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Jega to decides polls date 5pm today

There is anxiety in the country as Nigerians wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission to speak on whether it will go ahead with its earlier timetable or pick new dates for the elections.

The earlier dates indicated that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are to be held on February 14 while the governorship and State
House of Assembly elections are to follow two weeks later.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is to address a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja today by
5pm.

The press conference will come up after he must have met with chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties.

He would also have met with the Resident Electoral Commissioners of all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Some observers believe that the commission is being blackmailed to shift the scheduled dates in order to provide ample time for those who have initiated court cases against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to conclude their cases seeking to stop the ex-head of state from contesting the poll.

The cases include those questioning his qualification to the contest the presidential election, and those demanding Buhari’s prosecution on the ground that he allegedly lied under oath as well as forgery.

Details later…
Source: Punch NG

Photos: Nigerian gay activists protest

PRO gay activists under the umbrella body of LGBTI (Members of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals and Inter-sex) in the Diaspora held a peaceful rally yesterday February 20th outside the Nigerian High Commission, London, to protest the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act signed into law by President Jonathan.

The coordinator of the protest Davis Mac-Iyalla said he knows a few Nigerian leaders who are gays and lesbians "I know at least seven in both the Senate and House of Reps. They are in the minority and it will be wrong of me to mention their names, but they are there"

Some of the homosexual men even kissed in front of the embassy during the protest. Lol. See more photos after the cut.

Pics source: Demotrix

Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $16 billion & Instagram for $1 billion

JaysonPhotography/JaysonPhotography

In one of the largest internet deals in recent memory, Facebook said today that it would acquire WhatsApp for up to $19 billionthrough a combination of cash, stock, and restricted stock units.

Facebook, which missed out on buying Snapchat for about $3 billion late last year, is spending more than a third of its existing cash pile on a company of about 55 people who have built one of the fastest-growing messaging services in the history of the web. At the time of the acquisition, WhatsApp had more than 450 million monthly active users and every day the service was growing by 1 million new users, 70% of which check the app on a daily basis.

WhatsApp will coexist with Facebook Messenger, the company's own messaging product, in what is essentially an admission from CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the company didn't have real-time communication down — even with a standalone application for Facebook Messenger which also tied in with text messaging on Android devices.

"It's widely used today for chatting with your Facebook friends, and a lot of the messages are not real time," Zuckerberg said on a conference call to discuss the acquisition. "Someone will send a message, almost like a more informal email. WhatsApp evolved from replacing SMS, real-time communication with all your contacts and small groups of people."

The deal was done, like in the case of Instagram, personally by Zuckerberg. On the conference call, he said he met with WhatsApp CEO and founder Jan Koum about 11 days ago to discuss the merger, though talks have been on and off for the past several years. The deal was finalized on Valentine's Day, last Friday, according toBusiness Insider's Nicholas Carlson.

While Facebook is quite active in acquiring companies, it's become clear that Zuckerberg personally handles deals with companies that represent a sort of existential threat to Facebook. Facebook bought Instagram for what was seemingly a cheap $1 billion at the time — which some in the venture capital community now say was too little — at a time when it was the fastest-growing photo-sharing application in the world. Likewise, it sought Snapchat when it became clear that the self-destructing photo-sharing app was siphoning a younger set of Facebook's users away from the service.

WhatsApp, too, represents an existential threat to Facebook as a smattering of messaging apps have risen up to challenge the dominance of Facebook as a method for sharing content through mobile devices. "Messaging is a very competitive space, and WhatsApp is the clear global leader with this," Zuckerberg said on the call, in response to a question about competing messaging apps like Kakao, Line, and WeChat.

It represented so much of a threat that Zuckerberg was willing to spend $349 million on every employee WhatsApp, which is on track to hit 1 billion users faster than Facebook was ever able to do. WhatsApp employees will enjoy an incredibly healthy return for their efforts, but it will be nowhere near that of Sequoia Capital's Jim Goetz, whose roughly $60 million million investmenthas blossomed into an enormous return for the firm.

danprimack@danprimackFollow
Easily the biggest VC-backed M&A exit ever. And, possibly, one of the top 5 or 10 VC deals of all time.
6:57 PM - 19 Feb 14

Like Instagram, WhatsApp will operate as an independent unit in Facebook's new arsenal of standalone applications. WhatsApp currently charges $1 a year for its messaging service, though the first year's fee is waived for new users. "With 50 people at their company, they build a product and a network that has almost a half billion people using it in five years — no one in the history of the world has done that before, it'd be pretty stupid for us to interfere in a big way," Zuckerberg said on the call.

WhatsApp didn't get away in the same way that SnapChat did, but Facebook once again faces a tech equivalent to whack-a-mole: as soon as Zuckerberg takes out a competitive threat, a newer, cooler one is certain to emerge. As evidenced by the talks taking this long to come to fruition, Zuckerberg is once again missing the boat on taking out threats early. He is, though, at least getting a little better at identifying them, in the case of cloning Snapchat with Facebook's Poke app and getting the talks started with WhatsApp much earlier.

Still, Zuckerberg today showed he — in a fashion much like Google did early in its life and still does today — is ready to write huge checks for companies that are able to outmaneuver Facebook. That's especially true when it comes to messaging, and Zuckerberg essentially payed $16 billion to stay a little bit ahead of the curve. What remains to be seen is if it works.

Sand Truck Tumbles Over Bridge Onto Express Lane In Lagos

A truck conveying sand earlier today tumbled from a bridge in Maryland Lagos onto the express lane below.

The truck, which has now been removed by traffic and emergency officials by pre-dawn reportedly veered off its lane around 2am and crashed through section of the culvert and fell onto the express lane.
No casualty is reported from the accident.

More pictures

Credits: Sahara Reporters

Women to pay 50,000 fine for wearing trousers in Anambra community

Akwaihedi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State has allegedly passed a law against the wearing of trousers by women. Culprits will be fined N50,000.

A source said: "Anyone caught breaking the law will be molested and fined N50,000 or be banished."

The source said but for the intervention of youths, female members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), posted to the community, would have been stripped.

A corps member, Grace Uduak, said she was shocked when the ruler slammed her for wearing the NYSC uniform.

Another source, who preferred anonymity, alleged that 10 people had been fined by the community court.

The source said the situation was serious because policemen were not allowed to enter the community, as the monarch said the traditional court would handle domestic issues.

The law promulgated by the Igwe and the president-general of the town union, stipulated that no woman should wear trousers. Women are also forbidden from walking in public without covering their heads.

Our reporter spoke with the ruler, Lt.-Col. Wisdom Onebunne (rtd) and he claimed that the matter had been resolved. He refused to go into details.

Prefect murders Student

The Labour Prefect of Iju Junior Grammar School, Old Akute road, Iju, Ridwan Moshood, 13, has been arrested by the police from Red House, Iju Divisional Headquarters, for allegedly killing a student of Iju Obawole Grammar School identified as Femi Oyekunle.

It was gathered that Oyekunle slumped and died during a scuffle with the Labour Prefect on Tuesday.
While explaining the circumstance that led to the death of Oyekunle, Moshood said: "I met him and one other student on top of a mango tree behind the principal's office and I ordered them to get down. As soon as they got down, Oyekunle confronted me and before I knew what was happening he gave me a blow'.'

Narrating further Moshood said as soon as he hit Oyekunle back in retaliation, he fell down and fainted said he poured water on Oyekunle before teachers and other students came and rushed him to a private hospital.

When reporters visited the two schools which are located in the same compound, the atmosphere was relatively calm with students and teachers going about their academic activities on Thursday.

Attempt to speak to the Principal of Iju Junior Grammar School, Mr. Adebiyi Emmanuel, was unsuccessful as he was said to have gone to the district office while his counterpart at Iju Obawole Grammar School, Mr. Omolewa Emmanuel, was said to have gone to SCID, Panti in connection with the incident.

Father of the deceased Mr. Idowu Oyekunle, resigned himself to fate when our reporter met him this morning. He simply said it is God that gives and takes life.

The case has been transferred to Homicide Section of Panti, Yaba, Lagos for further investigation.

P.M.

VIDEO: Top 10 finalists of Nigeria’s Got Talent

Nigeria's Got Talent is a weekly talent show search broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays on various television stations in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.The second edition of Nigeria's Got Talent TV show comes to an end this weekend and we'd love to know which contestant(s) walk home with all that fame and money!

Watch video clips of the top 10 contestants and tell us who you'd been wishing to win!

AKOREDE ODUKALE (KORESAX)

A 13-year-old lover of music, an addicted player of the saxophone and keyboard, Korede draws his inspiration from Nigerian Icon, Lagbaja. A student of International School of Lagos, KoreSax believes that winning Nigeria's Got Talent will project his gift and give him an opportunity to impact the world.

MADUKA DANIEL CHUKWUDI (LAFF DOCTOR)

Reviving the human mind through the instrument of laughter is his mission, 19-year-old stand up comedian from the Eastern part of Nigeria, Imo is set to give a new meaning to the world of comedy through his act and hopefully his win of Nigeria's Got Talent.

ADURAGBEMI ADEKOYA DAVID

Small but extremely mighty with the drums, David is one child blessed with amazing fingers when he takes hold of the drumsticks. The 3rd child from a family of 4, David believes that winning Nigeria's Got Talent will appreciate and inspire the God given talent in him.

CI SQUAD

C.I Squad is a six-man dance group with amazing dance skills and energy that will hold one spellbound. Together for a few years doing great things with their skills, C.I Squad believes that the Nigeria's Got Talent platform is their passport to a world of limitless possibilities.

D'NATURAL

An acapella group with harmonizes in the range of angels; D'Natural is a 4-man vocal group from the city of Ibadan. They hope to use this platform to earn collaborations with international acts.

KOLAWOLE OYINDAMOLA EMMANUEL (E-Flex)

A Student of Mass Communication at Yaba College of Technology is a trained contortionist. Trained for 4 years and performing professionally for 5 years, Kolawole has a body that is hard to believe has bones in it. Winning this competition is a dream come true for him.

DANIEL JOHN AZUKA (A-STRINGS)

A graduate with a degree in music, Azuka is a trained instrumentalist who can serenade one with any genre of music with the help of his best friend, the violin. Performing for 5 years, Azuka is also gifted in playing the guitar. He wants a wider audience to reach with his kind of music out of Nigeria's Got Talent.

ELEVATORZ

An energetic student dance group from the city of Abuja, who aside dances the love to see movies and play games. The 6-man group sees the Nigeria's Got Talent platform as the breakthrough to limelight that they have always waited for.

PRAISE PUPPETS

A family group with an act that is unique and has great synchronization. A group consisting of a mother and her five children, hope to use their win to inspire and impact people with unique talents.

ROBOTS FOR CHRIST

A two-man dance group blessed with dance moves that are unique and awesome in diverse ways. They hope to spread their genre of dance with the Nigeria's Got Talent platform.

As you ponder on who will be the winner among these top 10 finalists, take few minutes to look at this....errr rather emotional video from the auditions...

Arc Bishop forged documents and sold company’s land – EFCC

A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Wednesday heard how a self-acclaimed archbishop, John Okeke, allegedly forged documents and sold a land worth N54 million belonging to a firm, Immortal Impex Limited.

Okeke, who is facing trial before Justice Aishat Opesanwo, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), forged the letterhead of the company to facilitate the deal.

The prosecution witness, Nurudeen Bello, said the commission had waded into the matter following a petition by a director of the firm, Moses Okafor.

Bello said EFCC's investigations revealed that Okeke was the author of an allegedly forged letter requesting the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to change the ownership of Plot H1, Festac Town, Lagos to the Motorcycle Spare Parts Dealers Association.

Bello further said that the defendant in the cause of questioning, claimed he had an understanding with the complainant to write the letter.

He told the court that Okeke had claimed he had a verbal agreement with Okafor to use the name of Immortal Impex Limited to get the land allocation from the FHA.

"An official of the Federal Housing Authority was invited by the EFCC and he presented a land allocation letter; request for change of ownership and a deed of assignment.

"The defendant admitted that he authored the request for change of ownership signed by Okafor and another director of Immortal Impex Limited, as well as the deed of assignment between the company and the Motorcycle and Spare Parts Dealers Association.

"While EFCC investigation revealed that Okafor was the one who received the letter of land allocation from the Federal Housing Authority, Okafor claimed that he authorised the cleric to get the document on his behalf as he was travelling out of the country," said Bello.

Air Force destroys Boko Haram hideouts in Borno

The 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force in Maiduguri said on Wednesday that it had destroyed suspected Boko Haram hideouts following a raid in some parts of the state.

The spokesman for the group, Squadron Leader Chris Erondu, said this in a statement in Maiduguri.

Erondu, in the statement, added that the raid was carried out after surveillance in the areas.

"Sequel to intelligence reports, the 79 Composite Group, in conjunction with 75 Strike Group, Yola, carried out air surveillance interdiction and raid on identified Boko Haram hideouts.

"The operation was conducted in Bulabulim,Yujiwa-Alagarno, all located around Damboa axis of Borno State.

"The results of these air operations have been remarkable as the insurgents have retreated to neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Chad and Niger Republic and have suffered heavy casualties.

"The groups have also maintained constant security watch on Maiduguri and neighbouring communities to prevent future attack," the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the spokesman as saying in the statement.

ASUP strike continues!!!

The ongoing nationwide strike by polytechnic lecturers is set to continue as the National Executive Council, NEC, of the lecturers' union, ASUP, rejected the federal government's offer.

The National Publicity Secretary of ASUP, Clement Shirman, told newsmen that after a three-hour meeting on Wednesday, the NEC of ASUP resolved that until all 13 issues contained in its demand are met, the strike would continue.

The lecturers have been on strike since October 1, 2013, demanding among others better working condition, infrastructure improvement, and an end to discrimination of polytechnic graduates.