Army intercepts 92 armed herdsmen at check-points, recovers deadly weapons and charms

The Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Monday, April
18, paraded 36 armed herdsmen who were intercepted by
troops of the 117 Guards Battalion Keffi along the Abuja-
Keffi road on Sunday. 56 other herdsmen were arrested at
the Dantata check point between Kuje and the Abuja airport.
According to the spokesman of the brigade, Captain Bashir
Jajira, the 36 herdsmen were arrested by troops at the Keffi
check point at about 4:30 pm Sunday, April 16, in a Diana
Truck and a Toyota Camry Salon car.
He said during interrogation by troops at the check point, the
herdsmen said they were going to Nasarawa LGA of
Nasarawa State. Jajira said after a thorough check of the
vehicles, the troops discovered one pump action gun, 19
cartridges of dane guns, 118 cartridges of ammo, 28
cutlasses, three jack-knives, 14 sticks, seven torches,
assorted charms and hard drugs.
He also said the other group of 56 herdsmen were arrested
at the Dantata check point between Kuje and the airport in
the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said items recovered from them include 26 cartridge
dane guns and 49 cutlasses and knives. Jajira added that all
the suspects claimed to be on the lookout for cattle rustlers
who stole their cows. Captain Jajira said the suspects would
be handed over to the police for further investigation.
The Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Musa
Yusuf, told newsmen that the arrests showed the
determination of the brigade to rid the Federal Capital
Territory of any criminal activity.

Source: HQ Nigerian Army

Davido and a Fan Fights Over His Ex-girlfriend’s Sex Tape Issue On Twitter

inShare

Look at what happened her. A sex tape involving one of Davido’s South African ex’s was leaked and many presumed Davido was the one in the tape.The girl known as Faith Nkesi posted the video (intentionally or unintentionally on her instagram page and immediately deleted it .However, many had already saved it .
She then defended the leak,saying it was a private video with her boyfriend while on vacation..It’s not known who leaked it ..
So,  Davido lashed back at the twitter user who said he was the one in the video.He also called the ex a ‘hoe” who he hasn’t seen in two years.....

Edo Gospel Singer Found Dead After Meeting With Pastor in a Hotel Room

                                          Popular Edo female gospel singer, Mrs. Yvonne Omoarebokhae who met a pastor, Pastor Psalm Okpe of Fresh Oil Ministry on Facebook has been confirmed dead by the Police in Benin City, Edo State. Mrs Yvonne Omoarebokhae, was found dead in a hotel in Benoni, GRA in Benin after she met with the pastor.

Lawmaker, security operatives chase Fulani herdsmen into forest in Delta state

THE member representing Ethiope East constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Evans Ivwurie, yesterday, recounted how he and security operatives in the area, chased Fulani herdsmen who were in the habit of attacking farmers in the area into the forest on foot. The lawmaker while giving details of his “Operation arrest, meet and engage their sponsor” campaign, said that instead of waiting for the Federal Government to combat the incessant attacks by herdsmen in the area, he had decided to take the bull by the horn and go after them rather than wait for the herdsmen to attack his people. Those who accompanied the lawmaker on the chase were the Abraka vigilante, Divisional Police Officer in charge of Abraka police station, Isah Hassan and his Mobile Police Unit Commander. Ivwurie said: “I had embarked on a preventive approach to this matter which is identifying the source and taking the battle to the enemy in their domain. “Though these herdsmen are said to have been faceless and unknown prior to now, we succeeded in identifying their base deep inside the Oria-Abraka forest and chased them as they fled leaving behind their herd of cattle. “As soon as they saw us coming, they fled into some already dug tunnels leading to other dense parts of the forest which shows how organised they are. But we are not deterred as we have sent a clear message to them that it is no longer business as usual. “We are not trying to take the laws into our hands but rather, the campaign is to identify the sponsors of these herdsmen and constructively engage them if they want to truly embark on their cattle rearing business in our communities.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/delta-lawmaker-security-operatives-chase-fulani-herdsmen-forest/

The #CommonSense Senator Ben Murray-Bruce Is Making Another #CommonSense That's Not Common

I was looking at cut off marks for students from different states. What I saw is nothing short of legalized discrimination #MeritNotQuota

How can one state have a cut off mark of 20 and another has 136 in the same country. Can we progress with such injustice? #MeritNotQuota

If after 40 years of practicing quota system a state still has cut off Mark of 20 isn't that proof quota is not working? #MeritNotQuota

We want unity in Nigeria. As long as we retain quota systems, there'll be resentments amongst Nigerian which fuels disunity #MeritNotQuota

Before we had quota, Saudi Arabia's royal family came to the University College Hospital, Ibadan for treatment in the 60s #MeritNotQuota

After we implemented quota system, our leaders began to go to Saudi Arabia for treatment. The facts speak for themselves #MeritNotQuota

Leaders who promote quota should do us a favor and allow a quota system doctor operate on them next time they need surgery #MeritNotQuota

As long as quota system of entry into schools & jobs doesn't change, Nigeria won't change much, no matter who is president #MeritNotWuota

If we want progress in Nigeria, we must remove every social injustice and ensure a level playing ground for all Nigerians #MeritNotQuota

Look at our private sector. The reason private enterprise is doing so well is because of merit not quota #MeritNotQuota

It is an insult to call people educationally backward. I have 1017 staff from all over Nigeria. They are all brilliant #MeritNotQuota

No ethnic group is intellectually superior or inferior to another. God is not unjust. That is my case against quota system #MeritNotQuota

Don Jazzy Opened Up On How He Started Singing When He Was 9

                             
On 7th April 2016, Don Jazzy , looked back on how far he has come, and he used that opportunity to encourage his fans to keep at what they are doing.
“Thought I should share with you guys the very beginning of my incredible journey,” he said, adding, “The love I have for what I do has not changed from as early as 9.”

The Nigerian Police Salary Structure

The pay that any Nigerian Force person recieves depends on his or her rank and this is thesame for all Nigerian police officer . The apex of the Nigerian police rank is  Inspector General Of Police, (IGP) while at the grass root you have the Police Recruit . The Nigerian police ranks are sisteen in numbers which i am going to reveal right now right here .


                                  

The Nigerian Police Salary Structure 

16. Inspector General Of Police, (IGP)
Salary per month  ==> N711,498
Annual Salary ==>  N8,537,976
16. Deputy Inspector General Of Police
Salary per month ==> N546,572.73
Annual Salary ==> N6,558,872.76
15. An Assistant Inspector General Of Police
Salary per month ==> N499,751.87
Annual Salary ==> N5,997,022.44

Woman reveals how boyfriend threw acid in her face. "I can only describe the pain as like sitting inside fire"

In a series by the UK Guardian called My Experience where survivors share their unique experiences, Christy Sims reveals how her "controlling" and "manipulative" boyfriend threw acid in her face because he suspected she was going to break up with him. Read what she wrote after the cut...

Man went 'crazy' in Anambra & threw his mother into a well then threw bricks into the well to ensure her death

A man identified as Ejike Nwankwo Ohagba from Ezigbo village, Igbo-Ukwu com­munity, Aguata Local Govern­ment Area of Anambra State on Thursday, April 7, went crazy and threw his mother into an abandoned well in his father’s compound. He then threw blocks into the well to kill her.

Read Cynthia Morgan's message to Herdsmen

Who agrees with her?

Things You Didn’t Know Onions Could Do

Onions are a natural cure for many health
problems. It is the best remedy for severe
vomiting and as a general antibiotic that
can boost your immune system.
The onion is from the allium family and is
rich in sulfur providing the onion with its
antibiotic and antiseptic properties. Onion
is also extremely high in antioxidant
Querectin which helps the body to fight
free radicals.
Natural Cures. Respiratory conditions
respond well to onion juice as it is a great
expectorant. Onions are good for
cholesterol levels, heart, arthritis, a great
antioxidant, and good for diabetes due to
its flavonoid and sulfur compounds. Onions
have been used as a standard treatment
for thousands of years.
Treatments using onions:
•Breakup chest congestion- Crush an onion
within coconut oil. Coat the chest with
onion paste and cover the chest with a
dish towel then a shirt.
•Colic- Cherokee Indian recipe for colic
babies: Boil a small amount of diced yellow
onion in water. Let the onion cool in the
water then drain. Feed a teaspoon of the
onion tea to the baby every hour until the
baby appears to have some relief.
•Ear pain/infection – Chop onion and put
them into a thin sock and tie the sock
closed. Place the flattened onion sock over
the troubled ear and cover the head/ear/
sock with a hat to hold the sock in place.
Remove when pain is gone.
•Cuts- The transparent film of the onion
skin will stop moderate bleeding
immediately. It also acts as an antiseptic
for the wound.
•Cough- Peel a large onion and slice in
half. Cover the face of each onion with 1
tablespoon of brown sugar and cover the
onions for one hour. The sugar/onion relish
should be taken twice a day to help with
the cough.
•Fever- Slice an onion into thin slices. Rub
the bottom of the feet with coconut oil.
Put a thin slice into the arch of each foot
and wrap with cling wrap. Cover the onion/
feet with sock over night to allow the onion
to draw out toxins and the illness from the
body.
•Cleanse the air- Place slices of onion on
plates throughout your house to purify the
air of viruses and bacteria.
•Vomiting- Grate 1 white or yellow onion.
Press the onion juice from the onion
wrapped in a cheesecloth. Brew a strong
cup of peppermint tea and let it cool. Drink
2 teaspoons of the onion juice and wait 5
minutes. Drink 2 teaspoons of the cool
peppermint tea and wait 5 minutes. Repeat
both the onion juice and peppermint tea
until the symptoms subside. Vomiting
should stop immediately and the nausea
should go away within 15 minutes.
Unusually uses for onion:
•Rub a cut onion on you to repel bugs
•Onion juice rubbed into your hair promotes
growth
•Onion juice repels moths
•Boiled and cooled onion juice sprayed onto
plants repels pests
•Rub an onion slice into the face of an iron
to prevent rusting
•Polish copper and glassware with an onion
slice
•Rub a cut onion on you to prevent
freckling
The Native Americans have used onion to
treat colds and flu for centuries. Even the
World Health Organization has recognized
the ability of onion to relieve coughs,
congestion, bronchitis and respiratory
infections.
As you can see, onion cures have been
around for centuries and is a trusted,
proven treatment for many ailments.
In the spirit of good health, give one of
these natural onion remedies a try next
time you are feeling a little under the
weather.
Thanks for taking the time to read this
article. If you found this information
helpful, please share it with your friends
and family. Your support in our endeavor of
sharing free information would be much
appreciated.


Source: getholistichealth

Military Ranks of the Nigerian, History And Their Meaning

RANK

The word rank originated in the 14th century., from the Old French word ranc.  "Ranc" itself is of proto-germanic origin from the word khrengaz meaning "circle, ring."  The use of the term in the context of a  "social position" began around 1430;  while the context of "put in order, classify" came into use in 1592. The term 'Rank and file'  was first used in 1598, in the context of soldiers marching in formation, but was subsequently generalized to mean "common soldiers" in 1796.  

In modern usage, a rank is a title insignia that defines the relative position of soldiers and officers in the military hierarchy.   Over the years, particularly in the sixties, observers of Nigerian military affairs may have noticed that ranks may be further qualified by phrases like 'Acting' Brigadier, 'Temporary' Major, 'Substantive' Lt. Colonel, 'Local' Captain, etc.    A Substantive rank e.g. S/Major is a legally confirmed and permanent rank with appropriate salary and perks.   A Temporary rank e.g. T/Major is one that is conferred for a short period of time, typically for a specific task or mission or to enable maintenance of regimental discipline by allowing a junior officer take on responsibilities that exceed that which otherwise be appropriate for his substantive rank.  During the period of rapid Nigerianization in the sixties, for example, this was often a mechanism for dealing with manpower shortage. To allow indigenous Nigerian command of Brigade level formations, Lt. Cols. JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi and Samuel Adesoji Ademulegun were double promoted to the rank of T/Brigadier in 1962.  Then Lt. Col. Zak Maimalari followed suit, joining Babatunde Ogundipe as Nigeria's fourth Brigadier.  An officer who holds an Acting rank temporarily enjoys the salary and perks of that rank, but can be reverted - without notice - to his previous rank by order.  During the civil war, for purposes of carrying out operations in specific locations (or to replace officer casualties) some NCOs and Officers were granted not only Acting ranks but also higher Local ranks, which were temporary like the Acting ranks but - theoretically - unpaid. There have been other situations when such measures were taken.  For example, when Brigadier JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi was deployed as Force Commander ONUC in 1964 he was granted the "Local" rank of Major-General in the Congo.  He reverted to his substantive rank of Brigadier when he returned to Nigeria. 

 

APPOINTMENT

It is important to distinguish a Rank from an Appointment, even though they can overlap and it is best that persons of appropriate rank fill appointments. When a person of appropriate rank fills a specific office or role or function, it is said to be an appointment. Ranks may evolve into Appointments.     Titles may be ranks in some Armies but appointments in others.  Some appointments are ceremonial or honorary.  In the Canadian military for example, Army titles such as Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer, Command Chief Warrant Officer, Chief Warrant Officer of a higher formation, Base Chief Warrant Officer, Trumpet or Bugle or Drum or Pipe Major are actually 'appointments' rather than ranks.  In the British Army examples of appointments include Chaplain-General, Colonel-Commandant, Colonel-in-Chief, Colonel of the Regiment, Quarter-Master-General, etc.

That said, let us examine the history behind the nomenclature of ranks in the Nigerian Armed Forces.  But before focusing on each service, let us identify current harmonized Nigerian military ranks side-by-side:

ARMY	NAVY	AIR FORCE
Recruit	Trainee	Trainee
Private	Ordinary Seaman	Aircraftman / woman
Lance Corporal	Seaman	Lance Corporal
Corporal	Able Seaman	Corporal
Sergeant	Leading Seaman	Sergeant
Staff Sergeant	Petty Officer	Flight Sergeant
Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer
Master Warrant Officer	Master Warrant Officer	Master Warrant Officer
Army Warrant Officer	Navy Warrant  Officer	Air Warrant Officer
Second Lieutenant	Midshipman	Pilot Officer
Lieutenant	Sub-Lieutenant	Flying Officer
Captain	Lieutenant	Flight Lieutenant
Major	Lieutenant Commander	Squadron Leader
Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Wing Commander
Colonel	Captain	Group Captain
Brigadier General	Commodore	Air Commodore
Major General	Rear Admiral	Air Vice-Marshal
Lieutenant General	Vice-Admiral	Air Marshal
General	Admiral	Air Chief Marshal
Field Marshal	Admiral of the Fleet	Marshal of the Air Force

 

 

NIGERIAN ARMY

The post-colonial Nigerian Army (NA) traces its origins to 1863 when British Naval Lt. Glover established "Glover's Hausas." He used the small force of runaway slaves to mount expeditions to the hinterland primarily to protect British trade routes.  From this humble beginning  the West African Frontier Force later evolved and gave birth to the Nigerian Army.  [http://www.gamji.com/nowa5.htm; http://www.nigerianarmy.net/briefhistory.htm]  Badges of rank of the Nigerian Army are mostly patterned after those of the British army, except that the Nigerian eagle (from the Coat of Arms) replaces the British crown on the insignia of officers of the rank of Majors and above. 

The Nigerian Army Salary Structure: How Much Is a Nigerian Soldier Paid?

Contrary to the belief by most people that the Nigerian
Army are being paid heavily, the opposite is the case as
the Nigerian Army salary structure reveals that these
men who risk their lives to defend the sovereignty of
Nigeria go home with stipends.
A Nigerian soldier is being paid according to his or her
rank and years of service. The list below is a report seen
as of December 2015.
Salary Structure of the Nigerian Army
Private Soldier earns about N48-49,000
Lance Corporal earns about N54-55,000
Corporal earns N58,000
Sergeant earns N63,000
Staff Sergeant earns N68,000
Warrant Officer earns N80,000
Master Warrant Officer earns N90,000
Nigerian Army Salary Structure for
Commissioned Officers
Second Lieutenant- N120,000
Lieutenant- N180,000
Captain- N220,000
Major- N300,000
Lt. Colonel- N350,000
Colonel- N550,000
Brigadier General- N750,000
Major General- N950,000
Lt. General- N1 million
General- N1.5 million
Those are the salary of Nigerian soldiers. What is your
take on the Nigerian Army Salary?

Breaking News: Tribal War At The Army Barracks, 82 Division Enugu. Three Soldiers Feared Dead

Yesterday really showed the divide among the ethnic groups that make
up Nigeria as men of the Nigerian army opened fire on each other with
at least three soldiers feared dead.
EASTERN RADIO gathered that the cause of the shooting and killing was
as a result of ill treatment of the Igbo soldiers as to concerning
peace keepings.
According our source, 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu were giving a
mandate to shortlist about 54 soldiers to join hands and combat Niger
Delta Militants uprising, which the GOC Brigadier Gen Ibrahim Attahiru
assigned to two commanders who hails from Northern and another from
South Western Nigeria respectively.
But owing to disunity, nepotism and tribalism that beclouds the Nation
Nigeria, these commanders shortlisted all 54 Igbo soldiers.
One of the enlisted Soldier who was saddened by the outcome of this
list questioned the process used to enlist only Igbo Soldiers to this
mission of death. The commander picked offense and demanded to know
what gave him the audacity to question him, talk more off conceiving
to disobey a military order.
The said Commander in display of anger pulled out his gun and shot
this young soldier on the forehead, killing him instantly. Another
soldier who is among the enlisted soldiers immediately withdrew his
own gun and fired the commander thereby killing him too. He then
directed the gun on the second commander.
It became a war ground as soldiers all surrendered themselves.
Civilians where all on their heels. There would have been a blood bath
in 82 Division Enugu but thanks to imediate intervention by the GOC
who calmed the atmosphere of war.
As at the time of filling this report, there is no movement in and out
of the barracks.

Linda Ikeji responds to Wizkid's claim that she slept with his director..also 'exposed more of his lies'

Linda Ikeji and Wizkid has resumed their online battle of
supremacy today after Linda reported on her blog that Wizkid
has been served quit notice at his Lekki Phase 1 home. Linda
indirectly mocked the singer by saying the he once showed
off the rented apartment as his house.
In response, Wizkid went straight to Linda's IG page and
dropped a very brutal comment, insulting the blogger and her
entire family.. He accused her of sleeping with his director
and even threatened to beat her up..
Well, Linda was quick respond that serious allegation and
denied ever meeting Wizkid or his director. She said the
young man is just trying to defame her because she exposed
his 'online lies.
Linda also revealed that his Porsche car is also on hire
purchase and that he is not 25 as he claims..
I guess this drama will only help us to know those things we
don't know and may wish to know about them..
Read her response below as posted on her blog..

So my darling little 'friend' Wizkid came on my IG
page this morning to blast me for writing yesterday
that he was given quit notice at the Lekki home he
claimed he bought some years ago, which he actually
rented. He threatened to beat me up...called me an
ugly old bitch...(I'm ugly? lol) says I don't have a man
(crying over that..) and called my mum a loser...(what
a child).
Anyway, all that don't matter, people have said worse
to me...what I wanted to address is the part where he
said I slept with his director and he left me in a
hotel...that one I will definitely want to address
because some people actually believe it. That my dear
friends, is a lie!
First and foremost, I've never met Wizkid one on one.
I've only seen him once in real life on stage at a show
a few years ago. I've never met anybody who is his
director. Guess he put that line in his comments to
defame me. You that mad that people now know the
house is not yours? Lol.
Trust me, if I knew someone was Wizkid's director, I'd
rather kill myself than sleep with him or any other
entertainer for that matter (except maybe he's my
husband..hehe) because I know how some of these
entertainers are...they kiss and tell a lot. You can't
afford to be messing around in their circle. So, no, I
have NEVER slept with Wizkid's director. I live a
celibate life..most of the time. (Though, that has to
end soon...I'm getting old and missing out on that part
of life...lol)
I've always been an advocate of women respecting
their bodies and owning their own. And I feel sex
should only happen when you're in committed
relationship (that is if you can't wait till marriage) and
I recommend celibacy for a long as you're not
committed to someone. There's absolutely no dignity
in sleeping around and messing around with different
men. It's ugly and God don't like ugly. So no, I'm not
that woman, and will never be that woman. Nice try,
Wizkid!
Having said that, I'm sure, you wonder why Wizkid is
so mad at me? To be honest, I don't know either. All I
know is that his beef with me started a long time ago
but he decided to start bashing me online after I
refused a meeting with him. A few months ago, he
asked his PR people to contact me, that he wanted to
talk to me. For some reason, he thought I didn't like
him and I was hurting his image online. He wanted to
see how I could write more positive things about him
but I turned down the meeting. Not that I have
anything against him, I sincerely don't! I think he's an
amazing talent and one of the few music stars in
Nigeria with a midas touch. So this wasn't personal. I
just didn't want to meet him. If he lobbies me then it
means I won't be able to write anything about him
anymore...and my job is to write...about everything,
including entertainers.
I am cordial with some of them...many of them I have
never met. I try to stay away from gatherings where
they are because the more friends you make in the
entertainment industry, the less you can write. And
that will inadvertently affect your work. The few ones
that I call acquaintances, it's hard to write about them
because you feel you're cool with them and even
when you write, they call you to complain. So, the
fewer 'friends' I have in the entertainment industry,
the better my job will be.
So Wizkid can bash me all he wants...but I will
continue to do my job. Maybe he thinks the more he
bashes me, then I will stop writing about him? Won't
work. But meanwhile, if he tells a lie about me, I will
address it. LIB plans to be around for a long
time...some of these people will come and go! :-).
Thanks everyone and Wizkid fans for reading my
response.
Oh and by the way, did I mention that his Porsche car
is also on hire purchase? Oh shit, I just mentioned
that! And no, darling, you're not 25! We know your real
age! Continue to have an amazing career while I
watch and continue to celebrate you.
Kisses

The Apostle That Said I Would Die Should Mention The Date – Governor El Rufai

Following a warning by Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega
Fire Ministries (OFM)that governor of Kaduna state,Nasir-El-
Rufai would die if he doesn't revoke the religious bill,the
governor has asked him to give a specific date ..
According to the bill,religious leaders in the state will have
to obtain a one year license to preach in the state, and
specifies worshiping hours among other things.Speaking to
Vanguard, El-Rufai said

Quote
I have not seen anyone talking about Islam actually. Most of
the people that say I would die, as if I would not die, are
people who call themselves Christian clergy. Of course, I will
die. If that apostle is truly an apostle, he should mention the
day I will die. There is nothing in that law that prevents or
infringes the practice of religion. It seeks to ensure that
those that preach religion are qualified, trained and certified
by their peers to do it. And some sections of the media have
made it as if the law was drafted against Christianity. It is
most irresponsible and I have nothing to say except to leave
the matter to God.

Fashola gives reasons for power outage, assures stability soon

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing,
Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has attributed the recent
power outages in some parts of the country to four
turbines which stopped working in Jebba, Ilorin,
Kwara state capital.
The minister, who also noted that there was
currently not enough power to distribute unless
more turbines were switched on, assured that
electricity supply would be stabilized as soon as
three of the four turbines had been restored.
While speaking on Channels Television on Thursday,
Fashola said, "Yesterday morning, we had some
outages in Jebba but I am happy to report now that
all the four turbines that were down, three have
been restored, so there is stability now.
"It is important why the power coming from Aba is
defining; it's part of what I've spoken about.
"There is not enough power in the country, so how
do you share what is not enough such that
everybody gets enough? It's difficult, if not
impossible."
The Minister also expressed confidence that
President Muhammadu Buhari's 10,000 megawatts
target would be met, saying "So what we need to
do is to get more power on. So about 200
megawatts coming from there is good news for the
market," he said.
Speaking further, Fashola criticized the acts of
pipeline vandalism.
He attributed vandalism to be the cause of some of
the energy problems in the country.
According to him, "Those who are vandalizing
electricity assets, those who are selling stolen
cable, those who are not paying their bills and
those diverting electricity are all problems.
"Every one of us must contribute something now to
solve the problem; it a problem we can solve.
"That will reduce the number of people who are
contributing to being the problem," the Minister
stated.

The History Of April Fools Day

On this day in 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing
the annual tradition of April Fools' Day by playing practical
jokes on each other.
Although the day, also called All Fools' Day, has been
celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its
exact origins remain a mystery. Some historians speculate
that April Fools' Day dates back to 1582, when France
switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian
calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563.
People who were slow to get the news or failed to
recognize that the start of the new year had moved to
January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last
week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes
and hoaxes. These included having paper fish placed on
their backs and being referred to as "poisson d'avril" (April
fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a
gullible person.
Historians have also linked April Fools' Day to ancient
festivals such as Hilaria, which was celebrated in Rome at
the end of March and involved people dressing up in
disguises. There's also speculation that April Fools' Day
was tied to the vernal equinox, or first day of spring in the
Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people
with changing, unpredictable weather.
April Fools' Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th
century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event,
starting with "hunting the gowk," in which people were
sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a
symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved
pranks played on people's derrieres, such as pinning fake
tails or "kick me" signs on them.
In modern times, people have gone to great lengths to
create elaborate April Fools' Day hoaxes. Newspapers,
radio and TV stations and Web sites have participated in
the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims
that have fooled their audiences. In 1957, the BBC
reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record
spaghetti crop and showed footage of people harvesting
noodles from trees; numerous viewers were fooled. In
1985, Sports Illustrated tricked many of its readers when it
ran a made-up article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd
Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour.
In 1996, Taco Bell, the fast-food restaurant chain, duped
people when it announced it had agreed to purchase
Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the
Taco Liberty Bell. In 1998, after Burger King advertised a
"Left-Handed Whopper," scores of clueless customers
requested the fake sandwich.

CCT Trial: Saraki Flies In US, Israeli Forensic Experts To Crack Forged Documents Against Him

PDP senators vow to produce next
senate president if Saraki loses
Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
In his determination to win his ongoing trial
at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for
alleged false declaration of assets, Senate
President Bukola Saraki has flown in experts
from the United States and Israel to team up
with his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi
(SAN).
However, it was learnt that the experts are
not lawyers but crack investigators, forensic
and handwriting specialists with the
mandate to provide information on witnesses
and documents presented at the tribunal by
the prosecution.
The experts who were said to have arrived
Lagos on Monday, would leave Lagos for
Abuja to join Agabi's team and commence
work soon.
A source in the Senate, who disclosed this
yesterday, said the information to be
provided by the experts would assist Saraki's
legal team make a credible defence at the
Tribunal.
"The investigators will ferret out and
scrutinise thoroughly, all available
information on the eight prosecution
witnesses, including their school records,
service records from the past and present,
places of employment and personal
information that may help the defence team
in the course of the trial.
"Most of those so-called witnesses will not be
credible when information concerning their
life is presented publicly before the tribunal.
"It is also expected that with the fear that the
prosecution may present forged documents,
our team needs to be vigilant and pro-active
considering the manner in which the
proceedings before the tribunal is being
conducted.
"Our people believe that with the way
properties that have nothing to do with
Saraki are being put on the charge sheet,
there is the suspicion that the documents to
sustain their claims may have been forged.
"All these, the experts will screen and help
the lawyers with information that may help
them," he explained.
The list of witnesses lined up against Saraki
are said to be officials of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc.
But as Saraki's trial reopens in the next few
days, the Chairman, Senate Committee on
Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaboshi,
yesterday said that the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate would not
support the emergence of an All Progressives
Congress (APC) senator as the next Senate
President in the event Saraki loses at the
CCT.
He said PDP would seize the opportunity to
produce the next Senate President.
The senator, who said this while fielding
questions from journalists in Abuja, said the
PDP would replicate the current United States
scenario in Nigeria where the opposition
controls congress.
He said: "Well, I wish APC the best of luck if
they are making that wild goose chase. But I
want you to mark what I am saying. I was
the first to address the press in Port Harcourt
and I told them that Saraki was going to win
the Senate presidency and I gave them my
reasons.
"Then, nobody ever thought that Saraki was
going to win. People were saying that APC
had decided. But it was clear to me that he
was going to win and I had to address the
press.
"I said Saraki was going to win and that he
was going to get my vote. Eventually, we
went there, he won. If, but God forbids,
because we don't see it coming, by chance
Saraki is removed, I can tell you that PDP will
produce the next Senate President.
"We only need three APC senators and we
have them. The calculation is very clear to
me. The calculation is very clear for PDP. We
know what it would take us.
"When I told them that Saraki was going to
win, I did a lot of mathematical calculations
based on the facts on the ground and it is
even clearer to me now that the PDP will win
it. We will win it.
"If anybody is thinking that a PDP man is
going to vote against a PDP candidate, he is
telling you a lie. We have people and we
know how to get the people from APC. We
will win and that will be very interesting.
"What is happening in America is going to
happen in Nigeria. America has a Republican
Senate but the executive is led by a
Democrat, so it's happening in different
parts of the world. I can tell you with what's
on the ground that we will produce the next
Senate President."

Fayose Condemns Arrest Of 76 Igbo Villagers Over Protest Against Fulani Herdsmen Militia In Enugu

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has
slammed the security agencies for the arrest
of 76 Igbo villagers from Ugwuneshi
Autonomous community, Awgu
Local Government Area of Enugu State
following a clash between the natives
and Fulani herdsmen.
Miffed by the action, Fayose said: "It has
gotten to a level that lovers of
peace in Nigeria must speak out against this
keg of gunpowder which is the threat that the
Fulani herdsmen have become."
About 76 men from the Ugwuneshi
Autonomous community were last
Thursday arrested and whisked away by
"men in military uniform" after
they protested the continued destruction of
their crops and farmlands
by Fulani herdsmen and their cattle who
settled in the area without
permission.
In his official reaction to the alleged arrest,
Governor Fayose, who
spoke through his Special Assistant on Public
Communications and New Media, Lere
Olayinka, said President Muhammadu Buhari
should address the killing
of Nigerians and destruction of farmlands by
the Fulani herdsmen.
The governor, who called for the immediate
and unconditional release
of the 76 Igbo villagers, said the President
Buhari's All
Progressives Congress (APC) federal
government must not give
impression that the Fulani herdsmen were
lords in other people's
lands.
Fayose said the Fulani herdsmen were giving
impression that
they now own Nigeria and could perpetrate
any crime and get away with
it. ThisDay

Nnamdi Kalu Writes To British Government To Rescue Him.

Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra has sent a letter to
the British government to wade into his case and push for
his release. Kanu, who doubles as leader of the Indigenous
People Of Biafra approached the British government through
his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
In the letter dated March 24 and addressed to the British
high commissioner in Abuja, and obtained by Vanguard, Kanu
said he was a victim of travesty of justice and gross human
rights violation.
He called on the British government to prevail on President
Muhammadu Buhari to release him. Kanu said his prolonged
detention in prison was a clear violation of his fundamental
right.
According to Kanu, he had been subjected to harsh
persecution and although he was ready to face the charges
brought upon him, he doubted the Nigerian government's
ability to give him a fair trial.
He said he was wrongly detained and that since he was a
British citizen, he should be released.