Michael Ojuroye Initiative (Ngo)

Akolade A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has sentenced to death Akolade Arowolo for the murder of his banker wife, Titilayo, who he repeatedly stabbed to death with a knife at their residence in Isolo, Lagos, on June 24, 2011. Justice Lateefat Okunnu, in her judgment on Friday, held that even though there was no eyewitness to the incident, the circumstantial evidence adduced by the prosecution proved the murder charge against the convict beyond all reasonable doubts. “I pronounce the defendant guilty as charged and accordingly sentenced to death,” the court held. The 32-year-old man, decked in white short sleeve shirt and black trousers, broke down in the dock and shouted, “Jesus, I did not do this,” shortly after the judge made her pronouncement. “Jesus, what will happen to Olamide (the daughter the deceased had for her)?” he asked rhetorically. The convict, who came into the courtroom with a Bible and a diary, began speaking in tongues as he was being led out of the court room. ...

With the opening Friday of a Honda plant in the city of Celaya, Mexico, that country is taking another step toward becoming the largest car exporter to the United States. Once the Japanese automaker’s final assembly plant is up and running, Mexico will overtake Japan to become the No. 2 auto exporter to the U.S. By the end of 2015, Mexico is expected to pass Canada and ship more vehicles into the U.S. than any other country. “Our new plant in Mexico is based on the Honda company principle of maintaining a global viewpoint to supply products of the highest quality, yet at a reasonable price, for worldwide customer satisfaction,” said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda. The facility, which will produce about 200,000 Fit hatchbacks a year, is Mexico’s 13th full-size auto assembly plant. By comparison, there are 44 final assembly plants in the US. “Mexico is the place to be in North America if you’re an automaker,” said Thomas Klier, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of ...

Three months of political unrest, one week of horrific internecine violence, a few frenetic hours of negotiations, it all culminated in a breakthrough deal In Ukraine to cut the president's powers, reinvent the Constitution and pave the way to free a key opposition leader. These developments Friday gave hope to the Eastern European nation. But as long as angry protesters pack Kiev's Maidan, or Independence Square, as long as the emotions remain raw, as long as the bloodshed is still fresh, this story isn't over. "I feel very proud of Ukrainians because we showed we are able to struggle for our future, our freedom," said Sophia Holotna, whose friend was among the scores of demonstrators killed in the capital. "But now I feel almost very sadness. It's my first feeling."  Protesters: 100 dead in Ukraine Gunfire heard in Kiev, protesters fall 'I am a Ukrainian' Will the Ukraine truce last? The agreement -- hashed out overnight and into the ...

Maduro and Obama Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called Friday on the United States to exchange ambassadors just days after expelling three American diplomats from the country. The request came during an hours-long news conference aired on state-run TV, where Maduro called on President Barack Obama to begin talks, even as he repeatedly accused the United States of interfering in Venezuelan internal affairs and stoking sometimes violent anti-government protests in recent days. "I call for a dialogue with you, Obama," Maduro said. "You can designate (U.S. Secretary of State John) Kerry or whoever you want to come to this dialogue and I will send my foreign minister ... for this high-level meeting." At the same time, Maduro accused Obama of failing to live up to a commitment not to "interfere with Venezuelan affairs." "What you have said has not been carried out," he said. The United States and Venezuela have not had resident ambassadors s...

A 25-year old Uni-versity drop- out identified as Jerry has murdered in cold blood the wife of a pastor, Mrs Eunice Ajayi 55years for refusing to be raped. The suspected killer was  said to have been rusticated from two institutions in the state for being a member of a secret cult. Saturday Vanguard gathered that the deceased was hacked to death on the ill fated day when she refused to be raped by the suspect who is now on the run. The deceased husband who rushed to the scene to save his dying wife was also matchetted by the suspect and is presently hospitalised. Eyewitness account informed Vanguard that alleged killer visited the house of the Pastor located at Peace-land Road,along the Expressway in Akure metropolis and attempted to rape the deceased. Jerry who has been eyeing the woman reportedly came that day with the sole purpose of having his way but the Pastor’s wife resisted. This according to report infuriated the suspect who reportedly brought out a machete whi...

A massive late night electrical fire Thursday that gutted the studios, offices and transmission facility of the AIT / Raypower Station, will likely be repaired sooner, than later. In a surprise announcement, Governor Serike Dickson has pledged to use public funds to rebuild the privately owned radio and television facility belonging to Raymond Dokpesi, that was nearly destroyed by the fire in the Elebele area of Yenagoa in the state capital. The announcement comes, say critics of the governor’s pledge, as state owned media establishments are neglected, operating with obsolete equipment and grossly underfunded. Critics of the governor’s pledge told SaharaReporters this latest move out of the statehouse is a continuation of the governor’s penchant for reckless spending of state funds, to service private interests. Gov Dickson reportedly spent state funds to build a private residence for Caleb Olubolade, the state’s former Minister of Police Affairs. That government initiative cau...