Alicia Keys Campaigns For Release Of Abducted Chibok Girls

American R&B singer Alicia Keys has implored the Nigerian government not to relent in their pursuit for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls.

Keys was amazed that the girls had been in captivity for over 6 months now, and campaigned for their release.

She spoke just as the Bring Back Our Girls campaign group in Abuja, last night, held a candle light vigil to mark the 180th day of the abduction of the girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

“Putting the spotlight on these girls is very, very important to me and I thought that it is my job to help shine the light on what is going on and show people: this is still happening and we must not forget and it is going on for six months,” she said.

Kirikiri Prison Riot: Nigeria Prisons Service Stopped Our Families From Bringing Food – Inmates

Some inmates at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prisons, Kirirkiri, in Apapa area of Lagos State who participated in last Friday’s protest said on Saturday night that the authority of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) was denying them of their rights to eat food brought by their families and expected them to die in silence.
They also alleged that the authority was being economical with the truth of what led to the prison riot and the number of people they sent to their early graves.
The public relations officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Ope Fatinikun, said that the Interior minister, Mr. Patrick Abba Moro arrived Lagos on Saturday night and was addressed journalists at the prison facility where the riot took place but many journalists punched a hole in the statement, saying nobody gave their editors or reporters any such information.
The inmates claimed that the authority is shielding the truth from members of the public about what happened and the number of people killed and that was why they did not invite journalists.
“At about 10 pm on Saturday”, an inmate who pleaded anonymity disclosed, “So many people were injured. At least I saw five inmates who were killed.”
It could be more than that. Some would have died in the hospital. The authority lied. It was not a jail break, we were protesting over the inhuman treatment meted to us by the authority. They expected us to die in silence. The new deputy comptroller of prisons (DCP) ordered that some of the items we used should be seized from us. The items include generating set, fans, pots, kettles and others items. He also banned raw food. He stopped our family members from bringing raw food for us. The food they serve here, even American dogs would rather starve than to taste it. They treat us like bush animals and that is why we protested.
“The authority said only one inmate died but it is a blatant lie! They are lying. Let me tell you the truth, nobody planned to escape and those they killed were deliberately shot, not because they attempted to escape. They wanted to quieten us but many preferred to die.
They were firing sporadically at us and we were running to save our heads, forcing those residing in the area to scamper for safety.”
Source: LEADERSHIP

2015: ‘Buhari’ll Give PDP Run For Its Money’ Say APC

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been urged to give the presidential ticket of the party to General Muhammadu Buhari who, is the only presidential aspirant who could give the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a good run for its money.
Buhari, one of the leading presidential aspirants of the party, would declare his interest in the presidential race on Wednesday in Abuja.
Addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the national secretary of the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC), Mallam Ibrahim Bello Dauda said the best candidate for the party is the former head of state.
“It is our candid desire and mission to convince the entire APC members and supporters.
General Muhammadu Buhari is indeed the best presidential candidate for the APC in the forthcoming general election. He has been tested and trusted; and is the only APC presidential candidate (aspirant) that has actually has the political clout, charisma and pedigree to give the PDP a good run for its money,” he said.
Dauda recalled the outstanding performance of Buhari in the last three presidential election he had participated where he was consistently came out as the runner-up.
He said “Let us not forget that Gen Buhari has a consistent record of being the first runner-up in the last three presidential elections held in the country. With just a little more effort, he would win the 2015 presidential election. We should bear it in mind that Buhari is currently the Nigerian politician with the highest number of loyal supporters.

2015: 20 SANs Set To Drag Jonathan To Court Over Eligibility

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, over 20 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have concluded plans to drag President Goodluck Jonathan to court and seek relevant legal interpretation over his legibility to contest in the presidential race.
The action of the SANs is part of a security report to be presented to Jonathan this week, said a security source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.
He said, “Over 20 SANs are set to take the president to court. The president will be briefed on this development this week. We hope the president will act quickly on the report.”
It had been reported that some powerful politicians and groups in the country have
assembled a team of lawyers to challenge him whenever he declares his intention to take a shot at the nation’s No. 1 job.

The constitution provides that a president can only serve two terms, and opposition to Jonathan’s re-election ambition argue that he has served already.

Checks by LEADERSHIP further show that some top politicians are waiting for the president to declare to enable them embark on the legal battle, as any move in that direction now would amount to a wild goose chase.

Consequently, Jonathan is reportedly having serious thoughts over his 2015 re-election ambition because of the constitutional obstacles in his way. Lawyers across the country have also started debating the issue.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “There are two constitutional provisions that are in question. The first is section 135 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, which states that no president can take the oath of office of the president of Nigeria more than twice.

Rihanna Embarrased At Miami Airport

Singer was made to take off her shoes and pass through the scanner five good times at the Miami airport on Thursday despite her super star status.

The singer was made to take off her shoes and pass through the scanner five good times at the Miami airport on Thursday despite her super star status.
In an exclusive video obtained by MailOnline, the “What Now” hit-maker couldn’t navigate her way through the airport effortlessly without proper scrutiny from the stiff security…even though it RIHANNA!
According to DailyMail, the singer arrived for the flight a bit too blinged out to go unnoticed under the scanning machine. She was then forced to remove articles of jewellery and clothing piece-by-piece until the metal detector stopped beeping.
Sources claim, RiRi at one point became very upset until she finally tossed one of her black leather boots to the ground.
After her shoes went out, she was able to go through the scanner without a beep. Perhaps it was a steel toe on her choice of footwear that caused the problem.
But going by what she was wearing – a black choker and series of chains and delicate necklaces there would have been NO WAY she could have gone free at the airport.
Sorry RiRi but next time please take off all your blings before going through airport checks… else you may miss your flight because of that scanner!

Cameroon Paid Boko Haram $400K Ransom, Plus Arms And Ammunition, To Secure Hostages

SaharaReporters has learned that the Cameroonian authorities paid Boko Haram insurgents at least $400,000 in ransom in order to secure the release of Francoise Agnes Moukouri, wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali.
Boko Haram insurgents had abducted Mrs. Ali in July from the town of Kolofata. The insurgents also seized the town’s district head. The deal to secure their release was struck three days ago, as SaharaReporters exclusively reported.
Our source, who was part of the negotiation that led to the release of Mrs. Ali and several other hostages, disclosed that the terms of the settlement included the payment of an undisclosed sum of money from the Chinese government. Boko Haram subsequently released 10 Chinese construction workers who had been held hostage since their abduction in May.
In addition, the Cameroonian government agreed to release four commanders of the Islamist group who had been in Cameroonian jails. The most disturbing part of the deal is that Boko Haram militants demanded and received a significant supply of arms and ammunition, including a guarantee by Cameroon that the weapons would have safe passage to insurgent fighters.
Our source disclosed that President Idris Derby of Chad was instrumental in the negotiations because of his closeness to some Boko Haram commanders.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported three days ago that the Cameroonian and Chinese hostages had been released. Cameroonian Minister of Information, Issa Bakary, initially denied the report. However, the office of the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, today declared that 27 hostages, including Mrs. Ali, 10 Chinese construction workers, and the district head of Kolofata had been released.
The Islamist group has wreaked havoc in Nigeria’s northeast zone and has made occasional forays into neighboring Cameroon.