Mary J Blige and Tiwa Savage's Reunion

You all know that Tiwa Savage used to be a backup singer for Mary J Blige? Tiwa received high praise from the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul during her recent performance at the Sisters with Soul concert in Lagos last September. Mary J Blige stopped mid-way through her performance to acknowledge Tiwa’s presence in the audience then recounted the tale of how they met and worked together, before inviting the “Eminado” singer onstage to join her. The reunion of the talented songbirds was one of the highlights of the successful concert...

Atiku Abubakar vows to follow rape case...

 











The Nigerian police in the southern state of Bayelsa has confirmed that an 18-year-old girl committed suicide after a gang rape by three unidentified men.
The Spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr Alex Akhigbe, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the girl killed herself in Amarata, Yenagoa, Local Government Area of Bayelsa, southern Nigeria.
“I believe the deceased decided to hang herself due to the attendant shame and stigmatisation she experienced after the rape incident,” Akhigbe said.
He said that the command had launched investigation into the alleged rape charges filed by the deceased family.
One of the family members, who pleaded for anonymity, said that the girl was reportedly gang-raped last week.
“She was on errand for her elder sister and was allegedly raped at gun point by three boys who forced her into an uncompleted building.
“The girl was devastated after the incident.
“After some days she told her sister and the husband her experience. Her sister’s husband who is a Pastor, asked her to describe any of her attacker.
“She described one of the boys, but the boy could not be found; I believe Pastor counselled her (the victim).
“The pastor has promised to pursue the matter to the court.
“She swallowed a poisonous substance known as Sniper and she was discovered while groaning in pains and rushed to GloryLand Hospital.
“The victim was discovered through the note she dropped before taking the poisonous substance,” the source said.
  From PM News

N225m car scandal: Stella Oduah tells her own side of the story

Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah has responded to President Jonathan's query to her to explain her role in the purchase of the controversial N225million BMW armored cars.

Executive summary on the procurement of NCAA operational vehicles
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is the statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Industry.

Consequently, the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.

2. Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate & unreliable monitoring equipment.

3.In the 2013 budgetary appropriation, provision was made for the procurement of specialised equipment (including operational vehicles) to complement and in some cases replace obsolete ones.

Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO, ACI and a host of others makes it necessary to have specialised operational vehicles.

4.With regard to the procurement of additional operational vehicles (including BMW Security Vehicles), the following due process was observed:
(I) By letter dated April 15, 2013, NCAA officially requested authorisation from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to procure 56 operational vehicles through lease financing. This option was proposed to the ministry to enable the NCAA make 36 monthly payments based on receipts from Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.


The Ministry therefore granted due approval.
(ii)Based on the ministry’s approval, the NCAA invited Expressions of Interest from all Banks in Nigeria for the financing of the said vehicles. EOI was adopted because the procurement is two sided. First, the financier would have to be selected before the supplier is determined. This is in line with procurement best practices.
(iii) On May 24, 2013, the response received from the various banks to the Expression of Interest, EOI, request was opened publicly and minutes of the opening exercise was duly documented. During the EOI opening exercise, NCAA got commendation from one of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, approved by BPP who were invited for the opening exercise.
(iv)  The evaluation of the expression of interests was held on May 31, 2013 during which First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC emerged most responsive. On the June 10, 2013 the above three banks were invited to submit Financial Proposals. Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.
(v)Between June 20 and 25, 2013, invoices were received from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW Security Vehicles.

(vi) On June  28, 2013, NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved the selection of First Bank Ltd for the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles.  All  necessary approvals  were duly  sought  and  obtained accordingly.

(vii) Between  July 8, 2013 to August, 12, 2013 various meetings were held with First Bank Ltd, contract agreement was signed and necessary documentation executed.

Your Excellency is respectfully invited to note:
(i) The crucial statutory role of the NCAA in regulating civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
(ii) The need for NCAA to be fully equipped with highly specialized tools and facilities (including operational vehicles) to enable the effective implementation of its statutory functions.
(iii) The procurement of specialized operational vehicles is duly provided for in the NCAA 2p 13 (IGR) Budget and the need for adopting instalmental lease payments over36rionths.
(iii) That Due Process was followed in the procurement of the said operational vehicles.

Please your Excellency my continued loyally and esteemed regards.
Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, OON, Honourable Minister.

Bruce Jenner Not Invited To Kanye's Engagement Surprise

Bruce Jenner was NOT invited to AT&T Park when Kanye West popped the question to Kim Kardashian ... in fact, he had no idea his step-daughter was getting engaged until AFTER the fact -- TMZ has learned.

Family sources tell us ... Bruce and Kanye have never had a "real conversation."  As we previously reported, Bruce was not happy when Kim hooked up with Kanye so quickly after she left Kris Humphries.   

We're told Kanye is the one who planned every detail of the surprise proposal.  We do not know exactly why Bruce was not invited -- whether it was because of Kanye or because of Bruce's separation from Kris.

We do know ... Bruce didn't even know Kanye was popping the question until he got a call from Kim immediately after she got engaged.   We're told Bruce was Kim's first call, because Kim considers him to be her father..

The moment Kanye got down on one knee to propose to Kim

The proposal on Kim's birthday was captured for the Keeping Up With The Kardashian cameras...so Kanye went all out. He proposed with a $3 million, 15-carat diamond ring. Kim later told E! News 'Last night was truly magical!!! I am the luckiest girl in the world! I get to marry my best friend!'. Big Congrats..