.

Fagge imposed N300,000 bail condition on each of the four suspects.

Among the suspects were Itohan Pius, 32, of ECWA Eye Hospital Kano; a couple from Rivers State, Sandra Bob-Manuel, 39;Charles Bob-Manuel, 42; and one Charles Akindoji, 30, from Kaduna State.


The suspects are standing trial on a two counts of “criminal conspiracy and buying or selling minor for immoral purpose, which contravene the provisions of sections 97 and 278 of the penal code.”

The police prosecutor, Yusuf Sale, told the court that the suspects committed the offence on October 10, in Sabon Gari Quarters, Kano.

According to Sale, the accused approached one Fatima Ahmad, mother of the baby, to buy the child.

“The suspects paid N13,000 out of the negotiated N15,000 to buy the boy but Fatima later reported the matter to the police and we effected the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

The case was adjourned to November 15.

I Value Sleep More Than Money – Jide Kosoko

For veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, taking time to sleep is very important and he does not trade it for anything, even money.

Speaking with Sunday Scoop, he said that he ensures he gets at least seven hours of sleep every night and most people close to him know this about him.

He said, “I always sleep for seven hours, or even more. By 9 pm, I am already in bed, and a lot of producers know this about me. If I am to shoot at night, you should have told me earlier so that I would have slept in the afternoon before coming.

 But I will still sleep after the production. I know the importance of sleep to the human body and I get a lot of it.’


Meanwhile, Kosoko is not happy about the fact that stage plays are not taken seriously in this part of the world. According to him, he tries to contribute his quota to ensure that stage plays do not go into extinction.

“I started my career on the stage. All my colleagues know about stage plays, though the interest of coming back may not be there. But gradually, a lot of them are showing interest. For some time too, I did not act on stage. I was busy shooting films and commercials for money,” he said.

I Once Hawked Pure Water To Fund My Music Career – SolidStar

Singer, Joshua Iniyezo, aka SolidStar, has been fairly consistent in churning out hitsongs over the years. And his efforts have paid off as he is quite relevant in the industry today.

However, the singer didn’t always have it good. In a chat with Sunday Scoop, he shared some of his past experiences.

“It wasn’t really easy for me at the beginning. I had to do a lot of things just to make it. There was a time I was hawking sachet water and pastry (puff puff), and it was the money I made from that ‘business’ that I used to pay for my first studio session.

But through all the struggles, I never gave up because I knew I had a bright future ahead of me. I’m not there yet, but I thank God that my efforts are starting to pay off,” he said.


SolidStar has been accused by some people of riding on the crest of other established artistes through collaborations to promote his songs, but he rubbished that allegation. He said, “For as long as music has been in existence, there have always been collaborations. Can you imagine how the world would be like if there were no collaborations? By collaborating with other artistes, one is able to create a fusion of sounds. I do not deny that collaborations have helped my career, but that was never my intention. I’m all about making good music, and I would work with whoever I feel can deliver on whatever I’m working on.

Mum Shares Heartbreaking Pictures Of Daughter Who Was Stillborn At 39 Weeks After Being Poisoned In The Womb

A brave young mum has shared heartbreaking photos of her stillborn daughter who was slowly poisoned in the womb because of a rare illness.

Gabriella Morley and Matthew Dalton had been friends for 10 years before becoming a couple in 2016 and were overjoyed to discover they were having a baby soon after.

But at 39 weeks, while out shopping with removal driver Matty, 25, mum-to-be Gabriella suddenly realised she hadn't felt her baby move that day.

After rushing to hospital , doctors looked for a heartbeat but 24-year-old Gabriella and Matty were given the devastating news that their baby had died.


The grieving mum had to give birth to her lifeless little girl on May 9 2017 – an emotionally 'scarring' experience she has tried to block from her memory.

A post-mortem revealed that baby Poppy died from cardiac arrest after being poisoned by high acidity levels in her mum's body due to the pregnancy-related liver condition intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP).

Gabriella, of Bramley, Leeds, said: "It is a rare condition but I think more mums need to know about it. I don't want anyone to ever have to go through what we did.

Khloe Ages Kim By Sharing Photo To Celebrate Her Birthday With Many Mistaking Her For Kris

Khloe Kardashian paid a gushing tribute to her sister Kim to mark her birthday. But some Keeping Up With The Kardashians fans think the 33-year-old reality star took a subtle swipe at her older sister.

The reality tv star Kimmy turned 37 on Saturday - and no doubt enjoyed her birthday in typical lavish Kardashian style.

And taking to Instagram on the big day, Khloe posted a snap of the star alongside her young daughter, North West, 4. But some fans have been critical of Khloe - as the photo she used of Kim showed some severe crows feet around her eyes.


Looking old already,” commented one cruel follower - with another writing: "Kim them wrinkels coming for you."

Meanwhile many others thought Kim looked more like her 61-year-old mother, Kris Jenner, in the photo.

"Omg! I thought that was mama @krisjenner,” wrote one astonished fan - with many others also commenting: “I thought that was Kris!"

I Stole To Pay My WAEC Fees - 19 -Year-Old Suspect

The police in Imo State have apprehended a 19-year-old serial burglary suspect, Chidiebere Okpara.

He was arrested at Obodoukwu, Ideato North Local Government Area of the state by the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Akokwa Annex, led by its commander, Banjoko Idahosa.

The police said the teenager and one Obinna, who is on the run, broke into people’s houses, stole their properties and sold them at giveaway prices.

“The boy is a notorious burglar. Okpara and Obinna have been on our list for a long time now. They had a way of evading arrest. But this time, we were able to nab him while many of the stolen property have been recovered,” a police source said.

Among the houses the suspect allegedly burgled was that of one Egeonu Nwachukwu in Obodoukwu where a plasma television, DVD multiplayer set, gas cooker with burner and 20 plates were stolen.

Okpara and his gang also allegedly stole one standing fan, one generator valued at N75,000, one DVD, one gas cooker and burner, valued at N25,000.

“The victim came back home and met his house empty. Everything in the house was carted away. The suspect would steal in the dead of the night when the owner of the house was not at home or around noon when people must have gone to work,” the police said.

The teenager was said to have specialised in using pliers to open houses.

The police said he would be taken to court for trial.

He however told Punch correspondent that he burgled people’s houses “to raise money for his junior West African School Certificate Examination.”

Pope Proclaims 35 New Saints Including 33 Martyrs

 

The Catholic Church has been given 35 new saints, proclaimed during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square, Rome.

Thirty of the saints proclaimed on Sunday are martyrs, including priests and lay people, who suffered anti-Catholic persecution in 1645 at the hands of Dutch Calvinists in Brazil.

Three more were children in 16th-century Mexico who were martyred for embracing the Catholic faith and refusing to return to their ancient conditions.

The remaining two saints were a priest in Spain in the last century and an Italian priest who died in 1739.

Francis, who became pontiff in 2013, has repeatedly paid tribute to Christians suffering or dying for their faith in current times, especially in the Middle East.

Blac Chyna & Tyga Take King Cairo To Six Flags For 5th Birthday

Exes Blac Chyna and Tyga have kept their rapport amicable enough to take their son to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles together.

The pair were spotted at the theme park on Saturday with their little tyke King Cairo Stevenson, who will be five years old on Monday.

The trio were joined by a group including Dream Kardashian, Chyna's 11-month-old daughter by her by her ex-fiancé Rob Kardashian. 

Man Attempts Suicide Over N27m Debt

There was pandemonium in Rumuagholu community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State following a report that a middle-aged man, had allegedly attempted to commit suicide over N27m debt, a source disclosed.

The man, Mishack Okonye, who is the Managing Director of CMIK High Global Service, was said to have  incurred  the huge debt, which he had been battling to offset.

It was gathered that Okonye, had allegedly worked for a firm, Bua International Limited in Port Harcourt. It was further learnt that Bua still owed CMIK over N27 million and Okonye had sold most of his property in order to pay for the machineries and labours he hired for project.


Mrs. Millicent, the wife of Okonye, who narrated how her husband had attempted to commit suicide over the debt, noted that God’s intervention saved him.

Millicent disclosed in Port Harcourt that she met her husband, Meshach Okonye, trying to take a concoction in order to terminate his life.

She narrated that the cause of her husband’s attitude was the debt burden on him, adding that several persons have been coming to demand that Okonye pay them the money he owed them.

Millicent explained that those her husband also borrowed money from to execute the project had been threatening him for over two years now.

She explained that her husband did a job for one Bua International Limited, recalling that over N27, 750,000 was still not being paid, resulting to his husband being indebted to many persons.

The woman noted that her husband had sold off most of his property in order to be able to clear the debt because the company he worked for refused to pay.

“I was out and something prompted me to go back to the house. When I got home, I saw my husband in a strange mood. I discovered that he wanted to drink something I saw in a cup.

“I will not be happy and I will not take it lightly if my husband hurts himself because of debt that Bua International Company owes him,” she cried.

She called on the government agencies, well-meaning individuals to prevail on the Bua International Limited to pay her husband so that he could pay of the debts her incurred in the project.

Meanwhile, when the management of Bua International Limited was contacted on the debt owed the contractor, one of the officials of the firm, simply identified as Rabiu, said he would not be able to speak on such matter.

Nelly's Rape Accuser Drops Case

A woman who accused the multiplatinum rapper Nelly of raping her on his tour bus after a concert last weekend in Auburn, Wash., has told the local police that she will not testify against him and wishes to end the investigation, her lawyer said Friday.

“We do not live in a society where a 21 year old college student can feel safe enough to pursue criminal charges against a celebrity for an alleged rape,” Karen Koehler, the lawyer for the accuser, wrote in an open letter that she posted on Twitter.

She said the woman had made her desire to “put a halt to the criminal investigation” known to the Auburn Police Department and the King County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday afternoon.


“She will not testify further in a criminal proceeding against him,” Ms. Koehler wrote.

Cmdr. Steve Stocker of the Auburn Police Department said that the investigation was proceeding as of Friday afternoon. “We’re not going to just halt the investigation,” he said. “We’re still investigating the case, and it’s probably going to be referred to the prosecutor’s office sometime next week.”

Scott Rosenblum, a lawyer for Nelly, said in a statement that the accuser’s desire to end the investigation was “welcome news.”

“This is simply not enough,” he added. “This type of reckless allegation is an affront to women who are real victims of sexual assault. I am suggesting that Nelly seeks a public apology. I am further suggesting that Nelly considers whatever legal options are available to him.”

In her letter on Friday, Ms. Koehler, the lawyer for the accuser, said: “Every step of the way since the time she called 911, she wishes she had not. Not because what happened didn’t occur exactly the way she described it. Not because she did not want the police to charge the celebrity with alleged rape.

“She wishes she had not called 911 because she believes the system is going to fail her.”

Citing harassment online and by the news media, Ms. Koehler added: “She cannot handle this. She is about to break. She wants to close the door. She wants this to end.”

Tv Viewers Shocked As Woman Reveals She Sleeps With Her 39-Year-Old Teddy Bear

This Morning viewers have mocked a woman who sleeps with her 39-year-old teddy bear. Hannah Ebelthit, 41, shares her bed with her despairing husband and the bizarre looking Paddington Bear.

However, the most shocking part of the story was the 'disturbing' appearance of the bear that looked like a 'dirty sponge'.

Hannah, who is obsessed with her cuddly toy, revealed that her husband Wesley believes it is a "health hazard" and is worried about sleeping with it every night.

The original Paddington Bear, which she's had since the 1970s, is so old that after years of wear and tear the toy now simply resembles a piece of foam.


Hannah said: "He's always been there, just degraded over the years. Smell, memory, comfort. Having your childhood toy its always been there, been a part of you. It's seen me through having children, leaving home, it's always been there."

She revealed that son Theo doesn’t have many toys but Sam is more like her and "takes comfort" from knowing mummy has her toys.

Eamonn Holmes picked up her bear and compared it to a brand new one, with a stark contrast.

He referred to her bear as a "fillet of fish" that you would pick up at the chip shop.

They were joined by psychologist Bruce Hood, who explained why adults turn to comfort toys.

He said: "We're not sure exactly why it happens but it's a common aspect for Western children. We think it might be to do with sleeping practices . Being separated causes a degree of anxiety so they need to self soothe. What starts off as a simple aid to sleeping becomes like a living thing. This doesn’t really go away."

Hannah admitted that she would be "pretty devastated" if her bear was taken away and compared it to losing a memorable photo album.

Petrol Bombs, Double-Barrel Gun Recovered From Kanu's Residence- Police Commissioner

The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Anthony Ogbizi, has said that lethal weapons, including petrol bombs and one double-barrel gun, were recovered during last Sunday’s raid of the residence of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr. Ogbizi said this on Thursday during an interaction with newsmen in Umuahia, adding that the items were recovered during a joint operation by security personnel in the state.

He said that the petrol bombs were found in buckets and incriminating documents and letters, concerning IPOB’s activities and plans, were also recovered during the raid.

He said that the raid was carried out based on an intelligence report, regarding the continued activities of some members of the group.

“We recovered many of Biafra’s insignia, staff of office and some of those items are being analysed,” Mr. Ogbizi said.

The police boss said that the operation also led to the arrest of one suspected member of IPOB.

He said that the team also discovered the telephone numbers of the group’s zonal coordinators, adding that all the communications between the leadership of the group and their collaborators would be thoroughly analysed.

Mr. Ogbizi said that a Biafran flag was also found hanging on a telecommunications mast in the area.

According to him, the police will ask the Nigeria Communications Commission to sanction any telecommunication company that allowed its mast to be used to hoist Biafran flags.

He said that the activities of IPOB in the Southeast were “stirring insurrection” and that security agencies would not fold their arms and watch the group foment violence in the country.

He said that members of the group allegedly set a police station and van ablaze in Aba, and also attacked a military patrol team in Umuahia.

The police chief said that similar joint operations would be carried out intermittently in Kanu’s residence, anytime they received intelligence report that offensive weapons were brought to the place.

He said that it was wrong to say that the military was taking over the duties of the police rather the action should be seen as a synergy between the two organisations to check security challenges.

Mr. Ogbizi said that he would not hesitate to invite the army anytime the security situation in the state grew beyond the capacity of the police.

NAN

The Hollywood Reporter lists Mo Abudu as one of the 25 most powerful women in global TV

Founder and CEO of EbonyLife TV recognised as an influential woman in the media industry for the second time
The Hollywood Reporter has released its annual list of the ‘25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television’ and Mo Abudu is the only African woman listed, amongst those from North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australasia.
The category recognises female executives from around the globe who are rewriting the rules of TV, during a time when ‘women have to work twice as hard for the same recognition’ as men. The article describes Abudu as a woman who ‘has been at the forefront of media innovation on the continent’ and whose goal for the coming year is ‘to successfully produce Africa's first sci-fi TV series’. The first time she was included in this list was in 2013, immediately after the launch of EbonyLife TV.
Since those early days, EbonyLife TV has created over 4,000 hours of original, high-quality content, including landmark drama series The Governor, Sons of the Caliphate and Fifty (the series), along with the first pan-African talk show, Moments, with different versions hosted in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. EbonyLife Films made its debut in 2015 at the 59th BFI London Film Festival with Fifty, the highest-grossing Nollywood movie that year. In 2016, EbonyLife co-produced The Wedding Party, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to become the biggest movie in the history of Nigerian cinema.
Ms. Abudu does not take the recognition from the renowned entertainment magazine for granted. “It's an honour and privilege to be acknowledged again by The Hollywood Reporter. I am proud to represent Nigeria and the thousands of women in Africa, striving to make their mark in a male-dominated industry,” she said.
The Hollywood Reporter publishes its list of Most Powerful Women in Global Television annually, with luminaries deemed by its editors to have made a significant impact on what audiences are watching worldwide and how women are represented on TV.

To see the complete list, click here: https://goo.gl/Xghfas

Two Experimental Ebola Vaccines Show Year-Long Promise

Two experimental vaccines against the Ebola virus have shown promise in protecting against the haemorrhagic fever for at least a year, according to the results of a major clinical trial published Wednesday.

The report in the New England Journal of Medicine is the first full account of a large-scale effort to test what could be the first vaccine against Ebola.

The outbreak of the highly contagious and often deadly virus killed more than 11,000 people, mainly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, as it swept West Africa from late 2013 to 2016.


The phase II study involved 1,500 people in Monrovia, Liberia.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of two vaccines being tested, or a placebo.

The vaccine candidates included the frontrunner, rVSV-ZEBOV, initially engineered by Canadian government scientists and now licensed to Merck, Sharp and Dohme Corporation.

The second vaccine candidate was cAd3-EBOZ, co-developed by the US National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center and GlaxoSmithKline.

Prince Harry Voted As Having The Sexiest Facial Hair In The World

The flame-haired royal has been voted as having the sexiest beard in the world according to a new survey.

The 33-year-old prince, who sent fans wild after debuting his facial fuzz in 2015, beat La La Land star Ryan Gosling, 36, to the top spot - with American Sniper actor Bradley Cooper, 42, coming in third place.

And in a sign of a changing of the guard in the world of football, England striker Harry Kane, 24, came fourth - ahead of previous winner and former captain David Beckham, 42, who came in fifth.

The Story Of This 5-Year Old Girl Sold Off & Used As A SLAVE Might Make You Cry

A five-year-old girl forced to beg on the streets by traffickers who beat her so she made more money has been rescued by a kind-hearted stranger.

The little girl, only known as Anabelle, was rushed in for life saving surgery after being beaten with a stick to make her cry.

The terrified youngster, who also suffers from a rare genetic condition, lived as a slave and all the money she made begging was taken by drug dealers who held her captive.

The girl was sold to a gang by her mother who couldn't afford to look after her.

They took advantage of Anabelle’s appearance after Crouzon Syndrome left her with bulging eyes.
But now she has been taken in by an organisation who rescues little boys and girls caught up in child exploitation.

Her story touched the heart of Gonzalo Erize, an Argentian who worked for the Kalipay Negrense Foundation.

He became Anabelle’s friend and stood by her side while she had surgery to ease the effects of Crouzon Syndrome.

Gonzalo said: "The people in charge of his care told me that she woke up at night, shouting from the nightmares from the past.

"But I was there ready to give Anabelle the opportunity of a better life, where she could play without pain and live worthily."

Little Anabelle was born into poverty in Bacolod city – ironically, called as the ;City of Smiles' - on the northwest coast of Negros Island in the Philippines.

Her mother could not care for Anabelle and her six siblings so she sold the little girl to a drugs gang.

They took advantage of Anabelle’s appearance after the Crouzon Syndrome left her with bulging eyes.

The condition, also called congenital craniofacial dysostosis is characterised by malformations of the skull which limit the development of the face and brain.

Anabelle was unable to close her eyes in order to sleep which left her constantly exhausted.

On the streets she was accompanied by a woman who pretended to be her mother.

This woman was burnt repeatedly by the gang before being sent out to beg for money.

The pair were moved from one city to another by traffickers to prevent police from locating them.

But Anabelle was eventually rescued becoming one of around 200 children helped by the Kalipay Negrense Foundation.

Anabelle was treated by paediatricians, dentists and neurologists in the Philippine capital of Manila, who decided she needed urgent surgery.

Gonzalo flew from his home in Argentina so he could be with her while she went through the operation.

He said: "I stood by her during the whole process. It was a complicated process, a very delicate situation, in which the passing of time was a constant threat.

"But again all the effort was worth it. Anabelle came out successfully from cranial surgery, resulting in the brain being able to grow.

"It was completely cured and today she knows the meaning of enjoying, of having fun, of living."


THE VERY NEW & HAPPY ANABELLE

Man To Die By Hanging For Murder, Armed Robbery In Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Friday has sentenced one Kolawole Oluwasola to death by hanging.

Kolawole, a middle-aged man, bagged the sentence over robbery and murder case which was established that he committed on the April 13, 2016 at Sabo area, Aramoko-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state.

He was charged for stabbing one Yahaya Sumaila with a knife and also strangulated him to death.

Kolawole was also docked for snatching the victim’s motorcycle after which he fled to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.


Nemesis however caught on him as the police interceded him on the suspicion of the motorcycle and arrested him.

The Court said during investigation, the defendant made a confessional statement to the crime and took the team of policemen to the scene of the crime where the rotten body of Ismaila was found.

The State Counsel, Mrs Bunmi Ajumobi called six witnesses to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt while the counsel for the defendant, Mrs Amina Baderinwa also called the defendant who gave evidence in his own case.

The court held that the offence of Armed Robbery and Murder are both punishable with death upon conviction.

Justice John Adeyeye said that the defendant will pay the supreme price prescribed for the commission of the offense of murder and armed robbery.

The presiding Judge affirmed that the court had listened to the evidence of prosecution witnesses as well as evidence of the defendant.

Justice Adeyeye held that State counsel has however proved the case of Murder and Armed Robbery beyond reasonable doubt.

He therefore condemned Kolawole to death by hanging.

How God Saved Me From Plane Crash – David Oyedepo

Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo on Friday recounted how he escaped a “potential plane crash” alongside those travelling with him.

Oyedepo shared the testimony at the ‘Breakthrough Service’ held at the church’s world headquarters in Ota, Ogun State and broadcast to all the zonal centres of the church in Ota and Lagos.

The Bishop told the congregation that the aircraft plunged into crisis mid-air, but “God took control and landed the plane.”

He said: “There was a mid-air crisis, there was serious turbulence, but there was no apprehension. Jesus took control. He landed the plane safely. And we were just celebrating the faithfulness of God.”

Rapper Nelly Arrested For Rape

Rapper Nelly has been arrested after a woman accused him of raping her on his tour bus following a concert near Seattle.

Police in Auburn said they arrested the artist after a woman called emergency services at 03:48 (07:48 GMT) to report a sex assault.

Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, was taken into custody on a second degree rape charge, TMZ said.


In a statement his lawyer described the allegation as "completely fabricated".

"Our initial investigation clearly establishes this allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness," Scott Rosenblum said in a statement.

Nelly is best known for his US number one hits "Hot in herre" and "Dilemma", but has not released new music for a number of years.

Super Eagles Defeat Zambia, Qualifies For Russia 2018

Super Eagles of Nigeria, Saturday trashed the fearless Chipolopolo of Zambia hence becoming the first African team to advance to Russia after taking an unassailable lead atop Group B.

It will be their sixth World Cup finals appearance.