Actress Mercy Johnson Begs PSquare Not to Split(See)

 Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson has taken to social media to plead with popular music duo Psquare not to separate.

 Mercy who has been off the movie scene for a while now following the birth of her daughter took to Instagram to share the photo above with the words, "All we ask lord is peace at d end. 

 In tears as I listen, am calling heaven as I pray #DONTSPLITPSQUARE#" The Okoye family has really become messy as they were recently embroiled in a prolonged drama with Peter Okoye insisting on putting an end to ‘family business’. Days ago, Peter dropped his first single, and went on another solo performance at Abuja

Below is what she posted on instagram...

Muslim Students Revolt at The University of Lagos Today(Photos)

 Unilag Muslim students Organisation today protested at the Dean of Students Affairs Office, at the University of Lagos. Their group was reportedly dissolved by the school management and an official named Mr Musa, was put in charge to oversee any further duty associated with the group.

 The students are protesting because they want the school to reinstate their organisation, remove the official put in charge based on accusations that he is unfair to them and for things to return to Status Quo. More photos below...

Tragic : Woman's Ex-lover Sets Fire to Her House After She Broke up With Him, Kills 7 Members of Her Family

 Heartbreaking scenes unfolded in Koster, the North West farming town of Reagile, South Africa as the coffins of Mojaki Elizabeth Mwale, 74, Christina Sepinki Mwale, 36, Abram Mwale 15, Samantha Mwale, 12, Refilwe Mwale 10, Ofentse Mwale 8 and Precious Mwale, 3, were lowered into their graves in a mass funeral on Tuesday, March 15. 

 The seven victims were burnt to death when the jilted lover poured petrol in the shack which his ex shared with other members of her family and set it on fire on Monday, March 8. The 49-year-old suspect who is in police custody committed the heinous act after his girlfriend, Mammy Mwale, the mother of three of the victims, ended their relationship.

A family member Emily Mwale and an eyewitness said the man burst into the house with a bottle full of petrol and started pouring them on her and Mammy Mwale. 

"They began to fight, Mammy pushed him outside but he overpowered her. He then ran into the house and poured petrol all over, got out and ran away, and before we could think we saw a blazing fire," said Emily amidst tears.

Neighbours and residents said the couple's relationship had been rocky for the past year, and that the suspect had made threats that he would kill her. The man's mother condemned the wicked act and said the law must punish him.

"He has done a horrible thing, he loved Mammy too much. I do not like what he has done, he told me that he was going to kill everyone in that family. I want the law to punish him"

The North West police department spokesman, Leonard Hlathi who confirmed  the tragic incident said the suspect has been charged with seven counts of murder, as well as arson.

Mourners sat under a giant white tent singing hymns. African National Congress (ANC) Women League members dressed in their signature green and black uniform held flowers while looking at the seven coffins lined up in front of them.

Family spokesman Jackie Segakweng said the family was still in shock by the death of the seven family members.

"It is a shock to us. This is a technical knock-out. It is a whitewash…" he said.

Segakweng said he hoped the government would take drastic action to prevent further such deaths. "We cannot afford to see these deaths day and night."

Lerato Mekgwe, circuit manager in Kgetleng, told mourners that women must break the silence of abuse. Mekgwe said she was once in an abusive relationship and left only after her husband shot and wounded her.

"The signs were there but, I ignored them, I was blinded by love. When my children told me my husband does not love them, I ignored them until he shot me. I took a decision that I am not staying in this relationship. I got out of the relationship. Today I am a cripple because of the abusive relationship."

Kgetlengrivier municipality mayor Kim Medupe called on residents to be calm and allow the law to take its course.

"We are not going to judge until the justice system runs its course," she said.

She described the murders as brutal and senseless. She told mourners a house would be built for the remaining members of the family.

The chairman of Kgalagatsane Primary School governing body, Dikgang Mokgosi, said they were shocked by the murders. He appealed to young women not to remain in relationships where they were being abused.

"The person who did this will be judged and punished. Make sure you fall in love with the right person, who will not kill you." he said.

Mourners battled to hide their emotions as they sang religious songs. Family members and some of the mourners sobbed when Kgalagatsane Primary School choir sang a hymn to bid farewell to four of their former school mates.

Abram, Ofentse and Refilwe were Mammy's children. Samantha and Precious were her sister's daughter. Grandmother Elizabeth Mwale together with her daughter Christina also died in the fire.

Police Again Rescue Three Teenage Girls Abducted & Converted to Islam

 Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued yet another set of three teenage girls, who were abducted in Bauchi State and forcefully converted to Islam.

 The Prison Inmate Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, handling the matter, said that the girls were handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 12, Bauchi, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, on Tuesday, by the Shari’ah Commission in the state.

On March 6, 2016, that Blessing Gopep, 13, was abducted by two men identified as Iliya and Umaru, both living in Alkaleri area of Bauchi State.

Blessing and her friend, Mary, were on their way back to Jos after spending their holidays with Blessing’s uncle in Bauchi in August, 2015.

Her father had said Blessing and Mary had gone to the Alkaleri motor park, and while they waited on the bus for other passengers, two men, identified as Iliya and Umaru, arrived at the park on a motorcycle and abducted Blessing.

On November 19, Linda Christopher was abducted by one Mallam Shagari in Tarsha Durumi village, while Progress Jacob, 13, was abducted by Mallam Musa in the Yelwa, Sabon Kaura area, both in Bauchi State, on her way back from church on January 3.

According to Ms. Gobet, Progress’ aunt, the teenager went to church on the morning of January 3, 2016 and did not return when the church was presumed to have closed at about 10.30am.

She was allegedly abducted in the Yelwa, Sabon Kaura Area of Bauchi State by one Mallam Musa on her way back from church, which is said to be a few metres away from her aunt’s residence.

The distressed aunt said she reported the case to the traditional ruler (Seriki) of Sabon Kaura as well as the Yelwa Police Station, which only took her statement and directed her to inform them when she found Progress.

She added that all efforts to locate the ‘missing’ girl proved abortive until a letter was delivered to her from the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission, informing her of Progress’ conversion to Islam.

Sixteen-year-old Linda, a secondary school pupil in Enugu, was seen with one Mallam Shagari at Tarsha Durumi village in Bauchi State on November 19, 2015.

It was learnt that Linda had left Enugu four days earlier to join her parents, who lived in the Katanga Giwa village of Bauchi.

Her parents were notified of her whereabouts by a kinsman, who knew the family.

Just like the Jacobs, her parents got a letter from the Shari’a commission, notifying them of their daughter’s custody and her conversion to Islam.

PUNCH had reported the failure of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to rescue the girls one week after the newspaper had reported the abduction.

The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Police Command, Mr. Baba Tijjani, confirmed the release of the girls in an interview with PUNCH on Tuesday.

Tijjani stated, “The girls have been released. They were not held by the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission; they volunteered to become Muslims on their own and reported themselves to the Da’awah & Islamic Education Department, which took them to the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission.

“Now, they have been produced. Progress Jacob and Linda Christopher have been released to their parents while Blessing Gopep’s parents have been told to come tomorrow (Wednesday) and they will go home with their daughter.”

When asked if the case would be treated as a criminal case and the culprits prosecuted, the police commissioner said, “We just released the girls to their parents. The investigations are still ongoing and we will come out with the details after the investigations.”

The Executive Director, PIDI, Mr. Mbami Sabka, who also confirmed the rescue to PUNCH on the telephone on Tuesday, said he was glad that effort to rescue the girls was not wasted.

He added that this was the beginning of the release of more child brides.

Sabka said, “I am extremely grateful to PUNCH newspapers for their help. We hope that other perpetrators would learn from this. We, as an NGO, won’t stop at this; we will continue the fight for the release of child brides. An end must be put to this illegal act.

“The police have asked the Shari’ah Commission to bring the abductors involved because the girls didn’t walk to the commission by themselves; someone brought them.”

Blessing’s father, who couldn’t contain his excitement while speaking on the telephone, said he was very happy to have his daughter back.

He said, “I have waited so long for this day to come; it has been my only wish. I just want to thank God for bringing my daughter back to us. I am extremely happy; words fail me to express myself. I also want to thank PUNCH newspapers for their help.”

Blessing’s sister, Happiness, said since receiving the news, she had been restless.

“I’m boarding a bus first thing tomorrow to Bauchi. I can’t wait to see my sister,” she stated.

Jacob, who is Progress’ father, stated that he was happy to see his daughter again.

He thanked everyone that helped in his daughter’s release.

He added, “I have informed everyone in the village about her release; they are all expecting us. We are with the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State. My daughter, Progress, is fine but we are a bit worried about her condition.

“She was asked to identify us as her parents and she did so by pointing at us but she did not speak to us. She only shook her head or nodded to questions.

She confirmed she was not sexually molested by anyone. The commissioner said she would be released to us when the medical examination has been concluded.”

Linda’s mother, Mrs. Onah, added, “She looks fine but we have not spoken to each other yet, although we sat together today. We were told the girls were released because they were not up to 18 years old and could not make decisions on their own.

“They are undergoing medical examinations as we speak and we heard the results will be released after three days. I am happy to see my daughter again.”

PIDI had written letters to the state Commissioner of Police and the National Human Rights Commission but got no response before taking the cases to Amnesty International.

PUNCH’s campaign on the abduction of 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State on February 28 had led to her release within 48 hours from her captivity in the Tofa area of Kano State.

The #FreeEse campaign, launched by PUNCH, had led to Ese’s release and return to Yenagoa, while her abductor, Yunusa Dahiru, aka Yellow, is currently facing trial in the Bayelsa State capital.

Governor Ambode Orders All Occupants of Lekki Gardens Estate To Evacuate Immediately

 Yesterday, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode ordered occupants in all houses built by Lekki Gardens to vacate their apartments in order for integrity test to be carried out on all the buildings to ascertain their safety.

He gave this order when he visited the scene of the 5-storey collapsed building which killed 35 people last Tuesday.

He was displeased with what he saw and ordered immediate action. He said the developer should take responsibility of the relocation of occupants of the buildings as government would not wait for the buildings to kill other people.

He said: “The State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings constructed by the developer in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developer will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective would be demolished.

For those that pass the integrity test, the developer will pay a penalty for any overdevelopment on the site. Further to the above, the State Government intends to carry out an audit of all structures in Lagos to ascertain those with planning approval or not and evaluate the physical development against the approved building plans. .

Let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business for those who must comply with the state’s laws and regulations in order to prosper. Our main concern is to continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the rule of law at all times. Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face the full weight of the law without fear or favour.", PM News reports.

Federal Government Suspends Pension DG Over Multi Billion 'Scam Exposed Through BVN'

 The Director-General of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Nellie Mayshak, has been placed on indefinite suspension.

The Cable reports that Mayshak’s suspension is as a result of an alleged scam running into billions of naira which was recently discovered in the Directorate.

The PTAD oversees the management of pensions under the defined benefit scheme for pensioners not transiting to the defined contributory scheme.

While the report has little information on the details of the scam, investigation is said to be ongoing by security agents.

The Biometric Verification Number (BVN) scheme introduced by banks was reported to have led to the discovery of several shady dealings in the directorate.

Mayshak is said to be the highest earning government official in the country, with a monthly salary of N60 million.

69 Years Old Herbalist, Marries 18-year-old Girl as 57th Wife in Enugu(See Photos)

 Meet the 69 year old herbalist, Chief Simon Odo, who married an 18 year old girl, Chidinma, as his 57th wife in November last year and now says he won't marry again.

Chidinma was married from Okutu, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Odo, also known variously as Onuwa, King Solomon of Africa or King of Satan was married to 68 women but some of them had earlier died. Augustina Odo (nee Asogwa) and Virginia, nee Mogbo from Oraifite were among the dead ones.

Odo spoke in an interview with the South East Voice at his palatial home at Aji, Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Onuwa who was armed with an Onward note book where names of his wives and over 200 children were listed according to their dates of birth said that his first son, Emeka was born on December 15, 1969.

“I was born in 1947 on the day they had an eclipse of the sun and the moon. There was darkness in the afternoon on the day I was born. I was the only son of my parents. “I was baptised as a Christian in the Catholic Church and I even became a mass servant under Rev Father Desmond McGlade. 

I however became a herbalist because of circumstances beyond my control. As I said, I was the only son of my parents but because some of his relations wanted to take over his landed property, they poisoned me. I contracted tuberculosis and had to be treated for years. 

At a point, I was even unable to walk for about five years because I became lame. I ran to Ondo State in the South West, where I trained to become a herbalist at the age of 15, before returning to the village. 

I married 15 wives when my father was alive and the situation prolonged his life. He died in 1992 at the ripe old age of over 90 years. My first son has seven children and four grandchildren. Any of my children who chooses to become a Christian is free to do so, provided he/she must become a Catholic. I don’t like the Pentecostal churches.”

The new bride Chidinma 

On feeding of his large family, Onuwa said,

“People think that I feed many of them but this is not true. Most of my children are grown up. The boys among them usually marry and go to their own houses just like the girls who marry and follow their husbands to their places. 

However, my wives cook food for the whole family in turns. For example, if it is the turn of Ada or Omada to cook, she would invite five of her colleagues to assist her in cooking. One woman cooks for everybody in the house at a time but my other wives would always assist such a person.”

Asked if any of his sons has taken after him as a herbalist, he said,

 “I will not encourage them to do so. I don’t want my sons to take after me because some of them will do bad things with my medicine. As a herbalist, I have never killed anybody or thought of evil against anybody but I do not trust that my children would be upright like me. That is why I will not encourage them to inherit my medicine but I may bequeath them to some of my younger children, not the old, greedy ones.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that although Onuwa abhorred seeing his children attend churches other than the Catholic church, seven of them were ordained pastors at the Lord’s Chosen Church. Hitherto, some of them attended Catholic and Anglican churches while many of them took after their father in his business.

However, the ordination of the pastors brought about a radical Christian awakening in the extra-large family of Chief Odo. In the past four years, there had been a simmering misunderstanding between the pastors and their father regarding his herbal practice. The pastors were said to be mounting heavy pressure on him to repent and turn to Jesus, a demand the herbalist spurned.

Odo, said to have lost one of his wives last February, had arranged for the burial programme, which his pastor’s sons rejected and rather organized a prayer programme for her burial, triggering confusion in the family, Vanguard reports.