Sunday 28 May 2017

Skales Announces Sophomore Album Release Date

Baseline Entertainment lead act Skales is ready to drop his sophomore album in a few days!

Raoul Njeng-Njeng, better known as Skales is ready to drop his latest album.

Following a successful album listening party in London and another successful Industry Nite here in Nigeria, the rapper turned singer is set to release his second studio album.

The album which is titled “The Never Say Never Guy” has announced by Skales will be out on Monday, May 29th.

The information was made available by Skales from his Instagram account.

Skales wrote as follows:

I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate everyone who came out to support me and my craft at #TheNeverSayNeverGuyAlbum listening party. I can’t thank you all enough.

It’s incredibly gratifying to know so much people find your path or story inspirational, and that is what this album is about – this is one body of work that vividly relays the message of never looking back and continuously chasing your dreams without being fazed by the world’s negativity!

May 29th, 2017 is the date – the date we’re heavily prepared to make history; #TheNeverSayNeverGuyAlbumday. I’d love to thank my fans for the unending support over the years, up to this very moment. I want you all to know it’s because of you I do this, and that’s why I’ve put in so much work on the album.

I really can’t wait to share it with you all – to share ittothe world!

Full Winners List At The 2017 South African Music Awards #SAMA23

Amnda Black and rapper Kwesta walked away victorious at the annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs) after they bagged four awards each.

Amanda and Kwesta both did a clean sweep at the awards ceremony, which took place tonight at the Sun City Superbowl.

The Amazulu hitmaker walked away with gongs for Best Newcomer of the Year, Best Female Artist of the Year and Best Album of the Year and Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album

While Kwesta bagged awards for Best Male Artist of the Year, Best Rap Album, Highest Airplay and Best Collaboration for his hit, Ngud, with rapper Cassper Nyovest.

Rapper Nasty C who bagged the most awards at the Metro FM Music Awards walked away with the prestigious Record of The Year Award.

Rebecca Malope, Don Laka and Babsy Mlangeni were honoured with Lifetime Achievement awards.

Wololo hitmaker Babes Wodumo also went home disappointed with no gongs.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Best Newcomer of the Year – Amanda Black – Amazulu

Best Duo-Group of the Year – Black Motion – Ya Badimo

Best Female Artist of the Year – Amanda Black – Amazulu

Best Male Artist of the Year – Kwesta – Dakar II

Best Album of the Year – Amanda Black – Amazulu

Best Maskandi Album – Khuzani – Inyoni yomthakathi

Classical Instrumental Album – Charl du Pleassis Trio – Baroqueswing Vol.II

Best Afro Pop Album – Vusi Nova – Vusi Nova

African Indigenous Gospel Album – Living In Christ Legends – Living In Christ Legends

Best Rock Album – Albert Frost – The Wakeup

Best Pop Album – GoodLuck – The Nature Within

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album – Joshua na die Reen – Die Wereld Binne My

Best Rap Album – Kwesta – Darak II

Best Kwaito Album – Dr Malinga – Goodwill

Best Dance Album – Black Motion – Ya Badimo

Best Traditional Faith Music Album – Sprit of Praise – Spirit of Praise Vol.6

Highest Airplay of the Year – Ngud – Kwesta

A 91st-minute own goal by Issa Cissokho on Saturday gave Paris St-Germain a dramatic Coupe de France final match victory over Angers.

Unai Emery’s side looked set for extra time but Cissokho, brother of Aston Villa defender Aly, headed a corner into his own net in injury time.

Angers, playing in the final for the first time since 1957, escaped in the first half when Angel di Maria’s deflected cross hit the post.

But Nicolas Pepe then hit the post at the other end for the underdogs.

Emery has been under intense pressure after a disappointing first season at the Parc de Princes, with PSG finishing eight points behind Ligue 1 champions Monaco.

They were also dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in the last 16.

Victory at the Stade de France ensured they will end the season with two trophies, having won 4-1 against Monaco in the French League Cup final in April.

But Emery has still arguably underachieved since replacing Laurent Blanc, who won the domestic title in each of his three seasons in charge.

They found it hard work against a physical Angers.

Their defender Ismael Traore was lucky not to be sent off in the second half for an appalling studs-first lunge into Julian Draxler’s shin.

Di Maria hit a free-kick into the side netting, and Edinson Cavani went close late on.

But Angers looked as if they had held out for an additional half-hour until Cissokho’s moment of misery in the first minute of stoppage time.

In Spain, Lionel Messi was inspired as FC Barcelona beat Alaves 3-1 on Saturday to secure the Copa del Rey for the third year running and give coach Luis Enrique a winning send-off.

Luis Enrique is leaving the club after three years in charge at the Nou Camp.

Ibai Gomez hit the post for Alaves before Messi scored his 54th goal of the season with a 20-yard curler.

Theo Hernandez bent in a free-kick to equalise, but Neymar turned in from close range and then Messi played in Paco Alcacer right on half-time.

It has been a disappointing season for FC Barcelona, who finished runners-up to Real Madrid in La Liga and were eliminated from the Champions League by Juventus in the quarter-finals.

They did at least restore some pride with victory over last season’s second division champions in what was the final match to be played at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon Stadium.

There were some records set along the way as Enrique’s team retained the trophy, having beaten Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla in the last two finals.

Messi, who struck the opener after exchanging passes with Neymar outside the penalty area, became the first player to score in four Copa finals since Athletic Bilbao’s Telmo Zarra in 1950.

Neymar, who forced in Barca’s second when Messi played in Andre Gomes to cross low from the right, is the first man in recent years to score in three successive Copa finals.

This has not happened since Ferenc Puskas, who achieved the feat with Real Madrid between 1960 and 1962.

Messi’s through pass for the third goal was sublime, and was finished calmly by Alcacer —- who has been inconsistent since his move from Valencia last summer.

The one major worry for FC Barcelona was a nasty head injury to Javier Mascherano, who was carried off on a stretcher after an early collision with Marcos Llorente,

He suffered concussion as well as a cut to his head, and an injury to his right knee that will need further tests, the club said afterwards.

In Germany, Borussia Dortmund defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 to win the German DFB Cup.

Ousmane Dembele scored first for Dortmund in the 8th minute before Ante Rebic equalised in the 29th minute. A second half goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed the victory for Dortmund.

At least three people have been left with gunshot injuries after an altercation between youth of Oria community in Delta State and police officers suspected to be members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

A 59-minute video of the incident posted on social media, showed some youth arguing loudly with three policemen carrying AK-47 assault rifles and dressed in the black T-shirts SARs operatives are known for wearing.

The police officers were standing beside a black police pick-up van with “No 2 SARs Special Anti-Robbery Squad” printed on its side. Soon, the video captured an argument between a police officer and some youth behind the van. One of the youth could be heard shouting: “e no fit shot” in pidgin repeatedly.

Another youth stepped between the police officer, who had half-raised his gun to a shooting position at the time, and the young man. The intervener seemed to try to stop the police officer from shooting the screaming youth. As the police officer moved backwards, some youth moved towards him.

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard and smoke, apparently from the gun could be seen. Four gunshots followed the first one.

“E shoot am, e shoot am?” said the screaming youth. As the youth and the other police officers rushed towards were the gunshot was heard, the same youth added, “hold am, hold am.”

Other gunshots soon followed and the video went black, but loud confused voices could still be heard as the shooting continued.

Ezekiel Egboge, who was involved in the incident, told source that trouble started when he was flagged down by the police officers as he drove to the funeral in his friend’s Honda Crosstour saloon car

“They (the police) stopped us at the road. I was in the car with my brother. As we were trying to park out of the road. They saw that we were young boys and they wanted to claim money from us. They started cracking their guns to put fear in us. We said why are you cracking guns. We are not armed robbers. Suddenly one of them left the front of the car and started dragging my door. I told him to stop dragging the door because if he broke anything in the car he will pay for it. As I was coming down, he gave me a slap,” he said during a telephone chat.

He said after he was slapped, he alighted from the vehicle and accosted the police officer for slapping him. An argument then ensued, which attracted passers-by. He said some of the passers-by rushed to their community to inform youth that they were being harassed by the police.

“The youth from the town came and one of the SARS officers was asking why the youth came and we told him that they are our people and while we were arguing with them they shot one of the boys that came on his leg.”

Mr. Egboge said another youth who confronted the police officers on why he shot the first youth was also shot. He said a third youth was also hit by pellet from a pump-action handgun.

Mr. Egboge said after the incident they went to the nearby Ebu police station to lodge a complaint. But to his surprise, the SARS operatives followed them there, shot into the air and dispensed tear gas on a crowd that gathered at the police station.

He said the police officers at the station told them the SARS operatives were not from the station and they cannot say where they came from.

Eric Adede, who claimed to have recorded the video, told the source that he received a car from his brother who was in the car pulled over by SARS operatives who demanded a bribe of N500,000.

He said after the video was posted on social media the State commissioner of police had invited them to a meeting on Monday in the state capital, Asaba. He said the commissioner also asked those who suffered gunshot injuries to be at the meeting as they learnt that the SARS operatives claimed they did not shoot anyone.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka told the source during a telephone chat that he was unaware of the incident.

“No such information has come to me,” he said.

“A mother that has so many children does not say never. But having said that, the conduct you describe as having come from members of our own SARS cannot be the SARS that I know. But it suffices to say that I’m not aware,” he added.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES

Sex Scandal: Stephanie Otobo’s mom, sister beg Apostle Suleman on live TV

The mother of Stephanie Otobo, the Nigerian woman who accused a cleric, Johnson Suleiman, of infidelity and abuse, visited the Omega Fire Ministry headquarters in Auchi, Edo State, on Sunday to plead on her daughter’s behalf.

Ms. Otobo’s sister accompanied their mum who is popularly called Mama Tope to the church. Their statements and apologies were beamed live on the church’s website on Sunday morning.

But in a swift video reaction on Instagram on Sunday, Ms. Otobo, who said she has since returned to Canada, claimed that her mother was threatened to apologise to the embattled pastor.

The budding singer also debunked her apology to Mr. Suleman, popularly called Apostle Suleman, saying she was threatened.

She said, “I just landed Toronto and I heard my mother made a video and apologized to Apostle Suleiman. My mother says she has been threatened and arrested twice. This is what Apostle Suleiman is doing – he is using his power. He should just come to court. I want Nigerians to know that my mother’s life is in danger right now, Apostle Suleiman is threatening my mother and family.’’

To back her claims, Ms. Otobo also shared a telephone conversion alleged to between herself and her mum in the same video.

Meanwhile, three days ago, Stephanie’s mum reacted to allegations made by her daughter that Mr. Suleman, promised to marry her.

In the video, which was recorded in Sapele, Delta State, the mother of the controversial ex-stripper claimed that she had not seen her daughter in the last three years.

She also described as untrue claims that she accompanied her daughter to the headquarters of Omega Fire Ministries in Auchi, Edo State, for an introduction ceremony.

She also said she had never been to the Omega Fire Ministries, nor met Mr. Suleman and added that anyone manipulating her daughter against the cleric would be exposed.  

She said, ‘I blame the devil for seeking to destroy my daughter. We have tried to get Stephanie to lead a normal life but it has not been possible. I will like to see Pastor Suleiman to apologise if they allow me see him so he can forgive my daughter and forget about the issue.”

Also, a group, Niger Delta Bishops and Ministers Forum, NDBMF, warned Ms. Otobo to stop “blackmailing” Apostle Suleiman. The President of NDBMF, Julius Ediwe, made the call in Port Harcourt recently.

He said, “We want to let Nigerians and the whole world to know that this is propaganda. It is false. As spiritual fathers in the land, we will not be quiet and watch a young girl, with whomever that is sponsoring her, spoil the name of a man of God. A man of God who has single-handedly stood in defence of Christians in this country, Africa and the whole world.”

Ms. Otobo was recently re-arraigned by the police with blackmail, threat to life, conspiracy, and intent to steal from Mr. Suleman.

She was arraigned alongside her associate, Wisdom Godstime, before Magistrate Kikelomo Bukola-Ayeye of the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Ms. Otobo and her co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each. The case was then adjourned to April 27 for commencement of trial.

This development comes a week after Ms. Otobo formally filed a petition asking police to investigate multiple allegations against the preacher.

In a letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, she accused Mr. Suleman of illegal procurement of abortion, threat to life, and attempted murder.

Ms. Otobo’s petition came days after she told journalists at a press conference that her relationship with Mr. Suleman ended after the preacher began to insist he wanted a sexual activity that involved a threesome.

Mr. Suleman has since denied having a relationship with her.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Army demotes officer

The General Court Martial, GCM, of the Nigerian Army on Friday passed a verdict demoting a captain, Mathew Aroye, to 2^ndlieutenant after finding him guilty of gross indiscipline.

The President of the GCM, Olusegun Adeniyi, a brigadier general, gave the verdict during its sitting in Maiduguri.

Mr. Adeniyi said: “Captain Aroye, having found you guilty of the charge against you and having listened to the presentation of your service record and your touching plea in mitigation, this court hereby sentences you to a reduction in rank to 2^ndlieutenant with four-year seniority on the rank.”

“The sentence is, however, subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided by Section 141 sub-section 2 and Section 152 sub- section 1A of the Armed Forces Act Cap 20 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Aroye, a combatant with the 118 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Gubio, was said to have taken sides with some disgruntled soldiers by unruly announcing that he had quit the army in November 2015 after his unit suffered a huge setback in the fight against Boko Haram.

Lekan Fatodu, the man who attacked Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in Lagos in January, has petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, asking him to eject Mr. Sowore from his office in the city.

Mr. Fatodu claimed Mr. Sowore has an office in the Ikeja GRA part of the metropolis allegedly being used to commit crimes and disturb the peace of neighbours.

Mr. Sowore has dismissed the allegation as a proxy attack from powerful political interests in Nigeria.

The March 6 petition was written and dispatched by Mr. Fatodu’s legal representatives, J.C. Ifeonu & Co.

The petition said Mr. Sowore had allegedly been using the house at 13A Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, to coordinate illegal activities.

“We reckon Your Excellency is aware that parts of the consequences of breeding criminality within that choice neighbourhood are a relentless social disturbance, agitation, and protests, which we strongly believe would adversely impact the peace and tranquillity that businesses and residents within the area have been enjoying all this while.

“We humbly urge Your Excellency to swiftly apply your good offices to investigate this complaint with a view to determining culpability and to bringing the full force of the law to bear upon the criminal elements involved in this circumstance,” Mr. Fatodu said.

But Mr. Ambode’s office denied receiving such petition.

“We are not aware of any petition from any Lekan Fatodu,” Habib Haruna, a spokesperson for the governor, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night.

This medium however learnt that when Mr. Fatodu tried to submit the petition to Mr. Ambode, he was ignored, and then advised to route his complaints to the police.

The petition came about two months after Mr. Fatodu attacked Mr. Sowore in Lagos and ended up at the police station.

Mr. Sowore told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that he was attacked by Mr. Fatodu and his gang over a report by Sahara Reporters which detailed how Mr. Fatodu was allegedly used as front by former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, to corner public funds through the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

But Mr. Fatodu tweeted the same day that he “just got Sowore Omoyele of Saharareporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career.”

The police confirmed receipt of a petition bordering on criminal defamation from Mr. Fatodu, but summarily released all the parties that evening on the condition that they report back the same day.

When Mr. Sowore arrived at the State Criminal Investigation Department that was handling the matter, the police said they were more interested in “mediation”, asking Mr. Sowore to meet Mr. Fatodu to resolve their differences.

Mr. Sowore refused, saying the police was dishonest in the handling of the case.

Mr. Sowore’s attorney, Femi Falana, said on January 12 that the allegations of threat to life, criminal libel and extortion stated in Mr. Fatodu’s petition were false.

In his petition to Mr. Ambode, Mr. Fatodu admitted the police were yet to complete investigations into the defamation case, but said he was writing to support the governor’s efforts against crimes.

But an official in the governor’s office said Mr. Fatodu should direct his petition to the police.

“What is the business of the governor in the petition about disturbance?” the highly-placed official queried. “He should direct his petition to the police.”

Lagos police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night the command was not aware of the latest petition by Mr. Fatodu.

Mr. Sowore said the police had so far failed to file charges against him because it was clear they had no basis to do so.

The publisher dismissed the content of Mr. Fatody’s petition as “a product of wild emotions, feeble attempt at victimhood and willful distortion of facts.”

Mr. Sowore told PREMIUM TIMES the building in question will be used as a civil technology laboratory centre, a project in which SaharaReporters is collaborating with a several civil society organisations.

The publisher said Mr. Fatodu’s petition was part of an orchestrated plot by powerful Nigerian politicians, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Dino Melaye, a senator.

Mr. Sowore said alleged “corrupt activities” of Mr. Saraki and others had become “a staple” on Sahara Reporters in recent weeks.

The platform had published several reports around the activities of Mr. Saraki and Mr. Melaye, including claims that the Senate President drew questionable accommodation allowances from tax papers and also sought to circumvent duties on importation of exotic vehicles.

Sahara Reporters was also responsible for Mr. Melaye’s brewing university degree scandal.

Mr. Saraki’s media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, denied Mr. Sowore’s allegations that his principal was sponsoring Mr. Fatodu.

“Outright lie. No iota of truth in it,” Mr. Olaniyonu said in a short message to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night.

Calls and text messages to Mr. Melaye were neither answered not replied to Thursday night.

Suspected kidnappers of two Germans arrested in Nigeria

Peter Breuning, one of the kidnapped Germans

Two suspects allegedly involved in the kidnap of two Germans in Kaduna State have been arrested.

The State Security Services, SSS, in a statement said on Wednesday that it arrested Ibrahim Sule and Bello Shehu for their alleged roles in the kidnap.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the kidnap of the two German archaeologists, Peter Breuning and Johannes Brehinger, on February 22 in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Two locals who tried to prevent their abduction were killed.

The Germans were later released by their abductors.

The security agency said the suspects were being questioned to establish other possible members of the network

The man's car was pulled over by his driver before he jumped into the lagoon

The body of a man who jumped into Lagos Lagoon has been recovered.

Allwell Orji, a medical doctor, jumped into the Lagos Lagoon Sunday evening after ordering his driver who drove him to the bridge to pull over.

Efforts by the various emergency management agencies to recover his body had proved abortive.

Earlier, family members of the late medical doctor had said that a body recovered was not that of Mr. Orji.

But the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Wednesday said the late doctor’s body was recovered around 4:00 p.m. by the Marine Police.

Adesina Tiamiyu, General manager of LASEMA said, the body was identified and confirmed as his by family members of the late doctor.

“The body was identified by some of his family including the driver in the presence of the commissioner of Police Lagos State, Mr. Fatai Owoseni,” the LASEMA boss said.

He commiserated with family of the deceased.

Yung6ix Surprises Man That Gave Him 10k To Relocate To Lagos In 2009 With $10,000

KKTBM frontline hot rapper, Yung6ix just surprised a friend of his who gave him N10,000 he used to relocate to Lagos 8 years back.

The grateful rapper wrote:

“8 years ago @imblackking gave me 10,000 Naira to come to Lagos to chase my dream as an artiste, without that 10k there would be no Yung6ix today.

Showed him I’m grateful by giving him 10,000 dollars today. Strictly for motivational purposes only. Don’t just be great be grateful and don’t forget those who helped you when you were nothing.”

The happy man took to his Instagram account to pen down his appreciation.

Arsenal fans who are not happy with their trophyless position raised over £3,000 on Saturday to demonstrate against how their club is being ran, and also to persuade the Club’s French Manager, Arsene Wenger, to leave the club.

Some of the placards they carried for the demonstration read;

“Arsene 4th place is not a trophy, Arsenal FC not Arsene FC”, “Wenger out”

Big Brother Naija Contestant, Bisola had an emotional breakdown as she watched Thin Tall Tony get evicted from the show on Sunday night, She was inconsolable, especially as she watched him walk out of the doors, and indirectly, her life. Although she’s emotionally invested in Tony, she doesn’t know she was a pawn in his game. Twitter users blasted her display of emotion. See more hilarious tweets below:

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Sunday 28 May 2017