Let's talk news, gossip, serious and 'unserious' busines.: 08/24/12

Kim Kardashian or Diana Ross

Me Likey!

Empire State Building Shooting: Civilians Wounded, Gunman Reported Dead

Details are still coming in, but multiple news outlets confirm that a shooting has taken place outside the Empire State Building in New York City.
According to The Associated Press, at least three civilians were wounded in the attack, while the gunman is now dead.

It's unknown if a police officer at the scene took out the shooter, but a fire department spokesman says it received a call just after 9 a.m. and sent multiple units to the scene within minutes.
The incident took place at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Sources tell The New York Post that a total of 10 people were shot, with two killed: the gunman and an innocent bystander.
Update soon

Police arrest Lagos Island gang members

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 16 men suspected to be members of two rival gangs known as O Strong and Get ready.

It was learnt that the gang members were the ones causing mayhem on the Island. Some people had lost their lives due to the frequent gang clashes and extortion scams by the members.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were arrested in the early hours of Saturday during a raid authorised by the Area A Commander, Imohimi Edgal.

According to community leaders on Lagos Island, the suspects had been terrorising the residents, traders and their customers with impunity for months.

Their activities prompted the Alagba/Obadina/Pash-Willoughby/Seriki-Akanni Joint Community Development Association to write a petition to the Area Commander.

The petition reads in part, “This is to formally report the resurgence of hoodlums in our community in recent times. These hoodlums consist of young men that have formed the habit of terrorising people in the community.

“They usually operate in large groups and fight each other. They then use the opportunity to rob innocent residents.”

According to the CDA the hoodlums were also complicit in the National Union of Road Transport Workers crisis in January.

It alleged that the hoodlums usually hijacked every gathering in the community and robbed people.

Katy Perry and John Mayer: It's Over

Katy Perry and John Mayer have broken up.
They say the media made it more serious than it ever was, but in any case it is now over. The two singers are no longer dating.
"They will end up as friends," an insider says. "They were honestly just hanging out and having fun. People made it out to be far more than it was."

Katy Perry and John Mayer recently had dinner at the Chateau Marmont, an animal-filled birthday bash at a Hollywood agent's home, and "sleepovers." Supposedly.
It seemed like a good match, according to an observer: "They acted like they've been a couple for a long time ... It definitely didn't seem like a new relationship."
Well we will always stay tuned, won't we?

Businessman accuses police of unlawful detention, harassment

Former Group Managing Director, Quintessentially Nigeria, Okon Iyanam, has accused the Nigeria Police of unlawful detention and harassment.

PUNCH Metro had reported on August 10, 2012, that the Police Headquarters Annex, Obalende, Lagos, had quizzed Iyanam over a N50m fraud allegedly perpetrated by him when he was GMD of the company.

The firm, headed by Mr. Festus Odimegwu, had written a petition to the IG, shortly after Iyanam resigned from the company.

Iyanam alleged that it was at the behest of Odimegwu that policemen harassed and detained him for over 48 hours.

In a petition written by Iyanam’s lawyer, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, he expressed disappointment that the police allowed themselves to be used as tools to harass and intimidate an innocent person.

He also dismissed the allegations by the company as baseless and a smear campaign.

He said, “On August 5, 2012, one Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Ben Okolo, with armed policemen, stormed Iyanam’s residence in Lekki to effect arrest allegedly acting on the IG’s order. They also claimed to have a search warrant that entitled them to search Iyanam’s house.

“However, Iyanam was out of town but spoke to Mr. Okolo and promised to come to the Police Headquarters Annex, Lagos.

“On getting there on August 7, my client and I appeared before the police but we were informed that he was under arrest based on a petition from Odimegwu who had made allegations of fraud among other things against my client.

“At this point, Okolo said my client would be transported to Abuja at 3pm and that a flight had been booked. My client was not allowed to prepare for the trip but was forced in ‘Gestapo’ fashion under armed guard to embark on the trip to Abuja.

“When my client arrived in Abuja at 9pm, he was immediately taken to the Police Headquarters where he was forced to write a statement that he completed at 12am. Thereafter, he was transferred to Area 10 Police Headquarters where he was detained for 48 hours. My client, who has a medical history, was denied access to his family, doctor, drugs and was also refused bail.”

Kazeem said Iyanam was later granted bail on stiff conditions.

Efforts to get the spokesman for Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Frank Mba, to comment proved abortive as calls made to his telephone rang out while a text message sent to him was not replied.

-Punch Metro

CBN To Use Women on New N5,000 Note

Margaret Ekpo Funmilayo Ransome Kuti Hajiya Gambo Sawaba

The Central Bank of Nigeria announced yesterday that it will introduce the N5, 000 note into the system and convert N5, N10 and N20 notes to coins but contrary to speculations that CBN planned to use Nigeria's late former president, Umar Musa Yar'adua's face on the note, it was announced that the faces of three late prominent Nigerian female activists will be used on the new notes which will be launched next year!

The women are:

1. Margaret Ekpo: late politician and social mobilizer (1914 - 2006)
2. Hajia Gambo Sawaba: late politician and activist (1933 - 2001)
3. Funmilayo Kuti: lte politician and women's right activist (1900 -1978)