Man arrested for attempting to sell son

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Chisom Ihemebirim from Amuzi Obowo in Imo State, for selling his one and half years old son, Chidubem Chisom for N500,000.

The command also arrested one Abraham Ukaiwe, 27, from Asaga Ohafia in AbiaState said to be Ihemebirim’s accomplice in the deal to sell the boy.

Little Chidubem Chisom was said to have been sold to one Mercy Nwachinemere, 45, of Umudi Abayi in Osisioma, Abia State who has also been arrested.

According to the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tilli Abubakar, little master Chidubem Chisom was recovered from the buyer.

Parading the suspects, Abubakar said his men moved into action following a report by one Kasarachi John, 23, from Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Council said to be the estranged wife of Ihemebirim.

Kasarachi John, according to the Police Commissioner, reported that sometime in February 2013, she had a misunderstanding with Ihemebirim, her husband which made her to leave his house.

According to her, shortly after, in March 2013, she received information that their son, Chidubem Chisom, has been sold by the father, Ihemebirim.

Speaking to journalists, Ihemebirim admitted selling the boy for N500, 000. According to him, he used the money to process documents he wanted to use to travel to Libya or Spain. He also claimed that he used part of it to renovate his house.

CP Abubakar said that the fraction of the money was recovered from Ukaiwe, the said accomplice.

The command has also arrested a female suspect, Kate Agharanya 41, for conspiring with one and Onyinyechi Nwogu still at large to sell a baby boy for N200, 000.

The matter the police commissioner said was reported by the mother of the baby, one Victoria Nwachukwu, 20 years, of Obazor Asa in Ukwa West area of Abia state who claimed that she delivered the said baby on May 6, 2013, at Chile Maternity Home in Umunka in Ugwunagbo.

Abubakar who said that the matter is still being investigated, announced that both Onyinyechi Nwogu and the unnamed buyer of the baby were still on the run.

Meanwhile, the Abia police Command also arrested and paraded four suspects for robbing a Catholic school, Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy [DMMM] at Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were Chimezie Omasi, Odinakachi Ugorji, George Ohia and one Confidence, whose surname, the police said was yet unknown. They were said to have robbed the occupants of the school at gun point.

According to the police Commissioner, they robbed the occupants of the sum of N350, 000 cash, four Nokia Handsets and one Laptop valued at N200, 000.

The police commissioner disclosed that when they were arrested the sum of N97, 200, some of the handsets, one locally made single barrel short gun, the laptop and un registered Ladies Motorcycle said to have bought on the same day by one of the suspects.

Vanguard

Catherine Dupe Atoki is first African to win Asian Peace Prize

A renowned Nigerian female rights activist, Mrs. Catherine Dupe Atoki, will receive the distinguished Gusi Peace Prize International for 2013 on November 27 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila Philippines. She would be the first African woman to be honoured with the laureate which is considered as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mrs. Atoki was recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as new director general of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), a position she has assumed after serving her full tenure as chairperson of the African Union Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR). She was also the first African woman to hold that position. According to the organizers, Mrs Atoki was nominated for the Gusi Peace Prize by Justice Yeung Sik Yuen, a former laureate of the peace prize for her significant contributions to Peacekeeping in the field of Human Rights Advocacy of the African Union.

The event which is held annually in the Philippines is said to be mandated by the country's Presidential Proclamation 1476 declaring every fourth Wednesday of November as the Gusi Peace Prize International Friendship Day.

Dr. Evelyn Gusi, chairman of the Barry Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, organizers of the event, who conveyed Mrs. Atoki's nomination for the award in a letter she signed said: "The Gusi Peace Prize Philippines and international committees have decided to award the Gusi Peace Prize International for 2013 to you, Honourable Catherine Dupe Atoki, for your untiring efforts, working for people's amelioration to find peaceful solutions for people's welfare through Human Rights Advocacy in the African Union."

Accepting her nomination for the award, Mrs Atoki expressed appreciation to Justice Yeung Sik Yuen for recommending her and thanked the Gusi Prize Foundation for their work for humanity. "I am indeed delighted for my nomination for this award; I thank the Gusi Prize Foundation for recognizing my modest contributions and as I look forward to receiving the award it is my hope that it would spur me into doing more for my country, the continent and humanity in general", Mrs Atoki said.

Daily Trust

Obama skips Nigeria again on trip to Africa

United States president Barack Obama will not be visiting Nigeria as recently speculated in the media. Obama and his wife Michelle will only visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania between June 26 and July 3.

A statement by the Office of the Press Secretary in the White House stated this yesterday while clarifying Obama's visit to Africa.

A copy of the statement entitled "Statement by the Press Secretary on the President's Travel to Africa" was made available to LEADERSHIP.

The statement reads in part, "President Obama and the First Lady look forward to traveling to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania from June 26 - July 3. The President will reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders.

"The President will meet with a wide array of leaders from government, business, and civil society, including youth, to discuss our strategic partnerships on bilateral and global issues. The trip will underscore the President's commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity."

This is the second time that Obama is skipping Nigeria from his visit to Africa as the US president had excluded Nigeria during his first visit to Ghana on July 11, 2009.

The US president had alluded his inability to visit Nigeria during the trip to Ghana on the grounds of poor democratic credential and corruption. But the situation is now worse as the aforementioned issues have now assumed a frightening dimension.


On why he decided to visit Ghana then, Obama had said, "Ghana's history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States.

"And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.

"This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America's. Your health and security can contribute to the world's. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere".

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on the President's Travel to Africa

President Obama and the First Lady look forward to traveling to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania from June 26 - July 3. The President will reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders.

The President will meet with a wide array of leaders from government, business, and civil society, including youth, to discuss our strategic partnerships on bilateral and global issues. The trip will underscore the President's commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity.

Leadership

Video - Nigerians react to Manchester United Alex Ferguson's retirement

Nigerians react to the announcement of Alex Ferguson retiring as Manchester United's manager.

Video - Baby trafficking syndicate arrested in Imo state

Nigerian police say they have rescued six pregnant girls from child traffickers who were planning to sell their babies Two men and a woman have been arrested in the case, which is the second so-called baby factory to be uncovered in a week. Last Friday, 23 girls and four babies were found in a baby factory in Umuaka, Imo State in eastern Nigeria and are now being looked after in a state care home.