Horror in Indonesia: 21 Nigerians on Death Row

Shocking revelations from Jarkata, the capital of Indonesia revealed that over 21 Nigerians are facing death sentences while 31 are serving various jail terms in different prisons in that country for various offences including drug peddling.

Sunday Sun gathered that out of the 21 condemned Nigerians, two of them, Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye and Hassan Anthony Nwaolisa, were executed on June 28, 2008, while one Augustine Ogbonna died under mysterious circumstance in prison custody in September, 2008.
However, the shocking revelation from the L.P Kembang Kuning prisons and other prisons in the country as revealed by a human rights lawyer based in Onitsha, Mr. Melly Eze showed that 10 Nigerians who were among the 21 prisoners earlier sentenced to death by the Indonesia court in 2008, would be executed this week if the threat from the prisons authority is anything to go by. Mr. Eze in the petition titled: “Shocking Revelation From Indonesia Prisons: Execution Of 18 Nigerians Scheduled For Between June and August, 2010”, stated that there was fresh threat to execute the prisoners on death row anytime from now if no further diplomatic efforts and pressure were mounted on the Indonesian authorities.

“I have it on good and reliable authority that officials of Indonesian government who opened discussions with the Nigerian delegation are now expressing disappointment over an apparent display of lack of seriousness on the part of Nigerian government over the diplomatic move already initiated by Nigerian government officials.”
He said that his earlier petition had attracted the attention of the then Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who led a high- powered delegation to Indonesia to mediate on behalf of the convicts and 50 other prisoners serving various jail terms in Indonesia. “The Senate President, David Mark, wrote me personally promising that the issue would be addressed, just as Dabiri-Erewa granted a press interview where she assured Nigerians that the government was committed to doing everything possible to address the plight of those Nigerians. So also did Senator Uche Chukwumerije,” he said.
“Four years after the delegation to Indonesia and assurances of mediating for the troubled Nigerians, the federal government may not have taken any further steps to get reprieve for the Nigerians. The visit of Indonesian President, Mr. Suuilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Nigeria today (Saturday) is the best opportunity for President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to fulfill their promises to get relief for the troubled Nigerians,” the lawyer stated.
InformationNigeria

Former central bank chief caught at German airport with a $70 million cheque

A man caught trying to enter Germany with a cheque worth £44.5 million is believed to have been Iran’s former central bank chief.
According to a German newspaper, customs officers at Duesseldorf Airport allegedly found the cheque in Tahmasb Mazaheri’s luggage on January 21 upon his arrival from Turkey.
German customs issued a statement on Friday saying a cheque for 300 million bolivars issued by the Bank of Venezuela was found on an unnamed 59-year-old man.

Customs officers at Duesseldorf Airport found the cheque worth £44.5million

Neither customs nor Iran’s embassy could be reached for comment last night.
Mr Mazaheri was the governor of the Central Bank of Iran until 2008.
Newspaper Bild am Sonntag said German police and customs were investigating possible money laundering.
YNaija.com

Emmanuel Eboue’s “Super Fried Chickens” Humble Ivory Coast

In a thrilling encounter between underdogs and tournament favorites, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have defeated the Elephants of Ivory Coast to proceed to the semis in the 2013 AFCON.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles were supposed to be the underdogs, while Ivory Coast were the tournament’s favorites. However, the Super Eagles downed favourites Ivory Coast 2-1 on Sunday in an absorbing Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final to set up a last-four meeting with Mali.
Sunday Mba grabbed the winner 12 minutes from time after Ivory Coast’s Cheik Tiote had cancelled out Emmanuel Emenike’s first-half opener. Mba’s strike brought the curtain down on Didier Drogba’s Nations Cup career, sending the African legend home without the title he and his teammates craved.

Prior to the game, it will be recalled that Ivory Coast’s Emmanuel Eboue had incurred the wrath of Nigerian social media users with the alleged tweet by the footballer on his Twitter page in which he referred to the super Eagles as “Super Fried Chickens”.
InformationNigeria

“We Stopped The Ivorians From Playing” – Mikel Obi

John Mikel Obi, has revealed that their winning formula against Cote d’Ivoire, was to stop them from playing.
Sunday Mba and Emmanuel Emenike scored, as the Super Eagles of Nigeria progressed into the semi-finals and the Chelsea midfielder says it is their reward for sticking to their game plan.
Related Article: Breaking News: Super Eagles Defeats Cote d’Ivoire To Move Into Semi-Final
“We’re very happy with our achievement,” Mikel said after the game. “A big congratulations to Ivory Coast for their achievement so far in the tournament but today we knew that they’re a good team so if we were able to work together and play for each other on the pitch, then we could stop them.

 

When asked about Nigeria’s chances of playing in the firs final since 2000, he said: “We still have a semi final to play. We have to keep taking each game one at a time and hopefully if we manage to play well like we did today, we will be very pleased with ourselves.”
Nigeria will face Mali in the final four on Wednesday in Durban.
Naij

“T.B.Joshua, I love you”; Super Eagles Midfielder Onazi Says As Nigeria Qualifies For The Semis

Ogenyi Onazi

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the Semi-finals of the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON.
Nigeria beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in a tightly contested match that brought out the best we’ve seen in the Super Eagles so-far in this tournament.
Emmanuel Emenike unleashed a powerful shot from a free kick to put Nigeria in front before Newcastle United player Chiek Tiote who was unmarked in Nigeria’s 18-yard box scored the equalizer.
Sunday Mba might have done enough to earn himself a foreign club as the Warri Wolves midfielder scored Nigeria’s winner after his deflected shot beat the Elephants’ goalkeeper.

An unexpected win for Nigeria whose performance had been far from impressive in the tournament saw the players who gave their all rejoicing at the blast of the final whistle.
Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi said as he rejoiced facing a camera, “T.B.Joshua, I love you.” Whatever that meant, Onazi.
T.B. Joshua is a Nigerian prophet known for his prophecies; maybe he got this point on too.
Congratulations Nigeria!

InformationNigeria

Oh, dear: Muhammad Ali ‘could be dead in days’ warns distraught brother of boxing legend

inShare

• Rahman Ali said the health of his boxing great brother is in decline
• The former world champion has suffered from Parkinson’s since 1984
• Made a frail appearance at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony
• Rahman claims the family are being prevented from seeing Ali by wife

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali may not last the summer, according to brother Rahman

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is so ill he could be dead within days, his brother has warned.
Rahman Ali said the former heavyweight champion cannot speak and no longer recognises him.
Rahman fears his 71-year-old brother – known as The Greatest – may not survive the summer.
He told The Sun: ‘He’s in a bad way. He’s very sick.
‘It could be months, it could be days. I don’t know if he’ll last the summer. He’s in God’s hands.’
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984 but remained active for many years and made a moving appearance at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games where he lit the flame.
However, he was seen looking particularly thin and frail at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony where he was helped across the stage by wife Lonnie.
Rahman has accused his sister-in-law, who has been married to Ali for 26 years, of refusing to lethe family visit the ailing champion.

Rahman, who was also a professional boxer, said he last saw his brother in July at the Sports for Peace Gala in London and is only allowed to speak to him over the phone.

The brothers, born Cassius and Rudolph Clay, grew up together in Louisville, Kentucky.

Rahman Ali, pictured at the Sports for Peace Fundraising Ball in July, where he says he last saw Muhammad Ali. He claims he is being stopped from seeing the legendary boxer

Ali’s most recent public health scare was December, 2011, when the champion was taken to hospital after falling unconscious.

 Emergency services were called days after Ali made a frail appearance at the funeral of fellow boxing great Joe Frazier.

He was treated for dehydration after collapsing at his 6,000 sq ft estate in Arizona.
Rahman told The Sun from his flat in Louisville that before Ali’s health deteriorated, he said he was in no pain and was proud of his achievements.

Ali, pictured with wife Lonnie, left, was very frail during his appearance at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, pictured right with Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti

Former world champion Ali last had a public health scare days after the funeral of fellow boxing great Joe Frazier in 2011

Rahman, who has suffered recurrent strokes following his own boxing career, said he feels distraught at being cut from his brother’s life, who he compared to Jesus, and who he says he loves above all others.
He said: ‘You know the word “infinite”? That’s Ali, he’s infinite. His name will last forever.’
Father-of-nine Ali wants a Martin Luther King quote on his gravestone, according to Rahman.
The quote is: ”I tried to love somebody, I did try to feed the hungry.
‘I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.’ The Greatest.’
Wife Lonnie refused to comment on the claims.
YNaija.com

Insecurity: Some people in government are benefiting – Northern Leaders

Some opinion leaders in the North have pointed out that lack of sincerity on the part of the Federal Government as well as opposition by certain elements within the security services are the factors frustrating genuine attempts to dialogue with the extremist Boko Haram sect.
According to the Punch, which reported the news, in separate telephone interviews which they conducted, the Executive Director of the Civil Rights Congress, Mr. Shehu Sani, and the Convener of the Coalition of Concerned Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said the above mentioned factors were obstacles to peace.
Specifically, Mohammed said, “The only obstacle now is that some elements within the Federal Government’s security services are making money out of the crisis and they are not interested in settlement… It is just a matter of people protecting their financial interests… If there is an obstacle, it is the financial interest of those who are milking the country and making money from the present insurgency.”

On his own part, Sani noted that the choice of mediators had been a major challenge between government and members of the sect. He said, “You have situations where people trusted by the sect are not accepted by the government or people who enjoy government’s support are not respected (or accepted) by members of the sect.”
InformationNigeria