Osaze Odemwingie Bids National Team Farewell

Osaze Odemwingie’s recent Twitter rant at coach Stephen Keshi and members of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) did not end as expected as the player yesterday directed his fury at former Nigerian international and Super Sport soccer pundit, Victor Ikpeba, saying the latter lacked ‘coaching talent.’

According to Osaze via his twitter handle “@OdemwingieP: If u had coaching talent u would at least be one by now. That means you don’t know much about the game. Means don’t be a (sic) adviser to FF.”
Already, a top NFF official has told reporters that Osaze would not go unpunished for his Twitter rants. He said the case will be referred to the federation’s disciplinary committee to investigate and make recommendations to the executive committee for the next line of action. The official also disclosed that the football federation will make a statement on the matter soon.
Meanwhile, the player at the centre of the whole drama may have bid farewell to the national team as he said, “It is clear now that my days with the Super Eagles are over as I expected to be left out of the ANC squad because we have had a few issues before. I played a very good 10 years from 2002 to 2012 but I don’t want to be with a coach who doesn’t want me.I still love my country and care about the football but I already wasn’t feeling the way I would have liked to feel. Last month I spoke with Keshi because I didn’t play in a few games with the national team and he said my body language didn’t show that I wanted to play for the team but body language for the Nigerian coach is that you have to be calling him all the time and greeting him but for me football is an official thing.”
InformationNigeria

Prophet And Church Member Rape 16-Year-Old Girl

A  Zion Church prophet and a fellow parishioner last week appeared in court facing charges of raping a 16-year-old girl in Gokwe. The girl had visited the prophet so she could be exorcised of evil spirits.

Prophet Renias Mapurisa (64) of Mapurisa village in Muzarabani and Takavingei Mutengwa (80) of Jiri village in Gokwe were not asked to plead to rape when they briefly appeared before Gokwe provincial resident magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja. They were both remanded in custody to January 4 and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The court heard that Prophet Mapurisa, was staying at Mutengwa's homestead having come from Muzarabani to offer his services in the area. The complainant was brought to Mutengwa's homestead by her parents for prayers as she was reportedly possessed by evil spirits. She stayed there for a month before Mapurisa and Mutengwa allegedly connived to rape her.

One day in the evening, Mutengwa grabbed the girl and took her to Mapurisa's room where he allegedly locked her in. Prophet Mapurisa, who was already in the room, allegedly raped her once. The girl later made a police report, leading to the pair's arrest.

Also appearing before the same magistrate was a Kwekwe man who allegedly raped a maid on three different occasions. Tonderai Fana (24) of Imbizo Extension, was not formally charged with three counts of rape. He was also remanded in custody to the same date and advised to apply to the High Court for bail.

Charges against him are that he raped the maid on three occasions between November 24 and 26 after they were left alone at home while his relatives had gone to visit. The matter came to light after the maid advised her friend about the rape and she in turn advised her to report to the police, leading to Fana's arrest.
Naij

NDLEA arrests man with cocaine on Christmas Day

Madueke Chukwuemeka Patrick

Patrick with the cocaine laden shorts

A suspected drug trafficker was on Christmas day arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. He was caught by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil with parcels of high grade cocaine with a total weight of 1.620kg concealed in his shorts. The drug was detected during inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight at about 1526 hours on Christmas day. The suspect said that he ignored the wife’s warning of danger.
NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr Hamza Umar said that the suspect Madueke Chukwuemeka Patrick was apprehended on his way from Sao Paulo, Brazil. “During inward screening of Emirate passengers, Madueke Chukwuemeka was found to have hidden 16 parcels of cocaine in his inner wear. The cocaine weighing 1.620kg was carefully sewed on the shorts he wore on arrival. The case is under investigation” Hamza said.
The 48 year old suspect said that his wife warned him against smuggling the drug but he ignored. “I am a business man living in Brazil. I import Brazilian hair for sale in Nigeria. My regret is that my wife told me that she had a dream where I was arrested at the airport some days before my trip but I ignored. I had thought that Christmas day was a good timing to bring the drugs but I was caught at the airport. A Brazilian friend gave me the drug and I was to sell and give him half the amount and take the remaining half. I felt it was a good deal and ignored my wife’s warning. I do not know what to tell my wife. In fact, I am confused” Madueke lamented. The suspect who lives in Brazil with his wife and three children since 2007 hails from Orukwu village in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Parcels of cocaine after removal from the inner shorts

According to the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade the arrest is a sign that drug barons are running out of tricks. “The Agency will continue to detect drugs and apprehend drug barons. This seizure is a demonstration that officers are always at alert to clean our society of narcotics. Those who are planning to make quick money through drug trafficking should be ready to face the wrath of the law” the NDLEA boss assured.
The suspect will soon be charged to court.
DailyPost

Hollywood investigator claims to have video evidence that Whitney Houston was murdered

Whitney Houston was murdered and new evidence – caught on video – proves it, says a top Hollywood private investigator who is turning all of his material over to the FBI, according to a new report.
Paul Huebl also says the superstar singer’s killers are caught on tape. “I have evidence that points to Whitney being a victim of a high powered drug dealers who sent thugs to collect a huge debt she owed for drugs,” Huebl says in the new issue of the National Enquirer, which broke the story.
Using a network of drug informants and taking another look at the coroner’s report, the PI has pieced together evidence that he’s turning over to the Chicago field office of the FBI, hoping a fresh look from the outside will bring the truth to light.
Huebl points to two unknown men who kept showing up at the Beverly Hilton, where Houston was staying, and blending in with her group of hangers on.
The day before her death Whitney received a cocaine delivery but was later heard to say, “I’m tired of this sh*t.” The PI says she was referring to being tired of harassed to pay her drug debt, which had reached $1.5 million.
On the day she died, Whitney was left alone in her hotel room for 45 minutes and that’s when one or both of the killers slipped into her room and were captured on surveillance video.
As for the coroner’s report that says no foul play was involved in Whitney’s death, the investigator, who has reviewed it thoroughly, strongly disagrees.
“Whitney’s body shows classic defense wounds that would have occurred while she was battling for her life,” he told the Enquirer.
Huebl details those injuries and the evidence he says points to a struggle occurring during the last minutes of the singing superstar’s life in her hotel room and bathroom.
All of the details are in the new issue of the Enquirer, which hits newsstands Thursday.
 DailyPost

FG to construct 5 fast train lines

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved consultancy services for feasibility studies of five Fast Train Lines across the country.
Briefing State House correspondents after the Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the proposed New Standard Gauge Railway Lines will create total job opportunities for 51 Nigerian professionals and 115 non-professionals during execution.
The contract for the feasibility studies was in favour of various consultants in the sum of N1,334,405,366.74, with completion period of seven months.
The Fast Train Lines according to the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar are: Lagos-Osogbo-Abuja (615km), which could be covered within three hours with five stops; Lagos- Shagamu- Benin (300km); Ajaokuta- Obajana-Abuja (533km);
Zaria-Sokoto- Illela (520km) and Benin-Onitsha- Aba (500km).
Senator Umar said some private investors had already signified interest in the projects as soon as feasibility studies are completed.
“The idea is to partner with the private sector to develop the high speed train lines. There is going to be an international advertisement for investors to show interest. There is no question of fear that it’s going to be a white elephant project,” the minister said.
Also, sequel to a memo presented by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, Council approved contract for the construction of Manyam-Ushongo-Lessel-Kartyo-Oju-Agila-Ongba, an inter-state road linking Benue state with its South Eastern state neighbours on the Enugu-Abakaliki road.
The proposed market is awarded in favour of Messrs Tilley Gyado & Co, in the sum of N1,035,824,120.10, with a completion period of 14 months. On completion, it will facilitate access to markets, hospitals, schools and generally restore agro economic and social activities within the host communities.
In the same vein, Council approved three infrastructural projects in two states of the region.
The projects, expected to create about 100 jobs are Kira-Dere-Mogho road in Rivers, land reclamation/Shore protection at Ogbeinana town in Delta and Umuada Layout road in Asaba, in the sum of N6,844,935,130.82, with a completion period ranging between 19-104 weeks.
NigeriaRising

President George H. W. Bush’s condition worsens, moved to Intensive Care Unit

George H.W Bush

Former US President George H W Bush has been in intensive care with a fever since Sunday, a spokesman has revealed.
Jim McGrath said he had had a “series of setbacks” and remained in a “guarded condition”, but was alert and conversing with family and doctors.
Mr Bush, aged 88, has been in the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, since he was taken there for bronchitis treatment on 23 November.
He is the oldest living former president and a World War II veteran.
Mr Bush was Ronald Reagan’s vice-president for two terms and became the 41st president in 1989, but was defeated by Democrat Bill Clinton when he stood for re-election in 1992.
‘Humorous banter’
Mr Bush was now on a liquids-only diet, the spokesman said, describing his ailment as “a stubborn fever that won’t go away”.
He said the former president had not been able to celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense but his family was with him.
“He’s conscious and he’s able to engage in humorous banter with his doctor,” Mr McGrath said.
He also said that doctors were cautiously optimistic about Mr Bush’s treatment.
When first admitted, the former president had only been expected to stay in hospital a few days, but a persistent fever kept him in hospital until and over Christmas.
On Christmas Day, Mr Bush was visited by his wife, Barbara, his son Neil and other family members.
He has also been visited twice by his son George W Bush, who served as 43rd president in 2001-09.
YNaija.com

Austin Ndife, 21, Nigerian footballer dies of cardiac arrest abroad

by Akan Ido

Another Nigerian football player reportedly died of cardiac arrest in Nepal on Monday.

The player identified as Austin Ndife, 21, was said to be in Nepal on trials and is yet to sign for any club.

Reports say he had a heart problem for two weeks before he died while on admission at the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Bansbari.

Ndife had arrived in Nepal a couple of months ago and appeared in the trial for A Division outfits Three Star, Friends and Bauddha.

His friend, Michael Ntife, who plays for Saraswati Club, said, “We have requested ANFA to make arrangements for sending his body to his homeland.”

The African players in Nepal have also pleaded with ANFA to arrange a friendly match with Africa XI and a team from Nepal in memory of the late Ndife.

YNaija.com