Moments when man whose throat was slashed and his son killed dug himself out of a grave

Disturbing footage has been released showing the father a murdered boy moments after he dug himself out of a shallow grave with his throat slashed.
Forrest “Butch” Bowyer was stabbed in the neck and his 12-year-old son Brett shot dead by robbers in Alabama in February 2002.
The victims were buried in shallow graves - but Bowyer somehow managed to claw his way out.
Bleeding heavily with his throat cut "from ear to ear", he crawled to Highway 431 in Seale, Russell County, for help.

Only now, 14 years after the gruesome crime, have Russell County Sheriff’s Department released the horrific dashboard camera footage from that night on February 18.

The officer on camera can be heard saying: "I got a man that’s been cut to hell and said his son’s been shot 3 times.
"[The son] is buried in a grave down here at Uchee, and he wants to go get him.
"He was buried and dug himself out, this is a bad one."
 
In the video, obtained by WVTM-TV News Leader 9 , the officer asks Bowyer who attacked them, to which he responds multiple times, "Jim Brooks".

Bowyer can be heard telling the patrol officer that the killers would likely be back at his home "trying to get some more money".
Brooks and accomplice Michael Carruth were later arrested found guilty at trial.
Both are now on death row, WVTM-TV reported.

Russell County sheriff Heath Taylor told the news channel: "It’s crazy to think about he [Bowyer] survived that night.
"Not one single time do I pass this area, where this occurred, that I don’t think about that case."

Watch the video below:

Elton John has ended his bitter feud with his mother after 8 years

 Singer Elton John has ended his bitter eight-year feud with his mother Sheila.
Confirming the pair have put their row behind them, he said yesterday: “We are now back in touch.”
Elton John hadn’t spoken to Sheila since an explosive fall-out in 2008.
And there seemed to be little chance of a thaw recently when she booked an Elton tribute act to perform at her 90th birthday party.

But Sir Elton , 68, says the pair have been back in touch for weeks.
He said:

“Out of respect for my mother’s privacy, I have always shied away from speaking publicly about our relationship.

“However, I can say that we are now back in touch and have been so since my mother’s 90th birthday.”

The star added:

“I won’t be commenting further on this.”

Their bust-up was sparked by Sheila’s refusal to cut off contact with two of her son’s oldest friends, Bob Halley and John Reid, after he fell out with them. Bob had worked for Elton for three decades, first as a driver then later as a personal assistant, before he was fired as part of a series of changes the singer was making to his team.

John, who had been Elton’s manager and briefly his lover, helped guide the early stages of the star’s £235million career. Sheila explained last year: “I’ve got used to it. And it was all so stupid – so petty.”

She also explained how she blamed Elton’s husband David Furnish for turning her son against her.
But it’s now understood the filmmaker, who has been with Sir Elton since 1993, has been actively encouraging his husband to make amends. And on Friday Elton told an amusing ­anecdote about his mum on Graham Norton’s BBC1 chat show – a hint that the ­relationship might be improving.

Last month it emerged Elton had paid £30,000 for a double hip replacement operation for Sheila, who lives in a seaside house in West Sussex, after she began struggling on her feet.

And new pictures of the 90-year-old doing her shopping in a wheelchair last week show she’s quickly got back on the mend after the week-long stay at a private London hospital, to the relief of her family and close friends.
A source said Sheila turning 90 was also a turning point in the feud. 

Lagos state launches mobile court for traffic, environmental offenders

The Lagos State Government on Friday inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Court to summarily deal with growing cases of traffic and environmental abuses in the state with the view to bring sanity and civility in the conduct of residents.

The Mobile Court, which will be manned by highly-qualified Magistrates of the State Judiciary, will summarily try cases involving traffic and environmental offenders.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the  launch of the Mobile Court, was one of the ways through which the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode aims to broaden the pathway that guaranty citizens' access to justice and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.

He said the development was an institutional reaction to identified societal challenges, and that henceforth traffic offenders such as motorcyclists who drive against traffic and refused to obey traffic signs like zebra crossing and traffic light indication, would no longer find it easy to get away with commission of such crimes in the state.

He also said commercial bus drivers popularly known as Danfo Drivers on motion with their doors open thereby endangering lives of those of their passengers and other road users, would equally be prosecuted before the Mobile Court, while anyone crossing the highway where pedestrian bridges are provided, would equally face trial.

Kazeem, who disclosed that henceforth driving on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes of non-designated vehicles by anyone including military personnel, would attract prosecution before the Mobile Court, also warned people to desist from parking at undesignated places and indulging in noise pollution and street trading among others, saying such offences would be handled by the court.

He added: "These set of offences appear to be so simple but the reduction of its commission I believe is a major yardstick in determining how much we have progressed as a civilized society.
"It may seems simple, but its significance and expected impact to the society is a lot more profound," Kazeem said.

Speaking on the importance of the event, the Attorney General said: "This event is even more momentous because It is a symbolic indication of some of the most important policies of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's administration on law and order which rest on the premise that no society will thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder.

"This administration recognize that as Africa's fastest growing mega city, law and order are critical pillars for sustaining democratic life. The state government has dedicated an enormous amount of manpower and financial resources in seeking better living standard by provision of roads, drainages and transportation system to mention but a few and it has enacted traffic and environmental laws to ensure the state remains environmentally friendly all the time.

"Yet some have chosen or deliberately refused to obey these laws. This is not entirely surprising as the history of mankind as shown that obedience to societal laws has never been entirely voluntary. Therefore, prompt and fair adjudication as well as the certainty of enforcement and penalties constitute the necessary inducement for respect and obedience of laws. For most people, where justice is delayed or denied, the victim is bound to feel some frustration, outrage or even further disrespect for law and order and if the same trend is allowed to take whole the very basis of an orderly society wears out gradually and steadily," he said.

On her part, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade said with the launch of the Mobile Court, the era of recklessness and lawlessness on Lagos roads were gone for good, as no government would fold its arms and watch the violation of traffic and environmental laws.

Justice Atilade, who lamented the death of a 25-year-old British Nigerian graduate, Doyin Serah Fagbenro who was killed by a reckless Danfo Driver about three weeks ago in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, said the story of the victim was just one of the many deaths occurring as a result of reckless driving and indiscipline.

"This must not be allowed to continue. Let it be known to all that the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways in Lagos State is gone. Those who chose to make life difficult for other people especially on our roads should have a rethink as they will henceforth be held accountable for their deeds," Justice Atilade warned.

The special Offences court was established in 1994 to try essentially environmental Offences and it has been vested with powers to sit in any convenient place close to the scene of commission of any offence triable by it.
Though summary in nature, the proceedings before the Mobile Court will be operated in according with rules of natural justice and fair hearing.

There will be lawyers from the office of the Public Defender for any defendant who so desires to be defended, while defendants can also appoint any lawyer of their choice to defend them.

SIGNED

BOLA AKINGBADE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

LAGOS STATE

More Lagosians react to #Runlagos City Marathon Flash Mob

And it gets even more fun & exciting with the Lagos City Marathon Flash Mob; enjoy more exciting moments in the video above... 

26-year-old Nigerian emerges the youngest PHD Law graduate of the Centre of Human Rights, University of Pretoria

The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria on February 3, 2016, introduced its youngest doctorate graduate, Dr. Romola Adeola. According to the Institute, at just 26 years of age, Romola has set a record in being the youngest person to obtain a Doctor of Laws degree (LLD) in the 30-year history of the Centre for Human Rights.

Furthermore, she is only the second youngest person to achieve this in the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria since its establishment 107 years ago. She distinguished herself by completing the LLD in under 3 years.

This record is in keeping with a pattern of excellence which Romola has maintained since her undergraduate years at Lagos State University (LASU) where she was awarded the Taslim Olawale Elias Prize for the Best Student in International Law.

 

Source: Centre For Human Rights, University of Pretoria

Adetunji’s emergence as Olubadan-designate, divine arrangement – Ajimobi

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Wednesday said the emergence of High Chief Saliu Adetunji as Olubadan-designate was a divine arrangement.

Ajimobi stated this at his private residence in Ibadan when Adetunji paid him a private visit.

“When recently, Baba (Adetunji) came to discuss with me his promotion to the post of Balogun following the death of High Chief Sule Omiyale, nobody could have thought that so soon after his promotion to the exalted seat of Balogun, he would be celebrating his imminence to the exalted throne of Olubadan of Ibadan land.

“But, this is the way of God. When God turns to you, then it is your turn,’’ he said.

The governor pledged his support and cooperation toward the coronation of the new Olubadan.

Earlier, the Olubadan-designate had expressed his appreciation to the Ajimobi administration for his support to the traditional institution in the state.

He also thanked the governor for his administration’s effort to give the late Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, a befitting burial.

Adetunji described the late monarch as a highly respected and honest personality, saying the people of Ibadan land would miss him.

Meanwhile, the Olubadan-designate has appointed a seasoned journalist, Mr Adeola Oloko, as his media aide. (NAN)

We’ll introduce stun guns to replace firearms - IGP Arase, says robbers in Lagos have resorted to kidnapping

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase says that the Nigeria Police Force will soon replace stun guns with firearms as part of efforts to reduce casualties from the misuse of firearms by some police officers. Arase said this while speaking at the Police Commissioners Conference held in Abuja yesterday February 3rd.

 "Right now, what we are trying to do is to discourage issuing firearms to police officers, who go on metro patrol. And that is why we are thinking of introducing stun guns this year. Stun guns can incapacitate you, demobilise you, but they will not kill you.

So, in case there is a mistake, then we will be able to ensure that the fatality is not such that will result in death. It is also true that from statistics we have internal mechanisms for dealing with people who engage in misuse of firearms and I must tell you that many of them have been dismissed. But it is not every day you will see it on the pages of the paper that they have been dismissed” he said

While speaking at the conference, Arase also revealed that intelligence gathering by the police revealed that armed robbers in Lagos state have resorted to kidnapping

“We have a new challenge now in Lagos because after we have been able to mop up the bank robbers that come from the waterways, it looks as if they have found a new vocation in kidnapping, especially in Festac and Amuwo Odofin. We are addressing those issues and I can assure you that those people will be caught. It takes time though; you know crime is always committed but the indomitable fighting spirit of the police force has to be strengthened and that is what we are trying to do. Also, the supervisory role of the commissioners of police, divisional commanders, area commanders must be strengthened because I think that is where we are having a gap and I can assure you that we will make sure that we resolve it.” he said

Army chief who exposed election rigging in Ekiti and Osun state now Army's Dir of Intelligence

According to Sahara Reporters, the Army Chief who exposed the Ekiti & Osun state election rigging, Capt Sagir Koli is now the new Army Director of Intelligence. 

Shehu Sani's suspension invalid- APC national body says

The leadership of the APC says the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani from Tudun Wada ward of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna state is invalid and not binding. The APC members in the ward had in December last year, suspended Sani over allegations of him working against the state governor, Nasir El Rufai.

Speaking to newsmen at the Northwest Zonal meeting of the party yesterday January 11th, the vice chairman of the party and zonal chairman North West, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir said the ward chairman had written to the national body distancing himself from the reported suspension

“We wish to state here that the purported suspension is invalid and not binding and is of no effect, the right procedure was not followed, and the national body is in receipt of a letter from the ward chairman dissociating himself from the suspension and giving an insight into the matter.”he said

Alleged thief caught and tied up in Abuja this morning (photos)

This alleged thief was caught burgling an office in Abuja last night. The man and his group had allegedly attacked the office several times to steal laptops and some valuable office equipment, which had led to some staff being sacked for carelessness. Fortunately, he was caught this time by office staff, who kept him with them till this morning and handed him to the police. They said the painful part was that this guy claimed to be a graduate and he spoke very good English. Sad!

Swiss govt to return another $300million Abacha loot - FG

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama says the Federal government is in the talks with the Swiss government for the release of another $300 million Abacha loot stashed in some Swiss banks. Onyeama said this while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 22nd regular course of Foreign Service Academy in Abuja yesterday January 11th.

“Nigeria recently recovered a huge amount of money from the government of Switzerland. I met with Switzerland representatives last week to work out the modalities for the recovering of these funds. So far Nigeria has recovered over $700 million, and there are ongoing negotiations on how that money would be applied. Discussion is also ongoing to recover another $300 million.”he said

Kwara Govt Seeks N1.5b Loan To Settle Teachers’ Salary

Kwara State is in a bid to secure loan to the tune of N1.5 billion to pay off salaries of teachers, Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yaketi, disclosed to News Agency of Nigeria today in Ilorin the state capital.

According to Yekiti, the state had already secure a loan of N4.8 billion from Sterling Bank, part of which was used to pay the first tranche of the salary, remaining three months arrears.

The commissioner appealed to teachers across the state to suspend the strike, in the interest of their pupils, adding that the issue of salary was beyond redemption, as no money is coming in.

NAN reports that the indefinite strike has entered its second week, with the resolution from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) not to go back to work until their salaries were fully paid.

NUT chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Musa told NAN the concerned teachers have been directed to remain at home until further instruction from the union.

Musa said that teachers cannot adequately impact knowledge on the students with empty stomach.

“There is no way the hungry teachers could deliver effectively, it is better for teachers to remain at home until the government is capable of paying them,’’ the NUT boss said.

“Non-payment of salaries is like the case of a labourer going to farm with empty stomach, there is the possibility that he would not be able to perform”, he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Muideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, told NAN that the delay in payment of salaries was due to shortfall in monthly allocation to the state.

“In Kwara, this has resulted in some delays, especially at the local government level.

“This has led to wrong speculation that the state government interferes with LG funds; this is untrue,” Akorede added.

Benue suspends eating of rats due to Lassa fever

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa has asked its people to suspend eating rats for now in order to curtail the spread of Lassa Fever in the State.
He made the plea because rat is a popular delicacy among the people of the state and because the state has recorded a case of the fever. 

CBN assures Dangote of Forex to help finance $14bn refinery

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during a tour of the refinery which is projected to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. assured Dangote Group that it will support its access to Foreign Exchange in order to build its proposed $14 billion refinery in the country.
The CBN governor said that the support was to help with the importation of equipment needed to bring the Dangote refinery to reality.
He said:

“Your ongoing 14 billion dollar refinery investment will enjoy our support, no doubt. We are doing this to fast-track the importation of equipment you need for a speedy completion of that project and to encourage other Nigerians to follow your lead” Emefiele said.

“The Dangote Group approached us to indicate their interest to invest in refining crude, such that petrol-chemicals, fertiliser and fuel will be produced, about three years ago.

“Today, the three projects, which are valued at 14 billion dollars (N2.8 trillion), are on course and this is highly commendable, ‘’ he said.

“By the time this refinery is completed, it will not only service the needs of our domestic economy but shore up our international oil investments.

“Projects like this and our support will encourage more Nigerians to begin to think like the Dangote Group,” the CBN boss added.

 Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group, on the other hand said that the refinery would commence commercial operations in early 2018 and that the fertilizer production aspect of the refinery would be completed by 2017.

He said:

“We are set to unveil the world’s largest refinery which will make Nigeria self-sufficient in petroleum products refining and also become a major exporter of oil.This project will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s search for local refining of crude oil.

“We will ensure the value chain in crude oil production is uplifted and other facilitators properly integrated into our scheme,” he said.

 

Vanguard

Ghana police arrest suspect in murder of British actress and two sons

Police in Ghana said on Saturday they had tracked down and arrested the partner of the British actress whose body was found in the garden of her London home this week along with those of their two young sons.
Arthur Simpson-Kent is wanted in connection with the murder of Sian Blake, a former actress in the popular soap opera EastEnders, and the two boys, Zachary and Amon. The family had been reported missing in mid-December.

"The suspect has been arrested by police and I can confirm his identity," a police spokesman said. "He was at a hideout in Western Region. With the kind of collaboration between the police and public that we have, we managed to nab him there."

A spokesman for Interpol in Ghana said the suspect was being driven back from the port city of Takoradi to the capital Accra and would arrive late on Saturday.

In a statement released in London, Scotland Yard police said they had been "made aware of an arrest in Ghana" and were working alongside Ghanaian authorities.



Reuters

'Plot to kidnap one of Obama's dogs' stopped by Police

US police have arrested a man who allegedly plotted to kidnap one of President Obama's two pet dogs.

Officials say Scott Stockert - who is from the state of North Dakota - was planning to snatch one of the dogs, either Bo or Sunny.
Police in Washington DC found weapons in Mr Stockert's vehicle, including a shotgun, a rifle and a machete.
Agents say he made several outlandish claims during his arrest, including that he intended to run for president.
He also said he was the son of former President John F Kennedy and actress Marilyn Monroe, according to court documents.

Mr Stockert has been charged with violating the District of Columbia's gun laws.
The First Family acquired Bo in 2009, with Sunny, referred to by the family as Bo's "little sister", following in 2013. 

A 48 year old lawyer who's name was given as Benjamin Onyeabo has been remanded at Oke Kura prison yard in Ilorin for duping one of his clients a sum of #11.6 million. Onyeabo was said to have carried out this nefarious act in connection with one Dominic Ochi.
A LIB reader with exclusive info said Lawyer Onyeabo forged several documents that belonged to his client to claim a payment that was meant for his client. His client won the court case and the said money was meant for him but, Onyeabo in connection with Ochi forged the man's document, got the money out in December 2014 and refused to give it to his client.

Despite the fact that lawyer Onyeabo pleaded not guilty to this charge, the Judge who presided over the case, M.A Adeyanju ordered that he should be remanded at Oke Kura prison in Ilorin, while the case was adjourned to next month.

23 die of starvation in Syrian town

Twenty-three people have died of starvation in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya since December 1, Doctors Without Borders said Friday, as the United Nations prepared an aid delivery to the area.

The UN said there were 40,000 people, half of them children, who needed immediate lifesaving assistance in Madaya, where access has been restricted by pro-regime forces.

Damascus on Thursday gave permission for UN agencies to send relief to the town, following reports of starvation deaths among civilians, many of whom have been displaced from the neighbouring rebel stronghold of Zabadani.

Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym (MSF), said that of the 23 people who died of starvation, six were less than a year old, and five were above 60.

The deaths occurred at the local MSF-supported health centre, the charity said.

Another 13 people who tried to escape in search of food have been killed when they stepped on landmines laid by regime forces or were shot by snipers, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group.

“This is a clear example of the consequences of using siege as a military strategy,” MSF’s operations director Brice de le Vingne said in a statement.

Medics had been forced to feed children with medical syrups as the only available source of sugar and energy, he said, describing Madaya as “effectively an open air prison” for nearly half of its residents.

“There is no way in or out, leaving the people to die.”

MSF welcomed the decision from Damascus to allow food supplies, but stressed that “an immediate life-saving delivery of medicine across the siege line should also be a priority.”

In Geneva, UN agencies said the aid convoy would head to Madaya in the coming days, although the specifics were still being finalised.

“The situation is ghastly,” said UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville, indicating that details of the casualties and the extent of the suffering in Madaya were difficult to verify given the limited access.

Despite numerous UN requests, Madaya last received humanitarian assistance in October.

Source : Punch

A few people on Twitter are reporting a robbery currently going on at Shoprite inside Delta mall, in Effurun. Some say it's a case of youth unrestiveness and that they are hitting shops at the mall. Will update later...

3032 soldiers reject deployment to fight Boko Haram

The soldiers who were pardoned last year for various offences during the fight against Boko Haram, have all been posted to the North East to fight Boko Haram. All 3,032 of the soldiers rejected the posting adding that they were never really pardoned and re-integrated into the Army, rather, re-sentenced to fight with Boko Haram and endanger their lives.

The soldiers also claimed that they have been subjected to unimaginable ill treatment after their pardon. They also said that since they have been kicked out of the barracks they have not been paid for seven months hence have been living from hand to mouth.

The Commandant of NASI, Major General Kassim Aldulkareem, informed them that they have been assigned new riffles and should be ready for deployment to the fronts on 11 January, 2016.

However, the soldiers complained that they have not been fully re-instated into the Nigerian Army, because attempts by them to report to their units were rejected at their bases since they haven't been given their re-instatement letters.

It was gathered that, they cried, “We are not going! Give us re-instatement letters! You are sentencing us back to war,” among others. According to sources, the Commandant hurriedly left when the soldiers were becoming uncontrollable.
One of the soldiers who spoke to some newsmen said:

“Look at me; I have put in about 28 years of my life serving this country. I have seen action in Liberia; I have been to Rwanda, Sudan and even served overseas and we the Nigerian troops did very well and were decorated in some occasions.

“But, our experience in fighting to save our motherland is too sad a story for the outside world to know. We are not cowards. We held on for over four months facing Boko Haram.

“I just want to say that after the Army dismissed about 5,000 of us, 3032 of us were pardoned last August. Since that time, the Army Authority has treated us like prisoners of wars.

“We were told to assemble in Jaji on August 17, which we did. Then on August 19, the General Officer Commander, GOC, of 1st Infantry Division, Maj. Gen Adeniyi Oyebade gathered us and without prior noticed moved us to Nigerian Army training Centre, NATRAC, Kontogora. Some of us found ourselves there in bathroom slippers. We were just taken straight to the place. Then, without any additional clothes or uniform, we were subjected to what was clear punishment, not training for another three weeks.

“Still in the clothes we came, we were again relocated to 333 artillery Barracks, Njetilo, Maiduguri. We got nothing but constant insults as cowards. We were there without uniforms no arms. They just left us there and we were abused and told to assemble at every two hours through these days for another three weeks.

“In Jaji, we went through another round of punishment, not training. Yet, we were not given any letter to show that we are still serving soldiers.

“So when the Commandant came and said we were going back to the North East, without clearing our status, we felt we have been punished enough.” he said.

Vanguard