A Nigerian Movie Maker Found Dead in His Home in the U.S

A Nigerian movie producer based in the United States of America has been reported dead after he was found lifeless in his apartment lying close to the bathroom.

Actor Kenneth Okonkwo and Philemon Ihediwa

Police are still investigating  to eliminate evidence of foul play in the death of Nigerian movie maker, Philemon Ihediwa who was found death in his house in Smithfield, North Carolina, US.

Ten years ago, Philemon Ihediwa wrote, starred, directed and produced his first movie in the United States. He was one of few Nigerians in the Diaspora that ventured into Hollywood. His movie, CONGO BOY IN THE CITY, featured Nollywood movie stars like Kanayo. O. Kanayo and Madam Gee.

Ihed, as he was widely known in the US, was chased by the agonies and trauma of child support harassment, allegedly fuelled by his ex- wife’s several court cases against him, in concert with the North Carolina Child support enforcement.

Monday evening, Ihed, during a telephone conversation with his female friend, Louise Gorsham, who lived “across town”, hinted that he was not feeling well and would retire to bed early. Ms. Gorsham pleaded with him to call her when he woke up at sunrise. He agreed and they both wished each other goodnight.

Narrating Gorsham said, “The next day, I called several times throughout the day but he did not respond to my call. I sent text messages. No response. I waited till Wednesday to repeat calls and text messages. I did not hear from him. I was also at work. By Saturday afternoon, after I closed from work, I pleaded with a coworker to drive me to Ihed’s apartment in Smithfield, a thirty minutes ride from Raleigh. I was mad at him. I thought he was ignoring my calls on purpose, might be he had found another lady. But when I got to his apartment, I noticed his car was in his parking space. I began to smell stench coming from his door. I knew something wasn’t right.

“Immediately, I called the Smithfield Police department and requested a welfare check on my friend. The police arrived few minutes later, broke into his apartment and found him dead on the floor, bloated and oozing. My friend died lonely from a broken heart and years of pains from being denied relationships with his children. He loved those kids. Ihed told me many times that his wife had, through the years, barred his children from visiting him. She set them up against their dad while she was busy collecting heavy child support. That man was a very great man. All he wanted was to be a good father to his children. But his ex wife was in the way. Now he is gone.”

Smithfield medical examiner’s office determined that the causes of death were seizure and possible heart attack. It was recorded that “his body was bloated and near decomposition when he was found in his bathroom. The heat in the apartment accelerated decomposition process.” The medical Examiner also concluded that Ihed might have died five days earlier.

A Woman Makes First Class From UNILAG After 16 Years in 4 Universities (Photo)

A woman has carved a niche for herself in the academic world after she pursued a degree for 16 years and ended up getting the best of them all.

 

Mrs. Oluwamayo Ojumah

 

Mrs. Oluwamayo Ojumah, a highly energetic Nigerian lady, stunned colleagues, and delighted family and friends has translated her 16-year old personal misfortunes into a success story.

 

Saturday Vanguard reports that after spending 16 years in pursuit of a university degree at four different universities within and outside Nigeria, she finally emerged with a First Class degree in Biochemistry at the University of Lagos.

 

Interestingly, making a First Class degree, did not come accidental to her, it was a decision taken after several failed attempts at studying medicine and under the care of her pastor father, Mr. Johnson Ajibade, and her husband, Mr. Felix Ojumah, who is a Petroleum Engineer.

 

While speaking with Saturday Vanguard on the experience that saw her going from Ago Iwoye, United Kingdom, Okada, Lagos and nearly to Saint Kitts in the Americas for a university degree that was largely elusive for 16 years, she exclaimed; ‘’I am still in shock.” 

 

Continuing, the obviously excited Ojumah, who recently had her convocation at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, flashed back recalling how her wasted years in pursuit of the degree paid off with a Cumulative Grade Point Average ,CGPA, of 4.51.

 

Expounding this at her home in Lagos, she said: ‘’I left secondary school in 2004 and in that same year I got admission into Olabisi Onabanjo University ,OOU, for Applied Zoology and the agreement was that if I performed well they were going to transfer me to Medicine. 

I" had wanted to study Medicine. I didn’t really get the scope of the course, so I was not doing well. I think I left in 200 levels. So my parents said I should go abroad and study Medicine. Unfortunately it was quite expensive and I didn’t want to get them into those strains of providing that kind of finance every year. So, we reached an agreement to come back home and go to Igbinedion University, Okada. That was in 2009. 

"I went to the UK and came back. In the UK they were not ready to admit me to read Medicine. I needed to do a lot of courses before and then thinking about the financial implications I had to come back home. Since Igbenedion was better and they said they were going to allow me read Medicine, I came back home. 

"So, when I got to Igbenedion I was admitted into 200 levels with my transcript from OOU. I did 200 levels and 300 levels but at the level of my MB, I failed two courses, I passed Biochemistry and failed Anatomy and Physiology. By the time I did my resit, I think I failed Anatomy and failed physiology."

 

Ordinarily, many would opt out at this time, but Ojumah embraced the options that came her way.

 

‘’The option was either to repeat the class, take a transcript and go abroad either to Ukraine or to Saint Kits in the Americas,” she stated.

 

Considering that it would be less burdensome financially for her comfortable parents, she opted to go to Saint Kitts, an Island in the Americas formerly known as Saint Christopher.

 

‘’It was not as expensive like going to the UK. And just within that period while processing the passport; I had a little problem with immigration. It took a little while. Unfortunately, by the time I got my passport, the border had been closed. Unfortunately, my mother passed away in March 2011 and I couldn’t go abroad any more. 

"They wanted me to go and I told them that it did not make sense going abroad again. The only option was to go to University of Lagos. Now that was the fourth time of starting all over again and I did not want to sit for JAMB. The only option was to do the foundation programme from 2011 to 2012 after which I took Direct Entry into 200 levels.”

 

Narrating her experience at UNILAG, she said the disposition of her lecturers and students towards her were not outside the ordinary.

 

"The Biochemistry lecturers of the University of Lagos are okay. They gave their best. At least I have been to other institutions and know the kind of things other students go through. My supervisor Dr. Lawal was supportive. The day I knew he was proud of me was the day he said I was graduating with a First Class. And when they discovered that I was married, I had a better relationship,” she added.

 

Asked if there were exceptional methods applied to achieve the feat, she said: I didn’t just depend on class notes. I used Youtube and downloaded most things that had been taught from Youtube and I read a lot. I can read from 8pm to 6am. My husband was also supportive because I used to watch movies a lot but he ensured that I did not fail to read because of movies. 

"He would wake me up at night and even sometimes compel me to read. I read a lot, prayed a lot. In fact, I prayed like I was not reading and read like I was not reading. I am still in shock. 

"The summary of it all is that God saw me through. I think God just wanted to honour me. I did a lot of work. People are talking about me that I came out with a First Class after all I have been through. It feels great. I already knew I was going to get First Class in October when the results came out. I think I have been in shock until the day of graduation. I just don’t believe that this is me. I am not a genius. Some think I read a lot. People don’t remember my past stories, but I have a cause to thank God.”

Why Is Lekki Gardens MD In Prison and TB Joshua Walking Freely? - OAP Freeze Blows Hot

Following the high profile collapse of a building in Lekki, popular On Air Personalities, Freeze, has waded into the matter with an interesting point.

 

MD of Lekki Gardens Mr. Nyong Richard (right) and his contractor  Odofin Taiwo, 

 in court 

 

The popular OAP Freeze criticized the decision of the government to quickly arraign and publicly humiliate the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens and his contractor who was handling the project of the collpased building while allowing other people with equally heinous 'crime' walk free.

 

The controversial OAP, took to his Instagram to post the photo above of the Lekki Gardens MD and his conractor wearing handcuffs in court, and then followed it up with the words below:

 

What really is Justice???

I have no qualms seeing a young man who committed a crime pay for that crime. Life is sad, before Richard came along, you could not dream of buying a house in LEKKI for 20million naira, his dream was to make choice housing affordable and available. Somewhere down the line mistakes were made and lives were lost! And yes I agree...... Someone must pay! 

Now my questions;

Why is he in handcuffs and remanded in prison when that 'prophet' whose building collapsed and killed more people than Ebola, Lassa fever and this alleged 'LEKKI gardens' put together is walking free??? Why is that prophet not in handcuffs too??? It was even alleged, that he didn't show up in court the last time the courts sat. Is this true??? If it is true, then why is Richard 'remanded' in prison while Mr prophet 'comes from home'??? Is there a special court for 'prophets' or do we have special 'laws' for them???

Is our government afraid of prophets???

Are the people who lost their lives in the Church less valuable than the people who lost their lives in the LEKKI Gardens saga?

My humble advice: Richard should be released to go home and attend hearings from home like the 'prophet'. Or the 'prophet' should be picked up, handcuffed and locked in the same cell with Richard while he attends trial! 

Or does the change we voted for include turning Nigeria into the African version of George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', where "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others?"

I might not know law and justice, but I definitely know injustice! 

I appeal to everyone to lend their voice to this and ensure we have 'JUSTICE FOR ALL'.

An Anglican Priest and 14 Others Die in Fatal Crash in Delta State

A fatal car accident in Delta State has claimed the life of an Anglican priest along with fourteen other people.

 

The death of an Anglican Priest identified as Rev. Stanley has been announced.

 

Rev. Stanley's death has sent residents of Ibusa community and its environs in Delta State into agony and sorrow, as he was reportedly involved in a fatal accident after crashing his Toyota Camry marked AA 174 SKL into two commercial buses, marked AA 126ASB and AA 146 ASB which had collided at Ibusa, leaving them and 14 other persons dead on the spot.

 

The cleric died on the spot, while the wife who was with him sustained minor injuries.

An eyewitness, Mathew Nwanaza, said the priest had just concluded a church service in Asaba and was rushing to Ibusa to meet with his family when the accident occurred.

A resident, who did not want his name mentioned, said the accident might have occurred due to recklessness of the drivers.

The Federal Road Safety Corps boss, Mr. Random Kulven, told journalists that those who sustained injuries were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for treatment.

While blaming the crash on the drivers’ recklessness, Kulven said the accident occurred around 8:30pm in the night after the drivers undermined road signs.

Horror! Beauty Queen Gets Stabbed in the Neck by Her Boyfriend While She Was Having a Bath (Photos)

A beautiful young woman has been put in a critical state after her boyfriend charged at her in the bathroom and stabbed her in the neck.

 

Macarena Ardit

 

A model is fighting for her life after her boyfriend allegedly stabbed her in the neck while she was having a bath.

 

The young lady, Macarena Ardit, 23, is believed to have been stabbed by Mauricio Suligoy, 27, after the couple had an argument.

 

Suligoy, who has since been arrested on domestic violence charges, is said to have turned up at Ardit's house in a rage after the couple rowed on the phone.

 

Prosecutor Ruben Martinez, who is leading the investigation of the case, said Suligoy went to confront Ardit at her home after the argument.

 

Her friend opened the door to allow Suligoy in to the property and says she saw him leave the house a short time later.

 

 

When the friend subsequently went upstairs, she discovered Macarena lying in a pool of blood.

 

Ardit was rushed to hospital where medics managed to save her life after emergency surgery lasted several hours. She remains in intensive care.

 

Prosecutor Martinez added that "from the beginning we knew who the attacker was" and therefore the police started a search operation to find and arrest him.

 

Suligoy's father Gustavo is said to have convinced him to deliver himself to the police. He had been hiding in a rural area in the Vera department and two days after the attack he gave himself up.

 

Ardit had only recently taken part as a contestant in the Queen of Surubi beauty contest in the city of Reconquista, Argentina.

60-year-old Monarch Arrested by NDLEA with 12kg Cannabis in Nasarawa State (Photo)

A village head who was suppose to live by example has been apprehended by the NDLEA for cultivating and selling cannabis in a Nassarawa State's community.

Samuel Agu with the seized drugs

The men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Nasarawa State on Friday apprehended the 60-year-old village head of Koje community in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly cultivating and harvesting 12kg Indian hemp otherwise called cannabis sativa in his farm land.

While parading the suspect, Mr. Samuel Agu  at the command office in Lafia, the state capital, the NDLEA commander in the state, Mr. Sumaila Ethan, said, “On March 4, 2016, we arrested Mr. Samuel Agu, the village head with bags of cannabis sativa weighing about12 kg.

“The village head confessed that he had been getting the supply of the cannabis seeds from a Fulani herdsman, the weed seized from him was the remnant of what he harvested from his farm.

“The village head, who is expected to live an exemplary life style that is worthy of emulation, was the same person selling cannabis for consumption.”

He, however, expressed worry on how those entrusted with the responsibilities of deterring criminality in their various domains end up getting involved in it, describing it as ungodly and unfortunate.

“It is pertinent to alert the people of the state and the whole world that, there is an alarming increase in the activities of illicit barons in the state particularly those entrusted with positions of leadership in our rural communities,” he added.

Ethan also said that from January 2016 to date, the command had arrested 28 suspects in the state and about 460kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were also seized.

"Out of the number, seven drug barons were successfully prosecuted and convicted at the Federal High Court, Lafia while 10 others were successfully rehabilitated. Other cases are ongoing at the Federal High Court, Lafia,” he said.

Sleeping Too Much Could Cause You to Go Blind - Shocking New Research Reveals

If you are the kind of person who sleeps a lot, then you might want to reconsider as a disturbing new study has revealed grave consequences associated with it.

 

 

Sleeping too much could cause you to go blind, eye doctors have warned.

 

Hitting the snooze button too often could damage your eyesight as research has revealed that getting more than eight hours a night can lead to macular degeneration - the leading cause for blindness in the UK.

 

Those who sleep in longer are also seven times more likely to suffer from geographic atrophy, the advanced stages of the condition.

 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. It’s the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60 .

 

While there’s no pain, it sees a deterioration of the macula - the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail - makes driving and reading near impossible.

 

Research by doctor Rahul N. Khurana, of the Northern California Retina Vitreous Associates, assessed patients with and without the disease.

 

Dr Khurana surveyed 1003 patients and assessed their sleep patterns, publishing his findings in the journal Retina.

 

He said: “The mean sleep duration for patients without AMD was 7.97 hours, compared with 8.17 hours, 9.00 hours, and 8.97 hours, respectively, for those with early AMD, neovascular AMD, and geographic atrophy.

“The altered sleep patterns illustrate another morbidity that patients with AMD suffer from, and merit further investigation.”

 

These findings come after scientists found that sleeping face down on your pillow could also lead to sight loss.

 

Pressing your face into a pillow while you sleep could cause a condition called glaucoma, which worryingly goes undiagnosed in thousands of people every year.

 

Glaucoma occurs when a fluid in the eye called aqueous humour fails to drain properly, putting pressure on the optic nerve which can cause the nerve fibres inside to die off and lead to sight loss.

 

The study - carried out by John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA - tested the effect of pillow pressure on the eyes of its subjects over an eight-hour sleep period.

 

It found sleeping with one side of the face and one eye pressed into a pillow can cause ‘sustained deformation’ of that eye in patients with glaucoma.

 

Lead researcher Dr. Alison Flatau said that deformation of the eye while sleeping might block outflow of aqueous humour which in turns leads to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).

 

She added: “If stress and strain from elevated IOP are bad for eyes with glaucoma, stress and strain from being compressed by a pillow might also be bad for eyes with glaucoma.

“On average, glaucoma eye responses did not fully return to baseline levels after moving from face down to supine, but control eyes did."

 

Dr. Flatau also added that those with ‘prominent’ noses or cheekbones, which prevent direct contact with a pillow, might prevent sleep position-induced deformation of the eye, while those with small cheekbones and a tiny nose are more likely to suffer.

 

Laser eye surgeon Dr. Allamby, founder and medical director of Focus Clinic, said: “Glaucoma is a silent killer when it comes to the eyes.

“Sufferers often don’t know they have it until they’re already losing their vision.

“And what this study shows is that people could be making the condition worse - effectively speeding up the damage - by simply sleeping in the wrong position.

“This slight increase of pressure on the optic nerve could have significant repercussions in those susceptible to nerve damage.”

 

Early diagnosis of glaucoma is vital in saving a patient’s vision, whether treatment is through eye drops, laser treatment or surgery.

 

Dr. Allamby recommends regular, in-depth eye examinations by an optometrist at least once every two years for those in their 40s.