Reps Warn Nigerian Students About Studying In Cyprus International University

Nigerian students intending to study in Cyprus have been warned to be wary of moves by the authorities of Cyprus International University, Nicosia to lure them into the institution.

The House Committee on Diaspora led by Committee Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa drew attention to the dangers of sending Nigerians to the University located in North Cyprus, following the mysterious death of a student in July 2013.

In a statement, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa said the University had alleged that 20-year old Gabriel Soriwe, who hailed from Edo State was knocked down by a female drunk driver whose identity was protected by authorities.

Investigation revealed that the University connived with the North Cyprus police to release Soriwe's killer and also shielded her identity from his parents.

The university went ahead to send Soriwe's body to his family as unaccompanied cargo without any of his belongings, and with no word of condolence from the institution.

Another Nigerian who lost his life in the region was Stanley Ateimo, who was a musician based in Cyprus and was murdered in August 2013.

The House of Representatives have warned that both the University and its location, Nicosia, are dangerous for Nigerian students, while the institution itself is not recognised by Nigeria and other countries in the world.
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Majority Of Us Joined Politics For Lack Of Work- President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday that about half of Nigerian politicians were not meant to be in politics, but only turned politicians as they had no choice.

The president was speaking at the Aso Rock Villa Chapel, in response to a sermon by the Primate of the Anglican Church, Nicholas Okoh, during the post-pilgrimage thanksgiving tagged "What Shall I Render To God."

The clergy in his sermon accused politicians of being unforgiving.

Mr. Jonathan, in his remarks noted that this was however not the case as politicians were ordinarily very forgiving as they may later find themselves working together with people who had earlier wronged them.

"The chaplain accused us politicians that we do not forgive, or that some politicians don't forgive. Apparently the Bible said this, but politicians are the people who forgive," the president said.

"Politicians are those who forgive because in politics, whether local politics or national, you don't have permanent friends or permanent enemies but permanent interests.

"If somebody is your enemy today and there is a change of interest and he becomes your friend, first of all, you have to forgive otherwise you cannot have a friend that you cannot work with.

"But politics is just like some kind of trade. More than 50 per cent of us who are into politics are not supposed to be politicians.

"For example, in the profession of nursing and teaching, people with wicked hearts and unforgiving spirit are not the kind of people who should be nurses or teachers, but we find them there.

"So, most of us who are in politics are not supposed to be there but because we have no other thing to do. So, if you see a politician than cannot forgive, he is an impostor," the president said.

The clergy had also during his sermon commended the president for doing the right thing by signing the anti-gay bill into law despite the obvious pressure from "outside."

The anti-gay law prescribes various punishments as well jail term for homosexual acts. It has been widely criticized by western countries but many Nigerians support the law.

Urging Christians to partake in the annual pilgrimage, Archbishop Okoh noted that Nigeria was also on a pilgrimage to reach its place in the League of Nations where it is supposed to be.

To reach its purpose, the Primate said Nigeria needs amongst others: Patience, Perseverance, Cohesion, Discipline and focus.

On the centenary, he noted that as the country celebrates its centenary it is a time for all Nigerians to examine their personal contribution to the nation in the last 100 years.

On the national dialogue, Archbishop Okoh noted that this was a divine gift and opportunity to fine-tune the polity. He also urged all those who will partake, to do so "not for selfish reasons but to speak for their people."
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Man Serving Life Sentence Bags Bachelor’s Degree From NOUN In Prison

A middle aged man, Tuwanse Kabiru serving life sentence in kirikiri, on Saturday graduated with 4,308 students at the 3rd convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in Lagos.

Kabiru was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of murder. The prisoner who came in company of the prison officials was awarded a Bachelors degree (BA) in Human Resource Management.

"I want to thank God for what he is doing in my life. I have always had hope in God and that is what inspired me to enrol. I was actually imprisoned after being found guilty of committing murder and I have served 11 years so far. I am still hopeful that things will turn around one day for the better having achieved what I have today," he said.

The Assistant Controller-General Nigeria Prisons, Chuks Afejue, hailed the courage displayed by the graduating inmate, saying he was the first to enrol and kick start academic activities at the prisons study centre.

According to him, this will prove to people that the prison is not just a dumping ground for those who seem not to have any more hope.

"The prison is a place where reforms and rehabilitation take place. Currently, we have a total of 48 inmates who are enrolled in all the four major prisons study centres across the country.

"It is an exciting exercise and we want to seize this opportunity to plead with the Federal government to try and temper justice with mercy, having achieved this feat. He pleaded on behalf of Tuwanse.
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SPORT| Eagles fly into Chan quarterfinals

Nigeria's Super Eagles have qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) after a richly-deserved 3-1 win over hosts, South Africa on Sunday.

Nigeria started well and went in front in the 22nd minute through the impressive Ejike Uzoenyi who did well to carve out space for himself inside the box before steering a low Ifeanyi Ede cross first time, into the roof of the net.

The West Africans were 2-0 up inside the half hour after the South African goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs made a shocking howler before giving away a penalty after upending the onrushing Gbolahan "Balotelli" Salami who went crashing onto the turf.

Ede converted from 12 yards and Bafana Bafana were on the ropes.

South Africa looked to respond after the break but Bernard Parker was spectacularly denied by Nigeria's goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim in the 58th minute.

Agbim was again called to duty four minutes later and he responded with an even better one handed save to deny Katlego Mashego whose curling effort seemed destined for the top corner.

Those misses in quick succession came back to haunt Bafana Bafana as man-of-the-match, Uzoenyi played a one-two with Salami before firing an unstoppable left foot strike with the outside of his left foot past the despairing Josephs.

Nigeria almost went 4-0 up in the 71st minute through Uzoenyi whose rocket clattered against the cross bar with Josephs stranded as the Super Eagles relentlessly looked to put their opponents to the sword.

South Africa got their consolation in the 79th minute through a controversial penalty, converted by Parker.

Matlego and Tefu Mashamaite came close to scoring for the hosts late on but found Agbim in inspired form.

Both sides finished the game with 10 men as Solomon Kwambe and Vuyo Mere received expulsions for second bookings in the second half.

Nigeria finished in second place in Group A behind Mali who ended their preliminary campaign as top dogs following their dramatic 2-1 win over Mozambique in the other game of the day.
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Agency closes down church over noise pollution

The Transfiguration and Solution Bible Church, which was accused of noise pollution, has been shut down a few days after PUNCH Metro reported that some residents on Sebanjo Street, in the Mushin area of Lagos, complained of sleepless nights due to the church's frequent vigils.

It was learnt that the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency shut down the Pentecostal church on Friday.

Our correspondent had reported on January 13, 2014, that the residents alleged that the Pastor of the church, Jide Balogun, disturbed them with musical instruments and piercing electronic gadgets.

The residents had also petitioned LASEPA and the Ministry of Environment to investigate the matter.

Balogun had  told our correspondent he had complied with the directive of LASEPA and had stopped using his electronic gadgets during the vigils.

However, our correspondent gathered on Friday that the environmental agency  locked up the church.

When PUNCH Metro called the General Manager of LASEPA, Rasheed Shabi, on his official telephone line, he was not reachable.

The Public Relations Officer of the agency, however, said, "You already know that the church has been closed down and we will not open it until they comply and do the right thing."

Meanwhile a member of the church, who pleaded anonymity, described the crackdown on the church as selective justice.

He said, "It was wrong for them to have locked up the church because even in your story, which I believe caused this, you pointed out that there were four churches on the street, with a mosque that had a loudspeaker facing the street.

"They are only picking on this church, because it is a small church. I will personally invite you to my area where you have about five churches. But most of these churches are the so-called celebrated churches.

"They only picked on Jide's church because they know he used to be a tailor. I am not in support of noise pollution because I once suffered from it before I went to study abroad, but that does not mean we should use selective justice. If we want to act, let us act."

He said members of the church would be visiting LASEPA to have an interaction with the GM on the matter.
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Heavy shooting as Rivers police storm pro-Amaechi rally

For the second time in eight days, men of the Rivers State Police Command stormed a rally by the Save Rivers Movement and allegedly opened fire on the members of the movement, who gathered in Bori, Khana Local Government of the state on Sunday.

It was learnt that though the rally was billed to start by 2pm, fully armed policemen stormed the venue before the commencement of the programme, but it was unclear what led to the heavy shooting that followed the arrival of the security men.

Our correspondent learnt that scores of people were injured but it could not be confirmed if anyone was killed as of the time of filing this report.

On Sunday last week, policemen, who were deployed in the SRM rally, allegedly shot Senator Magnus Abe with rubber bullet on the chest at close range.

The federal lawmaker is currently hospitalised in a London hospital for intensive medical attention.
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Red wine 'protects against diabetes' - and chocolate may also be good for you

Scientists have found that red wine could keep the doctors away. The findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition, say that the compounds found in herbs, berries and red wine may all protect against diabetes.
That's because they are linked to lower insulin resistance and better control of blood sugar. Both help to reduce the chance of Type 2 diabetes.
The findings have been compiled from a survey of 2,000 healthy women volunteers.
Study leader Professor Aedin Cassidy, from the University of East Anglia, said: "This is one of the first large-scale human studies to look at how these powerful bioactive compounds might reduce the risk of diabetes.
"We found that those who consumed plenty of anthocyanins and flavones had lower insulin resistance.
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