Ramadan Fast: Husband brutally beats wife over piece of fish

34-year-old Mrs. Fatima Bankole was on 16th of July battered by her husband, Alhaji Kamoru Bankole, for daring to take a piece of fish from the pot to break her fast. The victim is the first of his three wives, at their residence in Alasia, Ijanikin in Lagos State.

The attack happened when the third wife reported to their husband that their senior wife took a piece of fish from the soup to break her fast. The husband, according to witnesses, did not listen to her excuse before attacking her.

According to the victim, their husband had always physically abused her, but the incident of July 16th was more brutal.

She narrated that they had made a roster between two wives, due to the absence of the third wife who was away at the period, to cook for 15 days each. The victim said she had completed her period, and it was turn of the last wife. She said they would normally serve the husband first, followed by the children before the wives would serve themselves.

On the day she was attacked, Mrs. Fatima said the last wife had finished her cooking and served their husband and the children. She then went for her own meal. But soon after, the last wife complained to her husband that Fatima took a larger chunk of the fish in the pot.

Their husband, Alhaji Kamoru Bankole, queried her, but she said that she only took a little out of it, stating that the fish was in pieces and mixed in the stew.

Her explanations, however, got her in trouble with their husband. Alhaji Kamoru, she details, delivered several punches to her face. She said she bled for hours and was further locked up in a room for three days before she escaped.

She said neighbors then took her to the hospital for treatment. That was the cruelest from her history of experience of assault by their husband, Mrs. Fatima said. From experiences she recounted, she recalled how her hair was pulled out of her head, which resulted in grievous head injuries.

Saharareporters learned that police have now arrested the husband, following outcry and petitions by the Women Arise civil group in Lagos. He will be arraigned in court next week.

Boko Haram: FG procures 40 attack helicopters with night vision

President Jonathan's administration is truly determined to eliminate terrorism in the North East and smoke out Boko Haram terrorist from the hideouts as the federal government has ordered the procurement of 40 modern attack helicopters with capabilities for night operations and sound proof technology.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the attack helicopters which are being procured from the United states and Russia, would not only shore up the inventory of the Nigerian Airforce as a result of depletion following crashes and grounding of some of the existing helicopters due to maintenance challenges, but would also enhance the distance and reach capability of the NAF in the fight against insurgency.

It was further gathered that some of the aircraft will arrive in the country as early as next month while the remaining will be received certainly before the end of the year to boost the Nigerian Airforce.

The military and other security forces had expressed frustration that their inability to storm the notorious Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram militants are keeping the abducted Chibok secondary school girls and also serving as operational headquarters of the group was because noisy attack helicopters would enable the terrorists use their surface to air weaponry in the possession.

Government's action in procuring the equipment according to sources is that security operatives are not only aware of the locations of the girls but are also closely monitoring the way the girls are being moved around but are afraid of the backlash should any harm befall the girls in the course of a forced rescue.

Son tells mother not to visit him anymore because she is too ugly (photo)

A 63-year-old Chinese woman, Ding Liang got a rude shock recently when she was told by her son not to come visiting because she was too ugly and would embarrass him, according to local media, SMACK. Liang had traveled five hours from her village to meet her son and his newborn child in the Hangzhou province of China.

Years ago, her son moved to the city to pursue a college education – he did well at school, landed a job at a reputable car dealer shop and got married. When she attended the wedding dressed like a peasant, her son was very furious, refusing to recognise her as his mother.

Soon after, the son began to ignore Ding and the rest of the family back in the village. He would never call and hardly spoke to her even when she called.

"I don't mind, I know he has his own life now, so I understand that he doesn't call and only speaks to me when I ring him," Ding said.

"But when he rang me the other day to say that he had had a baby, I wanted to visit him and bring my.grandchild some gifts. He said I shouldn't come, that I would embarrass him because I'm too ugly."

On the day of her journey, Ding woke up at 4:00am and dressed in the clothes that she had purchased specially for the occasion. Unfortunately, she didn't have her son's address, and when she called him, he didn't answer the phone.

"Before 10am, I was wandering here and there searching. Two people asked me what I was looking for. I told them I was looking for my son who is a car salesman. Several others also tried calling him but he didn't answer.

One of them texted him pretending to be a potential customer, but he only got a reply stating that 'Chief Xu was on a business trip to Xiamen'."

Disappointed, Ding finally decided to return to her village with all the gifts and packages she had brought for her grandchild.

Man narrates how he was sentenced to death for failing to bribe policeman with N200

Calistus Ike, prior to 1989, had dreamt of becoming a very successful business man. Little did he know that he was going to spend 7 years as an awaiting trial inmate and another 16 years on the death row.

As the first son and bread winner of his family at that time, Ike, had all his dreams quashed after he was sentenced to death following his refusal to pay N200 bribe to the policeman that investigated an allegation against him.

Luck however shone on him when through the intervention of a France-based human right group, Avocats Sans Frontieres, ASFF, also known as 'Lawyers Without Borders France', the Edo state government, pardoned him and approved his release from prison in 2012.

Reliving the harrowing times he had in jail and circumstances that led to his conviction with Saturday Vanguard, this disconsolate erstwhile death row inmate, insisted that he
was innocent of the allegation that left him at the mercy of the hang-man, even as he called for a total overhaul of the criminal justice system in Nigeria.

Describing himself as a "lucky-survivor", Ike, who is now in his early fifties, stressed that so many innocent Nigerians are currently languishing in various prison facilities across the federation.

Narrating the story of his life, Ike said: "It happened to me in the year 1989. I was resident in Benin, the Edo state capital. There was a man that lived in the same compound with me. His wife had stomach problem and he asked me to lead him to somewhere to collect a root (herbal medicine) for his wife.

"We went there about 5pm. After escorting him to the place where he collected the medicine, I returned to my house.

"The next day, I went to do my business. I did not know that the same man had engaged police to look for me and the other man that gave him the root, a man I didn't even know. When I heard that police came to look for me, I inquired about the station they came from and went there myself.

"I reported myself and asked why they came to look for me. They told me that there was an allegation that I conspired with the man we collected medicine from his house and broke into my neighbour's house - who was the same man I accompanied to get the roots for his wife - and stole his properties.

"I never knew that they had equally arrested the man that gave us the root. Thereafter, the policeman handling the case insisted that I must write a confessional statement otherwise he would deal with me. I refused to write anything. I told him that I would only narrate the exact thing that happened.

"It was at that juncture that he started beating me with 'Koboko'. He flogged me mercilessly that day. I was tortured until the D.P.O in charge of the station asked him to stop and just take my statement.

"After I gave them my statement, the same policeman that flogged me, came back and said that he could not find any evidence to pin the alleged crime on me. He said that he had concluded all the investigations and found nothing against me.

"However, he said I should give him N200 so that he would drop the case and allow me to go home. Remember, we are talking about 1989. As at that time, that amount was big money to me. So, I told him I had no such money to give out. I stood my ground that I was innocent of the charge and even asked them to take me to court if indeed they thought that I had a case to answer.

"Within two days, the policeman took the matter to court. We went to court, at the Magistrate court, the policeman freed the other man I was accused with and pinned the whole charge on me.

"From the Magistrate court, he took me to the Military Tribunal where the case changed overnight. From the original allegation of 'burglary and theft', I was charged with armed robbery.

"Whereas the Policeman and that my compound man whose properties were allegedly stolen, as well as his wife, testified before Tribunal, I had no one to testify for me. I was left with only God and no one else.

"After a long run of the trial, I was convicted and sentenced to death for a crime I never committed or even imagined. I never for once had such dream for my life, but I was condemned to death.

"Nonetheless, my faith in God never wavered, I kept asking him to vindicate me. I was in death sentence cell in Edo state for over 14 years. After then, I was transferred to Enugu prison.

"One day, I was there, inside the prison with other inmates when information got to me that there were some people from France that were helping inmates in Benin prison. I quickly called my brother and asked him to take my plight tothose people, maybe they could help me to regain my freedom.

"By the special grace of God, within three months, I was let loose from the grip of the wicked of this world and I thank God for it. What I however want Nigerians to know is that there is great level of injustice in our judiciary and because of that, many innocent people have died for crimes they never committed.

"Some of our lawyers are not helping matters. All they are interested in is money. Some cases they know they don't have the capacity to handle they will just force themselves into them and their clients will be condemned and killed.

"Before my very eyes, I witnessed executions that took the lives of over 48 young and energetic men and women. It is a painful thing to experience.

"I was released in 2012. After I was arrested in 1989, I stayed as awaiting trial inmate for seven years, and stayed on death row for 16 years.

"My case did not go up to the Supreme Court. It was tried by the military tribunal so I didn't even have the opportunity to go on appeal.

"My experience in the prison was very traumatic. That place is hell on earth! Some of the prison warders are very wicked- even though there are some good ones too. The bad ones are tormentors. They torment inmates at will.

"The food inside there is nothing to write home about. Roofs of some of the cells leak badly when it rains. Getting good medication is rather a luxury too big to imagine, except in critical cases or upon an order of the court. In the prison, every inmate is left to his own fate. Inmates are suffering badly even the awaiting trial inmates too.

"It hurts me when I see them on TV claiming that they are reforming the prisons. I am telling you today that they are doing nothing. Anyone that is so convinced that our prisons are better now should volunteer and spend a weekend inside any of our prisons. The hardship inside there is better imagined than experienced. I saw hell!

"If the government gets up now and say they are reforming prisons, they are doing nothing! I am saying this because I experienced it for 16 years on the death row".

There is no doubt that it is the case of men like Ike that has continued to sustain the debate for the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria, in view of the seeming legal loopholes that have made the call justifiable.

In a recent conference it held in
conjunction with the European Union, EU, in Abuja over the swelling number of inmates facing the capital punishment in Nigeria, the ASFF, said it had since 2011, launched a project with the aim of restricting the pronouncement of capital
punishment in the Nigerian justice system.

The 'Saving Lives' project which is being run in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and Access to Justice, has offered pro-bono legal services to over 140 detainees facing capital punishment.

The project is currently running in seven target states: Abuja, Benue, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau and Lagos.

The legal manager of the project, Mr. Kola Ogunbiyi, said the group was able to engage prerogatives of mercy committee members in the target states.

Lil Wayne to launch sports management biz with Christiano Ronaldo as first client

Cristiano Ronaldo is about to become a Young Money Cash Money Billionaira.

Lil Wayne is reportedly starting his own sports management agency and has signed up Cristiano as his first client.

According to TMZ , Weezy, who is a huge sports fanatic, has been wanting to get into sports management and has had his sights set on the Team Portugal player not just because he is a huge sports star, but because they are friends.

Wayne has partnered with Polaris Sports, which is affiliated with CAA and GestiFute, the company where
Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes works.

Wayne's company will handle Ronaldo's sports management affairs in the U.S. including marketing, endorsement deals, and even modeling.

Earlier today, Ronaldo tweeted a photo of himself with the Prime Minister of Japan holding up the Young Money sign.

"My homie Christiano Ronaldo got the President of Japan throwing up Young money! He too real 4dat! Young Muulah baby!" tweeted Wayne.

He won't be the first rap mogul to venture into the world of sports. In 2013, Jay Z teamed up with CAA to launch Roc Nation Sports, which is home to Kevin Durant, CC Sabathia, Skylar Diggins, and Victor Cruz.

Photos: Troops arrest suspected Kaduna bomber disguised as a woman

The Nigerian military in a statement released on its website says it has taken into custody a man dressed as a woman who is suspected to be connected with the Wednesday bomb blast targeted at former Head of state, General Buhari. Read the statement below...

Troops are holding a man suspected to be connected with the explosion targeted at General Buhari on Wednesday. The young man who was apprehended by military patrol team that swooped on the area immediately after the explosion, had disguised as a woman clad in female garb to exude femininity with a brazier affixed to his chest.

The suspect was arrested while trying to fizzle into a crowd of onlookers when the patrol team arrived the scene. Youths in the area attempted to mob him while he was being arrested but were restrained by troops who quickly whisked him away in an armoured personnel carrier.

He is currently being interrogated by security agencies in a bid to ascertain his links.

Lupita Nyong'o named the 33rd Hottest Woman of 2014 by Men’s Health Magazine

Lupita Nyong'o is the most beautiful woman in the world, according to People, and also one of the hottest women for the year 2014.

Men's Health Magazine has unveiled its list of the Hottest Women of 2014 and taking the number 1 spot is none other than Shakira.

According to the publication, the Colombian singer and mum of 1 ranks high for her hips which don't lie.

Kenyan actress Lupita who won an Academy award for her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave takes the 33rd spot.

"This 12 Years a Slave breakout star is on the fast track to becoming an enduring icon: She's undeniably elegant, amazingly talented, and someone we're all eager to see more of." says the magazine.

Making it to the top ten are Kerry Washington (2), Kate Upton (3), Sofia Vergara (4), Jana Kramer (5), Emily Ratajkowski (6), Emilia Clarke (7), Erin Andrews (8), Mila Kunis (9) and Beyoncé (10).

Photo: Check out Nicki Minaj's racy cover art for "Anaconda"

Nicki Minaj proves she is bootylicious, rocking a pink halter neck crop top and a pink thong which put her butt on full display the rap star presents the cover art of her new single - Anaconda dropping on the 28th of July. See full photo below...

IG of Police MD Abubakar and wife welcome baby boy

Inspector General of Police MD Abubarkar and his wife Zarah welcomed their first child together - a baby boy yesterday, July 23 in Atlanta, USA.

The IG who was recently pictured controlling traffic in Abuja, according to sources will leave Nigeria tonight to re-unite with his wife and child.

The couple got married in September 13, 2013. Congratulations to them.

Updated: Bomb blast rocks Kano motor park

An unidentified woman was killed and eight others were injured when a high calibre improvised explosive device concealed in a Refrigerator went off at New Road motor park, Sabon Gari area of Kano metropolis.

The incident which occurred around 3:00pm led to pandemonium in a commercial city.

New Road motor park was the scene of a deadly blast last year where no fewer than 70 lives were lost.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that a truck pusher wheeled the refrigerator into the park beating security checks by both security agents and the park management.

Buhari narrowly escape death in Kaduna bomb blast

Two explosions ripped through parts of Kaduna State yesterday, killing at least 70 people.

The first explosion targeted a popular Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, while the second targeted a former Head of State, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Both men escaped unhurt in the blasts that forced the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the city.

Scores of people were injured and over 50 cars damaged in the incidents. The state police command put the death toll at 40 while the Federal Government, through the National Information Centre, said 14 people were injured.

Two of Buhari's bodyguards and an aide were among the wounded. His Toyota Prado jeep was also hit by a suspected bomber near the 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army in the Kawo area of Kaduna.

There were two accounts of how the bomber attacked the motorcade of Buhari, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress.

While one had it that the bomber, on sighting Buhari's convoy hauled explosives at it, the second claimed that the bomber rammed his Toyota Sienna into the motorcade.

An eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Idris said, "The suicide bomber hauled explosives at the convoy of the former Head of State but one of the cars in the convoy and a Toyota Prado conveying Buhari were hit.

"He was shielded into a Toyota Sienna that took him away from.the scene."

Another witness, who did not want his name in print, said the bomber rammed his vehicle into the convoy of the general, hitting his jeep and
others cars.

"In fact, a car in the convoy was badly damaged. Buhari escaped narrowly. We doubt if his security operatives escaped unhurt".

Bauchi had delivered a Ramadan lecture (Tafsir) at the Murtala Square and was driving through the area in an open-roofed vehicle, greeting well-wishers when his attacker struck.

Eyewitness said the lone bomber,who rode on a motorbike followed the convoy of the cleric after the lecture. He was said to have been blocked by security operatives who suspected him but he forced his way through the crowd and detonated his explosive.

Security operatives were seen conveying the wounded to a nearby hospital and the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for treatment.

The security forces retaliated by firing tear gas canisters.

Photos: Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido finally meets President Jonathan

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, yesterday visited President Goodluck Jonathan for the first time, since he became the Emir of Kano.

Sanusi, was one of the northern traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar III to join the president at the Presidential Villa, for the breaking of Ramadan fast. See more photos below...