Saturday, January 16, 2016

Busted! VIDEO: Nigeria’s Interior minister, Dambazau, converts SSS officer to “shoe shiner” (MUST WATCH)

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, has been caught on tape using an officer of Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Service, to clean his shoes in public.

A video obtained by PREMIUM TIMES showed the minister, dressed in white gown, relaxing on a couch with his legs stretched out.

The SSS officer appeared from the sides, with a handkerchief in his right hand and a holstered service pistol protruding from his jacket.He was shown stooping before the minister, using his left hand to lift Mr. Dambazau’s right leg, slightly above the floor to clean his loafers.

Watch the video below: 


Credit: Leadership 

If you are having difficulty watching it, click on the link below:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IMiMcQ9vE7A

The minister bent his head to notice him, before looking away to focus on the event unfolding in a distance.The minister was at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Academy in an Abuja suburb for an event in December.

He was seated between what seemed to be top officers of the NSCDC who merely took short glances at the SSS officer stooping before them.

Soon, the right leg shoe was glistering again and he steadily dropped it back to a dusty floor.

The minister adjusted himself in his couch and gently raised the left foot, appearing detached, while the SSS officer took it in his palms again and wiped off the dust.

Top Nigerian officials are known for misusing or abusing security details posted to them.Apparently irritated by the way security officials are treated by the VIPs to which they are attached, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in May last year, warned police officers against running errands or doing domestic chores for their principals.

“Those of you who are posted to VIPs, on no account should you carry their bags and on no account should you act as domestic servants to them,” Mr. Arase told police inspectors and other rank and file on May 21, 2015, shortly after he was appointed Inspector General“You are police officers of the Federal Republic ofNigeria and they must respect you as such. 

Your uniform must be respected, anybody who wants to hire a domestic help should not use our policemen who are sent to protect them as domestic help.“I have directed the commissioner of police in charge of the airports that if they find any of you carrying boxes (of VIPs) and rifles, and dragging them all over the place, they should arrest you and you will be punished.’’It is not clear whether the SSS gave a similar instruction to its personnel.

Not Again!!! Celine Dion’s Brother Daniel Dies Of Cancer, Days After Husband

Céline Dion has suffered another family tragedy: Her brother Daniel Dion has died of cancer, days after her husband René Angélil succumbed to the same ailment.

The Canadian pop singer’s rep confirmed the news to E! News on Saturday, hours after it was revealed Daniel suffered from cancer of the throat, tongue and brain and did not have long to live. 

He was one of Celine’s 13 siblings.Their sister Claudette had recently told Le Journal de Montréal that family members, including their mother, had flocked to his bedside.

The newspaper quoted the family as saying that Daniel passed away at 5 a.m. on Saturday.“He was ready and he no longer suffers,” Claudette told Le Journal de Montréal.

“It was serene.”Celine, 47, has not commented about her brother.Angélil, Celine’s husband of 20 years and the father of their three children, died on Thursday atage 73 after battling throat cancer.

The singer recently revealed that her husband’s funeral will be held next Friday at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica. The two got married there in 1994.



Toyin Lawani dumps Trigg, now allegedly seeing L.A.X’s father

In what can be described as a brutal move, Tiannah Place Empire boss, Toyin Lawani has reportedly ditched her younger lover cum baby daddy, Lord Trigg for an alleged affair with Starboy records artiste, L.A.X’s father.

This isn’t the first time the couple will be breaking up, but sources have claimed it is final this time.

Toyin who has had her fair share of controversy over the years, is said to be done with her 23-year-old rapperpartner and is shifting her focus to her business and two children. 

She also nurturing an alleged lowkey relationship with Sifax Group boss, Taiwo Afolabi, who is the father to singer, L.A.X.

The former lovers have reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram and have since deleted pictures which flaunt them as a couple.

Their relationship which produced a son, Lord Maine only lasted three years.

[today] 

Veteran Actress, Iya Loses Daughter To Chronic Ulcer

Iya Rainbow 
Popular veteran yoruba nollywood actress Iya Rainbow,has reportedly been bereaved as reports claim that she lost her daughter to complications from ulcer.

According to Goldmyne TV Iya Rainbow (Idowu Phillips) lost her daughter Lola this morning (January 15). Lola was taken to a private hospital Tomade Hospitalin Ojodu yesterday due to stomach ulcer complications. 

She was said to have been accompanied by her husband Osborne but she unfortunately gave up the ghost in the morning.

According to reports the deceased planned to travel to America today. 

Her body is now at the Ikeja morgue although Iya Rainbow has not released a statement concerning the death of her daughter.

Missing Budget: Senate Spokesman Carpets Bisi Akande, Calls Him A Frustrated Man

Chief Bisi Akande, APC Leader 
The Senate today (Saturday) responded to the statement by the former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande in which he described the claim that the 2016 budget was missing from the upper legislative chamber as an indication of the indiscipline that produced its leadership.

The Senate said it was regrettable that a man of Akande's status would be responding to mere speculation without cross-checking his facts or worse still eager to latch on to any opportunity to bring to disrepute the leadership of the Senate because he failed to get his choice candidates elected.

In a statement by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate urged Akande to check his records properly so that he couldsee that "at no time did the Senate say the 2016 budget was missing".

Rather, Abdullahi noted that the legislative house had insisted in several official statements and press interviews by its principal officers that the budget was not missing but that two different versions are now available.

"We have said it several times that the budget was not missing. That two versions of the details of the budget exist and this is no longer in doubt as the Presidency has equally admitted this.

"We expect a man of Akande's calibre to cross-check his facts and take us up on our words. That he decided to ignore the facts and make comments on speculations is regrettable. 

He is a man who had served in government. He is a leader of the party with the majority in the Senate and he has several channels of cross-checking facts as against speculations.",Abdullahi stated.

The spokesperson said contrary to the description of what happened as indiscipline on the part of the leadership, the position of the present Senate leadership is a demonstration of the regime ofopenness, transparency and accountability that now reigns in the upper legislative chamber. 

In the past, he said, such a development would have been swept under the carpet. He noted that the statements by Akande was another expression of the frustration that the former Governor of Osun State suffers for not being able to impose his lackeys on the Senate as leaders.

"Chief Akande is still sulking after his group's failed attempt to impose certain individuals as the leaders of the Senate last year. 

So, he was in a hurry to condemn the leadership. We want him to know that the leadership of the Senate can only emerge through the provisions of the constitution and the standing rules of the institution. 

As a democrat, Akande should know that once the majority has elected the leadership, all parties to the contest ought to accept the decision.

"To continue belly-aching and working to undermine the institution because of the failure to get one's choice candidates elected cast doubts on his democratic credentials. 

It appears he is only a democrat when he has his way. We advise him to move on and let us help the legislative institution to focus on its agenda to serve the people in line with the much needed change that President Muhammadu Buhari promised the nation..", Abdullahi stated. 

#Lassafever: Stop drinking gaari for now, medical workers union warns Nigerians

The Medical and Health Workers Union, Lagos State council, on Saturday, said that it would embark on public enlightenment to discourage drinking of gari for now to prevent Lassa fever.

Mr Razak Adeofalade, Chairman of the union, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.According to him, the house rats that caused Lassa fever are mostly in contact with Nigerian most staple food, gari, a cassava product.

"We are going to encourage members of the public to stop drinking gari at this moment, it is better that the cassava flour is utilised for 'eba’ because of the use of hot water.

"We are waging total war and that is: 'War against Rats,’ and that is what we are going to do to ensure we do not have another victim of Lassa fever in the state.

"We will also be telling them to ensure that their fruits and raw vegetables are properly washed if they must be consumed raw and cook to the appropriate temperature."

The whole essence is to enlighten our people because education carries a lot of weight in this whole activity," he said.

Adeofalade added that the union was also calling for adaptation of best practices for food storage to preventepidemic.

According to him, the union is determined to wage war against rats in the state and public enlightenment on fighting epidemic.Headlines

Fayose cautions Buhari over probe of military chiefs, says $2.1bn arms deal is a scam

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Weekend, advised President Muhammadu Buhari on his order for 18 Military Generals to be probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal.

Fayose and BuhariGovernor Fayose, who reacted to President Buhari's order for the 18 serving and retired military chiefs to appear before the EFCC from Monday, through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the military officers ought tohave been probed in accordance with the armed forces rules of engagement.

The governor, who reiterated his support for the fight against corruption, however, dismissed the $2.1 billion arms deal as a scam, noting that "all they are just doingis to brandish figures to deceive Nigerians and demonized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those opposed to his dictatorship in the All Progressive Congress (APC)."

Till today, the amount they have charged people for stealing is not up to N10 billion and $2.1 billion they claimed was stolen is about N600 billion."

The president must let Nigerians see where the arms deal is in the 2015 Budget and publish details of the imaginary $2.1 billion scam. 

Also, the President must tell Nigerians how his friend, Jafaru Isa was able to return N100 million to the EFCC within three days because there are insinuations that the N100 million refunded came from the Presidency.

"Fayose said it was strange for serving military generalsto be interrogated by junior police officers, adding that"The president should not act in a way that he will be perceived as ridiculing the armed forces."

He said: "Even though I am not a military officer, but I know that there is what us called orderly room trial or court martial, which military men who erred in the performance of their duties are made to go through. 

It is until they are found guilty and probably dismissed that they are made to face court trial."In this case, how does it feel for a serving Military General to be interrogated by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)?

"I think we should not destroy our democratic institutions, especially the judiciary and the armed forces because we are fighting corruption."Already, the President has ridiculed the judiciary by disobeying the courts and coming on television to say that orders oyf the court do not hold waters. 

He is also destroying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by turning it to commission for inconclusive elections. 

He should not ridicule the military, and men of goodwill should advise the President to thread cautiously."

Also, the international community, especially the United States, United Kingdom and the United Nations should caution the President against actions capable ofbringing down institutions of government under the guise of fighting corruption."

[Vanguard] 

Meet 4 Celebrities That Survived Cancer In Nigeria


Despite alarming Cancer mortality statistics, many people have been able to beat this dreaded disease. 

Today, as we pay tribute to those that feelby the way side, We also salute the courage of those who were able to beat the deadly scourge and hopefully encourage those who may be fighting this disease or know someone who is.

Wednesday, 4th February marks World Cancer Day.With no fewer than 8.2 million people who died from Cancer in 2012, according to Cancer Research UK, Cancer remains one of the highest mortality rate diseases in the world.

But inspite of these alarming statistics, many people have been able to beat this dreaded disease. 

So today, as we pay tribute to those we'velost to cancer, we also salute the courage of those who were able to beat the deadly scourge.

Here are 4 Nigerian celebrities who won the battle with cancer.

Banky W:

Banky W, EME boss
Banky Wallington with Banky W as stage name needs no introduction. Singer, songwriter,rapper and now budding director, it's not for nothing that the Samsung ambassador is sometimes referred to as a triple threat. 

But during his undergraduate days, Banky discovered a cancerous tumour in his shoulder which was removed. 

However, it made a reappearance several years down the line. Luckily for him though, it was detected early enough and he underwent a second operation. 

Today, Banky is Cancer-free, millions of naira richer and can be found making female hearts run aflutter on stages across the world. Who says Cancer isn't beatable?


Karen Igho:

Karen Igho 
December 2013, former Big Brother Africa winner Karen unceremoniously announced that she had Cancer and subsequently went off the radar. 

Thankfully, last February she revealed that she was now Cancer free, having undergone a series oftreatments in the UK. 

A year after she was diagnosed with Cancer, Karen tied the knot with her lover of 9 years, Yaroslav Rakos.


Wole Soyinka:

Prof. Wole Soyinka 
Last November, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka announced that he was infact a Cancer survivor as he had battled prostrate Cancer for 10 months prior to his announcement. 

Soyinka was diagnosed of Prostrate Cancer in December 2013 and immediately began treatment. By October 2014, he was given a clean bill of health and the Octogenarian shared his Cancer story at a press conference on Ebola in Ogun state.


Vast of Bracket:

Vast of Bracket 
Last year, Vast sent shock waves through the entertainment industry when it was announced thatthe one half of music duo, Bracket was diagnosed with Lymphoma, Cancer of the blood. 

After a seriesof treatment in London, Vast was finally declared Cancer free and last month, the singer was cleared to resume sexual activities again.

These people are living testimonials, no matter the situation you are going through... Keep the hope alive!!! 

Cancer is not a visa to death, there is still hope and early detection is advisable. If you discover any strange pulse in any part of your body, don't hesitate to visit your doctor. 

[nairaland] 

PoliFocus Quote Of The Day, 16th of January, 2016

"Stop running from problem, face it, solve it"


Life can be said to be a labyrinth journey, with series of  complicated paths. You can not make headway by moving backwards. 

Life is of three notable stages as if relates to 'problems'. It may be that you just solved a problem, in one or planning to enter into another. 

Let me go practical now. A supposed poor man will see himself as having a problem for being poor but when the level changes for better, the problem will change to how to security the wealth so that he will not get back to the previous state. 

So instead of running away from your present problem, face it squarely, tackle it and it will be a thing of the past. It is an hocus-pocus believe to posit that some problems are insurmountable, no sickness without a cure! 

The goodnews is that, in every problem, there is always a disguise opportunity. Explore the opportunity to your maximum advantage. 

Remember that no election, no swearing-in, likewise as in examination and promotion. 

Have a nice weekend beloved! 

Obafemi Martins open to EPL return

Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins 
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has left the door open to a return to the English Premier League.Martins has scored 43 goals in 84 appearances for Seattle Sounders since joining the MLS side in March 2013.

His form in the US earned him a recall to the Super Eagles squad after more than two years’ absence.He has also attracted admirers in England, with Aston Villa making an approach for the player, according to Martins.

The striker says he rejected the approach from the Premier League’s bottom side.Bournemouth, former club Newcastle, and Sunderland are all also reportedly interested in him.“I love the English Premier League and you never know what can happen in football,” Martins told BBC Sport.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow but I will never say never when it comes to going back to England.“When I left Newcastle, I never forgot all about England and when the chance to return with Birmingham City onloan came, I took it.”

Martins burst into the international limelight at Italian side Inter Milan before switching to Newcastle in August 2006. He scored 35 goals in his three seasons with the Magpies.

The striker, who has also had spells in Germany, Russia and Spain, will be remembered for scoring Birmingham City’s winner in their 2-1 Carling Cup final victory over Arsenal in 2011. – the club’s first silverware since 1963.

“People still talk about it everywhere I go,” he said.“Birmingham City fans truly appreciate my contribution there.“I’ve won trophies elsewhere but that one was special to the club. 

You get the same feeling at every football club but in England. Football is very powerful.“I enjoyed some amazing times in England and I will never close the door on a possible return.

”Seattle Sounders’ pre-season begins on 22 January. The English Premier League’s January transfer window, meanwhile, closes on 1 February.

Martins has scored 18 goals in 41 international appearances for three-time African Champions Nigeria and was voted Africa’s most promising talent in 2003 and 2004.

Ho Lo Lo!!! Doctor masturbates, ejaculates on face of unconscious patient

A doctor in New York has been banned and is being investigated for masturbating on the face of an unconscious woman.

The 45-year-old doctor, David Newman is being investigated for sexually assaulting a 22-year-old patient while she was unconscious and receiving treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, US.

According to investigations, the patient was admitted with severe pains in her right shoulder and chest. 

She was attended to by two nurses in a private who gave her morphine.

The nurses asked her to remove her shirt and bra so she can wear a hospital gown for an x-ray.

The woman told investigators that while she was there waiting, Dr. Newman came into the room and gave her a another dose of morphine despite her protests that she had already been given the drug.

She further claims that while she was unconscious, she heard the sound of someone pleasuring himself. 

She was unable to move but felt sperm on her face.She told investigators that Newman wiped the sperm from her face with a blanket after he finished masturbation on her.

See All Match Fixtures For This Weekend In EPL, Seria A, La Liga & Ligue 1


England: EPL 

16/1/2016 (Saturday)  

13:45 Tottenham Hotspur VS Sunderland
16:00 AFC Bournemouth VS Norwich City
16:00 Chelsea VS Everton
16:00 Manchester City VS Crystal Palace
16:00 Newcastle United VS West Ham United
16:00 Southampton VS West Bromwich Albion
18:30 Aston Villa VS Leicester City


17/1/2016 (Sunday) 

15.05 Liverpool VS  Manchester United
17:15 Stoke City VS Arsenal

18/1/2016 (Monday) 

21:00 Swansea City VS Watford

Italy: Seria A 

16/1 /2016 (Saturday) 

15:00 Atalanta VS Inter
18:00 Torino VS Frosinone
20:45 SSC Napoli VS Sassuolo

17/1/2016 (Sunday) 

12:30 Genoa VS Palermo
15:00 Bologna VS Lazio
15:00 Carpi VS Sampdoria
15:00 ChievoVerona VS Empoli
15:00 Roma VS Hellas Verona
15:00 Udinese VS Juventus
20:45 AC Milan VS Fiorentina


Spain: La Liga 

16/1/2016 (Saturday) 

16:00 Sevilla VS Malaga
18:15 Celta Vigo VS Levante
20:30 Villarreal VS Real Betis
22:05 Real Sociedad VS Deportivo La Coruna

17/1/2016 (Sunday) 

12:00 Valencia VS Rayo Vallecano
16:00 Real Madrid VS Sporting Gijon
18:15 Getafe VS Espanyol
18:15 Las Palmar VS Atletico Madrid
20:30 Barcelona VS Athletic Bilbao

18/1/2016 (Monday) 

20:30 Eibar VS Granada

France: Ligue 1 

16/1/2016 (Saturday) 

17:00 Toulouse VS Paris Saint Germain
20:00 Bordeaux VS Lille
20:00 GFC Ajaccio VS Reims
20:00 Guingamp VS Nantes
20:00 SC Bastia VS Montpellier
20:00 Troyes VS Rennes

17/1/2016 (Sunday) 

14:00 Lorient VS Monaco
17:00 Caen VS Marseille
21:00 Saint-Etienne VS Lyon

You will not know peace – Tompolo threatens Buhari

Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will not know peace if the Niger Delta region knows no peace.

Tompolo said this in reaction to allegations that he attacked oil installations in Warri area of Delta State.

“Well, I am sure this is what President Buhari is looking for. He should allow the people of the Niger Delta Region to know peace, otherwise he will not know peace as well,” Tompolo said in the statement issued by Paul Bebenimibo, his media aide.

“I am not responsible for the attack and I condemn it as a dastardly act. I am aware that some persons might want to destroy oil installations and link it with me; that was why I said before time that I have nothingto do with it.

“I could not have gone ahead to carry out such action knowing that every finger will be pointed at me because of my case with the Federal Government,” he added.

Play & Download 'Odun Ayo Mi Tide' By Dariumsmega (A Prophetic & Inspirational Song)

The track 'Odun Ayo Mi Tide' is a spirit filled Christian song with a lot of inspirations and prayers.


I recommend that you listen to it everyday before going stepping of your house. May God answer all our prayers and make this year odun Ayo (Year of Happiness) indeed. 

To play 'Odun Ayo Mi Tide' track, click on the play icon below;


To download it, use the link below;


Download Odun Ayo Mi Tide by Dariumsmega 08064210204


You can contact Dariumsmega on 08064210204 or 09054923366 

My Little Boy Killing SHAKITI BOBO By Olamide



Biafra agitation an error, hopeless and futile exercise – Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo 
Erstwhile President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday enjoined Nigerians not to support the struggle for the actualisation of the sovereign state of Biafra, stressing that the idea was conceived in error.

He stated this while delivering his keynote address at apublic discussion on Biafra organised by Nextier Advisory in Abuja on Friday.Obasanjo said, “Biafra as a secession issue is dead, and nobody should follow that way. 

I see it as a platform rather than a cause.”Stating that he was been cautious of getting into a debate on the “Biafra secession issue” said, “The agitation was born in error and ignorance.”

According to Obasanjo, the succession issue has been commercialised, as some people now use the course to extort money from gullible people.

The former President cited the issuance of Biafra passport, “which takes one nowhere”, as an example of some people making industry out of the agitation.“

There is the commercialization of the Biafra agitation, which is criminal. For example, the issuance of the so-called Biafra passport which takes one nowhere,”“Biafra agitation is as an industry; a means of making money. 

Biafra agitation is a hopeless and futile exercise of which nobody should embark on,” Obasanjo said.

Meet The Man That Rode Bicycle From India To Europe Just For Love


Indian artist PK Mahanandia met Charlotte Von Schedvin on a winter evening in Delhi in 1975 when she asked him to draw her portrait.

What eventually followed was an epic bicycle journey from India to Europe - all for love.

Ms Von Schedvin was visiting India as a tourist whenshe spotted Mr Mahanandia in Delhi's Connaught Place district.

He had made a name for himself as a sketch artist and enjoyed a good reputation in the local press.Intrigued by his claim of "making a portrait in 10 minutes", she decided to give it a try.

But she wasn't impressed with the result and decidedto come back the next day.The next day sadly, proved no better.

In his defence, Mr Mahanandia says he had been preoccupied with a prediction his mother had made several years ago.

As a school boy growing up in a village in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, he often faced discrimination from upper-caste students because he was a Dalit - considered to be at the bottom of India's caste hierarchy.

Whenever he felt sad, his mother would tell him that according to his horoscope, he would someday marry a woman "whose zodiac sign would be Taurus,she would come from a far away land, she would be musical and would own a jungle".

So when he met Ms Von Schedvin, he immediately remembered his mother's predictions and asked her if she owned a jungle.

Ms Von Schedvin, whose family comes from Swedish nobility, replied that she did own a forest and added that not only was she "musical" (she liked to play the piano) her zodiac sign was also Taurus."

It was an inner voice that said to me that she was the one. During our first meeting we were drawn to each other like magnets. It was love at first sight," MrMahanandia told the BBC."

I still don't know what made me ask her the questions and then invite her for tea. I thought she would complain to the police.

"But her reaction turned out to be quite the opposite."I thought he was honest and wanted to know why hehad asked me those questions," Ms Von Schedvin told the BBC.

After several conversations, she agreed to visit Orissa with him.The first monument she saw there was thefamous Konark temple."I became emotional when PK showed me the Konark. 

I had this image of the temple stone wheel framed in my student room back in London, but I had no idea where this place actually was. 

And here I was standing in front of it."The two fell in love and returned to Delhi after spending a few days in his village."She wore a sari when she met my father for the first time. 

I still don't know how she managed. With blessings from my father and family, we got married according to tribal tradition," he said.

Ms Von Schedvin had driven to Delhi with her friendsfrom Sweden along thefamous hippie trail- crossing Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan - to reach India in 22 days.

She said goodbye to him to start her return journey, but made him promise that he would follow her to herhome in the Swedish textile town of Boras.

More than a year passed and the two kept in touch through letters.Mr Mahanandia however, did not have enough money to buy a plane ticket.

So, he sold everything he owned, bought a bicycle and followed her along the same hippie trail.His journey started on 22 January 1977 and he would cycle for around 70km (44 miles) every day.

"Art came to my rescue. I made portraits of people and some gave me money, while others gave me food and shelter," he said.Mr Mahanandia remembers the world as being very different in the 1970s. 

For instance, he did not need avisa to enter most countries."Afghanistan was such a different country. 

It was calm and beautiful. People loved arts. And vast partsof the country were not populated," he said.He said that people understood Hindi in Afghanistan, but communication became a problem once he entered Iran.

"Again art came to my rescue. I think love is the universal language and people understand that.""Those were different days. I think people had more free time then to entertain a wanderer like me."

But did he ever feel tired?"Yes, very often. My legs would hurt. But the excitement of meeting Charlotte and seeing new places kept me going," he said.

He finally reached Europe on 28 May - via Istanbul and Vienna, and then travelled to Gothenburg by train.After several cultural shocks and difficulties in impressing Ms Von Schedvin's parents, the two finally got officially married in Sweden.

"I had no idea about European culture. It was all new to me, but she supported me in every step. 

She is justa special person. I am still in love just as I was in 1975," he says.The 64-year-old now lives with Charlotte and their two children in Sweden and continues to work as an artist.

But he still doesn't understand "why people think it was a big deal to cycle to Europe"."I did what I had to, I had no money but I had to meet her. 

I was cycling for love, but never loved cycling. It's simple."


The question is.... What can you do for LOVE???? 

Test Post




To Download, click on the link below :

Download the audio here

Manchester City sign former Mariner Caceres

Anthony Caceres 
Manchester City have made their first January signing with the capture of midfielder Anthony Caceres from Central Coast Mariners for an undisclosed fee.

The Australian club announced on Friday morning that a fee had been agreed with City for the 23-year-old and a club spokesman has confirmed the completion of the deal.

Caceres is not seen as a player who could challenge for a first-team spot any time soon and he could well beloaned out.Mariners head coach Tony Walmsley signed Caceres in2011, and he told the club website: “We need to celebrate when players at the Central Coast Mariners are sold to bigger clubs. It’s our charter. 

“When I brought Anthony Caceres to the Mariners his potential was obvious.

“This move demonstrates how far Anthony has progressed and symbolises how giving youth a chance works for both the Central Coast Mariners and young aspirational footballers.”An obvious destination for Caceres would be City’s A-League sister club Melbourne City.

The league does not allow clubs to buy players from each other, but a loan from Manchester City would be allowed.Melbourne boss John van’t Schip was coy on any loan move, with the Dutchman quoted in the Australian press saying: “Manchester City is getting him in. 

More or less, that’s it.“We can’t comment on (a potential loan move) but of course everybody knows he’s a good player, he’s one of the better players in the A-League. So we’ll just have to see.”

[today] 

House of Reps to buy 360 cars for members.... Another Misplaced Priority?!!!

The House of Representatives is set to purchase 360 cars for its members. Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas (APC, Adamawa), yesterday put to rest the issue of cars’ purchase for the lawmakers.

However, he did not disclose how much will be expended on the vehicles.He disclosed that the lower chamber would buy 360 cars for members to use for various committees’ activities as every lawmaker belongs to several committees.

According to him, it would not be possible for individual lawmakers to move round all the committees at the same time during oversight functions if there are only 96 vehicles.

 “Individual members belong to several committees.If you just buy one vehicle for a committee, how are they going to do? We cannot use one vehicle to cater for all the members’ committee activities.

“Every member of the National Assembly belongs to not less than seven committees. So, the mere fact that we have 96 committees does not mean 96 vehicles will be purchased,” he stated.The Senate is also planning to buy cars worth N4.7 billion.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Pastor Adeboye bags OAU honorary doctorate degree

Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General. Overseer of RCCG
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has been conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.The award was conferred on Adeboye during the 41st Special Convocation held at the Oduduwa Hall of the OAU, Ile-Ife on Friday.

Adeboye, an alumnus of the OAU, said the award would spur him to contribute more to the development of the university.According to him, the award should serve as a lesson to everyone not to look down on anybody.

According to him, what is impossible with men are possible for God that is why one should never write off anybody.

He added that when the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi was given an honorary award by this university, “I said to my friends that one day,

I too will like to get an honorary award of this university.“My friends laughed and said if it is something that canbe worked for, he has no doubt that I will get it becauseI am hardworking and brilliant.

“He said honorary award of this kind is only given to people of high class.“But today, a special convocation is holding to award an honorary doctorate to the ordinary person of that time.

“I am not given this particular award today because of my scholastic work in academics.

“The only reason why the Senate of this university set today apart is because God wants to make a dream possible.

“I have several honorary awards from different universities both within and outside the country, but I waited for this one.

God has made a dream come to pass.“I got my Bachelor Degree in this school and I was committed before; now I will be more committed to the well-being of the university.”OAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Bamitale Omole, who also spoke, said that with God’s intervention the university was able to overcome many of its challenges.

He said that God’s intervention remained a major drive for the university’s growth.“Although we have challenges, God has been faithful tous.“I pray that God that has seen OAU through challenges for so many years won’t leave it,” he said.

Wizkid vs Dammy Krane: Dammy Krane Apologises To His Fans, Reveals What Wizkid Stole From Him

This news came in before the alleged fight at Quilnox nightclub. Dammy krane has apologised to his fans for the rant. 

On January 12, Dammy Krane called out Wizkid on Twitter, referring to him as a “b##ch nigga”.“…I was about to loose it and f**k him up but they even had to beg me,no time to form I am the streets!!#industreet#”,the Hypertek act wrote on Twitter.

According to him, he had looked the other way for a long time as Wizkid stole his songs – chorus and verses, but could not bottle it up anymore.

In his Instagram post today, Jan. 14, Dammy Kane claims Wizzy’s popular chorus,“Park, baby pull over”from KCEE’s‘Pull Over’song belongs to him, and Wizkid’s “Baba nla” – chorus and verse.

However, Wizkid did not respond to the allegations.

Below is a screen shot of Dammy Krane’sInstagram post:



[info naija] 

Lassa fever update: One case confirmed in Lagos

One case of Lassa fever has been confirmed in Lagos.The case, which was diagnosed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, involves a 25-year-old student from the Ahmadu Bello University.

The patient is said to have been admitted first at a private hospital in Ojokoro area of Lagos State.

According to the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, the patient is responding to treatment.

The death of a Lassa Fever victim at the National Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital, had brought the total number of deaths to 43 in the country, from 10 states.

Announcing the death at the National Hospital on Wednesday, the Minister ofHealth, Professor Isaac Adewole, called on Health workers at all levels to be more vigilant and look out for patients with symptoms of Lassa Fever.

The Minister advised residents of affected states not topanic but to maintain high level vigilance and present themselves for test if they feel unhealthy or they feel symptoms of Lassa Fever which include high fever, stooling, tiredness and vomiting among others.

He cautioned that self-medication should be avoided at this period.

Wizkid VS Dammy Krane: Wizkid Breaks Bottle On Dammy Krane’s Head As The Pair Clashed Over Their BeefAt A Club (Photo)

According to sources at the club, in the early hours of today Jan. 15th, Dammy Krane, who called Wizkid out on social media a few days ago for allegedly stealing his slangs and lyrics, was attacked by the singer at Obafemi Martin’s All Black party at Quilox night club.

 The two were said to be sitting on the same table with Obafemi Martin and others when the fight broke out. 

They said Wizkid didn’t like a comment Dammy Krane made at the table and without warning, punched Dammy in the face, some claim he hit Dammy with a glass cup. 

Dammy picked up a bottle and threw it at Wizkid but missed and before he could do anything else, others got involved and separated the two. 

Club owner Shina Peller then took them to his office to settle issues.

Buhari orders EFCC To Probe Former CDS, CAS, Others (See The Full List)



On the recommendation of the committee established to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out further investigation into the misconduct established against the following retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army:






(1)Air Chief Marshal AS Badeh (Rtd)


(2)Air Marshal MD Umar (Rtd)


(3)Air Marshal AN Amosu (Rtd)


(4) Maj-Gen. ER Chioba (Rtd)


(5)AVM IA Balogun (Rtd)


(6)AVM AG Tsakr (Rtd)


(7)AVM AG Idowu (Rtd)


(8)AVM AM Mamu


(9)AVM OT Oguntoyinbo


(10)AVM T Omenyi


(11)AVM JB Adigun


(12)AVM RA Ojuawo


(13)AVM JA Kayode-Beckley


(12)Air Cdre SA Yushau (Rtd)


(13)Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi


(14)Air Cdre GMD Gwani


(15)Air Cdre SO Makinde


(16)Air Cdre AY Lassa


(16)Col N Ashinze


(17)Lt Col. MS Dasuki (Rtd)






Following the submission of the audit committee's second interim report, President Buhari has directed the EFCC to investigate the roles of the officers and the following


companies and their directors in fundamental breaches associated with the procurements by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).






(1)Messrs Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux


(2) Himma Aboubakar


(3)Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited


(4)Messrs Syrius Technologies


(5) Dr Theresa A. Ittu


(6)Sky Experts Nig Ltd


(7)Omenyi Ifeanyi Tony


(8)Huzee Nig Ltd


(9)GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd


(10) Gbujie Peter Obie


(11) Onuri Samuel Ugochukwu


(12)Spacewebs Interservices Ltd


(13)Oguntoyinbo Tayo


(14) Oguntoyinbo Funmi.


(15) Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd


(16)Chief Jacobs Bola


(17)Mono Marine Corporation Nig Ltd


(18)Geonel Intergrated Services Ltd


(20)Sachi Felicia


(20) Mudaki Polycarp


(21)Wolfgang Reinl.






The breaches identified by the Audit Committee include non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act.






Furthermore, the procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and generally characterized by irregularities and fraud. In many cases, the procured items failed to meet the purposes they were procured for, especially the counter insurgency efforts in the North East.






A major procurement activity undertaken by ONSA for NAF was that concerning the contracts awarded to Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux (SEI) Nig Ltd.






Between January 2014 and February 2015, NAF awarded 10 contracts totalling Nine Hundred and Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety US Dollars ($930,500,690.00) to SEI Nig Ltd.






Letters of award and End User Certificates for all the contracts issued by NAF and ONSA respectively did not reflect the contract sums.






Rather, these were only found in the vendor’s invoices, all dated 19 March 2015. Additionally, some of the award letters contained misleading delivery dates suggesting fraudulent intent in the award process.






The observed discrepancies are in clear contravention of extant procurement regulations.






The SEI contracts included procurement of two used Mi-24V Helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at the cost of One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Four Thousand US Dollars ($136,944,000.00).






However, it was confirmed that the helicopters were excessively priced and not operationally air worthy at the time of delivery.






A brand new unit of such helicopters goes for about Thirty Million US Dollars ($30m).






Furthermore, the helicopters were delivered without rotor blades and upgrade accessories.






Additionally, the helicopters were undergoing upgrade while being deployed for operation in the North East without proper documentation.






It was further established that as at date, only one of the helicopters is in service while the other crashed and claimed the lives of two NAF personnel.






The Committee established that ONSA also funded the procurement of 4 used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at the cost of Seven Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand US Dollars ($7,180,000.00).






However, it was confirmed that only 2 of the Alpha-Jet aircraft were ferried to Nigeria after cannibalization of engines from NAF fleet.






This is contrary to the written assertion of the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AN Amosu to the former NSA that all the 4 procured Alpha-Jets aircraft were delivered to the NAF.






The non-militarisation of the Alpha-Jets made them unsuitable for deployment to the North East and they are currently deployed only for training at NAF Kainji.






Furthermore, the procurement of the Alpha-Jets was contrary to the recommendation of the assessment team.






The Committee found that the conduct of Air Marshal Amosu was deliberately misleading and unpatriotic.






The contract for the procurement of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar for the NAF was awarded to GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd in April 2014 at the cost of Thirty Three Million US Dollars ($33m) and was funded by ONSA.






The Committee established that the radars were excessively priced as a complete set of such radars (comprising 6 radars including the Control Centre) goes for Six Million US Dollars ($6m) averagely.






The Committee observed that the radars were delivered without the vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft, which has significantly degraded the operational capabilities of the NAF in the North East.






It was further observed that the sum of Three Million, Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($3.3m) was fraudulently included in the contract agreement as VAT and With Holding Tax and subsequently paid into the bank accounts of Spacewebs Interservices Ltd and Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd.






The Committee further established that Two Million US Dollars ($2m) from the proceeds was transferred to Mono Marine Corporation Nig Ltd, which is jointly owned by principal characters in this deal.






The Committee opined that the infractions of extant regulations by these companies were clearly intended to defraud.





It was established that between September 2009 and May 2015, the NAF expended about Fifteen Billion Naira (N15bn) on the maintenance of its Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.




Out of this amount, Four Billion, Four Hundred and Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira, Forty One Kobo (N4,402,687,569.41) was paid out for contracts not executed.








It was also observed that in carrying out these maintenance activities, contracts worth over Two Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N2.5bn) were awarded to Syrius


Technologies, a Ukrainian company that was not registered in Nigeria. Regrettably, in spite of these expenditures, the status of NAF fleet remained operationally appalling as only 3 Alpha-Jets, 2 C-130H and one each of Mi-24V and Mi-35P were serviceable as at 28 May 15.





In October 2013, NAF awarded contracts to DICON for the supply of weapons and ammunition at the cost of Five Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira (N599,118,000.00).




However, only 2 of the 7 items contracted were delivered to NAF while the outstanding 5 items remained undelivered despite repeated requests to DICON.








The Committee also found that the delivered ammunition were about 40 years old, thereby casting doubts on their shelf life.




The failure of DICON to fully execute the contract and the delivery of aged ammunition diminished the capacity of the NAF in North East operation.





The Committe uncovered insider dealings by military officers in procurement activities undertaken by ONSA and the NAF.





The officers were found to have misused or abused their offices for personal gains by influencing award of contracts to private companies in which they have substantial interests.





For instance, an officer serving in the ONSA used his office to secure 2 contracts for his company, Geonel Integrated Services Ltd, for the protection of 20 Dams and Presidential Air Fleet security at the cost of Six Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N6,250,000,000.00) and Five Million US Dollars ($5m) respectively.





Furthermore, some NAF officers used their companies to collect VAT and With Holding Tax that were never remitted to FIRS while another officer was found to have cross transferred about Five Hundred Million Naira (N500m) between a NAF company, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, SkyExperts Nig Ltd and Huzee Nig Ltd, companies in which he had personal interests.





It would be recalled that in its First Interim Report, the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment established that the sum of Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion Naira (N643bn) and Two Billion, One Hundred Million US Dollars ($2.1bn) interventions were received for defence procurements by DHQ and the Services between 2007 and 2015.





In continuation of its assignment, the Committee has so far established that the nation spent about Twenty Nine Billion Naira (N29bn) and Two Billion US Dollars ($2bn) on NAF procurement activities alone, the statement reads. 

Lassa fever: Another case confirmed in Oyo #LassaFeverWatch

One more case of Lassa fever has been confirmed at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan where the patient, an eight-month-old baby has been receivingtreatment.

This brings to two, the number of confirmed Lassa fever cases in Oyo State, south-west Nigeria.According to the Chief Medical Director of UCH, Professor Temitope Alonge, the first patient has been treated and discharged.

Eight-month-old Aisha is undergoing treatment for Lassa fever at the Infectious Disease Center of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State.Aisha’s parents are said to be living at the Sabo community under Ibadan North Local Government.

In the meantime, health officials from the Oyo State Ministry of Health have embarked on a sensitization campaign against infectious diseases, urging the people to embrace good public and personal hygiene.

See The Giant Glass Slipper Church Of Taiwan (MUST SEE)

Asia Southwest Coast National Scenic AreaA 16m-high (55ft) glass church in the shape of a high-heeled shoe has been built in Taiwan, apparently in a bid to attract more women.

A glass church, shaped just like a vast high-heeled shoe as if lost by a titan Cinderella while racing through the coastal province of Chaiyi.Made out of over 320 tinted glass panels, the shiny blue building measures more than 10m (36ft) wide and cost about T$23m (US$686,000 £477,000).

Aerial footagetaken in the area also showed the size and scale of the waterfront church, including an openblue stage with spotlights.It's set to open its doors to the public on 8 February, just in time for Chinese New Year.

It is the creation of local government officials in theSouthwest Coast National Scenic Area, a prominent tourist area in Taiwan, which decided to build it last June.But Pan Tsuei-ping, the administration's recreation section manager, told the BBC that the church will not be used for regular services, but pre-wedding photo shoots and wedding ceremonies.

"In our planning, we want to make it a blissful, romantic avenue… Every girl imagines how they will look like when they become the bride," Ms Pan told the BBC.

The shoe was inspired by a local story. According to officials in the 1960s, a 24-year-old girl surnamed Wang from the impoverished region suffered from Blackfoot disease. 

Both of her legs had to be amputated, leading to the cancellation of her wedding. She remained unmarried and spent the restof her life at a church.The high heel is intended to honour her memory.

"There will be 100 female-oriented features in the church like maple leaves, chairs for lovers, biscuits and cakes," government spokesman Zheng Rongfeng is quoted as saying in local media.

"It will be tailored to women, especially female tourists visiting the area."What women want (and actually think)It has not been an unqualified success, at least on social media.

Robert Mugabe not dead – Zimbabwean Presidency

The Zimbabwe government on Thursday denied reports that veteran President Robert Mugabe, 91, had collapsed and died in Singapore after rumours spread rapidly about his alleged ill health.

The state-run Herald newspaper said stories about Mugabe’s health emerged each year when he took his annual leave outside the country.

“You cannot doubt that there will be a story on the President’s alleged death every January,” presidential spokesman George Charamba told the paper.Charamba blamed the ZimEye news website for starting the rumours.

“This is the way the website seeks to improve its hits inorder to get dirty money. There is a financial incentive to the grim lie,” he added.

The Herald said that Mugabe was in the “Far East” but did not specify which country. The president, who is the world’s oldest national leader, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

Despite his age, Mugabe continues to give long speeches in public, but speculation over his health mounted last year when he tripped and fell down somesteps at a televised ceremony.

Lassa Fever: Ondo Records 2 Deaths, 31 Quarantined #LassaFeverWatch

Two persons have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Ondo State, even as the state governmenthas embarked on an enlightenment campaign to stem the tide.

The Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, and a team of health workers had since Wednesday been moving across the local governments of the state to raise awareness on the disease and educate residents on measures to check the outbreak.

The state government focused on Ose Local Government where the incident wasfirst recorded, to ensure no further incident occurred.

The Ondo State government however confirmed that 31 others who had contactwith the victims have been quarantined in order to curtail any further spread.

Dr. Adeyanju, who explained that the government had put the 31 persons who had contact with the victims on surveillance, said that such would preventthe endemic disease from spreading.

He revealed that the outbreak control team at the local government had been re-activated, while emergency lines and other sensitization measures were available to the media in order to enlighten the public.

While urging the public on the need to maintain hygienic environment at all times, he assured that the government would continue to put in place measures aimed at educating people on how to avoid rats living in their surroundings.

He listed the signs and symptoms of Lassa-Fever as fever, sore throat, cough, chest pain, bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears and eyes among others.

He informed that personal protective equipment were already made available to health workers across the state.

Meanwhile, there is panic in Ekiti State over the outbreak of the disease, as the state government is putting measures in place to stem the tide.

The governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, noted that it would not be a good thing foran outbreak to occur in the state, given the present state of the economy.

He prayed that the disease would not come to Ekiti, as it would become an additional burden on citizens.

[info naija] 

EFCC locks Ex-Chief of Defence’s mansion in Abuja [PHOTO]

In continuation of the probe into arms purchase scandal, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed the residence of former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh.

The house occupies number 19 on Kumasi Crescent, Wuse zone II, Abuja.DAILY POST gathered that EFCC operatives stormed the palatial home Wednesday afternoon.

It is unclear if Badeh was round during the raid.


Is this act not primitive???? 

FG Won’t Pay N5,000 Stipends For People To Be Indolent, Says Labour Minister

The highly anticipated N5,000 monthly allowance the All Progressives Congress, APC, promised to pay unemployed youths will not go to indolent people, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has said.

The Minister stressed that no country would give free money; including Nigeria.Speaking to Journalists at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja on Thursday, Ngige revealed that the FederalGovernment would ensure that the youths were trained in various skills and programmes to justify the N5,000 monthly stipend.

He added that the project would also involve the State governments.According to him, there will be categories of people who would earn higher than the N5,000.“We also have the programme on the commission cash transfer. 

We won’t pay N5,000 for people to be indolent. No country in the world, would pay people to go home and sleep and collect cash. So, Nigerian would not be an exception.

“We will pay some people N5000, we will pay some N10,000, and even for people in teacher conversion scheme, we will pay more than N10,000, N15,000 as stipend while in training, and then after the training they are going to be employed by state governments and the federal government in different institutions. 

It is not a programme we shall run alone, the state governments are going to buy into it,they are going to synchronize with us, we are going to do it in synergy”.

Ngige also stated that some of the programmes will “span through Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and my place (Ministry of Labour). 

Agriculture,because we have some agricultural Universities, we will convert some people to teach the relevant agricultural sciences”.The minister, who stated that Nigeria has various skill acquisition centers, also emphasized the need to train the youths.

“So we want to get back our youths, capture them, teach them to use their hands, and when they use their hands, they can earn money by employing themselves. 

If you get a bricklayer, or a painter today, you cannot pay less than N5000 for a daily job. And if somebody is able to work 20 days in a month for N5000, he already has N100,000. 

But, today is a sad story, that is why Togolese,Ghannians, people from Benin Republic, people from Niger Republic that do all these skilled job for us.“80 percent of workers in that specialize category in construction site all over Nigeria, be it in Abuja, in Lagos or in Onitsha, they come from outside, and we don’t know that little drops of water, form ocean, the money or the naira they are paid is repatriated to their country and all of them will come at the end of the day to put pressure on naira in the foreign exchange market.

“So we have decided that we have to train our own youths, let them use their hinds to fend for themselves. We will also want to advance some of them into entrepreneurship. 

If you are very good, we can open a place for you and give you money through the Bank of Industry and SMEDAN and then you move to the next stage where a number of youth will work with you”, he said.

Today In History: Nwankwo Kanu joined Arsenal On This Day In 1999


Former Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu joined Arsenal FC on this day in 1999 (15th of January, 1996).




I doff my cap for you a renowned football legend!!! 

Donald Trump tells Ted Cruz 'you're not fit to run' during #GOPdebate

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has questioned whether his main rival Ted Cruz should be allowed to stand for President.

He said the fact that the Texas Senator was born in Canada raises questions about his eligibility.

"There's a big question mark over your head," he told him during the latest televised debate for White House hopefuls.

Under the constitution the President of the United States must be a "natural born citizen".Mr Cruz replied that the definition of"natural born citizens" included people with an American parent such as himself.

He was born in Calgary to an American mother and a Cuban father.He said: "You know, back in September, myfriend Donald said that he had had his lawyers look at this from every which way and there was no issue there. 

There was nothing to this 'birther' issue."Now, since September, the constitution hasn't changed, but the poll numbers have.

"But Mr Trump refused to budge, saying a Harvard law scholar had raised doubts about the issue and Mr Cruz could face lawsuits from Democrats.

"The fact is, there's a big overhang, there's a big question mark on your head, and you can't do that to the party," he said.

"You have great constitutional lawyers thatsay you can't run. I'm not bringing a suit, I promise, but the Democrats are going to bring a lawsuit."Mr Cruz replied: "I've spent my entire life defending the constitution before the US Supreme Court, and I'll tell you I'm not going to be taking legal advice from Donald Trump.

"The debate in North Charleston comes justtwo weeks before the first real test of the campaign, when voters in Iowa pick their Republican and Democratic choices for president.

Mr Cruz is leading some of the polls there.Hosted by Fox Business Network, the debate saw the other candidates attackPresident Barack Obama's State of the Union address earlier this week."Tuesday night I watched story time with Barack Obama, and I've got to tell you, it sounded like everything in the world was going amazing," quipped New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to laughs from the audience.

The other candidates on stage were Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon BenCarson.

[Sky news]