Pregnant woman falls out of ambulance

Port Elizabeth - Two South African medics were Thursday suspended after a pregnant woman they were ferrying to hospital fell out of a moving ambulance and suffered a miscarriage, an official said. The ambulance door opened while the vehicle was moving and the 19-year-old woman plunged to the ground. The drivers only realised on arriving at the hospital in the remote southeastern village of Ntabankulu, that their patient was missing. She was picked up by a passing motorist and rushed to hospital. But she had suffered multiple injuries from the fall and miscarried. The medics “were negligent and they have been suspended with immediate effect,” Eastern Cape provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo told AFP. The two are to face disciplinary action and possible dismissal, he added. “We condemn their actions in the strongest terms. We make them work as a pair so that one guards the patient while the other drives the ambulance,” he said. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/pregnant-woman-falls-ambulance/#sthash.TJw61QRH.dpuf

Appiah exposes Ghanaian can of worms

Ex-Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has broken his silence over what wrecked Ghana’s 2014 World Cup campaign revealing that several failed promises by government over when the Black Stars appearance fee would be paid led to the team’s dismal showing. “Before we played the USA game, they were told that the money was in a flight coming to Brazil. After that game, it took some days for the players to ask again,” Appiah said on Metro TV. Kwesi Appiah Kwesi Appiah “Before the Germany game, they were promised again that they will get their monies right after the game and that was also not true. So they decided not to train two days to the Portugal game. “By that time, they were fed up with my continuous pleas. So they insisted. And I knew we would have challenges. “So during the Portugal game, you could see that the players were psychologically down. “The money had really pre-occupied their minds. So we actually couldn’t progress because of those external factors which was the appearance fee,” he concluded. Ghana finished bottom of Group D of the 2014 World Cup with Portugal, USA and Germany in the group. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/appiah-exposes-ghanaian-can-worms/#sthash.BYc6Mto9.dpuf

Samsung to release Note 4 ‘phablet’ on October 17

San Franciscon – The South Korean consumer electronics titan credited with being the first major manufacturer to blend tablet and smartphone features said it will begin taking orders for the coming model on Friday, the same day rival Apple launches its new-generation iPhone 6. “Samsung created the large screen smartphone category with the Galaxy Note and we are on our fourth generation, a category others are just entering,” Gregory Lee, Samsung’s Telecommunications America president, said in a statement. “The Galaxy Note 4 delivers a refined Note experience, and the latest technology that consumers want in their smartphone.” In what was seen by some as a direct shot at Apple, Samsung promised that anyone ordering a Note 4 by October 16 would be entitled to a trade-in value of $200 for any working smartphone. The Note 4 boasts a 5.7-inch high definition screen, improved front and rear cameras, speedy charging, and an “S Pen” to write, draw or edit on the touch screen more naturally. Samsung has been poking Apple in ads portraying the California company’s latest iPhones — the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus unveiled last week — as inspired by the Note’s size. The new iPhone 6 models also boost screen sizes in what some see as the tech giant catching up to the “phablet” trend. The iPhone 6 will have a screen of 4.7 inches and the 6 Plus will have one of 5.5 inches, allowing Apple to adapt to consumers’ apparent preference for bigger displays. Apple said Monday it had received record pre-orders for the new models, and that some customers will have to wait for the larger-screen versions of the smartphones. The announcement means Apple may see shortages and long lines at its retail stores when sales begin on Friday. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/samsung-release-note-4-phablet-october-17/#sthash.XodfnrlC.dpuf

Nigeria Police Force refutes Amnesty International report, says torture is prohibited

The Nigeria Police Force has faulted the report of Amnesty International, saying that torture is prohibited. In a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Ag.CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, it stated that there is a zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of power, stressing there is no Immunity for impunity in Nigeria Police Force. READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW: The attention of the Nigeria Police has been drawn to an on-line publication entitled ‘Welcome to Hell-Fire’: torture and other ill-treatment in Nigeria. While we do not question the freedom of Amnesty International to earn its relevance and bread, the Nigeria Police takes serious exceptions to some blatant falsehoods and innuendoes contained in that report. For one, it smacks of indecency and intemperate language to liken our dear nation Nigeria, to hell fire. That cannot be true. We believe that Nigeria is a growing nation, green and largely peaceful. While the Nigeria Police and other operators in the criminal justice sector are undergoing systematic reforms, and aligning themselves with the demands of democracy, there is no gain saying the fact that the Nigeria Police Force has since improved its operational efficiency and effectiveness. Since the dawn of democracy in 1999, the Nigeria Police Force has significantly improved on its human rights records, owing largely to training and re-training, community policing, attitudinal change and structural transformation. In its report under reference, Amnesty International did admit in its methodology that it visited some Police Formations and interviewed some family members of suspects. At no time in its report, did Amnesty speak or interface with the Police authorities. This obviously shows their disdain and apparent lack of character where the democratic tenets of fair hearing are concerned. The report covered a seven year period of 2007-2014. I dare say that some of the issues raised have since been dispensed with and settled. Of a truth, torture or ill-treatment is not, repeat, NOT an official policy of the Nigeria Police. The Code of Conduct of Officers, as well as our Regulations prohibit torture and incivility to members of the public. We are versed with international best practices, and the dictates of the Nigerian Constitution as regards human rights. So the Police do not routinely torture suspects. It is not systemic or endemic. Whenever instances of human rights abuses are brought to the notice of superintending officers, the offending personnel are promptly sanctioned in line with the laws and regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria Police Force has a zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of power. There is no Immunity for impunity in Nigeria Police Force. Besides, the Nigeria Police is women-friendly. We do not target sex workers, nor routinely adopt rape as a weapon. Instead, the Police has established a family and human trafficking unit to protect the rights of women, children and the vulnerable members of our society. However, the Nigeria Police Force shall meticulously scan through the document, and investigate any current human rights abuses linked to any officer or formation. Any identified and established case of malfeasance or misconduct shall be treated in line with the laws and regulations. We crave the indulgence of Amnesty International to, for the first time, furnish the Police with specific details of its allegations to enable us reach the ends of justice for the alleged victims, and to improve our service delivery. The Nigeria Police Force remains responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians for improved safety and security. The Police is your helper and friend. Ag.CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU, psc FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/nigeria-police-force-refutes-amnesty-international-report-says-torture-prohibited/#sthash.QtnSBD8B.dpuf

Ekiti ace musician, Elemure is dead

By Gbenga Ariyibi Ado-Ekiti – A leading Ekiti traditional musician , Chief Peter Ogunyemi, popularly known as Elemure, 70, is dead. Ogunyemi died in the early hours of Thursday. A family source told our correspondent that the ace musician may have died of undisclosed ailment. While alive, Elemure Ogunyemi’ traversed the length and breath of the country, trilling his fans with his music usual laced with Ekiti dialect. His sudden demise on Thursday shocked residents of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital where he operate his musical prowess. The ace musician was born in Ikole Ekiti on August 23,1944. and started his elementary education at Saint Peters Catholic Primary School, Ikole-Ekiti where he finished his Standard Six. He proceeded to Lagos and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Finance in 1976. He moved down to Ekiti State finally in 1979 where he had his musical headquarters. Elemure released about 46 albums.He is Elejoka of Isaba He is survived by children and many grand children - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/ekiti-ace-musician-elemure-dead/#sthash.wYFmwRyt.dpuf

TB Joshua says victims of Synagogue building collapse are martyrs of the Kingdom of God

Lagos – Nigerian preacher TB Joshua on Thursday broke his silence over a building collapse that killed 80 at his Lagos megachurch but denied lack of cooperation and stuck to his theory of possible aerial sabotage. The popular televangelist, known as “The Preacher” or “The Man of God” to his thousands of followers in Nigeria and around the world, also indicated that other overseas nationals were involved. TB Joshua suggests sabotage over deadly building collapse TB Joshua suggests sabotage over deadly building collapse South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said that 67 of his compatriots were killed when a guesthouse for foreign followers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) came down last Friday. The death toll from the tragedy climbed after 10 more bodies were pulled from among the twisted metal and shattered masonry of the building on the sprawling SCOAN compound. Joshua had not directly commented on the deaths and had only published Bible quotations on his Facebook site and Twitter account. But in a statement he extended his sympathies to victims’ families and described those who died as “martyrs of the Kingdom of God”. “The pain of one is the pain of all. It is indeed a sad and painful moment for the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones,” he said. “To all those who lost family members and loved ones, please accept our heartfelt commiserations.” Joshua said “Nigerians, South African and citizens of other nations were affected” but did not specify which countries or say whether they were among the dead, 131 injured or both. South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, said 17 of his compatriots were unaccounted for and the church had set up a hotline in Johannesburg for concerned relatives. “It (the death toll) can’t all be South Africans,” he told AFP. “There were also Nigerians who were working.” Two children were pulled alive from the collapsed building but both their mother and father were among the missing, he added. “They were under the rubble together with their father. Their father kept them talking to each other,” he said. - ‘Good Christians are good citizens’ - TB Joshua inspires an almost fanatical devotion from his thousands of followers around the world, who are drawn to his services by claims of miracle-working and prophecies. But rescue workers have complained of a lack of cooperation from Joshua and the church authorities, which included preventing the emergency services from accessing the site until Sunday. The southwest coordinator of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) said SCOAN officials had not disclosed the identities and nationalities of those in the building at the time. Joshua rejected the lack of cooperation claims as “inaccurate”. “Contrary to this, we want to categorically state that the church has provided assistance when and where required and continues to do so: good Christians are good citizens,” he said. Engineers have suggested that the addition of extra floors on top of the existing building for foreign followers of the Pentecostal church overloaded the structure, causing the fatal collapse. On Wednesday, the Lagos State government ordered urgent structural checks of all buildings on the SCOAN site while NEMA said that rescue operations could wind up on Thursday. In South Africa, Zuma rejected criticism that his government was slow to respond to the tragedy. Joshua, whose followers include heads of state and top-level politicians such as Malawi’s former president Joyce Banda, again suggested that a low-flying aircraft may have been to blame. “This incident was preceded by the appearance of a strange aircraft which flew very low over the building four times and then disappeared,” he stated. “The church views this tragedy as part of an attack on The Synagogue Church Of All Nations and in particular Prophet TB Joshua. “In due course, God will reveal the perpetrators of this unfortunate tragedy.” - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/synagogue-victims-martyrs-kingdom-god-tb-joshua/#sthash.Vn0xpH83.dpuf

Man arrested for selling wife for human sacrifice

Lagos - A Nigerian man has been arrested for selling his wife to black magic practitioners who wanted to sacrifice a virgin, police said Thursday. The deal in the central Nigerian state of Plateau was cancelled at the last minute, however, when the ritualists realised she was married. “The man lured his wife to a bush under the pretext of fetching firewood and sold her to two ritualists for 800,000 naira (about $5,000), Plateau state police spokesman Abuh Emmanuel told AFP. He said the man from Kwalla town lied to the ritualists that the woman was a virgin and had been given part of the money. “When the ritualists discovered that the woman was the man’s wife, they asked her to go because she could not be used for the sacrifice,” he said. Emmanuel said the man and his two accomplices were arrested after the woman reported the incident to the police. “The suspects are in our custody and will be taken to court for criminal conspiracy and an attempted murder,” he said. Belief in black magic and witchcraft is common in Nigeria. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/man-arrested-selling-wife-human-sacrifice/#sthash.aOHd4siC.dpuf