Michael Jackson’s stockpiled pornography revealed in new report

Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of child molestation following a 14-week trial, and the report published on Tuesday by the celebrity and gossip website Radar Online was related to evidence submitted in that case.

The report contains details about various books, magazines and documents seized at Jackson’s secluded California home in November 2003.

The police report states that though the documents were not considered illegal, “this type of material can be used as part of a ‘grooming’ process by which people (those seeking to molest children) are able to lower the inhibitions of their intended victims and facilitate the molestation of said victims.”

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department said it had not publicly released the documents, which had been submitted to the prosecution and the defense during the 2005 trial.

“Some of the documents appear to be copies of reports that were authored by sheriff’s office personnel as well as evidentiary photographs taken by sheriff’s office personnel, interspersed with content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through unknown sources,” it said in a statement.

“The sheriff’s office did not release any of the documents and/or photographs to the media.”

Some of the material seized during the raid shows pictures of nude young adults, children’s faces on adult bodies, as well as images of animal and child torture, Radar Online said, citing an investigator in the case.

“The documents collected by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department paint a dark and frightening picture of Jackson,” the unidentified investigator is quoted as saying.

“The documents exposed Jackson as a manipulative, drug-and-sex-crazed predator who used blood, gore, sexually explicit images of animal sacrifice and perverse adult sex acts to bend children to his will.”

The King of Pop was acquitted in 2005 following a 14-week child molesting trial during which a jury heard lurid testimony about his life and relationships with young boys.

He was charged after Gavin Arvizo, a 13-year-old boy Jackson had befriended, came forward.

Jackson’s Estate lashed out at the celebrity website’s article, saying it was clearly timed to coincide with the upcoming seventh anniversary of his death on June 25.

“Those who continue to shamelessly exploit Michael via sleazy internet ‘click bait’ ignore that he was acquitted by a jury in 2005 on every one of the 14 salacious charges brought against him in a failed witch hunt,” a statement said.

“Michael remains just as innocent of these smears in death as he was in life, even though he isn’t here to defend himself. Enough is enough.”

Jackson’s nephew Taj Jackson also denounced the report.

“Not only is there absolutely no truth to this story whatsoever, but I’m truly sick of this crap. #getalife and stop living off ours,” he said in a tweet.

Residents laud Ambode over repair of Oshodi-Apapa expressway

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State

A cross section of Lagos State residents on Wednesday lauded the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for keeping to his promise of repairing the failed portions of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, saying that the development has transformed the economic landscape of the axis.

Governor Ambode, had about five weeks ago, made an unscheduled inspection of the road while returning from a function, where he expressed dissatisfaction at the deplorable state of some portions of the road.

A visibly worried Governor Ambode had alighted from his convoy to inspect the bad portions of the road between Berlett and Ilasa, and Cele Bus stop inward Oshodi.

Governor Ambode not only directed the officials of the Ministry of Works to immediately move to site, but also ordered that an immediate palliative measure be put in place to alleviate the sufferings of motorists who have been complaining about the deplorable state of the road through various means.

The Governor had specifically stressed that he could not afford to ignore the road due to its strategic importance to the economy of the State.

A total of 4klm was repaired on the long stretch of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway between Berlett, Ilasa and Cele Bus stops inward Oshodi. The blocked drain which caused the damage to the road was repaired while work is currently ongoing on the service lane of the road.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, a trader who deals in office equipment in the area,
Mr. Akeem Abolarinwa said the repair of the road in less than five weeks was a miracle, and it only confirmed the genuine intention of Governor Ambode to transform the State.

He said: “We are very happy with the repair of this road. This road has been in very deplorable state for long and we have been enduring untold hardship as a result of the sad development.

“I remember very well just about five weeks ago when Governor Ambode passed through this area and saw the deplorable state of the road. He came down from his vehicle and inspected it and promised us that work would start on it. Here we are today enjoying the good road. Our businesses have witnessed quantum boost since the completion of the repair work and I just want to pray that God will continue to grant Governor Ambode wisdom and strength to lead the State,” Abolarinwa said.

Another trader in area, Alhaji Sani Wasiu, who sells home and office furniture, commended Governor Ambode for keeping his words just within three days after inspecting the road.

He said: “This is a good development. In fact, I don’t know how to appreciate the Governor. He made a promise and fulfilled it. This road was repaired in less than five weeks and this has never happened before and it is a big surprise to every one of us in this area.

“When the Governor said repair work would commence on the road immediately, we thought it was a joke and just after three days that he visited the road, we saw massive mobilization of Julius Berger to the road and they commenced work immediately.

“Everything has changed since the repair of the road. Even security has improved in this area and we now have more people coming to patronize us. I just want to give kudos to him,” Wasiu said.

On her part, a resident of the area, Mrs Ronke Onaopepo said the quality of work done on the road within few weeks was commendable and an eloquent confirmation of the fact that the Governor is passionate about the development of the State.

She said: “We have had instances of containerized trucks falling off the road and causing traffic gridlock for hours due to the deplorable state of the road. But now, that is a thing of the past and our story has changed for the good all thanks to a compassionate Governor in charge of Lagos State.”

Buhari: I don’t know Fayose’s ‘Aisha Buhari’

Fayose’s Aisha Buhari

Only if Governor Ayo Fayose’s media team had done a bit of literature research, there would have been no need for him to commit his greatest gaffe of the decade, confusing Halliburton’s ‘Aisha Buhari’ with President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife.

In April 2007, President Buhari, then a candidate for the presidential election of the year, had spoken about Fayose’s own Aisha Buhari, in an interview with a correspondent of the New York Times.

The paper was then investigating a lobbying scam, in which former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Victor Obong Attah, lost $1.2million of the state money to an American that promised more than he could deliver for the governor.

That Aisha Buhari, described then as a middle-aged woman had introduced the lobbyist, Richard T Hines to Attah.

President Buhari was interviewed at the time and he flatly denied knowing the woman.

Buhari: I don’t know that ‘Aisha Buhari’

“I don’t have any relationship with that Aisha Buhari,” Buhari said. “I don’t have any daughter called Aisha Buhari living outside this country. She is not my daughter.”

Fayose’s Aisha Buhari had wormed herself to some people, including Attah, claiming to be Buhari’s daughter. And the subterfuge opened doors for her.

Attah, an architect who became governor of Akwa Ibom in 1999, was fooled by the impostor that he proudly claimed to have known the father, who he described as a powerful Nigerian politician, by reputation. Attah had President Buhari in mind.

Gov. Fayose: Big time gaffe

He had met the woman, with residence in Virginia in the USA in 2001 when she accompanied a group of American politicians that included the later disgraced US House of Reps member Mr. William Jefferson to Akwa Ibom to see oil-related pollution problems there.

Similarly, another Nigerian who met the impostor Aisha Buhari at a pharmacy shop in the US and actually linked her with Hines, also believed her lie. The said Aisha had splashed several thousands of dollars on perfumes at the shop and the Nigerian, Joshua Assiba struck a conversation.

“You must be a rich woman, looking at the way you dress and spend money,” Mr. Assiba recalls telling Ms. Buhari.

As the pair struck up a conversation and subsequently became friends, Mr. Assiba, then a security guard, said she told him that her father was the former military ruler of Nigeria, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and that her American friends included politicians like Mr. Jefferson of Louisiana.

But back then in 2007, she was already busted as an impostor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, then headed by Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu was so sure, according to the New York Times report that the woman was not the person she claimed to be.

According to the report, Ribadu said he was uncertain if her name is Aisha Buhari, but he emphatically denied she was the daughter of President Buhari.

Just pity Fayose for the costly goof of the decade, if not the century!

TUC seeks Obasanjo’s help over unpaid salaries, allowances

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian president

Leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Nigeria’s south west states on Tuesday appealed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene in the lingering crisis between the workers and governors of the six states.

The union leaders, who were led by the South West Coordinator, Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi arrived the Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta around 12: 30 pm. They immediately went into a closed-door meeting with Obasanjo.

The meeting lasted for close to one hour,while the journalists waited for the Union leaders.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Fajobi said the labour leaders have decided to recruit the former President to assist them over the matter because they are highly convinced that Obasanjo commands greater respect among the affected governors.

Fajobi, who is also the Chairman of the Ogun state chapter of the TUC listed some of the labour’s demands to include non-payment of workers’ salaries running into about 13 months, unremitted contributory pensions’ deductions running to 19 months as well as the unremitted Cooperative deductions among others.

He emphasised that the meeting became necessary in view of the fact that Obasanjo, being the father of modern Nigeria, had once weathered the storm and was in the best position to intervene on the matter.

“As a labour leaders, we are particularly disturbed about the issue of unpaid salaries in our states and we believe that the sweat of workers must not be in vain.

“We know that Obasanjo has the ears of these governors and that is why we are seeking his assistance to intervene in the matter”, he disclosed.

Fajobi criticised some South West governors who have vowed to invoke the “no work no pay” rule, stressing that such was against the rules of fair play in labour engagement.

Other labour leaders at the meeting with the former President include; Akinyemi Olatunji (Osun), Francis Ogunremi (Lagos), Andrew Emelieze (Oyo), Bola Fajulugbe (Ekiti Women Leader), Fatunase (Ondo Secretary), Olaniyi Okewole (Ogun Secretary), Adebisi Adebayo (Ekiti Secretary) and Gbenga Ekundayo (Lagos),

Aisha Buhari deletes Fayose’s mad dog tweet

Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s president

Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, set Twitter on fire with her comment that the Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose is a ‘mad dog that isn’t chained’.

The tweet in her verified account @ABuhari had gotten hundreds of retweets but it was later deleted, following adverse comments that she should not have descended to Fayose’s level with her choice of words.

“Enough is Enough Fayose. A mad dog that isn’t chained. I refuse to keep quiet,” the President’s wife posted on her verified Twitter handle.

“If Buhari is 73 years old, I Aisha am 45 years old. I have more than enough energy to face you”.

The two tweets have now disappeared from her account.

Aisha had rebuked Fayose for linking her with Halliburton scandal and a former US House of Reps member, William Jefferson.

It all started after the EFCC blocked Fayose’s private account at Zenith Bank.

In an off-target reaction, Fayose alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari and his family members are not saints after all.

” Even the President cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read,” Fayose’s press secretary, Idowu Adelusi said.

In an earlier reaction, Nigeria’s Presidency dismissed as “laughable’’ the attempt by Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti to link President Buhari’s wife, Aisha, to US Congressman William Jefferson’s bribery scandal for which the American lawmaker was convicted in 2009.

Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that ordinarily the presidency would have ignored Fayose because “he is a man childishly obsessed with the desire to grab the headlines and insulting people at will because of his incurably boorish instincts.’’

He said that the presidency chose to respond on this occasion for the sake of innocent Nigerians who might be misled by Fayose’s “shameless and blatant distortion of facts.’’

Shehu said, “Ignoring Fayose carries the risk of giving traction and credibility to outright and brazen falsehoods inconsistent with the status of anybody that calls himself a governor or leader.’’

The SSA explained that Aisha had no direct, indirect or the remotest connection with William Jefferson’s corruption scandal in the United States.

He challenged Fayose to tell Nigerians “if the so-called Aisha whose pictures he proudly, but ignorantly shared, was the same Aisha married to President Muhammadu Buhari.’’

He also challenged Fayose to tell Nigerians “if the Aisha of his idle imagination had any relationship by blood or any relationship in whatever form with the President Buhari’s wife.’’

Shehu further challenged Fayose to produce evidence from the records of investigation and subsequent trial of Jefferson to prove that Buhari’s wife was in anyway linked to the scandal.

He said, “common names alone are not enough to automatically link innocent people to crimes or scandals, especially in an era of identity thieves.’’

The SSA called on Fayose to show proof when and where Aisha Buhari was invited for interrogation in connection with William Jefferson’s bribery scandal, let alone indicted for a crime locally or abroad.

He said that free speech does not entitle Fayose to falsely accuse innocent people of crimes they knew nothing about.

He warned that Aisha Buhari was entitled to protect her reputation from being recklessly maligned, adding that “political opposition is not a licence to attack people’s reputation brazenly without legal consequences.’’

Lightning strikes 66 dead in India

Lightning sparks kill 66 in India

At least 66 people were killed by lightning in India within 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forty-six deaths were recorded in the northern state of Bihar, where 22 more were left injured. Twenty more were killed in the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh.

The disaster management secretary of Bihar, Viyas Ji, said the state will provide $5,900 to the families of those who lost their lives in the storm.

Authorities say the death tolls are likely to rise as reports continue to come in from rural areas.

Farmers are most often the victims of lightning strikes in India, which are common in the monsoon season.

India receives 80 percent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season, generally between June and September.

Buhari holds interactive session with State House staff

President Muhammadu Buhari holds interactive session with State House staff

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President Muhammadu Buhari holds interactive session with State House staff

President Muhammadu Buhari holds interactive session with State House staff

President Muhammadu Buhari holds interactive session with State House staff… Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo

Nigeria: Lagos State's N49 Billion Medical Park Ready Soon

Lagos State Government has said the proposed medical park that will cost a consortium of investors from the United States of America, about N49 billion will be completed within the next 20 months in Ikoyi area of the state.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Dr Ademola Abass, who disclosed this to journalists, said a total of 139 investment proposals had been received since the creation of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, last year.

He added that the investment proposals totaling $34 billion currently receiving the consideration of Lagos State Government cut across sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, environment, health, manufacturing, real estate and transportation.

Abass said a proposal to manufacture pencils has been approved by the state executive council and land already allocated for the factory in Epe.

"Since inception of this administration, investors have shown considerable interest in tapping into the investment opportunities in Lagos, and so far, we have received investment propositions approximately worth $43 billion.

"The state government has approved a good number of investment proposals out of the 139 that are at various stages of consideration at the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment," said Abass.

He said critical sectors with huge potential had been identified and scanned which investors can take advantage of. These include transportation, tourism, health, power, agriculture and housing.

Abass explained that within transportation sector, investors were expected take up construction and maintenance of jetties and roads as well as the operation of mass transit buses and rail system.

In the power sector, he said opportunity existed for the generation least 9,000 MW of electricity, while in tourism, investors stand to reap from protection and preservation of beaches, convention centers, hotels and motels, casinos, holiday resorts, amusement and parks.

He also pointed to opportunities in modern abattoirs, agro processing for export, storage facilities, dairy farming, livestock feeds production and development of settlements in the agricultural.