Arik staff caught with N180m worth of cocaine at Heathrow airport

A female Arik staff was arrested yesterday Tuesday May 21st at Heathrow airport London for allegedly carrying cocaine worth about N180 million. Temitayo Olubunmi Daramola was arrested with 6kg of cocaine while another hostess Delita Abibimgbi was arrested for having 60 packets of cigarettes in her possession. The max limit of cigarettes any passenger is allowed to carry is 10 packs.

Security at Heathrow Airport detained Temitayo and Delita after detecting the illicit drugs in their possession. They are being held in custody by the UK authorities in London.

Arik Air has since reacted to the incident. The airline company's spokesman Banji Ola confirmed the detention of the two cabin crew members and said the airline will fully co-operate with all authorities involved in the investigation. Read the airline's statement after the cut...

"Arik Air carries out very stringent checks on all members of staff and its travelling guests ahead of all flights. It will continue to focus its attention on measures to prevent the possibility of any future similar incidents. Arik Air is a responsible Nigerian company always seeking to maintain and uphold the integrity and proud reputation of the nation".

Meanwhile the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, Ahmadu Giade, has ordered officials of the agency to commence investigation into the matter.

LONDON TERROR ATTACK: Britain probes possible Nigerian link

Britain is investigating a possible Nigerian link to attackers suspected of hacking a soldier to death in London while shouting Islamic slogans, two sources with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Two suspects have been taken into custody after the attack, which the British government said appeared to be an act of terrorism. Police have not identified the suspects.The sources, speaking independently, said a Nigerian link was being investigated but gave no further details about the nature of the link.
Police spokesmen declined to comment.
A British soldier was hacked to death by two men shouting Islamic slogans in a south London street on Wednesday, in what the government said appeared to be a terrorist attack.
A dramatic clip filmed by an onlooker just minutes after the killing showed a man with hands covered in blood, brandishing a bloodied meat cleaver and a knife.
"We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reason we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day," the black man in his 20s or 30s, wearing a wool jacket and jeans and speaking with a local accent, shouted in the footage obtained by Britain's ITV news channel.
"This British soldier is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
The attack was the first apparent Islamist killing in London since suicide bombers struck transport in July 2005. The capital was shocked by the bizarre scene of a killer covered in gore, declaring his motive to onlookers.
Police shot the two suspects while trying to arrest them, and the wounded men were taken into custody. No information was immediately released about the identity of the suspects, but two sources familiar with the investigation told Reuters authorities were investigating a possible link to Nigeria.
"I apologise that women had to witness that, but in our lands our women have to see the same thing. You people will never be safe. Remove your government. They don't care about you," the videotaped man said before crossing the street and speaking casually to the other attacker.
Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a visit to France to return to London and chair an emergency national security meeting.

Tuface, Ras Kimono, Faze, others clean up Lagos streets, feed hungry destitutes

Some artistes in the Nigerian music industry on Tuesday turned out en masse to clean up the streets of Lagos, feed the hungry and visit the homeless.

The musicians who participated in the exercise included TuFace Idibia, who was accompanied by his manager, Mr Efe Omorogbe.
Others were Ras Kimono, Dizzy Falola and Chibuzor Orji, popularly called “Faze’’, amongst others.The exercise was organised by the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) as part of efforts to create awareness about the industry and bring music to the doorstep of every Nigerian.
The event was one of the major highlights of the COSON week which commenced on May 19 with the tag “COSON in the streets”.
In a brief remark during the exercise, Orji commended COSON for protecting the interest of musicians and urged the society to do more
“I appreciate what they (COSON) are doing. They should keep it up,” he said.
In an interview with NAN, Falola also commended COSON for its efforts to make the future of Nigeria’s music industry secure.
He said the exercise was an indication that Nigerian musicians were serious and committed to the progress of the country.
“Musicians and other celebrities are always viewed as different and separated from other Nigerians, but we have come out to involve ourselves in activities we normally do not do.
“The activities include cleaning the streets, disposal of waste and visiting the homeless.
“We are human beings. If the people see what we are doing, they will realise that we are all the same,” he said, and urged other organisations to emulate the misicians.“What we are doing is unusual. It is something that is hard for other organisations to do, but we have to start from somewhere and COSON has taken the giant step.
“With the success of the event in Lagos, we can begin to move from state to state in order to reach the masses and positively improve the music industry,” Falola said.
On his part, TuFace Idibia commended COSON for its efforts to improve the livelihood of musicians as well as its transparency and openness.
He said Nigerians were not recognising the dignity of labour and were looking down on jobs like cleaning and waste disposal.
“There is dignity in labour. Some Nigerians view some jobs like cleaning and waste disposal as inferior.
“People who do these jobs are earning money and we need to respect them and what they do. They are not doing anything illegal. There is dignity in what they do,” Idibia said.
He urged Nigerian youths not to wait for government jobs only but to engage in jobs that are legal to earn their living.(NAN)