Friday, October 14, 2011

US government to award $3 million scholarship to Nigerian students

United States Government has offered $3 million scholarship grants to Nigerian students for the 2011 and 2012 academic year, the US Embassy disclosed yesterday.


The scholarship scheme, under the Educational Advisory Centre, according to the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy, James McAnulty, will afford Nigerian students the opportunity of studying in the United States. There are also many affordable degrees courses online


Speaking during 2011 Annual College and career Fair in Abuja, McAnulty said: “During the 2011 to 2012 academic year, we anticipate that Nigerian students participating in our Educational Advisory Centre will receive nearly three million dollars in financial aid and scholarships.


Vanguard


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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Umar Farouk 'Underpants Bomber' Abdulmutallab pleads guilty



A Nigerian accused of trying to bomb a US-bound flight on Christmas Day 2009 has told his trial in Detroit that he is pleading guilty to all charges.


Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, told a judge he was admitting all eight counts against him, including terrorism and attempted murder.


Abdulmutallab was badly burned when a bomb sewn into his underwear failed to detonate fully, prosecutors say.


Almost 300 people were on the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.


Abdulmutallab will be sentenced on 12 January 2012 but the BBC's Jonny Dymond, in Washington, says this is now a formality - Abdulmutallab will spend the rest of his life in prison.


Al-Qaeda links


US Federal Judge Nancy Edmunds verified that Abdulmutallab understood his right to silence before asking him if he wished to make a plea.


"Do I understand correctly that you wish to waive that right [in order] to plead guilty to all the charges in the indictment?" she asked.


"Yes," the defendant replied.


He told the court the bomb was a "blessed weapon to save the lives of innocent Muslims".


"The US should be warned that if they continue to kill and support those who kill innocent Muslims, then the US should await a great calamity... or God will strike them directly," he said.


Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is based in Yemen, said it was behind the attack on 25 December 2009.


US investigators have said Abdulmutallab told them he was working for AQAP and had received the bomb from them, as well as training.


US and Yemeni officials have linked Abdulmutallab to radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, whom he is said to have met while in Yemen before the attack.


Abdulmutallab flew from Nigeria to Amsterdam, where he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit, which was carrying 279 passengers and 11 crew.


He was already on a US watch list, but not a no-fly list.


Passengers had to put out the fire after the bomb failed to detonate fully, the court heard on Monday.


Abdulmutallab's father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, an influential banker who is well connected in Nigerian politics, said he had approached the US embassy officials and Nigerian authorities in 2009 to warn them about his son.


Abdulmutallab was denied a request to ban statements he made while being treated for burns at a hospital, as well as other material, from appearing at trial.


During the first day of his trial, on Monday, prosecutor Jonathan Tukel showed the court a picture of the remains of the burnt underwear which contained the explosive device.


Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analysts found the high explosive pentaerythritol (PETN) inside the device. Officials say he planned to detonate it using a syringe filled with chemicals.


The bomb was not detected when Abdulmutallab passed through airport security in Lagos and Amsterdam.


The court was also shown a video of Abdulmutallab explaining his suicide mission.


BBC


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Nigeria Super Eagles draw with Ghana Black Stars

Under fire Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia expressed his delight with the way his team played in a goalless draw with the Black Stars of Ghana in their international friendly match, which held at Vicarage Road, Watford.


Only 72 hours earlier, fans had been baying for his and his players’ blood following the 2-2 draw the Eagles had played with the Syli Stars of Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium, which ended Nigeria’s Nations Cup 2012 dream.


“I’m delighted with the way they (Eagles) played especially after what happened over the weekend. I only hope that fans also saw the improvement. We’re building a team for the future,” said Siasia.


Commenting further, the former Nigerian international also said he felt his team had created the better chances to have broken the deadlock.


Although the match did end goalless one must commend the work the officials did on the players to ensure that they did not allow what happened in Abuja over the weekend to have drastically affected their game.


Instead after an initial wobbly start in which the Ghanaians had the bulk of the ball possession, the Super Eagles came back stronger in the second half and fashioned out a number of scoring chances.


Although the ground of Championship side, Watford was not filled a sizeable crowd did show up to enjoy a fairly decent show put on by both teams



On his part, Goran Stevanovic, Siasia’s opposite number, also believed that his players did well but refused to be drawn into specifics until later when he would have studied the match.


But the 45-year-old Serbian flatly refused to be drawn into the chances of the Black Stars at next year’s Nations Cup final when asked after the game.


However, Siasia will be the more relieved of the two because his current tenuous position as national team head coach would have become untenable had the Eagles followed up Saturday’s poor outing with defeat to West African rivals, the Black Stars.


But in spite of the slightly improved performance of his team, Siasia is scheduled to know his fate on Thursday when the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) meet in Abuja.


This Day


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President Goodluck Jonathan pledges we shall overcome terrorism


 


President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the present security challenges facing the country, occasioned by the terrorists attacks and bombing by Boko Haram and other groups, was a passing phase that will be overcome very soon.


Speaking at the investiture ceremony of five former and current Chief of Air Staff with the Distinguished Flying Star Medal of the Nigeria Airforce and Presentation of Flag to Mobility Command, Yenegoa, in Abuja yesterday, the President said what was happening was a passing phase which every great nation of the world had gone through.


Jonathan said: “I encourage all Nigerians to remain steadfast, vigilance and optimistic bearing in mind that the endeavour of building a great nation can never be without challenges. “I want to assure you, however, that as we work together and draw upon our collective strength and numerous ties that bind us in peace and unity, we shall prevail over the challenges and leave a better country for children.”


Commending the Air Force and Armed Forces as a whole for their immense contribution to the maintenance of national security and defence of democracy, the President said: “Members of the armed forces are currently involved in the internal security in several parts of our dear nation.


“I must also note with pride your contributions towards ensuring stability across our great continent and even beyond.


“Your active participation in bringing peace and stability to the West African sub-region has been commended globally. I wish to commend you on the professionalism with which you handled the various situations.


“Your courage, dedication to duty and professionalism bear noble testimony to the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian people. I am aware that these accomplishments have not been without great and often painful sacrifice and for this reason, the nation owes you and your families a debt of gratitude.”


He highlighted the role of the Nigerian Air Force in ensuring the security of the country, saying “I am confident that with the on-going positioning of the Nigerian Air Force for sustained the deployment of air power as evident in the establishment of the mobility command, the Air Force is destined for even greater achievement as we work to transform Nigeria.


“No nation can rightly boast of greatness in the absence of a vibrant armed forces bearing in mind the onerous task that nation building can only be accomplished when the safety and the territorial integrity of the nation is assured.


“There is, therefore, no doubt that building and maintaining the virile and motivated Air Force is secured to ensuring our security and national development. For this reason, the FG has continued to make substantial investments in the provision of new platforms and the reactivation of old ones.


“This is in addition to our commitment to ensure better training and improved welfare packaging for the improvement of men and women of our noble Armed Forces.”


President Jonathan congratulated the recipients of the Distinguished Flying Star, including Air Marshal Akin Dada, (1992-1993), Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi (1993-1996), Air Marshal Isaac M. Alfa (1999-2001), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (206-2008), Air Chief Marshal O.O. Petinrin (2008-2010), Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (2010-till date).


According to him, the award was in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of the Nigerian Air Force and security of Nigeria.


In his reaction, Air Marshal Alfa said “I am very happy for the recognition. As for the commitment to the country, once you have gone as far as being the Service Chief, you are actually never fully retired.


“You are always in the service of the country that is to say you are more or less on reserve and you can be called upon into active service many times. My commitment to the country is that anytime I am needed I am always ready.”


ACM Paul Dike said “it is always something special when you are honoured by your people, so I am delighted to have been one of those people that were honoured here today.”


Vanguard


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Monday, October 10, 2011

Prostitutes sell semen to ritual killers in Abuja

Horny men in Abuja stand the chance of having their semen taken away and sold to ritual killers by commercial sex workers who have laid siege to the city.


This demonic practice may have been responsible for the woes suffered by some men including sterility, erectile dysfunction, marital crisis, failure in business and even death, said observers.


Our correspondents reported that some prostitutes with condoms filled with fresh semen were arrested by officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), while raiding some red light areas of the city.


A total of 104 suspected commercial sex workers have been arrested for prosecution during raids carried out by the board in collaboration with the Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour (SAP-CLN)


SAP-CLN is an Abuja-based non-governmental organization involved in the rehabilitation of prostitutes and street children.


An AEPB official, who pleaded anonymity, said some of the commercial sex workers were found with condoms containing fresh male semen after they were picked from the streets. He said the recoveries of the used condoms were made when officials searched bags brought in by the commercial sex workers.


Other items recovered include Benelyn cough syrup laced with codeine, Indian hemp, cigarettes and Dunlop Plastic Solution, an adhesive used in vulcanizing tires.


He said, "It is a recurrent thing here. We find condoms with sperm when we search their bags. The necks of the condoms are tied to prevent the contents from spilling and are carefully wrapped in toilet tissue.


"We also found Benelyn cough syrup, marijuana, cigarettes and an adhesive used by vulcanizers in fixing tyres. Some of them become very wild after taking drugs and one has to be careful when going for the raid."


A commercial sex worker, who gave her name simply as Joy, told our correspondent that the semen found with some of her colleagues were secretly taken away after they had sex with their patrons.


In an attempt to extract the semen from unsuspecting male "clients," she said, commercial sex workers exhibit extraordinary care and sex appeal, attributes which, she further claimed, caused many men to lose their guard.


As soon as the man gives in fully to the pleasure of the illicit affair, she said, the prostitute moans and screams wildly in fake ecstasy thereby setting the stage to carry out her mischief.


But where the male "client" refuses to succumb to the trappings of the fake expression of passion, she said, the girl would rub fetish powder on her nipples and offer them to the man to suck. After sucking the breasts, the man loses consciousness and the sex worker would steal all his valuables and collect his semen.


She said some of her colleagues also use drugs to knock out some of their patrons and entice them into having sex in a semi-conscious state. She said: "After pulling the condom, the girl would go into the bathroom and flush the tissue she used in cleaning the man while tying the neck of the condom.


"She would tie the neck of the condom to avoid spillage and carefully hide it away until she is ready to go. Sperm is a very hot thing for people, who use it for medicine. I don't know how much they sell it because am not into that kind of line."


"But I know that a lot of girls do it and they make so much money from it. I don't want to carry somebody's blood because I don't know what the juju priest will do with someone's sperm. I only do ashawo (prostitution) business. I don't sell sperm."


But determined to stamp out the criminal practice, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, through the AEPB, has launched an operation to dislodge prostitutes from the city.


The operation, which is carried out in collaboration with the Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour (SAP-CLN) has led to the arrest of 104 commercial sex workers in various parts of the city during three raids.


At the raid which was carried out on Thursday, September 29, a total of 44 suspected prostitutes where arrested and held for prosecution.


However, on Monday, October 3, the team arrested another 33 suspected commercial sex workers, while 26 suspects were arrested during another raid on Thursday, October 6.


The operation is carried out based on the provision of Section 35 (1g) of the AEPB Act No. 10 of 1997, which prohibits sex trade in the capital city.


The suspects were arraigned before a mobile court presided over by Mr. Aminu Abdulahi, a magistrate with the FCT.


Out of the 44 suspects that were arrested during the September 29 raid, a total of 31 pleaded guilty to the charge, while 13 pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.


About 16 convicts who could not afford a fine of N5,000 as stipulated in the AEPB law were sent on one-month imprisonment at Suleja Prison.


However, 13 other convicts, who could afford the stipulated fine, were sent for rehabilitation at the SAP-CLN center located in Sabo Lugbe, off Umaru Yar'Adua Way.


Out of the 33 suspects arrested on Monday, October 3, five of the suspects were released on bail, four were freed after they were screened and an undertaking extracted from them by the court.


The remaining 25 people pleaded guilty to the charge and were accordingly convicted but only seven were sent to Kuje Prison, while 17 paid fine and opted for rehabilitation.


The coordinator of SAP-CLN, Mrs. Grace Adogo, said the organization was touched by the plight of the commercial sex workers who were sent to prison.


She said a lot of the commercial sex workers saw what they did as business and not as a criminal activity. Adogo recounted the story of an inmate who, after spending one month at the rehabilitation centre, suddenly stripped herself and shouted on top of her voice that she could no longer cope.


According to her, the inmate said she used to sleep with several men in a day and send some of the proceeds home for the upkeep of her family.


She said, Our security men ran away on sighting her. "She shouted that she should be released immediately and we did, because we couldn't keep her against her wish. She said she used to sleep with several men in a day and could not continue to cope without seeing a man.


"She told me that her mother called and said she had lost so much revenue during the one month she was in the center and that she should come out and continue the business. The girl went back home."


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