Yaya Toure Beat Mikel Obi, Victor Moses To Win 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year

Yaya Toure has won the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

The Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder, who had been nominated in each of the past four years, beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi and Jonathan Pitroipa to this year's crown.

The 30-year-old told BBC Sport: "I think I've been nominated for five years in a row and finally winning the award is amazing.

"It's a fantastic achievement because I don't think there has ever been as many quality African players in top-level international football as there are now: Aubameyang, Pitroipa, Mikel, Moses, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho... we have fantastic players.

"I also think African football is improving and that means a lot to us. And as an African, I'm very happy."

Enterprise Bank Sacks 150 Staff

Enterprise Bank Ltd., one of the nationalised banks, has retrenched about 150 workers.

Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday showed that the affected workers were part of the 250 staff nationwide pencilled down for rationalisation.

Sources close to the bank told NAN that the sack caught across all units of the bank.

At some of the branches on the Lagos Island, workers who confirmed the rationalisation, said that fear and apprehension had enveloped workers in most of the branches.

He said that the bulk of them were living in fear as the management could call on anybody to resign.

Efforts by NAN to confirm the reasons for the retrenchment from the banks’ management proved abortive.

Gov. Oshiomhole Shares Coffee with “Go & Die” Widow, Gives Her ₦2 million [PHOTO]

Call it medicine after death or damage control measures – one thing that is certain is Mrs Joy Ifile’s life would never remain the same again.

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole this morning invited the widow he told to ‘go and die’, Mrs Joy Ifile to the State house where he gave her an automatic job and also donated the sum of ₦2m to her. The Governor invited her to his office, so that he could personally apologise to her.  In his words, Oshiomhole said;

“Let me apologise to you for the way I spoke to you. I am very sorry about the statement. I have also realised that even in anger, one could still achieve the same result that he set out to without provocative outburst. I apologise from the bottom of my heart, but sometimes you get angry when people compromise your efforts.”

New Music Video: Olamide – Turn Up

See the video for Olamide’s song, “Turn Up”

Malawian President Donates Money She Received From Nigeria To Victims of 2011 Shootings

Malawian President, Joyce Hilda Banda has proved once again that leadership is not just about self-aggrandisement but being responsible to the followers and the same time making needful sacrifices.

The 63-year-old leader recently donated the sum of $75,000 to victims of July 20, 2011 shootings in which 20 people died and several others injured in her country.

"My heart goes out to all of you who were affected by the shootings on 20 July 2011. I know you face a lot of challenges following the loss of your loved ones some of whom were breadwinners for their families," she said.

Amadi Jennifer Enuolare wins Miss Nigeria Ghana 2013 Beauty Pageant [PHOTOS]

The Miss Nigeria Ghana 2013 beauty pageant came to an end weekend when Amadi Jennifer Enuolare emerged as the new queen. Jennifer, who is an orphan, was able to beat the other 35 contestants in a fierce competition.

The new Miss Nigeria Ghana is from Rivers State, Nigeria and currently a student of Knutsford University College, Accra, where she is studying Human Resource Management.

The theme for the event was ‘Beauty Made in Nigeria’, and indeed Nigerian young women schooling in Ghana were at their best, representing each of the 36 states of Nigeria.

Jennifer represented Delta state.

See more photos on the flip.

Rapper Wale not interested in Nigerian Women + His Performance with Seyi Shay [VIDEO]

While chatting with Toolz on The Beat 99.9 FM, the US-born Nigerian rapper was asked if he would hook up with any Nigerian woman in the course of his short stay in Nigeria and he responded with an emphatic ‘No’. 

The rapper also added that he’s currently single and not looking to date anyone for now. ‘I’m single right now. I’m cool though, I’m just focusing on this music right now,’ the rapper says.        

Also, check out Wale performing ‘Bad’ with Seyi Shay at Johnnie Walker's ‘Step Up 2 Vip’ Event

8-year-old Amarachi Uyanne Releases The Video for Her Single “Dance”

Winner of the maiden edition of Nigeria's Got Talent Reality Show, Amarachi Uyanne is back with a video to her first single ‘Dance’.

The video was directed by Clarence Peters.

Check it below; 

FIRS Chairman must be a Northerner – Northern Governors Forum

Despite pleas from President Goodluck Jonathan, the Northern Governors Forum are bent on rejecting Mfon Akpan as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the governors are insisting the position must be filled with a northerner.

After a meeting of the Northern Governors forum on Saturday, the senators vowed to resist the appointment of President Jonathan's nominee as it allegedly violated the Federal Character principle.

A senator who spoke anonymously said, “We are united this time round on the FIRS slot going to the North, after the South-south has occupied it for almost 10 years.

“Also, on merit, we want to know why the acting FIRS Chairman, Kabir Mashi, who had shot up the revenue of the agency from above ₦3.4 trillion to about ₦6 trillion, is not qualified.

₦100m Suit: Etisalat Reacts to Claims by Comedian Julius Agwu

Etisalat, one of the Telcos in Nigeria has reacted to Julius Agwu’s seven day ultimatum to the company that it should compensate him with the sum of ₦100 million or risk legal action over “alleged unlawful and unjustified blocking and/or swapping” of his Etisalat GSM phone number 08189555555. See the story here.

Agwu demanded the compensation through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, due to what he termed lost of business opportunities and the inconvenience experienced by him during the period.

Etisalat’s Public Relations Manager, Chineze Amanfo, while reacting to the allegation through an email sent to PM News, stated that contrary to the reportage of the issue on the blogs and news sites, a SIM swap was performed on the said line after the requester provided the company’s customer care executives with necessary SIM replacement information, in accordance with laid down NCC regulations and process for SIM swap.

“All Catholics Will Go to Hell, Pope Francis is an Anti-Christ” – Rev Chris Okotie

All Catholics in the world will go to hell because they worship Satan and are led by an Anti-Christ Pope who is a friend to the devil, Nigeria’s controversial preacher and former presidential candidate, Chris Okotie, told his congregation on Sunday, leaving members bewildered.

Fifty-five year old Okotie, while preaching in his Household of God Church in Ikeja area of Lagos, western Nigeria, said the Catholic Church is “a counterfeit church set up by Satan” and that Catholics “bow to idols and crucify Jesus every Sunday when they eat bread claiming they are eating Jesus’ body.”

“They are not Christians and have never been,” Okotie told a stunned congregation.

“They don’t know Jesus. They believe that when they eat bread on Sundays, they are eating the body of Jesus. It’s ritual,” Okotie said.

Sex Worker Steals ₦850,000 Gold Chain, Hides it in Her Vagina

Like a scene from a vulgar drama, 26-year-old Tessy Emorvon, who allegedly stole a gold necklace shocked operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos State Police Command, when she suddenly dipped her fingers into her vagina and produced the ₦850,000 necklace after several days in detention in another police station.

She was re-arrested by detectives at SARS, Ikeja when the owner of the gold necklace, Cosmos alerted them that she had been granted bail.

Trouble started when Cosmos, her boyfriend, realized that the gold necklace that he wore while having sex with her was missing. He raised the alarm and the occupants of the hotel, including Tessy, were arrested. They were all searched and the gold chain was not found. Not satisfied with their claim that they were not aware of where the gold chain was kept, Cosmos quickly alerted the police at Area F, Ikeja.

New Music Video: Sarkodie Ft John Dumelo & Selasi – Ask Dumelo

Here is a new video from Sarkodie featuring Ghanian actor, John Dumelo and Selasi – the video was directed by Juice Bigfellow.

Akon Denies Discriminating Against Dark Skinned Video Models in Ghana [VIDEO]

Coming on the heels of their recent video shoot in Ghana, Akon and Nigerian singer, Wizkid came under fire for allegedly requesting for only light skinned models to feature in the music video.

However, in this brief interview with TMZ, Akon denied the claims – check the clip out.

Akon -- I'm No Hater... I Love ALL Shades Of Black - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

Nigerian Community in Zimbabwe Asked The Government Not To Kick Them Out

Simon Udemba, president of the Nigerian Community in Zimbabwe, has urged the government to reconsider its ban on foreign businesspeople in some sectors.

"I would like to plead with the Zimbabwean government and people to be considerate in effecting this exercise," Udemba told AFP.

"As an African and resident of Zimbabwe I am particularly concerned if the approach will be economically beneficial for the country."

He said Nigerians in Zimbabwe are contributing to the development of the country and that they should not be forced out of business.

"I believe Nigerians are providing necessary services. Nigerians have been here with Zimbabweans through all these years of isolation by the West, they never deserted Zimbabwe," he said.

New Music Video: Banky W - Jasi

Two Nigerian Students Drown in Volta River, Ghana [PHOTO]

Two Nigerian students schooling at Knutsford University College, a private university at East Legon in Accra, on Friday drowned in the Volta River at Akosombo, a popular tourist destination in the Eastern Region.

The Nigerians, identified as Edward Alele, 22, and Charles Honesty, 20, were among 200 third-year students who had visited Akosombo as part of the school’s SRC Week celebrations.

According to sources, after their normal tour of some important tourist sites at Akosombo, the students converged on the Afrikoko Hotel at Akosombo for lunch.

The source explained that some of the students had wanted to use the hotel’s cruising boats, but after being told that each passenger was to pay GH¢10 for the cruise across the Volta River, the students thought it was too expensive and therefore abandoned the plan.

Tweet of The Day: Julius Agwu On Women

New Music: Ashanti Ft. Rick Ross – I Got It

Ashanti has released her new single titled, “I got it” – the track features Rick Ross, and is taken off her upcoming album, Braveheart.

Listen to the joint ryt here;

₦20.6 Trillion Fraudulently Transferred out of Nigeria in 10 Years – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday said about $129 billion (N20.6 trillion) was fraudulently transferred out of Nigeria in the last 10 years through various sources.

The commission, quoting Global Financial Integrity, based in Washington D.C., cited some of the sources to include tax avoidance, corruption, tax evasions, illegal mining activities, drugs and human trafficking.

In 2012 however, the commission collaborated with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to address illicit financial flows out of the country and recovered about $13 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities.

Asari Dokubo Arrested in Benin Republic

A former Niger Delta militant, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Tuesday Afternoon by Beniniose police also known as gendarmes.

According to a statement released by Mr. Dokubo-Asari’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, the former militant who also owns a university in the West African neighbouring country, was picked up sometimes between 1 and 2 p.m. around the Lubeleyi roundabout and taken to an unknown destination.

“We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries on legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin Republic for many years now. In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country,” a statement by Mr. Keyamo read.

Mr. Keyamo also stated that Mr. Dokubo-Asari’s detention is politically motivated and a bid by unidentified individual working with the Beninoise authorities to “keep him away as 2015 approaches.”

Manchester City has signed Nigeria U17 Striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, says father

Manchester City has completed a deal for 17-year-old wonder kid Kelechi Iheanacho, according to the player's father.

Kelechi caught the eye of clubs across Europe with his performances at the Under-17 World Cup, where his six goals helped Nigeria claim victory in the United Arab Emirates.

Previous reports have suggested Manchester United, Chelsea and Porto wanted to land the young forward, but now according to his father it is Manchester City who have secured his services.

9ice Warns All Blog/Websites Owners To Stop Uploading His Songs

Check out New Photos of Yoruba Actress, Mercy Aigbe

See one more photo on the flip.

Gunmen attacked Stella Oduah – FCT Police Command

The FCT Police Command on Monday in Abuja confirmed that gunmen fired shots at the car of the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah in Abuja.

A Police Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the incident occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday, adding that the Minister was not in the car when the incident happened.

Ms. Daniel, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, however, said that the incident was reported to the police Monday evening at about 5:30 p.m.

Confirming the incident, the minister’s spokesperson, Joe Obi claimed that the shooting took place at Ministers’ Hill in Maitama area of the Federal capital territory, Abuja.

It was not clear if the vehicle was the Minister’s private car, or an official one, but Ms. Daniel also said Ms. Oduah was not in the vehicle when the incident took place.