Kris Okotie bans journalist from his church … for publishing story on “new girlfriend”, Naomi

Pastor Chris Okotie has barred a journalist from coming into his church after the reporter,  Biodun Kupoluyi, publisher of E24/7 Magazine published a story about the pastor’s love life, the journalist has claimed.
Kupoluyi who spoke to Encomium magazine this week alleged that he received the news from a unknown man who said he was representing the Houshold of God Church and had been directed by Okotie and church members to tell him to not come and worship with them because of his magazine article titled: ‘Exposed: Pastor Chris finds new love, says I will not get married again, but may opt for surrogacy soon.’
The lady in question is reportedly an undergraduate named Miss Naomi Hoffman.

Biodun+Kupoluyi

Excerpts of the interview reads:

“I I found it shocking that a day after the publication hit the streets, his media department sent a release out and it confirmed our story. He actually made those statements and we reported it. I think he did not think anybody could have known about his romance with the girl, Naomi. He was caught off guard..but as a journalist, I owe our teeming readers that responsibility. I feel fulfilled, though I will miss his theatrics, his stage performances and verbosity.
My perception of the church and my respect for the man has changed. He is not a serious preacher of the gospel. The job of a good shepherd is to seek a lost sheep, not to ban a sheep or send away a sheep from the fold. It is only in our environment that these kind of things happen. Because I worship in a church, I can’t write the story of the pastor even if the pastor is doing what is wrong? But the pastor and the church will hail me if I praise him or do a PR story for them.
Despite the ban, if journalistic duties calls I will go there. In fact we were there the following week after I was barred. It was the week he claimed Christians can do tattoos and plastic surgery. We went with a whole crew, looking forward to a show down. I’m a free citizen. I can not be cowed. And I stand by my story on Naomi. That is not disputable!

YNaija.com

I'll Not Sign 2013 Budget –Jonathan

Abuja President Goodluck Jonathan has told the leadership of the National Assembly that he will not sign the 2013 budget.
The leadership of the Senate, that of House of Representatives and officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) will meet at 2pm today to reconcile faulty and bogus allocations in the budget.
The meeting will hold at the Senate complex. The N4.987 trillion budget was passed by both chambers of the federal legislature on December 19, 2012. It was transmitted to the President for assent on January 14, this year.
However, despite the early passage, President Jonathan has declined to sign the Appropriation. Confirming that there are issues with the budget, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamilla, said the President has picked a hole in the bill as passed by the National Assembly. He said the President has communicated to the leadership of the National Assembly on some grey areas causing his delay in signing it. A member of the House, who does not want his name mentioned, said that the President rejected the bill and returned it to the National Assembly because of the pegging of oil benchmark at $79 by the legislature. The executive had proposed $75, but that was rejected by the lawmakers.
He said the President was not happy over the zero allocation given to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the budget by the National Assembly. The latter had hinged the zero allocation to SEC on the continued stay in office of the Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh . The House had passed a resolution asking the President to sack her, but the recommendation is yet to be implemented. Another grey area, according to the lawmaker, is the N63 billion added to the original budget proposed by Jonathan. The Presidency equally rejected some aspects of the capital project vote particularly the National Assembly Constituency project. In view of the alleged poor-implementation of the capital projects in the 2012 budget, the National Assembly had rolled over the non-implemented aspects of the capital projects, especially the constituency projects into 2013.
The move was turned down by the President who described it as illegal. The National Assembly had approved N4,987,220,425,601 as the 2013 budget. It comprised N387,976,000,000 for statutory transfer; N591,764,000,000 to service debts N2,386,024,770,349 for recurrent (non-debt)expenditure while the balance of N1,621,455,655,252 is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure. The figure passed by the two chambers was N63 billion more than N4.924 trillion original proposal presented to the joint session of the federal legislature by the President last October. On how the leadership of the National Assembly is taking the refusal to sign the budget bill, the lawmaker said the issues being raised by the President are being handled by the two chambers. He said:”This budget wahala ‘problem’ has come again.
The President has returned the 2013 budget that we passed before we went for Christmas break. Although the thing is yet to be made known officially to members, those who have seen it said SEC and benchmark issues were among the grey areas. Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, John Enoh, dismissed speculation that the budget has been rejected, saying the bill is still valid. He said: “All I know is that the budget cannot be returned through the window” The principal officers of the House held a marathon meeting on the matter yesterday. The House leadership met today to find a solution to the problem but we are yet to agree on the right step to take”, he said.
Naij

PHOTOS: El-Rufai Weeps At Book Launch

On a day his friends and associates converged on Abuja to celebrate him, courage betrayed the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai, and he broke down and wept openly.
El-Rufai, a courageous and controversial figure in the Obasanjo administration, who is both hailed as a hero by many and vilified as a villain by others, could hardly contain the tears of joy that flowed from his inner recesses when he noticed the mammoth crowed that witnessed the presentation of his new book “Accidental Public Servant” at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja Thursday. Related Article: El Rufai Needs Serious Prayers - Atiku Abubakar

El-Rufai at the event.

I didn’t know Nigerians will honour me this way-El-Rufai
“I never thought I could be so honoured; I am deeply touched and I do not really know what to say and how to say it given the calibre of persons and the large number of people who have turned out today to witness the presentation my book,” the former minister said.
As he began to elaborate, tears flowed down his cheeks and those close by helped him with handkerchief and he ended his speech and was helped to his seat.
The former FCT minister, whose book presentation attracted mainly political bigwigs from the opposition political parties, however apologised for weeping in public, explaining that he wept because of the encomium poured on him.

“I was touched. The prayer by Pastor Sarah Omaku was very kind to me. I have never had any one speak about me in that manner, I just couldn’t handle it I am sorry if I disappointed you,” El-Rufai explained.
Before then, EL-Rufai had explained, “My hope is that you people will elicit on some of the things we did in government that were right and many of the things that we did that were mistakes.
“I think that lessons are learnt when additional memories are protected when people learn from what works and what doesn’t work and personal mistakes and errors of leaders.
“That is how to build a nation; that is how future generations learn and this is why I wrote the book, I don’t think we should have the conspiracy of silence about how our government is being run, I think we should talk openly about it, celebrate what we did right and admit where we made mistakes and name names so that people will know that when you are in leadership position, history will judge you, that is what is my biggest motive here,” he said.
Naij

Till I Die, No Retirement For Me – Obasanjo

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has pledged that as long as he is alive and has the capacity, he will not stop doing good.
Obasanjo made this known in an interview monitored on the newly debuted international television station, Arise TV. The interview was recorded in London where the former President recently arrived for the launch of his Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation scheduled for tomorrow.
Quized on when he would retire from the international stage, the former president said:
”There is no retirement in doing good in life and so long as you have breathe, you should continue to do good,” Obasanjo said in the interview monitored in Lagos.

Commending the efforts of the international coalition forces in Mali, Obasanjo said the Malian troops must be bolstered through increased training to be able to handle the critical situation, which he said  if not nipped in the bud, could affect the whole world.
“The point is that if we have a situation anywhere in the world that affects the whole world, the world must be able to raise the needed money in order to deal with the situation,” adding “if the will is there, it would be done.”
The former President said his efforts in good works which were also being channeled through his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, was created in the mould of presidential libraries by American presidents after leaving office
InformationNigeria

Police Arrest Alleged Sex Workers and Client In Abuja

The police on Wednesday in Nyanya, Abuja, arrested two suspected sex workers and a man for alleged harassment and disturbing public peace.

One of the suspected sex workers told the News Agency of Nigeria ((NAN) that the man came to `enjoy himself’, but refused to pay.
“The man wanted to have sex with me. He agreed to pay N1,000 for one hour, but after I had pulled off my dress, he said he was no longer interested and refused to pay me.
“I called my friends to help me to collect the money because many of them come like that to investigate what we are doing here.
Some will negotiate a price and pretend to answer a phone call and run away. The two of us were trying to get the money out of his pocket when the police came to arrest us,’’ she said.
The man told NAN that his wife had been in the hospital for over three months and that he felt like relaxing with one of the girls.
“I was almost undressing when my wife called. I felt guilty and decided to pay the girl but she refused to collect money.
She insisted that I must make love to her or remove my under wears for her to see my nakedness.
“The other ladies came into the room and push me out to undress me for people to see. `They removed the contents of my pockets before the police came,’’ he said.
The leader of the Police patrol team, who wants to remain anonymous, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the man would be taken to the station for disturbing the peace of the community and would be charged to court.
An eye witness, Mrs Sonia Akor, told NAN that the trio where arrested at about 7.30 a.m. for fighting.
“I heard the man screaming for help when I was going to Nyanyan market this morning. Someone must have informed the police about the incident.’’
Naij

AFCON 2013 finals: Dangote splashes N130m on Eagles

by Sunday Williams

President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has splashed the sum of N130 million on the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles for reaching the finals of the ongoing 29th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

The national team, Super Eagles reached the finals of AFCON 2013 by thrashing the Malian national team 4-1.

A statement from Dangote Group explained that the gesture is part of Dangote Group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote and encourage sports development in Nigeria.

 It said that the donation is to acknowledge the exploits of the national team at the AFCON and stimulate them to bring home the coveted trophy.

Sports minister Mallam Bolaji Abudllahi speaking on the donation said: “Dangote has always demonstrated commitment to Government and people of Nigeria. We are happy over the gesture shown to the players and the coaching crew. It is an example for other well-meaning Nigerians to follow.”
DailyTrust

Three Nigerian Brothers Charged With Aggravated Assault And Kidnapping In The United States

Aziz Animashaun, 22 (left), Isiaka Animashaun, 25 (centre), and Taiwo Animashaun, 26 (right),

Three Nigerian-born brothers have been accused of kidnapping and defiling a 15-year-old girl in December. The brothers Aziz Animashaun, 22 (left), Isiaka Animashaun, 25 (centre), and Taiwo Animashaun, 26 (right), were charged with aggravated criminal assault and kidnapping in connection with the crime police said happened on Dec. 21. Three Nigerian-born brothers have been charged with aggravated criminal assault and kidnapping in connection with a kidnap and r*pe police said happened Dec. 21.
Prosecutors said during Sunday January 3rd bond court that the men were among a total of five to six attackers, the rest of whom have not been charged.
The brothers Aziz Animashaun, 22, Isiaka Animashaun, 25, and Taiwo Animashaun, 26, live on the South Side of Chicago but were born in Nigeria, according to court documents. Documents show they live in the 500 block of East 83rd Street in Chatham, about a block away from where police said the girl was kidnapped.
According to Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Hamelly, the girl was taking care of her brother and throwing out the trash when an SUV with five to six men inside drove up.
Aziz Animashaun allegedly got out of the car and told the girl to get in, Hamelly said.
When the girl refused, Aziz Animashaun struck her with a “shiny revolver,” according to court documents. Police said she was knocked unconscious.
He put the girl into the car and drove to another location, where the girl was forced to have lie with five to six men, Hamelly said.
Sometime during the assault, the girl heard the men speaking a language other than English, police and Hamelly said.

The victim managed to escape once the men were no longer in the room, Hamelly said. She ran from the location and noticed the black SUV in a driveway, Hamelly said. Cops said that the victim made it home, and her sister called police.
The girl was kidnapped in the 400 block of East 83rd Street, police said. Police said two were being held for questioning a day after the incident, though they were not charged.
DNA recovered from a condom was linked to evidence found at the crime scene, according to court documents. Court documents also show the victim positively identified Aziz Animashaun as the man who hit her with a gun.
A “19th century” handgun matching the description of the one Aziz Animashaun allegedly used was recovered, Hamelly said.
Hamelly also said that based on the victim’s experience with a teacher who speaks a language spoken in Nigeria, she was able to identify that the men who attacked her spoke a similar language.
The three were arrested on Friday, according to court documents.
Judge Israel Desierto ordered bail for Taiwo Animashaun set at $500,000, Aziz Animashaun set at $400,000 and Isiaka Animashaun set at $250,000.
InformationNigeria