Big Bammy's Blog: 2016-01-24

Saturday, January 30, 2016

#BBB NEWS| The Doctor Who Inspired ‘Concussion’ Is Willing To “Bet His License” That O.J. Simpson Has CTE Brain Disease

The curious case of O.J. Simpson’s alleged and actual indiscretions might all point back to a severe brain injury.

According to Dr. Bennett Omalu, the man who inspired Will Smith’s starring role in the film Concussion, Simpson is be suffering from the disease he discovered: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

In an interview with ABC News, Dr. Omalu was so confident in his hypothesis, that said he was willing to bet his license on it.

“O.J. Simpson is more likely than not to suffer from CTE,” Omalu said. “I would bet my medical license on it.”

Serena Williams suffered another upset on Saturday (Jan. 30) at the Australian Open after a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 loss to Angelique Kerber.

Right on the heels of tying tennis legend Steffi Graf’s 22 major title wins, Williams, the No. 1 rank, fell short to Kerber, who is No. 6. Following the match, Williams spoke with reporters about the high expectations fans and spectators have for her performance.

“Everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life. And as much as I would like to be a robot, I’m not, and I try to. But I do the best that I can. I try to win every single time I step out there, every single point, but realistically, I can’t do it. Maybe someone else can, but I wasn’t able to do it.”

Ten people were rescued while seven others were confirmed dead on Saturday, during a boat mishap which occurred in Badore area of Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos State.

The incident occurred at about 10.20am after the boat with 17 passengers on board took off from Ijede jetty on board Badore, Ajah.

According to eye witnesses’ account, the boat capsized barely few minutes after its take off from Ijede after which it allegedly ran into a heap of sand scooped together by sand scoopers.

Fishermen in the area were able to rescue four bodies on the spot while 13 were later recovered and hospitalized at the General Hospital, Ijede, Ijede Aeromedics and two private hospitals for medical attention.

Amber Rose is well known for giving Kim Kardashian competition in the bum department - and she showed off her world famous asset to the max on a recent outing in Los Angeles.

The blonde star left little to the imagination in some skintight gym gear, revealing her TINY waist and curvy behind.

The heavily tattooed star looked unphased by her recent Twitter row with ex Kanye West - as she jumped to the aid of her other ex Wiz Khalifa - and despite it all dying down, the star has spoken out to make it clear which side she's taking.

Speaking on the podcast Guys We F***ed, Amber admitted the only one of her exes she truly loved was Wiz Khalifa.

The royal highnesses 'Ooni Of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo' are both attending the wedding of Toolz, who is from the Oniru royal family in Lagos, to Tunde Demuren.

See more photos below..

Not confirmed what actually went down yet. But the people who attended the wedding are tweeting about it. From Noble Igwe to Lamide Akintobi.

According to reports, brothers Adejoro and Dokun Olumofin, who attacked Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi over her 'mogbo moya' comments earlier in the week, were allegedly asked to leave Tolu Oniru & Tunde Demuren’s traditional wedding by the groom and bride’s parents.

The brothers are yet to react to the story. See more tweets after the cut...

Check out the bride Tolu 'Toolz' Oniru's stunning look at her traditional wedding to Captain Tunde Demuren, ongoing at the moment.

See another photo after the cut...

Nigerian soccer star Kanu Nwankwo met with his former Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger in London during the signing of two new players, Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze, to the UK club.

The two youngsters were part of the Nigerian team that won the Under-17 World Cup in November last year.

See another photo below..

Kanye West is squadding up–no, not for a fight with Wiz Khalifa –for his album Waves.

On Friday night (Jan. 29), an epic meeting of the minds took place as Yeezy continues to gear up for his seventh studio album’s release. Thanks to the social media powers that be, photos from West’s studio session hit the Web, revealing that the music and fashion multi-hyphenate was joined by Andre 3000, Kid Cudi, Puff Daddy, 2 Chainz, French Montana and The-Dream.

But the most surprising of attendees was Kirk Franklin, causing us all to now take this tweet a little more seriously:

Despite all, we all need to thank God for keeping us safe through out the year says Adebiyi, a profound bass guitarist just released another feel good music titled 'Thank You'.

The song 'Thank You' was Produced by Patanybeat, mixed and mastered by Olalekan Eniola and also with the assistance of Kayode Akintoye on the keyboard. Beautiful background vocals by Sandra Oyiana, Tienacity, Amanda and Ruth Etuk was also featured on the song.

Listen/download below and feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below:

Chelsea have completed the signing of Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls. The USA international central defender has signed a four-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge and becomes Guus Hiddink's second signing of the January transfer window following the arrival of Alexandre Pato.

"I am very happy to sign for Chelsea, a world-famous club with a reputation for major success. I am delighted to be in the Premier League, the best league in the world, and can't wait to meet my team-mates and get going," the 20-year-old told the club's official website.

"I am still at the beginning of my career but I believe this is the place to develop and learn from some of the best players in the world."

Miazga joined the Red Bulls in 2009 at the age of 14 and rose through the youth ranks at the club before making his debut in 2013 as a substitute in the 4-1 victory over Houston Dynamo.

Angelique Kerber ruined Serena Williams' hopes of matching Steffi Graf's Grand Slam haul of 22 major titles with a shock victory in the Australian Open final.

Kerber became the first German to clinch a major since Graf won the last of her slams at Roland Garros in 1999 with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 success on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Saturday.

World No 1 Williams had battered five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals and fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals.

Tunde Demuren and his friends all dressed up at his Traditional wedding today as we await photos of the Bride - Tolu Oniru aka Toolz.

See more photos after the cut...

#BBB NEWS| Court Denies Kanu Of Radio Biafra Bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and his two other co-accused.

Kanu and two others are being prosecuted for treasonable felony and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession ‎of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

‎Justice John Tsoho in rejecting the accused persons’ bail application on Friday held that they were not entitled to bail as they failed to show that they would not continue to commit the alleged crime for which they were being prosecuted.

The judge also upheld the contention by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Mohammed Diri, who had opposed the bail application, to the effect that the accused were likely to interfere with and intimidate prosecuting witnesses.

The Publicity Secretary for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, was released on bail from Kuje Prison on Thursday.

His release followed his meeting the bail conditions set by the courts hearing his case.

#BBB NEWS| New Album Stream: Rihanna – ANTI

Check the stream of Rihanna’s new album “ANTI.” The album comes with 13-tracks and contributions from Drake, SZA, Travis Scott, Hit-Boy, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Boi-1da, DJ Mustard and more.

Stream below..

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, January 28, 2016 arraigned the duo of Aku Ben Aku and Philips James Aliku alongside their company, Al-Aminu Oil and Gas Limited, before Justice Sulaiman Aliyu Tukur of the High Court of Kaduna State, Kaduna on a five -count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N14, 602, 600.00 (Fourteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).

The offence is contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable Under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The first accused person, Aku, while being in the employ of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Board, allegedly registered a private company, Al-Aminu Oil and Gas, where he is a director.

Aku, allegedly conspired with the second accused person, Aliku, who is also a director of the company, and obtained the sum of N14, 602, 600.00 (Fourteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand, Six Hundred Naira) from the Federal Government on the pretence that the money was for the loading and selling of petroleum products by the filling station purportedly located on Madikiya Road, Kafancha, Kaduna State.

On Thursday, the former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (AKA Tompolo) announced his readiness to appear before a court to answer the various charges of alleged fraud and illegal fund diversion levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

In a statement issued by Tompolo’s Media Adviser and Consultant, Paul Bebenimibo, it was announced that the ex-militants lawyers were currently deliberating on the timing of his appearance before a court.

Tompolo’s decision to appear in court, according to Mr. Bebenimibo’s statement, was motivated by a respect the laws of the land and a desire to defend his innocence regarding the charges.

Mr. Bebenimibo dismissed as frivolous the claims by some ex-militant leaders, led by Africanus Ukparasia, that the bombing of oil and gas facilities in the Delta was carried out by Tompolo in an act of vengeance upon the Federal Government for bringing criminal charges against him.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written the National Assembly accusing the lawmakers of corruption, impunity, greed and of repeatedly breaking the nation’s laws.

In a letter dated January 13 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the former president specifically accused the lawmakers of fixing and earning salaries and allowances far above what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved for them.

He also alleged that most of the 109 senators and 369 members of the House of Representatives were receiving constituency allowances without maintaining constituency offices as the laws required of them.

Mr. Obasanjo was president between 1999 and 2007.

In the letter, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the former president said on a few occasion, both in and out of office as president, he had agonised over the massive corruption and lawlessness at the National Assembly and other arms and tiers of government.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has expressed concern that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Finance Minister & Coordinating Minister for the Economy, this week chose the path of a scurrilous personal attack on him for requesting the ICC to investigate the crimes against humanity committed by some former public officers.

In a letter to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Falana had called for the trial of past and current Nigerian officials, military and civilian, indicted in the investigation of the diversion of billions of dollars meant for purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram.

In the letter, he had said, “The failure of a former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to prevent widespread and systematic corruption including the re-looting of the Abacha loot amounts to complicity under the Rome Statute, and therefore fits the legal requirements of a crime against humanity.”

Rejecting the call two days ago, Okonjo-Iweala described it as a “desperate joke by an integrity challenged charlatan”.

#BBB NEWS| HighLites With IK: Feat. DJ Xclusive And VJ Adams [PHOTOS]

Its no longer new to find people have/do more than one job these days. They call one their regular job while the other is being refered to as a "Hustle".

On this weeks episode of Highlites With IK we take a look at the term "Hustle". Nigeria doesn't seem to have a lot of weird jobs (hustle) anymore as most of what would have been weird have sort of become acceptable.

Present on the couch on this exciting episode was Superstar DJ Xclusive and VJ Adams. They both have more than one "hustle" and this makes them appropriate for this theme.

They play a game with Ik (as usual) after the interview and we see the show end with VJ Adams performing his latest song.

Find below photos from the episode which airs on Friday at 8:30PM.

As humans, we’re allowed to change our minds. Kanye West being very human, is also allowed the same luxury even when it comes to his album.

Kanye West told fans his highly-anticipated seventh studio album would be called So Help Me God, then ‘Ye changed it to SWISH, and we all grew comfortable with that album title.

Then on Tuesday (January 26) Kanye pulled the rug from under all of us when he took to Twitter to let the world know his album is now called Waves.

#BBB NEWS| Olisa Metuh's Firm Among 78 Paid For Doing Nothing - NSA's Office

An official of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Bali Ndam, on Tuesday narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja the processes leading to the charges of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of the sum of N400m from the ONSA in November 2014, preferred against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Ndam, a Legal Adviser at the ONSA, who appeared before Justice Okon Abang as the third prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, said the incumbent NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, sent a petition dated November 28, 2015 to the commission over “payment of contracts without award”.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, the witness said “a list of companies and individuals about 78 in number” was attached to the NSA’s petition to the EFCC.

He said he could “vividly remember” that Metuh’s firm, Destra Investments Limited, with whom the PDP spokesperson is standing trial, was among the 78 beneficiaries of the allegedly ‎fraudulent payment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on January 26, 2016 presented more evidence against a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, who is being prosecuted on a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of funds, before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja.

Dariye, in addition to being accused of siphoning about N1.2 billionEcological Fund meant for the state, is also alleged to have diverted about N204 million meant for the state treasury, to Ebenezer Ratnen Ventures, ERV – a company owned by him.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the EFCC witness, Musa Sunday, a detective with the EFCC, gave details of how money meant for the Plateau State Government account, was diverted to ERV.

Sunday told the court that in the course of investigations into several cheque slips recovered from the then Lion Bank (now Diamond Bank), it was discovered that there were several questionable inflows into the account of ERV.

In Eritrea, the Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the country, declared that every man must marry two women or face a jail sentence. The declaration was leaked last Thursday on several social media platforms.

The Eritrean government will compensate Eritrean men for the marriage ceremonies and houses.

The declaration is motivated in part by the shortage of men which is a byproduct of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War which took placed from 1998-2000. The war left 150,000 Eritrean soldiers dead out of a population of only 4 million.

The statement referenced harsh punishments for refusal of the new decree.

In line with its commitment to offer quality products and shopping experience to its vast customers, Artee Group, in collaboration with Landmark Group from Dubai has launched a chain of fashion and lifestyle oriented stores in Port Harcourt Mall.

The launch event which took place recently was witnessed by business executives and media persons.

In his welcome address at the event, the Deputy Managing Director of Artee Group Mr Prakash Keswani expressed his pleasure at the successful launch of its three leading fashion brands – Babyshop, Splash and Lifestyle in Nigeria.

This Combo store is one of its kind in Nigeria where the three brands are housed under a single roof. Each of these brands – Babyshop, Splash and Lifestyle has different product offerings and caters to a distinct consumer group.

According to him, Babyshop caters to Mothers and to be Moms with fashion clothing, baby basic items, nursery items and toys. The brand houses Products which cater to 0 – 16 age group.

Gabrielle Union lives her life in front of the camera, meaning she’s on point at all times. Honestly, there seems to be no off days for the actress/producer.

However, whether she’s strutting down a red carpet or shooting a scene for Being Mary Jane or cheering on her hubby court side, Gabrielle always looks stunning (sans makeup, too). For the past 20 years, we’ve all been wondering just how the nearly ageless beauty remains so flawless with such a demanding career and grueling schedule. Finally, Union spilling the tea.

In a recent interview with ELLE Magazine, she gives the low-down on how she makes 43 look more like 20-something.

“I mean, it’s part genetics,” Union simply offered to the publication, agreeing with the age old adage that black simply doesn’t crack. “And it’s a blessing and a curse to have oily skin, but I’m starting to believe it’s like embalming fluid that’s sort of keeping me youthful looking.”

In an effort to expand his criminal justice reform, President Barack Obama announced a ban on juveniles in federal prison placed in solitary confinement.

In an op-ed that will appear in The Washington Post on Tuesday (January 26) Barack Obama says the common practice has devastating and psychological effects.

The president also outlined further actions that prohibit federal correction officials from punishing prisoners who commit “low-level” infractions with solitary confinement. While Obama’s reform applies broadly to the 10,000 federal inmates in solitary, only a handful of juveniles, 13 to be exact from September 2014 to September 2015, have been placed in confinement.

“How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people?” the president wrote. “It doesn’t make us safer. It’s an affront to our common humanity.”

#BBB NEWS| Ex-Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala Lashes Out, Slams Femi Falana As A Tool Of The Corrupt

Former Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday dismissed the well-respected legal luminary, Femi Falana, as “a tool of corrupt elements” whose interests were hurt by her anti-corruption fight while she was in office.

In a press statement signed by her media adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu, she described what she called Falana’s “malicious attempt” to mix her up in the $2.1 billion arms scandal of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in his letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as “a desperate joke by an integrity challenged charlatan”.

Describing herself as “a strong transparency advocate and anti-corruption fighter,” Okonjo-Iweala diagnosed Falana’s ailment as Chronic Cerebral Amnesia (CCA) because, according to her, he has no grasp of the facts.

“This misadventure shows that the so-called learned lawyer does not have any idea of what the mandate of the ICC is about,” she said, speculating that Falana resorted to the action because his previous efforts to tarnish her name failed because they were lacking in credibility.

The trial of a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of funds, continued on January 25, 2016 with the anti-graft agency presenting its witness before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Court, High Court, Gudu, Abuja.

Dariye is accused of diverting about N1.2 billion from the state’s Ecological Fund, to private companies and individuals.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the EFCC witness, Musa Sunday, a detective with the EFCC, provided details into the findings of the investigative team that probed the allegations against Dariye.

Sunday told the court that the EFCC had in September 2004 received a petition from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to wit the UK Metropolitan Police requested assistance of the Nigerian Government in investigating some companies linked to Dariye.

A 53-year old woman died of Lassa fever in Akwa Ibom State, according to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong.

Dr. Ukpong announced the woman’s death after informing members of the press that a task-force had just been created to tackle the issue of Lassa fever.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed next Friday January for ruling on the bail application brought by the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr. Kanu and two others are charged with treason.

The court today heard legal arguments over his bail application. Prosecution counsel Mohammed Diri argued that the application put up by the defence does not satisfy the requirements of the Evidence Act.

He urged the court to consider the weighty evidence against the accused, including a statement in which he admitted that he was a British citizen; that he sneaked into Nigeria without a passport, and that he was the operator of Radio Biafra in London, and asked that the application be refused.

The inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of the next Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, will take place at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja on Wednesday January 27 2016 at 10am.

A statement by Alh Isiaq Ajibola, Chairman, Media/ Publicity Committee, said that President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Senate President, Members of the National and State Assemblies, State Governors, Federal Ministers and Captains of Industry are expected at the occasion.

He recalled that as part of the handing-over preparations, the Kogi State government led by the outgoing Governor, Capt Idris Wada, recently set up a Transition Committee which has been meeting with a similar committee set up by the incoming governor, to ensure a smooth transition.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday opened its case with two witnesses against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in the charges of money laundering involving the sum of N400m which he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

The trial commenced before a Federal High Court in Abuja after the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, overruled objection by Metuh’s lead counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) to adjourn the trial.

Ikpeazu also informed the judge on Monday that since Metuh had been unable to meet the bail conditions granted him on January 16, the defence had filed an application for variation of the terms.

He urged the court to adjourn the proceedings as the inability of his client to meet the bail conditions had adverse effect on his preparation for the defense.

The prosecution led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application for adjournment and his objection was upheld by the judge.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kanye West has finally completed his seventh studio album. Taking to Twitter (which he usually never does, but has been doing often lately), West shared a photo of the tracklisting for SWISH.

Featuring 10 tracks, the album will include previously released songs such as “Wolves,” “Fade,” “Real Friends,” and “No More Parties In L.A.”

The rapper/producer/designer remained mum on collaborations on the project, as the newly-revealed track titles do not include featured artists. He did however, set the expectation bar for the album pretty high with his photo caption.

“So happy to be finished with the best album of all time,” he wrote.

In case it wasn’t clear that 50 Cent’s fury knows no bounds, it should be by now. As the G-Unit general’s bad blood with Murder Inc. boss Irv Gotti was reignited by way of 50’s recent social media onslaught against Meek Mill, the low blows are lower than ever.

Last week, Irv offered his two cents to Meek after the MMG rapper engaged in an Instagram back-and-forth with 50. Noting that his longtime nemesis is “better at lies and bulls**t” than Meek, Irv also pointed to 50 Cent’s alleged order of protection against Murder Inc. at the height of their beef. Needless to say, this led to 50 Cent sending shots Irv’s way.

50 Cent’s latest commentary however, was directed at Irv Gotti’s 82-year-old father. As the Murder Inc exec celebrated his father’s birthday, 50 had some less-than-kind wishes to offer.

“IRV said he a grown man and his father 82 years old,” 50 Cent wrote on an Instagram post that has since been deleted. “Tell you daddy I said hurry up and die punk. Let’s get to it no more IG.”

Chris Rock might not be stepping down from his Oscars hosting gig this year, but he will address the controversy.

According to a report by Entertainment Tonight, Rock’s preparations as Oscars master of ceremonies took a sharp left as actors expressed their discontent with the lack of diversity amongst the nominees.

Academy Awards producer Reginald Hudlin said that Rock had his material prepared a week before things boiled over, and went back to the drawing board to create more provocative material to match the provocative times.

“Chris is hard at work. He and his writing staff locked themselves in a room,” Hudlin said. “As things got a little provocative and exciting, he said, ‘I’m throwing out the show I wrote and writing a new show.'”

Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and the Lagos State Government have commended Diamond Bank Plc for its leading role in championing the intellectual development of children and the growth of art in primary and secondary schools.

Speaking at the Bank’s head office in Lagos, during the unveiling and announcement of the 2016 edition of the Vision of the Child (VOTC) painting and literary arts competition, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, stated that Diamond Bank’s initiative and sponsorship of the competition since its inception in 2012, is a testament of the Bank’s strong commitment to the future of children, pointing that such commitment serves as a wake-up call to other corporate organisations to support and participate in various programs aimed at boosting the quality of education in the State.

“The Vision of the Child is an initiative geared towards promoting education through creative thinking, literary arts and painting skills. This vision is in tune with our educational policy in Lagos State and that is why government has participated actively in it since inception. We will continue to do so as long as it provides children the platform to express their understanding of the world they live in, their vision of what it should be, as well as their fantasies and dreams,” the Deputy Governor stated.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Friday, January 29, 2016

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016