Elliot unveils the skeleton in his cupboard

 Gone were the days when number, in terms of the volume of films produced, worked for Nollywood. The reality of growth has dawned on practitioners: you either step up professionalism or simply fall by the roadside.

Part of the ways out of the volume syndrome, the film makers have been advised, is to explore themes that are hitherto considered a no-go area. The fact that Nigerian films also have to compete globally means that they have to enhance the technical outlook of the works. The question is: What is a story if it is not well told? Or what is a film if the cinematography is not right and arresting?

Some of the movies recently produced in the country have been taking care of this. A good number of people have, for instance, applauded Tade Ogidan’s Family on Fire, Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap and Kalejaye Paul’s Married But Living Single.  Another film that promises to impress the market is In the Cupboard, produced by popular actor, Desmond Elliot. While approaching the questions of death and inheritance from a fresh perspective, it also takes on the controversial subject of lesbianism.

In the Cupboard is a story that revolves around the lives of six siblings born into the rich, aristocratic De Souza family; a name synonymous with wealth and power. Everything seems perfect in their lives until their father dies unexpectedly and all of them gather from different parts of the world to be with their mother, the elegant matriarch Veronica “Ronnie” DeSouza,  played by Biola Williams. What ensues is a series of events that threatens to shake the family to its very foundations.

In the cast are celebrated figures that include Ini  Edo,  Big Brother Africa winner Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo and  Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson. It has received five awards since its release in August – including, Best Original Story, Best New Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the 2012 GIAMA Awards in the US and the Most Promising Actor at the 2012 Best of  Nollywood Awards. By punch

Acid attack: Accused charged with attempted murder, granted bail

David Sulaimon, who allegedly bathed his estranged fiancée, Chika Egbo, with acid in Igando, Lagos State, has been charged with attempted murder.

He was arraigned on two counts of attempted murder and “causing grievous bodily harm” at an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos a week ago.

The police stated in the charge sheet, a copy of which our correspondent obtained on Thursday, “That you (Sulaimon) on November 5 at Bakare Street, Ikotun, Lagos, bathed Chika Egbo and Sunny Daniel with liquid substance suspected to be acid, to wit; attempted murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 228 (1) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos 2011.”

Magistrate O. Olatunji granted him N500, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate stated that the sureties must be blood relations and must present evidence of tax clearance.

The case was adjourned till December 20.

But, Egbo family lawyer, Mr. Nnabuike Edechime, has berated the police for neither informing him nor any member of the victim’s family that Sulaimon was going to be arraigned.

Edechime said, “Why did the policemen who investigated the case at the State Criminal Investigation Department not inform us? I was informed only after the court hearing.

“They could not even give us the copy of the charge sheet. I was directed to get it at the court.”

The lawyer also expressed surprise that Sulaimon was granted bail.

He said he would have tabled his concern before the magistrate if the police had informed him about the date of the arraignment.

Edechime said, “For this kind of charge, the defendant should not be granted bail, at least not on liberal terms.

“The victim (Chika) is still in danger. Right now, she is at the point of death. What if he (the accused) absconds? God forbid, what if the girl dies?”

Our correspondent visited the Burn Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where Chika is receiving treatment, on Thursday but could not see her because she was being prepared for a second round of surgery.

She had undergone a surgery to remove the dead skin on her body last week .

Her father, Matthew, told PUNCH Metro that his only prayer is to see his daughter get better.But he said he was financially handicapped.

He said, “Even transporting myself here and there and eating is becoming very hard right now. But my relations have been really helpful. They are the ones who have been paying for her treatment.

“Chika has not been able to eat solid food. A pipe was passed through her to allow her breathe.”

Our correspondent also learnt that she had been feeding on liquid nutrient through a drip.

Chika, a student of the Enugu State College of Education, was allegedly bathed with acid by, Sulaimon on November 5.

Their relationship reportedly went sour after Chika gave birth to a girl said to be fathered by Sulaimon.

According to Chika’s father, Sulaimon invited her to Lagos from Enugu under the pretext that his mother wanted to see her and he poured the substance on her on their way to his mother’s home.

The okada rider (Daniel) who took both Sulaimon and Chika on his motorcycle before the alleged attack sustained some burns in the process. By Punch

Buhari loses 40-year-old daugther to sickle cell

Zulai, the first daughter of former  Head of State and a former presidential candidate, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is dead.

She died on  Thursday evening after delivering a baby in Nasara Hospital,Marafa Estate in Kaduna.

Nigerians only got to know the 40-year-old lady after her death.

Zulaiha, who was  born on December 5, 1972, studied at the Department of Economics Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

She left behind Amira, Moh’d and the two-day-old  baby girl.

The former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir el-rufai, said, “May the soul of Zulaihatu, the eldest daughter of General Muhammadu Buhari, rest in perfect peace.”

The spokesman for the Congress for Progressive Change, Rotimi Fashakin, described the death as sad. 

By Punch 

Unprotected sex causes cervical cancer

An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Consultant, Dr. Olaleye Olalekan, has warned women against unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners, saying it causes Human Papilloma Virus, which always leads to cervical cancer..

Speaking at a health awareness seminar on the theme, “Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer,” organised by Lagoon Hospitals in Lagos on Friday, Olaleye said the disease is sexually transmitted and  peculiar to women.

According to him, abnormal menstrual bleeding, bleeding during sexual contact or after menopause remain the symptoms of cervical cancer over the years.

“Human Papilloma Virus, which is responsible for cervical cancer, genital warts and vaginal, vulvar, anal and penile cancers is the most common sexually transmitted disease, infecting about 80 per cent of young women within five years of becoming sexually active. An estimated 630 million women worldwide are infected.

“This virus is spread during sex from contact with the sores, or lesions, that develop around infected cells.

“Often, the virus is killed by the immune system, but in some people HPV can take hold and cause lesions that can turn cancerous years later,” he noted.

Olaleye, however, urged women observing symptoms of HPV to seek medical attention early to avoid complications. He added, “HPV vaccines are always recommended in pre-pubertal girls.

“Also surgery and radiotherapy are other remedies that are suitable for cervical cancer if the victim seeks medical rescue as early as possible.”

Earlier, the Managing Director, Lagoon Hospitals, Ikeja, Dr. Olajide Ojo, stated that the hospital decided to intervene and educate the public on salient health issues due to increasing late presentation of terminal diseases.

Ojo admonished Nigerians to priorities their health and not allow the cost of medi-care  to discourage them from seeking quality care.

“In this country, screening services are readily available and accessible. So, why should our women continue to die of cervical cancer,” he added.

Also speaking on Prostate Cancer, a consultant urologist, Dr. Andrew Mene, said the disease only affect men above 50 years of age but some cases have been recorded in younger men.

Mene noted that though smoking increases the risk of developing the disease, the cause of prostate cancer has not been established.

He noted that prostate cancer is yet to be linked with sexually- transmitted disease. “Most prostate cancer cases are growing slowly. The symptoms include blood in the urine, seizure in urine flow, loss of appetite, weight loss and bone pains.

“Patients with these symptoms must visit medical experts or a hospital on time for either surgery or radiotherapy,” he added. By Punch

Jonathan promises to end Nigeria’s overdependence on oil

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised an end to the nation’s over dependence on oil.

His administration, he said, would do anything possible to diversify the nation’s economy.

Jonathan spoke during a command performance/dinner held at the Presidential Villa in honor of participants of the Abuja National Carnival on Monday.

The President was represented by his deputy, Namadi Sambo, at the event.

As a way of diversifying the economy, Jonathan said the Federal Government would continue to promote sustainable growth in the nation’s tourism and culture sector.

He said the sector was capable of providing economic development, employment opportunities, poverty reduction as well as good returns on investment.

According to him, Nigeria has the potential to be the number one tourist destination in the world.

Acknowledging the support of the private sector for the Abuja national festival, Jonathan promised that government would continue to provide favorable investment climate as well as business incentives to both local and foreign investors in order to boost the economy.

He said, “The laudable dreams that gave birth to the carnival have continued to motivate its annual celebration, anchored on the recognition that there exists a nexus between culture and the economic and technological growth of a nation.

“The Abuja Carnival has proven to be one successful step in directing attention to the untapped huge investment opportunities in Nigeria’s exceptionally rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage.”

In his remarks, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Denzil Douglas, commended President Jonathan and Nigerians for strengthening socio-cultural ties between his country and Nigeria.

He also thanked the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for inviting him to participate in this year’s carnival.

Earlier, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, had expressed the hope that the carnival would contribute to the economic growth and transformation of the nation.

The occasion featured special performances by national troupes from Egypt, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and China alongside selected Nigerian troupes.

Selected from punch

40 gunmen attack Abuja police detention facility

                                                    

Forty gunmen suspected to be terrorists in the early hours of Monday stormed  the office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, where  suspects  were being held.Two policemen and one of the gunmen were killed in the incident, the first of  its kind  in the Federal Capital Territory which had in the past recorded three bomb blasts.

The blasts were  on  October 1, 2010;  June 16, 2011;  and  August 26, 2011.At least 30 detainees, including  some Boko Haram members,  were said to have escaped during the Monday attack on  the detention facility.

But the police denied that terror suspects were among the escapees. They also said that 25 of the 30 detainees had so far been rearrested.

The attack occurred barely 24 hours after twin car bomb blasts at  the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State.

The army authorities had on Friday  declared 19 Boko Haram leaders wanted and offered rewards of between N50m  and N10m for information that could lead to their capture.

A source in the police told one of our correspondents that the surprise attack on the detention facility, located around Abattoir, Garki in  Abuja was carried out around 2am.

It lasted for some minutes during which heavy weapons were allegedly  used by the gunmen. The senior police officer put the number of the attackers at about 40. “The attackers numbering about 40 came from the bush and attempted to overrun the facility but the valiant policemen on duty repelled them.” the source said.

According to him, one of the attackers was killed and two others arrested.

A mobile police officer,  whose name could not be immediately ascertained  and a police Inspector,  Fakat Zaremi,  were killed during the exchange of gunfire.

Emmanuel Domsing, a lawyer, said he was informed early in the morning that his brother, Zaremi,  was killed by the gunmen.

He said, “I was called that my elder brother was killed during the attack, but information is scanty on what actually transpired; the family is waiting for a formal report from the police.”

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, visited the facility around 1pm on Monday. He  was briefed by the SARS Commander and the Federal Capital Territory  Commissioner of Police, Ade Shinaba.

Abubakar, then ordered a high-powered  panel headed by a Senior Police Officer to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Some senior military officers were also said to have paid visits to the facility to commiserate with the police on the attack.When one of our correspondents visited the detention facility, security around the complex was tight as armed policemen turned back all visitors.

A photojournalist with Daily Independent, Jide Oyekunle, was arrested and detained  by the police for attempting to take pictures of the SARS office after the invasion by the gunmen.Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba,  in a statement  said   that about 30 suspects had broken out of their cells and attempted to escape  but  that 25 of them were rearrested through “tactical and coordinated efforts.”

He said, “In the early hours of today, November 26, 2012,  gunmen in large number attacked the premises of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad  of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command. 

Policemen on duty responded swiftly and engaged the gunmen in a gunfire that lasted for some minutes, at  the end of which the gunmen were successfully repelled.

 “However, in the confusion that ensued, about 30 suspects in the detention facility of SARS broke out of the cells and attempted to escape.  Tactical and coordinated efforts to re-arrest the fleeing suspects yielded instant result. So far, 25 of the suspects have been rearrested, while five suspects originally held in relation to robbery  are currently at large.

 “Two policemen died during the operation while two of the attackers have been arrested. It needs to be emphasised here that no suspect held for terror- related charges, escaped from SARS detention facilities. No explosives or IED-related materials were used in the botched attack. “Meanwhile, the IG has personally visited the scene of the incident to asess the situation and has ordered water-tight security around all government and Police-related facilities nationwide.”

The police appealed for calm and assured the public of  their  preparedness to protect  lives and properties.

After the attack, security, which had been relaxed in Abuja following a reduction in bombings was hurriedly beefed up.

At the Villa Junction, near  the Federal Secretariat, about 10 soldiers were seen by our correspondent  checking vehicles plying the area.

Also, many of the gates which were previously manned  by non-uniformed security personnel, were guarded by policemen.Policemen guarding the force headquarters were also  on the alert as they thoroughly searched visitors.Security was also beefed up at the airport road, where soldiers searched vehicles.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, last Thursday had said that inter-agency collaboration helped security agencies to foil a terror attack in the country recently.

The COAS, who  visited the  Force Headquarters in Abuja,  said,”Within the last one week, we have recovered nothing less than 30 assorted weapons; we have recovered money  hidden in the engine  compartment of vehicles by these terrorists.“We have recovered both vehicles prepared for bombing and attacks. So I want to tell you that the military and police are very professional.”

Selected from Punch;