Thursday 30 May 2013
Thursday 9 May 2013
Couple buy twin Babies for N1.8 Million
Adenuga Soyibo and his wife Elizabeth allegedly bought the babies for N1.8million from a woman in Rivers State. The Police said yesterday that they were yet to trace the baby trader’s location.
The couple were arrested following a tip-off on April 15 by the American Consulate. The Police said the Consulate reported that the couple applied for American visas and their application was deferred on the suspicion that the babies they claimed to be theirs appeared to have been stolen.
It was gathered that the Consulate ordered a DNA test to ascertain the biological relationship of the babies with the suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, told reporters: “The Consulate invited them when it received the result of the DNA, which revealed that the babies do not belong to the couple as both lack appropriate genetic marks.
“During investigations, detectives travelled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State where the woman claimed she gave birth to the twins in a private small house. On getting to Port Harcourt, the woman claimed she could no longer identify the place; she also stated that she had no antenatal record anywhere as she did not attend any.
“She stated further that the total sum of N1.8million was paid to the woman who administered “Agbo” local herbs on her that eventually produced the babies. Soyibo, the claimed father of the twins, stated that he was also given “Agbo” that boosted his sperm count that produced the babies. Both suspects claimed they can no longer trace the woman whom they paid the N1.8million for the “Agbo” and the delivery of the baby. They also could not produce anyone who knew about the conception and the subsequent delivery of the babies”.
Soyibo, an American citizen and a cab driver, said he and his wife had been childless for 15 years, adding that a woman introduced them to Mrs Helen Okoronkwo, based in Port Harcourt.
“We visited her in November 2011 when I came into the country because the woman insisted on seeing my wife and I. When we got there, she gave us some native medicine (Agbo), which was to help us in our quest to get a child. I was in the country until around April 2012. As at that time my wife was already pregnant.”
He stated further: “On November 24, 2012, my wife was delivered of the twins in Port Harcourt. I was in the country but I did not go with her. I came in on November 19 but was too tired and was also busy with some other things. I was surprised when I went to the Embassy to process their visa to take them with me back to the US and we were asked to go for a DNA to ascertain if we are their biological parents. I could not believe it when the result came out and we were told that the babies are not ours. I know my wife got pregnant, so I do not understand what they mean.”
When asked if any other person apart from his wife was around when the babies were delivered, he said “no”, adding that it was only his wife and the woman that gave them the native medicine. He said a relative of theirs accompanied his wife on that journey, but was not allowed into the house.
On why his wife could not recognise the house, where she claimed to have been delivered of her babies when detectives took her to Port Harcourt, the man said it was because they got there at night.
Obama to visit Nigeria May 28
Seen as long overdue but coming at a time when security is the number one item on the country’s agenda, the 44th President of the United States is expected to parley with President Jonathan on how to tackle the niggling problems of insecurity, the economy and trade relations between both nations. President Obama would be interested in hearing President’s Jonathan’s plan to control the Boko Haram insurgents who he plans to offered amnesty, even as the sect continues to slay hundreds in their quest to end western education in the country apart from kidnapping foreigners for ransom.
The growing bases of Al Quaeda, a long term enemy of America and its allies, along the Lake Chad region resulting from their recent dislodgement from Mali may find space on their agenda.
Both men are likely to contemplate the resurgence of Niger Delta militancy, which had simmered with the granting of amnesty by former President Yar’Adua. On the political side, they may weigh the propriety of a Jonathan candidacy in 2015 and the implications for democracy not only for Nigeria, but also for the African continent as well as the implication of good governance as exemplified by Nigeria for the stability of the sub-region. It is speculated that both presidents would broach issues on economic co-operation not least the upbeat forecasts of the emergence of Nigeria as an economic force, what with the country’s latitude for growth.
America would be interested in a partnership that would engender a favourable outcome for both countries whose bilateral trade hit $5 trillion in the first quarter of 2012.
It would be an opportunity for President Jonathan to engage Obama on the US exploitation of Shale gas projected to cut a quarter US imports of Nigeria’s oil by the end of the year. They could discuss how Nigeria can benefit from alternative energy programme of the United States. It would give President Jonathan a chance to see how the AGOA programme can be improved to favour Nigeria’s businesses, especially the SMEs.
Obama’s planned session with businessmen while in the country assures that there is yet scope for improving business and trade relations between both countries. Obama’s visit is believed to be five years late given that he was billed to have visited the country in his first term in office, especially when he visited other African countries, including Ghana, which is only 30 minutes away from Nigeria by flight.
Of that snob, Nobel Literature Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, said, “If Obama decides to grace Nigeria with his presence, I will stone him. The message he is sending by going to Ghana is so obvious, is so brilliant that he must not render it flawed by coming to Nigeria any time soon.”
Nollywood Actress, Ngozi Nwosu Returns Home
Ngozi returned home on Tuesday night 7th of May from the United Kingdom where she underwent surgery for a kidney-related illness.
The veteran actress is said to have left the UK hospital after her doctor confirmed her to be fully okay to return home.
Family, friends and colleagues, who have been anxious to see her welcomed the actress on her arrival at the airport.
She said to the elated crowd on her arrival: “I’m back and better.”
Nwosu thanked her fans, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Blackberry Faces Ban In Nigeria
Our source gathered recently that the telecoms regulator was working on a regulation, which would make it mandatory for any licensee in the nation’s telecoms market to provide access to its communications facilities for necessary interception by the law enforcement agencies.
To be called ‘Lawful interception of communications regulations”, the regulation, which is currently at the draft stage, is based on the need to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communications in Nigeria and the collection and disclosure of intercepted communication.
It will also specify the nature and types of communications to be intercepted; prescribe penalties for non-compliance with the regulations; provide a notification to the commission of all warrants issued, amended, renewed or cancelled under the regulations as well as ensure the privacy of subscribers as contained in the Nigerian constitution. It was gathered that Section 13 of the regulation Protected or Encrypted Communications will run counter to the technical operations of Blackberry.
By their designs and unlike other mobile devices, Blackberry messages are encrypted and where criminal investigation is required, the law enforcement agents will face denial of access to Blackberry network.
Specifically, Section 13 of the regulation empowers the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the State Security Service, SSS, to request the disclosure of protected or encrypted communications.
According to the regulation: “Where the communications intercepted is an encrypted or protected communication, the licensee shall provide the National Security Adviser and the State Security Service with the key, code or access to the protected or encrypted communication.
“Where the key or code is in the possession of another person, the licensee shall be under an obligation to request such other person to disclose the key or code to the National Security Adviser and the State Security Service for the purpose of complying with a warrant.” The regulation, under Section 20, also specifies the penalties for contravention.
“If a licensee or any of its officers, manager, chief executive officer, secretary or other similar officers of the licensee required under this regulation fails to comply with the provision of this regulations, such licensee or its officers shall be liable to a fine of N5m. If such an offence is continuing, such a licensee or officer shall be liable to a daily default penalty of N500,000.” The regulation clearly states that the commission may revoke the licence of the licensee for failure to comply with the regulation.
“The commission shall give a prior written notice to the licensee of such revocation, not less than 30 days to the withdrawal of the licensee.” Also, the commission may institute an action for non-compliance through injunction or specific performance or any or such other judicial means of enforcing a duty or obligation imposed on a licensee pursuant to the regulations.
However, Blackberry messenger, email and web services are sent over an encrypted network and the company maintains a strict policy of non-disclosure of pass codes or keys to government officials.
Last year, officials of Blackberry said the Blackberry users in Nigeria were about three million and these individuals face an uncertain future in case of possible revocation of Blackberry licence by the regulator, given its stern position not to release the key to its encrypted network to any government officials.
Blackberry has continued to face widespread concern over its strong data encryption, which is beloved by corporate customers eager to guard secrets, but troublesome for some governments in the Middle East and Asia that it could be used by militants to avoid detection.
It will be recalled that between 2010 and 2011, Indian government threatened to ban Blackberry over the phone manufacturer’s failure to provide access to customers’ corporate e-mails to the government.
The Indian government request for access to the Blackberry network was part of a broader effort by the country’s intelligence to monitor security threats made via mobile phones and the internet. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had also in 2010 threatened to cut off Blackberry services due to its encryption policy.
National Mirror also gathered that the NCC’s current move was in line with strategic measures of the Federal Government to ensure maximum national security by providing a legal framework that empowers the law enforcements agencies to access any licensed communication network in the country.
Friday 3 May 2013
‘Yahoo Yahoo’ Aside, Nigerians Are Making Good Money Online
While many people could not yet appreciate what the Internet and accompanying social media trends stood for, most of the few that first caught the bug exploited it to dupe unsuspecting folks, especially foreigners. Indeed, that is the time the notorious and ever-recurring letter in which an online conman (or woman), who claims he is stranded in some foreign country or has problems accessing a huge fund, was first composed. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since, but some people have also proved that Nigerians too know how to make the best of the social media.
It does not matter if some of them got online by accident. The fact is that from their different professional and accademic backgrounds, they have entrenched themselves, deploying the digital phenomenon to various businesses. Whether it is an Anderson Uvie-Emegbo that has abandoned medicine for online entrepreneurship, or nairaland founder, Seun Osewa, who was pushed out of the university by an accident, the guys got to the Internet ‘on time’, and have practically become landlords, making good money in transparent ways.
Curiously, more than half of those our correspondent contacted for an interview were not forthcoming. While some, including Linda Ikeji of the lindaikejiblog fame, repeatedly declined to grant the correspondent audience, Bellanaija founder, Uche Pedro, appeared too shy to talk about herself and business – despite the fact that they are often eager to sell other people to the world.
Bella Naija
She is popularly, called Bella Naija but her name is Uche Pedro (formerly Eze). She appears to be the most influential blogger in the country, with even most of her other successful counterparts attributing their in-road into the world of blogging to their visit to bellanaija.com.
For instance, in an interview, ace blogger, Ladun Liadi, says she drew her inspiration to become a blogger from Bella Naija.
Liadi says, “One day, I was with my friend who is a radio presenter and he said, ‘Ladun, why don’t you start a blog? You have so many things going on for you.’ I didn’t really want to, because I felt owning a blog was personal (as it was meant to be about the person’s daily activities) and not meant for reporting. But he told me I was wrong and gave me a blog address to check out. It was Bella Naija. And that was how I started my own blog too.”
Also, celebrated blogger, Linda Ikeji, in an interview published on bellanaija.com, also explains that she discovered what was called blogging after visiting bellanaija.com.
Bellanaija.com, which was formally hosted on blogspot.com as bellanaija.blogspot.com, started off as a small entertainment and pop culture portal. Publishing Nigerian celebrity, fashion and lifestyle news, the blog has grown to attract over one million hit per month across the continent.
Apart from fetching Pedro cool cash, her blog success has taken her to places. She has featured in many elite celebrity talk shows. One of such is the Oprah Winfrey Show, which is the highest-rated talk show in American television history.
In an interview she granted to Cable News Network’s Isha Sesay in Nigeria, Pedro, who studied in a Canadian University, said she started blogging after being bored while on a two-week holiday in Nigeria.
“In 2006 when I just graduated from the university. I had two weeks off before starting my first job. I had always loved Nigeria and Africa but I was just bored. But I realised the fashion and entertainment industries were more vibrant and more people were involved in politics, business and it was so encouraging.
“I was like: Let me just start something that will sort of represent these and it has grown in leaps and bounds since then.”
Seun Osewa
Interestingly, Seun Osewa, the brain behind popular online forum, nairaland, is, conventionally speaking, a drop-out. After spending three years at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he was studying Electrical Electronics, he, according to him, decided to go the way of super rich Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, the world’s largest personal-computer software company. He also knows the history of founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg; and Steve Jobs – the late co-founder of Apple Inc., who also dropped out of school at one time or the other.
In an online interview with our correspondent, Osewa, however, responded to just two out of the questions asked him.
He notes, “I studied Electronics & Electrical Engineering at OAU with good grades for five semesters. But then I had a little injury, which eventually caused me to crash out. I’m a 30-year-old Yoruba man raised in a small town in Ogun State. I started Nairaland eight years and some days ago.”
Asked to speak on what injury he sustained and how he had taken other educational opportunities after “crashing out,” Osewa said, “ Well, it’s personal. Thanks for the understanding.” Subsequent reminders sent by e-mail for him to answer the other questions were not replied.
Nairaland, which claims to have over one million registered users, and over 35 million page views monthly, was last month ranked the most visited website in Africa by alexa.com, a US-based firm that provides web traffic data.
According to reports, the journey of Nairaland began in 2004, when Osewa started “mobilenigeria”, a forum to cover the emerging GSM industry at that time. However, it was transformed in March 2005 to what is now known as nairaland. Interestingly, in an interview granted to dipotepede.org, Osewa was quoted as saying that all the business projects he embarked on before Nairaland were failures, except the one (mobilenigeria) that became Nairaland.
He notes,, “My web hosting business failed after just three months because I ran out of money, while I couldn’t execute many other projects I researched due to shyness and lack of capital. My blogs and the mobile phone forum that preceded nairaland were successful but not profitable. However, it was on that foundation that nairaland was built.”
Dr. Anderson Uvie-Emegbo
Dr. Anderson Uvie-Emego is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He abandoned a medical job to pursue a career in digital technology. Today he is a household name in Africa not as a medical doctor but as a digital media expert.
Uvie-Emegbo now has multiple streams of income. Apart from earning what can be described as a descent income from his firm, Dymore Vision Consulting Ltd, where he is the managing director, he teaches post-graduate students as an Adjunct Faculty at the School of Media & Communication, Pan African University, Lagos and Strathmore Business School, Kenya.
“I teach, consult, implement and publish all things digital. I consult across Africa,” he says.
On how he abandoned medicine and surgery for the digital media, he says, “No matter how hard I tried to focus on medicine, I kept developing my skills in web strategy and project management. Eventually in 2007 after three years and five months of practice, it was clear that I had to make a career change. I formally left medical practice on June 28, 2007. It is a privilege to be doing what I do now. As a medical doctor, my role was to help people stay healthy. Similarly, as a digital media consultant, I enable individuals and organisations stay competitively healthy – creating sustainable, superior corporate performance, using a digital approach. In both situations, I start with the diagnosis and end with solutions that make all parties satisfied.”
Linda Ikeji
Ex-model-turned blogger, Linda Ikeji, has no doubt joined the millionaire club. The 2004 English Language graduate of the University of Lagos confirmed her status as a successful blogger recently when she bought herself a 2011 model Infiniti FX 35 Sport Utility Vehicle, reportedly for N8m.
Announcing the purchase of the SUV on her blog, Ikeji says she had lost count of the businesses she had laid her hand on without success before blogging paid off.
She notes, “By this time two years ago, I didn’t have much but I never stopped believing in myself and I never stopped working hard. I can’t even begin to count how many businesses I put my hands into before one paid off – blogging!
“I told myself that I would make it in this life one day as my own woman and on my own terms, that no man will ever take away my dignity and I did it. So can you! Yes, you! You have the power! And with God on your side, you are unstoppable!”
She started modelling in 1998 and, in 2004, set up a modelling agency and event management company, Blackdove Communications. Ikeji, 32, quit modelling for blogging in 2007. The competition in the modelling industry, which has culminated in the proliferation of unregistered modelling agencies that go about recruiting pretty girls and getting them jobs without proper accreditation, might have propelled her to quit the field.
Omoyele Sowore
The former President of the Students’ Union of the University of Lagos, Omoyele Sowore, started Sahara Reporters in 2006 from his base in New York, United States.
In an interview with the Sun Newspaper, United Kingdom, he says he does not operate his news website with any expensive office furniture or high-end c*m high-priced off-the-shelf devices. He explains that at some point he equipped his car with gadgets for-on-the go reporting but adds that he now operates a mobile office.
“With little more than a few cell phones, an Apple computer, and the wonders of the Internet, I can do what I have to do.
He did not study communication, but he says his experience as a student union leader, which made him a mass communicator of some sorts, spurred him to launch the online platform which enables people to report themselves.
Sowore, who now makes good money from the website especially through adverts, says he started out cheaply.
“When I started, it was very cheap. I was hosting Sahara Reporters at the rate of US$35 per month when I started. It didn’t cost me much to actually have an online presence.
“Talking transparently, we have been making money. There is what they call Google Adsense, which is the most democratic way of participating in advertising. When I started, I used to make 50 dollars every month. Over time, we began to make a lot more money because it is driven by traffic in usage and patronage of the website.”
In an online interview with our correspondent, Sowore stresses that what gives him fulfilment most is the fact that he Saharareporters identifies with the search for positive change in the society. He indirectly affirms that it has also been success in terms of financial rewards.
But for other people, especially young Nigerians, who may want to explore citizen journalism, he says, “Unemployed Nigerian graduates might be able to eke out a living through citizen journalism but I couldn’t tell them how. I could only advise people to pursue their dreams passionately. And most important is that they should be engaged in the pursuit of freedom for themselves and freedom for all. I think the larger question for Africans-employed, underemployed and unemployed is to determine, very quickly, how long they will continue to endure the unwarranted and brazen r*pe of the dignity of the African person by a tiny clique of corrupt and gluttonous but highly incompetent rogues disguised as leaders.”
Ladun Liadi
Oladunni Liadi is the name behind the popular blog, ladunliadi.blogspot.com. Liadi, who hails from Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State, abandoned Microbiology, which she studied at the University of Lagos for blogging.
Confirming the current fact that making money online is a reality, Liaidi says, “It (blogging) has been very profitable. My eyes are closed to any other business for now.”
She started out in the world of blogging in August 2010, after a friend spoke to her about the opportunities which abound in it. After visiting a handful of blogs being run by Nigerians then, Liadi says she decided to leverage her journalism instinct and ventured into blogging.
But while starting out she also faced the teething problems of low blog traffic, which new bloggers complain about. Her low blog traffic, which for some months, was further compounded by incessant outage, andpoor Internet connectivity. But she refused to give up on her new found profession.
She says, “At first, I didn’t know comments meant a thing. For the first few months I didn’t get comments and later on they started coming. But now, I get over 100,000 page views per day.
“Internet connectivity and electricity are still major problems. Internet connectivity is an issue for me. I have almost all the Internet modems you can think of, in case one doesn’t work, another will. While PHCN never ceases to disappoint one, the issue of electricity is minimal because there is an alternative which is fueling the generator.”
Liadi, who is in her 20s, says she operates from her home in Lagos or anywhere she finds herself and has a few people working with her on part time basis.
“For now, I don’t have anybody working for me on full time basis. But I have a few people who attend some events for me; I just pay them per event. I solely run the blog myself,” she explains, adding that blogging is fun.
“It has opened doors for me in a lot of ways. A lot of people now know Ladun Liadi, unlike before. I am even moving a step further to launch an online entertainment magazine covering all events and reporting all the latest news in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Robert Ikhazobor
Although a graduate of Economics from the University of Hull, Robert Ikhazobor has stamped his foot on the Internet world. He ventured into an Internet-driven business which deploys technology in recruitment, examination administration, identity management as well as scholarship and bursary management – with the establishment of Dragnet.
According to him, the firm he started some five years ago has taken him to 22 states of the federation where he has offered computer-based tests for firms and higher institutions of learning. Along the line, he has also developed several versions of his proprietary computer-based testing engine which he calls ‘The Face of Testing.’
He says, “The world has largely witnessed a sweeping revolution in the education sector but, sadly, we have been left behind. But we are offering a better alternative to the conventional Paper To Pen Testing method.”
Kunle Adeyeri
Kunle Adeyeri is an online forex trader and trainer. The graduate of Microbiology from the University of Lagos started his firm, Kards Nigeria Limited, in 1996 after a stint at a computing firm between 1991 and 1995.
“I worked as a Senior Administrative Officer at a computer firm but in 1996, I started my own firm where I major in computer-based analysis. In 2007, I ventured into online forex trading. My job does not basically require many personnel but I have two employees on my pay roll,” Adeyeri says.
Olori Super Gal
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