Wednesday 31 July 2013

Blogger Faces 600 Lashes, Jail for Insulting Islam (PICTURED)


A Saudi court has sentenced a activist to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for violating the nation’s anti-cybercrime law, Human Rights Watch reported Wednesday.



A Jeddah Criminal Court found Raif Badawi, who has been in prison since June 2012, guilty this week of insulting Islam through his website and in television comments.



Reported Saudi paralysis sentence ‘outrageous,’ rights group says



“This incredibly harsh sentence for a peaceful blogger makes a mockery of Saudi Arabia’s claims that it supports reform and religious dialogue,” said Nadim Houry, the deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “A man who wanted to discuss religion has already been locked up for a year and now faces 600 lashes and seven years in prison.”



His lawyer, Waleed Abu al-Khair, told Human Rights Watch that Judge al-Harbi read the verdict Monday. The court is expected to send him a written notification by August 6. They’ll have 30 days to appeal.



Raif Badawi has been in prison since June



Ensaf Haidar, Badawi’s wife, said she’s devastated by the news.



“I don’t know what to do,” Haidar said Wednesday. “Raif did nothing wrong.”



Haidar and the couple’s three children now live in Lebanon.



Estranged from her family, Haidar said it would be impossible to take her children back to Saudi Arabia. The stigma is too strong there.



“You feel like everybody’s accusing you,” she said, close to tears, in an April interview. “Like everybody’s against you, at war with you.”



CNN has made several attempts to reach the Saudi Arabia government for comment but received no response.



Badawi’s legal troubles started shortly after he started the Free Saudi Liberals website in 2008. He was detained for one day and questioned about the site. Some clerics even branded him an unbeliever and apostate.



Last summer, Human Rights Watch released a statement urging Saudi authorities to free Badawi.



“Saudi authorities should drop charges and release the editor of the Free Saudi Liberals website for violating his right to freedom of expression on matters of religion and religious figures,” a statement from the group said at the time.



Rights groups accuse Saudi authorities of targeting activists through the courts and travel bans. Many were outraged when two of the country’s most prominent reform advocates, Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Abdullah Al-Hamid, were sentenced in March to 10 years in prison apiece.



Amnesty International called that trial “just one of a troubling string of court cases aimed at silencing the kingdom’s human-rights activists.”



Asked in January about accusations that Saudi Arabia is cracking down on dissent, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry, told CNN, “At the Interior Ministry, our area of responsibility is security.”



He added, “My understanding is that these cases are being looked at by the courts now. Nobody will comment on cases being looked at by the courts.”



via 247naijagossip

Online Commentator Detained By Nigeria Police, On Behalf Of Billionaire Emeka Offor


Boniface Okonkwo, a South Africa-based businessman who was seized and detained by the Nigeria Police for more than a week over an online comment he made regarding fraudulent Nigerian businessman and People's Democratic Party (PDP) big shot, Emeka Offor, has finally made bail.



Lawyers from Femi Falana chambers, who served as the defendant's attorney at a Magistrate court in Abuja, told Saharareporters that Mr. Okonkwo was let out of police detention after they made a spirited defense of his liberty.



The Magistrate judge, Lamido Kabir, had initially played hide and seek in the case, letting the police detain Mr. Okonkwo over the weekend claiming he was unavailable to hear the case after the suspect was brought to court last Friday.



However, on Monday, the Magistrate gave stiff bail conditions requiring Mr. Okonkwo to provide two sureties, including a traditional ruler and a person with landed property in Abuja.



Yesterday, he was let go after meeting the bail conditions.



Mr. Okonkwo was arrested on July 13 by a dozen well-armed Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives in Lagos, just four days after arriving from South Africa. Mr. Okonkwo's arrest reportedly emanated from the office of the Inspector General of Police office, who gave the order because of a petition penned by Offor who claimed that Okonkwo "criminally defamed" him in an online commentary in a community listserv of the Orafite community.



Okonkwo, who also hails from Oraifite community, criticized the billionaire for reportedly donating $1.3 million to Rotary International for polio eradication while Oraifite lacks basic amenities and the people suffer abject poverty.



Okonkwo was seized in Lagos but was later moved to a police cell on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. He was denied access to lawyers and relatives, and spent more than two weeks in detention.



Observers say the case demonstrates how Nigeria’s public institutions are often and routinely deployed by the rich by the rich and well-connected against the truth.



via 247naijagossip

OJ Simpson granted parole on some charges but to remain in prison



Last week O.J. Simpson, 66, went before the Nevada Parole Board seeking an early release from prison on his 2008 kidnapping and robbery conviction. The retired American football player was sentenced to up to 33 years in prison for forcibly retrieving personal items from a sports memorabilia dealer, items O.J. said had been stolen from him.



O.J. told the parole panel he regretted going to the hotel that night, explaining, "I just wish I never went to that room. I wish I just said keep it."



OJ was granted parole, but he will remain in prison. According to reports, OJ Simpson was granted parole on some charges but not on others and must serve at least 4 more years of his 33 year sentence.





via LindaIkeji

SHOCKING: How Can A Mother Do This To Her Own Daughter? (LOOK)


How thirsty for fame could a mother have to be to do this to her own daughter?



A recent photo on Twitter uploaded by a woman has got a lot of people enraged. She posts a pic of her and her baby daughters backside while asking followers to decide which of them is “Thicker”... See the pics after the cut:




What do you think of this mother?





via 247naijagossip

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News! "Put Him Back In The Prison", Judge On Chidi Lloyds.


The Judge presiding over the case of attempting murder charges on Hon Chidi Lloyd directed that the Lawmaker should remain in detention till the next sitting.



The Security officers has already boundled him into an awaiting lorry back to Jail. His attempt to act sick and injured to attract sympathy was pushed aside by the Judge, who ordered his immediate detention.



via 247naijagossip

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News! Hon Chidi Lloyds Appears In Court Crawling (PICTURED)


The majority leader of Rivers Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd, appeared in court today to answer attempted murder charges. He was framing to be sick, to the extent that he cannot walk on his unaided.

The Honurable member gets a shoulder from colleagues as he appeared in a Port Harcourt court to face murder charges.



Details coming shortly.



via 247naijagossip

Is Rukky Sanda part Ghanaian?



She wrote something about finally relocating to her fatherland...Ghana. Is she part Ghanaian? I can't know everything...you tell me...lol.





via LindaIkeji

HENNESSY: Fans of Olamide, Seyi Shay, Kay-Switch, Phyno, Chidinma And More Battle For Dbanj’s Right Hand


The showdown has begun for every self-proclaimed fan of Olamide, Phyno, Seyi Shay, Kay Switch, Vector, Chidinma, Omoakin, PRE, Sean Tizzle, Show Dem Camp, Waconzy, Falz, Ketchup and Pucado.



It’s a battle of support as Hennessy Artistry rolls out the official list of potential artistes to perform on the Hennessy Artistry Club Tour 2013 with Dbanj in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja in the coming weeks.





Last year fans of Burna Boy, Rayce, Flowssick, Mo Eazy, LOS, DammyKrane, Solid Star, MsJaie and TundeEdnut, slugged it out on Facebook and Twitter using their votes in defense of their loyalty to their idols. This year the competition appears to be a lot tougher. “All the NYSA nominees for this year’s club tour share at least one hundred fans in common. This will be a tough pick!” read a fan’s tweet.



To make the decision making process easier this year, organizers of Hennessy artistry have decided to add a short snippet of a hit song from the nominees on the voting page.



The nominees have been announced, the voting stage is set, the only question is; who would you like to see perform with Dbanj on the Hennessy Artistry club tour this year?



Click here to cast your votes http://bit.ly/NameYourActs for desktop and http://bit.ly/NameYourActs_m for mobile.







via ladunliadi

Who agrees with this...?


"Most people decide whether or not they’re attracted to someone else within the first three seconds of meeting them.". Do you agree?





via LindaIkeji

Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather to sell ex-fiancee's stuff on ebay


LMAO. This guy is gangsta! A few weeks after breaking things off with his ex-fiancee, Chantel Jackson, undefeated boxing champion Floyd Maywhether is threatening to sell her very expensive designers bags and shoes on ebay. (Stuff he paid for). Choi, see all dem Birkin croc bags.



Floyd yesterday posted photos of Chantel's stuff on his instagram page, talking about a new venture of selling women's designer shoes and bags. He even tagged Shantel in one of the pictures. Lol.



They are the same shoes and bags Shantel showed off on her own instagram page when she and Floyd's baby mama, Josie Harris, got into it in May. (See the story HERE)



Wonder why Chantel didn't leave with her things when she moved out. See more instagram pics






















via LindaIkeji

Happy 30th wedding anniversary to Soni and Betty Irabor



Seasoned broadcaster and marketing communications expert, Soni Irabor and his wife, Genevieve magazine publisher, Betty Irabor, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Monday July 29th. It's kinda belated but it's such a milestone that we just have to congratulate them and wish them many happy years ahead.





via LindaIkeji

Singer Waconzy acquires 2013 customized Range Rover



The "2 much money' music crooner recently added another Range Rover SUV to his fleet of cars. Waconzy already owns a 2008 Range Rover, a Nissan Maxima and another SUV.


''I bought the Range Rover as a gift to myself for the success of my MBG album" he says.

T he much anticipated Amosu video by Waconzy premiers August 1st 2013. Watch out...





via LindaIkeji

27-Yr-Old Killed By Friend Over Mobile Phone


A 27-year-old man was killed by his friend, weekend, over the ownership of a mobile phone charger.

The tragedy occurred at Isapodo area of Ijebu-Ife, in Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of Ogun State on Sunday.

The victim, Mr Dele Oje, described as an easy going person by his neighbours, was said to have been allegedly killed by his friend, simply identified as Muyideen after the latter requested for a phone charger from the former.

Investigations revealed that Oje had earlier argued with his friend over who owned the charger minutes before he was killed.

Shortly before his death, an argument had ensued between the duo, prompting neighbours in the two-storey building to intervene.

Unfortunately, the neighbours had barely left the scene of the argument, when Dele’s friend descended on him as the deceased attempted to have his breakfast and slashed his throat with a sharp object.

A neighbour of the deceased who did not want to be named, narrated what she described as an unfortunate incident, said: “We had earlier settled a seeming quarrel between the friends over the ownership of a telephone charger when Muyideen killed his friend’’.

‘We got there later only to see blood stains on the wall and floor of the building, an indication that Oje had attempted to escape from his assailant’’.

Another resident who identified himself as Abayomi Oyeyemi also said that after the murder, Muyideen fled only to be fished out in a near-by bush, three hours after.

The body has been deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital mortuary while Muyideen who was arrested by the youths in the community had been handed over to police at the Ogbere division.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, who said he was yet to be briefed by the Ogbere Divisional Police Officer, added that he did not have details of the incident.



via 247naijagossip

SEE The Face Of The Pastor Who uses His Sperm As A Sacred Milk


Valdeci Sobrino Picanto is a Brazilian Evangelical Pastor. He has been arrested after deceiving the faithful using the name of the "Holy Spirit", by saying foolish lies.



He said his joystick was blessed and that "the Lord had consecrated him with divine milk of the ''Holy Spirit" and, of course, he had to release it in order to "evangelize".



"He has convinced us that only God could come into our lives through our mouth and that's why he would do what he did". Often, after worship, pastor Valdeci would take us to where the funds were kept at the back of the Church and asked us to have Oral sex with him until the Holy Spirit would come through ***********". This is the testimony of one of his victims.

The pastor is already in jail, but said he intends to continue watering his cellmates with his sacred milk.



via 247naijagossip

New song: Cupid: Son of the Mack. (Return of the Mark cover)


The wait is over. The much anticipated video for Nigeria's R&B crooner 'Cupid' is out! After the smash single 'Tonight', He's bringing sexy back with the SoN of the Mack (return of the mack cover) directed by XYZ. Under the label of SBM entertainment. Gear up for the official single in a few weeks! The count down has already started, Follow up @cupidsbm for more info. Its about to be one crazy summer. See the video after the cut...









Son of the Mack download link- https://t.co/vGCwvaQYa3





via LindaIkeji

Low patronage hits newly opened Ibadan shoprite


The first day it opened it was like a tourist site, but the Ibadan people have since found their way back to their local markets...lol. Barely a month after the grand opening of Shoprite at Heritage Cocoa Mall, on Oba Adebimpe Road, Dugbe, Ibadan, Oyo State, the retail store has been hit with low patronage. The number of Ibadan people who go there to buy things have reduced drastically. Some residents blame it on the prices of goods at shoprite. While some say it's cheaper to buy some goods from their local markets than from shoprite, others say though it's cheaper to buy from shoprite than the stores in their neighborhood, the difference isn't much and the transport fare to go to shoprite and back isn't worth it, so they stick to shops in their area.



The most patronized commodity at shoprite Ibadan is the freshly baked bread, everything else na manage...:-) Though people go there a lot on the weekends...just to look around.





via LindaIkeji

Actor Bob Manuel Udokwu loses mum


Bob Manuel lost his mum on Saturday July 20th. She was 78 years old. May her soul rest in peace..





via LindaIkeji

#BBATheChase: Nando had once attempted Suicide (LOOK)


A few days ago, Tanzanian representative in BBA, The Chase, Nando was disqualified from the game for instigating and provoking another contestant.



What many people do not know however, is that Nando appears to be a troubled child. In 2011, he tried to take his own life, see his tweet below…



Some weeks ago, the Tanzanian lad also admitted to being addicted to a variety of ‘medications’ in his past. He also gave insight to a very troubled childhood which may be responsible for his nonchalant attitude.










via 247naijagossip

PHOTOS From Pro-Amaechi Rally In Lagos


A coalition of civil society groups in Lagos holding a solidarity protest in support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State....More pics after the cut:

























via 247naijagossip