Ladybird left woman with three years of deafness and ear pain

Painful: After 11 fruitless visits to the doctor, Danielle Eccles, from Essex, eventually discovered that a Ladybird was responsible for the 'unbearable pain' and temporary deafness in her left ear

Hello Friends!

After 11 fruitless visits to her doctor over three years, Danielle Eccles was beginning to think that her severe earache would never be cured.
Over that time, the 28-year-old, an NHS administration manager, was prone to temporarily losing all hearing in her blocked and swollen right ear, and bouts of 'unbearable' pain that caused her to take time off work.
Then, one day, while putting in yet more eardrops as prescribed by the doctor, a ladybird's head fell out of her ear.

It was then that she remembered that around the time her symptoms first began with a tickling sensation in August 2009, she was convinced that something had crawled into her ear.

Mrs Eccles, who lives with husband Neil, 32, a landscaper, said: 'A few nights earlier I'd felt sure a bug had crawled in my ear and was so relieved when my GP said he couldn't see any insect in there.'
This time, however, she was finally referred to hospital, where an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist removed the rest of the perfectly preserved ladybird.
Yesterday Mrs Eccles, who is making a formal complaint to the surgery, said: 'It sounds funny but I thought I was going mad.

'It's made my life a nightmare. I just can't believe no one saw it. After all, it must be the brightest, spottiest bug in the UK.'

By May 2010 she had already gone back to the surgery six times.
'I kept on getting ear infections and deafness,' she said.

Hard to spot: Mrs Eccles said doctors told her they could not see anything in her ear, however when she went to see an ear nose and throat specialist he noticed the insect and removed it.

'At restaurants I had to position myself at the table so my left ear was turned towards people speaking and walking along a road with someone I had to walk to their right so I could hear them properly.
'Neil got fed up having to say everything twice to me.
'Before this I was rarely ill. But I've had to have two lots of time off work because the pain was unbearable and the antibiotics I've had to take ruined my immune system leaving me prone to lots of colds.'

Last year and earlier this year, she went back to the Elizabeth Courtauld surgery near her home in Halstead, Essex, a further five times.

By that point, doctors had issued Mrs Eccles with a total of 12 prescriptions of earspray, eardrops, antibiotics and painkillers, none of which managed to solve the problem.

She said: 'One doctor did see something but diagnosed it as a "glob of wax".
'It was only in June this year when putting some eardrops in, that the head and jaws of a ladybird fell out of my hand that I recalled the night I believed the insect had crawled in.'

Mrs Eccles took the beetle's head to show her GP, who finally referred her to an ENT consultant.

 
Creepy crawly: Mrs Eccles remembered that her symptoms first began with a tickling sensation in August 2009, she was convinced that something had crawled into her ear.

She said: 'Waiting six weeks for the appointment was difficult as by then the deafness and discomfort in that ear was getting worse.'
However, within five minutes the consultant had removed the insect's body.
Mrs Eccles said: 'We could clearly see from its spots it was a ladybird. I was instantly able to hear again and that was such a relief. 

'But I feel angry. I was made to feel I was making a fuss about nothing and feel I should have been referred to a specialist much earlier.'

Dr Azhar Shaida, a consultant ENT surgeon from The Harley St ENT Clinic, said: 'It would appear the ladybird was hiding behind some wax.

'A GP surgery does not possess the same level of equipment that an ENT specialist department has, so it appears when doctors looked into the ear, all they saw was wax.

'Because the insect body was encased in wax, it would have stopped the air getting to it so it wouldn't have degraded.'

Culled from The Daily Mail UK.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...



P-Square's New Single, 'Alingo' Stirs Controversy From Timaya

Hello Friends!

Recently, a song by P-Square purportedly leaked on the internet. Hours later, the new single from P-Square titled 'Alingo' has been criticized by fans of Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, to have been a resemblance of his hit track, 'Bum Bum'.

Some of them took to twitter to express this. While they tweeted at Timaya claiming that P-Square allegedly stole his beat, the once controversial artiste didn't inform his fans that the song was not allegedly stolen by P-Square. He kept retweeting such tweets.

One of the tweets read, "RT @zinazee20: Listining 2 Psquares new song Alingo @PeterPsquare I swear dis a copy of @timayatimaya shake ur bum bum!!!! U guys ehn!!! *smh*"

A source close to P-Square, has said that P-Square would not stoop low to steal someone else's beats. The source said the beat is an Azonto beat, which is the beat of the moment.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Alleged Battering: Zaki’s wife files for divorce, says, ‘I can’t take his beatings anymore’

Zaaki & Hadiza In Better Times...

Hello Friends!

She wore a worried look when Ogbonna Amadi, Entertainment Editor met with her at a popular eatery in Ikeja, Lagos. As she toyed with her phones while waiting for my arrival, nothing could have exposed the turmoil going through her head. Welcome to the world of Hadiza Zaki Azzay, as she unfolds details of her crashed relationship with her husband and popular musician, Zaki Azzay.

Let’s meet you!
My name is Hadiza Zaaki Azzay.

Is true you have packed out of your matrimonial home?
I was dressing up my children that morning, when he sent my son to come call me. My son’s exact words were ‘’Mummy, daddy is calling you but don’t go’’. I knew deep down that he was saying the truth because if Zaaki should lock me up in his room, I’m as good as dead. He would beat me non stop and sometimes raise the volume of the TV or start the generator to douse my cry for help.

When I didn’t go, he came to the room and asked me why I did not harken to his call. I did not respond. He saw me dressing up the children and thought I would take them away to my father’s place the same way I did last year. He took the children away that morning and I quickly reasoned that his next step would be to come back and beat me. So I took a few clothes and ran away.

Someone introduced to ‘’Project Alert’’ and I went to the shelter. On the 4th of June, My father told me Zaaki informed him that he is bringing back my luggages. I decided to hire a taxi to go pick my things myself. Before then, close neighbours had called regularly to say they see my children trekking to and from school because Zaaki does not take them in his car.

On my way to the house on that very day, I saw them trekking home with the maid. When I stopped they happily jumped into the car. The maid who was with them started shouting and calling me ‘’Thief’’ alerting passers by. She tore the dress I wore. I manged to escape with two of the kids leaving my daughter behind. Zaaki went to threaten the proprietress of the school saying we connived to kidnap his children.

He aslo went to our family doctor to try get a report that his maid suffered injuries in hand but the doctor refused saying he is a Christian and would not be a party to a break up a marriage. Later, he gave me a particular medical report because he was convinced Zaaki would go the extreme one day. Even the hospital where I gave birth to my last born, Zaaki has refused to pay them.

What was his excuse?
His excuse was that while other women were giving birth to boys, I was giving birth to women. He always says people tell him my children look like my siblings and that he would not be shocked to find out that it was my brother that impregnated me. Whenever he starts beating me, it seems as if there is a spirit inside him.

Do you love Him?
If I didn’t love Zaaki, I wouldn’t have married him. We met when I was in school and worked part time as secretary in my father firm when I’m on holidays. My dad was an active journalist before he went into politics. Zaaki used to patronize him and with time, we started talking on the phone. One day he told me he loved and wanted me as his wife. Zaaki’s father gave my father his first employment. So it was like my father was returning a favour by giving me out in marriage to Zaaki.

What happened to the children on that fateful day?
Two of them had entered the vehicle before the lady started shouting and calling me a thief. But the child, my daughter was still standing outside. I left with the two that were already in the car.
How did the school authorities get to hear about it, did it happen in the school premises?
No. It didn’t happen inside the school but we were not very far from the school premises. Some of the teachers came out and identified me as the kids mother but she still kept on calling me a thief.

Have you reported this matter to his family?
He is not in good terms with his mother, elder sister and almost all members of his family except one of his brothers who he sees once in a blue moon.

Did you try to locate his mother about this issue?
I have no idea where to look for her because she was in Makurdi then relocated to Abuja. She used to call and ask after everybody’s well being but anytime Zaaki goes through my phone and see her number, he would delete it immediately.

But you sometimes went out together…
Yes we did. But I stopped going out with him because anytime we go out and any man approaches me or even says hi, we would leave the place in a hurry or he would start asking me questions about the man. He feels so insecure. The main reason why I am addressing this issue through the press is because I am scared for my life and the life of people helping me.

He went to make false allegations against me to the police. I want the Inspector General to look into this matter squarely. When I went to see the police, the police officer in charge of the case threatened to detain me if I failed to produce the children. My lawyer had to sign an undertaken that we’d bring the children the next day.

When Zaaki reported me to his uncle, he lied that he bought me a jeep. People who know me are aware that I trek to school most of the time. Zaaki would sometimes disguise to come and spy on me in school or send some of his boys. He has threatened to deal with me on several occasions.

Hadiza and her kids...

What are you studying in school?
I’m a student of history and international relations. I’m in my final year. Right now, he has seized all my school documents. I really don’t know what Zaaki wants from me, I’m sure members of my family have not offended him in any way. If anything should happen to me in the nearest future, I have said Zaki should be held responsible.

What if Zaaki comes back to apologize?
He has begged on several occasions in the past but this time I would never go back to go back to him. Right now, I am fighting for my right and that of my children. I’m learned and I am aware of other relating issues.
You said he asked you to abort on several occasions.

Yes he did. You can confirmed from a doctor friend of his, Dr Albert. I cannot remember the name of the hospital but I have the doctor’s phone number. The doctor insisted that he does not do abortions and instead gave me ante-natal drugs saying ‘pregnancy is a thing of joy’.
Zaaki came home that night while I was asleep and started kicking me insisting that I abort the baby. He almost forced folic acid down my throat and was hitting my stomach in the process. So I begged and asked him to give me the drugs to swallow myself then ran out of the house in just a boxer and T-shirt.

He pursued and forced me into his car saying he would take me back to my fathers house. Instead he dropped me off at a lonely spot. I know no one in Lagos because Zaaki brought me here after we met in school. But at about 1 am, he retuned to pick me up from the spot he dropped me. If you want to confirm these things , go to Gbagada and ask. Often he has beaten me several times on the streets.

Did you ever report this matter to anybody?
Yes. I reported him to my Pastor, Taiwo Odukoya and whenever we go to see him, Zaaki would say I follow men up and down. I am fighting for my life and that of my daughter that is still with him.

Have you tried to talk one on one with him?
Yes. But every time we try, he says bad people are advising me. Whenever I gave birth, he stopped people from visiting me. He never organised naming or birthday ceremonies for my children. When I left last year in April, on my sons birthday which is May 17, he gathered a few people in the name of a celebration just to fulfill all righteousness. Zaaki has no house of his own.

All we’ve been doing is move from one rented apartment to the other. He would lie to the media that we travelled to the United States of America. I have only been to Cotonou in my entire life. Zaaki has only been to South Africa and that was courtesy GLO with ‘’Lagbaja’’ and ‘’Daddy Showkey’’. He’s always been denied visa to America yet would lie to the media about a non existing American trip.

Did you say he was once married?
Yes he was married but I would rather not mention the lady’s name for security reasons. He married her in Lagos at the Ikoyi marriage registry. And married me at Ado-Odo registry in Ogun State. I came from a Muslim home but got converted to Christianity because of Zaaki.

Right now, I’m the only Christian in my family. I went boldly to my parents and made it clear that I don’t want my children to be divided between two religions. My father accepted it as long as I was not pagan and advised me to face the religion squarely.

Culled from The Vanguard Nigeria.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...


 

My pastor husband starves us, wife tells court

Hello Friends!

A 38-year-old woman, Chioma Orji, has pleaded with an Agege Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve her marriage of seven years.
The mother of two accused her husband, Wisdom Orji, of being irresponsible and uncaring to her needs and those of her children.

Chioma, who has the custody of the children, claimed that her husband had failed to provide money for their feeding and hospital expenses.
She said, “Since the children and I left his house, he hasn’t been paying their allowances. He is supposed to pay N10,000 monthly but he pays N6,000, claiming he needs to get steady first and later on, he would adjust.

“The two children fell sick due to malnutrition and cold; how can N6,000 settle their expenses in the hospital? He is a pastor and he heads a church. He is living comfortably and he owns a car, why should he say he doesn’t have money to for the upkeep of his own children?”
The husband didn’t refute the allegations against him.

He said, “This is the money I can afford for now. I don’t have any other place I get money except through my work. That I own a church and I have a car doesn’t mean I am comfortable.
“This is all her fault because she doesn’t take care of the children properly the way a mother should. When I get back on my feet, I will restore the amount to N10,000. That is all I can afford for now, she has to manage with that.”

The president of the court, Mr. Emmanuel Sokunle, however, asked Mr. Orji to submit a letter of apology containing the fact that he could not afford the previous amount for that period and a promise that he would restore the amount immediately money starts coming in.

Culled from The Punch Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Pastor Chris Okotie To Estranged Wife ''Go To CNN If You Like...''

Hello Friends!

My Thoughts: This is totally disgraceful of a supposed man of God, who simply has no regard for his fellow human being, let alone his wife and the entire people of God! Personally, I have always questioned Chris Okotie's relationship with God and all of this? Just proves that there is something not right about him...He wants to jugde his wife? People will also judge him...Shame!

Pastor Chris Okotie is the founder of household of God church but he must love controversy or controversy must love him defintely!
Two marriages down the drain and the decorated man of God is still running his mouth on estranged wife stephanie like one who has diarhea.
He turned his sunday service of sunday august 12,2012 to his personal issue when he began talking about his estranged wife stephanie Henshaw.

The man of GOD literally tore her apart before his audience when he told his congregation that if stephanie liked she could go to CNN or BBC but that he would never take her back and compared her to the biblical jezebel and categorically said that if other men of God do not judge he okotie would do just that....

Okotie has also taken back most of the expensive gifts he gave stephanie during their time together including the Benz S class he gave her as wedding gift and the BmwX6 he gave her on her birthday.both cars have been repainted and number plates changed! I don't care what happened between this couple but he should respect her and altogether shut up!

If he is not willing to tell us what her crime is that she cannot be forgiven he should keep quiet. Since he is sitting down and judging her and not telling anyone why he also puts himself in a position to be criticized, I am sure he does not care.

It is a pity that a supposed respected man of God is doing the linen washing in public over someone who shared his bed for the few years they were together. Maybe he should spend more time questioning his manhood as to why it has not ejaculated a child for him yet instead of trying to divert attention to what is not. Since he decides to disgrace her without saying why i am calling out his manhood to prove itself why it should have the tag'man' attached to it.

May God forgive me if i am wrong for doing this!

Culled from The NigeriaFilms.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

FG indicts Conoil, MRS, Capital Oil, 18 others

Hello Friends!

The Federal Government has indicted Conoil Plc, MRS Oil and Gas Ltd., Capital Oil and Gas Industry Ltd., and 18 other firms in the fuel subsidy imbroglio.
It said that these companies were being investigated based on the evidence that they might have engaged in fraudulent activities under the fuel subsidy regime.
The Ministry of Finance, in a statement on Friday, gave the names of the other companies as Aluminnur Resources Ltd., Brilla Energy Ltd., Caades Oil and Gas Ltd., Downstream Energy Source Ltd., Eterna Plc and Eurafric Oil and Gas Ltd.

Others are Lumen Skies Ltd., Majope Investment Ltd., Matrix Energy Ltd., Menon Oil and Gas Ltd., MOB International Services, Nasaman Oil Services Ltd., Natacel Petroleum Ltd., Ocean Energy Trading and Services, Pinnacle Contractors Ltd., Sifax Oil and Gas Company, Tonique Oil Services Ltd. and Top Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd.
According to the statement, a report by the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payments led by Aig Aig-Imoukhuede, had recommended that the firms refund various amounts to the national treasury.

The statement said, “There is a second group of companies with infractions which are relatively minor. They are in discussion with the government for a quick resolution of their issues. The government is prepared to settle their claims under the following circumstances.
“For oil marketers under investigation for possible refunds to the government, their 2012 outstanding claims will be netted out against their expected refunds to the government and those with a positive net balance, i.e. outstanding claims greater than expected refunds, will be processed and paid.

“For marketers with a negative balance with the government, i.e they owe the government more in refunds than the government owes them, the Aig-Imoukhuede committee will accelerate the review of their documents after the Sallah break so that their claims can be processed and settled, if cleared, without further delay.
“It is clear that those behind the strikes are marketers being investigated for possible fraud. These elements have now resorted to hiding behind the unions to unnecessarily antagonise the government and create hardship for Nigerians.

“We want to make it clear that the government will fully investigate their activities and if found guilty, bring them to book and recover all public funds fraudulently obtained in the guise of fuel subsidy claims.
“No degree of blackmail will stop the government from doing its work. The government will, therefore, pursue justice and ensure that those who are found guilty are appropriately sanctioned.”
The Federal Government had already spent N493.67bn on fuel subsidy claims this year.
Out of the amount, N451bn was used to settle the 2011 arrears. Also, a total of N888bn was earmarked for subsidy payments in the 2012 budget.

The FG had earlier stated on Tuesday that indicted oil marketers would not be paid subsidy claims, while dismissing the threat of strike by the marketers.
The current scarcity of petroleum products in some parts of the country, particularly the Federal Capital Territory, has been blamed on the refusal of the marketers to lift products due to the decision of the FG to withhold further subsidy payments.

The government said in a statement on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, that it had been discharging its responsibilities to marketers whose claims had been verified.
Nwabuikwu said, “The claim by some marketers that they have embarked on strike because the FG has failed to pay them for fuel imports is not accurate. The true position is that the FG has been meeting its obligations to oil marketers in respect of all legitimate claims.

“For instance, between April and May 2012, batches D/12 and E/12 involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17bn were fully settled through the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes and other relevant documentation.
“In addition, since the directive by the minister to the Debt Management Office to continue payments of all verified claims, N25.6bn worth of claims has been fully settled with the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes. In all, between April and August this year, in respect of 2012 PMS claims, Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.666bn have been issued to 31 oil marketers.”

He, however, said claims by marketers who had been recommended for further investigation by the Aig-Imoukhuede committee had not been paid.
Payments or sanctions to this category of marketers, according to the statement, will be determined by the outcome of investigations.

Nwabuikwu said in the statement, “Against this background, it is clear that the strike was instigated mainly by marketers who were indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede committee, which investigated fuel subsidy payments.
“Their obvious intention is to blackmail the FG in order to escape sanctions for the crimes they have committed. Nigerians should not be deceived by their antics. Such tactics will not succeed because the FG is determined to ensure that persons and organisations that did wrong things do not get away with the wrong actions and behaviour.”

He gave an assurance that the payment of marketers whose claims had been verified would continue in a consistent and structured way that would protect the best interests of the country.
“All marketers who have genuine issues regarding their claims are encouraged to come forward for discussions or clarifications,” he said.

Culled from The Punch Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Wall Nut Boosts Sperm —Study

Hello Friends!

Apart from its high nutritional value, walnuts have now been found to boost sperm health and quality as medical scientists say just eating two handfuls daily could do this effectively.
Published in the most recent edition of the journal of Biology of Reproduction, the study involved 117 men between the ages of 21 and 35, who were divided into two groups.
One of the groups was made to add 75 grams of walnuts to their daily diet while members of the other group continued their usual diet.

The result was that the shape of the sperm, its movement and vitality improved in the men who ate walnuts with their diet within the 12 weeks.
The researchers said the fatty acids found in walnuts nuts had helped sperm development.
Confirming the result, the lead researcher, Prof. Wendie Robbins, from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health said: “We found a significant improvement in sperm parameters in the group that consumed the walnuts. Sperm quality improved in terms of concentration, vitality, movement, shape and chromosome abnormalities,” as the result had shown.

Supporting the confirmation of the result, co-author Catherine Carpenter, explained that “walnuts provide a particularly rich source of a-linolenic acid, a natural plant source of omega-3, which we suspect may have been responsible for the improvements we observed.”
Researchers say one in six couples are infertile, with 40 per cent of these problems attributed to men and their eating habits.
It is believed that infertility in men may be the result of too few sperm being made, or that the sperm have poor swimming ability, size or shape.

Earlier research had also shown that men who ate junk foods (fast food) had heavy chances of experiencing infertility.

The researchers have said the next step is to work with couples who are attending infertility clinics to determine if placing the men, with poor semen quality, on a walnut diet would yield good fruit.

Culled from PM News Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Man Kills 8 Days Old Baby For Ritual Purposes...

P.S.Photo Does Not Represent Story...

Hello Friends!

A 39 year-old man, Akpotejere Osuna has been arrested by operatives of Delta State Police Command for allegedly killing the eight day-old daughter of his step-daughter for ritual.
The slaughtered baby was the daughter of the step daughter to Akpotejere who was visiting her mother for post-natal care.
Osuna has allegedly made confessional statement to the police that he killed her for ritual.

He confessed taking the baby away from the side of her mother while she was sleeping, took her to a nearby bush, where he allegedly slaughtered her.
Luck, however, ran out on him when he was arrested by the police who made a follow up of reports on the suspicious move by the suspect.

Delta State Police Command spokesman, Charles Muka who spoke with P.M. NEWS on phone, disclosed that the suspect who was arrested at Jese Town, allegedly killed the baby, opened her up and removed the heart, the tongue and other parts. Muka said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as courts in the state resume sitting.

“The suspect sneaked into the house of the mother of the baby, took the baby into the bush where he murdered the child, cut of the heart and the tongue, wrapped them in a polythene bag, pocketed them and melted into the bush.”

Mr. Muka disclosed that upon report, the suspect was traced into the bush where he was arrested, adding that “he confessed that he was taking the parts to Ghana where he was going to make use of it for money making ritual.”

Culled from PM News Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Father Sleeps With Daughter For 7 Years???

Hello Friends!

My Thoughts: Fello Nigerians, Can we please advocate for the "Dealth Penalty'' in our Constitution? It just occurred to me that some Nigerians are so not fit to live! I do wonder however, why a mother would abandone her daughter to such an evil fate...
A 45-year old bricklayer, Elijah Olusesi who has been having sex with his 14-year old daughter (name withheld) since she was seven, has been apprehended by members of O’odua Peoples Congress, OPC.

Elijah Olusesi.

He was caught by the OPC members who had laid ambush for him at Adeosun Street, Adiyan, a remote community in Ifo Local Government, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.
His wife, Shade, had fled to Adiyan when the man started sleeping with the little girl.
It was learnt by our correspondents that he evaded arrest for 15 days before his eventual arrest in the midnight recently.

Elijah and his family were subsequently banished from the community after he allegedly confessed to engaging in the despicable act with his daughter.
P.M.NEWS reliably gathered that the man was exposed when the sexually assaulted girl ran out of their home naked in the middle of the night and was held by the security men guarding the community.

Upon interrogation by the security men, she told them that she ran out naked because her father wanted to kill her with sex, adding that she could no longer bear his sexual assault on her.
“I ran out when my father wanted to kill me with sex. He has been having sexual intercourse with me since I was seven years old and my mother knew about it. My mother and I ran away from him to come and hide here but we don’t know how he was able to trace us down here,” she reportedly told the guards.

Shade Olusesi, Eljah’s wife who is also a nursery school teacher in the neighbourhood, when queried by the community, said that when she caught her husband in the act with their daughter and reported the incident to her in-laws, they begged her.
She said that her husband equally begged her and promised that he will not repeat the shameful act again. She said she believed him, adding that to her utmost surprise, Elijah still continued the act with their daughter whenever she is not at home.

She added that her husband was sleeping with both of them simultaneously without her knowledge.She said further that she stopped him from sleeping with her immediately she discovered he was having carnal knowledge of their daughter, adding that she had to run away with the girl from their former home to Adiyan in Ogun State.

She told the community that she did not know how her husband was able to trace them down to the remote village.The Ekiti State-born bricklayer allegedly confessed to the crime after the OPC members took him round the community.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS on the issue, the Baale of Ajoji Egan, Gasline, Adiyan, Chief Isiaka Aminu said: “The shameful act didn’t start here. We learnt that that was what brought the woman to this community. They were putting up in the nursery school where she teaches before her husband traced them down here.

“He confessed to the crime after he was arrested but he didn’t explain what led him into such abominable act. I later learnt he was banished from the community but I was not around then. He was a stranger here because he has no property in this community. He only sneaked in over night and that is all we knew about him,” he said.
The vice chairman of the community CDA, Mr. Joseph Adetosho told P.M.NEWS that all efforts to arrest him when the matter was brought to their notice proved abortive before the intervention of the OPC members.

“When the matter was brought to our attention, we set a trap for him for 15 days but we couldn’t get him. It was as if he was aware of our plans. We learnt he usually sneaked out early in the morning and sneaked back in the middle of the night.
“Our efforts paid off through the assistance of his neighbour’s wife, Esobe, who went to L’Abe Orun (a TV programme) to report the matter. They came around to interview the poor girl and she told them how her father has been sleeping with her since she was seven.

“Later at midnight the OPC people came and arrested him. He confessed and they took him round the whole community. It is true that the community sent his and members of him family away because we can’t tolerate such abominable act here,” he said.

Is that It? Banishment from a Community? Where Is The Law On Children's Rights?

Culled from PM News Nigeria.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...

2 Friends Gang-Rape Teenager, Take Victim’s Nude Photo With Phone...

Hello Friends!

My Thoughts: This is why I always maintain that mothers and guardians should try and ensure that they know what's going on in their children/ward's lives...A good thing her nude photos were not deleted from the rapists' phones...That's some strong evidence tying the "evil and lazy losers" to the crime...What in heaven's name is this world turning into? A 70 year old man? Shame to that so called defence lawyer! So, your client wasn't frail/un healthy when he dared defile a 10 year old girl? A baby! 

A 17-year old girl (name withheld) has narrated before an Ejigbo magistrate’s court in Lagos, how two friends, Ekene Uzor, 24, and Eni Daniel, 21, allegedly gang-raped her after they had forced her to suck their penises. They also took her nude photo with their camera phones.

The teenager was giving evidence before the court in a two-count charge of forcing her to suck the defendants’ penises and gang-raping her.
At Thursday’s resumed hearing before the trial magistrate, Mrs. M.B. Folami, the girl said she knew Daniel Uzor, who is in the entertainment industry, at her mother’s shop in Surulere, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
The victim stated that Uzor promised to groom her to become a star in the entertainment industry and under this guise, he invited her to his residence at 10, Joe Ejeye, Jakande Estate, Ejigbo.
She said on the day of the incident, she went to Uzor’s flat where his friend, Eni Daniel was already waiting, adding that immediately she entered, Uzor locked the door to the flat.

“They came to me and started fondling my breasts and other parts of my body. They ordered me to remove my dress. They started taking my nude photographs and threatened to post them on the internet.
“They forced me to suck their penises. They had rounds of sex with me in turns. When they were satisfied, they told me to go. But they did not delete my nude photographs in their camera phones,” the girl narrated her ordeal.

She disclosed that she did not inform anyone of her experience because of fear that her nude photographs might be posted on the internet.
But after some days, she summoned the courage and narrated the incident to her grandfather who took her to the police station to report the matter.

She said when the police arrested Uzor and Eni, her nude photographs were still in their mobile phones. The photographs were later downloaded and printed in hard copies. The court admitted them as exhibits.
The police prosecutor, Mr. Oladejo Balogun, charged Uzor and Eni before the court with the offences punishable under sections 409 and 259 of the criminal code laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011.

At the commencement of the case, they pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
The trial magistrate, Mrs. Folami admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Uzor and Eni were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.
The court has adjourned the matter till 31 August, 2012 for continuation of the trial.
In another incident, a 70-year old pastor, Alfred Idonije has been arraigned before an Egor Magistrate’s court in Benin for allegedly defiling a 10-year old orphan (name withheld).
The defendant, who was said to be a pastor of a church, allegedly forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl on 25 June, 2012 after luring her into his room when he sent her to buy noodles for him.

Narrating her ordeal before the court, the little girl said the accused had raped her on three occasions and threatened to kill her if she reported to anyone.
Testifying, the major witness and grandmother of the victim, Mrs. Mary Akhighe, said the girl is an orphan. She stated that the defendant was their neighbour who usually sends the victim on errands.
Mrs. Akghibe said on the day of the incident, she saw the victim being sexually abused by the accused inside his room.

Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Osa Uwagie, appealed to the court to grant his client who appeared frail, bail to enable him seek medical attention before the adjourned date.
The presiding Magistrate, Taye Omoruyi, granted Idonije bail in the sum of N200, 000 with a surety who must be a civil servant from grade level 12.
Counsel to the victim, Stella Ojeme and Emmanuel Dauda expressed happiness with the proceedings, adding that the adjournment would enable them present more witnesses to ensure that justice is done.
Further hearing on the matter was adjourned till 23 August, 2012.
President of a non-government organisation, Child Protection Network (CPN), Edo State chapter, Mrs. Jennifer Ero, who facilitated the trial of the case, urged parents to report cases of rape to them as this would reduce child rape cases which she said was on the increase.
“We also want to say to the public that rape is happening everyday, and nobody is coming out to talk about it. It is okay for you to come out and talk about it and for you to take the case to court,” she advised.

Culled from PM News Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Kanye West is a lucky man! Kim Kardashian shows off stunning curves as she writhes around on the beach in a raunchy new shoot

Sexy: Kim Kardashian sizzles as she poses in a skimpy cutaway swimsuit on the beach.

Hello Friends!

She's just enjoyed a sun-soaked break in Hawaii with her boyfriend Kanye West.
And it would seem Kim Kardashian has certainly got used to the beach lifestyle, as she took to the shore for a sexy new shoot.
The 31-year-old star showcased her famous curves in a skimpy cutaway swimsuit as she posed for the raunchy snaps.

Reclining on the sand with her hand in her hair, Kim ensured Kanye will be the envy of men the world over thanks to the stunning photographs.

Reclining on the sand with her hand in her hair, Kim ensured Kanye will be the envy of men the world over thanks to the stunning photographs.

Life's a beach: Kim reclined on the sand as she ran her hands through her hair.

But it is not all fun and lying around for the chart-topping star, as he is also busying himself by laying down tracks for his latest album, though it is unclear whether it is a new solo offering or another collaboration with Jay Z.
Although the reality star's relationship history has been chequered with short lived flings and even briefer marriages, it would seem Kim thinks her new beau is 'the one'.
In a recent interview the entrepreneur revealed that she sees herself with the rapper at the age of 80.

Icy treats: Kim and Kanye stop for fro-yo at Yogurtland while on vacation in Hawaii.

'When this whole life is done, and it’s just the two of us sitting somewhere when we’re 80, you want to have things to talk about that you have in common,' she told New York magazine.
'I think that’s something maybe I didn’t value as highly as a quality I cared about in someone.'
However, before Kim and Kanye can commit to one another, there is the small matter of her divorce from her second husband Kris Humphries, following their 72-day marriage.


Paint it black: Kim emerged from a frozen yoghurt shop wearing a flirty leather ra-ra skirt and black over the knee boots.

Radar Online has reported that Kris' determination to see the divorce end up in court has been distressing Kim, who wanted to end it quickly.
'Kim has told her lawyer that the case is dragging because Kris is determined to keep his name in the press and drag her name through the mud,' a source told the site. 'Kim is ready to get engaged to Kanye, but doesn't want to until her divorce is finalised.'


Bikini babe: Kim has posted a number of snaps on her Twitter page of her wearing various swimsuits during her time in Hawaii.


Culled from The Daily Mail UK.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Prince William flies RAF rescue helicopter to save girl, 16, who got into trouble while helping sister who was swept away on a riptide

Close to where the rescue operation happened: Prince William poses near a Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter at the RAF Valley in Anglesey.

Hello Friends!

My Thoughts: Well done Your Majesty.....You make Royalty so simple and part of everyday way of life...

A girl aged 16 was rescued by Prince William after being swept out to sea trying to save her sister.
Rescuers said her sister, aged 13, had been swept away on a riptide while body-boarding and the girl had swam out to help her.
But she got into difficulties as she became exhausted and was close to drowning when she was winched to safety by an RAF rescue helicopter captained by Prince William.

The RAF said it was one of its 'fastest and shortest' operations, taking 38 seconds to arrive at the scene at Silver Bay, Anglesey, north Wales.

Flight Lieutenant Wales, 30, as Prince William is known in the RAF, piloted the Sea King while Master Aircrew Harry Harrison pulled the older sister, believed to be from Herefordshire, out of the water.

The incident happened close to the prince’s RAF Valley airbase.
Vital time was saved because coastguards had called in the RAF immediately after being alerted to the emergency.
The younger girl had been saved by a surfer who took her ashore.

But the 16-year-old was battered by waves among rocks and vanished briefly under the surface when the Sea King arrived overhead.
Two surfers had been waving and pointing to the rocks to draw the attention of the chopper’s crew to the exhausted youngster.
Onlookers had been unable to reach her as she struggled in the water.

When she was winched aboard she was said to be cold, distressed, shocked and having swallowed water.
The crew then collected her younger sister from the beach and flew down the beach to collect what is believed to be their mother.

Prince pictured in a Sea King Helicopter: He only qualified to take command of a Sea King a few months ago.

Duke of Cambridge at the controls of a Sea King helicopter in February as he arrived in the Falklands for a tour of duty as an RAF search and rescue pilot. He is known as Flight Lieutenant Wales in the RAF.

All three were then flown to Gwynedd Hospital at Bangor so the two girls could have a check up.
A rescuer said: 'She had been in serious difficulties and was very lucky.'
Yesterday Barry Priddis, Holyhead coastguard watch manager, praised the professionalism of the RAF helicopter crew.
He said: 'On occasions like this their expertise really comes into play and it led to a successful conclusion.
'The prompt response may well have saved this girl’s life.'
An inshore lifeboat from Trearddur Bay had also been launched but then wasn’t needed.
Sea conditions were described as 'choppy.'

Prince William graduated as a fully operational RAF search and rescue pilot in September 2010, having started his training in January the previous year at RAF Valley.
He only qualified to take command of a Sea King a few months ago.
The helicopter had a short time earlier been called to a child and three adults thought to be in trouble in the sea at Rhosneigr but they managed to reach shore safely.

It had just returned to base when the next distress call was received.
The yellow rescue helicopters based at RAF Valley reached their own milestone on 'Olympic Super Saturday' by completing their 9,000th mission.


Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk hand in hand from Buckingham Palace the day after their wedding. Kate was reluctant to join the RAF Valley wives' club in Anglesey.


Culled from The Daily Mail UK.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

 

Coroner re-summons LASUTH pathologist, NAMA over Dana crash

Hello Friends!

A Lagos coroner, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, is to recall the Chief Pathologist of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Obafunwa, and the representative of the National Airspace Management Agency to testify at the inquest into the crash involving Dana Air plane in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos on June 3.

Obafunwa, who is the Chief Medical Examiner of the hospital and the university’s Vice-Chancelllor, had on July 26 proceedings of the inquest, given an insight into the possible cause of death of the victims of the crash.
He, had in his evidence, said about 60 per cent of the victims died from multiple injury and 30 per cent of them died as a result of combination of suffocation and multiple injury.

He said the cause of death of the rest of the 10 per cent ranged from “smoke inhalation to occasional fractures and severe body charring.”
Obafunwa is expected back at the inquest on the account of the results of the DNA identification test carried out on the deceased victims of the crash, that were released last week.
The results of the DNA test informed the release of the bodies which could not be identified prior to when the results were released.

Meanwhile, representative of NAMA is also expected back at the inquest next week.
An Air Traffic Controller at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, crashOlubukola Arogunjo, whose Tower monitored the last 15 minutes of the crashed plane had on July 31 testified before the coroner.
NAMA is expected back at the inquest to give an account of the flight of the crashed plane, from when it took off in Abuja and when the Lagos tower took over the control of the plane.

A retired Group Captain in the Nigeria Airforce and a former Air Traffic Controller, Mr. John Ojikutu, on Tuesday, told the coroner that timely emergency alert was not issued by air safety services monitoring the flight.
According to Ojikutu, the air traffic controller on duty have waited for the crash to occur before raising an emergency alert.

He said, “Emergency situation does not start with a crash; emergency alert should have been given immediately problems with the operational efficiency of the aircraft is noticed.”

Culled from The Punch Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Armed Robbers Invade Basketmouth's Hangout, Embassy! ...Hides Under Chairs For Safety.

Hello Friends!

It was not palatable for the Africa’s comic act, Basketmouth to explain to people how dare-devil robbers stormed his relation haven recently.

Embassy Bar and Lounge located in Yaba area of Lagos was declared open on Friday June 22 2012, in a lavish manner. The bar and lounge co-owned by torch light of stand up comic- Basketmouth (Bright Okporucha) was the target of an armed robbery attack as they entered disguising as security operatives.

They reportedly got stumped when they ran into a uniformed police personnel immediately on securing entry into the gate. They immediately shot on sight- but fortunately for the policeman, the shot went wide- creating room for him to respond on kind.

The robbers reportedly took to their heels- in the wake of the shooting. Sources said that echoes of the gun fight- inside the fun place created 'a panicky stampede among fun lovers.

Basketmouth, who was said to be around at the time of the incident, reportedly scampered over a couple of chairs- to claim safety behind a fallen few crowd. Later, the robbers left having tried to get their way through to the treasury drawer without effort.

Sources confirmed the robbery attack was foiled and nobody hurt in the ' fearsome drama'. Embassy located in Yaba, Lagos is owned by Basketmouth and two others- Jide Salako and Kayode Peters.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

 

CLAIM: Beyonce’s Baby’s Nose Changed in “Shocking New Scandal”

Hello Friends!

MediaTakeOut may have just outdone itself.
The webloid, which has been wildly off the mark so consistently it’s become known as “MediaFakeOut,” claims there’s a “SHOCKING NEW SCANDAL!!!” involving Beyonce and Jay-Z’s baby daughter Blue Ivy.

What’s the alleged bombshell?
MTO declares, “Beyonce’s Baby’s Nose Appears… To Have CHANGED!!!”
Um… what?!

The site is baffled by a reader’s bizarre observation that Blue Ivy has supposedly gone from having a Beyonce-like nose to a Jay-Z-esque nose “in just a few months.”
“We know that Babys [sic] change… but that does strike us as VERY ODD,” writes MediaTakeOut. “Well, we’re sure that there is a perfectly LOGICAL explanation for such a change.”

Here’s the explanation: Babies grow and their features develop.
That’s one of the reasons why 6-month-olds look different than 30-year-olds.
The reason it’s necessary to give MediaTakeOut this remedial human biology lesson is because the site seems to be trying to revive an absurd rumor about Blue Ivy not actually being Beyonce’s baby.

Throughout Beyonce’s pregnancy, MTO falsely and laughably claimed she was wearing a “fake” baby bump.
Then the site alleged Beyonce looked like she using a “sack of potatoes” to exaggerate her pregnancy.After Beyonce gave birth, proving the fiction writers at MediaTakeOut wrong, the site shamelessly insisted she was “carrying around a fake baby.”
The webloid’s bizarre tactics, at every step of the way, have been to portray Beyonce and Jay-Z’s firstborn as some kind of fraud.

As it continues to post this conspiracy theory nonsense, MediaTakeOut just shows that it’s on the outside looking in, with nothing of value to report about Beyonce or her family.
There’s no “SHOCKING NEW SCANDAL” involving Blue Ivy Carter’s nose — just a desperate website looking more and more pathetic, if it’s even possible anymore.

Culled from The Gossip Cop.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...

Tonto Dike A Drug Addict?

Hello Friends!

My Thoughts: In my opinion, the best way to know and appreciate a great actor, is when he/she can maintain some form of calm and composure in the midst of possible uproar! There is apsolutely no reason to be childish about an interview that seemed to have beem aimed at attacking your personality Tonto...It's kinda what dirty journalism is all about I guess...


Nollywood actress Tonto Dike and Stella Dimoko of Encomium Magazine trades very harsh words in an interview recently. The interview was hilarious as Tonto dike did her best to match up with Stella.

Read and enjoy.

Stella: You shot the movie, My Life, My Damage, with Uche Jombo; we are yet to see the movie but it is alleged that the drug addict role you played in the movie is your true life character.
Tonto: Here we go again. I am an actor for Christ sake. And I'm supposed to make my audience believe whatever role I interpret. If any past role I have done has made anyone put a tag on me as Tonto a person, that's their problem to deal with not mine. If they say I got the role because I am on drugs, why are you calling me? Why don't you call the person who saw me fit enough to interpret the role? My damage is a movie where I interpret the role of someone who got high on drugs. Acting like a drug addict is easy. Please let them say, I am not going to respond to anyone on this issue again.

Stella: The tattoo of your face on your back was done during the movie shoot in America. Drugs and tattoo sometimes go together. Have you gone for therapy to solve this problem?
Tonto: I don't understand these questions you are asking. Have you gone to therapy for poke nosing into people's affairs? I am sure you would call it a day job. That's fine. I had my back tattooed because I always wanted to do so and during the movie shoot, we figured we could put the scene into the movie. Like you said, drug and tattoo sometimes go together and we thought it was perfect for the movie.

And Stella goes in again...LMAO!

Stella: I will ignore the insult. From the synopsis of the movie, your character did not end up well. Are you not worried that you might end up like this in real life if you continue with the drug abuse?
Tonto kinda ignores this question...

Tonto: Yes, the character I played ended up with HIV/AIDS and that's a good lesson for people who abuse sex and drugs without protection. The movie is a warning to young people living life on the fast lane because they can afford it. The consequences are very serious and in most cases, the damage done cannot be undone.

And Tonto has had enough

I don't mean to be rude but if someone calls me again attaching a movie role to Tonto as a person, I will not give any response and I won't be nice. It's a pity that people take their eyes off the film and begin to put question mark on the actor's personal life. People should focus on the character and not me. Thank you all the same for asking me, albeit that I find these questions totally demeaning and insulting on my person. Have a nice day.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Weeks after the death of her mother, grieving Natalie Cole shows off her gaunt frame

Showing the strain: Natalie Cole looks incredibly thin as she leaves Mr Chow in Beverly Hills last night.

Hello Friends!

My Thoughts: I can appreciate and respect the Icon in this woman, but I cannot respect nor appreciate the appearance! Yes, agreed! She's aging gracefully? Please!!! The Dress isn't for your age Madam! I hope you do find strength and lots of courage to overcome your difficult times...

Natalie Cole has had a tough few weeks after the death of her mother Maria following a short battle with cancer.
And the strain of the difficult time is certainly showing on the singer as she stepped out for dinner in Los Angeles last night.
The 62-year-old looked incredibly gaunt as she left Mr Chow in Beverly Hills.

Wearing a short blue dress, the This Will Be (Everlasting Love) star's legs looked incredibly thin.

As well as her recent grief, Natalie has been besieged with health problems.
In 2008, she revealed she had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and in 2009 had a kidney transplant following her diagnosis with kidney disease.

Difficult time: Despite her recent loss, Natalie appeared in good spirits as she left the restaurant.

She has also been open about her battle with drug addiction, in which she was once addicted to heroin and crack cocaine.

Natalie revealed on June 19 that her mother had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Sadly, within three weeks, she had succumbed to the disease and passed away at a nursing home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Troubles: Natalie has previously battled drug addiction and undergone a kidney transplant.

On July 12, a devastated Natalie tweeted: 'I just want to thank everyone for their prayers & loving support. Mom has passed, gone to glory, July 10th 2012. She will be next to Dad at Forest Lawn (Los Angeles cemetery).'
Natalie and her siblings released a statement, reading: 'Our mom was in a class all by herself. She epitomised, class, elegance, and truly defined what it is to be a real lady.
'She died how she lived - with great strength, courage and dignity, surrounded by her loving family.'

Fandom: Natalie signs an autograph on a fan's microphone.

Maria was jazz singer who worked with Count Basic and Duke Ellington.
After meeting Nat in Club Zanzibar in 1946, they married two years later and went on to have five children together Natalie, Carole, Nat, Casey and Timolin.

Although married to the legendary singer until his death in 1965, they were estranged when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
However, they reunited while he was battling the disease and she was his wife until his death.

Famous family: Natalie's late father and mother Nat King cole and Maria in 1950

Culled from The Daily Mail UK.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...

Robert Pattinson Talks Sex Scenes, Movie Reviews and What He Watches on TV

Hello Friends!

Robert Pattinson's MTV's First interview aired Thursday night, and the actor talked about everything from Cosmopolis to his TV-viewing habits.
One topic not on the table for discussion? His personal life, of course.

“You want to get tears, you gotta give the big bucks,” joked Pattinson.
 Instead, the actor and interviewer Josh Horowitz mostly focused on his career, including the “gift” of starring in Cosmopolis, which has received mostly positive reviews in recent days.
“It’s a relief not to get sh*t on,” Pattinson admitted, going on to talk about the process of filming the movie — including the highly-choreographed sex scenes.

Pattinson quipped that in such moments, he mostly focuses on “trying to… hide my belly.”
The movie star also commented on the end of the Twilight franchise, which will conclude this fall with the release of Breaking Dawn — Part 2.
“It was an amazing experience and a huge chunk of my life,” Pattinson said, adding, “I feel so much older now.”

And what about when Pattinson isn’t acting?
He’s watching reruns of “Cops,” getting made fun of for his accent, and writing music, revealing, “I think I might do some stuff soon.”

As Gossip Cop previously reported, Pattinson has a busy film slate ahead, with the actor set to star in several films, including Mission: Blacklist, which he hopes to film in Iraq, and Queen of the Desert.

Culled from Gossip Cop.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Car rams into pedestrians, kills three

 The scene of the accident...on Thursday.

Hello Friends!

Three people lost their lives while two others were injured on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Lagos on Thursday after a driver, Oladimeji Olaniyi, lost control of his car, which rammed into the victims.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred around Aluminium Village, inward Iyana-Ipaja, along the expressway. An eyewitness alleged the driver of the vehicle, a red Peugeot 406 car with registration number, BM214EKY, was drunk and was on high speed when the accident occurred.

The driver reportedly hit and killed three people on the spot while two bystanders at a bus stop sustained injuries.According to eyewitnesses, the driver suddenly lost control of the wheels and the car rammed into the victims who were on their way from the nearby timber market where they had gone to buy plywood.

Punch's correspondent also learnt that the vehicle plunged into a gutter after it had crushed the victims.It was gathered that the driver of the vehicle was almost lynched by a mob but for the timely intervention of policemen attached to the Dopemu division.
He was immediately arrested and detained at the station.

The sector Commander, Lagos Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Charles Akpabio, who confirmed the incident, said those injured had been taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.He said the accident was caused by a burst tyre as well as high speed.
Akpabio said, “There was an accident involving a Peugeot 306 car with registration number DM 214 EKY around 1:25pm. Three people were killed while two others sustained injuries. The accident took place under Dopemu Bridge, around Ikeja/Iyana-Ipaja Road.

“The accident was caused by a burst tyre and high speed. The victims have been taken to LASUTH.”The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, Mr. Ozoanni Damasus, said it could not be immediately confirmed if the driver was drunk or not.

He however confirmed that the driver was in detention at Dopemu Division.
He said, “The driver, identified as Oladimeji Olaniyi, was coming from Oshodi, heading towards Iyana-Ipaja when he had the accident. He said his vehicle had a brake failure and skidded off the road, killing three pedestrians before plunging into a canal.
One of the deceased has been identified simply as Tope and the police have transferred all the corpses to Isolo General Hospital Mortuary.

“It cannot be verified if the driver was drunk or not but he is in detention and investigations are ongoing.”

Culled from Punch Metro Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Mixed reactions trail 2012 WASSCE results

Hello Friends!

Following the release of the May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results last Friday, educationists have expressed mixed reactions on whether or not the results should be a source of celebration. Despite their diverse views, they have unanimously called on the government to invest more in the education sector, MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN writes

Whether or not we should smile over the results of the 2012 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination results has become a nagging question. Nevertheless some educationists said that the improvement, despite minimal, had shown that the education sector was on the right path to revival.

In the last four years, WASSCE results have been nothing to write home about.
In the May/June 2009 WASSCE, the West African Education Commission said that only 25.99 per cent obtained credits and above in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects.

In 2010, 317,142 candidates representing 23.71 per cent of the candidates that sat for the examination obtained five credits including English and Mathematics. In 2011, 471,474 candidates representing 30.91 per cent had five credits and above in five subjects including English and Mathematics.
According to the Head of the National Office of the West African Examinations Council, Dr. lyi Uwadiae, the percentage represents 356,981 candidates out of the total of 1,373,009 of the candidates that sat for the examination.

In this year’s 2012 WASSCE, there was an increase of about eight per cent from last year’s performance.

Uwadiae disclosed that out of the 1,672,224 candidates that sat for the examination this year, 649,156 candidates representing 38.81per cent obtained credits in five subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.
Despite the increase, some educationist said that until Nigeria crossed over some hurdles, it might remain below the border line of 50 per cent pass rate.

The President, Parents’ Teachers’ Association, Mr. Michael Nwachukwu, said 39 per cent is an ‘F’ mark. He said, “It is unfortunate. This increase is nothing to be happy about. I see the slight increase as a depiction of inadequate preparation for the examination.

“Candidates of today appear to be focused on malpractice. All they want is to pass and get out of school. They don’t spend enough time reading their books because they know they can take the easy way out. If a child studies hard, he must pass. This is an unbreakable law. Children have time to browse the internet and keep up with social networks, but they don’t want to spend time on their books. For one to achieve success, there must be hard work.
“I don’t expect parents to smile over the result. Parents are to blame for the failure rate. The life of a man is spent on a child. Why do we work as parents? It is to give our children a better life.

The success of our children is also our success. Parents must begin to play their roles. The WASSCE could be better if we all perform our duties. There must be seriousness, hard work and preparation.”

The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Prof. Omotayo Fakinlede said if there had been a 90 or 100 per cent increase, then we would have cause to smile, but a 39 per cent is still a fail mark. “We have not reached anywhere. After all, if a pupil gets 39 per cent in an exam, he has failed. Any factory with a waste product of 61 per cent will run bankrupt. We are interested more in paying lip service than ensuring quality. At the Olympics, we failed to prepare, that’s why we lost. How can we prepare for three months and hope to outperform people who have been preparing for eight years. This attitude can be related to WASSCE. Pupils don’t prepare but hope to pass. It does not work.

“Even these pupils are not too bothered about their WASSCE because they know that their parents know this person that knows that person. We don’t encourage hard work. When there is no success in our schools, there is no success outside. Our nation lacks good mentorship of people who have done well for themselves. Instead, we celebrate people who dropped out of school and are now driving big cars. Our children imbibe this wrong notion and see no reason to work hard. The end product of hard work is reward. Now, our society gives reward to laziness,” he said.

But the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Lagos State, Mr. Kayode Idowu, has a contrary view. In his opinion, even if 39 per cent was not high, it was fair. “This minimal increase was not our expectation, but we will do better. If more resources are made available, we would do better. If more funds had been spent on the education sector, there would have been a better improvement. When our government gets holistically committed to the educations sector, things would change.

“Thirty nine per cent to a teacher is failure but we should take into consideration the decadence in the sector. I believe there is a lot of room for improvement. It is time for all stakeholders to take education seriously. When our education gets better; the country will get better,” he said.

Also, the Provost, Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos State, Prof. Sijibomi Olusanya, said the increase had shown that the country was moving forward. “This increase deserves applause. It shows that the education sector is getting a revival. I hope we all continue doing what we have done to bring about this increase. I beg to be different but these children have tried their best and should be celebrated. If we have better facilities on ground and better teachers; I believe we can do better next year.”

Dr. Taiwo Rotimi of the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has the same view. “I think this increase is something to celebrate. If in the past years, candidates had been doing poorly and now they do better, we should be happy. It shows the education sector has improved.

“However, teachers need to be more dedicated. This 39 per cent is a reflection of their dedication. Pupils on the other hand need to be more committed. Achieving a 50 per cent is not farfetched,” he said.The Principal, Wellspring School, Lagos, Mrs. Olayemisi Oloriade, said attention should not be given to the increase because the education sector had not reached the point for celebration.

“There is still a lot of work to be done. Thirty nine per cent is not good. There are some factors that need to be tackled in order to better our WASSCE result. Teachers are partly to blame for our poor results. Whenever I get the opportunity to speak to teachers, I enjoin them to either work or leave the system. The future of our children is too important to toil with. Also, school administrators need to be sure of their teachers,” she said.

Reacting to the notion that teachers were to blame for the failure rate in WASSCE, a teacher, Mr. Steven Okugbowa, said, “I disagree with that claim, because as teachers, we are doing our best. No teacher enjoys seeing his pupils fail. These children spend eight hours with us in school out of 24 hours.

“When they get home, they spend the rest of their day browsing Facebook and other social networks. In my opinion, parents are to blame. The Internet can be useful for other things. One can access past questions, find mathematical equations, and learn new vocabulary. Nevertheless, I will applaud pupils for doing better in the WASSCE. Things can only get better from here,” he said.

A teacher, Miss Oghenerobo Edeha, who chose not to disclose her school, said that the increase was not something to be happy about. “There is no reason to celebrate when parents pay teachers to help their children pass. To stay in business, one would have to dance to the tune of parents. Teachers are not in any way to be blamed for the failure rate.”

Meanwhile, the former President, National Association of Proprietors, Dr. Saidu Minyinyawa, has said that this is not the time to pass blames.
He said, “We should not start passing blames and jumping to conclusions. We don’t even know if the acclaimed 39 per cent is the truth. We live in a country where one thing is said today and tomorrow, it’s changed. We deceive ourselves a lot.’’

Minyinyawa said it was time for everyone to play their roles.

An author, Mr. Emmanuel Solarin, noted that it was time for Nigerians to change the ‘clock educational system’. ‘’This system is stressful. You have schools starting by 7am and closing by 6pm. The brains of our children are being loaded with too much information. It is work, work and work, he said.

He added, “We wonder if the stress of parents hasn’t crept into our education system. The school closing time should be earlier. Also, I see no reason why children should have extra lessons. After a long day’s work, I feel children should be left to rest, not bombarded with more information. By the time they get home, they are so tired.

“The bottom line is that if teachers are well-paid, there would be no need for them to hold extra lessons. Most of them organise these extra lessons to augment their pay. Let us give credit to those who play a significant role in our economy and these people are teachers,” he said.

Culled from The Punch Nigeria.

xoxo
Simply Cheska...

Kogi gov’s aide arrested over Okene killings – Police

Hello Friends!

The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Mr. Muhammed Katsina, on Thursday confirmed the arrest of a Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Karaku, in connection with the recent violence in Okene area of the state.

Karaku is a former Chairman of Okene Local Government Area.
The CP, during a media briefing in Lokoja, also said the command arrested a former Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Abubakar Adagu, in connection with the crisis.
The Punch's correspondent learnt that the two former chairmen had been taken to Abuja for further interrogation.

Katsina stated that the command had identified the perpetrators of the shootings of the worshipers at the Deeper Life Church, Otite in Okene LGA , where 20 persons were killed.
Many other worshippers were also injured and are currently receiving treatment in hospitals.

The CP reassured the residents and relevant authorities of the determination of the police to get to the root of the matter.

He warned that anyone indicted in the ongoing investigation would be made to face the law no matter how highly placed.
He stated that only the security agents were empowered by the law to carry arms, warning that unauthorised persons found with arms and ammunition would be punished in accordance with the laws.Katsina said a suspected armed robbery kingpin, Abdulrazaq Adama, aka Risky, who had been terrorising some parts of the state was arrested in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He stated that 12 more suspects had been arrested for various crimes in the state, adding that they were already assisting the police in investigations.

It will be recalled that Katsina had, on Sunday, said 16 suspects had been arrested for the Okene shootings.

Culled from The Punch Nigeria.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...

  

Is bikini waxing a health hazard? Hair removal creates 'open wounds that are vulnerable to serious infection' warns medical expert...

Health risks: A medical expert has declared war on pubic hair removal. The family physician claims that it creates 'open wounds' that are vulnerable to infection.

Hello Friends!

Zap, pluck, wax, shave - the possibilities seem to be endless when it comes to keeping one's hair down there neat and tidy.But one medical expert has spoken out about the various health risks that come with pubic hair removal.

Family physician Emily Gibson, who also serves as a medical director at Western Washington University in Bellingham, said that removing the hair is like creating 'open wounds' that are prone to infection and even sexually-transmitted disease, such as herpes, if in contact with another person. She added that men are at risk of infection just as much as women.

In an article she wrote for KevinMD.com, she explained 'that irritation is combined with the warm moist environment of the genitals' and therefore becomes a breeding ground for infection.

The physician pinpointed A streptococcus, which, in extreme cases, can lead to organ failure, and staphylococcus aureus, which can cause pimples and boils as well as far more serious side effects, in particular.She added that 'freshly-shaved pubic areas and genitals are also more vulnerable to herpes infections due to the microscopic wounds being exposed to virus carried by mouth or genitals'. 'Pubic hair does have a purpose, providing cushion against friction that can cause skin abrasion and injury,' she said.

'[Its] removal naturally irritates and inflames the hair follicles left behind, leaving microscopic open wounds.'

The expert said that she has seen cellulitis, a soft tissue bacterial infection, in areas including a man's scrotum and penis.

'Some clinicians are finding that freshly-shaved pubic areas and genitals are also more vulnerable to herpes'

She compared newly-bare skin to a 'scorched battlefield'.

'No matter what expensive and complex weapons are used - razor blades, electric shavers, tweezers, waxing, depilatories, electrolysis - hair, like crab grass, always grows back and eventually wins,' she wrote in the report.

'In the mean time, the skin suffers the effects of the scorched battlefield,' she continued.

The Independent reported that hair removal cost Americans $2.1billion in 2011 - and the figure was similar in the UK.

Despite the health risks, the physician noted the practice's popularity: 'The amount of time, energy, money and emotion both genders spend on abolishing hair from their genitals is astronomical.  'The genital hair removal industry, including medical professionals who advertise their specialty services to those seeking the 'clean and bare' look, is exponentially growing.'

Culled from The Daily Mail UK.

xoxo

Simply Cheska...