Freaky hot infotainment by segeblaek

Nigeria's military says Abubakar Shekau, the leader of militant Islamist group Boko Haram, may have died of a gun-shot wound sustained during an assault by government forces on his forest hide-out in north-eastern Nigeria last month. Nigeria analyst Andrew Walker assesses the implications of the claim. If the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is verified then it is undoubtedly a key milestone in the life of the group which, in almost exactly four years, has murdered thousands in northern and central Nigeria. Since 2009, the group (whose name roughly translated means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language) has waged a guerrilla insurgency against the state and a wide array of "soft" targets.

A burnt vehicle after a suspected Boko Haram attack in Bama, Nigeria. Photo: May 2013 Boko Haram has been blamed for a string of recent attacks in north-eastern Nigeria. Suspected Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group have killed at least 35 people in north-eastern Nigeria, local officials have said. They say the gunmen raided the village of Demba in Borno state after locals refused to co-operate with them.

Jose Mourinho Jose Mourinho's Friday afternoon media conference was primarily to look forward to Monday evening's big match in Manchester, and that was a major topic discussed, but added to the headlines coming out of the press room at Cobham were the manager's comments on a new transfer possibility. Mourinho confirmed that Willian, the Brazilian attacking player who faced Chelsea for Shakhtar Donetsk last season and is now at Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, is an additional target to Wayne Rooney before the transfer window closes.

The U.S. Consul-General, Mr Jeffery Hawkins, on Wednesday said that the American government was determined to make visa application process easier for Nigerians. Hawkins said this in a paper he presented at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, on “U.S and Nigeria Bilateral Relationship”. He said that the move was part of the government’s effort at promoting “people-to-people“ relationship between Nigeria and the U.S.

Goodluck Jonathan Photo credit: Osun defender Newly registered All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday in Abuja said it is planning to hold its national convention in November or December this year. Interim national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, who gave this indication at the inaugural meeting of the interim executive committee and maiden media briefing at the party's national headquarters, also said the party is open to all those who want to join including President Goodluck Jonathan.

Gareth Bale Real Madrid are so convinced of an agreement for Tottenham star Gareth Bale that they're already planning for his signing ceremony. Real president Florentino Perez hopes to finalise terms over a fee for Bale this week in Miami when he meets with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. Real management are confident an agreement will be found and are already organising accommodation for the Welshman in Madrid. Indeed, Telemadrid says Real have booked a hotel room for Bale and his partner in preparation for his signing ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu.   News source: Tribal football

David Luiz Barcelona have made a bid for Chelsea defender David Luiz. The Daily Star says Barca have tabled an offer believed to be in the region of £35m. Blues boss Jose Mourinho has insisted the 26-year-old is central to his plans and the initial bid is expected to be rejected.

ON the second day of its 61st  annual convention at the Redemption Camp on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, responded to challenges of rapid expansion by the ordination of additional 2,402 assistant pastors into the mission. The over 2,000 new assistant pastors were commissioned at the morning session of the second day of convention, with a charge to intensify the evangelization of a perverse world in accordance with biblical injunction. The General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, prayed a short prayer for men and women, saying: “What you bind on earth would be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” and they chorused a resounding A-M-E-N.

Lagos -The WAEC on Wednesday released the full results of 1,543,683 candidates who sat for its May/June 2013 Secondary School Certificate Examination. The number represents 91.38 per cent of 1,689,188 candidates who registered for the examination,. The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Dr Charles Eguridu, announced the results on Wednesday when he addressed a news conference in Lagos. Eguridu said 889,636 candidates obtained six credits and above, while 1,074,065 others obtained five credits and above.

The suspect, Benjamin Ndubuisi. ABA— The Aba Police Area Command has arrested a 40-year-old Prophet/Pastor, Benjamin Ndubuisi, for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 23-year-old man. Investigations revealed that the prophet whose church is located at 89 Ukaegbu Road, Ogbor Hill has been involved in the unholy act with the victim since he engaged him as a worker in his church. Trouble started for the prophet when his victim who gave his name as Ndukwe took ill two weeks ago and worried by his continued deteriorating health condition, confessed to his family about the secret love affairs between him and the gay prophet.

AWKA- THE professionals group in All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Ambassadors, yesterday described as “unfortunate”, the statement credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 72 persons dropped in the wee hours in the commercial city of Onitsha by the agents of Lagos State Government, saying the statement by the spokesman of the newly registered All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Lai Mohammed, was merely a face –saving measure and shows how Igbo are treated. In a statement issued in Awka, the leader of the APGA group, Mr. .Hilary Ejesieme said that a careful perusal of APC’s statement shows that it was a rehearsal of what those trying desperately to defend the actions  of Lagos State government had already said, betraying the fact that they merely voice what they have been asked to voice, without seeking the truth.

TENS of thousands have gathered at a peace memorial park in Hiroshima to mark the 68th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city, as anti-atomic sentiment runs high in Japan. The annual ceremony came as radioactive water leaks at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have stoked renewed fears about the plant's precarious state, and underscored broader worries about atomic power following Japan's 2011 nuclear crisis. In Hiroshima, ageing survivors, relatives, government officials and foreign delegates observed a moment of silence at 8:15am, the time of the detonation which turned the western Japanese city into a nuclear inferno.

  Prof. Attahiru Jega Party can ‘contest November governorship poll in Anambra’ The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, spoke yesterday on the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—the platform on which the progressives will fight the 2015 election. He said APC was registered as a merger party because it met all the requirements. He stressed that the registration was “done right under the law”, adding that the commission would appeal against a court judgment which nullified its decision to de-register Fresh Party and others. Jega was answering questions at a stakeholders’ conference with media professionals and civil society organisations on Voter Register Optimisation and plans for continuous voter registration. He said it was not yet time to release the 2015 general elections timetable.

  Prof. Sam Aje Outgoing Director-General, Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos State, Prof. Sam Aje, narrates his experience as the head of NFLV,  SEGUN OLUGBILE reports Prof. Sam Aje says his tenure as the Director-General of the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos is as inspiring as it is challenging. Inspiring because the village has grown to become what he calls one of the centres of excellence for the teaching and learning of the French Language in West Africa. But as inspiring as it is, the experience of the DG of NFLV,   as he narrated to some journalists in the village on Wednesday,  is mixed. He was first appointed as the DG of the village in 2003 for a renewable five year-term.

Some policemen in Lagos The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigations into the killing of a police corporal, Ado Ayuba, who was lynched by some hoodlums in Suru Alaba area of the state. According to the police, the victim was beaten to death by an irate mob for allegedly killing a trader, Mustapha Mohammed, on July 30, 2013.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested one Kingsley Mudi over alleged ATM fraud. It was learnt that Mudi was caught red-handed on August 2, 2013 at Fidelity Bank ATM on Airport Road, Warri, Delta State. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said 30 ATM cards of different banks were also found on him. Uwujaren said, “As of the time of the arrest, Mudi had already withdrawn N550,000, which were found in his possession.  Eight signed UBA cheques belonging to different persons were also found on him.” EFCC said Mudi, who claimed to be a Disc Jockey and an operator of a barbing saloon, “has volunteered useful information. He added, “He will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.” News source: Punchng.com

Thirty-five people, including two soldiers and a policeman,   have been killed  in two separate gunfights between security forces and members of the militant Islamist sect,  Boko Haram,  in  Borno State. The killings took place  on Sunday when the sect members launched  attacks on a riot  police base in Bama, a town close to the Cameroun border,  and the Multi-National Joint Task Force base in  Malam Fatori. A third incident in Gwoza, another Borno State community, was said to have resulted in the  death   of unspecified number of Boko Haram commanders. They all took place just as the   prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said  that after a preliminary investigation,  she  was convinced  that acts attributed to  Boko Haram  amounted to crimes against humanity.

Victor Moses Chelsea attacker Victor Moses has confirmed that he’s available for the Mandela Challenge. The one-day trophy challenge between South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Super Eagles is billed for August 14 in Durban. Eagles officials confirmed in Abuja on Sunday that Moses was the first player to put a call through to the team coach, Stephen Keshi to say he would be available and hopes to be among the first set of players to arrive in South Africa for the game. The player did not feature for the country at the FIFA Confederations Cup held in Brazil last June on account of injury. He may have opted to clear the air early about his participation in case of any doubts.

If the report reaching us is anything to go by, then conclusively, i would regard some people as being so cruel. The police in Plateau State have arrested a 21-year-old man who slaughtered an eight-year-old boy and removed his eyes for ritual purposes. Parading the suspect and his accomplices before journalists in Jos, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe, said the incident occurred in February at Shwar village in Kanke Local Government Area.

Cesc Fabregas Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has given Manchester United fresh hope in their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas by admitting part of the decision about a move rests with the midfielder. The Spanish champions have already rejected bids of £25m and £30m from United for the former Arsenal captain.

Zimbabweans arrive to cast their votes at the polls. Photocredit: Reuters (Reuters) - Africa's oldest president, Robert Mugabe, was declared winner of Zimbabwe's election on Saturday, but his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, said he would challenge in court a result he called a fraud that would push the nation back into crisis. Mugabe, 89, who has ruled the former British colony in southern Africa since its independence in 1980, was formally proclaimed re-elected for a five-year term barely an hour after Tsvangirai announced his planned legal challenge.

By Diane Bartz and Ayesha Rascoe: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration has overturned a U.S. trade panel's ban on the sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favored Samsung Electronics Co Ltd over Apple Inc in their long-running patent battles. The U.S. International Trade Commission in June banned the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T Inc, saying the devices infringed a patent owned by the South Korean electronics giant.