Woman kills lover over N50,000 deal in Ebonyi:

ABAKALIKI — EBONYI State Police Command, weekend, arrested a middle aged woman, Uzoamaka  Dorathy Nworie, an indigene of Nzashi Echara in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly killing her lover, Mr. Duniya Philemon Tabat, over unresolved business transaction involving the purchase of Sienna bus.  Briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, disclosed that the deceased, who hailed from Dutsen Makaranta in Nasarawa State, was discovered in a refuse dump in December 25, 2013,  in Onuebonyi junction, the outskirts of Abakaliki metropolis.  He said the command swung into action after the traditional ruler and his cabinet members reported the case of  an abandoned corpse to the police. The corpse  was later deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA.  He said: “According to the suspect, the victim was her lover who arrived her house on December 23, 2013 with a Sienna bus with number plate DV 815 AAA which she had earlier ordered in July 2012 with a part payment of N350,000.  After showing her the vehicle, the deceased reportedly told her that the price of the car was N700,000 and demanded a balance of N350,000 from her to seal the transaction.  “Uzoamaka, whose business, according to her, had been bad and could not afford such amount, agreed that the vehicle should be sold so that the proceeds would be used to offset the cost.  Accordingly, on December 24, 2013, she took him to one Ituma Omokwu, a native doctor residing at Azuebonyi Echara, Ikwo Local Government Area who later bought the car at the cost of N750,000 with an instant payment of N700,000 cash, promising to pay the balance of N50,000 on December 30, 2013.  “On their return home, Uzoamaka demanded her initial deposit of N350,000 but was given N300,000. The deceased promised to pay the balance when he visits again on December 30, 2013. This development was not acceptable to the woman; hence, a fight ensued.  “In the process, Uzoamaka hit him at the back of his neck and he fell face down and died.”  The spokesman who stated that the suspect, in a bid to avoid being linked with the death, decided to dump the corpse in a nearby refuse dump.  He said following the frantic effort by the Homicide Detectives of the command, the vehicle in question was later recovered at the native doctor’s shrine in Ikwo.  He noted that efforts were in top gear to contact the relatives of the deceased in Nasarawa State while the suspect will be arraigned soon.”

Vanguard...

ABAKALIKI — EBONYI State Police Command, weekend, arrested a middle aged woman, Uzoamaka  Dorathy Nworie, an indigene of Nzashi Echara in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly killing her lover, Mr. Duniya Philemon Tabat, over unresolved business transaction involving the purchase of Sienna bus.
Briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, disclosed that the deceased, who hailed from Dutsen Makaranta in Nasarawa State, was discovered in a refuse dump in December 25, 2013,  in Onuebonyi junction, the outskirts of Abakaliki metropolis.
He said the command swung into action after the traditional ruler and his cabinet members reported the case of  an abandoned corpse to the police. The corpse  was later deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA.
He said: “According to the suspect, the victim was her lover who arrived her house on December 23, 2013 with a Sienna bus with number plate DV 815 AAA which she had earlier ordered in July 2012 with a part payment of N350,000.
After showing her the vehicle, the deceased reportedly told her that the price of the car was N700,000 and demanded a balance of N350,000 from her to seal the transaction.
“Uzoamaka, whose business, according to her, had been bad and could not afford such amount, agreed that the vehicle should be sold so that the proceeds would be used to offset the cost.
Accordingly, on December 24, 2013, she took him to one Ituma Omokwu, a native doctor residing at Azuebonyi Echara, Ikwo Local Government Area who later bought the car at the cost of N750,000 with an instant payment of N700,000 cash, promising to pay the balance of N50,000 on December 30, 2013.
“On their return home, Uzoamaka demanded her initial deposit of N350,000 but was given N300,000. The deceased promised to pay the balance when he visits again on December 30, 2013. This development was not acceptable to the woman; hence, a fight ensued.
“In the process, Uzoamaka hit him at the back of his neck and he fell face down and died.”
The spokesman who stated that the suspect, in a bid to avoid being linked with the death, decided to dump the corpse in a nearby refuse dump.
He said following the frantic effort by the Homicide Detectives of the command, the vehicle in question was later recovered at the native doctor’s shrine in Ikwo.
He noted that efforts were in top gear to contact the relatives of the deceased in Nasarawa State while the suspect will be arraigned soon.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/woman-kills-lover-n50000-deal-ebonyi/#sthash.KChkyxtE.dpuf

20,000 jostle for employment forms in Ebonyi:

No fewer than 20,000 applicants on Thursday besieged the Ebonyi Secondary Education Board in Abakaliki to obtain recruitment forms for teaching jobs.  The applicants scrambled to collect the forms from officials of the board.  Efforts to speak with the Chairman of the board, Mrs Patience Oko, were unsuccessful as she was said to be in a meeting with members of the board and management team.  A source in the board who spoke on condition of anonymity said that obtaining the form was one of the criteria to qualify for the interview.  The source said the forms were issued to the applicants free as the management had warned against extortion of the applicants.  “We are having a hectic day controlling the crowd that has thronged here to obtain the job form.  “The forms are issued free of charge to qualified applicants because the board warned that it will not tolerate any foul play from any of its staff members.  “We are doing our best to ensure that the forms get to those that need them. The board is only allowed to recruit 1,500 qualified persons,’’ it said.  “This number is to be drawn from holders of the Higher National Diploma, Bachelors of Education, and National Certificate in Education.  “The number here shows the sorry state of unemployment in the society and the government needs to do something to stem the tide,’’ the source added.  Some applicants who spoke with NAN appealed to the board to be fair and unbiased in selecting candidates for the interview.  Chinyere Elom called for an open, free and fair interview where applicants would be given opportunity to express themselves.  Sunday Agbo urged the board to use merit and not political considerations to select candidates for the interview.  Perpetua Onwe called for equal opportunities for the candidates to compete in the selection.  Mathew Oko appealed to the management to purge themselves of the `Nigerian factor’ and not to allow politicians to hijack the exercise.

 NAN

No fewer than 20,000 applicants on Thursday besieged the Ebonyi Secondary Education Board in Abakaliki to obtain recruitment forms for teaching jobs.
The applicants scrambled to collect the forms from officials of the board.
Efforts to speak with the Chairman of the board, Mrs Patience Oko, were unsuccessful as she was said to be in a meeting with members of the board and management team.
A source in the board who spoke on condition of anonymity said that obtaining the form was one of the criteria to qualify for the interview.
The source said the forms were issued to the applicants free as the management had warned against extortion of the applicants.
“We are having a hectic day controlling the crowd that has thronged here to obtain the job form.
“The forms are issued free of charge to qualified applicants because the board warned that it will not tolerate any foul play from any of its staff members.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the forms get to those that need them. The board is only allowed to recruit 1,500 qualified persons,’’ it said.
“This number is to be drawn from holders of the Higher National Diploma, Bachelors of Education, and National Certificate in Education.
“The number here shows the sorry state of unemployment in the society and the government needs to do something to stem the tide,’’ the source added.
Some applicants who spoke with NAN appealed to the board to be fair and unbiased in selecting candidates for the interview.
Chinyere Elom called for an open, free and fair interview where applicants would be given opportunity to express themselves.
Sunday Agbo urged the board to use merit and not political considerations to select candidates for the interview.
Perpetua Onwe called for equal opportunities for the candidates to compete in the selection.
Mathew Oko appealed to the management to purge themselves of the `Nigerian factor’ and not to allow politicians to hijack the exercise. (NAN)
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/20000-jostle-employment-forms-ebonyi/#sthash.fJHASRM3.dpuf

FRSC dismisses officer who raped colleague’s 9-yr-old daughter

 THE authoritiesof the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday said a 31-year- old officer of the agency, Emmanuel Ilori, who defiled his colleague’s  nine-year-old daughter (names withheld)  has been dismissed. Its Head of Operations in Ondo State, Sunday Ajayi, said the action of the officer was an embarrassment that should not be treated with levity.  According to Ondo police image maker, Wole Ogodo, Ilori, now in police detention, will be charged to court any moment from now.  How it happened The suspect was said to have visited his co worker in his residence located at Omitogun Estate Shebi, area of Akure metropolis where he committed the crime.  Vanguard gathered that Ilori visited Oguntayo Oluwafemi on the said day and after discussing some personal issues, the father of the victim decided to excuse himself to buy something in the neighbourhood with which to entertain his guest.  However, immediately Oguntayo left the house, the suspect bolted the door and pounced on the innocent daughter.  Luck, however, ran out on him as the father of the victim discovered that he had no money on him and decided to rush back to the house. But he met his door firmly locked from behind.  He reportedly knocked severally and all he could hear from the room was the screaming by his daughter.  Oguntayo forced the door open only to meet his colleague defiling his daughter following which he raised an alarm.  Attempt by the suspect to escape was thwarted  as neighbours arrested and took him to the Okuta Elerinla police station.  Contacted, Ogodo said the suspect and the father of the victim were employees of the FRSC in the state.  Ogodo said the father of the victim caught his friend in the act while he was defiling his daughter whom he left in the house with him.  According to the police spokesman, the father of the victim had to break open the door of the house he left not more than five minutes before.

Vanguard....

Pastor, Members Fight Over Cow Offering in Imo State -

General Overseer of the Tower of God Ministries, Imo State, Pastor Cletus Nzekwesiri and some executive members of the church including three co-pastors, last Sunday, engaged in a free-for-all fight over a cow offering brought for thanksgiving by a member of the church.  A witness who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP said the show of shame between the self-acclaimed men of God which occurred at the church premises located at No 1, New Orlu road, Egbeada/Akwakuma in Owerri North area of the state immediately after the church service left the wife of pastor Nzekwesiri (Helen) who tried to separate the fight bedridden.  According to the witness, two members of the church had brought a goat and a cow to the church for thanksgiving and when pastor Nzekwesri attempted to untie the cow from where it was tied, three of his co-pastors, Elvis Nwachukwu, Ikechukwu Nwogu and Victor Joseph were said to have descended on him, beaten and tore his cloth.  The general overseer was said to have been almost strangled to death before his wife raised an alarm but that was not before he was said to have received a broken head and his wife was also alleged to have been hit with a broken tile on her leg by one of the pastors. When LEADERSHIP visited the church on Tuesday which is supposed to be the church’s counselling day, the place was under lock and key with no members in sight.  When LEADERSHIP later met pastor Nzekwesiri who was still nursing wounds he sustained on the head, he corroborated the witness’ account but only added that the cow was not the genesis of the fight.  According to him, the pastors involved in the fight wanted to relieve him of his position as general overseer, adding that for the cow, he only inquired from the co-pastors in whose custody the cow would be before they descended on him.  Meanwhile, one of the pastors, Nwachukwu, when contacted, claimed that pastor Nzekwesiri had been suspended from the church seven months ago for his alleged immoral ways of preaching especially not condemning abortion. -

brimtime.com

General Overseer of the Tower of God Ministries, Imo State, Pastor Cletus Nzekwesiri and some executive members of the church including three co-pastors, last Sunday, engaged in a free-for-all fight over a cow offering brought for thanksgiving by a member of the church.

A witness who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP said the show of shame between the self-acclaimed men of God which occurred at the church premises located at No 1, New Orlu road, Egbeada/Akwakuma in Owerri North area of the state immediately after the church service left the wife of pastor Nzekwesiri (Helen) who tried to separate the fight bedridden.

According to the witness, two members of the church had brought a goat and a cow to the church for thanksgiving and when pastor Nzekwesri attempted to untie the cow from where it was tied, three of his co-pastors, Elvis Nwachukwu, Ikechukwu Nwogu and Victor Joseph were said to have descended on him, beaten and tore his cloth.

The general overseer was said to have been almost strangled to death before his wife raised an alarm but that was not before he was said to have received a broken head and his wife was also alleged to have been hit with a broken tile on her leg by one of the pastors.
When LEADERSHIP visited the church on Tuesday which is supposed to be the church’s counselling day, the place was under lock and key with no members in sight.

When LEADERSHIP later met pastor Nzekwesiri who was still nursing wounds he sustained on the head, he corroborated the witness’ account but only added that the cow was not the genesis of the fight.

According to him, the pastors involved in the fight wanted to relieve him of his position as general overseer, adding that for the cow, he only inquired from the co-pastors in whose custody the cow would be before they descended on him.

Meanwhile, one of the pastors, Nwachukwu, when contacted, claimed that pastor Nzekwesiri had been suspended from the church seven months ago for his alleged immoral ways of preaching especially not condemning abortion.

- See more at: http://www.brimtime.com/2014/02/pastor-members-fight-over-cow-offering.html#sthash.dotRHcsu.dpuf

General Overseer of the Tower of God Ministries, Imo State, Pastor Cletus Nzekwesiri and some executive members of the church including three co-pastors, last Sunday, engaged in a free-for-all fight over a cow offering brought for thanksgiving by a member of the church.

A witness who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP said the show of shame between the self-acclaimed men of God which occurred at the church premises located at No 1, New Orlu road, Egbeada/Akwakuma in Owerri North area of the state immediately after the church service left the wife of pastor Nzekwesiri (Helen) who tried to separate the fight bedridden.

According to the witness, two members of the church had brought a goat and a cow to the church for thanksgiving and when pastor Nzekwesri attempted to untie the cow from where it was tied, three of his co-pastors, Elvis Nwachukwu, Ikechukwu Nwogu and Victor Joseph were said to have descended on him, beaten and tore his cloth.

The general overseer was said to have been almost strangled to death before his wife raised an alarm but that was not before he was said to have received a broken head and his wife was also alleged to have been hit with a broken tile on her leg by one of the pastors.
When LEADERSHIP visited the church on Tuesday which is supposed to be the church’s counselling day, the place was under lock and key with no members in sight.

When LEADERSHIP later met pastor Nzekwesiri who was still nursing wounds he sustained on the head, he corroborated the witness’ account but only added that the cow was not the genesis of the fight.

According to him, the pastors involved in the fight wanted to relieve him of his position as general overseer, adding that for the cow, he only inquired from the co-pastors in whose custody the cow would be before they descended on him.

Meanwhile, one of the pastors, Nwachukwu, when contacted, claimed that pastor Nzekwesiri had been suspended from the church seven months ago for his alleged immoral ways of preaching especially not condemning abortion.

- See more at: http://www.brimtime.com/2014/02/pastor-members-fight-over-cow-offering.html#sthash.dotRHcsu.dpuf

General Overseer of the Tower of God Ministries, Imo State, Pastor Cletus Nzekwesiri and some executive members of the church including three co-pastors, last Sunday, engaged in a free-for-all fight over a cow offering brought for thanksgiving by a member of the church.

A witness who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP said the show of shame between the self-acclaimed men of God which occurred at the church premises located at No 1, New Orlu road, Egbeada/Akwakuma in Owerri North area of the state immediately after the church service left the wife of pastor Nzekwesiri (Helen) who tried to separate the fight bedridden.

According to the witness, two members of the church had brought a goat and a cow to the church for thanksgiving and when pastor Nzekwesri attempted to untie the cow from where it was tied, three of his co-pastors, Elvis Nwachukwu, Ikechukwu Nwogu and Victor Joseph were said to have descended on him, beaten and tore his cloth.

The general overseer was said to have been almost strangled to death before his wife raised an alarm but that was not before he was said to have received a broken head and his wife was also alleged to have been hit with a broken tile on her leg by one of the pastors.
When LEADERSHIP visited the church on Tuesday which is supposed to be the church’s counselling day, the place was under lock and key with no members in sight.

When LEADERSHIP later met pastor Nzekwesiri who was still nursing wounds he sustained on the head, he corroborated the witness’ account but only added that the cow was not the genesis of the fight.

According to him, the pastors involved in the fight wanted to relieve him of his position as general overseer, adding that for the cow, he only inquired from the co-pastors in whose custody the cow would be before they descended on him.

Meanwhile, one of the pastors, Nwachukwu, when contacted, claimed that pastor Nzekwesiri had been suspended from the church seven months ago for his alleged immoral ways of preaching especially not condemning abortion.

- See more at: http://www.brimtime.com/2014/02/pastor-members-fight-over-cow-offering.html#sthash.dotRHcsu.dpuf

BREAKING: President Jonathan appoints Zenith Bank chief as new CBN governor

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Godwin Emefiele, who is the managing director of Zenith Bank, as the new governor of Central Bank.
Mr. Jonathan submitted Mr. Emefiele’s name to the Senate for confirmation Thursday hours after he announced the suspension of Sanusi Lamido as the CBN governor.
The CBN’s deputy governor, Sarah Alade, was named early Thursday as acting governor of the bank.
Mr. Jonathan said if confirmed by the senate, Mr. Emefiele will take over fully as the substantive governor in place of Mr. Sanusi whose tenure elaspes in June 2014.
The president also nominated Adelabu Adebayo as the deputy governor of the bank. Mr. Adebayo is current an executive director at First Bank.
He will succeed Tunde Lemo who retired as Deputy Governor of the regulatory bank in late 2013.
Below is Mr. Emefiele’s profile as published on Zenith Bank’s website.

“He is the Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, a position he has held since August 2010. Until then he was the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, having been appointed into that position in 2001. Emefiele has been on the bank’s management team since inception and has held various management positions in the bank, including serving as the Bank’s Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning.
“Until he took over as Group Managing Director, Emefiele was directly responsible for all the Group’s local subsidiaries, Treasury and Correspondent Banking, and Multilateral, Conglomerates, & Private Banking. He also had responsibilities for direct supervision of majority of the bank’s branches in Lagos and Northern Nigeria.
“Emefiele has over twenty-six (26) years banking experience and holds a B.Sc and an MBA in Finance both from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Before commencing his banking career, he lectured Finance, Bank Management, and Insurance at the University of Nigeria and University of Port Harcourt respectively.
“He is an alumnus of Stanford University, Harvard and Wharton Graduate School of Business where he took courses in Negotiation, Service Excellence, Critical Thinking, Leading Change and Strategy.
“Under Emefiele’s leadership, Zenith Bank has strengthened its position as a leading financial institution in Africa, winning recognition and getting endorsement at home and abroad for giant strides in key performance areas like corporate governance, service delivery and deployment of cutting-edge ICT as well as impact in the bank’s numerous spheres of operations.
“In 2012, Emefiele’s visionary leadership saw Zenith Bank receiving acclaim from reputable institutions such as world finance, CFI and FTSE Global Markets that have named Zenith the Best in Corporate Governance, Best Commercial Bank in Africa, and Emerging Global Super brand respectively.”

  Premium Times.....

Thugs destroy President Jonathan’s posters in Imo:-

Palpable shock and disbelief gripped loyalists of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and air travelers as suspected political thugs tore posters and pictures of President Goodluck Jonathan mounted at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.  People were equally shocked as the rampaging political thugs descended and destroyed all the decorations on the perimeter fence of the airport, as well as the Presidential Lounge.  These strange events came as Imo people anxiously await the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan for the first time since Chief Ikedi Ohakim vacated office as Governor of the state.  Jonathan is scheduled to visit Owerri this weekend to among other things, receive scores of Imo politicians who are dumping their respective political parties for the PDP.  When Vanguard got wind of the incident and visited the scene yesterday, the destroyed posters, pictures and decorations were scattered in parts of the airport premises.  It was also gathered that the rampaging hired hoodlums however scampered into safety before stern looking security personnel arrived the scene.  Some workers and travelers, who were found discussing the ugly event in groups, blamed the act of the political thugs on an alleged directive from an unnamed top government official.  Meanwhile, the state government says it has approved the use of Dan Anyiam Stadium Complex, Owerri, which the PDP leadership applied for.  The Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, however stated in a release that Governor Rochas Okorocha was yet to be properly informed about the President’s visit to the state.  It was the considered opinion of the SSA that as the chief security officer of the state, it was proper that the Governor should be informed of the visit of the President. -

Vanguard

Native doctor’s charm kills pastor, one other accused of witchcraft -

Native doctor’s charm kills pastor, one other accused of witchcraft  on February 19, 2014  

An unholy alliance between a family and a native doctor has allegedly claimed the lives of two people in Zwall village of Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.  The family of Adamu Goni and a native doctor (names withheld)  agreed to administer charms on four members of the family, including a pastor, over their alleged involvement in witchcraft.  The family, it was learnt, had been worried over calamities befalling its members, so it sought solutions from a native doctor.  The startling revelations were made inside the shrine of the native doctor, a development that almost prompted angry youths to lynch him.  Trouble started when the native doctor administered his charms on four  members of the family who were suspected to be involved in witchcraft activities.  The purpose of the charm was to  compel them to confess their involvement or not.  It was gathered that of the four that were administered with the charm, the spell affected two who, however, still refused to confess their involvement in witchcraft, a situation that subsequently led to their death.  A security source in Bauchi said two members of the family lost their lives as a result of the charm given to them by the native doctor.  He said: “Two members of the family including a pastor of an ECWA Church who refused to admit to witchcraft involvement died after the native doctor administered the charm on them.  “Eight  suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are helping the police with valuable information.  “The native doctor was also arrested by a police detective who disguised as someone needing spiritual help.” -

Vanguard

APC Suspends Nasarawa Deputy Governor For Criticizing Party Order To Block Federal Govt Activities.

APC Suspends Nasarawa Deputy Governor For Criticizing Party Order To Block Federal Govt Activities.

**I made a statement as a Nigerian not as Deputy Governor. We should be able to differentiate between party interest and National interest.

The NasarawaState Deputy Governor, Damishi Barauhas dared his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying he stands on his earlier position criticising the party’s stance.
Earlier he had criticised the APC when the party asked its federal lawmakers to frustrate executive bills until the political crisis in Rivers State is resolved.

He was subsequently suspended by the APC, in an announcement by its Nasarawa State chairman, Stanley Buba.
Returning from the United States in the early hours of Sunday and refusing to make comments on his suspension, he said he has a right like any other Nigerian to voice his opinion.

“I made a statement as a Nigerian not as deputy governor. We should be able to differentiate between party interest and National interest because it is not all Nigerians that belong to political parties," he said adding that the APC should have considered the plight of those who are not politicians before taking such position.

APC leadership last month warned members not to express their grievances about the party in public, as that will lead to their suspension or outright expulsion from the party. - Hope For Nigeria.

Why we kidnapped our grandma- Madueke brothers:

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka  LAST year December, Madam Adafor Madueke, an 89 year-old grandmother, was full of life as she was expecting her children and grand children residing outside her Amaeku village, Adazi Ani in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State, to return for Christmas celebrations.  Madueke111The period usually provided her the opportunity to meet her loved ones and spend quality time with them.  However, unknown to Madam Madueke, two of her grandsons, Kingsley Chukwuebuka Madueke, 24, and Matthew Edozie Madueke, 22, were planning evil against her.  The two, who are undergraduates, had perfected plans with two other students, Chukwunonso Onuzulike, 23, from Enugu State and Gabriel Nnaji, 25, also from Enugu State, to abduct the Octogenarian for the purpose of extorting money from their uncle who had been responsible for their education over the years.  Chukwunonso, who is a graduate of Political Science at Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam campus and leader of a cult group, the Black Axe Confraternity in the university, as well as his other accomplice, Gabriel, who is a 400 –level public administration student of the same university, were contacted by Kingsley Madueke to assist him in executing the job.  The first meeting among the four persons took place on December 14, 2013 and by December 17, 2013, they had concluded arrangements on how to kidnap the woman. Though Gabriel Nnaji, the leader of the gang, said he was worried about the age of the woman and told her grandsons that the woman might not survive the ordeal, Kingsley Madueke insisted that the job must be done as they wanted to show off with the money from the kidnap during the Christmas celebration.  Christmas celebration  For the abduction proper, the four persons on December 16, 2013, snatched one of the shuttle buses belonging to Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka with which they carried the woman to a bush in Igbariam in Anambra East local government area of the state and kept her there throughout the period they were negotiating with members of the family.  While negotiation was going on, other members of the family never imagined that two of their members, Kingsley and Matthew, were the brains behind the kidnap.  The kidnap kingpins started negotiation for N50 million and eventually settled for N3 million.  For payment of the ransom, the Madueke family was directed to take the money to Obolo Afor, a border town between Enugu and Benue states on December 23, 2013, while the woman was released at Oyeagu, Abagana in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State on December 24, 2013. One week later, Madam Madueke died, apparently as a result of her ordeal in the custody of the kidnappers.  Nnaji, the leader of the gang, took N2 million as the boss and shared N1 million to the other five accomplices, including the grandsons of the woman. Matthew Madueke had spent only N20000 from his loot before the men of the Directorate of State Security, DSS, apprehended him and recovered N180000.  The body of Madam Madueke is still kept in the mortuary, apparently because the family is yet to raise funds for the burial, while all the people involved in the kidnap are cooling off at the Anambra State headquarters of the DSS.  Anambra State Director of State Security Services, DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, while parading the kidnap suspects, said anybody planning to kidnap somebody in the state should know that he is taking a very big risk because his men have mastered all their plans.  “As it is, it is very difficult for a kidnap operation to succeed because we know more than the kidnappers know,” he said.  Looking sober in his handcuff, Kingsley Madueke told Crime Alert that he planned the kidnap of his grandmother because he and his brother, Matthew, were finding things difficult financially in school because their father was having family problems with their uncle who stopped assisting them in school.  The misunderstanding between their father and uncle, he said, started two years ago, adding that it was because of it that their uncle stopped assisting them financially in school, thereby making things difficult for them.  Kidnapping of grandma  Kingsley said: “I felt that the only way to get money from my uncle was by kidnapping our grandmother. At the time I nursed the idea of kidnapping grandma, it never occurred to me that she might not survive the hardship associated with kidnapping because of her age.  With her death and what is happening to us, I have realized the grave mistake I made in the first place.  I don’t know what will be my fate and that of my brother and I don’t even know how we are going to face members of our family. But my hope is that what had happened may lead to reconciliation between my father and my uncle,”he stated.  Okeiyi, the DSS state director said the suspects will soon appear in court. -

Vanguard...

Valentine: ancient tradition force Japanese women to buy gifts for lovers -

Japanese women flocked to department stores Thursday to buy Valentine’s Day chocolates for all the men in their lives, but more of them this year are dispensing with tradition and treating themselves or their friends.  In much of the West, February 14 is a day when men can sink or swim on their ability to make impressive dinner plans or buy a suitable bunch of flowers.  But in Japan it is the women who make the running, buying “honmei” (true love) chocolates for the husband or lover, and “giri” (obligation) treats for colleagues and bosses.  The custom stretches back to the late 1950s when a firm called Mary Chocolate began advertising Valentine’s Day as “the only day of the year a woman professes her love through presenting chocolate”.  Sayaka Aizawa, a 29-year-old housewife shopping for sweets at the Matsuzakaya department store in Tokyo, was unaware other countries celebrated the day differently.  “I have never thought of it. I thought women were supposed to give chocolate. I wish I were receiving them, but it’s not happening in Japan,” she said.  While chocolate-buying boyfriends and husbands remained few and far between on Thursday, not all the confectionery was intended for men.  “There are many women customers buying chocolate for themselves or for their female friends this year,” said store employee Chiyuki Daido, adding purchases were ranging from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen ($30-$150).  These increasingly popular “tomo” (friend) chocolates are the industry’s attempt to squeeze more cash out of a shrinking population.  And while there is no campaign advocating splashing out on a box for personal consumption, some women said they would be giving into temptation.  “I want to buy one for myself if I can find a good one,” said Emi Kosaka, a 37-year-old corporate executive. “There are quite a lot of varieties around.”  An assortment of chocolates — milk, dark, white and even green tea variety — lined the impressive glass displays.  Belgian chocolatier Wittamer was proudly showing off a life-size chocolate squirrel eating a nut in its window, with a price tag of 10,500 yen ($102).  Elsewhere chocolates in the shape of miniature teddy bears, cakes and butterflies were being delicately gift-wrapped by shopkeepers.  Japan’s $4 billion-a-year chocolate business is driven by special days like Valentine’s, which set the cash tills ringing.  The country is Asia’s largest market for chocolate and accounts for a hefty slice of the world’s pie, which consultancy KPMG says was worth about $100 billion in 2012.  But lest any male think he’s got away with it too easily, Friday marks the beginning of the countdown to White Day — March 14th — when men have to buy gifts for all the women in their lives.  “I know this is unique to Japan,” said corporate executive Kosaka. “But it’s okay with me. This is a chance to buy a lot of chocolate.” -

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