Taiwo gets Audi car from AC Milan

Nigeria's Taiye Taiwo got a brand new Audi car given to him immediately he sealed the AC Milan deal. The bulky Super Eagles defender stormed the city of Milan on Wednesday from Marseille, France to complete his transfer. Audi auto mobile is one of the official sponsors of AC Milan and they were proud to associate itself with the Nigerian star.

He was welcomed by large number of the Rosonerri fans who had come to see their new acquisition.

The Nigerian defender was at Milan training ground in the morning to feel the turf and also meet the fans. The Milan’s fans were so excited to see the Super Eagles’ player as they struggled for his autographs,

Taiwo had to go through series of medical examinations when he arrived Milan. He also used the opportunity to meet with the directors of the club. The former Marseille defender is expected in Nigeria next week to commence preparations for the Nigeria friendly international match against Argentina on June 1 in Abuja.

Museveni apologises to Goodluck on stone throwing mobs

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni in a statement published in the state-owned New Vision newspaper has apologised to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, whose vehicle was hit by a stone by mobs during last week's presidential inauguration in Kampala.

Museveni said the car carrying Congolese leader, Joseph Kabila, was almost hit. He apologised to the foreign leaders for

the "hooliganism and irresponsibility".

Meanwhile Museveni has branded foreign media as "enemies" especially the BBC because of their coverage of recent anti-government protests.

In a statement Museveni said,"The media houses, both local and international, such as al-Jazeera, BBC, NTV, The Daily Monitor, etc, that cheer on these irresponsible people, are enemies of Uganda's recovery and they will have to be treated as such. Why do they not also report the negative acts of these elements?"

Uganda has seen sharp spikes in food and fuel prices the last several months, making car or bus travel unaffordable for many. Anger over the increases has fuelled Besigye’s protests, and security forces have clashed with protesters around the country. Human Rights Watch says government forces have shot and killed nine people during crackdowns on protests.

Museveni, an ex-rebel commander who seized power at the head of a guerrilla army in 1986, once criticized African rulers who clung to power. In 2001 he promised to retire from politics despite lifting a two-term limit on the presidency so he could run again in 2006. But now Museveni says he is fostering peace, stability and growth.

Two Nigerians arrested in Malaysia with cassavas

The long arm of the law caught up with two criminal minded Nigerians who flew into Malaysia on different days with the thought they could hoodwink the authorities by stuffing 9.46kg of syabu worth about 2 million Malaysian Ringgit into cassavas and sweet potatoes, but their plan was foiled by alert KL International Airport police.

Syabu is an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous and as an appetite suppressant.

One of the suspect was nabbed on Saturday and the other on Monday.

Selangor Narcotics CID chief Asst Comm Nordin Kadir said both Nigerians had cut open the cassavas and sweet potatoes and dug holes to store the drugs.

“A steel rod the size of a pencil was used to re-attach the root vegetables which they then covered with mud,” ACP Nordin said yesterday, adding that both carried the vegetables as hand luggage.

He said it was the first entry into the country for the 32-year-old suspect who was arrested at 3.45pm on Saturday. He had brought six cassavas with him.

“The other suspect, 31, who had visited Malaysia before, was arrested at 7.30am on Monday with three cassavas and two sweet potatoes,” he said.

ACP Nordin added that the police found 11 packets of syabu in the nine cassavas and two sweet potatoes.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a death penalty

NBC staff paralyses operation in Lagos

The bulk of casual staff of Nigerian Bottling Company(NBC), the authorized bottler of Coca–Cola products and the leading producer of Alcohol-free beverages in Nigeria numbering about 500, took to the streets in Lagos, protesting over poor working conditions and inhuman treatment by the management of the company.

The protesters practically shut down operations as all entrance gates to the company were closed. Although, police personnel were not on ground, the atmosphere was tense.

The aggrieved workers started the protest around 8am, carrying placards and singing.

The protesters said the management has over the years refused to see to their welfare. Some of the things they complained about include: poor remuneration, harsh working condition and lack of medicare, amongst others.

A top executive was quoted to have said "We are aware that there was a demonstration on Monday, by a number of persons at the Ikeja Plant of the Nigerian Bottling Company Plc. These are people who have been engaged through service providers for the plant.

"The Company is currently having internal discussions about the situation. It is our desire to resolve this matter swiftly, amicably and equitably.It is not appropriate to go into details while these discussions are continuing. However, further information will be provided at the earliest opportunity," it said.

A protesting staff said the strike will continue today if the company does not invite the workers for dialogue.

Nigerian stabs Nigerian in Ukraine

A fight between two Nigerian medical student at the Crimea State Medical University occured in Ukraine recently. A 24 years old Nigerian student in his fourth year stabbed his 23 years old countryman, a third year medical student with a knife and hurt him seriously.

While the former is recuperating at an hospital, Jay Jay as he's fondly called is languishing in police custody and his due to face trial in a law court shortly against the state. He faces a possible eight years jail term, if conviccted of the crime.
However president of the Nigerian community are making efforts to see that the young man is granted bail and released.

Italy probes refugee sacrifice claim

Italy opened an inquiry on Wednesday into allegations by a refugee fleeing Libya that some people on the boat he arrived on threw other refugees into the sea as a human sacrifice during a storm.
The 16-year-old Ghanaian spoke to a volunteer from the charity Save the Children after arriving on the island of Lampedusa earlier this month and his disturbing allegations against a group of Nigerians were reported to police.
"As soon as we received the testimony we opened an investigation as required," the local chief prosecutor, Renato Di Natale, said.
Emanuela Salvatori from Save the Children, said: "We can confirm that we collected the testimony from this minor and that an investigation is underway."
"It was like a rite of sacrifice," La Stampa quoted him as saying, adding: "The captain pointed them out and the others threw them overboard."
The Ghanaian, who is now in a refugee centre in Italy, said his brother was one of the victims and also spoke of women being raped on the boat.
The news reports said other refugees had confirmed the Ghanaian's story.
Thousands of refugees fleeing Libya - almost all of them migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia - have been arriving in Italy in recent weeks as the conflict in North Africa has escalated.

Kenyan police seize tusks of elephant heading to Nigeria

Police in Kenya seized the tusks of 58 elephants-totaling one ton of ivory — after sniffer dogs led investigators to containers at the country's main airport that were destined for Nigeria according to Kenyan poice on Friday.
Police officer in charge Joseph Ngisa, said no arrests had been made. It was not immediately clear why the ivory was being transported to Nigerian; the most common destination for smuggled ivory is Asia.
"We are suspecting they could be from here or neighboring countries and we are on their toes. We must get them. They have killed many, many elephants and we cannot allow this," said Eunice Kiheko, the deputy police chief in charge of all airports.
Patrick Omondi, an expert on elephants at the Kenya Wildlife Service, says illegal ivory smuggling in Africa increased after the 2007 temporary lifting of a ban by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It allowed a one-off sale by countries that had stockpiles of ivory from elephants that had died naturally or problem elephants killed by wildlife officials.
In 2007, Kenya lost only 47 elephants to poaching, Omondi said. In 2008 — the year the sale took place— Kenya lost 145 elephants. In 2009, 271 elephants were killed and 187 were killed in 2010. Omondi said Kenya has already lost 87 elephants this year.