Gays Deserve Equality - Obama Tells African Leaders

US President Barack Obama has oncebagained defended gay rights across the Africa but now citing Nelson Mandela's plight as inspiration Obama said he understood that different religions and cultures adhered to different beliefs and traditions, but that the simple principle of equality should be the guide for states and governments. "I want the African people to just hear what I believe," Obama said.

He said this in a country where being gay is a crime and punishable by serving prison sentence
"My basic view is that regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation, when it comes to how the law treats you… people should be treated equally."
Senegalese President Macky Sall replied that though Senegal was a "very tolerant country which does not discriminate in terms of inalienable rights of the human being", it was not ready yet to decriminalise homosexuality. "But of course this does not mean that we are all homophobic."

Obama revealed that he will still head to South Africa despite rumours that Nelson Mandela is in critical condition, He therefore revealed that Mandela was the man who incited political activism in him and he was inspired by Mandela's example when he was a student
"I think he is a hero for the world and if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we will all know is, his legacy is one that will linger on through the ages," Obama said.

With the US facing big debt problems, wont it be wise that he focuses on his country's agenda We Africans don't need to always follow the way shown by the Americans especially on gay agenda, Granted we do have tough laws against homosexuality but please if the US is soo agitated about rights of homosexuals in Africa they can open their gate and take them all cause Africans are not yet ready

65-year-old Crowned Most Beautiful In Elderly Beauty Pageant

Contest organizers in Brazil have
pronounced 65-year-old grandmother, Irenilda de Oliveira Meneses as Brazil'sbmost beautiful elderly woman.
The pageantry was open to women who are above age 60. Out of 200 contestants, and being one of the 25 finalists selected
to compete in the beauty pageant in Sao Paulo, the gorgeous grandmother has emerged queen.
Meneses, a mother of two, has this to say about winning the pageantry, "To win is very exciting, very exciting. I'm so moved, I'm speechless, very speechless".

The women were judged on their physical appearance, smile, personality, elegance and more. The entire essence of events as this, as summed up by contest organizer, Anilton Guedes, is that these elderly women feel like they are participating in life. They are brought out of whatever negative situations they face as a result of their age to feel happy, celebrated and young again

Press Statement: Davido & Manager Were Not Arrested in Hungary for Spending Fake Currency

Am unconfirmed story was
making its rounds across blogs yesterday that Davido, his brother - Adewale Adeleke and his manager Kamal Ajiboye were arrested in a club in Budapest for using fake euros to pay for for drinks.

Davido's camp has sent
across an official press
release clearly stating
Davido didn't get arrested.

Read below the Official Press Release

It has come to our notice that some people unscrupulous rumour peddlers have chosen to malign Davido's hard work ethic and reputation.

Davido has been on his European tour for a few weeks and landed in Budapest, Hungary on Friday June 21 for his Budapest stop. He was met with what is perhaps the worst case of unprofessionalism from a promoter in hisvcareer as a touring artiste. The promoter in this case is known as Mr Frank of BLACK DIAMOND ENTERTAINMENT. To the dismay of his management, the
agreements on Davido's ryder were not met despite assurances written and verbal that everything was set. Please note the following facts:.

Against their agreement, Davido and his management were given a one bedroom suite to house them during their stay in Budapest.

The promoter had issues with the venue for the show. Up until the night of the performance, the venue had not been paid for and Davido's management were informed that he might not be able to perform on the stage. This was finally sorted a few minutes to the show.
When it was finally time to perform, the promoter had not arranged for sound and Davido only managed the situation and decided to perform because of his fans that had paid to attend the concert.

A fight broke out at the club and the promoters did not arrange any form of security for Davido, it was the intervention of the venue security guards that ensured that he got back to his hotel room in safety.

Davido and his management did not receive any direct payments from the said promoter. Infact the promoter is yet to pay up in full Davido's performance fees as agreed.

Davido and his management team
catered to their every need while in
Budapest from their personal funds
Davido's management wishes to state distinctly and clearly that Davido was not at any point arrested in Budapest, Hungary. He is currently in Paris, France where he is set to perform on the 28th and the 29th of June.
Thank You

Niger-delta Militants, Students Clash In Lagos

Students of Federal College
of Education (Technical), Akoka,
Lagos State and 80 Niger Delta ex-
militants running a one-year
programme at the institution have
clashed .

PUNCH Metro learnt that trouble
started after an ex-militant
allegedly slapped a female student.
Our correspondent learnt that a
school official who attempted to
intervene was also allegedly
slapped by another ex-militant.
The incident degenerated into a
free-for-all, with many people
sustaining injuries on Monday.
The registrar's office was also said
to have been vandalised .
When our correspondent visited
the institution on Tuesday,
policemen attached to MOPOL 2
were stationed at the entrance of
the gate.
The secretary of the Student Union
Government of the school, Saheed
Ridwan, told PUNCH Metro that
the students had decided that they
no longer wanted the ex-militants
on the school's premises.
He said, "The ex-militants joined
our school in February and initially,
we were not having problems.
However, a few weeks ago, there
was a fight between some students
and ex-militants over alleged
stolen money and we settled it.

"On Monday, a female student was
eating at a restaurant at Aluta
Ground when an ex-militant told
her to move because there wasn't
much space. An argument ensued
and he slapped her. An official, one
Mr. Segun, was slapped by another
ex-militant.
"A fight broke out and there was
blood-shed. The police have
however restored sanity but the
students have said they no longer
want the ex-militants in the
school."
Meanwhile, it was learnt that one
of the ex-militant, identified as
Dudu, has been arrested by
policemen at Bariga Division for
allegedly harassing an employee of
Lagoon Hotel, Akoka.

PUNCH Metro learnt that ex-
militants schooling at the
institution were lodged at Lagoon
Hotel by the Federal Government.
Spokesperson for the state police
command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed
the disturbance in the school,
adding that peace had been
restored.
Braide said the militant was
arrested for making intimate
advances at an employee of the
hotel.

"The ex-militant, was arrested for
making intimate advances at an
employee of a hotel near the
school," she said.

PUNCHNG

Captured Boko-Haram Member Confesses To Killing 23 People In Two Days

An arrested member of the Boko
Haram militant, shocked the
people of Ngomari ward ‘Bakin
Borehole’ in Maiduguri, the Borno
state capital, when he confessed
killing 23 people in two days, while
also slaughtering a village head and police officers in the area.

The Boko Haram member who was
arrested on Tuesday evening in the
area was said to have relocated
about a year ago and hired a room
apartment in a house where he
lived as one of the innocent Borno
citizens who had runaway from the
troubled zone for safety.

A resident of Ngomari who pleaded
not to be mentioned told DailyPost
on Wednesday in Maiduguri that,
the sect member was arrested
wearing a jeans trouser and vest at
the borehole when he went out to
fetch water.

According to him, the militant who
was arrested by ‘Civilian JTF’ was a
resident of Gwange and his arrest
was made possible when the
vigilante youth went looking for
him and arrested his younger
brother who took them to Ngomari
where his brother, the sect
member now lives.

“We were shocked when we heard
that, civilian JTF came and arrested
a sect member in our area. We
have never imagined we could
have somebody like that in our
area because we have been living
peacefully. We were the most
shocked when the sect member
confessed that he killed 23 people
in two days. That is horrible and
unimaginable, but a reality.” He
said.

He also said that, while the youth
group were beating the arrested
sect member, they also asked him
of one Idris Musa, whom he told
them was living in Ndollari a
suburb of Ngomari. 

Meanwhile, the ‘Civilian JTF’ was
seen today, Wednesday, in front of
the ANPP State Chairman’s house
in Maiduguri at about 7:1em barely 24 hours after it was
reported that, the youth group
were hunting for the politician for
allegedly sponsoring terrorism in
the state.

Source:

DailyPost

Lawmaker Condemns Prosecution Of Fani-Kayode

The Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on
Human Rights, Rotimi Makinde, has described the continued prosecution of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode as "political persecution of the most vicious and cruel kind."

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who
served in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly laundering N230 million through his aides, wife and daughter between 2006 and 2007 while in office.
However, Mr. Makinde, in a statement on Wednesday condemned the prosecution of the minister, saying it is not only laughable but full of inconsistencies.
"The case against former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by the EFCC is really laughable and full of many inconsistencies. He was alleged of laundering N230 million through his aides, wife, and daughter; between 2006 and 2007 when he was a minister.

"This is nothing but political persecution of the most vicious and cruel kind. The case has been on for five years, in my opinion he has done nothing wrong, and his innocence will soon be established," he said.
The lawmaker, who represents the Ife Federal Constituency of Osun State on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, recalled that at a time EFCC accused the former minister of involvement in the misappropriation of N19 billion Aviation Intervention fund but was later dropped, only for the current charges to be slammed on him.

He stated, "At a time EFCC accused him of involvement in the misappropriation of N19 billion Aviation Intervention Fund, the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. The current charges largely concern cash lodgments made into his private bank account between August 2006 and March 2007.

"I understand he was first arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, on the same charges, in December 23, 2008; during the late Umar Yar'Adua govt. after Ramat Mohammed, the trial judge, was transferred out of Lagos Division; the case was re-assigned to Binta Nyako, last year, before the latter was transferred out of Lagos and now Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia is in charge.

"Today (June 25) the judge was simply correct to have disqualified the prosecutor who was described to lack the authority of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute the case. I think this judge should have gone ahead to strike out the case for lacking merit, however the innocent will soon be exonerated

"Even as I understand the factor of
prejudice/subjudice in law, I am also not uninformed about my rights to express my opinion within the limit of the law, suffice to say all these shenanigans and show of judicial recklessness must stop in the interest of our democracy, government must stop this cruelty and attempt to silence the opposition especially when their excesses and incompetence are exposed. If truly they have anything against Fani-Kayode by now the case would have been laid to rest. Five years? It's a shame on this government".

Photo: Mercy Johnson's N15million Lexus GX 460

Mercy paid a visit to OJB who is suffering from kidney failure and needs a transplant and made a generous donation.
The actress did not want photos of her taken.

The jeep with place number 'ODI-WIFE' was a surprise gift from her husband, Prince Odianosen Okojie.

"Oprah Winfrey Tops Forbes' Most Influential Celebrity List"

It was the fifth time the
former talk show host
has headed the annual
ranking of 100
celebrities. Singer Lady
Gaga came in second, followed by
director/producer Steven Spielberg
and singers Beyonce and Madonna.

"There is nobody else with that kind of consistency and power," said Dorothy Pomerantz of Forbes.com.

"There are only three people who have been on every single one of our lists since 1999. It is Oprah, Howard Stern and Steven Spielberg."
Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, who was No. 1 last year, dropped to 12th place. With earnings of $77 million from June 2012 to 2013, Winfrey was not the highest earning celebrity, an honour that went to Madonna who made $125 million.
But Forbes said Winfrey's position in Hollywood and her presence in the press, on television and in social media propelled her to the No. 1 spot.
"She still wields an enormous amount of power, which is really what we look for in our fame matrix. She is taking this cable network and turning it around just throughout the sheer force of her will, her connections and her ability."

See the TOP20 of the list below:

1. Oprah Winfrey $77m
2 Lady Gaga $80m
3 Steven Spielberg $100m
4 Beyonce $53m
5 Madonna $125m
6 Taylor Swift $55m
7 Jon Bon Jovi $79m
8 Roger Federer $71m
9 Justin Bieber $58m
10 Ellen DeGeneres $56m
11 Hugh Jackman $55m
12 Jennifer Lopez $45m
13 Rihanna $43m
14 Coldplay $64m
15 Tiger Woods $78m
16 LeBron James $60m
17 Simon Cowell $95m
18 Katy Perry $39m
19 David Beckham $47m
20 Robert Downey Jnr $75m