Ritualist Ibrahim beheads 2 year-old boy and rapes mother

A middle aged man named Mamodu Bashir Ibrahim has been arrested by the Ogun State police command for behading a 2year old boy and raping the boy's mother inside an uncompleted building in a bush at Ofada town in Obafemi/Owode local government area of the State. Reports say the man trailed the woman who was carrying her son on her back, into the bush, forced her into an uncompleted building, raped her, then stabbed her in the neck. He then cut off the little boy's head. A passerby discovered what was happening and raised an alarm but by the time help finally came, the suspect had already fled the scene with the little boy's head. He was later arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, CID of the State Police Command and when they asked for the boy's head, he said he had sold it to a woman in Ibadan. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident and said investigations is ongoing and they are trying to track down the woman who bought the little boy's head.

NCP approves handover of PHCN successor coys

The National Council on Privatization (NCP), on Friday, formally approvedthe handover of the successor companies unbundled from Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to the preferred bidders.

The decision, which was taken at the Council’s sixth meeting in Abuja, followed the approval of the payment of the remaining 75% of 14 out of the 15 bidders for the acquisition of the 15 PHCN successor companies.

Among the payments approved by the Council include the 12 companies that made payments on the due date:

·    Amperion Power Co. Ltd (Geregu)

·    Transcorp/Woodrock (Ughelli)

·    Integrated Energy Company (Ibadan)

·    NEDC/KEPCO (Ikeja)

·    Vigeo Power Ltd. (Benin)

·    Aura Energy Ltd. (Jos)

·    Integrated Energy Company (Yola)

·    Mainstream Energy Ltd. (Kainji)

·    West Power & Gas (Eko)

·    Kann Consortium (Abuja)

·    4Power Consortium (Port Harcourt), and,

·    Sahelian Power SPV Ltd. (Kano).

The Council also approved the late payments by North South Power and Interstate Electric Limited, for Shiroro Power Plc and Enugu Distribution Company Plc respectively. But the approvals were subject to the late payment penalty as provided in clause 12.20 on interest for late payment and clauses 5.5, 5.5.1 and 5.5.2 of the Share, Purchase Agreement, SPA.

Legal interpretation

However, the Council referred the case of CMEC/EURAFIC consortium, the preferred bidder for Sapele Generation Company to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Legal Committee of the NCP for advice.

The move became imperative in order to resolve the identified legal issues, as the group had paid over 50% of their bid cost or $119,887,156 of the $201,000,000.

The NCP also directed the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure that all staff entitlements are fully paid by the week beginning September 23, and ending September 27, 2013.

Council equally approved the protocol for the physical handover of the successor companies to the bidders that have fully paid the remaining 75% for the acquisition cost.

It would be recalled that in December 2010, NCP advertised for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective core investors interested in acquiring controlling stake in the 11 successor distribution companies (Discos) and the six generation companies (Gencos) created out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

All the prequalified bidders were given access to the virtual data room from September 1, 2011 to the proposal submission date ofJuly 31, 2012. Pre-qualified bidders were also allowed to visit the distribution companies and physical data rooms that were located within the franchise area of each company.

Recall that at the deadline for payment of the initial 25% of bid consideration on 21 March 2013; all the preferred bidders for the 15 Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies met the deadline. At that deadline, the BPE had received $559,445,573.96 from 14 bidders for 15 successor companies.

The Nigerian electricity industry has been unbundled into generation, distribution and transmission companies with a view to encouraging private sector participation and attracting foreign and local investment into the Nigerian power sector to ensure economic and reliable electricity supply.

Hackers drain Gazza's bank account

Troubled former England star Paul Gascoigne was targeted by hackers who drained his bank account of up to £50,000, according to reports.

Gascoigne, 46, who has been battling alcoholism for years, said the thieves made 23 withdrawals in just two days.

Speaking outside his Bournemouth home, he told the Sun he had been "bled dry", first claiming he knew who was responsible before admitting he did not understand how it had happened.

He said: "I know who did it. I know how it f****** happened, there were 23 hits in f****** two days. It was quite a lot of money.

"It wasn't that much. F*** knows. I don't know. Website, internet, I've not got a clue."

The ex-Spurs and Newcastle player, once believed to be worth £14 million, reportedly said between £9,000 and £50,000 had been stolen.

In a documentary aired by ITV this week he described the pain of knowing he might start drinking again even though he recognises it might kill him.

Widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers of his generation, Gascoigne told film-makers he had been ''lucky twice'' after almost dying from drink.

He said: ''I hope I don't die through it. Because I won't get any sympathy...because well he was warned. At least I know if I did pass away through it I wouldn't be in this pain all the time."

Ronaldo pleads for hug-fan charges to be dropped

Cristiano Ronaldo has written a letter to Miami's District Attorney asking for trespass charges to be dropped against a fan who ran on to the pitch to hug him.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo humoured 20-year-old fan Ronald Gjoka when he invaded the field of play at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami during a friendly match with Chelsea on August 7.

The incident resulted in an internet sensation, as the fan spent quite some time clinging on to his hero, who happily obliged as security staff panicked around him.

But the student was arrested and charged with trespass and disorderly conduct, which could see him expelled from college and deported back to his native Albania.

He may face "problems with immigrations and his college if the charges aren't dropped", his attorney Richard Hujber said.

"It is my understanding that he now recognises his error and the importance of security. I do not want to see him face criminal penalties for his error."

Ronaldo, who recently signed a contract to make him the world’s highest-paid player, clearly agrees.

"I understand your position and the importance of enforcing rules and law," Ronaldo wrote in a letter to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.

"However, I respectfully request that you and your office reconsider this decision and dismiss the two criminal charges this young man faces."

It does seem a bit harsh for what was a harmless – if epic – example of super-fandom.

And Ronaldo’s act proves yet again that, beneath the playboy exterior, lies a heart of gold.

                                                                                                                                                                                      From Yahoo!

Singer Joan Regan 'dies aged 85

British singer Joan Regan has died in London aged 85, the BBC reported.

Regan had chart hits in the late 50s and early 60s with records including Ricochet, May You Always and If I Give My Heart To You and also had her own BBC TV series Be My Guest.

Born in Romford, Essex, she was signed up by theatre impresario Bernard Delfont and went on to star on both sides of the Atlantic with artists including Perry Como, Max Bygraves and Cliff Richard and performed on many occasions at the London Palladium.

An accident in the shower in 1984 caused a blood clot on the brain and left her paralysed and without speech, but through therapy she made a complete recovery and was able to sing again

US drops bombs on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Two U.S. fighter jets have dropped four unarmed bombs in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park when a training exercise went wrong.

The two AV-8B Harrier jets launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard each jettisoned an inert bomb and an unarmed explosive bomb in the World Heritage-listed marine park off the coast of Queensland state on Tuesday, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement on Saturday.

The four bombs were dropped in more than 50 meters (164 feet) of water away from coral to minimize possible damage to the reef, the statement said. None exploded.

The jets from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had intended to drop the ordnances on the Townshend Island bombing range but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards.

The pilots conducted the emergency jettison because they were low on fuel and could not land with their bomb load, the navy said.

The emergency happened on the second day of the biennial joint training exercise Talisman Saber, which brings together 28,000 U.S. and Australian military personnel over three week.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were working with Australian authorities to investigate the incident, the navy said.

A 7th Fleet spokesman could not be immediately contacted for further comment on Sunday.

Graeme Dunstan, who is among the environmentalists and anti-war activists demonstrating against the joint exercise, said the mishap proved that the U.S. military could not be trusted to protect the environment.

"How can they protect the environment and bomb the reef at the same time? Get real," Dunstan said from the Queensland coastal town of Yepoon near where war games are taking place.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest network of coral structures rich in marine life that stretches more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) along the Australian northeast coast.