PHOTOS: D'banj Celebrates With Super Eagles Players After AFCON Win

Pictures of D'banj celebrating with the Eagles after their victory win against Burkina Faso at the AFCON 2013 tournament.
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Chris Dorner Shootout: Fugitive Ex-Cop Exchanges Fire With Police, AP Reports (UPDATES)

By GILLIAN FLACCUS AND TAMI ABDOLLAH 

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. -- The extraordinary manhunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of three murders converged Tuesday on a mountain cabin where authorities believe he barricaded himself inside, engaged in a shootout that killed a deputy and then never emerged as the home went up in flames.
A single gunshot was heard from within, and a charred body was found inside.
If the man inside proves to be Christopher Dorner, as authorities suspect, the search for the most wanted man in America over the last week would have ended the way he had expected - death, with the police pursuing him.
Thousands of officers had been on the hunt for the former Navy reservist since police said he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department for his firing. They say he threatened to bring "warfare" to officers and their families, spreading fear and setting off a search for him across the Southwest and Mexico.
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"Enough is enough. It's time for you to turn yourself in. It's time to stop the bloodshed," LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said at a news conference held outside police headquarters in Los Angeles, a starkly different atmosphere than last week when officials briefed the news media under tight security with Dorner on the loose.
A short time after Smith spoke Tuesday, smoke began to rise from the cabin in the snow-covered woods near Big Bear Lake, a resort town about 80 miles east of Los Angeles. Flames then engulfed the building - images that were broadcast on live television around the world. TV helicopters showed the fire burning freely with no apparent effort to extinguish it.
"We have reason to believe that it is him," said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cynthia Bachman, adding that she didn't know how the fire started. She noted there was gunfire between the person in the cabin and officers around the home before the blaze began.
Until Tuesday, authorities didn't know whether Dorner was still near Big Bear Lake, where they found his burned-out pickup last week.
Around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, deputies got a report of a stolen pickup truck, authorities said. The location was directly across the street from where law enforcement set up their command post on Thursday and not far from where Dorner's pickup was abandoned. The owner of the vehicle taken Tuesday described the suspect as looking similar to Dorner.
A warden for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife traveling down Highway 38 recognized a man who fit Dorner's description traveling in the opposite direction. The officer pursued the vehicle and there was a shooting at 12:42 p.m. in which the wildlife vehicle was hit numerous times and the suspect escaped on foot after crashing his truck.
After holing up in the cabin, there was a second gunbattle with San Bernardino County deputies, two of whom were shot. One died and the other was expected to live after undergoing surgery.
"We're heartbroken," Big Bear Lake Mayor Jay Obernolte said of the deputy's death and the wounding of his colleague. "Words can't express how grateful we are for the sacrifice those men have made in defense of the community and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."
The man believed to be Dorner never came out of the cabin, and a single shot was heard inside before the cabin was engulfed in flames, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
The official later told the AP that a charred body was found in the burned cabin. The official requested anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.
Officials were waiting for the fire to burn out before approaching the ruins to search for a body.
A SWAT team earlier had surrounded the cabin and using an armored vehicle, broke out the cabin windows, the official said. The officers then pumped gas into the cabin and blasted a message over a loudspeaker: "Surrender or come out."
The armored vehicle then tore down each of the cabin's four walls, like peeling back the layers of an onion, the official said.
Police say Dorner began his run on Feb. 6 after they connected the slayings of a former police captain's daughter and her fiance with an angry Facebook rant they said he posted. Threats against the LAPD led officials to assign officers to protect officers and their families.
Within hours of the release of photos of the 6-foot, 270-pounder described as armed and "extremely dangerous," police say, Dorner unsuccessfully tried to steal a boat in San Diego to flee to Mexico and opened fire on two patrol cars in Riverside County, shooting three officers and killing one.
Jumpy officers guarding one of the targets named in the rant shot and injured two women delivering newspapers Thursday in Torrance because they mistook their pickup truck for Dorner's.
Police found weapons and camping gear inside the charred truck in Big Bear. Helicopters using heat-seeking technology searched the forest from above while scores of officers, some using bloodhounds, scoured the ground and checked hundreds of vacation cabins - many vacant this time of year - in the area.
A snowstorm hindered the search and may have helped cover his tracks, though authorities were hopeful he would leave fresh footprints if hiding in the wilderness.
Dorner's anger with the department dated back at least five years, when he was fired for filing a false report accusing his training officer of kicking a mentally ill suspect. Dorner, who is black, claimed in the rant that he was the subject of racism by the department and fired for doing the right thing.
He said he would get even with those who wronged him as part of his plan to reclaim his good name.
"You're going to see what a whistleblower can do when you take everything from him especially his NAME!!!" the rant said. "You have awoken a sleeping giant."
Chief Charlie Beck, who initially dismissed the allegations in the rant, said reopened the investigation into his firing - not to appease the ex-officer, but to restore confidence in the black community, which long had a fractured relationship with police that has improved in recent years.
One of the targets listed in the manifesto was former LAPD Capt. Randal Quan, who represented Dorner before the disciplinary board. Dorner claimed he put the interests of the department above his.
The first victims were Quan's daughter, Monica Quan, 28, a college basketball coach, and her fiance, Keith Lawrence, 27. They were shot multiple times in their car in a parking garage near their Orange County condo.
Dorner served in the Navy, earning a rifle marksman ribbon and pistol expert medal. He was assigned to a naval undersea warfare unit and various aviation training units, according to military records. He took leave from the LAPD for a six-month deployment to Bahrain in 2006 and 2007.
He left the service on Feb. 1.
HuffingtonPost

Afcon: Super Eagles get cash, national awards

*Keshi gets N10m, conferred with CON
*Assistant coaches, players get N5m each , conferred with OON, MON
By Ben Agande, Abuja.
President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday night conferred on members of the victorious Super  Eagles national Honours for their feat in winning the African Cup of Nations,  nineteen years after Nigeria attained that feat.
This was in addition to cash donations of ten  million naira for the Head Coach, Stephen Keshi and five million  naira each, to the assistant coaches and the twenty three players that took part in the championship.
In a well attended ceremony at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, the President also announced that each member of the team and the technical crew would be allocated a plot of land in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Announcing the national honors, President Jonathan conferred Coach Stephen Keshi with the honour of Commander of the order of Niger (CON) while the assistant coaches and captain of the team, Joseph Yobo were conferred with Officer of the Order of Niger (OON). Other members of the team were conferred with Members of the Order of Niger, (MON).
The President who announced cash donations from other Nigerians including $1million from Mike Adenuga (Jnr) to the players and $200,000 to Stephen Keshi while Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote donated five million naira to each of the players.
Other cash donations announced by President Jonathan include $500,000 each from Emeka Ofor, Jim Ovia and Tony Elumelu.
President Jonathan told members of the team that their victory in South Africa has, “put a spring in our steps, golden smiles on our lips and has indicated that Nigeria is a land of opportunities.
“Not many people believe you could win. Inspite of the skepticism, there was no despair.

From left: Senate President David Mark; Captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo; President Goodluck Jonathan; his Wife Patience; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal during a reception in honour of the Super Eagles at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Tuesday night.

“Your victory is a good indication that there is victory for us as we work hard to transform Nigeria. We will continue to give sports its pride of place. The major lesson of your victory is that no matter the number of people who doubt you, never doubt yourself”.
For coach Stephen Keshi the president told him ” you have my full support” adding that the “qualification of the team for the 2014 world cup in Brasil is your next agenda and you must not fail”.
The president emphasised that the feat achieved by the team was an indication that “we must not let our differences define us” noting that whether it was “moses or Musa, Chistopher of Mustapha” that scored, it did not matter to Nigerians.
In his speech, the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi said the victory of the Super eagles “is another moment of national rebirth. It is a breath of fresh air.
As we celebrate, we are not unmindful of the responsibilities this bestow on us. We waited for nineteen years. We cannot wait for that long again.
“We have won it and I congratulate the president. Winning this trophy is not destination. The sporting arena is complex. We should put all the years of rancour and acrimony behind us and stop creating problems where non exist.
The victory has shown that with determination and unity of purpose, we can achieve” he said.
Vanguard

The night Buhari met Jonathan face-to-face

By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye

The truism that there are no permanent friends or foes in politics but permanent interests assumed a life of its own in the glittering ambience of the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja, where President Goodluck Jonathan officially flagged off the year-long centenary celebrations of Nigeria as a nation state. In an atmosphere of conviviality, erstwhile sworn enemies embraced and, metaphorically speaking, shared drinks.
It was not the usual night of long knives when politicians take political hostilities to murderous heights but a night of brotherly love when all that matters is the nation, as the president hosted all the living past Heads of State and ex-presidents to a sumptuous dinner.
It was also a night of big surprises. Even since the news of the flag-off filtered into the press, and up until the Master of Ceremony mounted the podium that night, there was no inkling of any big surprise in the making. Then, the announcements began, first, with former Heads of State and ex-presidents. And the former men of power began to strut in.
The hall reverberated with applause and all heads turned towards the entrance as the MC mentioned the name of General Muhammadu Buhari. Those who could not see well quickly stood up while those who had access to the big television screens in the hall gazed at them just to confirm if what they heard was true. They didn’t have to wait long as General Buhari walked in, smiling.
There was a loud ovation when the light-skinned tall General walked into the hall and waved to his admirers. Did you say: why the loud ovation? Well, here you have your answer: Buhari is not a regular face in the Presidential Villa since the return of democracy in 1999. He rarely visits.
Buhari, who many prefer to refer to as a veteran presidential candidate, contested against former President Olusegun Obasanjo, late President Umar Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. He lost in the three instances. In all the instances, he contested the results of the polls up to the Supreme Court. He lost too. Despite the verdicts, he believed the ensuing governments lacked legitimacy, and therefore, avoided them like a plague. Not only that, he never spared them the bitter side of his tongue anytime they goofed.
Little wonder, the was rocked with ovation as the former military Head of State and President Jonathan made their first public contact by lighting the centenary torch.ed the podium, hand-in-hand, to the admiration of eminent guests with many exclaiming loud: “This is a successful coup against Buhari to support Jonathan’s administration,” while others, with some cynical sense of humour, said it was a dress rehearsal of a possible hand-over ceremony from Jonathan to Buhari come 2015. .
Whatever it is, the colourful display of art works depicting the history, the people and achievements of the country from January 1, 1914, the date of the formal amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of the former British Colony to date, sort of vindicated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who came under fire from the National Assembly when he went to brief members. The lawmakers, senators and reps., wanted to know where the staggering sums voted for the celebrations would come from.

At the Senate, lawmakers sought clarification from Anyim that even though the event would be private sector-driven, it would not involve the National Assembly having to approve some funds. The highpoint of the briefing was the disclosure by Anyim that a world-class Centenary City would be built in Abuja. The House of Representatives was divided over the request by President Goodluck Jonathan that the lawmakers should approve the celebration. There was tension when the SGF reeled out the programme, which excluded the National Assembly.
But all that fizzled out at the kick-off of the centenary celebrations as guests, drawn from the political class, traditional institution, the clergy, women groups, entrepreneurs and the youth who represent the aspiration of the future, took in the beautiful ambience of the banquet hall. The decorations had traditional and historical themes like the colonial masters, masquerades, wood and bronze carvings from different parts of the country, even the people’s culinary culture were conspicuously displayed, resplendent in their native flavours..
The former Heads of State and Presidents, including General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, were all present at the flag-off dinner of the centenary celebrations billed to hold in January 2014. ?Obasanjo, an unrepentant critic of the Jonathan Administration, especially on the handling of terrorism and other security challenges facing the nation, presented the centenary theme: One Nigeria, Great Promise, enjoining Nigerians to love their country and speak positively about their leaders.
Obasanjo recalled his 2003 national broadcast where he asked: “If you cannot love Nigeria and be positive about it, and make contributions to its progress, then, I should ask you what sort of Nigerian are you?” He said every Nigerian, after staying together for 100 years, should remain focused in the quest for making their fatherland a “humane, just and progressive” nation..
Speaking in the same vein, Abubakar said Nigeria is in the league of countries like India, China, Egypt, Ethiopia and America for surviving 100 years and more of co-existence in spite daunting challenges. He urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of the centenary celebrations to lay the foundation for a new nation..”There is every reason to celebrate in songs and dances,” he said. “One nation, indivisible Nigeria has come to stay.”
Abubakar, thereafter, presented a centenary theme song titled: This Land, celebrating one hundred years of Nigeria, which was subsequently performed by a team of notable Nigerian musicians led by Onyeka Onwenu..Gowon, who unveiled the centenary logo, described Nigeria as a nation of strong, peaceful and hard working people. He expressed hope in the future of the country..He described Nigeria as “a unique nation, a nation of diverse, strong and hard working people.”.He noted that not many nations could survive 100 years of cohesiveness in spite of the diverse nature of the nation and the several challenges she has faced..
Unveiling the centenary logo, the former Head of State declared: “The emblem symbolises a rallying point for the unity of the nation..The logo embodies the country’s values for faith and courage and symbolises unity.” He, then, prayed for Nigeria to experience peace and progress. .”May it be a reminder of our entity, unity and oneness of the nation which is not negotiable and serve as a symbol of peace, unity and prosperity.”.He later presented the logo to the president..
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal, launched the centenary web portal, www.nigeriacentenary.com.ng, while the Senate President, David Mark, launched the centenary lottery..Jonathan, Buhari, and 120-year-old Salisu Goubnor,  from Zungeru in Niger State, who witnessed the 1914 amalgamation, as well as two children (male and female) representing the younger generation, joined in lighting the centenary torch..They were later joined by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, all former Heads of State, First Lady, Patience Jonathan and the Vice President’s wife, Amina Sambo for photographs.
TheSun

Nigeria has few friends in Africa (My Experience) – David Mark

Senate President David Mark has said his experience in South Africa during the Nations Cup final has shown that Nigeria has only few friends on the African Continent.

Mark led the Federal Government’s delegation to South Africa to spur Super Eagles to victory in their encounter with Burkina Faso in the final match of the soccer competition.

Speaking at plenary yesterday during a debate on a motion by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and 107 others, on Nigeria’s Outing at the AFCON 2013, Mark noted that very few people from other African countries wanted Nigeria to win the trophy.

“From my interaction with people from other African countries who went to watch the match, I observed that we don’t have many friends in Africa. Only very few people, including those I interacted with in the State bus, supported us. They believed that Nigeria is great already, and they wanted Burkina Faso to win. I think this implies that as a nation, we should learn to be self-reliant”, Mark said.

Mark, who called on football administrators to give Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi a free hand to manage the team, advocated early training of sportsmen, provision of sporting facilities at the local level and adequate funding for sports.

Following Mark’s disclosure that Keshi had confirmed to him his decision to resign as coach of the national team, the Senate urged him (Keshi) to rescind such decision and went on to pass a vote of confidence in him, his technical team and other Nigerian coaches.

The Senate commended the Eagles for winning the trophy, observed a standing ovation in their honour and commended President Goodluck Jonathan for motivating the team.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government to reward the Eagles handsomely and confer on them befitting national honours.

TalkOfNaija

Woman To Spend 7 Years In Jail For Raping Man

A female bartender who forced a 27-year-old mentally challenged man to be intimate with her was on Monday sentenced to an effective seven years in jail.
Patience Mbulaje (25) of Zimbabwe who was employed at Dande Bar denied aggravated indecent assault charges when she appeared before magistrate court.

The judge found her guilty of the offence after the prosecutor Ms Joice Fusire proved a solid case against her.

She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but had three years of the sentence suspended on condition she did not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

In assessing the appropriate sentence, The judge noted that first female offenders deserve lenient sentences depending on the nature of the crime, but in this case there was nothing the court could do.

"Aggravated indecent assault is punishable as rape which has a term of imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and there is no option of a fine since it is a serious offence," she said.
Naij.com

Adenuga Pledges Posh Apartment, SUV To Stephen Keshi

As a result of the grey areas in his contract with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) which led to his purported resignation from the job of coaching the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi is to become the proud owner of a Range Rover Sport automobile and posh apartment in Lagos state courtesy of mobile telecommunications’ giants – Glo’s Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr (GCON).
The billionaire publicity-shy business mogul also gave the victorious Super Eagles $1million for their exploits in the just concluded AFCON in South Africa with Keshi receiving a princely sum of $200,000 in addition to the largesse. Dr. Adenuga also promised to take up Keshi’s month salary which has been a constant source of friction in the past between the glass house and handlers of the national team.

It would be recalled that Keshi reportedly complained that the NFF owed him a backlog of salaries, deprived him of his officials cars among other things that led to his now controversial resignation saga.
InformationNigeria