Man, 70, Who Spent 37yrs In Prison For Murders He Didn't Commit Now A Free Man

A man who spent more than half of his life in a North Carolina prison for two murders he didn't commit, walked out a free man on Friday, CNN reports.

He's now 70-year-old.

Joseph Sledge was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for stabbing to death, 74-year-old Josephine Davies and 57-year-old Aileen(mother and daughter).

After serving nearly four decades behind bars, Sledge was found innocent by a three-judge panel, in North Carolina.

He was exonerated, after the panel heard from a DNA expert who said non of the evidence collected in the case - Hair, DNA and finger prints, belonged to Sledge.

Photos: Olamide, Darey, Dammy Krane, Others At Nigerian Idol Season 5 Launch

Music stars, Olamide, Dammy Krane, amongst others attended the unveiling of the Nigerian Idol Season 5, which held recently at MelaRossa in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Past winner, Evelle, host, Rhymz and judges, Dede Mabiaku and Yinka Davies and Darey were also in attendance.
In this new season, winner will be going home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, and a recording deal.
See more pics after the cut...

My Beef With MI Made Him Popular - Kelly Hansome

Music star, Kelly Hansome, who's had beef with many ranging from his former boss, Kenny Ogungbe to Don Jazzy, D'banj and MI Abaga said his beef with the Chocolate City artist,  MI,  made him(MI) to become  popular today.

Kelly Hansome revealed this, in a recent interview with Saturday Beats.

Hear him;“A lot of people take things too personal at times, especially MI and Baba Keke. They took my music too personal. If I did not beef MI, he would not be where he is today.

I am not the one that made him, he has Chocolate City and Audu Maikori to thank for that and they are my friends but at the end of the day, it was a marketing strategy for them. I put him at a point where people could listen and appreciate his music. I am looking forward to us working together.

 “MI is at the top of his game; he has several endorsement deals. Because of the issues I had, the endorsement I was supposed to have with Globacom was cancelled and I don’t blame the company.”

  “Most of these people are successful today because they were able to cover up their controversies but the record label I thought was my record label did not cover up my controversy. Instead, they were the ones pushing it outside. In their mind, I had already been sentenced to death; they did not want me to be on top of my game again so that people would think they made me. I don’t know why they did that to me, I wish they could give me a reason. I wish we could be put on national television and speak our minds and clear the air. I have no hard feelings towards anybody. If they could not kill me then, they cannot kill me now,”

Photos: Mercy Johnson Returns To Nigeria, Back On Movie Set

It went viral recently that, Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson  was on the run and she is wanted by the Nigerian Police for ditching a movie was paid to do after collecting N2million.

Now, the mother of two is back and ready to hit the screens! She has been in the United States after the the birth of her second child.
It seems she settled with the filmmakers.
Continue to see more pics after the cut...

Actress, Halima Abubakar Reveals Why She Considered Commiting Suicide Last Year

In a recent interview with PUNCH, Nollywood actress opens up on she considered committing suicide last year - she was broke!

Hear her; “There were a lot of things that were wrong with me and led to my depression. I was angry, broke, people lied against me and they were also using my name to lie. I was deceived by the people I loved. I was seriously broke at the time and I had lots of responsibilities.

“There were many charity projects I was involved in and I was doing everything with my money. Everything just got to me at the same time and I felt fed-up. I wanted to kill myself because there was nobody to help me. It happened two years ago and it also occurred last year. I thank God I did not kill myself because I realised that nothing is worth it. I was upset with myself when I got back to my senses because the people you want to kill yourself for do not really care about you. It was a terrible phase in my life,”

When asked why her could not help her out, Halima said he compounded her case instead of helping out.

 “He was not helping matters. I wanted somebody that would listen and not say that I was lying or exaggerating the extent of what I was going through. Whenever I tell him I am sad, he wants to give me money but it is not all about money all the time.

“Yes, I said I was broke but it was not only about money. I was broken emotionally. If there is no hope, I feel I am broken. I needed a listening ear. The definition of broke is relative but Nigerians think it is only about money. Money was also involved. The first major problem I had was money; then I was also emotionally broke."

President Jonathan Opens Up On What Killed His Sister

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said his sister, Nancy Oleic- Jonathan died of a heart related ailment.

Mrs. Oleic-Jonathan died on Jan. 4 at the age of 52.

Mr. Jonathan and his wife, Patience, made the remarks when they led other members of the family to a funeral service in honour of the deceased at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, Bayelsa.

“Nancy’s ailment started during my tenure as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa.

“She was my younger sister from another mother and had undergone several treatments both locally and abroad.

“We thank God she was able to live above the golden age of 50,” Mr. Jonathan said.

Until her death, Mrs Oleic-Jonathan was a member of staff of Ogbia Central Medical Centre, Otuoke.

She was married and blessed with six children.

A biography published by the family described Mrs. Oleic-Jonathan as a hard working and a devout Christian, who never took the things of the Lord for granted.

She was also described as a great weaver, greatly endowed with craftsmanship.

“In her days, priority in education was given to male children and being a child from a polygamous family, she did not have the opportunity to acquire higher education.

According to the biography read by Mr Lamawal Jonathan, the deceased excelled greatly in craftsmanship which was her hobby.

Earlier in his sermon, the Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, the Rt. Rev. J. A Oruwori, said death was an end that awaited every man.

He admonished Christians that they could overcome death through Christ and by remaining steadfast in trials and temptations.

Dignitaries at the service included Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and his wife, Rachael.

Man Rapes 14-year-old Daughter, Blames Evil Spirit(Pictured)

60-year-old Isiaka Alade who was recently arrested for defiling his 14-year-old daughter, blamed the terrible act on evil spirit. 

Hear him;

“I cannot remember what I did. An evil spirit always possesses me and as soon as I am done, I will regain my senses. Most especially, my daughter never resisted whenever I touch her. I am terribly sor­ry; it is the devil. I have even attended different deliverance services, hoping that God will save me. I am sorry but the truth is that I am possessed. No normal father will do such a thing to his daughter. My mistake was allowing her to live with me when I knew that I do not have a wife or woman friend.”

He was arrested by officers of the Lagos state Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, when a good samaritan who saw him in the act, alerted the police.

The abused teenager revealed to the police that, it was her father who dis-virgined her sometime in 2013. And that, her father bought different gifts for her as a way of wooing her.

Naira Now Goes For N208 To Dollar

The Nigerian national currency, the Naira, on Friday depreciated against the dollar, as it exchanged for N208 to the dollar.

The currency, which was devalued late last year by the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] from N155 to N168 to the dollar, slumped further to the N191.50 it sold for on Monday, January 19.

With the new rate, the naira has gone down by more than N16.50 within five days.

The CBN’s website, however, put the naira against the dollar at N167.50, while the pound sold for N253.20 and the euro at N193.89S

The development has resulted in huge speculative activities in the market, causing rippling effects on other currencies.

During the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting in Abuja last week, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the monitoring of the activities of the market had revealed tendencies towards speculative attacks on the national currency.

Though he gave the assurance that the naira, since the devaluation, was appropriately priced, and therefore no need to worry about further devaluation, despite the continue fall in crude oil prices.

The governor warned against speculative activities in the market capable of attacking the value of the naira.

Even Cossy Ojiakor Has Something To Say About Buhari's Certificate

Controversial actress, Cossy Ojiakor has joined the league of those criticizing Gen. Buhari's WASC result.

The actress took to her Twitter to throw shades at the APC presidential candidate saying;“Hmm holders of Primary/Secondary Sch. certificate end up as cleaner or…. but in Nigeria with dt u can be a President. Big ups Naija.”

 

Pope Francis, I Am Head Over Heels In Love With You - Charly Boy Openly Declares

Controversial entertainer, Charly Boy has written an open letter to one of the world's most respected leader, Pope Francis. 

In the letter, Charly Boy showered encomium on the Catholic leader, openly declared his love for him, and revealed how he once planned to become a priest himself. The letter reads;“My Dear Francis, I hope it is ok to call you by your papal name; this is only because I feel so close to you. You have captured my heart with your simplicity, humanity, humility and love.

The first 25yrs of my life was filled with dreams of becoming a priest, having been stuffed with an overdose of religion, a very serious matter in my family.  When I turned 16, I became an altar boy, never missed Bible class or the regular confessions. My late father was a Knight of the Catholic Church. That’s where I’m coming from.We were a family that prayed together, staunch Catholics for that matter.” 

He revealed how he dabbled into occultism and more

“Being an adventurous young man however, I dabbled into the occult, metaphysics, Buddhism, astrology, magic and all that jazz; but be that as it may, I still, am fundamentally a Catholic. The Catholic fate had suddenly become boring and old fashioned for me. Well, until you came along.You have shown to be true, the saying that the only thing needed for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing. 

 I am very glad and pleased that you are doing something. It is clear that you possess a beautiful spiritual light burning inside of you. I recognize your effort in trying to bring a better image and name to Catholicism. No matter how anybody wishes to flip it, you are full of surprises, born of true and faithful humility; it sparks of Charlyboyizim.

He open declares his love....

“Francis, I am head over heels in love with your person, you are my Rock Star. I saw you in The Philippines rocking the world again after Brazil, through the CNN lens. The World has fallen in love with you: is it Jews, Moslems, Atheists, Punks, Monks? In short, nothing is stranger, ever since you came onboard, than the reactions of evangelicals all over the world. Never before in history has a Pope been so widely accepted by Protestants and evangelicals, Muslims, Buddists, non-believers, all and sundry.

Finally, we have a Pope who doesn’t see himself as equal to God, a Pope who abandoned the red shoes (that were never an official part of the papal wardrobe anyway): a Pope who dresses modestly, pays his own lodging bills, drives around Vatican City in a Ford Focus, calls many people on the phone, brings jam sandwiches to on-duty Swiss Guards at his door and invites street people to his birthday breakfast. Haba, how far my guy.

 The way you embrace and kiss babies, embrace the sick, disfigured broken bodies and the abandoned of society. You are one world leader who speaks the truth to power, walks his talk, and calls idolatry and greed by their real names. You are a bold and courageous shepherd who lifts up the poor and tells us that if they are not part of our lives, then we are a sad and even doomed lot. Just like Francis of Assisi did in his day.

 You spent time on your knees washing the feet of young women incarcerated in prisons; first time ever that a Pope would wash the feet of women, not to mention that some of them were Moslems. Hummm, a bloody break in papal tradition.I remember when you were a mere Bishop in Buenos Aires, you received letters from gays and lesbians who said they were “socially wounded” by the church, and in an interview you answered, “But the Church does not want to do this,”

 I recall also, your visit to Brazil, when asked your opinion about Gays and you gave them a beautiful one liner. “Who am I to judge gay people?”Simply put, you blow my mind each and every time! Kai!”

He concludes....

 “The world is sick; selfishness, sadness, meanness, vengeance, terror and harshness seem to have the upper hand, and we need the message of Christmas which you preach all year round: goodness, joy, kindness, mercy and the tenderness of our God.

There is this childlike unflinching freedom that allows you to do what you do because you are so unafraid and totally free to be yourself  at the same time. I know because it takes one to know one.
You are such a faithful son of the Church.
I see how you want the church to be an instrument of reconciliation and welcome, a church that is capable of warming hearts, a church that is not bent over on herself but always seeking those on the periphery and those who are lost, a church capable of leading people home to God.

 

We need the Francis’ revolution of tenderness and mercy now more than ever before.”