christian wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the modeling portfolio album

christian wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the modeling portfolio album

Bode George: The Swagger Ends

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court yesterday, sentenced the former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Olabode George and five other members of the 2001/2003 Ports Authority Board, to two years in jail on a 47-count charge, including disobedience to lawful order and abuse of office by splitting contracts. The judge gave no option of a fine and said the jail terms will run concurrently.

George was ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's mouth piece in Lagos and once bestrode the political firmanent like a colossus. When this case was first revealed, even the former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, exonerated him on the basis that he was a non-executive member of the Board. Today, we know better. He is cheat, who inflated contracts and used the name of the Presidency to cover his misdeeds. God punish him!

Booing the National Flag

The Golden Eaglets played their first match at the FIFA U-17 world cup in Abuja on Saturday and apart from the abysmally poor play by the Nigerians, the one thing that got stuck in the mind was the booing of the National Flag as the national anthem was being played. That spectacle depicts the very disgust to which the Nigerian holds the State. I don't blame them. After seeing the shoddy preparation in the lead up to the tournament, the woeful performances of the senior team and the frustrations of the people against this government, it comes as no surprise that the people have exercise their rights in the most auspicious of ways: Boo the flag in front of foreign dignatories, the Vice-President and a horde of other idiots in government. I really, really, dont blame them

Seeking Divine Intervention

I am hungry for success
Desperate for some real progress
Tonight, I am climbing the mountain
To drink from God's fountain
Life has sure given me the bends
But today, I hope, the odyssey ends

Witch Children: A Horror Story

The story of this young man is pathetic and we are waiting to see what the authorities will do about it. Nwanaokwo Edet, 9, is one of thousands of children in Nigeria (particularly in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States), whose parents in collaboration with Church Pastors have term as "witches" and thus set up to die. In Nwanaokwo's case, his father forced him to drink acid days after the family's pastor denounced the child as a witch. He died from his injuries one month later. The Associated Press (AP) said Pastors were involved in half of 200 cases of "witch children" and 13 churches were named in the case files. Who allows such horrors to take place in 21st century Nigeria. A clear message mustbe sent to the governments of these states that inaction in the face of these monstrous activities are unacceptable. The Pastors and parents must be brought to book

The Things I do for Money

Am in Sao Tome and have just eaten CASSAVA leaf soup! They say its a
delicacy here. Please inform my people if anything happen to me before
I get home ooo

Oguchi Onyewu: Sculpted to Perfection

Nigerian Born, AC Milan Defender and USA forward, Oguchi Onyewu, is certainly a man sculpted to obscene perfection. Check out this brand new ESPN The Magazine's "Body Issue" photographed by yet another exceptional Nigerian, Olugbenro Ogunsemore. Little wonder he's an unconventional favourite here

Amnesty For Kidnappers?

The stupidity of the Nigerian leadership will never cease to amaze me. Perhaps, We should worry about the quality. What in God's name will drive our elected representatives (Governors for heavens sake!) to appeal to President Yar Adua to extend amnesty to criminal gangs that litter our landscape. Instead of developing and implementing policies that would guarantee the security of lives and property in this country, these idiots...these bloody monkeys are asking the Presidency to reward criminality. The GOVERNORS of the thirty-six states of the federation, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors' Forum, yesterday, made this appeal to the President.

We cry that the country is bereft of smart leadership. Obviously, this is an understatment. We are being ruled by a whole bunch of idiots! We have no power, no roads, no potable water, no credible healthcare plan...nothing, absolutely nothing that spell decency. Yet, our elected leaders are seeking for shortcuts out of our problem. Isn't this nasty? criminally insane to think about and still, a mockery to the fight of the Niger Delta Militants. Its obvious they dont even understand the enormity of thetask at hand to drive Nigeria forward. Am ashamed...No, scratch that...THEY should be ashamed!

Sex and Sensibility

Today, I bunked with someone who shoots blood. Yes, you heard me, real
blood. My vast experiential resource confirms that semen and blood
don't mix so you guess I am a bit miffed. No, scratch that, it scared
the hell out of me. Now I know I am a slave to the flesh and I got a
long list to prove it but then, should sex and sensibility not go hand
in hand?

Looking through my list of escapades (yes, I do keep a list) the past
6 months, I realize I am utterly a walking time bomb. It seems I have
managed to bunk everyone I dared to date during this period. Well,
that could be good for my ego, bad for my health insurance and the
last experience is a shameful nudge for sanity.

I consider myself a man with big dreams. Only thing is, the dreams
these days seem to be buried deep in my arse! Yeah, right, I live with
the dogs. Is a man's libido not supposed to go down as he ages? How
then does it happen that am no longer able to just say no? I tend to
sleep, eat, work and bunk in that order. Doesn't sound smart; it isn't
smart. And for heaven's sake, how did I manage to create the time for
all this.

HIV Vaccine

The craze about town now is the recent encouraging results on the
search for an HIV Vaccine. I was listening to Oge's phone-in programme
on Brilla FM (88.9) and can't believe the ignorance people still have
about AIDS. One caller said, as far as he is concerned, anyone who
gets HIV is as good as dead. Another wondered why there should be a
cure, especially as it virtually gives a nod for people to pursue
lascivious lifestyle.

I am one with a deeply personal story to tell about this disease. If
those callers had ever stood helplessly by as loved ones die or
listened to survival stories of near superhuman proportions, they will
not but rejoice at the news from Thailand. You do not wage a war of
attrition on a foe like HIV/AIDS and you cannot win a morality spat.
Anyone who tells you otherwise must be high on opium. And as high as
that weed ca take you, so is the misery that the disease can unleash.

What those researchers at the Thailand Ministry of Health achieved was
nothing short of the miraculous. For the first time, an experimental
vaccine prevented infection with the AIDS virus. The vaccine, a
combination of previously unsuccessful vaccines, cut the risk of
infection by more than 31% in the world's largest AIDS vaccine trial
of more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand. Granted it is not yet a
new dawn for an AIDS free world, but it doesn't hurt to even think
about it. It wasn't always like this.

In Serious Need of a Personality Makeover

September 27 was my birthday and events of that day have given me
cause to rethink my life. I was awake on that day when the time struck
1.18am and had just ran through the list of friends on my phone book
to call out. Alas, there is not a name on that list I could well call
a friend. 700 names divided between family, colleagues and lovers; but
not one friend! My life must be such a bore.

I am sad; distraught even. All through the day, I was on full alert…
waiting for that first text message or email or call that'd get to me
wishing me well. Sure enough, the old culprits responded: my bankers,
pension fund, face book and other web subscription services. Still,
not a word came from any human on my list.

At 36 years old, when all others are getting into a rhythm in life, I
am still thinking of a personality makeover. Something must be
seriously wrong somewhere and am not happy with it. Any activity that
leaves me so forlorn, restless and tossing around my bed at 1.18am is
not a good thing. I hate lonely and at my age, am primed for a
personality make over. Or what do you think?

I Wish That I by Paulo Pascoal

My Friend has Brain Tumor at 26. We wish him well

US Open: A Kiss for Nadal

If you are still wondering why we are suckers for sexy sports men, then yesterday's incident clear any doubts that we are not alone. Last night, a man rushed the court to give Nadal a hug and a kiss after the six-time Grand Slam champ defeated Gael Monfils in a thrilling four-setter at the U.S. Open.

Now, no one is bemused that the security of this fantastic athlete was compromised for any reason but we are enamoured, indeed thrilled at Nadal's reaction. In a world brimming with unnecessary homophobia, Nadal merely shrugged the incident off and infact, wanted to stop the securtity from arresting the man. The fan had hugged and kissed the unsuspecting, shirtless Nadal before being dragged away. Initially surprised, Nadal had a broad smile on his face during the brief encounter.

When security personnel began to lead the man into custody, Nadal initially tried to stop them saying "it's OK" as the man was blowing kisses and making "you're No. 1" motions with his hands. Afterward he said of the incident:"For me, it wasn't a problem. The guy was really nice. He said, 'I love you,' and he kissed me." Okay, Ladies (and gentlemen), now we know: Rafael Nadal will not spurn your advances, no matter how bold they may be. Personally, I think we've found a new cult hero. Lets hope he wins.

Vogue Evolution Eliminated

I don't know how many of you watch MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, but last Sunday night, the banner fell on the most amazing crew, Vogue Evolution, when they were eliminated from the popular dance competition.

Nobody really expected them to remain this long in the show especially as the crew is made up of openly gay dancers including one standout transgender member who week after week broke barriers and gained a loyal following in the process.

Last week the remaining crews were challenged to incorporate current popular dances into their choreography. Vogue Evolution performed the "Halle Berry", a dance set to the hit rap song by Hurricane Chris as they found themselves in the bottom two for the first time in a dance off with rival crew We Are Heroes. Coming off of a drama filled week where ABDC judge Lil Mama unfairly mentioned transgender member Leiomy Maldonado's original gender during a critique saying, "You were born a man and you are becoming a woman. If you’re going to become a woman, act like a lady." Lil Mama apologized days later after GLAAD received a barrage of e-mails criticizing her remarks. Well, nice to know America is paying attention. Well done guys. Your careers are ahead of you

From Nigeria with Love

Today, we serve up some ridiculously hot Nigerian Sexiness. Seun, as captured by Internationally renowned photographer, Urbanshotz, is good to be our baby daddy anyday. Still wondering where we got those crazy hotness from? Don't worry, its in the genes!

Trey Songz: Oozing Sexiness in new Album

Heaven help us with all these sexy RnB artistes who seem to find no better occupation than to make us wet with lust. Uber-gorgeous popstart, Trey Songz just dropped his new album, READY. And not just the album, he dropped us some eye candy shots to go with it. Boy, this man is fyne! Sexy, talented and I am told, one of the nicest guys in the industry today.

I don't know what you are waiting for, go pick your darn copy now

Spain's Tomatina Festival

The Spanish madness came upon us again today. Its the 64th Tomatina festival, a traditional festival where people throw tomatoes at each other, on August 27, 2008 in Bunol. Every year at this time, Tens of thousands of people from around the world hurled tonnes of ripe tomatoes at each other Wednesday in an annual food fight that leaves the eastern Spanish town of Bunol covered in red pulp.

Microsoft Acts Stupid

Microsoft has just confirmed that stupidity isn't alien to it afterall. Our attention was drawn to various tweeter feeds that accused the company of racism recently due its insensitive action of digitally erasing a black man from a promotional photo and replacing him with a white guy. The original photo ran on a U.S. version of a Microsoft promotional site; the (clumsily) retouched version ended up on a Polish version. On Tuesday, the company apologized for "using photo editing techniques to change the race of a person depicted on the company's Web site".

On the US website, three business people - one black, one white and one Asian are shown as part of a pitch for Microsoft's business productivity software.In the same photo on its Polish subsidiary, a white head is placed over the black person's body, but the hand remained unchanged.

The move sparked controversy after it was noticed, quickly making the rounds on Twitter and various Web sites.Apparently, a black face isn't palatable to the Eastern European state. "We apologize and are in the process of pulling down the image"

Bank Defaulters Gearing Ready for EFCC Onslaught

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dispatched 100 operatives and 2 Mobile Police units to arrest all loan defaulters that did not meet the 7 days deadline given by the agency last week Tuesday. It was reliably gathered Monday that the anti-graft agency's Chair person Mrs Farida Waziri ordered the arrest of all debtors, listed by the Central Bank of Nigeria[CBN] in the troubled banks that their Managing Directors were recently fired over an alleged management of non-performing loans, fraud and insider trading.

A source close to the commission revealed that seals running into thousands were released to the operatives to use to seal up properties belonging to the loan defaulters. According to the source, specially designed seals for private jets were also prepared by the agency as most of the defaulters own private aircraft parked at the airports in Lagos.

Erastus Akingbola is a Fugitive

Former Group Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc and Uber-banker, Erastus Akingbola, has been confirmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a fugitive from justice. "Well, one is outside the country and the others are with us...but they are speculating that one escaped abroad," EFCC chairman Farida Waziri told newsmen in Lagos yesterday when asked how many sacked bank chiefs were arrested so far. Akingbola is said to have fled to the United Kingdom on Monday, three days after his sack and a day before the EFCC grabbed his counterparts in Finbank, Union Bank and Afribank.

Spokesman for the commission, Femi Babafemi, also confirmed thatthe EFCC has got a court order authorising it to keep all of them in custody pending when it concluded investigations and arrested others still at large. Former managing director of Oceanic Bank Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and seven managing directors of some companies are still wanted by the EFCC.

CBN last Friday injected N400 billion into the five ailing banks and sacked their chief executives to stem what it said was a looming systemic distress in the industry. The apex bank said the banks were collapsing owing to unrecovered credit facilities amounting to N1.4 trillion, constitution 40 per cent of the entire credit of the 24 commercial banks.

Jackson Drugged Himself to Death

The Los Angeles coroner, Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, has released preliminary findings on singer Michael Jackson's death and concluded that he died of an overdose of propofol, a powerful sedative he was given to help him sleep. According to court documents released Monday, Lethal levels of the powerful anesthetic propofol were found in his system.The iconic singer died June 25.

The 32-page warrant said Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, told a detective that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks. Murray said each night he gave Jackson 50 mg of propofol, also known as Diprivan, diluted with the anesthetic lidocaine via an intravenous drip

Bolt Does it Again: 9.58secs

There are days when you must feel exceptionally blessed to be alive. Yesterday was one such day. Uber-gorgeous hottie, Sprint sensation and Unconventional favourite, showed us once again why he is the greatest sprinter of all time. At the World Athletics championship taking place in Berlin Germany, the 22-year old, yet again went where no man has ever gone. He crashed his already astonishing world record from 9.69 secs set barely a year ago at the Beijing Olympics to 9.58secs. The competition, yet again was blown away and again, Tyson Gay (love that name) had no answers. Tyson's time of 9.71 secs was the 3rd fastest time of all time, yet he looked so slow against this speedstar. I do not believe anyone, indeed not even the sprint god himself, Usain Bolt, can come near that record anytime soon. It was such a priviledge watching Bolt destroy the old(?) record. Ofcourse, its him against the record as there was just no competition on the field.

The Banking Mess: The Sack is well deserved

We've all known that the Nigerian Banking industry is an accident waiting to happen. In the midst of a global economic recession, Nigerian banks embarked on massive expansion drives that saw them playing in markets whose GDP are far less than many states in Nigeria. We saw them declaring stupendous profits even when we knew that capital flight has taken hold of the country's economy. The CBN, then led by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo pretended to assuage our fears but we knew the mess was heavy. Real projects that needed financing could't be funded, while bit by bit, the banks laid off staff for a myriad of reasons. But the day of reckoning was coming. You can fool some of the people some times but you cannot fool everyone all the time. .

Friday, August 14 2009 was the day and what a tumultuous day it turned out for the Nigerian financial sector. In what appears to be the first step in a drastic plan to clean up Nigeria’s ailing banking industry, CEOs and Executive Directors of five of Nigeria’s most badly managed banks were sacked by the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; a first in the history of the nation’s banking history. The Banks include: Oceanic International Bank, Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank and Finbank.

According to the Governor, the banks accounted for 40.81% of the sector’s total non-performing loans; Total loan portfolio of these five banks was ₦2,801.92 billion; margin loans amounted to ₦456.28 billion and exposure to oil and gas was ₦487.02 billion. He also identified the banks as perennial net-takers of funds in the inter-bank market and had enjoyed liquidity support from the CBN for long periods of time, a clear evidence of illiquidity. Collectively, the CBN is to inject over 400 billion Naira (USD 3 billion Dollars) as bailout funds for these banks. The CBN's move was to reverse“a general weakness in risk management and corporate governance” in Nigerian banks.

As a followed up to the dismissals, the CBN appointed immediate replacements for these executives: Nebolisah Arah to replace Sebastian Adigwe in Afribank Nigeria Plc., Susan Iroche replaces Okey Nwosu at Finbank Plc., Funke Osibodu replaces Bathlomew Ebong at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. At Intercontinental Bank Plc, Lai Alabi takes over from Erastus Akingbola, while John Aboh replaces Cecelia Ibru, at Oceanic International Bank Plc.

No doubt uncertainty now pervades the industry but our take is that he who has cleans hands have nothing to fear. These banks and their management are a disgrace and deserves no pity. Toying with the life savings of depositors should not in any way be acceptable to anyone. The law enforcement agencies should go after these executives. Considering how much of a failure our country hands been on many fronts, the banking industry provided the one glimmer of hope for our economy. There is no better time to begin the sanitisation process than now. Thank you Sanusi for the uncommon courage you have shown. It is indeed an unconventional one.

TEVIN CAMPBELL on Michael Jackson at 2009 BET Awards Press Room

Tevin should come back. Please come back...We've waited long enough

Beyonce Dreamgirls Listen

What am feeling with this song

Oh Michael!... Oh Farrah!

What a day June 25 has been...

First Farrah Fawcett..

Then, Michael Jackson

On a day like this...

Words Fail us!

Shell: The Victims Turn in their Graves

ON JUNE 8th Royal Dutch Shell agreed to pay out $15.5m to the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta to settle a long-running court case brought against the oil giant in America by nine plaintiffs, including relatives of Ken Saro-Wiwa, an environmentalist and writer. He was executed by the brutal government of General Sani Abacha after a charade of a trial in 1995. Mr Saro-Wiwa had led a successful campaign against Shell’s activities in his homeland, even forcing the company to quit Ogoniland in 1993. The plaintiffs accused Shell of complicity in the activist’s death. Shell denies any wrongdoing and says the payout was a “humanitarian gesture”; some of the money will go to a new trust fund for the Ogoni.

We are thoroughly embarassed by this settlement. Not in the least because $15.5million is merely a fraction of a tanker of crude. The victims will be turning in their graves by now with this betrayal by their living relatives.

But this settlement also says a lot about the American justice system and why that country will forever have a pride of place in our hearts. The payout occurred because the plaintiffs were able to invoke the Alien Tort Claims Act of 1789, originally intended to counter piracy, but under which the Shell case was brought. It has been used to great effect in recent years, first against foreign officials who violated human rights, and later against firms that appeared to abet such acts. Without the sanity of the american justice system, we may never have had a settlement

Rodger Federer: The Greatest of them all

When the story of the 2009 french Open final is finally told, it would not be for the great games and emotions but for the fact that we were witnesses to the crowning of the greatest player ever to hold a racquet.Roger Federer, yesterday, captured a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title by winning his first French Open and completing a career Grand Slam. He did so by easing past Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6(1) 6-4 at Roland Garros. By lifting the Coupe de Mousquetaires, Federer became only the sixth men's player to win all four of the Slams and equalled Pete Sampras's 14 Major victories. These are story times and Federer is the Greatest Story of them all

Super Eagles: A Rebirth on the Horizon?

The Super Eagles yesterday beat France 1-0 in a friendly in St. Etienne to give themselves a big boost ahead of important World Cup qualifiers. Joseph Akpala scored Nigeria's winner just after the half-hour mark. The Super Eagles were missing several key players, while France fielded a strong side with Karim Benzema, Nicolas Anelka, Franck Ribery and Patrice Evra all starting

Nigeria, who are third in their African World Cup qualifying group, have now built a nice momentum going into their match against Kenya on Saturday before a crunch match in Tunisia on June 20.

Chelsea FC wins the FA Cup

Relief came our way yesterday as our beloved Chelsea FC won their fifth FA Cup and thus providing departing manager Guus Hiddink a glorious send-off. Frank Lampard unleashed a stunner from 25 yards to seal the victory. Louis Saha had sent shock waves through our spine when he struck with just 25 seconds on the clock to put Everton ahead, before Chelsea drew level through Didier Drogba's header midway through the first half.

The victory brings to a closure our very uneven season. One that saw us losing games to referees and winning matches no one expected us to win. Congratulations to all. Next season awaits us.