Curence: The Fastest News Update: 12/03/15

California shooting: Couple suspected of killing 14 people amassed thousands of rounds of ammunition and 12 pipe bombs

Weapons and other evidence are shown on a tarp near a SUV involved in the Wednesdays attack in San Bernardino, California — Arsenal: Weapons and other evidence are shown on a tarp near a SUV involved in the Wednesday's attack in San Bernardino, California

The couple suspected of killing 14 people at a Christmas party in California amassed thousands of rounds of ammunition and a dozen pipe bombs, authorities said.

Detectives released the information as they sought clues to the pair's motives and whether they had links to Islamist militants.

Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, his wife and mother of his 6-month-old daughter, were killed in a shootout with police five hours after Wednesday's massacre at the Inland Regional Center social services agency in the Californian city of San Bernardino.

Twenty-one people were wounded in the shooting, which ranks as the deadliest instance of U.S. gun violence in three years.

San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said at a news conference that the search of a townhouse leased by Farook and Malik in the nearby community of Redlands turned up flash drives, computers and cellphones.

They also found 4,500 rounds, 12 pipe bombs and bomb-making equipment.

Man to die by hanging over N14,570 robbery

Ado-Ekiti — An Ado-Ekiti High Court, yesterday, sentenced one David Olugboyega to death by hanging for armed robbery involving N14,570.
Justice John Adeyeye passed the judgment following the confessional statement of the convict and the conclusion of trial by the prosecution.

“An accused may be convicted on his own confession alone as long as the court was satisfied. Based on the confessional statement of the accused, the court found him guilty as charged. Besides, the prosecution has also proved his case beyond reasonable doubt by providing seven witnesses.

“The accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. This will serve as deterrent to others in the society. May God have mercy on your soul,” he said.

During trial, the prosecutor, Mr Alaba Adeyemi, told the court that the convict committed the offence on March 20, 2003 at Araromi Street, Ikere -Ekiti.

The Alaafin of Oyo , Oba Dr Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, visited Larry Ekundayo’s AKA Larry The Boxer during his training session at Lime house Marina Gym, London. More photos after the cut...

By Ediri Ejoh

LAGOS — Acting Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, has disclosed that 42 oil and gas companies operating in the country paid a total of $293 billion to the Federal Government between 2006 and 2012.

The money was said to have been paid by oil companies as taxes, royalty, dividends etc to government during the period. Orji stated this while speaking at the inauguration of NEITI-Companies’ Forum in Lagos.

According to him, the NEITI independent report for the period released recently, put the breakdown of the payment as $44.7 billion was paid in 2006, $43.7 billion in 2007, $60.4 billion in 2008 and $30 billion in 2009. In 2010, the companies paid $44.9 billion, $68.4 billion in 2011 and $62.9 billion in 2012.

Orji informed the forum that the payments were made by a combination of 42 oil companies covered by the NEITI audit process during this period.

How to save the stock market

At the inception of this administration,stocks soared as foreign investors looked to President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse decades of economic mismanagement and policy inertia. At that time, institutional investors brought in billions of dollars that shored up the nation’s foreign reserves and gave the stock market a new lease of life.

But it was a temporary relief for the economy, as every economic agent knows that such funds are treated by monetary authorities as hot money that can flow out at any sign of economic distress unlike direct investment flows. The money that flowed into stocks and bonds is now retreating as growth prospects diminish along with the fall in global crude oil and commodity prices.

It should be a matter for concern to this administration that soon after the initial euphoria, investors are becoming disillusioned. Nigeria’s stock exchange benchmark stock index has plunged 30 per cent since reaching a year-high on April 2nd 2015. The performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has been described as the third worst globally in the period, after those of Ukraine and Egypt. The stock index had advanced 12.5 per cent in the two days after ex-President Jonathan conceded, before going into steady decline.

The drop could be even higher if the naira is further devalued. Currently, two major factors are affecting the equities market: the falling price of crude oil, which has about 80 per cent effect on the capital market, and the increasing political risks of not knowing the direction of public policy. Investors are not so sure that this administration will continue with privatisation. The lack of clear policy direction has made foreign investors develop negative sentiments towards the market.

Many are at a loss with the current monetary policy which has placed restrictions on access to foreign exchange. Nigeria cannot continue to depend on foreign portfolio investors to grow the stock market.

The federal government and capital market regulators must come out with a clear policy on how to develop the local stock market.

The company behind China's newly proposed cattle cloning factory, set to be the largest of its kind in the world, says it expects to one day expand its work to include cloning humans as well.
China is not the only country working on producing cloned beef to enhance food supplies for the world's growing population. While European Union leaders have expressed concerns about the practice and moved to ban the sale of cloned meat products, the US FDA in 2008 declared that "meat and milk from cow, pig, and goat clones and the offspring of any animal clones are as safe as food we eat every day." The possibility of creating human clones, however, is highly contested throughout the world.

Kourtney Kardashian was on mummy duties on Thursday as she took her 11-month-old son Reign to a play date in Beverly Hills on Thursday.
More photos after the cut...

Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi was arrested Wednesday for allegedly diverting N600 million meant for acquisition of military boats for the use of the Nigerian armed forces.
Atawodi was said to have awarded the contract for the boats and paid for them in full but none was supplied.

A high school student's response to online bullying is winning praise from friends and family, who are proud of her bravery in the face of a mean-spirited post.Lynelle Cantwell was in math class Monday in Holy Trinity High in Torbay when she learned she and other students had been ranked in an anonymous online "straw poll" called "Ugliest girls at hth," which was posted on the social media site ask.fm.

A 31-year-old Missouri man’s covered in facial tattoos allegedly tried to rob a pastor at knifepoint who gave him a ride and police were able to track him down because of the unique artwork, according to media reports.
Robert Michael was charged Nov. 20 with first-degree attempted robbery and a charge of armed criminal action, according to Fox 4 News.

The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 19 after Michael entered an Oak Grove church. Michael talked with the pastor for about 30 minutes before telling the pastor he needed a ride back to Independence, where Michael resides.

Three members of a 5-man robbery gang Tope Oyeleye, aka Elede; Abiola Yekini and Yusuf Olohuntoba, aka Ete , were arrested on Monday by policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Agbado Police Division.
It was gathered that Elede and Ramoni, had robbed some houses in Owonikoko and Ayinla areas around 2am on Monday, where they stole money and phones, among other household items.
They were said to have met on a street in Ayinla to share their loot when an argument ensued among them over how to share the loot.
A resident on the street reportedly saw them and called the police, who quickly got tot eh area and arrested three of them.
Items recovered from them include 16 phones, one DVD player, two cut-to-size guns with a live cartridge, two spanners, a burglar proof cutter, among others.
Twenty-one-year old Elede, who hails from Ekiti State, confessed to the crime. He said:

Syed Raheel Farook is the brother of Syed Rizwan Farook, the gunman who with his wife killed 14 people and injured 17 others. Syed Raheel Farook is a veteran of the United States Navy with several “awards and decorations,” a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. He enlisted in August 2003 and left the service in August 2007.

Navy records show he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Syed Raheel Farook was an information system technician, third class, serving on the USS Enterprise; in the Surface Warfare Officer School Unit, in Great Lakes, Illinois; and at the Recruit Training Command, in Great Lakes, Illinois.

The MTN Group requested a reduction in the fine imposed to it by NCC, and on Thursday they said they received a formal letter from the Nigerian Communications Commission that confirmed the reduction of the N1.04tn fine imposed to N674bn.

The fine was bestowed upon them due to the late disconnection of 5.1 million unregistered MTN Nigeria Subscriber Identification Module cards in August and September, now has to be paid on or before December 31, 2015.

It was learnt that the Chief Executive Officer of its Nigerian subsidiary, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, and the Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, resigned from their positions because of the fine.

The Chief Operating Officer of MTN Irancell, Ferdi Moolman, and Amina Oyagbola, were appointed to replace Ikpoki and Goodluck respectively.

Angelina Jolie looked stunning on the cover of Elle France's December issue. She is promoting her film By The Sea ahead of its release in several European countries later this month.

Lady Gaga is Billboard woman of the year

Lady Gaga is Billboard woman of the year and looked amazing on her photoshoot. More photos after the cut...

Dj Cuppy and CEO of 24 Apparel, Temitayo Eyitayo, posted an image on their Instagram pages a week ago which obviously meant something is cooking in both camps, a collaboration of some sort. 24 Apparel is well known for its various collections of Snapbacks as well as stylish/casual sweatpants.

The cat is out of the bag, pictures below shows that Cuppy and 24 have teamed up to create exclusive Snapbacks which have never been produced by a Nigerian brand before. We all know Cuppy has quite an obsession for cupcakes and it's no surprise that this collection is tagged a “Cupcake Collection” because the colors of the Snapbacks are named after some of Cuppy's favorite cupcake flavors which are Cotton Candy, Strawberries & Crème, and Caramel to name a few.

These Snapbacks, unlike other 24 Snapbacks, have an all mesh design which has the Cuppy emblem on the side and the 24 logo in front. These hats also come in a cupcake packaged box as well as a 24 X Cuppy key chains rings to go with it.

This December 24 X Cuppy will have a launch event for the Snapback collection and this is supported by Hennessy, Hans and Rene, Simply Green Juice and Zippy Logistics. We can't wait for the hats to come out and we definitely can't wait to start rocking them!

Diego Costa seen leaving Libertines Night Club later in the night

Three of Chelsea's top stars were pictured leaving a plush London nightclub at gone 3am on Wednesday night.

Diego Costa, Ramires and Kenedy were all snapped departing the exclusive Libertine night spot near Oxford Circus.

The players were also joined by world champion boxer James DeGale, who was enjoying his night upon his return to the UK following his world title defence over Lucian Bute.

Costa, wearing a grey jumper, jeans and black Converse trainers, hopped into a waiting car before being whisked off home when he left the venue.

By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State Government has expressed reservations at the way the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, rushed to the media to attack Governor Rochas Okorocha over what he claimed to have read about the governor earmarking N600 million for decorations.

The government’s stand was made public through a press statement signed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo.

“On our part, we feel for Chief Ihedioha, that, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of that House for 12 years, could rush to the media to attack the governor over what he claimed to have read about the governor earmarking N600million for decorations, and not that the governor has spent the amount on the issue. And he could not also disclose the source of the report for it to be believed”, Onwuemeodo stated.

Nollywood filmmaker DonPedro Obaseki on Thursday declared his intention to run for the Edo State Governorship saying that it time for his people to emerge from the dark abyss of tainted mafia-style politics in the state.

Read his full statement

Dear Friends, Sisters and Brothers. My name is DonPedro Osaro Agbonifo Obaseki.

I’m a bona fide son of Edo State. I live in Ward 7, Oredo LGA.

I herein, via this brief statement, signify my intention to seek nomination as the flag bearer of my party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 Edo State Governorship Elections.

After due and serial consultations with my immediate family, associates, friends, colleagues, as well as traditional, religious and civil leaders, I believe the time is nigh to Make Our Voices Emerge from the dark abyss of tainted mafia-style politics of our dear EDO.

DTHA to contractors: Go back to site or return mobilization fee

By Festus Ahon

ASABA—DELTA State House of Assembly has directed those in possession of government funds paid as mobilization fee for contract awarded, to move to sit and execute the jobs awarded to them or return the money to government coffers.

Chairman, House Committee on Works, Efe Ofobruku, who gave the directive at a meeting with the state Commissioner for Works and top officials of the ministry, said gone were the days when contractors collected mobilization fees and went home to sleep.

Ofobruku, who was accompanied by five other members of the committee, charged the state Ministry of Works to take advantage of the dry season to push for speedy completion of ongoing road projects across the state.

The lawmaker, who represents Uvwie constituency in the House, said the state government was determined to ensure the construction of many motorable roads cross the state in driving its prosperity agenda for all Deltans to fruition.

By Francis Igata

ENUGU—The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Enugu State Chapter,yesterday,threw its weight behind the setting up of Caretaker Committees to administer to the running of 17 council areas in the state as approved by political stakeholders for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Ugwuanyi had last Saturday, at the expanded meeting of stakeholders held at the Old Government Lodge,cited the on-going local government staff audit and the inadequate provision of funds in the 2015 budget for council poll as the bane even as he noted that the little appropriated for it is grossly and manifestly inadequate which he assured to address in the 2016 budget to enable elections hold.

But while standing shoulder-to-shoulder to the approval given to the governor by the stakeholders, the immediate past State Chairman of APGA,Enugu State Chapter, Mr. Okechukwu Nkolagu explained that,”APGA adopted Governor Ugwuanyi as its candidate in the last general election. We are in full support of the caretaker committee.

By Tony Ubani
UNDER-17 World Cup coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has been given more responsibilities by the Nigeria Football Federation adding the U-20 national team to his portfolio.

Amuneke led the Golden Eaglets to conquer the World in Chile and the NFF confirmed yesterday that the former Super Eagles player would assist coach Manu Garuba at the U-20(Flying Eagles) while still retaining his position as the chief coach of the Golden Eaglets.

By Tony Ubani
President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Melvin Amaju Pinnick yesterday threw more light on the offer of a ‘’Heavyweight’’ coach to the Super Eagles to solve the lack of goals by the Sunday Oliseh-tutored team.

‘’I’ve received calls by many people wanting to know if we are hiring a coach to take over the job of Sunday Oliseh.

That is absolutely out of it. Perhaps, I was misquoted or misunderstood. But, what I meant was to solve the problem of not scoring goals by the team.

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA – AS criticisms continue to trail the ongoing bill by the Senate to censor social media in the country, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said no amount of attacks arising from it would make the Red Chamber abandon the proposed law.

Saraki, who acknowledged the roles of the social media in the development of the country’s growing democracy, however, said the Senate would not fold its hand to allowed it abused by some elements.

Speaking yesterday, when Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West, raised the issue under matters of urgent importance, during the day’s plenary, the Senate President berated activities of some social media platforms, which he said, had published numerous materials to undermine the integrity of the Red Chamber.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – Zamfara State Governor and chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has said it was extremely necessary for the state governors, the presidency and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC to negotiate over the 18,000 minimum wage.

The governor said that the dwindling oil prices has drastically affected the revenue generation of most States which can no longer live pay salaries of workers.

He stated that therefore no need living under pretense when in reality, the revenues were not coming.

Yari who fielded questions from State House Correspondents after a private meeting with president Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the presidential villa also denied making categorical statement on pruning down the wage.

LAGOS—Some prominent indigenes of Lagos State under the aegis of Eko Foundation have expressed dismay about some political appointments and recent sack of some Permanent Secretaries in the state which they alleged was done against the interest of the indigenes of the state.

They, however, advised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to desist from taking decisions that will continue to maginalise Lagos indigenes, saying that the group will no longer fold their hands and watch its people turn to “second fiddle” in their own state.

As APC, INEC query jurisdiction of court to stop rerun

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, will, today, determine whether in view of section 181 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should go ahead with its plan to conduct supplementary governorship election in Kogi State tomorrow.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned for judgement after all the parties, yesterday, adopted their final written addresses on contentious legal issues that arose from the sudden death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, before the election was concluded.

INEC had declared the governorship election held November 21, inconclusive, even as it fixed Saturday to conduct a run-off poll.

Meanwhile, the court had, Tuesday, consolidated four separate suits challenging the legality of the scheduled supplementary election.

THE European Union, EU, fox decided that unwanted guests from its watering holes in the Middle East were swarming on it.

The deer, donkeys, camels and sheep were fleeing from the hunting fires the fox had lit. The fears of the fox include the possibility of the refugees changing its demography forever, polluting its beliefs and introducing their camel-eating culture.

Worse still, it fears that some of the hyenas it had cultured to keep the Middle East population in check, might be concealed in the fleeing pack. Just the other day, some hyenas went loose in Paris, the beautiful city of love.

CAF U-23 AFCON: Dalung drums support for Dream Team

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Barr Solomon Dalung on Thursday congratulated the nation’s represen-tatives in the ongoing CAF U-23 Football Championships in Senegal which serves as qualification for the football event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Nigeria drew 2-2 with the pharaoh’s of Egypt on Wednesday.

In a telephone conversation with the Chief Coach Samson Siasia, Dalung urged the players to strive to qualify for the Olympics. “We are very proud of our boys, they played very well. They could have won the match but we are happy with the one point. I commend your efforts, and I want every Nigerian to support the team. Nobody wants the victory more than you do but sometimes in sports there are upsets and surprises” said Dalung.

By Daud Olatunji

TWO aged parents and four children of a former Supervisor for Community Development and Women Affairs in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs. Olayinka Olasode Oriloye who was reportedly killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a security official attached to First Bank , Imo branch in Abeokuta have dragged the bank to the state high court to seek justice.

The late Oriloye, 51, who was survived by her aged father, Chief M. A Olasode, 84, her mother, Madam S.A Olasode,78, and four children was said to have lost her life as a result of a stray bullet which hit her in the stomach as a result of which she sustained injury with the resultant excessive internal and external bleeding leading to her death.

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred April 1, 2015 when the deceased who was a regular customer of the Imo Branch of the bank in Abeokuta went to the bank for the usual banking transactions and while there a trigger happy security operative allegedly fired a gun shot which killed her.

By Gbenga Olarinoye

For the 1986 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Monday, November 23, 2015, was a day that will continue to linger in his memory for a long time to come. It was the day this world renowned literary giant was honoured by the Osun state government, when a N750 million school was named after him in Ejigbo.

The edifice, Wole Soyinka Government High School, could not have been named after any other person than Prof. Soyinka, who was appointed by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on assumption of office to chair the 1st education summit to be organised in the state.

It would be recalled that two months after assumption of office, Aregbesola organized a world-class education summit to chart a new way forward in the educational sector of the state in conformity with the evolving global trends.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The Supreme Court, yesterday, slated February 5, 2016 to determine the appeal seeking to quash the 13-count criminal charge the Federal Government entered against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCT.

A seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, adjourned the case for judgment after it entertained arguments from both Saraki and the Federal Government yesterday.

The Federal Government had in the charge it filed before the CCT, alleged that Saraki falsely declared his assets, contrary to the constitutionally requirement.

Okowa makes case for internal democracy in PDP

By Festus Ahon

ASABA—Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will take its pride of place in the nation’s polity with the strengthening of its internal democracy.

Okowa, in Asaba at the Delta State PDP stakeholders meeting with the theme, Strengthening of the PDP For Improved Performance in Delta State, said the era where party leadership revolved round individuals was over in PDP.

The governor, who got a vote of confidence from members of the party, said: “I will continue to counsel and push for internal democracy to stay because it was that process that threw me up and made it possible for me to emerge and gave me the acceptability level that made it possible for us to win convincingly in Delta State. This will start with the process that will take us to the election of those who will run our various wards and local government party committees.

Markets, schools, banks remain shut in Onitsha

Soldiers, mobile policemen take over streets, conduct stop-and-search on motorists

MASSOB dissociates self, factions trade blames

By Anayo Okoli, Vincent Ujumadu, Festus Ahon, Nwabueze Okonkwo, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Chimaobi Nwaiwu & Omeiza Ajayi

ONITSHA—Following the three-week long protests embarked upon by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over continued incarceration of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu which led to the alleged killing of its members by members of Joint Military Task Force, markets, banks and schools in Onitsha and its environs remained closed, yesterday, in apparent solidarity with the protesters.

The Building Materials International Market at Ogidi, near Onitsha, New Auto Spare Parts market at Nkpor and other major markets remained closed, just as banks and schools remained under lock and key.

A detachment of stern-looking soldiers and mobile policemen were seen in their numbers standing on the roads and stopping all vehicles, a situation which led to a traffic gridlock from the former toll gate at Ogbunike to Bridge-head end of the Enugu/Awka/Onitsha express way.

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society groups had called for immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase for his alleged shoot-at-sight order and roles in the Onitsha killings of protesting IPOB members.

Extra judicial killings

Gunmen kill APC deputy ward chairman in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Tension heightened, yesterday, between members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the killing of Diseye Dickson, the deputy ward chairman of APC, Ward 1 in Odi, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state by gunmen.

The deceased, Diseye Dickson was reportedly shot in Odi community at 11p.m., Wednesday by the gunmen, who were allegedly clad in military uniform.

Though reports claimed the deceased was shot during a shootout between policemen and the gunmen, about eight in number, in a failed kidnap attempt of Chief Watson Ogoriba, a businessman and elder brother of the former member of House of Representatives and chieftain of the APC, Warman Ogoriba.

A community source said: “It was the case of failed kidnap attempt. It is not about PDP or the APC. When the kidnappers arrived the community, the vigilante people alerted the Police in Kaiama Divisional Command and they engaged the suspected kidnappers in a shoot-out. The victim may have been caught in a cross fire.”

LAGOS—A middle-aged man, Pius Asomba, suspected to be the leader of a notorious syndicate that specialized in dispossessing businessmen of large sums of money through fake bank alerts, has been arrested by the police in Lagos.

The Anambra State-born suspect was arrested after he jumped bail and disappeared for over two years.

Police sources said the criminal exploits of the suspect was blown open on August 31, 2012, after he went to one Engr. Moses Adebayo at Alaba International market a major distributor with Nigerchin Development Company in Ikeja, and placed an order for cables worth N9.5 million. According to the source, when he was told to pay for the goods, he claimed to be in a hurry and promised to pay through his bank.

Following a public backlash, a New Zealand Company has pulled down a transphobic Christmas billboard featuring a photo of Caitlyn Jenner. The image, taken from her Vanity Fair cover reads: "I hope your sack is fuller than mine this Christmas. Merry Christmas from Cranium."

The company behind the billboard, Cranium Signage on Tuesday, December 1, apologized on Facebook, saying

"We have removed our post and are now removing the sign tonight due to people taking offence. It was not our intention to offend any people in the community/world. I as the owner have no feelings of discrimination to the Gay or transgender community and if one of my family was I would love them just the same. Cait is more than welcome to stay at my house with my family anytime. I will have a wine or a beer with her quite happily and it would be an honour. Lots of love Phil wishing you all a Merry Christmas"

Article written by Ihechukwu Njoku, a freelance Nigerian journalist. Read below...

Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua has released a controversial YouTube video purportedly showing the healing of a man with horrific snake-like scales across his body. The clip titled, ‘A Video You Will Never Forget’ shows Mr Jude Oraka from Anambra State, Nigeria, receiving prayer from the popular cleric during a prayer service at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.
Oraka, a driver by profession, claimed he fell victim to a strange skin disease six years ago which "defied medical comprehension". Jude’s sister described him as a "walking corpse" whom the family had given up on. However, several months after receiving prayer, Oraka returned with smooth skin to testify that "he was healed by Jesus Christ through T.B. Joshua".

The clip has already racked up over 100,000 views since its release and attracted hundreds of comments from both skeptics and believers alike. Joshua is not a stranger to controversy, making headlines this week for not showing up at a court case surrounding the deadly collapse of a building within his church premises last year. Emmanuel TV, which debuted on DStv and GOtv last month, is one of the most popular Christian television stations in Africa. It’s YouTube channel has over 265,000 subscribers, making it among the most subscribed Christian channels worldwide. I

Hindiya Haji Mohamed, a female journalist working with Somalia's national television station, SNTV was killed when a bomb exploded under her car in Mogadishu Thursday December 3rd. Mohamed was returning home from university when the bomb detonated. She later died of her wounds at the hospital. Her late husband, also a journalist with the same television station, was killed in a suicide attack on a Mogadishu restaurant in 2012.

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