First Lady leaves hospital and is back in Abuja

First Lady Patience Jonathan returned to Abuja yesterday after weeks in a German hospital, saying people who thought she would die in Aso Rock because of previous deaths of Presidential spouses forgot that not all leaders were bereaved while in the Villa.

Mrs Jonathan left Nigeria around August 28 with no public announcement on where she was headed. On September 3 Daily Trust broke the story that she went to Germany on a medical trip, but her aide told the newspaper that the First Lady only travelled abroad to rest after series of tiring official activities.

During her absence, rumours circulated that Mrs Jonathan underwent cosmetic surgery similar to the one that caused the death of Mrs. Stella Obasanjo.

Some messages on social media went to the extent of speculating that she may not survive the surgery because two successive Presidential couples did not come out of Aso Rock together.

"Thank God Almighty for bringing me back safely to Nigeria. Wherever there are good people there are also bad ones," the First Lady said shortly after alighting from a Presidential jet that ferried her back from Germany.

Mrs Jonathan was received at the airport by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, Petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, Environment minister Hadiza Mailafia, Education minister Ruqayyatu Rufai, Labour minister Emeka Wogu, some ministers of states, wife of the Senate President, Mrs Helen Mark, some wives of state governors and other government officials.

"There are a few Nigerians that are saying whatever they like not what God planned because God has a plan for all of us," she said into a microphone held by a Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) journalist, amidst cheering by a large crowd that turned up to welcome her.

"And God has said it all that when two or three are gathered in his name that he will be with them. And Nigerians gathered and prayed for me and God listened and heard their prayers. So, I thank God for that.

"At the same time, I will use this opportunity to tell those few ones that are saying that anybody that goes to Villa or Aso Rock will die. They mentioned Abacha, they mentioned Stella Obasanjo, they mentioned Yar'Adua and other people. But those people, why didn't they mention those ones that went there with their families and succeeded and they still came out alive?

"We should remember that Aso Rock is the seat of power and that is where God has ordained for we Nigerians that our leaders should rule from and to rule us right. God is wonderful and his infinite mercy."

While she was away, Mrs Jonathan was reported to be hospitalised at the Horst Schmidt Klinik in Wiesbaden, Germany, for food poisoning and ruptured appendix.

But yesterday she denied being in that hospital or undergoing cosmetic surgery, though she didn't say which hospital she went to or which ailment she suffered.

"At the same time, I read in the media where they said I was in the hospital. God Almighty knows I have never been to that hospital, I don't even know the hospital they mentioned," she said.

"I have to explain what God has done for me. I do not have terminal illness, or rather any cosmetic surgery, talk less of tummy tuck. My husband loves me as I am and I am pleased with how God created me I cannot add."

She called the period of her absence "my trial time" and thanked those who offered support. "God has given be a second chance to come and work with women of Nigeria, children and the less privileged. I have come to save Nigeria, I have come to work with Nigerians, I am there for them. Once more I am pleased to be back. I love Nigerians they are my family," she added.

Soon after her arrival, Mrs Jonathan left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and headed to the Presidential Villa, where she was received by President Goodluck Jonathan and other well-wishers.

She was seen hugging the President, her children and mother in-law.

Mrs. Jonathan's return, just like her departure, was shrouded in secrecy as there was no public announcement on it.

Yesterday was the first time she was seen in public since sometime in August. But last week, she was shown in a grainy, short video clip on the NTA when the president visited her in Germany.

Daily Trust

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Video - Nigerian boarding school movie ZR-7 now available on DVD and VOD

The critically acclaimed feature ZR-7 The Red House seven is now available on amazon.com DVD and VOD:

ZR-7 tells the classic life of boarding school adventure involving TJ with six of his friends (Rolly-D, Chiedu, UK, Tokunbo, Femi & James) while in JSS 1 (7th grade). The boys are initially shocked by all the hoops they have to jump in order to survive teachers, prefects, wicked seniors, dining hall food, thieves, cutting grass, washing toilets, puppy love and all the other regular experiences anyone in a public Nigerian boarding school would experience. But when TJ and the boys accidentally see a man and two female students in an uncompromising position, what they do with that information is not their only problem in school, but the resulting scandal would change their lives far beyond their wildest dreams.

Written and Directed by Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo & Udoka Oyeka

Director Of Photography Bishop C. Kagho Idhebor

Editor Chidi Nwaozomudoh

IMDB

Video - Thousands displaced by floods in Nigeria

The people in this region are no strangers to rain. But this has been the heaviest rainfall in 40 years. Many blame the government for their suffering and say the authorities were not prepared to evacuate people, provide shelter and other emergency services - despite a warning that there would be major flooding this year.

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Arrests made in student killings

The police on Tuesday announced a major breakthrough in their investigation into the lynching of four University of Port Harcourt students. The videotaped lynching of the students sparked outrage nationwide and the clip of the killings went viral on the Internet.

The IG disclosed the arrest during a security meeting with Chief Executive Officers and security officers of banks at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

“I want to announce that we have made a breakthrough in the Aluu killings. The two main suspects in the case have been arrested and they will be prosecuted,” he said. The arrest brings the number of suspects arrested by the police to 23.

The students were set upon by a mob in Aluu, a community close to the university, and lynched. They were later identified as 19-year-old Lloyd Toku ( 200 level Civil Engineering); 18-year-old Ugonna Obuzor (200 level Geology student); 20-year-old Chiadika Biringa, (200 level Theatre Arts student); and Tekena Erikena, a 20-year-old a diploma (Technical) student by the management of the university.

The police, on Monday, had named Coxson Lucky, alias Bright, as the mastermind of the lynching. Lucky, who was said to owe one of the students an undisclosed sum of money, reportedly raised the alarm that the students were robbers when they went to his house to demand for the money. The mob, which converged on the venue of the altercation, then beat and burn the students to death.

While the IGP was speaking in Abuja, the Rivers State Police Command was parading some of the suspects. The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Ndabawa, gave the names of the suspects as Segun Lawal, Felemo Solomon, Cynthia Chinwo, Ozioma Abajuo, Ikechukwu Louis and Chigozie Samuel Evans. He accused the suspects of playing major roles in the killings.

“It is not the philosophy of the Inspector General of Police to parade suspects. Nonetheless, the gruesome manner in which the crime was committed coupled with the direct and glaring involvement of some of these suspects, and the interest generated by the heinous crime, left the police with no option than to parade them,” Ndabawa said.

He said that an investigation aimed at arresting others involved in the killing of the four students and bringing them to book was ongoing.

However, two of the suspects, who admitted taking part in the mob action, claimed that their involvement was “minimal”. While the first suspect, David Chinasa Ugbaje, said he only hit the students twice, another suspect, Ikechukwu Loius Amadi, claimed that he only beat the students once with a small stick.

Ugbaje, who said he was a cobbler, described one of the students as his customer.

He said, “Around 7am on that day, I saw a crowd beating four boys. I asked who the four men were and they (crowd) said they were armed robbers.

“So, along the line, we went there. I opened the gate and they entered. I could not control the crowd. They pointed at one of our co-tenants; the name of the person is Bright.

“Some people said they wanted to break Bright’s door. So, they started beating the boys very seriously. They took them out from my street. I now left the house. I only beat them twice.”

Ugbaje added that while one policeman at the scene of the incident pleaded with the mob to hand over the students to them, another beat the students.

“Along the line, two policemen arrived. One of the policemen was pleading (for the boys), the other one joined in beating the boys. After beating the boys, the police now said the boys should be handed over to them. The crowd shouted, ‘We no go gree, we no go gree,” he said.

The second suspect, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi, a printer whose business is located within the UNIPORT campus, said that he only hit Toku, Obuzo, Biringa and Erikena once.

He said, “I was ready to go to my work. When I came out to pick a bike, I saw a crowd. I saw four boys, they were already naked. I shifted a bit to verify. They told me that these four boys came to rob, to steal.

“I asked them where they were taking them to. They said they were taking them to Number 9, Coca Cola Street where they lived. They mentioned one of our neighbours that they came to look for him. So, I followed the crowd. At the end, they started beating the boys mercilessly. To be sincere, I hit them once.”

But Segun Lawal, the third suspect, said he did not take part in the beating. He claimed he raised his hands and appealed to the mob not to kill the students. Lawal, a taxi driver, explained that he was arrested after his return from a business trip to Obudu Cattle Ranch on Saturday.

At the parade, the police did not allow journalists to interview the village head of Omuokiri Aluu community, Alhaji Hassan Walewa.

However, Abubakar had said that “Intelligence report implicated the traditional ruler of Omukiri community, Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Walewa, as being the person who incited the mob to unleash terror on the victims.”

On Monday, members of the Aluu community had claimed they had no hand in the killing of the boys. However, Lloyd’s father, Mr. Mike Toku, had described the denial as an attempt to cover up the crime. Toku insisted that his son and the three other students of the UNIPORT were tortured and killed by members of the community.

Toku, on Sunday, told our correspondent that the incident took place in the presence of members of the public and wondered why any Aluu indigene would want to deny the obvious.

He said, “To say they are not involved in the killing of my son is a big lie. It is a white lie and a cover-up for their wicked and unacceptable act. The incident did not take place in one of the community’s bushes.

“They killed my son in a place that looked like a village square, belonging to the community. While the killers were hitting my son and three other students, others stood and watched the incident.”

Toku, who insisted that his son was innocent of any crime, urged the police to arrest the killers of his son and those who watched their torture.

The late Tekena Erikena’s sister, Ann, described her brother as a humble person who had respect for people. Ann wondered why members of the community would brand him a thief and kill him.

“I cannot dictate to government on what it should do, but what we want is justice. My brother was never a thief,” she said.

PUNCH

Related stories: University of Port Harcourt shuts down in protest of student killings

Super Eagles crush Liberia 6-1

Super Eagles yesterday banished the ghost of 2012 disaster when they walloped the Lone Star of Liberia 6-1 at the UJ Esuene stadium Calabar to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Eagles opening goal came in the first minute of the first half from an unlikely source when lanky defender Ambrose Efe rose high to nod home the opener.

Expectations for more goals however waned as the Eagles lost the midfield to the Lone Star with danger man Oliseh Jambateh consistently threatening to break through in the weak side of the Eagles defence.

Ahmed Musa who did much to keep the Lone Star defence under pressure came close in the 15th minute but his effort went wide.

The Lone Star would have equalised in the 34th minute when Oliseh subdued Nosa Igiebor in the midfield but his shot on target was parried for corner by Enyeama.

The Eagles doubled their lead in the 38th minute when CSKA Moscow man, Ahmed Musa made good use of a through pass from Emmanuel Emenike.

The second half witnessed a harvest of goals as Chelsea new boy Victor Moses hit Eagles third goal of the night and his first for the national team in the 48th minute.

Moses Chelsea team mate, John Mikel Obi scored his second goal for the national team and the fourth for the Eagles on the night in the 50th minute when he stepped forward to convert the penalty kick that was awarded the Eagles when Real Betis man, Nosa Igiebor was badly brought down in the box.

In a bid to score more goals, Keshi brought on Ikechukwu Uche in place of lack-luster Emmanuel Emenike.

Shortly after the Lone Star captain, Gobro George Demen was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second yellow card, new entrant, Uche fired in the fifth goal in the 72nd minute.

In the 77th minute, Eagles went in search of more goals when Brown Ideye came on for Nosa Igiebor and went straight into business.

The Liberians consolatory goal came in the 83rd minute when substitute Foday Baakai Eddie cashed in on a defensive mix up to score for the Lone Star.

Lazio boy Onazi Ogenyi got his senior team debut when he came on toward the end of the match for Obiorah Nwankwo.

Victor Moses got a brace in the 87th minute to make it goal number six for Eagles.

From then on it was entertainment for the fans as the Eagles used the remaining minutes of the match to teach their opponents some rudimentary lessons in football.

Daily Trust