Gov. Fashola arrests colonel, sergeant on BRT lane

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday reprimanded two military officers for driving on the dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lane.

The soldiers were accosted on the BRT lane at the Outer Marina on the Island.

Fashola expressed dismay that those who should show discipline and professionalism were the ones violating the BRT regulation.

Colonel K.I. Yusuf drove an Army Green Peugeot 406 with registration number BO1 – 150 NA, while Staff Sergeant A.J. Adeomi drove a black Toyota Camry.

Perhaps realising the problem that could come from being accosted by the governor, Yusuf reportedly alighted from his car and saluted Fashola repeatedly, saying, “I am sorry, very, very sorry.”

But the governor instead asked, “Why, as a senior military officer, did you choose to break the law instead of preserving it?”

The incident was said to have drawn the attention of commuters and other passers-by who reportedly commended the governor for showing good leadership.

Fashola, after the incident, said it was unfortunate that those who ought to be defenders of democratic values were the ones violating the law.

He said, “The highest levels of the military command have continuously expressed their commitment to supporting democracy and to subjecting themselves and their officers to the laws of the country. Those officers that I caught today are a very bad example for the military.”

The governor added that he had complained to the superiors of the culprits, saying they would be sanctioned appropriately.

He said his apprehension of the military men signified his commitment and that of his government that all violators of the law should be sanctioned.

He said, “There is a zero tolerance for lawlessness. There is zero tolerance for breach of our regulations and we are going to do more of this. We are going to take control of our traffic. We cannot build our way out of traffic congestion; our responsibility is to manage traffic and manage congestion.

“I don’t use the BRT lane, I sit down in traffic and I expect everyone who wants to drive his car to do the same. The alternative is to use the bus.

“The passengers in the bus have the right also to use the road and we cannot encroach on that lane which we have reserved for them. This is democratisation of the road and I will defend it.”

Source: PUNCH NEWSPAPER

RONALDINHO LOSES $750,000 COKE DEAL FOR DRINKING PEPSI

All football superstar Ronaldinho wanted to do was quench his thirst when he sipped from a can of Pepsi during a press conference. But that seemingly innocuous gesture revived a longstanding feud between soft drink giants Coco Cola and Pepsi.

According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta-based Coke reacted to Ronaldinho’s two-timing by yanking the Brazilian star’s lucrative $750,000 sponsorship. That’ll teach him to be faithful.

“The fact that the player has appeared with a can of Pepsi was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Coca-Cola marketing chief Marcelo Pontes told the newspaper. “The sponsorship had become embarrassing.”

The press conference was held to promote his new team, Atletico Mineiro, of which Pepsi is a sponsor. Coke’s $750,000 sponsorship deal with Ronaldinho was scheduled to run through 2014.

JACKIE CHAN I'm NOT Quitting Action Flicks Afterall

The mourning period is officially over -- Jackie Chan assures TMZ he is DEFINITELY not quitting action films, despite telling the press a few weeks ago he was axing his action slate to become "the Asian Robert De Niro."

We remember it like it was yesterday ... but in fact it was in May ... Jackie was promoting his new film -- "Chinese Zodiac" -- when he told reporters "This will be my last action movie."

After two months of imagining a world without Jackie beating people up ... some good news finally emerged last night when TMZ caught up with the martial-arts God outside fancy-schmancy Bouchon in Beverly Hills.

We asked Jackie point-blank about his self-proclaimed retirement and he told us, "Nooooooooo. I still do action movie."

So rest easy folks, there's still hope for "Rush Hour: 20."

TOM CRUISE Reunites with Suri

10:45 AM PST: We're told Tom is taking Suri to Chelsea Piers later today for her gymnastics lesson. As for how Tom picked Suri up ... we're told he went to Katie's apartment, but he never saw his soon-to-be ex-wife. He was inside the apartment for less than 5 minutes.

Tom Cruise has reunited with his daughter for the first time since Katie Holmes filed for divorce last month.

Tom wrapped his latest movie shoot and flew to New York City, where we're told he'll be spending several days with his 6-year-old daughter. This pic (above) shows Tom carrying Suri into The Greenwich Hotel.

Sources tell TMZ ... Tom will have no contact with Katie. Suri will be picked up and taken back with the help of intermediaries.

The picture (below) shows Tom's sister, Cass, bearing gifts as she enters the hotel.

We're told Tom is "sad but not bitter" about the way things have gone down. Nevertheless, it looks like there is radio silence between Tom and Katie.

Star Mega Jam organisers slam Rick Ross with $2m lawsuit

American rapper Rick Ross has been hit with a lawsuit for almost $2 million for cancelling his performance at the annual Star Mega Jam in Nigeria last year. Ross, who was set to jet to Nigeria, claimed he had to cancel his appearance following a bout of ill health. In a suit filed early this month, lawyers for U.K.-based promotional company Zons P.R. alleged Ross was paid a deposit of $87,500 to promote their client, Star Lager Beer, during his trip to Nigeria.

The suit adds that bosses at the company tried to reschedule another show where he could complete his promotional work for the brand but negotiations fell through. It added that Ross has so far failed to hand back the money. A statement in the document reads, "In truth and in fact the defendant had no intention of returning said deposit. To date no part of the deposit has been returned."

Killer crocodile sets record as world’s largest in captivity

Lolong, a man-eating beast feared by locals, has set a Guinness Book of World Records mark as the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity. The giant crocodile measures 20.24 feet, weighs more than a ton and was blamed for several deaths before its capture by officials in the southern Philippines town of Bunawan in September, 2011. And while Lolong has brought some tourist dollars into the small town, its capture has also stirred fears that other giant killer crocs might be lurking in the local waters. "There were mixed feelings," Bunawan Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde told the Associated Press. "We're really proud because it proves the rich biodiversity of our place but at the same time, there are fears that Lolong may not be alone." In fact, Elorde says he spotted an even larger crocodile escape when he and about 100 others combined their efforts to capture Lolong. It took a combination of ropes and cranes to bring in the giant crocodile, which was pursued after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. Lolong was named after an official who died of a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to assist in the capture. Since its capture, Lolong has become something of a tourist attraction and is the star of a new ecotourism and research center in the town. And while the park has brought in $72,000 in park fees since Lolong's debut, most of that money goes to feeding and taking care of the crocodile.

Wizkid, Sarkodie, Jay Z, Kanye West Win At 2012 BET Awards

Youngstars Award:

Nigeria's music artiste, Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as Wizkid has won an award as the Best International Act at the 2012 Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards held on Sunday night of July 1. Wizkid won the prestigious awards with his Ghanaian counterpart, Sarkodie yesterday. The show was held The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, USA. It was hosted by veteran Hollywood actor, Samuel L Jackson. Wizkid and Sarkodie won in the Best International Act (Africa) category. The two artistes have been tipped to win the awards before yesterday... 2Face and D'Banj jointly won the BET awards in 2011. Other winners of 2012 awards were Jay Z, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Beyonce and others. Below are some of the winners as at press time. Best Group: The Throne (Jay Z & Kanye West Best Actor: Kevin Hart Best New Artist: Big Sean Best Actress: Best Collaboration: Wale f/ Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb” Best Female R&B Artist: Beyonce Best Gospel: Yolanda Adams Best International Act: Wiz Kid + Sarkodie Best International Act UK: Wretch 32 Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown Best Movie: Best New Artist: Centric Award:Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award: Common Subway Sportsman Of The Year: Kevin Durant Subway Sportswoman Of The Year: Serena Williams Video Director Of The Year: Video Of The Year: