Abandoned body found in suitcase at Tokyo station

A worker at Tokyo Station got an unpleasant shock after he opened an abandoned suitcase that no one had claimed for a month. He opened it and found the decomposing body of an elderly woman inside. The yellow suitcase had been left in an open coin locker near the station’s Marunouchi South Exit in late April, when it was picked up by an employee of the company that manages the lockers.

The suitcase was originally left in a station locker, but after no-one returned to claim it, it was taken to left luggage and opened by staff.

"There was an abnormal odour when we opened the suitcase. Then we saw hair," an unnamed employee told reporters.

The victim was a woman aged between 70 and 90 and about 140cm (4ft 7ins) tall.
She had been folded into a yellow suitcase measuring about 70cm by 50cm by 25cm.

Police said there were no obvious injuries to the body, and were investigating the cause of death.

Police were also examining security camera footage to try to determine who left the case behind.

The locker company employee said the suitcase was not in the locker on the morning of April 25 — the day before it was found — narrowing the timeline for its placement.

We lack power for now to display Buhari, Osinbajo’s assets - CCB

Those who asking the new president and his deputy to publicly declare their asset will have to wait a bit longer as the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, which keeps custody of the assets declared by the two leaders, says it lacks the power to make them public for now.

Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Sada, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard through his Special Assistant, Mr. Gwimi Sebastian Peter, said only the National Assembly is vested with the powers to decide the terms and conditions under which such documents could be made public.


The chairman said even though the Constitution of Nigerian made it clear that the agency should make available to the citizens the assets declared by public officials, the same law vested the National Assembly with the power to decide the terms and conditions for making such materials public.

Sada explained that the CCB was ready to comply with the terms and conditions specified by the National Assembly on the matter but would only do so once the law was amended. He said:

“While the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act give the bureau powers to receive assets declarations, verify, examine, keep in custody and enforce compliance when there is a breach, the responsibility of determining how and on what terms asset declarations will be made accessible to the public was left to the National Assembly. “Several National Assemblies have come and gone since the establishment of the CCB without addressing the matter.”

Caitlyn Jenner breaks world record by becoming the 1st person to hit 1m twitter followers within 4 hours

Caitlyn Jenner formerly known as Bruce Jenner, broke the world record formerly set by Pres. Barack Obama by becoming the first person to garner 1 million Twitter followers within four hours. The 65-year-old reality star gushed about this feat on the new twitter handle @Caitlyn_Jenner.

President Buhari Summons All Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned all the service chiefs to meet with him at the Defence House in Abuja on Tuesday as their new commander-in-chief.

Military sources say the service chiefs are likely be asked to go (retire) or they may voluntarily opt to give way to new blood following the president’s wish for them to relocate their Command and Control Centre to Maiduguri, the Maiduguri State capital and epicentre of the Boko Haram killings.

A military sources say Buhari is not happy with them:

“It is an attempt to frustrate and humiliate our chiefs before sacking them. Some of us have analysed the speech and our conclusion is (that) President Buhari did not appreciate the efforts put in place in fighting the terrorists.

“In the whole speech, he did not commend us at all but instead seemed to agree with the cynics that we have not been observing human rights in our operations and he went further to praise our counterparts in neighbouring countries who are not in the theatre of operation,” said a top military source who craved anonymity. 

“As if that was not enough, President Muhammadu Buhari said he wants our Command and Control Centre to relocate to Maiduguri; what for? We are involved in about nine operations in the country; now if the directive is carried out, then our focus will primarily be on terrorism at the expense of other criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, piracy, pipeline vandalism and others.”

Although some military watchers were expecting the president to appoint their replacements last Friday shortly after his inauguration as president, this was not to be for strategic reasons, but today’s meeting may be the last they would have with him.

According to an informed military source, President Buhari’s plan to relocate the Command and Control Centre to Maiduguri, to rev up the fight against the Boko Haran insurgency, did not receive the support of the military high command.

In his maiden speech last Friday, Buhari argued that victory over the Boko Haram would remain a mirage until the service chiefs relocate to the theatre of operation.

On the insurgency, Buhari had said: “Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory cannot be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The Command Centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and (will) remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued.”

The speech was hailed by those at the Eagle Square, but military sources are not happy with the directive.

Day One: Buhari operates from Defence House

Rather than operate from Aso Villa as is the custom, President Muhammadu Buhari marked his first official working day from the Defence House in Abuja.

But is said to be ready to take some critical decisions by the end of this week

Fathia Balogun is still in love with Saheed Balogun, admits she can still sleep in his bed

                                 Saidi & Fathia                                               Saidi & New wife, FunkeA few days back it was reported that the ex-lovers were done with their marriage for good, well actress Faithia Balogun is saying something else. Even Saidi claims to have moved on (he is now married to one Funke Tayo Sofowoa, an accountant), Faithia is still in love!
See excerpts from her latest interview with City People below:

What is your relationship now with Saidi Balogun?

Saidi Balogun is my kids father. He is my friend and my mentor. He thought me so much. He is going to remain my best friend.

You still bear his name, what will you say about it?

Do you want me to drop the name?

No I am just asking, why don’t you want to drop the name?

Why will I drop the name? I have two beautiful kids, Khalid Balogun and Aliyah Balogun, so tell me why I am going to drop Balogun.

The father of your children had an accident, what actually led to the break up?

Hmm… I want to say something today, I don’t really want to talk about my relationship with my children’s father. It is a thing of the past and I don’t really want to talk about it. Saidi and I are best friends, and it is going to be like that. Fine, he had an accident, and I was there all through, we were together. Let it just be like a natural and normal thing. We are friends and that is just it.

Have you been married before?

Yes

Were you ever divorced, what happened between you and Saidi Balogun?

Nothing happened between us, nothing.

Assuming you are in the American Embassy and you are being asked, are you still married?

Yes we are married

You personally?

Yes we are still married. I am in the embassy abi?

Is Fathia Balogun still married?

Yes I am married 

To who?

To Saidi Balogun

There is a story we gathered that Saidi Balogun is married. What would you say about it?

I don’t think so.

Have you gotten that news?

No. I think I am hereing it for the first time here.

You have not read it in the papers?

No

That he found a new love?

No

What if he now decides to get married?

Saidi is a Muslim, yeah. Even on our engagement day, it was said that ‘Mee ni Olorun wi, Saidi can marry 4 wives, 3, 20. Iya le ni mi (I am his first wife). They can come in it, doesn’t matter now.

Iya Kalid, Are you saying that you can walk up to him and say, ‘it is my turn to sleep in your house’

Ofcourse, why not? If it is my turn, it is my turn. If Saidi is married up to 1-10, won ma pin ojo ni. So, when it is my turn on Friday, no one would argue with me that Friday is not my day. Don’t you get, nobody will argue about that.

Graphic pics from armed robbery incident in Port Harcourt yesterday

Armed robbers stormed Agip junction area in Port Harcourt Rivers state yesterday June 1st. They raised some shops and killed a military officer during their operation. Graphic photo of the military officer killed after the cut...

Fayose Begs President Buhari to Save Him from Impeachment

When the man you insulted at will suddenly becomes the king of your village, you know you're in trouble. That's the dilemma of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

 

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are in a state of alarm over an conspiracy initiated by APC members in Ekiti State House of Assembly to remove Governor Fayose from office. 

Fayose who has been in a continuous clash with the members, acquired a court order that barred them from beginning the impeachment process.

Acting Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, while addressing a group of elected lawmakers at a party gathering in Port Harcourt alleged that "the Ekiti lawmakers" are presently camped at a location in Osun in preparation to be moved to Ekiti."

Mr. Secondus said the party considered it a criminal act if the Ekiti lawmakers are permitted to move forward with their intentions. 

"We call on President Buhari to intervene. As a Party, we will not sit down and watch democracy being derailed. We have been working on deepening democracy for the past 16 years. We must continue to deepen it and I call on you to deepen democracy." 

Mr. Secondus called on the Party to end throwing blames at one another and instead all of them should come together and work towards rebuilding the Party to become a better opposition.

Governor Fayose is seriously worried at the move and has pleaded with President Buhari to help him.

Armed robbers rape 18 year old Auxillary nurse in Lagos

An 18 year old Auxiliary nurse working at a hospital on Santa Maria Street, in the Egan, Igando area of Lagos State was allegedly raped by a gang of armed robbers that stormed the hospital last Thursday May 28th.

According to Punch, this will be the third time the hospital will be hit by armed robbers. The armed robbers reportedly gained entrance into the hospital after overpowering the security officer, then they moved from ward to ward, robbing patients of their valuables.


A worker in the hospital who spoke on the condition of anonymity said

“The girl was actually the one who went to the police station to report. She accused the management of the hospital of dereliction of duty and said she was raped by the men. She also alleged that the owner of the hospital did not provide adequate security for his workers and subjected her to mental torture by losing her virginity through rape.” The Medical Director of the hospital who was arrested after the incident but was released on Bail by the police , denied claims that the nurse was raped. "“It is an everyday affair here. The robbers come to the street almost every time to rob residents. It is the third time they would come to the hospital. They came in and dispossessed patients of their valuables. When the incident happened, we took her through some tests and discovered she was intact. She is still a virgin and nothing happened to her. It is just that as a young girl, she suffered some shocks and that is all. But if you heard she was raped, well, maybe she was a victim of circumstances and that obviously was not my fault. If I have a house and robbers raid my house and then rape somebody, is that my fault? I am doing all these because of the girl. And if it is her parents or anybody that spreading wrong information, I don’t think I am to blame. I have already tried my best.”he said

The Lagos state Police spokesperson, Kenneth Nwosu when contacted about the incident, said he wasn't aware of such report.

REVEALED: How Buhari Can Solve the Problem of Electricity

May 29th has come and gone. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is now a former president, and Nigeria’s prevalent electricity crisis is no longer his headache. The problem is now wholly owned by Muhammadu Buhari, the new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Thus far, Buhari has started on a good note, declaring in his inaugural speech that “Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians.” 

Clearly, President Buhari is inheriting dizzying catalogues of crisis on all fronts. However, considering the importance of electricity in national development as well as human life, the new government cannot afford the luxury of an extended study or any level of presidential honeymoon in the area of the current energy crisis.

There is an urgent need for immediate solution.

Truth be told, while it can be very apt to equate the past Jonathan government with every failure to proffer practical solutions in many areas, the team can hardly be faulted for the failure to identify and echo the problems. Thus, the last official press conference granted by the former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on the electricity crisis is very instructive. In his words, “Energy security must be addressed in a holistic manner…The first phase of the war has to do with the issue of gas pipeline vandalism and it may interest you to know that millions of dollars are spent fixing these gas pipelines on a monthly basis.” 

The point is that, even as the existing energy policy is fraught with various challenges, the situation no longer requires a rocket scientist to discern that the most immediate is that gas pipelines to Nigeria’s main feed to the National Power Grid are constantly being vandalized particularly along the Trans Forcardos and Escravos-Lagos axis. 

A corpus of research has pegged the main cause of pipeline vandalism to restless youths who are agitated because of a long history of neglect of host communities. The area is replete with high unemployment, abject poverty, inadequate social amenities, and environmental hazards. Various governments responded by establishing agencies, such as Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and Niger Delta Ministry. However, despite billions of dollars in annual budget, the programs are mired in all manners of controversy, including massive corruption, phantom projects, and gross neglect of the intended beneficiaries.

Unlike in the past, the issue of pipeline vandalism requires every sense of urgency and decisiveness. It is time to view the matter with similar lens as in an act of war. Not only has the current electricity crisis cost thousands of lives directly or indirectly, it has also resulted to billions of dollars more of incalculable loss to the national economy. Further, depending on the index of measurement, several studies have cited the linear cost of the sabotage anywhere from $7 to $24 billion per annum. Moreover, the pattern of vandalism and attendant epileptic power supply has historically discouraged both local and foreign investment in Nigeria. The objective fact is that the incessant vandalism of energy assets is a serious threat to national security and potentially worse than the Boko Haram menace terrorizing the country.

Accordingly, President Buhari should without any delay isolate the problem and inaugurate a presidential task force on Pipeline Vandalism. Such task force should include but not limited to some influential representatives from Niger Delta and other host communities. With new faces expected soon at the helm of the Niger Delta Ministry, the host communities can be reassured by also effecting necessary changes to the leaderships of both NDBDA and NDDC commonly associated with corruption and ineptitude.

In the process, the president should demonstrate the common sense leadership that has eluded Nigeria for ages. Buhari’s unique pedigree, the manner of his second coming, and charming political goodwill have combined to position him better than anyone in the national history to effectively influence followers towards the desired change. Influence! Now is the time to lead by influencing the people of the host communities with a clear message that crystallizes the impact of pipeline vandalism, sincerity of purpose, and the implications for the greater good.

The measures above should go in tandem with practical solutions. Of course, a permanent solution to pipeline vandalism ought to include 100% digital surveillance systems, but such approach requires longer time to install. Thus, the “quickest, safest and most cost-effective way” to curb the problem, at the interim, is to deploy with immediate effect Nigeria’s armed forces to fully safeguard every pole in the breadth and depth of the problematic areas along the Trans Forcardos and Escravos-Lagos axis of the pipelines. The phalanx can be augmented with ever-ready labour from the National Youth Service Corps or the other teeming unemployed graduates who are eager to work. The recurring costs of fixing the pipelines, current security, and other contingencies are well adequate to fund this proposal. The ancient idea of entrusting recreant militants with the nation’s oil and gas pipelines was never a solution in the first place.

Next, unlike the case of oil pipelines, there are no visible benefits to the perpetrators of gas pipeline vandalism themselves. The most likely justification is a possible conspiracy within the electric generator industry whose businesses thrive upon any drop on power supply. The other scheme resides within the maintenance structure that gulps about N1.5 billion per year for fixing vandalized pipelines. But these conspiracy theories have lingered for far too long. The cabals are well known. Their activities are traceable. It is time to unmask and met them with commensurate punishment once and for all.

Also important, similar to other countries of the world, Nigeria has in place specific anti-sabotage laws that address punishment for vandalism and conspiracy in the oil and gas sector. But a major Nigerian problem had been the absence of a leader with the will power to enforce the laws. This was exactly where and why Nigerian masses beckoned Muhammadu Buhari back to power. The president must seize the moment and work with relevant agencies to ensure that culprits face the full wrath of the law.

Yet, I pity Muhammadu Buhari here. True. Given his background, any mention of war or mere emphasis on punishment in relation to his presidency is sure to awaken critics who are anxious to castigate such notion as a perpetual vestige of the man’s military regime, serially discredited during the past election.

But Mr. President should not waver. Buhari does not need to be reminded that his impeccable track record against indiscipline remains the prime seal of his contract with the Nigerian masses. Moreover, not only is leadership contingent upon the prevailing environment, effective democracies are consistent with accountability, checks and balances and, of course, consequences. A mere tampering of electric meter in the State of Texas, USA, for instance, is treated as a felony let alone any threat to national security like the endemic sabotage of oil and gas pipelines. Where there are no serious consequences for bad behaviours, the bad behaviours usually worsen. And that has been the Nigeria’s Achilles’ heel for the longest time.

by Dr. SKC Ogbonnia

Dr. Ogbonnia is the Chairman of First Texas Energy Corporation

Lagos wife pours hot water on her husband for constantly beating her

An angry wife in Lagos identified as Esther Ehianuguan is reported to have poured hot water on her police officer husband identified as Charles Ehianuguan for allegedly constantly beating her.

According to reports, Charles, a police officer attached to Area F Police Command, Logistics and Supply Unit, Ikeja, Lagos was alleged to be physically abusive towards his wife. He allegedly beat her up on Sunday May 31st in public - at the Car Wash area in Egbeda-Idimu Lagos state.

Fed up with the constant abuse, Esther decided to take her own pound of flesh. She got to their house, boiled some water and waited for him to return home. Once she heard his footsteps approaching, she waited at the door and poured the hot water on him as he opened the door into their home.

The man has been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Jonathan lost because he refused to listen to us-Asari Dokubo

Former Niger-Delta militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has said the 2015 general elections were the most rigged in Nigeria.He also said former president Jonathan lost his re-electionbid because he did not take their advice.While speaking during a chat with the media in Owerri on Sunday, Asari who said he was in Imo to be part of the Biafra Day celebration with his Biafran brothers and sisters,said

“The figures were self evident. The figures clearly showed the manipulations. The elections were not free and fair. Also, the stage was set to manipulate the elections”, Our brother Goodluck Jonathan refused to listen to us. To him, the life of any Nigerian was not worth his election or ambition. For us, that was an abdication of his duties as President because we were also involved in the elections and we wanted a free and fair elections”

He also said when president  Jonathan should have taken action when he was humiliated,after four card readers were brought as he stood waiting and all of them rejected him.He said

“That was the time Dr. Jonathan ought to have taken action and stopped the fraud that INEC called an election. He did not do it. It was in the middle of a crucial match that the referee, Professor Attahiru Jega , who is from the same place with Muhammadu Buhari, issued a statement that if card readers cannot confirm your finger prints, then you can go on and vote”,

Vandalism of Govt House: Wike takes Rivers leaders on a tour of looted facilities (photos)

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike today took leaders of the state on a tour of the Government House, Port Harcourt allegedly vandalised by officials of the administration of the immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi. Lol. See more photos and a press statement after the cut...

The  Governor  took the  leaders to the Residential  Quarter,  Offices and the Banquet  Hall where key furniture, televisions and electrical  accessories were vandalised  by the  former  administration. 

The  prominent  Rivers  leaders on the  tour were the Deputy Governor, Dr Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo, former  Deputy  Governor,  Tele Ikuru,  former  Attorney-General  of the  , Frank Owhor,  Acting  National  Chairman of  PDP,  Uche Secondus,  Former  Minister  of  Sports,  Dr Danagogo,  Former  Minister  of  Trade and  investment,  Kenneth  Kobani and Rivers  State  PDP  Chairman,  Bro Felix Obuah. Former  Minister of  Transport,  Dr Abiye  Sekibo and Nigeria's  Ambassador to  South  Korea,  Desmond  Akawor  were also part of  the  tour. 

Speaking  with  journalists  after the tour, Rivers  State  Deputy  Governor,  Dr Mrs.  Ipalibo Harry Banigo berated officials  of the  immediate  past  administration  for embarking on the vandalism  of property  of government  at the Government  House,  Port  Harcourt. 

Immediate  Past  Deputy  Governor of  the  state,  Tele  Ikuru  regretted that officials of the Amaechi  administration  would stoop so low to steal furniture,  coat of arms, crested rugs and electrical fittings  in the Government  House. 

He urged the  governor  to take steps to ensure  that  all those involved  in  the  looting  of facilities  in the Government  House,  House,  Port Harcourt. 

Rivers  State PDP  Chairman,  Bro  Felix  Obuah  condemned  the  vandalism  of beds and furniture  at the official  quarter of the Governor. 

He said: "It is unimaginable  that the beds, chairs and official crested rugs in  the  Governor’s  official  quarters  were stolen. Even the foam they left is Mouka  foam, which they used to replace the  original  foam.

"This level of looting  is embarrassing  and must not go unpunished.  It is sad that officials  of the  last administration  will go that level in their quest to  destabilise  the  incoming  administration ".

At the  Banquet  Hall of the Government House,  Port Harcourt,  officials  of the  administration  had moved away more than 500 chairs and key tables from the facility  that takes 1000 persons.

Kitchen  accessories  in the  Governor’s  official  quarters  were  also  vandalised  by officials  of  the  former  administration. 

 

Picture 1. Vandalised  Banquet  Hall 

Picture 2. Vandalised  Kitchen 

Picture 3: Vandalised Television  Spot

Picture 4: Vandalised  Sitting  room  at Governor’s  official  quarters 

Picture  5: Governor  Wike  showing  leaders where looted golden crested rug use to be