January 16, 2014

Man receives 20 lashes for being gay in Bauchi - BBC report

According to a report by the BBC, a 20 year old man in Bauchi received 20 lashes seven years after he stopped being gay. For real? My head hurts from reading all these. Find the report below...
A Nigerian man has received 20 lashes after an Islamic court in the northern city of Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences.
Under Islamic law, courts can punish homosexual acts by stoning to death.
But the judge said he took into account that the Muslim man, Mubarak Ibrahim, 20, carried out the acts seven years ago, and had stopped the practice.
In Nigeria, homosexual acts are illegal under both Islamic and secular law and restrictions have been tightened.

Earlier this month, President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a bill which bans same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection.

The new legislation applies throughout Nigeria. 
Most states in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria have adopted Islamic law, known as Sharia, since the end of military rule in 1999.

Along with Mr Ibrahim, 11 other Muslims and a Christian man were arrested last month accused by the authorities of being homosexuals.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of about $30 (£18).

Mr Ibrahim told the BBC he was relieved that Judge Nuhu Muhammad had been lenient on him and had not sentenced him to death.

The BBC's Ishaq Khalid was in court when Mr Ibrahim was lashed with a whip, made of animal skin smeared with oil.

Mr Ibrahim, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, was ordered to lie on a bench, and an official whipped his back in front of a packed courtroom, our correspondent says.

Mr Ibrahim screamed in pain while being lashed, but was able to walk afterwards, he adds.

The trial of two other men was adjourned to 23 January.

The fate of the nine other men arrested on the same charge is unclear but on Wednesday the Sharia Commission in Bauchi said the Christian would be tried by a "conventional court", not an Islamic court. 

Eight People Shot As Ogun APC Crisis Turns Violent

The crisis in the Ogun State All Progressives Congress, APC, turned violent on Thursday with some members sustaining gunshot injuries.
Eight people were reportedly shot during the clash at Wasimi Market Square, Ewekoro Local Government Area. They are said to be currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
Some federal lawmakers also narrowly escaped the attack. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that a senator representing Ogun Central, Gbenga Obadara, was holding a meeting with party members at the market square when thugs alleged to be working for a factional leader of the party opened fire on them.
The Ogun APC has been in crisis with members split into two camps: those loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun and those loyal to ex-governor Olusegun Osoba. Details later…
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56818.html

Read Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo's Open Letter To All Gays And Lesbians In Nigeria


Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, the controversial daughter of former Oyo State governor, Victor Omololu Olunloyo wrote this open letter to Gays and Lesbians in Nigeria. Read below: 
To all the Gays and Lesbians in Nigeria, keep your head up. You are being driven away from your country. Canada and any EU country will take you on Asylum status. You are not wanted in Nigeria. You will be jailed 14 years and I your supporter 10 years. Go to a country that can use your expertise and where u can live in peace and contribute to that country's quota and be safe. 
As time goes on, change your citizenship. Nigeria does not want you or love you. Our government says it's not OK to be yourselves. They train our ppl and children to be fake. They attribute homosexuality to the bible yet they have broken every single 10 commandment. Many people will end up killing you via vigilante justice one day like in Uganda.

Leave before its too late. Do not closet your entire life. Good Luck and Best Wishes in your travels. Most of u gays have my number already if you need help with the asylum process. Call me if you need me as I know you all individually.

Dr Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo @HNNAFRICA on Twitter.

ANTI-GAY LAW: More Celebrities React in Strong Words

ANTI-GAY LAW: More Celebrities React in Strong Words
More reactions continue to trail the singing of controversial Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill, popularly known as the Anti-Gay Law.
Nigerian musician Seun Kuti took his Facebook page to express annoyance with this new law:
“One man fuck another man, 14 years in prison but one man fuck all of us, 6 Months in prison or 250000 fine max and u are jubilating because u are religious and African. A man can not as much change his race as he can his sexuality so why blame the whites and Arab for criminalizing the black skin. We don’t choose who we are”, his post said.
Another celeb, On-Air-Personality Gbemi O.O expressed a big concern over the options this Bill provides:
“All it takes is for someone to be set up and accused of being gay and then the person gets jailed for 14 years,” she tweeted.
See her tweets below:
    

How TB Joshua Predicted Tukur's Resignation (VIDEO)

How TB Joshua Predicted Tukur's Resignation (VIDEO)
There is high chance that another prophecy by Nigeria’s Prophet T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), comes true. The resignation of the embattled Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, has been foretold on New Year’s Eve.
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The Lagos-based televangelist prophesied during the church’s crossover church service broadcast live via his television station Emmanuel TV that Tukur would go.
In his address to the congregation, T.B. Joshua foretold that many mighty people would fall in 2014, a year he termed one of ‘crossing the bridge’. He further specifically mentioned Tukur by name.
“At last, the PDP will pay any price to unite. I don’t know the price they will pay but this is what God showed me. The Chairman Tukur will leave,” T.B. Joshua said.
Though he did not say how he would leave, it was clear that the embattled politician was heading for a disastrous fall-out with the hierarchy that would kick him out of his political pedestal. Check out the VIDEO of the message below:
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56769.html

APC Ignores Court Suit, Calls PDP 'Desperate'

The Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called the PDP's decision to go to court "an act of desperation.”
He expressed surprise at their actions and noted that they would go on with their plans despite the court suit PDP has called for.
Gbajabiamila said, “The PDP’s case in court is an act of desperation. No arm of government can tell another one not to do its work.
“If a court judgment eventually says we had no right to do whatever we would have done, then we will revert.
“Outside that, we will perform our duties as a House because our rules are very clear on how to handle such issues.”
In preparation of legislative activities' resumption next week, members of APC have resolved to go ahead as planned without minding PDP's suit against them.
They have argued that the plan of changing House leaders will be adhered to as long as there was no court order placed against these activities in the house.
One member in the picture of ongoing deliberations, said, “As it stands now, the PDP is losing the principal seats to the APC.
“The only seats that some members are still saying they may allow to remain for now are those of the Speaker (Aminu Tambuwal) and the Deputy Speaker (Emeka Ihedioha).
“Let me even tell you that there is no guarantee for the deputy speaker yet.
“In all other positions from Majority Leader down, changes will take place.”
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, has said that House is protected under its rules and has as much right to conduct it's activities as PDP has to go to court.
"What is happening is democracy at play. He said.
"The National Assembly is the bastion of democracy.
“Yes, there is a case in court; when we resume, we will cross the bridge. Whatever is to happen, the picture will get clearer as we resume.”
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56760.html

Tukur’s Successor: Patience Jonathan Schemes To Install Her Candidate, SEE Who It Is

Tukur’s Successor: Patience Jonathan Schemes To Install Her Candidate, SEE Who It Is
As the battle to replace the embattled chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur continues, Dame Patience Jonathan, first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is said to have a preferred candidate for the position.
The candidate that Patience is reportedly scheming to install as Tukur’s successor is the current minister of transport, Sen. Idris Umar from Borno State.
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Tukur was said to have submitted his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, but he denied it while speaking to State House correspondents.
The first lady’s choice of Umar has however been criticised by some leaders of the PDP who are of the view that she was part of the trouble in the PDP.
The source said: “We have been on this struggle for long, even before the G-5 governors made good their threat to dump the PDP; but each time we tried to effect it, we were always hitting the rocks because the president’s wife was convinced that it was only Tukur who could deliver her husband in 2015.
“And, unfortunately, there are some close aides of the president who, in connivance with the chairman, were always drumming it to her ears that those who want Tukur out were indeed after the president; all these are tissues of lies that actually prolonged the ultimate decision.
“But, again, even with his resignation, there is yet another challenge that is now threatening the unity of the PDP, and it is the influence of the president’s wife who again insists on Senator Idris Umar, the transport minister, to be made chairman. She has reached out to almost all those who matter in the party to support Umar but we will not bow to this because it is high time Her Excellency was counselled to be circumspect in the affairs of the PDP.”
However, the final decision on who takes over from Tukur would rest on the National Executive Committee (NEC) which meets today.
Prince Uche Secondus, the deputy national chairman,  would take over the leadership of the party in acting capacity, if the option to immediately pick Tukur’s replacement from his zone fails.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56751.html

PDP Files Lawsuit Againts APC

PDP Files Lawsuit Againts APC
Members of the House of Representatives, particularly those of the All Progressives Congress caucus are bent on changing the leadership of the House as lawmakers resume sitting on Tuesday next week.
The APC gained a slim numerical advantage over the Peoples Democratic Party before the lawmakers proceeded on the Christmas/New Year break on December 19.
Thirty-seven former PDP members had defected to the APC on the floor of the House, citing “division” in the PDP as the reason for their action.
The development raised the numerical strength of the APC to 172, while the PDP dropped to 171.
Findings showed that the APC also planned to poach additional 40 PDP members before the end of this month to give it a “comfortable majority” of about 212 members.
Talks of a change of leadership in favour of the APC had forced the PDP to file a suit before an Abuja court, seeking to stop the House from going ahead to alter its leadership structure.
Among others, the PDP is faulting the grounds for the defection as it claims that there is no factional crisis in the party.
It is also arguing that the defectors had earlier filed a restraining suit still pending in court.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56748.html

Okonjo-Iweala answers House committee’s 50 questions

Abuja - Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has finally responded to the questions she received from the House committee on finance with respect to Nigeria’s current economic situation.

 She has provided a detailed 102-page documented response to the 50 questions posed by the committee, reports Premium Times.

In her response, the minister stressed that, in spite of many challenges which government has acknowledged, the economy is showing real and measurable progress in many areas like job creation, roads, rail and infrastructural development.

Read more at  Premium Times

APC Leader in Ondo State Pa Akerele Adu is Dead

APC Leader in Ondo State Pa Akerele Adu is Dead
APC Leader in Ondo State Pa Akerele Adu is Dead
All Progressive Congress (APC) leader and chieftain of Ondo State, Pa Akerele Adu died in the late hours of January 15, 2014, Wednesday.  He was 84 years old.
This has been confirmed by his son, Babatunde Adu. 
According to SaharaReporters, the late APC leader died at the Ofafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, from an age-related illness.
Pa Adu was a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resource in Ondo State during Governor Adebayo Adefarati administration. 
He is remembered for playing a vital role in ensuring the mergers of various political parties, without too much conflict, under the APC.
He was also former state chair of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, which later merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria, now part of the APC in Ondo State.
Pa Akerele Adu was born in Ijare, Ifedore, Adu was known for his grassroots mobilization and politics for the ACN.
He is survived by his wife, many children and grandchildren.
May his soul rest in peace. 

Why Obasanjo Is The Cause Of Nigeria's Problems – Pastor Tunde Bakare Reveals

Why Obasanjo Is The Cause Of Nigeria's Problems – Pastor Tunde Bakare Reveals
Convener of Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Wednesday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration raised the bar of corruption in the country, notwithstanding the ex-President’s “supposed achievements” in office.
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Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly stated this while speaking in Lagos as the guest lecturer at the 10th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture/Symposium, organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The event, with the theme, ‘Nigeria at centenary: A nation still in bondage?,’ was chaired by former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (retd.).
Justice Salami at the occasion also called for the separation of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria from that of the Chairman of the National Judicial Council.
The Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture/ Symposium by the Ikeja NBA, which started in 2004, is organised to celebrate the virtues of the late legal icon, who later died on September 5, 2009 at 71.
In his lecture, Bakare said Obasanjo raised the bar of corruption to an unimaginable level.
He said, “Media was censored, outspoken critics were targeted and judicial decisions were subjected to executive interpretations. Meanwhile, Obasanjo himself raised the mountain of corruption to an unimaginable level.
“As apathy set in among the electorate, General Obasanjo, indignant that he could not foist third term agenda on Nigeria, imposed sick president on the nation through a fraudulent election, I beg your pardon, selection, overseen by Prof. Maurice Iwu.”
He said Obasanjo’s supposed achievement in office had no significant impact on the people’s lives.
Bakare, who expressed support for “a people-driven” national conference, said the atmosphere of abundance created when Obasanjo assumed office in 1999, provided a breeding ground for personal aggrandisement across government levels.
The Congress for Progressive Change presidential running mate in the 2011 election said, “The atmosphere of abundance provided the breeding ground for personal aggrandisement as politicians, from the Presidency to the state and local governments, helped themselves to the nation’s resources.
Then, complacency set in as General Obasanjo, satisfied with his supposed achievements, which however did not reflect significantly in the living condition of the average Nigerian, sought to perpetuate himself in power and so unleashed the machinery of state against perceived enemies among the political class.”
Bakare suggested as a way forward that the Federal Government’s proposed national conference must be made to a people-driven constitutional conference where the defects in the nation’s federal structure could be corrected in a new constitution that truly belonged to the people.
While responding to questions after the lecture he said “Justice Ayo Salami is a victim of defective federal structure”.
Meanwhile Obasanjo’s spokesman, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, on Wednesday declined to comment but said all comments be directed to the ex-President himself.
“Please meet Baba himself. I cannot say anything on that. Please I am driving,” Oladunjoye s
Source: Punch Nigeria
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http://news.naij.com/56736.html

UPDATED: BREAKING NEWS: Jonathan Fires Nigeria’s Army Chiefs

UPDATED: BREAKING NEWS: Jonathan Fires Nigeria’s Army Chiefs
Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati has moments ago revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan has terminated the tenure of top military chiefs.
It is believed that the terminatination is due to the militar's inability to curb the Boko Haram destruction of life and property in the Northern region.
Reuben Abati made these known  through his tweeter account and he wrote.
Mr. Abati said the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, has been appointed the Chief of Defence Staff. He replaces Admiral Ola Ibrahim.
Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff;
Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.
All the changes are with immediate effect. 
The new Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Badeh was born on January 10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21 Regular Course while the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Minimah was born on July 27, 1959 and joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Jaji.
The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin was born on September 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 24 Regular Course. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.
The new Chief of Air Staff and immediate past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was born on August 1, 1958 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.
President Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56773.html

VIDEO: Wale Premieres Documentary On His Visit To Nigeria

VIDEO: Wale Premieres Documentary On His Visit To Nigeria
Wale, the famous Nigerian born African American rapper will premiere his documentary - "Wale: I Am From" on his visit to Nigeria on January 20th at 10 p.m. EST Only On REVOLT TV
To kick off the new year, REVOLT announced plans today to air its first original documentary special entitled, "Wale: I Am From."
Premiering on January 20 th at 10 p.m. EST, "Wale: I Am From" will follow Maybach Music superstar Wale on his recent trek to Africa to discover his Nigerian roots.
The hour-long special produced by REVOLT TV documents the rapper and Washington DC native's journey to meet his grandparents while racing against the clock to get back to the United States.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56732.html