Mom charged with assault for defending her daughter against bullies

A mother is facing an assault charge after confronting a bully at her teenage daughter’s school. Morgan Sellers, 14, has been enduring bullying by a group of kids at her middle school since last fall. “It’s been stressful because I never know what name they’re going to call me each day,” Morgan told WHO-HD. “It makes me feel bad about myself, like I’m not good enough.”

Morgan’s mom, Alisha Morton, 31, says she repeatedly complained about the bullying to the principal, teachers, and superintendent of Northview Middle School in Ankeny, Iowa. She was assured that they would take care of the situation. But nothing changed.

The bullying got so bad that Morgan told her mom she wanted to die.

“For my child to come home and tell me that she wants to die because this child is still doing something that I’ve confronted the school and superintendent about, that kills me inside,” Morton said.

It was the last straw. On Jan. 11, Morton went with her daughter to the school to face the student who was bullying Morgan the most — an eighth-grade boy. During the exchange, another student, a ninth-grade girl, allegedly threatened Morton.

“She said, ‘I’m going to beat your ass. Get the hell out of here,"

Morton said. “I said, ‘You’re a child; you’re not involved in this. Sit back down.’”

When the teen girl wouldn’t back off during the confrontation, Morton put one arm out to block her.

The mom says the student then tried to punch her. Morgan came to her mom’s defense, grabbing the ninth-grade girl’s hands to prevent her from hitting Morton. “I told her when I grabbed her hands, ‘You’re not going to hit my mom,’” Morgan said.

The mom was charged with assault “by admittedly shoving the student during a verbal altercation,” the assault complaint says, according to WHO-HD.

Photos from Rita Ora's photoshoot for Lui magazine (18+)

New photos from Rita Ora's photoshoot for Lui magazine shared by photographer Terry Richardson. See the pics below..,

Obanikoro to EFCC: Stop this media trial, publish names of the directors and signatories to the McNamara account

The immediate past Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and a former Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has challenged controversial online platform, Sahara Reporters and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to sincerely publish the names of the Directors and signatories to the alleged Silva McNamara Limited account to the public as at when the said money was paid instead of demonising and deceiving Nigerians with vague, contrived and distorted information.

Obanikoro is appalled by the public political persecution embarked upon by these agencies noting that there is nowhere in the world where investigations are being conducted using the pages of the newspapers.

In a statement signed on Saturday by one of his Media Aide, Mr. Jonathan Eze, it queried the wisdom and logic of bandying figures and associating same with his sons who are thorough bred professionals in their own rights reminding them that the court of law is and remains the judicial institution for trying cases and not whipping sentiments in order to give the dog a bad name and hang it.

The statement opined that Sahara Reporters is propagating these lies and propaganda because of the legal cases against it by the former Minister for misleading the public and defaming his hard earned name and reputation having served the nation in various capacities with enviable untainted records of public service. It urged the EFCC to be straight and above board in their investigations and avoid speculations and conjectures that are infringing on the fundamental human rights of his sons.

The statement reads in parts:" Associating my sons to the Sylva McNamara account that allegedly received funds from the office of the embattled National security Adviser is highly preposterous and unthinkable. "I am particularly amazed by the fact that trials and investigations are being done using the media unconventionally just to satisfy the cravings of political entities who are desperate to rub my hard earned reputation in the mud. " Since the invicinble Sahara Reporters whom I have legal cases against are at the forefront of misleading the public and defaming my person, perhaps rationalizing that I would withdraw pending suits against it, I am using this medium to challenge it and the EFCC to publish in good conscience the signatories and the names of the directors of the said company and to restate that I shall conclusively pursue this injustice and infringements to a logical end., "

Photos: Beyonce stuns in Indian outfit in Coldplay's Hymn For the Weekend video shoot

Beyoncé looked amazing in this Indian attire for a video shoot for Coldplay's Hymn For The Weekend song which he shot in India. More photos after the cut...

Dasukigate: Leadership Newspaper returns its share of N9 million

The management of Leadership Holdings Limited, publishers of Leadership newspapers, has returned the N9m it received from the office of former National Security Adviser through the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria as compensation for the seizure of its publications in June 2014.

In a letter dated January 29 and addressed to the General Secretary of NPAN, the Publishing company owned by former APC Presidential aspirant, Sam Nda-Isaiah, said it decided to return the money following the controversy it has generated.

The company however noted that they did no wrong by collecting the money since the decision to collect the money was reached after former President Goodluck Jonathan reached for an out of court settlement with the affected newspapers.

Leadership will be the second publishing house after The Sun to return the said compensation.

The letter titled "Compensation for illegal seizure of newspapers", was signed by the Group Managing Director of Leadership Newspapers Group Limited, Mike Okpere. The letter reads

“We refer to the above subject matter and enclose herewith a Zenith Bank draft no 08549695 for the sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine million Naira only) being refund of the compensation paid by the Goodluck Jonathan government for the crude and illegal seizure of our newspapers over a period of 5 days by soldiers from the 6th of June to the 10th of June 2014 through the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN). It will be recalled that this was the sum paid to all newspapers which incurred losses as a result of the act which was arrived at when President Jonathan pleaded for an out of court settlement. It has come to our notice that the chairman of Daily Trust, Malam Kabiru Yusuf who was acting president of NPAN/chairman of the meeting held at Mr. Sam Amuka’s guest house in Lagos in December 2015 where it was agreed, after a detailed analysis of the situation that NPAN and the newspapers committed no offence by the out of court settlement and therefore had no reason to refund the compensation, has gone behind the association’s back and directed the Daily Trust to refund money.‎ After such a dishonourable act by the one person under whose direction members of the association all agreed that there would be no need to refund the money, it is our view that it is no longer tenable not to refund. This is particularly more discomforting when it is recalled that the decision to agree to the out of court settlement and compensation was taken at the Abuja office of Daily Trust with Kabiru Yusuf in attendance. It is for this reason that we are refunding the N9 million. But we will like to maintain the general position that neither the NPAN nor newspaper committed any offence. Our chairman has also made it clear that he does not see any situation where LEADERSHIP will be part of any group that will take the current government to court. Therefore we should be counted out of any future decision to seek redress in court on this same matter. After all it is not the government that asked us to refund, it is the treachery of some of our members. Kindly be advised accordingly.”

Phil Collins back with 3rd ex-wife, 8 years after their £25m divorce

Legendary singer Phil Collins, 64, is back with his 3rd former wife, Orianne Cevey, 8 years after he divorced her in one of the most expensive divorce settlements in the UK entertainment world at the time, topping the £24.3m Paul McCartney paid to Heather Mills after their split. He paid Orianne £25m in 2008 in a highly-publicized divorce. 

The couple married in 1999 and had two children. They separated in 2006 and officially divorced in 2008 saying they had "grown apart". But Collins has now revealed they are back together and even living together in Miami with their sons, Nicholas, 14, and Matthew, 11.

Collins revealed he had bought a house in Miami where Orianne and their two children live. He told Billboard magazine: "I'm actually back with my third wife - I haven't really talked about it. We've been together for a while, and nobody's noticed."

The singer is also a father to Joely, 43, and Simon, 39 (with his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. Married from 75-80) and Lily, 26 (with his second wife, Jill Tavelman. Marriage ended in 1994).

Pics: Hennessy launches first ever airport bar in Nigeria at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos

History was made on the 24th of January, 2016 as Hennessy unveiled the first ever Hennessy Airport Bar in Nigeria located at the D-wing, departure hall of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Bar will offer to prospective consumers (who must be 18 years of age and above), in addition to Hennessy products, majority of the Champagne and Spirits brands within the Moet Hennessy portfolio in a most conducive and exquisite setting befitting the high standards that the Hennessy brand is known for.

The bar was created in partnership with a leading Nigerian entrepreneur; Mrs. Adeola Omikunle, CEO of Things Remembered.

In separate interviews with newsmen, the Brand Manager Hennessy & Spirits Portfolio Nigeria; Mr. Lere Awokoya, and the Moët Hennessy General Manager Nigeria; Mr. Paul Auriol described the partnership as a means of providing an avenue for travelers’ relaxation in comfort and style.

With the opening of the prestigious Airport Bar, the Hennessy brand has again set the pace by crystallizing its popular mantra; Never Stop, Never Settle with the unveiling of yet another first-of-its-kind innovation aimed at providing unlimited satisfaction for its esteemed consumers. 

Amber Rose blasts Kanye West on Twitter

Amber Rose had something to say about Kanye West on Twitter yesterday. What she tweeted would make you laff. See what she tweeted below

Beef alert!!! Chioma Akpotha shades Uche Jombo,Emem Isong,Omoni Oboli

Its another beef alert, This time it's Nollywood Actress Chioma Akpotha who threw shade at Uche Jombo,Emem Isong,Omoni Oboli and Ufuoma McDermott and Blessing Egbe, saying sometimes,sisters aren't really sisters and she is moving on!

I wonder what they did to her because Chioma is the very quiet type. See Uche Jombo's reply below

Mother strips son,drags him to school over N5k theft

According to a twitter user who shared this story, she wrote "Happening this morning in Kwale Delta state. A woman stripped her 9 years old son,gave him wounds all over, and brought him to his school to report to his teachers that he stole 5000 naira from her wallet.......did she do well or not?"

Tactics Armed Robbers Now Use In Edo State To Rob Innocent Victims

A gang of armed robbers allegedly led by a female who posed as a nurse, has reportedly snatched an 18-seater Hiace bus belonging to a Benin-based private commercial transport company, Agbonifo Line.

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The female robber who reportedly dressed in nurse uniform, was said to have led other members of her gang in the robbery operation to snatch the vehicle marked DGE 317 XB and chassis No: JTFRX12PV08042624, at gunpoint along the Ekpoma-Agbor road in the state.‎

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the robbers from his hospital bed where he is being treated for injuries he sustained from the robbers’ attack, the driver of the bus, Anthony Nwaosa, said the suspect chartered the bus from the company’s park at Ekpoma, Esan West local government area of Edo state and informed the driver that she wanted to go and convey computers her husband imported from abroad.‎

“I was in Ekpoma at our park between the hours of 10 am and 11am last week Thursday when a lady approached me that she wanted to charter my bus to a village near Agbor. We agreed for a fee of N40,000. I met my manager at Ekpoma to confirm from my MD if I should embark on the trip or not and he agreed.

“So, the following morning (Friday) a bus was sent from Auchi which we used. Shortly after we departed from the park, it occurred to me that I didn’t carry the vehicle’s manifest papers so I asked her to permit me to return to the part to pick it which she obliged.

“During the course of the journey the girl was receiving several phone calls and I specifically asked her what exactly are we going to carry and she said computers which her husband that lives abroad imported. I became suspicious of her because of her conversation on phone as if the person was nearby.

“She later asked me to stop to pick somebody along the road and immediately the caller called her again that we have passed him. She then asked me to park. Only for me to sight about seven armed men from a nearby bush and they demanded the key of the bus.

“They started beating me with the butt of their guns and blocks from an uncompleted building while the girl watched until I couldn’t remember anything that happened again. I only woke up at the hospital here. That is all I can remember,” Nwaosa said.

The Managing Director of the transport Company, Festus Agbonifo, who corroborated the driver’s account, said he suspected foul play between his manager at Ekpoma and the female robber, because, according to him, no receipt indicating the identity of the girl was issued by the company’s manager before allowing the chartered bus to embark on the journey.

Kris Jenner: “Before I Got Pregnant with Kendall I Had a Miscarriage”

Her life appears to be chock full of fame and fortune, but Kris Jenner reveals in a new interview with People magazine that she’s also suffered her fair share of tragedy.

The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star discusses her close friendship with the late Nicole Brown Simpson, noting that she helped her weather the storm of a miscarriage.


Kris shares, “There were some really great precious moments we shared, [ones] that you have when you spend your life with someone… Before I got pregnant with Kendall, I had a miscarriage at three months. Nicole really got me through that. She told me, ‘I promise you’ll get pregnant [again].’” Jenner also states that she gave Kendall the middle name Nicole in honor of her slain friend.

I Won’t Speak On Arms Scandal Now – Jonathan

Former president Goodluck Jonathan has said he won’t be speaking on the current $2.1bn arms scam now because the matter is in court. Speaking at Geneva Press Club on Security, and Development in Africa, the former President said he would not like to comment on the arms probe matter now because his comment could affect witnesses and the judicial proceeding that had been initiated by the current administration.

He said: “I would not like to comment now because the matter is in court. I cannot comment. Definitely, I will speak. My Comment now may affect witnesses and the judicial process.

“When I was President, I tried to build institutions like the Judiciary and separation of power and the electoral bodies. I should not be the one undermining the process.” Continue...

The former President fielded questions on a host of issues such as the Chibok Girls, Boko Haram the economy and corruption and also spoke on why he did not challenge his electoral defeat in court.

Pressed to comment on the huge amounts of money allegedly embezzled by some members of his administration, the former President said: “I have an idea about some of the corruption cases you are talking about. The amount being mentioned in some cases are so huge, sometimes people think I was Nigeria’s President since independence. Sometimes, people just bandy figures. I remember somebody said we lost $49 billion in 18 months.

‘’The same man who made the allegation reduced the figure to 12 billion. I got forensic experts to probe the books of NNPC to ascertain the veracity of the allegation. I even remember asking the German Chancelor who said if that amount of money was missing in her country, it would be a big issue.

‘’The truth of the matter is that if we lose such amount of money within 18 months as the allegation said, the country will collapse.’’

Photos: Modest Bungalow With Lions, Snakes, Leopard & 297 Other Animals Goes On Sale For £600k

This modest two-bedroom bungalow is on the market for what may seem to be a rather steep £600,000. But as well as stunning sea views, a hillside location and permission to expand, it comes with lions, snakes and even a leopard.

Jean and Alan Mumbray, who own the zoo near Borth in West Wales, are planning to retire, so the site and their home is on the market at the moment.

The sale comes with all the 300 animals who call the site their home including a lynx parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, emus, snakes lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises monkeys, marmosets and meerkats.

Jean told Wales Online she was hoping to find new owners who had a passion for animals and would expand the Animalarium.

"Anyone interested in the sale need to have some experience of keeping exotic animals, but not necessarily from a zoo background as the staff are all experienced. I would expect them to have at least some interest or experience and to research what running a zoo actually entails. The staff are invaluable. The zoo keepers will do the actual feeding and daily care, the owners will learn as they go, depending on their past zoo keeper expertise," she said.

Another Calamity Befalls Chibok, As Explosions This Morning Kills 10, Wounds Many

Three bombs have exploded in north-eastern Nigeria's Chibok town, targeting three different places, the BBC Hausa service reports. The first bomb went off at a weekly market while another detonated at a security checkpoint. It is unclear whether the third bomb exploded. 

Reports say the attacks were carried out by suicides bombers which has left 10 people dead and many wounded. 

Militant Islamist group, Boko Haram raided the same town in April 2014, and abducted more than 200 girls who are yet to be released.

Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Abbey Lee Kershaw Pose for Provocative Calvin Klein Spring/Summer Spread

Looking forward to another huge season, Calvin Klein just unveiled a star-studded Spring/Summer 2016 campaign with plenty of eye candy.

Starring Justin Bieber,Kendall jenner and Abbey Lee Kershaw, the new photo shoot was lensed by Tyrone Lebon and includes the #mycalvins slogan.

Calvin Klein CMO Melisa Goldie explained, “This campaign is representative of how culture is evolving as we speak. We’re bringing together a diverse mix of provocateurs with a unique collective of visual artists to create content that sparks and drives cultural conversation.”

                         

Photos: Juliet Ibrahim Stuns In Blue For Trending Interview

The actress stepped out this morning for an interview on trending and was styled by celebrity stylist, Jeremiah Ogbodo of Swanky's signatures styling. More photos below.