How Super Eagles star turned me into sex slave – Tina Okpara

Tina Okpara, the teenage girl who was serially raped by Super Eagles star, Godwin Okpara, has released a book, detailing how the sexual assault went on for two years.
In the book titled, “My Life Has A Price”, the victim narrates how she was adopted at age 13 by the Okparas and taken to France.
Linda, Okpara’s wife, then enslaved her for five years and turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse, she says in the book.
Tina’s decision to write the book seven years after she regained freedom, aims at raising awareness and helping other girls who might be going through the same horrendous experience, she said in an interview with TheNews magazine.
“One day, I told myself that if I refused testifying, other girls will continue to experience modern slavery,” she said.
She explained how her biological father was tricked by the Okparas into believing that she would be sent to school in France where the Super Eagles star was playing for Paris Saint Germain.
However, once in France, she was used as a sex slave. She was also prevented by Linda from attending school.
“The day she spat it on my face that schooling was not for me because I was too stupid, I lost all hope,” she said.
As the abuse worsened, Tina kept secret notebooks where she could “dump all my sorrow”.
“These notebooks were used to dump all my sorrow, all my hatred for Linda. It was my lifeline and my friend,” she said.
The 188-page book, originally written in French, has just been translated into English.
Godwin is currently serving a 10-year jail term in France, while his wife, Linda, will be in jail for 15 years.
 DailyPost

Gelegele: A Sore In Our Democracy

By Victor Omoregie
GELEGELE is said to have been founded by its first ruler of the village, Ikpiti and his elder sister, Kunemor, sometime in 1403. Both were said to have been attracted to the area because it was located on a hill, which makes it almost impossible to be flooded by the river around the place.
According to oral history, the name ‘Gelegele” means a place on the hill. It seems to have history and importance entrusted upon it. Gelegele began as an ancient seaport which existed even before the coming of the colonial masters and long before the birth of Nigeria as a country.
Apart from the British expedition in Benin, Gelegele was one of the seaports through which the colonial masters passed in their quest for the exploration and partitioning of Africa. They used it to access the ancient Benin Kingdom. It became a major route for slave trade, cocoa, cowries and other precious items for the colonial powers and now it has become an oil-producing community.

Gelegele community road…under construction

Most importantly is its role in the history of the Benin Kingdom. It was through Gelegele that the British punitive expedition passed in 1897, which resulted in the total annihilation of the empire. It was through this same port that the reigning monarch of the Benin Kingdom, Oba Ovoramwen was deported to Calabar.
British expedition
The British expedition team was led by its Consul-General, James Phillips. The large canoe which Phillips and his team arrived Gelegele is believed to be buried by the sand in a particular spot at the port. There is also a mass grave site where the British colonial masters were reportedly buried. The names of those killed and buried along with Phillips are Peter W.C. Copland-Crowder, Arthur I Maling, Kenneth C. Campell, Robert H. Elliot, Harry S. Powish and Thomas Cordon.
With all these it would have been expected that Gelegele would have acquired some form of development, but alas, that is not the case. Like every other community in the Niger Delta, Gelegele is a graphic contrast to its economic and historical significance. Despite hosting the oil flow station of Dubri Oil Company since 1979, socio-economic activities in Gelegele are seemingly non-existent.
The mere mention of Gelegele usually evokes a picture of a far-flung, under-developed, inaccessible community in the heart of the rain forest. The village is situated near a large expanse of tropical rain forest, deep in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, with a network of rivers, creeks, streams, canals and springs linking up to the River Niger which flows into the high seas.
Pockets of jetties and shrines being patronized by the people keep the area alive. Expectedly, low level fishing and trading in condensate (mistaken by the local people as diesel) go on in the area and serve as the major sources of revenue for the people.
The journey to Gelegele for Vanguard began at the new-look Ring Road in Benin City. The Ring-road of today wears the modern look of a real urban business centre and epi-centre of the Benin Kingdom.
The Ring-road structure is the representation of the ancient road networks constructed in the glorious days of the Benin Kingdom. All roads around the city empty into the ring road. It is worthy of note that popular and historical roads converge at the Ring Road.
These include such roads as the Sakpoba road, Sapele Road, Airport Road, Ekenkhuan, Mission Road, Ewaise (formerly called Forestry) Road, Akpakpava. Also noticeable round the Ring road are very important historical sites of the Benin Kingdom that serve as historical pointers of days of yore. First among these sites is the Palace of the Monarch of the Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpokpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa.
Then comes the Urhokhota Hall (the traditional meeting hall of all Binis). Next is the Oredo Local Government offices. The most important market in Benin, which is the Oba market lies close-by. Directly opposite is the State House of Assembly Complex, with the General Hospital as its next door neighbour. The Benin Baptist Church is close also. The Central Bank Building is also located in front of the Ring road. To complement the beauty and tourist attraction of  the Ring road is the National Museum, which is located directly at the centre of the road.
The new beauty of the Ring road is a testimony to one of the achievements of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. In the not too recent past, the Ring road could have been likened to the former Oshodi area in Lagos, where the citizenry dreaded to pass after dark.
At the Ring Road Bus Terminal, vehicles going to different parts of the city can be found. Governor Oshiomhole’s impact on the transport sector is evident in the presence of numerous long luxurious buses popularly called ‘Oshio Baba’ in the local parlance, heading to different parts of the city. These buses are the exact replica of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s BRT buses.
Upon the location of the bus terminal, Vanguard was informed that buses go to Gelegele twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. It was by a stroke of luck that Vanguard got a space into one of the buses heading to Gelegele. With the bus filled to capacity with passengers, it began its journey.
Residential layout
From the Ring road the bus passed by the Ekenkhuan campus of University of Benin on the right and the Garrick Grammar School on the left. Then it meandered through the new residential layout of Ugbiokho. As the bus passed through the Ekenkhuan village the scenery changed from those of buildings on both sides of the road to that of luxuriant tropical rain forests. Surprisingly the journey was smooth thus far, courtesy of the NDDC, that had built a two-lane asphalt road that would terminate at Gelegele.

Gelegele port

As we approached the Ughoton community, Vanguard was informed that we were entering the oil-producing region of Edo State. From inside the bus we could see oil-capping facilities on both sides of the road. In all, we counted over 20 oil-capping facilities before we got to Gelegele. The scenery for the rest of the journey was virtually the same, with few houses interspacing the green tropical rain forest. The journey ended when the bus came to a halt in front of the ‘Health Centre’ in Gelegele, where there were passengers already waiting to board the bus back to Benin.
Upon disembarking from the bus, we approached two young men we noticed who sat in front of the steps on the clinic.. We informed them of our intention to have an extensive tour of the Gelegele community. We then followed the youths towards a location that had the sign post indicating the direction to the proposed new sea port.
As we progressed we suddenly entered into a clearing, only to be confronted by a group of youths. One of them told us that we had to obtain permission from their “General” before any tour or facility visit within the Gelegele community could be taken. The journey took another dimension when we were shepherded into a footpath that could barely take one person at a time. What this meant was that everyone had to walk in a single file.
Stern looking young men
We were sandwiched by a group of youths. Suddenly, we emerged again at another clearing, but this time, it had houses. Seated under what could be described as an earthen porch were eight stern-looking young men. After introductions, the spokesperson of the group finally introduced us to ‘General’ Richard Obei who we later had an interview with.
After the interview with ‘General’ Obei, he assigned two youths to serve as our guides and to also keep an eye on us. They then took us to the house of one of the elders of the community. The residence was also located within the clearing we had just entered. The residence was modest enough to house a man of the standing as a Chief. It had its generator running, to provide electricity. After the interview with Chief Kokoroko, we now set out for the survey proper of the community.
We followed the youths through the thick tropical rain forest, to every oil-capping site. In all we counted 15 oil-capping facilities scattered in the forest. It would seem as if the Gelegele community is sitting virtually on a crude oil basin.
After a hectic walk through the forest, we came out close to the ‘famous’ Gelegele sea port. Commercial activities were about rounding up for the day. Vanguard was informed that boats and ferries carrying human and commercial cargo went to any part of the country that was linked by waterways. We saw some women loading their wares into one of the speed boats. What we could identify were kegs of local gin, dried fish, snails, plantain, salt, garri and palm oil.
Otedo News

Aluu Killings: “The policemen said they should burn them alive” – Tekena’s sister

A sister of one of the four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students brutally murdered last Friday in Umuokiri village, Aluu, Rivers State, has narrated how her younger brother and his friends were lynched.
Miss Ibisobia Elkanah, elder sister of Tekena Friday Elkanah, revealed yesterday that policemen visited the scene where the students were burnt to death after they were severely injured and that one of the law enforcement agents told the perpetrators of the dastardly act “to burn them alive”
The murdered students, Chiadika Lordson, Ugonna Kelechi Obusor, Mike Lloyd Toku, and Tekena Elkanah, all part two students, were murdered in cold blood over alleged theft of a laptop computer and a blackberry phone. Ibisobia, a part-time final year student of Marketing, at the same university who witnessed the incident, said on that fateful day, at about 7.30 am, she was at the house of her girl friend in the community when she heard people shouting outside. “I dashed out and beckoned on my friend to come since she lived in the area.
The thing attracted much noise and attention. I went there but did not actually see or recognize any of them, due to the crowd. “I heard when people were saying the people they (vigilance group) caught were strangers; that they want to burn them.
They said they were asking them questions, so that they could know their senders.” She said after that, she went back to her friend’s house, but could not stay there. “I went back again. I went through the bush path so that I could see them properly. I started jumping to see if I could see them. I jumped again but saw nothing. I jumped the second time and I saw Tekena. Tekena happened to be my brother. “I told myself that I was not seeing well, this thing is a lie. I jumped the third time, I saw Lloyd (one of the victims). So, I started shouting.
From what I gathered, the first time I came, they said they were not known; that they were strangers. As I identified them, I started shouting. Ibisobia said she continued shouting that Tekena was her brother, saying that he came to her on Thursday in school and she gave him his school fees. “I told them that somebody should allow me to ask him what happened and what he came to do. He would confide in me. He was wailing and in a pool of blood.”
“Tekena has been my younger brother for many years. I saw them as they lay in the water naked with leaves covering their nakedness.” His elder sister said she struggled and entered the crowd. Somebody shouted “Who is that? What is she doing inside?” “People were pushing me and I started crying. He is my brother! He is not a thief! Somebody behind me said O’girl run for your life.
About two persons turned and asked, are you sure he is your brother, and said may be I was the person that sent him to go and steal.” Ibisobia replied them that how could she send him, that she did not look as such. ‘They said I should run for my life that I would be the next one, fifth person.” The young lady lamented that before she could get to her friend’s room to call her family members, she learnt that the mob had taken them to the burrow pit. “So, I went there again.
I called my family and they started coming. The police van came, went into the mob and they were talking to them (youths). The people kept quiet as police were making statements. “I heard them laughing. You know, they were happy. They kept quiet again. Police talked and they laughed again. The next was for me to see three policemen coming out of the mob, boarded their van. And, one of the said “burn them alive”. “I must confess, I was gripped with fear.
I had the intention to talk to the man that said they should be burnt alive. As soon as they (police) drove off, I saw the flames. I was thinking they burnt them after they had killed them. Later, I discovered that they were burnt while they were alive.
 DailyPost

Chief Justice of the Federation caught driving on BRT lane

Reports reaching us says, ” The Chief Justice of the Federation broke the Lagos State Traffic Law today by driving on the BRT lane. She was seen ‘driving’ against the law by 12:40 pm today and the case was reported live on Lagos traffic FM 96.1.”
The fine for taking BRT lane is N25, 000. Does that mean she will pay the mandatory fine or continue to ‘drive’ against the law?
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for continuous updates on the matter.
DailyPost

Aluu Killing: “Goodbye pain” – A moving tribute to slain students

Goodnight Pain.
“Thieves, thieves” he screamed, it was almost funny. Not until more voices joined the chorus as they screamed and shouted on us. We could have ran at least to save our lives, but our intentions were genuine and little did we know how the day would end. From a handful of young men shouting and throwing questions at us, it escalated to a crowd of angry mob.
There was no way we could escape this one, so we calmed down. They pushed us around and then stripped us all. These men pulled us pants down, we were more than embarrassed, the whole community watched, I recognized few faces from the crowd. Obviously they were so afraid to say “stop” then the beating started, I wished it to be just a nightmare. But it was real, these men were determined. They dropped heavy rocks on our heads, they pounded our faces with large planks, blood covered our eyes, they matched and kicked us right on our bleeding nostrils, we couldn’t breathe.
“Bring tire” one of the men repeated, until they brought the tires. “Oh God!” We watched the crowd watch us, we raised hands of plea, we couldn’t speak, Some hid, some shot videos and took pictures. there was no one to stop this. This was the point we knew it was over. We felt pain, helpless and hopeless. I thought of my siblings, I wondered how my mum would take this. She would fall apart. I begged God to hold her for me, comfort and make her strong for me, I prayed same for my friends.
Then we started crying, we cried together. The tears gave us headaches. We looked up high, the sky was still. Rings of tires landed on our necks, they kept hitting us, but we were numb already. They set us ablaze. We rolled around, tried to reach for each other, I wondered who would give up first, the fire burned our bodies. it hurt, it hurt and then it hurt. But suddenly the pain stopped, Then I couldn’t hear any other thing, but silence. I thanked God. the pain was over and Gods glory was revealed. Goodnight pain.
DailyPost

Why tanker drivers blocked Lagos-Ibadan expressway for over 13 hours

Petroleum tanker drivers embarked on a protest by parking their trailers indiscriminately and causing a terrible gridlock on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway,Ogere Remo axis yesterday.
A source had revealed that the protest started when a policeman who demanded some money from a driver shot one of the tanker’s tyres belonging to Oando petroleum limited when he refused to comply to his request and fled the scene.
To show their displeasure on what happened, tanker drivers protested by parking and blocking the Lagos – Ibadan expressway for more than thirteen hours yesterday.
All efforts and appeal by the Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC), the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Remo North Council area that went to the scene to let sanity prevail yielded no obvious result as the drivers remained on the road in protest.
The drivers later agreed to re-park their tankers to allow movement after police officials agreed to replace the damaged tyre.
Meanwhile it was a blessed day for motorcycle operators popularly known as “okada” riders as they manoeuvred through the holdup to
convey stranded passengers to their destinations.
DailyPost

Ifeanyi Uba Allegedly Duped Coscharis Boss of N20 billion in Fuel Scam

The troubles of the embattled Capital Oil executive, Ifeanyi Uba continue to escalate. Uba who was yesterday remanded in police custody for 14 days by a Lagos Magistrate court for allegedly swindling the Federal Government of N43.3 billion in unwarranted subsidy payments has some new allegations leveled against him.
Coscharis CEO, Cosmas MAduka has petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunshakin, over an alleged scam of  US$133.08 million.
Mr. Maduka claims he entered into a joint-venture agreement with Capital Oil in July 2011 to import petroleum products into the country. Under the terms of the agreement, Coscharis was to serve as financier and provide funds whilst Capital Oil would import several hundred thousand tonnes of petrol using its experience, contacts and regulatory approvals.
Maduka said his firm provided US$289.5 million, of which $180 million was loans obtained from commercial banks in the country and was utilized to open 10 letters of credit.
Maduka claims Uba and Capital Oil only delivered six out of he ten cargoes of petrol for which the 10 LC’s were opened. HE says that the outstanding four cargoes of petrol containing 133,000 tonnes of petrol (PMS) were diverted by Uba and his suppliers to the detriment of the agreement with Coscharis.
The petition states, ““We have strong reasons to believe that Capital Oil in collusion with the shippers must have diverted the products given the dates on the Bills of Lading and the facts that the original Bills of Lading are still with the bank, the lawful owners (consignee) of the products. Under the Bills of Lading, the products were expected to be delivered within three weeks from the date on the Bill of Lading (i.e. on or before January 10, 2012).”
Coscharis said the diversion had caused it to be indebted to the bank to the tune of over N20 billion and Uba had not been forthcoming on the whereabouts of the product.
“This has led to our inability to meet our repayment obligations to the bank. The outstanding balance on the account presently stands at N20,949,147,956.16 while interests continue to accrue,” Coscharis explained.
BusinessNews