80 Abducted Chibok Girls Were Found by US, UK Surveillance & Then Left in Captivity - Former UK Ambassador to Nigeria Reveals

 In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, a UK Newspaper, former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, claims that 80 of the Government Girls College Students who were abducted by Boko Haram members in April 2014, were spotted in Sambisa forest by a team of British and American surveillance but they could not rescue them as the Nigerian government made no request for help.

“A couple of months after the kidnapping, fly-bys and an American ‘eye in the sky’ spotted a group of up to 80 girls in a particular spot in the Sambisa forest, around a very large tree — called locally the Tree of Life — along with evidence of vehicular movement and a large encampment. They were there for perhaps up to four weeks, and the question was what to do about them. Answer came there none.”

He said despite all the BBOG campaigns in London and the White House, the British and American troops could not immediately go in to rescue the girls because the Nigerians never asked for that

“What’s more,” Pocock says, “the Nigerians never asked for that.”

He however pointed out that if the Nigerian government had even asked for help, he said the safety of the girls would have been of utmost priority as it would have been very risky to go in and carryout any rescue operation

“A land-based attack would have been seen coming miles away and the girls killed. An air-based rescue would have required large numbers and meant a significant risk to the rescuers and even more to the girls. You might have rescued a few, but many would have been killed. My personal fear was always about the girls not in that encampment.

 80 were there, but 250 were taken, so the bulk were not there. What would have happened to them? It’s perfectly conceivable that Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, would have appeared on one of his videos a week later, saying, ‘Who told you that you could try and free these girls? Let me show you what I’ve done to them…’ So you were damned if you did, damned if you didn’t. They were beyond rescue, in practical terms."he said

Photographer Files N120m Suit Against 2face & Annie, The Idibia's Counter Sue For 150m

 A photographer, Emmanuel Okolo, has dragged singer Tuface Idibia, his actress wife Annie, and one Antonio Anifite before a Federal High Court in Lagos in a N120 million copyright infringement suit ‎for allegedly using photographs he took of them at their traditional wedding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2013, without giving him credit as the owner of the photos.

 According to a report by Channels TV, in the suit which was filed before Justice Mohammed Idris, Emmanuel claims that during the couple's wedding in 2013, he took some photographs and watermarked them using his company name. Emmanuel says that some days after the wedding, Annie contacted him and asked for the photographs which he immediately sent to her. Upon receiving his photos, he said Annie complained about his watermark on the photos and asked that they be removed. He said Annie sent Antonio Anifite to negotiate with him.

He claims that he immediately released the photos to Antonio free of charge with the understanding that when it will be uploaded on Tuface's personal website, “2faceonline.com”, he will be duely credited. Emmanuel says he was surprised to find out that when the photos where uploaded, 148 out of the 355 high resolution photographs he took were uploaded with "2faceonline.com" watermark on them.

Emmanuel who claims to be a certified film maker from the prestigious London Film Academy and a holder of a Masters of Arts degree from Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries, South Wales, United Kingdom, says he suffered general and exemplary damages which he is seeking 120 million Naira compensation from 2face, Annie and Anifite.

However in a counter suit filed by the Idibia's for which they are claiming N150 million in damages, they say Emmanuel was never invited by them to take photos at their wedding, that he was just one of the many uninvited p‎hotographers who came to their wedding to make some money via photography.

The Idibia's in their suit, say that after their wedding, they noticed strange copies of their wedding photos in circulation with Emmanuel's studio watermark on them and after finding out they were taken by him, they approached him, expressing their displeasure. 

‎He apologized and also forced the photos on the Idibia's, saying he wants them to use it so he can leverage on their popularity.

They however made him understand that the only way they will use the photos was for his watermarks to be completely removed. This he allegedly agreed to. The Idibia's say they were shocked when after uploading the photographs, he wrote a pre-litigation letter to them demanding that his watermarks be boldly inscribed across the photographs and a letter of apology. The Idibia's say the photos were immediately pulled down from 2face’s official website as the watermarked photos would distort the original idea of his website.

“The second plaintiff (Okolo), through his several guile, deceit, cunning gate-crashing and opportunistic posturing carefully planned and orchestrated the entire events leading to the institution of this suit with the express intention of embarrassing, harassing and blackmailing the first and third defendants (Annie and 2face) with a view to extorting money from them,” they further claimed in their counter-claim.

They accused the photographer of having a premeditated plan to blackmail them and extort money from them. They urged the judge to order Okolo and his studio to pull down all the photographs of them that the photographer had circulated.‎ They are also praying the court to order Okolo and his studio to “render forthwith, account as well as make full and frank disclosure of all sums and profit made by them as a result of unauthorised commercial usage” of their photographs.‎

Governor Wike’s Chief of Staff Held Over Alleged Assassination Attempt on NIMASA Boss, Dakuku(Photos)

Scene of the accident

 According to Sahara Reporters, Governor Wike's Chief of Staff, Chukwuemeka Woke was arrested over an alleged attempt on the life of NIMASA DG, Dakuku Peterside. Read report below...

From Sahara Reporters

The Department of State Security in Rivers state has thwarted an assassination attempt on Peterside Dakuku, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in last year’s guber election in the state and reportedly arrested ChukwuEmeka Woke, the Chief of Staff to Governor Nyesom Wike for leading a killer squad in two Sport Utility Vehicles that trailed and opened fire on Mr. Dakuku.

According to a press release issued by Mr. Dakuku’s office, the gunmen trailed him from Aba Road as he drove towards his house in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, but as his car made to turn towards the GRA entrance to his home, the gunmen drove aggressively hoping to overtake his car. 

Mr. Dakuku then changed course and drove to the state headquarters of the DSS as his security aide had already radioed for help.

Soon as Dakuku was allowed into the premises of the DSS, officers at the gate reportedly opened fire on the two SUVs trailing him and succeeded in demobilizing the care and got some of the occupants including Mr. Woke arrested.

One of Mr. Dakuku’s security aides was seriously injured as a result of exchange gunfire during the thirty-minute long encounter.

17-year-old Girl Sells Her Baby For N500k(Report)

 The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police at the weekend paraded a nurse, Mrs Chibuzor Okoye, for selling a baby belonging to a 17- year-old girl, Miss Tessy Obianua, to a couple in Onitsha, Anambra State, for the sum of N500,000.

The State Commissioner for Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison said five persons were involved in the case.

According to her, Tessy fell a victim of a specialized child trafficker, Mrs. Chibuzor Okoye, who convinced her to sell the baby to Mr. and Mrs. Sunday Kalu, who were desperately looking for a baby.

She said the police got a tip about the matter when Tessy’s father, Mr. Henry Obianu, who lives at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area of the state reported that his daughter was missing with her pregnancy to the police.

According to her father, Tessy ran away with her pregnancy in January last year but later re-appeared in May without the baby or pregnancy.

After more pressure about the whereabout of the baby from Tessy, she was said to have confessed to one of her uncles that she sold the baby to a couple in Onitsha.

The Police investigation also revealed that Tessy was lured to Onitsha by her father’s neighbour in Ogbese, simply identified as Mr. Jude Azuka.

It was learnt that at the time Tessy was declared missing at home, she was taking to Onitsha by Azuka to Okoye’s house who helped her to nurse her pregnancy until she delivered.

The Police boss said “through investigation to Onisha, the police arrested Okoye, at No. 3, Tonny Olisa street Awada in Onitsha, who specialized in child trafficking.

“It was Okoye, who sold the said baby girl to the couple at No. 8, Uzogwu street Onitsha at the sum of N500,000.

“She claimed to have given Jude the sum of N200,000 out of which Jude claimed to have bought clothes and shoes to Tessy and also gave her N30,000.

“Mrs. Chibuzor thereafter forced Tessy, to sign an undertaking that she would never come back for the baby”.

Ibifuro-Harrison, however, urged parents to be wary of the antics of criminal elements, who act friendly around their wards.

Jude Okoye Replies Brother Peter Okoye's Explosive Interview, as Paul Deletes Emtional Open Letter

 Peter Okoye yesterday told his brother Paul not to give the public an opportunity to crucify him.

 But he nailed his two brothers - Paul and Jude and exposed them for ganging up against him in the tell all interview he granted that was released yesterday.

 Now, Jude has kinda replied the interview. And he says - ''3 sides to every story. Ur side, my side and the TRUTH. The truth is DIRTY.............#caution''.

Paul has also deleted the emotional open letter he wrote to Peter and published on his IG yesterday.

Rivers Rerun Election : Drama as Wike, Amaechi, Peterside Clash at Police Station

 There was mild drama early Sunday morning at the Mile 1 Police Station, Port Harcourt when Governor Nyesom Wike confronted former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the DG of NIMASA, Peterside for allegedly plotting to hijack the result sheet of Ward 10, Port Harcourt Constituency II.

According to NewTelegraph online, a woman, an ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who lectures at the University of Port Harcourt, had absconded since Saturday with the election result sheet, and other voting materials.

The DPO of Mkpolu Police Station, who was in charge of security during voting in the area, had raised an alarm over the INEC’s staff disappearance, until she surfaced at the Mile I Police Station.

It was at the Mile I Police Station where Amaechi, Petetside and Mrs. Ibim Semenitari had gone to meet the woman that Wike also stormed the station, asking Amaechi what he was doing there.

He also queried Peterside and Semenitari why they chose to be in Port Harcourt and at the police station when they were supposed to be in their respective LGAs.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak has announced the cancellation of election in two more Local Government Areas (LGAs)  in the state due to irregularities.

The council areas are Etche and Asari-Toru. The Saturday elections in six LGAs had earlier been cancelled.

Mercy Aigbe Blast ThisDay Style Over 'Best Dressed' Cover Snub

 ThisDay Style released their weekly issue today and their cover story centered on Nollywood's Best Dressed and most of the pictures used were from the 2016 AMVCA. Surprisingly Mercy Aigbe Gentry who was seen as one of the best dressed at that event wasn't on the cover. Mercy wasn't going to let it pass and she called them out in an Instagram post. Read her post below...