The Edo State indigene, who resides on Popoola Street, off Abaranje Road in the Ikotun area of Lagos, was said to have been attacked while sleeping in his room with his family members.
His wife, Bisi, who was with him when the incident happened, identified the assailants as Solomon and Damilola, the children of the
landlady .
She said, "On Thursday morning, around 3am, while we were sleeping, we heard loud bangs on our door. We initially thought they were armed robbers because the house
beside ours had recently been
robbed."When they entered, we saw they were children of our landlady. They began destroying our electronics and other property.
"There were two of them. One held a knife in his hand. They took N800, 000. They descended on my husband and he also fought back. In that confusion, my husband shouted and we saw that one of the attackers had cut Yinka's scrotum. I can't say what they used to cut off my husband's scrotum."
She added that her husband, though in pain, was able to hold on to one of his attackers till dawn, while the other fled the scene.
Bisi said her husband could not be admitted at a general hospital because of the ongoing doctors'
strike, but was eventually taken to a private hospital in the area.
When our correspondent visited the victim at the hospital, he told Punch the genesis of his problem was when he had a misunderstanding with his landlady and was asked to vacate his apartment.
"I was asked to leave the house immediately, but after the intervention of the traditional
ruler of the community, I was asked to leave by the end of August. But that decision did not go down well with the children of my landlady and they continued to make trouble
with me. I was already planning to leave their house and had even contacted an agent when they attacked me without any provocation. I want the government to fight for me,"
A doctor in the hospital, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that his patient would need up to three months to
recover.
He said, "We have stitched the area where the scrotum was torn. It may take up to three months before it will heal. He needs time to fully recover from the injury."
A relative said the doctor told the family if the condition did not improve, a surgery may not be
ruled out.
It was learnt that about N60, 000 had already been spent by the family.
The father of the suspects, a pastor, when contacted, declined comment. He said, "I am sorry; I can't speak with you on this matter.
You know the matter is already with
the police and those they accused of committing the offence are in the police cell.
So, what do you want me to say? I was told they are taking the matter to court. Let's leave everything to God."
Our correspondent learnt that the case was reported at the Ikotun Police Division.
A source told our correspondent that a member of the suspects' family had on the morning of the incident reported a case of armed attack on them by a tenant.
The wife of the victim, who met the relative at the station, reportedly expressed surprise, telling the officers the reverse was the case.
It was learnt that the relative was put behind the counter after the police saw the victim's injuries.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident.
She said, " It was around 3am, while the victim was sleeping in his room, that one Solomon Olowogbemi and Damilola Olayeye, the children of his landlady, came in and started fighting with him. In the process, they inflicted injury on him with an unknown object. The skin of his scrotum was partly cut off, thereby exposing one of his testicles. The two suspects have been arrested and detained and the victim taken to a hospital."
Findings indicated that President Goodluck Jonathan had already conveyed to Abba the news of his appointment as the next IG, following his selection by the Police Council made up of the 36 state governors and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro.
A source in the Presidency said, "Abba would be announced any moment from now as the next IG; in fact, the appointment has been confirmed to him personally, all we are waiting for is the official announcement by the President which may be made after the FEC meeting on Wednesday."
Abubakar, from Zamfara State, enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979 and was due for retirement on July 30, 2014, based on the mandatory retirement age.
Abubakar, who had attained the mandatory 35 years in service, had been expected to proceed on terminal leave early in the month, but he had clung on, hoping his tenure would be extended.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported that Abubakar would not be granted an extension in spite of his relative achievements in the Force and efforts by Vice President Namadi Sambo, to persuade President Jonathan to extend his
tenure till 2015.
The appointment of Abba as the next IG seems to have put paid to Sambo's alleged promise and assurances to Abubakar and his dream of staying in office till after the general elections.
Investigations showed that it was only the tenure of former IG Sunday Ehindero that was extended by one year by the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abba, whose appointment may be announced on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting, had served as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Rivers State; Deputy Force Secretary and Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of State CID, FCT Police Command.
But the deceased's family alleged that the lover boy lured her to the hotel and attempted to chop off her breasts and fingers, apparently for ritual purpose.
Vanguard gathered that Effiong and his lover, Gift Sunday (26) checked into a room in the hotel located at 10, Yusuf Eleran Street, Ketu, Tuesday evening.
Next day, staff of the hotel were said to have been taken aback by shouts from the room following which the hotel workers forced the door open, only to find the deceased in a pool of her blood.
Efforts to save her life failed as she reportedly died in a private hospital located on Elebiju Street, also in Ketu, Lagos.
Her remains, as gathered, were deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.
A relative of the deceased, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: "What we heard was that on reaching the hotel, the suspect ordered for drinks. As our daughter was sipping hers, he brought out a pair of scissors and started cutting one of her breasts.
"She was screaming at that point. Not done, he cut one of her fingers and attempted to gag her so he could finish his satanic mission.
"Her scream alerted people who came to her rescue.
We were told she gave this version while she was being rushed to the hospital.
"We were also told the boyfriend attempted to escape but was apprehended by the hotel staff before the arrival of policemen from Alapere.
"Her death has plunged everyone into sorrow. All we want is for the police to find out why Raphael killed
our daughter."
However, when the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, was contacted, she
said: "Yes, we have that case. But that is not what happened. What happened was that a man stabbed
his girlfriend with scissors inside a hotel room in Alapere during a fight.
The lady later died while the
suspect has been arrested and is currently in our custody."
In a complaint filed Monday in Rhode Island federal court, 43-year-old fitness enthusiast Christopher Renzi said he had received letters from lawyers for the Danish company JBS Textile Group demanding he give up the trademark because it had "imminent plans" to enter the U.S. market with Ronaldo's CR7 underwear.
JBS has also asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Renzi's trademark, according to court documents. Renzi is seeking the court's declaration that he owns the trademark.
"We just want them to leave us alone," said Renzi's attorney Michael Feldhuhn.
Attorneys for JBS could not be reached for comment.
Renzi registered the moniker in 2009 and has put it on jeans and T-shirts, Feldhuhn said. He also has a
website advertising a seven-minute fitness workout, also under the CR7 name.
According to the complaint, Renzi adopted the mark based on his initials and the day he was born, Oct. 7.
Court materials showed that JBS, which said it holds the "exclusive, worldwide license" to market Ronaldo's CR7 underwear, believed Renzi trademarked CR7 specifically to profit from Ronaldo's soaring fame.
CR7 was "so closely tied to the fame and reputation of Cristiano Ronaldo, that a connection with the soccer player would immediately be presumed by the general public when encountering" Renzi's branded clothes, said JBS's filing with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
The 29-year-old Ronaldo, who plays for the Spanish club Real Madrid, is one of the most highly paid and recognizable athletes in the world.
He has marketing deals with numerous major companies. His Facebook page has more than 93 million "likes."
One of his latest postings shows a behind-the-scenes underwear photo shoot for a CR7 campaign launching
"next week."
Besides underwear, his brand is already expanding into shirts and shoes.
Ronaldo is a more famous user of CR7, Feldhuhn said, "but it's really based on who's using it first. We can show we were the first use of the CR7 name in commerce in America."
Feldhuhn added, "They don't really have the trademark rights because they haven't used it."
The case is Christopher Renzi v. JBS Textile Group A/S and Cristiano Ronaldo a.k.a. Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro, U.S. District Court for Rhode Island.
Case No. 14-cv-00341.
The remain of Mrs. Njideka Lizzy was immediately deposited at the
nearest morgue while the Nigeria police Festac embarked on an intensive investigation and manhunt for her killer.
The gatekeeper at the deceased residence, who is also the prime witness, told the police that the
suspect was not just a familiar and regular visitor but also considered a family friend.
Hence, he never suspected anything as he opened the gate for the 33-year-old Kelechi Eze who hurriedly drove off in the deceased Range
Rover SUV jeep at about 2:30am.
Information gathered by the Festac Police has it that the prime suspect, Mr. Kelechi Eze who was
formally based in South Africa hails from Umuorji in Anambra State, and speaks multiple languages fluently including French.
Preliminary investigation reported that the murder suspect was a hatchet man and serial killer who was compelled to relocate from South Africa to Ghana after being declared wanted by the South African security authority for grave atrocities.
The deceased family members reported that Mr. Kelechi Eze had been having a consummated relationship with late Mrs. Njideka Lizzy, which accounted for his incessant trips from Ghana to Nigeria. But the relationship turned sour when the suspect - Mr. kelechi Eze proposed marriage to late Mrs. Njideka Lizzy was turned down by
the deceased and family members due to some undisclosed reasons.
It is believed that the disparagement of Mr. Kelechi's marriage proposal by late Mrs. Njideka Lizzy took him aback; hence his sinister agenda to get even by hook or by crook.
The late Mrs. Njideka Lizzy family members further reported that the murder suspect not only snuffed life out of his unsuspecting victim
who until death was a manager of Edmark International but also made away with her Range Rover SUV jeep, over $50,000 dollars, valuables worth over N8 million naira and the decease mobile phones and ATM cards amongst others.
The hatchet man and serial killer- Mr Kelechi Eze who at the execution of his sinister agenda at
Amuwo Odofin Festac immediately fled Nigeria for Ghana and from Ghana to Côte d'Ivoire was yesterday Tuesday, 29th July 2014 taken into custody by the Côte d'Ivoire security force following an orchestrated forensic auditing
investigation, networked tracking and extensive surveillance masterminded by the acclaimed
ACP Dan Nkem Okoro and his DPO - Area 'E Command, Nigeria Police Festac.
In a press conference in Ghana, the IGP of the Ghana Police Service - Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and the Côte d'Ivoire security force
commended ACP Dan Okoro of the Nigeria Police Force Area 'E command for his flawless forensic prowess and disposition in solving
crimes and concerted efforts to ensuring that criminals have no hiding place in Africa and beyond.
He further asserted that the murder suspect- Mr. Kelechi Eze who has been handed to the Ghanaian Security Force by the Côte d'Ivoire National Security Force shall in turn be processed and securely transported to Nigeria
for further prosecution and execution.
On receiving the news of the apprehension of the dreaded serial killer, the entire residents of Amuwo Odofin, especially the immediate families, friends and colleagues of late Mrs. Njideka Lizzy applauded ACP Dan Nkem Okoro (Area 'E Commander) and the Festac Police force for their ingenuity and responsiveness over the arrest of Mr. Kelechi Eze within one week of the incidence.
And in the same vein thanked the IGP of the Nigeria Police for his God-discerned decision in posting such officers to Amuwo Odofin local government area.
DailyPost was exclusively informed
Wednesday afternoon that the group which is currently in the majority in the House of Assembly, has been meeting secretly to perfect plans toward actualising its resolution to the sack Amosun.
The lawmakers are said to have compiled a list of 14-point constitutional breach by the Governor which they intend to present before the plenary as
soon as they perfect the plot.
Part of the allegations raised in the
14-point impeachable offences made
available to DailyPost include:
1. Reckless borrowing from banks at
commercial interest loan rates, and in breach of constitutional provisions. The House accuses the governor of brazenly sidelining it while committing the state to huge debt in his contract awards.
2. Exposing the state to huge debt without a functional Debt Management Office as stipulated by law.
3. Demolition of houses and business premises without adequate compensation, and where compensations were allegedly paid, such transactions have been shrouded in secrecy and questionable circumstances.
4. Illegal deductions from local government allocations in breach of
constitutional provisions on the financial autonomy of the local government to administrations.
5. Misapplication of the Excess crude monies accruable to the state since 2011.
6. Illegal purchase of arms through independent arms dealers; a deal which has brought Ogun State into disrepute and shamefully place the state on the International Terror Watch list.
7. Over invoicing of contracts over arms purchase and road constructions.
8. Swindling the unsuspecting citizens of Ogun State through the Home Owners charter without the
necessary House of Assembly edict. Monies were illegally collected from the citizens without any legal backing.
9. Extra budgetary expenditure.
10. Deliberate withholding of the House of Assembly running costs as a punitive measure; selective application and implementation of
Appropriation laws. Zero implementation of capital votes approved in the budget.
11. Awards of contracts in breach of the constitutional provisions and the Public Procurement Laws.
12. Waste of public funds on multiple awards of contracts: Ogun State money was expended on the planting of flowers under the urban renewal projects since 2011 but the flowers refused to grow. Bus- stops that were constructed with tax payers' money were demolished less than six months later. The bridge constructed at Leme on Abiola Way was also demolished less than a year
after.
13. Reckless government expenditure on the construction of pedestrian bridge at an outrageous
cost of two hundred and sixty million naira (N260m) which has fallen into disuse as soon as it was constructed.
14. Selective distribution of developmental projects with brazen neglects of several parts of the state. It was gathered that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi and his Deputy, Hon. Tola Banjo have been identified as the possible clog in the plot and the lawmakers might have concluded to begin the process with a change of guard in the leadership of the House of Assembly.
When DailyPost called Funmi Wakama, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Communication, she asked our reporter to call the Commissioner for Information (Yusuf Olaniyonu),
saying he is in the best position to speak on the matter.
"Please contact the Commissioner for Information.
We just left an executive council meeting so he should be available for comments."
Phone call by DailyPost to the Commissioner's "official telephone number" was picked by a female staff who refused to give her name.
After informing her of the news regarding the possible impeachment process, she directed our reporter to the website of Ogun State, as if the enquiry has anything to do with a government-owned portal.
"I cannot say anything on what you're asking me.
Any information you need is on the site, www.ogunstate.gov.ng," she said and quickly disengaged.
A follow-up text message to Mrs. Wakama requesting Mr. Olaniyonu's direct line was not replied as at the time of filing this report.
Source: DailyPost
Amuruche, who pastors the Alakija, Satelite town branch of the MFM, said for over a year, he has been battling with eye cataract which has already grown on one eye and threatening to start growing on the second eye if medical help does not come fast.
Narrating his ordeal when he visited The Sun head office in Lagos, Pastor Amuruche said the problem started when he noticed his eyes were always itching him, a development which degenerated into blurry sight later.
According to him:
"I noticed my eyes always scratch me and at a point my vision changed, my sight became blurring. I told my wife about it, she looked into my eyes and told me there was a growth forming in my eyes. So, we sought medical advice."
The optician they visited, for medical advice, informed him that he had developed an eye cataract and that the only way it can be treated is surgery.
"I went to an optician in the estate where I live who told me that it is cataract and that the only way out is surgery. Initially, I didn't know what the problem was because I have not experienced it before and it is not in my lineage. So, we went to Eye Foundation Hospital, Ikeja, for treatment.
At the hospital, they said I should provide N450,000 per eye. That is N900,000 for the two eyes but I cannot afford it. I did an eye test for which I paid N130,000 pending the time I will get money for the surgery. But I have not been able to raise money and my situation is getting worse by the day."
In his quest to seek alternative treatment for his eyes at no cost, Pastor Amuruche embarked on a journey to Isiukwuato LGA, Abia State, when he heard that a group of opticians flew in from the United States to help people with eye problems free-of-charge.
Unfortunately, his effort to get cured was frustrated by the mammoth crowd that besieged the venue.
"I spent five days there but I could not do the surgery because the crowd was much. That is how I have been going around for assistance and now it is moving to the other eye", he stated.
Asked if the church has done anything to assist him, he looked up from the documents he was sorting with a torchlight, under a well lit room and thick lens glasses on his eyes, and said:
"I have gone to my General Overseer for money to do the surgery. To get him was a problem.
It was just last week that I was able to get him. But instead of giving me money to do the surgery, he gave anointing oil, prayer points and water to be washing my face. I told him that I have prayed. I have
been doing fasting and have been doing vigils concerning the eyes. But it has been deteriorating. If my coming out to seek for help will lead to my sack, let him sack me and I will go instead of losing my eyes in the name of ministry. And I will not be able to minister, I will not pastor and I will be in the house and they will not pay me".
Source: sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=73878
Following the death in Lagos of a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who flew in from his country to Nigeria last week, Ighodalo said he had a "message of hope and faith" that would uncover the solution to the highly infectious disease.
He said that God's "anointing" and the "living words of Jesus," were all that are needed to cure the deadly disease," adding that mere laying of hands on those afflicted with the incurable Ebola virus was all that was required to liberate them.
Ighodalo claimed that he was drawing inspiration from the late Canadian–American Pentecostal pastor, John D. Lake, who, according to him, cured those infected by the virus.
Writing on his official Facebook page, the clergyman, who is also a chartered accountant, said that he could perform the same feat as Lake who reportedly laid hands on some Africans infected by the Ebola virus and healed them.
"Several years ago, the Ebola virus erupted in Africa, killing thousands of people without restraint or cure. The medical world was perplexed. A great man of God by the name John G. Lake came to the rescue by laying hands on infected people who were not to be touched.
"With bare hands, cleaning secretion and curing every victim, John. G. Lake along with his Holy Ghost filled team, brought to an abrupt end to the spread of the deadly virus. The higher life that put out Ebola in the days of John. G. Lake will do the same through you in your day! At the name of Jesus, Ebola will bow out! Stop the fear! Lake and team are long gone! But I am here, you are here! We can save our world! We have the life of God in us!" Ighodalo wrote in a post on his Facebook page.
Buttressing his claim that Ebola could be cured by the simple laying of hands on the infected individuals, Ighodalo quoted from portions of the Holy Bible.
According to him, if he and any member of his deliverance team laid their hands on those infected with the virus, they would not contract the disease.
"And if they drink any deadly thing (Ebola virus included) it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hand on the sick (those already infected) and they shall recover," he said, paraphrasing a verse in the Bible.
However, Ighodalo's claim has attracted angry reactions from Nigerians accusing him of misleading members of the public on the dangers posed by the deadly virus.
In the comments dropped on his Facebook page, Ighodalo was accused of spreading misinformation and falsehood, which according to them is capable of putting more Nigerians at risk of contracting the virus.
An obviously enraged respondent, Oyenuga Lanre-Paul, described Ighodalo's cure to Ebola as a "suicidal prescription" adding that the clergyman should immediately pull down the post from his Facebook page.
Lanre-Paul challenged Ighodalo to embark on a "journey of salvation" to Liberia, which is currently plagued with the virus and test the efficacy of his cure.
He said, "Ighodalo has prescribed his solution to Ebola virus: laying of hands in faith on those afflicted with the incurable virus! He has, however, failed woefully by biblical standards, by not personally walking his talk: he should demonstrate his faith!
"Let Ighodalo and his band of followers embark on their 'journey of salvation' to Liberia and begin to cure by laying their hands on those afflicted with this virus. This is certainly a sure deal for him and his followers, as their success will earn them fame here on earth and a pride of place in heaven.
"Until Ighodalo's faith shows proof, may I request he pulls down his post and stop teaching us this nonsense?"
Another Nigerian, Ruona Meyer, said Ighodalo should desist from further endangering lives with his said Ebola cure.
"Pastor Ituah! Do you know that this (Ebola outbreak) is so serious that Liberia made it criminal to hide patients and refuse to report Ebola cases? Why are you using your position to say what can make others refuse to get the help they need? I am disappointed," she said.
Also, a self-employed businessman in Iboro, Ogun State, Adegbenro Makinde warned that the cure being propagated by the cleric was misleading and capable of sending gullible Nigerians to early graves.
Makinde stated that though God is reputed to be "omnipotent and omniscient," He demands that human beings exercise their discretion on issues as sensitive as the Ebola outbreak.
"Any human being that stretches his hand beyond his protective range will not receive any direct help from the Light. Jesus never jumped from the cliff even with His authority and power over death," he said, warning Nigerians to be wary of Ighodalo's Ebola cure.
At a news conference on Monday 27 July at the Lagos State Government Secretariat in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris disclosed that 59 people had contact with the late Sawyer, which include the Nigerian Ambassador to Laberia.
"So far, a total of 59 contacts have been registered consisting 44 hospital contacts (38 healthcare workers and six laboratory staff) and 15 Airport contacts, comprising 3 ECOWAS staff-driver, Liaison, and Protocol officer, Nigerian Ambassador to Monrovia, two nursing staff and five Airport passenger handlers.
"As of the time of this report, 20 contacts had been physically screened of which 50% are type 1 contact and 50% had had type 2 contact. Airline manifest has not been provided by the airline at the time of this report and therefore the precise number of passenger contacts is yet to be ascertained, especially as two flights were involved (Monrovia-Lome and Lome-Lagos)," he disclosed.
On case management, infection prevention and control, Idris said an isolation ward had been designated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for case management, adding that the designation of three other health facilities was underway.
"A total of 100 Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, were procured by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health, FMOH have been distributed to the private hospital and the State Ministry of Health. WHO also donated 250 PPEs to the NCDC/FMOH.
"Adhering strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was decontaminated using 10% sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia. A cremation urn has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated," he stated.
According to Idris, government could categorically state that as of today only one case of imported Ebola and one death had been recorded in Lagos, saying that no Nigerian had been infected, but that all contacts were being actively followed.
"We call on all Nigerians to be calm and not panic and do hereby assure them that both the State and Federal Governments are up in arms to ensure that the virus did not escape and that no Nigeria is infected with this virus," he assured.
He said preliminary laboratory investigation conducted by the NCDC AI virology laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the World-Bank Funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) Redeemers' University, detected viral DNA and that in both blood and urine samples obtained from the patient were positive for the Pan Filo virus analysis and Ebola Zaire MGB virus strain- specific analysis, adding that samples were also collected for further confirmation at the WHO Collaborating laboratory for Ebola in Dakar.
On the 40-year old Liberian vidtim, Idris said he arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from Monrovia via Lome on Asky Airline Flight No KP50, on his way to Calabar for the 8th ECOWAS Retreat of Heads of Offices meeting, as a senior ECOWAS official in Liberia.
He stated that his plane was reported to have had a brief stop in Accra and Lome, and the aircraft was changed at Lome, explaining that he was also reported to have fallen ill while on board and remained very ill on arrival at the airport in Lagos as he was then assisted by various airport and ECOWAS protocol staff to a private hospital named First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, in Lagos.
"An initial diagnosis of suspected Viral Haemorrhagic fever was made. He was admitted and investigations were carried and supportive treatment was commenced. The private hospital immediately notified the State Ministry of Health who also notified the Federal Ministry of Health. The patient however died at about 6.50am on the 25th July 2014," he explained.
Idris disclosed that the Joint Federal and State Team on the basis of all experiences gathered from the response to this outbreak recommended to mobilize funding for response activities, logistics and supplies; train and orientate health staff on the Ebola outbreak response Standards Operating Procedures and supply laboratory diagnostic supplies or activate the mobile VHF laboratory.
Other recommendations, he said, were to provide adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), organize psychosocial support and provide incentives to health personnel involved in Ebola outbreak response, design key messages in the local language and intensify public enlightenment in the local languages and involve the community in response activities.
Police who went to the 15-year-old high school girl's apartment in Sasebo, 900 miles south west of Tokyo, found the bedroom soaked in blood, with the decapitated body of her friend lying on the bed.
The 15-year-old suspect was being interviewed today to establish the reason for the alleged murder.
Police named the victim as Aiwa Matsuko, also 15, who died when she visited the accused schoolgirl's
apartment in Sasebo, in Nagasaki Prefecture, 900 miles south west of Tokyo.
Police alleged that the suspect struck Matsuo on the back of the head more than 10 times with a blunt instrument and while she was unconscious strangled her.
Then as a final act, it is alleged, the suspect, who has not been named because she is a minor, cut off Matsuo's head and her left hand with a large knife.
The horrific crime came to light after Matsuo's parents contacted police to say their daughter had
not returned home.
Police said Matsuo had earlier sent a message to her parents to say she was going to visit her friend at her
apartment - then later sent her parents a text at around 7pm to say she was about to leave for home.
What had started out as a casual inquiry about a schoolgirl returning home late from a friend's house
turned out to be an alleged investigation into one of the country's most shocking crimes in recent years.
Police found Matsuko's body lying on the suspect's blood-soaked bed.
The knife and an unspecified 'blunt instrument' were lying nearby.
Officers said the two girls were alone in the apartment at the time of the crime. They alleged that the suspect, who did not live with her parents, admitted murdering her friend.
'She has not provided us with a motive for the attack at the moment,' said a police spokesman.
The victim had graduated from the same junior high school as the suspect.
The murder comes 10 years after Sasebo, with a population of 270,000, was rocked by the killing of a primary school girl who was stabbed by a classmate.
However, the build-up to the occasion which drew quite a number of industry acts and prominent personalities, witnessed squabbles
involving SID's mother in-law, Mrs. Osomo and her childhood friend.
DailyPost exclusively gathered that the issue nearly got out of hand as the latter threatened to pull off
the preparations for the big day, citing the disrespectful tendency of Mrs. Osomo.
"The woman was angry about Dr. SID wife's mum extreme arrogance. They've known each other for decades and she knows how best to relate with her," said our source.
"As the wedding approached, Simi's mother was all edgy, talking to everyone anyhow. She was in-charge
and ensured no one came close
to questioning her judgements.
Her daughter has same attitude; there are times she speaks in a manner that demoralizes those
around her, including close friends."
"You will recall how she acted towards her friends who failed to show up at her bachelorette party in Las Vegas about two months ago.
Imagine the situation: she invited them to a foreign land without taking care of flight and accommodation costs, yet she insited they attend."
"The family is wealthy but the character of mother and child is far from nice. At a point, Simi mum's friend pointedly told the mother (Mrs. Osomo) that she should counsel Simi on how to communicate with others and also on how to spend judiciously, saying she is rich too but trained her children on prudence and good behaviour."
DailyPost was further informed that the Wedding Planner, FVO (Funmi Victor Okigbo) was paid about N1.5million, yet there were things she was not allowed to handle because Simi's mother had a say in virtually all decisions relating to the event.
For instance, contrary to other suggestions, she insisted on ordering the flowers used for event decoration and beautification among others from abroad.
Inquired about about the position of Mrs. Omiete Esiri (Dr SID's mum) in the whole episode, the source said "the woman doesn't want wahala (problems). Hers is for
the couple to have a blissful union."
Phone calls made Monday morning to Sunday Are, Dr. SID's manager went unanswered.
The late Sawyer, who was reported to have arrived Nigeria last Sunday aboard a Liberian carrier, Asky Airline, was said to be in company of over 100 co-passengers of different nationalities, among who were about 35 Nigerians.
The 40-year-old visiting Liberian died of the deadly virus after being tested positive to the disease at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
According to sources in the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian co-passengers of the late Ebola victim were supposed to be quarantined for thorough investigations, based on an order placed by the Federal Government, but no sooner had the news broken out, than the suspected victims of the deadly virus took to their heels, after having been contacted by officials of the ministry.
This prompted the Federal Government, in conjunction with the authorities in Lagos, to take the latest action and launch the manhunt, categorising the alleged escapees as fugitives.
Further investigations by Sunday Newswatch revealed that among them are two notable Nigerians, who live on a street in a vicinity categorised among the upper-end areas in Lagos.
A security personnel, who was among those detailed for the manhunt, confided in Sunday Newswatchthat a serious search had began, in order to fish out suspected Ebola virus patients, who might be on the run, and that there were specific instructions to move them to designated quarantined areas, as soon as they are seen.
"We learnt that some of them are no longer staying in their houses, and that is why we are looking for them. They are not supposed to run; they should understand that government is only trying to help them.
"If they are tested and it is positive, they will quickly attend to them. The government knows how to help them, but they are running like criminals, as if they would be jailed.
"But we must get them; we cannot allow them to mix with the people, and continue to spread the virus. It is very dangerous for the country", the source said.
When probed further on the modus operandi of the search operation, he revealed that the exercise is not only being conducted by the Federal Government, but that they have the support of the Lagos State Government, which he claimed, has its personnel among the team looking for the escapees.
"We are not doing it alone, even Lagos people are with us. Just this morning, they held a meeting with us, and they helped us in the areas to visit. We just came back from a big man's house. We went there with officials of Lagos, but the family said the man left for London yesterday.
"Though we don't believe them, we have told the airport people to check the manifest of all airlines that left for London yesterday (Friday). We need to confirm his whereabouts," he said.
The Lagos State Government had earlier announced that it was trying to establish contact with those that travelled with the late Sawyer on his way to Nigeria last Sunday, so as to ascertain their status, and ensure that they are properly treated, while preventing a spread of the disease.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this after confirming the death of the Liberian on Friday, said the hospital, where the deceased died, would also be cordoned off and sanitised, while explaining the need to properly dispose of the remains of the deceased.
"We are dealing with those he had contact with. We have the manifest for questioning to ensure we screen them. We are doing that already.
"There is a protocol; we are talking with the hospital involved, the staff over there, after dealing with the body, we have to deal with the hospital, to sanitise the hospital, more importantly too, there is the need for us to do contact tracing.
We are doing that with the World Health (Organisation) people. We are going to trace all the contacts that the man came in with on the air plane, and where they went to.
"Since we have got the manifest now, we are going to trace all of them. Each one of them is going to be questioned, and there is protocol to follow for questioning. They are going to be followed in the next 21 days to see if any of them develops any symptom. This is what we are in the process of doing.
"We have been trying our best to contain the spread of the disease. We need to sanitise. We need to treat and dispose the body properly. Those are the things we are working on right now.
"There are other processes and procedures we need to follow, which we are doing right now, and we are doing so in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health," he said.
He also revealed that the Lagos State Government, in conjunction with the Federal Government, had established contact with the Liberian Government to resolve all diplomatic issues concerning the burial.
"First and foremost, his body needs to be properly disposed. There are issues involving diplomatic relationship. We need to get consent from the Liberian Government, which the Federal Ministry for Health is doing right now.
"But we have to deal with the body and how to sanitise and ensure that the viruses are killed and prevented from spreading. These are the issues we are handling right now.
That is the latest we can give you now," Idris had said on Friday.
He further explained that governments at both levels were not leaving anything to chance.
"The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has stepped in to volunteer. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has also stepped in. We have set up contact screening centres. We have the Federal Ministry of Health assisting us with laboratory work.
"All stakeholders are involved. We are confident that the step will stop further propagation of the disease. We plead that you do not spread scary messages, so as not to spread panic.
"If you know anybody who has travelled to Liberia where the viral is established, report to us on time.
We have set up treatment centres for probable symptoms," he stated.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, also assured Nigerians that there was no cause for alarm, assuring that necessary steps had been taken to control the spread of the virus, noting that all the passengers that the patient came in contact with aboard Asky Airline had been traced and are being investigated.
"I want to reassure the general public that the Federal Ministry of Health is presently working with other ministries, agencies and international organisations, as well as with the Lagos State Government to prevent the possible spread of the virus."
According to the World Health Organisation, as at July 20, not less than 1,093 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia had been infected by Ebola, since its symptoms were first observed four months ago.
Tests confirmed the Ebola virus in 786 of those cases, of whom 442 died, and of the 1,093 confirmed as probable and suspected cases, 660 people have died. The Ebola virus matures and kills quickly.
Meanwhile, the United States has said its officials are closely monitoring the outbreak of the deadly virus in Nigeria, and that it was working with the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government, as well as aid groups to try to stop the spread.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those fighting the virus," Will Stevens, spokesman for the State Department's Africa Bureau, said in an interview monitored on AFP, adding, "the US will continue to provide a comprehensive, multi-agency response to assist countries affected."
This came as First Consultants Medical Centre Limited, the hospital where the 40-year-old Liberian died of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in
Lagos, yesterday revealed how it prevented the disease from spreading to parts of the country.
According to a statement issued by the airline in Lagos and signed by its media officer, Mr. Ola Banji, the disease which was officially confirmed in Lagos last week, killed a Liberian national who flew into the country from Monrovia via Lome(Togo) last week.
The airline said with this, the suspension would be in force until further notice.
It added that the decision was a pre-cautionary measure aimed at safeguarding the precious lives of Nigerians.
"Arik Air is taking this important step as a concerned corporate citizen, bearing the interest of Nigerians at heart. We acknowledge
the steps that the Federal Government of Nigeria is currently undertaking to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. However, we feel especially compelled to take the business decision to immediately suspend flight services
into the two Ebola affected countries due to our interest in the well being of Nigerians.
"At the early stages of the contagion's development across West Africa, the Gambian government took the proactive decision to stop airlines (including Arik Air) from bringing inbound passengers from Monrovia, Conakry
(Guinea) and Freetown into Banjul.
Arik Air is taking this important step as a concerned corporate citizen bearing the interest of Nigerians at heart. We acknowledge the steps that the Federal Government of Nigeria is currently undertaking to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. However, we feel especially compelled to take the business decision to immediately suspend flight services
into the two Ebola affected countries due to our interest in the well being of Nigerians.
Hence, in line with the actions taken by the Gambian government, we trust that the Federal Government of Nigeria shall take all steps necessary to control and curtail the spread of the virus.
"We humbly suggest that as a first step, all inbound flights into Nigeria which originate from any of the Ebola affected countries, be immediately suspended. At Arik Air, our core vision and purpose is, 'to provide world-class experiences and services which are safe, reliable and continually contribute towards
improved quality of life as well as the elevation of Nigeria's global standing."'
Motivated by this guiding principle, we would therefore like to assure our guests (and indeed all Nigerians) that their continued safety shall always be at the forefront of all business decisions taken by Arik Air. Fly safe, fly well, fly Arik Air," the statement noted.
