2,561 GHOST WORKERS UNCOVERED IN AKWA IBOM, SAVES GOVT. N251M

The introduction of biometric data system in Akwa Ibom state has helped the state expose 2,561 ghost workers that had milked the state's revenue without working for it thereby saving the government N251m in salaries. According to the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Akpan, the actual number of workers in the entire government ministries, which used to be 27,025 was reduced to 24,644 after 2,561 were identified as ghost workers. The governor has approved that the process should be extended to all government-owned parastatals and establishments to help bring down the cost of governance.

There is corruption at every level of governance in this country. Smh for we country.

D'BANJ ANNOUNCES KOKO CONCERT SLATED FOR DEC.

The yearly Koko Concert will still be holding, irrespective of  D’banj's split from Mo' Hits. This year’s concert promises to be bigger as his G.O.O.D Music label mates rappers Big Sean and Pusha T will also be performing! The concert will be hosted by UK movie star Idris Elba and will hold on December 27 at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites. Kanye West will not be performing.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: CHUDDY K- BRAZILLIAN HAIR

                                                   
   I really like this video, quite hilarious. Definitely a video of the week material.

MARIO BALOTELLI AND EX-GIRLFRIEND WELCOME BABY GIRL

The Man City star’s ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico, 24, gave birth at a private clinic in Naples, Italy, on Wednesday night. The baby has been named Pia.  Italian ace Mario, 22, was at home in Cheshire.

Mario is to be very excited about the birth of his daughter. Maybe this will bring the them back together.

PIC OF RIHANNA AT 15, THE DAY HER LIFE CHANGED FOREVER

Rihanna posted this photo of herself wearing a nervous smile as she sits on a sofa in her school uniform, with her dark hair pulled into a high ponytail, with the words: ‘The day I met and sang for Evan Rogers of SRP after school, my life has never been the same.’ 

 Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was introduced to Evan Rogers of Syndicated Rhythm Productions by mutual friends in Barbados in 2003. Shortly afterwards she went to his hotel room after school where she sang Mariah Carey’s Hero and Emotion by Samantha Sang. The singer was promptly whisked off to New York, signed to the production company and got a very exciting 17th birthday present in the form of a six album deal with Def Jam Recordings.  

After being signed to Syndicated Rhythm Productions and sending out demos, Rihanna was asked to audition for Jay-Z and L.A. Reid at Def Jam Recordings and signed her album deal with them that same day. Wow! One day is all it takes for someone's life to change forever. Pray that day comes upon us all and soon too.

MY HUSBAND DESPERATELY WANTS A BABY BUT I'M TOO TERRIFIED OF CHILDBIRTH

Dear RDB Readers,

I will be 23 at the end of the year - the age women all over the world start thinking about having babies. At 27 my husband's baby-ready. However, I'm not prepared - or think it's not the right time. I'd love a baby, but the thought terrifies me. Talking about it brings me to tears. I switch off programmes about pregnancy. Baby adverts get me thinking for hours about the blood and pain. Being around kids makes me uncomfortable as I'm always watching my husband staring with stars in his eyes.

WHY I MARRIED ANNIE SECRETLY- TUFACE IDIBIA

Tuface Idibia to PUNCH;

“Annie is my first and true love. I had known her before I met the other women in my life. As a Christian, I had to marry one woman and it just had to be Annie. “We had a secret wedding after we had reached an agreement and amicable understanding about the mothers of my children. It was a tough decision to make, one of the toughest in my life. “I secretly married her because I have so much respect for my other babies’ mothers; I cannot afford to hurt their feelings with a sudden society wedding with Annie, not now. I chose her above the others because she has been through it all with me.”

BISI IBIDAPO-OBE NAMES BABY MELAYE

More drama on the way, I tell you. Bisi Ibidapo Obe has gone ahead to name her baby girl Precious Oluwajomiloju Abikeade Melaye even though former House of Reps member, Dino Melaye is still insisting he is not the father of her baby. The baby was christened yesterday at her Magodo, Lagos home with friends and close family members in attendance.The christening was supervised by clerics from Celestial Church Of Christ. Do you think it's right for the baby's surname to be Melaye when it has not been proven that he is the father?

ARMED ROBBERS WHO DRUG PEOPLE IN COMMERCIAL BUSES ARRESTED

Five robbers Chibuike Mbakwe, Tochukwu Eze, Ifeanyi Okeke, Chidi Eze and Okechukwu Mbakwe who are members of a syndicate who are in the practice of putting sedatives in bottle and sachet water to passengers in commercial buses have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad, SARS, of the Lagos State Police Command. They trail their targets either from the bank, or public places, right into a commercial bus then drug the unsuspecting passengers before dispossessing them of their valuables.

Continue after the cut to read how they carry out their devilish activities...

PRESIDENT JONATHAN WEEPS AT BROTHER'S BURIAL

President Goodluck Jonathan was in tears at the burial rites for his younger brother, Meni Innocent Jonathan, who died 20 November. Meni Jonathan will be buried on Saturday after a commendation service at the St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke at 10 am.

The Service of Songs held was at the Dame Patience Jonathan Square, Otuoke today with the presence of notable government officials, including Senate President David Mark and  representatives of Nollywood. Vice-president Namadi Sambo,  was not there, he is preparing for the wedding of his two daughters in Kaduna on  Saturday. Meni Jonathan will be buried on today after a commendation service at the St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke at 10 am.

NURSE WHERE KATE MIDDLETON WAS HOSPITALIZED FOUND DEAD AFTER RADIO PRANK

Prank Callers: Mel Greig (left) and Michael Christian (right) inset: Will and Kate

A nurse and mother of two, Jacintha Saldanha, in the hospital where Kate was admitted for severe morning sickness was found dead near the King Edward VII Hospital today. She transferred a prank phone call from two Australian radio presenters pretending to be the Queen and inquiring about the Duchess of Cambridge.

She answered the hoax call at 5.30am on Wednesday morning and transferred the call to another nurse in Kate's ward who then gave details of Kate's condition to the giggling DJs/presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian from 2DayFM who were pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles. Jacintha died just two days after the prank call in a suspected suicide.

The station apologized for 'any inconvenience caused' but provoked widespread fury and disbelief by continuing to promote the hoax, calling it 'the prank call the world is talking about' before playing clips of the recording while referring to it as the RoyalPrank. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to be 'deeply saddened' by the tragedy and a Palace spokesman said the couple had not made a complaint about the prank call.

SENATE REFUSES TO GIVE SAMBO EXTRA N7B FOR NEW HOME/OFFICE

The Senate has rejected the request to appropriate N9 billion more on the yet-to-be completed official residence of Vice President Namadi Sambo, in addition to the N7bn already spent.

The threat by the Senate came after an inspection of the project as part of the oversight function of the Senator Smart Adeyemi, PDP, Kogi West ,Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory. Members of the Senate Committee could not hide their reservations having listened to explanations from the management of the FCT that an extra N7billion was required to complete the official residence of the Vice President, which was an addition to the N7.1bn already spent after being appropriated for by the National Assembly last year.

28-YEAR-OLD WOMAN COMMITS SUICIDE BECAUSE OF LONELINESS

Sales manager Sharon Bukokhe, of Levenshulme, Manchester, was a high achiever working for a family planning charity but felt lonely because relatives including her husband lived abroad. Mrs Bukokhe, who was originally from Kenya, used her laptop to research ways to commit suicide, applied full make up and painted her nails then suffocated herself at her flat in April.

A diary found after her death said: ‘I think that any life is as valid as the next, such that an ending of 25 is as good as 88. I have no real regrets or fears any more, I just feel decisive and justified.’ Mrs Bukokhe, who appeared to friends to be ‘the happiest person in the world’, settled in the UK in 2002 and graduated in design and engineering at Nottingham Trent University, the inquest heard.

People need to understand that your life is not your own, you didn't create it, God did. So you have no right to take what does not belong to you. Also, suicide is a very selfish and cowardly act. How sad. Pls continue to read after the cut...

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Students in Ogun State sitting on used tyres to write exams. There is also no table so, they place their papers in their hands and on their laps. I weep for my country.

WIFE OF FORMER GOV. OF AKWA IBOM STATE, VICTOR ATTAH, BURIED

Gov. Akpabio and wife at the funeral service

The funeral service of Mrs. Allison Attah, wife of Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom state took place on Friday 30th Nov. and it was quite a surprise when incumbent Governor, Godswill Akpabio in company of his wife, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, and members of the state executive council and supporters stormed the funeral ceremony held at the Cardinal Ekanem Seminary Playground, Uyo.

Governor Akpabio and Obong Victor Attah have been at war since the former succeeded the latter in 2007. Though both of them are members of People Democratic Party (PDP), Obong Victor Attah withheld his support for Akpabio in his 2007 election bid to support his son-in-law. Akpabio eventually won but there has been a rift between the two since then.