Darrel Walls, a popular Gospel singer has deactivated his Instagram page following a leaked video of him kissing a man.
According to Lovebscott.com, Walls initially shared the video to his close friends list on Instagram. But his lover apparently shared the video on his public Instagram feed, sparking an uproar among Darrel’s gospel fans.
Darrel’s female fans were particularly distraught over the news. But others were supportive.
“I love you Darrel Walls PERIIIOOOODDD!!! And you KNOW that ain’t NEVER gonna change!!!” one person wrote on Darrel’s Facebook page.
B. Scott said Darrel deactivated his IG page then reactivated it. Dallas-based journalist Shakari S. Briggs called Darrel’s involuntary outing “sad” and “tragic.”
“The sad part about the Darrel Walls situation is the other man making the decision to post the video of them in such an intimate setting. Darrel clearly hasn’t let the world know his stance on his sexuality, so why did the guy feel compelled to do it for him? Tragic.”
Darrel is the eldest member of the Walls family gospel group.
The Naira exchanged N500/$1 at the parallel market on Friday, November 27, 2020, to see it crash to an all time low, according to Nairametrics.
This comes as Forex turnover dropped by 52.2%.
However, the Naira’s exchange rate at the NAFEX window appreciated against the dollar to close at N390.25/$1 during intra-day trading on Friday, November 27.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said the 43 farmers killed by Boko Haram on Saturday, did not have military clearance to be on the rice farms when the attack happened.
Shehu stated this during an interview with BBC on Monday.
He said although he was not blaming the victims for the incident, the truth must be said.
“The government is sad that this tragic incident has happened. 43 or thereabout of innocent farm workers, most of them had their throats slit by a heartless band of terrorists. People need to know what it is like in the Lake Chad Basin area.
“Much of those areas have been liberated from Boko Haram terrorists but there are a number of spaces that have not been cleared for the return of villagers who have been displaced. So, ideally, all of these places ought to pass the test of military clearances before farmers or settlers resume activities on those fields,” Shehu said.
When asked if he was blaming the farmers for going to the area, Shehu responded, “Not exactly but the truth has to be said. Was there any clearance by the military which is in total control of those areas? Did anybody ask to resume activity? I have been told by the military leaders that they had not been so advised and certainly, therefore, it was a window that the terrorists exploited.”
A man named Mayegun Olaoye has claimed he is the biological father of Tope Alabi’s daughter, Ayomikun.
Mr Mayegun Olaoye said he is Ayomikun’s real father, adding that Tope Alabi had blocked every avenue for him to know his biological daughter in the past 22 years.
Reacting to Olaoye’s claims, Ayomikun Alabi, the young lady whose paternity is being disputed, said the only father she knows is Mr Soji Alabi, her mother’s husband.
Soji Alabi has been married to popular Nigerian gospel singer, Tope Alabi for over two decades. Ayomikun said he is the man that helped raise her.
In a recent interview with the Punch Newspaper, Ayomikun Alabi said she was not surprised about the development as her mother had since informed her about Olaoye.
Ayomikun said: “I know and will always know that my father is Soji Alabi. I do not know any other person and I have never met any other man. I cannot blatantly deny him because I have heard about him, but I have never had anything to do with this man before.”
She also denied that her mother tried to hide her from Mr Olaoye, adding that Mayegun Olaoye was the one who never tried to reach out since all these years.
“My mother never blocked any avenue for us to see. My mother even tried for me to have a relationship with him. I remember when I was about 15 years old, she used to tell me to try and talk about him. Even when we discuss marriage, they tell me that they would want to inform him.”
She added:
“They always tell me all these things about him but he is the one that never tried to reach out to me. I mean that he has never ever tried to. We have never had absolutely any conversation with this man. I mean I have had absolutely no contact with this man; none whatsoever. I am very grateful to God for the kind of mother and father that I have. They have been the best people and after God, my parents are next in my life.”
Military spokesman John Enenche on Monday said only 43 persons have been confirmed killed during the onslaught on farmers in Zabarmari, Borno on Saturday by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
On Sunday, the United Nations had reported that 110 civilians had been killed.
“We have also received reports that several women may have been kidnapped. I call for their immediate release and return to safety,” the UN Resident Coordinator, Edward Kallon said, in a statement.
“The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice.”
Responding to the UN report during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Enenche said the military’s casualty count still stood at 43.
“I have to respond, it is coming from the United Nations,” he said. “This is a source that identified itself that 110 persons specifically were killed.”
According to him, military officials accompanied Governor Babagana Zulum to the site of the killings where the 43 bodies were counted.
But some persons had fled the scene, as they tried to escape the onslaught.
The spokesman added that the military is still searching for casualties.
“Probably we may count up to the figure he gave in the future,” Enenche said. “But as it is, up till the time I came here, what we have counted with the locals is still 43. And we are hoping that we don’t get beyond that. So that’s the real situation.”
Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse died of coronavirus, his daughter said yesterday.
The 6ft 6in former body-builder played the legendary villain in the original Star Wars films.
The Bristol-born star — also road safety superhero The Green Cross Man — had been in a London hospital for two weeks with Covid. He was 85.
Luke Skywalker star Mark Hamill, 69, tweeted: “So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader.
Actor, Husband, Father, Member of the Order of the British Empire, three-time British Weightlifting Champion and Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man.
“He loved his fans as much as they loved him.”
Because of the father of three’s stature, he played a variety of bad guys and monsters.
But daughter Rachel, 50, said: “He might have looked quite scary but as a person he was a sweet, kind and generous man.
“He really was a gentle giant. And to us he was our dad.”
Rachel, of Croydon, South London, confirmed Dave had previously been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
She added: “It’s horrible that Covid restrictions meant we did not get to see him and say goodbye.
“But when we went to collect his stuff from the hospital the nurse said what a cool guy he was.
“He was such a larger-than-life character. He would have loved to see himself trending on Twitter.”
Among his clients was Christopher Reeve, who he helped to train for the part of Superman.
In the 1960s and 70s he starred in cult series including The Saint, Department S, Space 1999, The Champions and Doctor Who, opposite Jon Pertwee.
His movie debut was 1967 James Bond spoof Casino Royale, as Frankenstein’s creature. He played the monster twice more in Hammer horror films.
On TV he worked with the two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd. the Green Cross Code Man, appearing in a TV campaign and touring schools.
He was awarded the MBE for helping cut road deaths — before turning to the dark side as the legendary Sith baddie Vader.
Star Wars director George Lucas offered him a choice of parts, Vader or Chewbacca. Asked why he went for the former he said: “Everyone remembers the villain.”
Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher nicknamed him “Darth Farmer” for his thick West Country accent, and his lines were dubbed by James Earl Jones.
Lucas is believed to have feared Dave leaked plot details — which he denied — and the pair had not spoken since Return Of The Jedi wrapped in 1983.
But last night Lucas said on the official Star Wars website: “David brought a physicality to Darth Vader that was essential for the character.
“He made Vader leap off the page and on to the big screen, with an imposing stature and movement performance to match the intensity and undercurrent of Vader’s presence.
“David was up for anything and contributed to the success of what would become a memorable, tragic figure. May he rest in peace.”
Darth Vader became one of the most iconic characters in cinema history and, until his retirement in 2016, Dave visited fan conventions all over the world.
The estimated 25 million Nigerians that will benefit from the Federal Government’s Solar Home Systems that commences this week will be expected to pay about N4,000 monthly, the presidency has said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday titled, “25m Nigerians to own 5m solar systems at N4,000 monthly.”
Akande was giving further insight into earlier reports that the Federal Government will, from next week, commence the process of installation of five million solar home systems in underserved and off-grid communities across the country.
The installation is in continuation of the implementation of the government’s Economic Sustainability Plan.
The earlier report, however, elicited questions from Nigerians who wanted to know the cost of owning the solar system.
Akande explained that beneficiaries would be expected to pay about N4,000 monthly over three years.
He said the solar programme, nicknamed Solar Power Naija, for which installations starts in December, is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency.
“An important aspect of the scheme is the option of outright ownership by beneficiaries at a cost ranging from N1, 500 per week to N4, 000 monthly depending on the capacities, for three years,” Akande said.
He noted that that the arrangement allows as many as 25 million Nigerians to own personal solar systems in their homes.
He added that as indicated in the Economic Sustainability Plan, the five million connections initiative is a private sector-led electricity access acceleration scheme to be facilitated by a low-cost loan facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria and implemented by REA.
“Because of the scale of materials required, solar equipment manufacturers/assemblers will be incentivised to set up facilities in Nigeria, thereby offering additional job opportunities to Nigerians.
“Also, installation, servicing and payment collections are expected to provide thousands of other jobs. In all, at least 250, 000 jobs will be created.”
It was further learnt that the World Bank, which is also participating in the plan, is providing a grant to finance 20 per cent of the retail cost of the solar system across the country.
The REA, which is the lead implementing agencies of the Solar Home System, had through its off-grid solar programme connected the people of Olooji community (Ijebu East) in Ogun State to electricity, for the first time in 200 years.
Olooji solar hybrid has a total capacity of 100KW completed with 304 solar panels, 72 batteries and over 30KM of distribution network cables, serving over 4,000 people.
Saturday’s killing of rice farmers at Kwashebe by Boko Haram insurgents in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State attracted strong condemnations from eminent Nigerians and groups on Sunday.
The AFP had on Saturday reported that the insurgents attacked Kwashebe and killed no fewer than 43 rice farmers.
The terrorists were reported to have tied up the farmers, who were working on rice fields, before slitting their throats.
Although a member of the state Civilian Joint Task Force, Babakura Kolo, who assisted some of the survivors, put the number of people killed at 43, the United Nations on Sunday said 110 rice farmers lost their lives during the attack.
Groups and individuals, including All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria; the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Coalition of Northern Groups, lamented that the attack would affect food security in the country.
On Sunday, the UN shed more light on the attack, contrary to earlier reports, it said 110 civilians were killed by Boko Haram.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, who disclosed this, also said, many other persons were injured in the deadly attack by the terrorist group.
Also, the Amnesty International in a tweet on Sunday disclosed that 16 of the victims were internally displaced persons.
But Kallon, in a statement on Sunday, titled, ‘Statement on attack against civilians in Koshobe, Borno,’ stated, “I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri. At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack.”
He disclosed that the afternoon attack was carried out by armed men on motorcycles, who murdered men and women, who were harvesting their fields in Kwashebe and other rural communities in the Jere Local Government Area.
Kallon, while condoling with the government and people of Nigeria, also said many women might have been kidnapped during the attack.
He noted, “We have also received reports that several women may have been kidnapped. I call for their immediate release and return to safety. My thoughts are also with the rural communities in the area, who are shocked by the brutality of yesterday’s (Saturday’s) attack and fear for their safety.”
“The entire UN system and the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving and development assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State are outraged by the incident. Such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing, and which we are striving to alleviate.”
The UN described the incident as “the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year,” and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“It is, unfortunately, one of too many such attacks targeting farmers, fishermen and families who are trying to recover some livelihood opportunities after over a decade of conflict. I strongly condemn this attack and any act of violence against innocent civilians and I firmly urge all actors on the ground to respect international laws and humanity,” the UN official stressed.
The global organisation observed that rural communities in Borno State were facing untold hardships, adding that helping them to farm land and rebuild livelihoods were amongst the UN priorities and the only way to avoid the looming food crisis in the state.
It said civilians needed to be protected and spared from any kind of violence.
The statement read, “Innocent women, children and men desperately need food and other support and assistance, particularly at a time when we are recording some of the highest levels of food insecurity in Borno State. We owe to do our utmost to help them survive these difficult times.”
10 women still missing
Meanwhile, the Amnesty International has said that 10 women working in the rice farms where Boko Haram slaughtered 110 persons are still missing.
The organisation in a tweet on Sunday stated that 16 out of the victims were IDPs.
It read, “Boko Haram and other armed groups must renounce their unlawful and vicious campaign of violence against civilians. The Nigerian authorities, for their part, must do more to protect civilians and bring the perpetrators of all such attacks to justice.
“Amnesty International’s findings show that, of the 43 farmers slaughtered by Boko Haram yesterday, 16 were Internally Displaced Persons resident at Farm Centre IDP Camp while 10 women working in Kwashebe rice farm are still missing after the attack.”
A resident, Hassan Mohammed, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said insurgents met the farmers at their rice fields and gathered them at Kwashebe, a village four kilometres from Zabarmari. He said the insurgents shot some of them and slaughtered others.
Another resident, Labbo Tahiru disclosed to The PUNCH that almost all the people in Zabarmari, Kaddamari and surrounding villages were rice farmers.
He said, “We are rice farmers in this locality. We have not had this tragic experience before, although we have had some encounters with these insurgents.”
According to him, before the attack, there were intelligence reports indicating the terrorists were planning the attack, but soldiers only embarked on their regular patrol in the area.
Terrorists came to kill innocent people after soldiers left – Resident
“Soldiers went round the area to patrol in their vehicles. It was after they had left that the terrorists attacked the innocent farmers.”
On Sunday, the murdered farmers were given a mass burial at Zabarmari, 20 kilometres from Maiduguri.
The burial was attended by the Borno state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum.
In his address after the burial, Zulum said the security situation in the communities must improve.
He stated, “We shall recruit more of our youths into the volunteer services and mobilise them to take the fight to the terrorists especially around Zabarmari axis so that the entire population of this locality can be secured.
Zulum, who said more than 43 people must have been killed, stated, “This is very sad. We are still appealing to the Federal Government to ensure recruitment of more of our youths into the CJTF (civilian joint task force) and hunters into the Nigerian military so that they can form part of the agro-rangers that will protect farmers.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will today (Monday) re-arraign a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and six others, for an alleged fraudulent N544m grass-cutting contract, The PUNCH has learnt.
This will be the second re-arraignment of the defendants, who were first arraigned before the late Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja on February 13, 2019.
Lawal, along with his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd – had pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them before Justice Okeke.
The prosecution was to open its case on March 18, 2019, when they announced that they had amended the 10 counts, bordering on fraud, diversion of over N544m and criminal conspiracy.
The development necessitated a re-arraignment of the defendants, who again pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial had proceeded before Justice Okeke with the EFCC still calling its witnesses, when the judge died on August 4, 2020.
Justice Okeke, aged 64, died after a brief illness at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Following the judge’s demise, the case was re-assigned to Justice Charles Agbaza of the Jabi Division of the FCT High Court, where the trial will have to start afresh.
Our correspondent gathered that the judge fixed today for the re-arraignment.
The EFCC alleged, in the 10 counts, that the defendants fraudulently converted cumulative proceeds of grass-cutting contracts worth over N500m which Lawal, as then SGF, allegedly awarded to companies in which he had interests.
A Singaporean woman, who was infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy, has given birth to a baby with antibodies against the virus.
According to Straits Times, a Singaporean publication, the baby was born earlier in November.
The birth of the child offers a new clue as to whether the novel virus can be transferred from mother to child.
Celine Ng-Chan, the mother of the child, was quoted to have said her doctor suspected that she transferred the antibodies to her child during pregnancy.
“My doctor suspects I have transferred my COVID-19 antibodies to him during my pregnancy,” she reportedly said.
Ng-Chan is said to have been mildly ill from the virus and was discharged after two and a half weeks in the hospital.
According to studies from China, antibodies that protect against COVID-19 are present in newborns of mothers who have had the the virus and possess these antibodies.
In transmission of the virus from mother to fœtus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is unknown if a pregnant woman infected with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fœtus or baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
The active virus has not been found in samples of fluid around the baby in the womb or in breast milk till date.
