Access Point Network Blog: 01/08/14

Former Aston Villa footballer, Thomas Hitzlsperger, comes out as gay

31year former Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham & German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has come out as gay. But he waited to retire from football before revealing his sexual preference.

Hitzlsperger, who retired in September 2013 due to a knee injury yesterday told a German newspaper

"I'm coming out about my homosexuality because I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards. In England, Italy & Germany being a homosexual is no big thing, at least not in the dressing room"

"The awareness of being gay was a long and difficult process. Only in recent years has it dawned on me that I would prefer to live with another man. I've never been ashamed of my sexuality"

John Fashanu's brother, Justin Fashanu and US footballer Robbie Rogers were the first footballers to come out as gay. Hitzlsperger was probably wise to wait to retire before revealing this to the world.

In a bid to boost safety and security measures in Nigeria's airports, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has acquired Hi-tech three-in-one explosive detectors for 15 out of the 22 airports in the country. The facilities would be capable of detecting liquid, metals and explosives during airport screening.

Announcing this new development yesterday, spokesman for the Aviation Ministry, Mr Yakubu Dati said that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Muritala Mohammed International Airports in Lagos already have the facilities installed, while other airports are in the process of having theirs fully installed. Good news!

Of the 30 honorable members that make up the Sokoto State House of Assembly, 27 of them who came into the house through the PDP flag today renounced their membership of the ruling party and defected to All Progressive Party (APC) which happens to be the state Governor, Aliyu Wammako's party. Governor Wammako in October 2013 defected with four other serving PDP Governors to the APC. The people that defected include Speaker of the Assembly and other principal officers

The lawmakers said they defected because they have been under immense pressure to defect to the APC by members of their constituency since their governor ditched the PDP for APC.

Speaking to Premium Times, the lawmakers said:

"We are moving in line with the decision of his excellency Gov Wammako to also move over to the APC. The PDP umbrella is torn and we have to follow the wishes of our people"

Controversial Lagos miracle pastor Pastor Ofuche Ukoha, popularly known as Dr. Sign Fireman, has been arrested by Lagos police over alleged ritual murder of a 12 year old girl.

Sahara Reporters reports

"Sign Fireman has been implicated in a ritual murder scandal involving a boy in his church who strangled a 12 year old girl while trying to obtain feces from her for ritual purposes.

The disclosure of Pastor Fireman's involvement in the scandal was made by an eighteen year old boy paraded by the police in Lagos. The teenage suspect (pictured above) stated during the parade that he was sent on the ritual mission by Pastor Fireman.

He said he had always dreamt of becoming rich and had approached the pastor personally, after years of attending the church without his own financial miracle happening, Mr. Fireman reportedly told him the way to get his Sign for finance was to get the feces of a virgin girl. The suspect said Pastor Fireman promised him a reward of N100,000 for the assignment.

The suspect narrated how he sought and killed the 12 year old girl simply named "Bose", the daughter of poor lady on his street.

Confirming the incident to a Lagos correspondent this morning, Lagos Police PRO, Mrs. Ngozi Braide said Pastor Fireman was arrested on Tuesday five days after he was declared wanted by the police. She said investigation has commenced regarding his involvement.

She also said the outcome of the investigation would soon be made public.

With his church receiving hordes of miracle seekers every weekend, Pastor Fireman's church auditorium at Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos is reportedly notorious for using semi-nude female ushers.

Former Miss Venezuela 2004 and popular telenovela actress, Monica Spear, 29, and her ex-husband Thomas Berry, 39, were shot dead in their car on a highway in Venezuela by armed robbers in front of their 5 year old daughter on Monday January 6th, local news reports.

Monica and Thomas were traveling with their daughter late Monday night when their car hit a sharp object which had been placed on the Puerto Cabello highway.

The couple came out of their car and dialed for help. While waiting for a tow truck, they saw armed men coming their way and locked themselves in their car. The men, later found to be armed robbers, opened fire through the car window, killing Monica & Thomas and injuring their daughter. Continue

Police in Puerto Cabello say they have arrested five suspects, some of them teenagers. Monica and Thomas officially split two years but remained close and spent holidays together for the sake of their daughter. Monica resided in the US and was in Venezuela on holiday with her ex at the time of the incident.

Monica appeared in a few Telemundo soaps including "Pasion Prohibida" and "Flor Salvaje" while Thomas was a travel consultant who lived in Caracas. He was British.

Their car riddled with bullets...

There were an estimated 24,000 murders in 2013 in Venezuela, making it one of the world’s highest homicide rates. Gun ownership is also high in the country, with an estimated 15 million unlicensed weapons in circulation.

The King of ‘Techno Soukous’, famously known in Nigeria for having notoriously sold out two Stadium Arena shows in Surulere, was in town for the Seventh Edition of the Corporate Elite show. Awilo dazzled the audience with a vibrant performance supported by one of the UK‘s hottest dance groups, CEO dancers; in addition to performing his latest collaboration with Nigeria’s popular R’n’B