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Nigeria’s inflation rate hits 16.82%

Nigeria’s inflation rose to 16.82% in April 2022, according to recently released Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday May 16. 

Annual food inflation rose to 18.4 percent from 17.2 percent in March, sending the headline rate to 16.8 percent, the highest in eight months. 

The consumer price index, which measures the rate of inflation rose by 16.82% year-on-year in April 2022, which is 0.9% points higher than the 15.92% recorded in the previous month (March 2022). On a month-on-month basis, the headline index increased by 1.76% in April 2022, compared to 1.74% increase recorded in the previous month.

Similarly, the urban inflation rate increased to 17.35% (year-on-year) in April 2022 from 18.68% recorded in April 2021, while the rural inflation rate increased to 16.32% in April 2022 from 17.57% in April 2021.

Food inflation rose to 18.37% in the review month, an increase compared to the 17.2% recorded in the preceding month. This rise in the food index was caused by increases in the prices of Bread and cereals, Food products, Potatoes, yam, and other tubers, Wine, Fish, Meat, and Oils.

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased to 2% in April 2022, up by 0.01% points from 1.99% recorded in March 2022. Also, the average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending April 2022 over the previous twelve-month average is 18.88%, 0.34% points from the average annual rate of change recorded in March 2022 (19.21) percent.

In April 2022, all items inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Bauchi (18.93%), Ebonyi (18.88%), and Akwa Ibom (18.80%), while Sokoto (14.65%), Kwara (15.33%) and Kaduna (15.69%) recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.

In terms of food inflation, Kogi recorded the highest year-on-year increase in the food index with 22.79% in April 2022, Kwara State followed with 21.56%, and Ebonyi (21.45%), while Sokoto (14.85%), Kaduna (15.55%) and Anambra (16.68%) recorded the slowest rise in year-on-year food inflation.

A big rat eats an elderly woman’s face while she was asleep

A 76-year-old pensioner woke up covered in blood after she was mauled by a huge rat.

Diana Kirk, 76, was left with horrific injuries after the rat clawed into her face and neck at her home in Nottinghamshire, England, on Monday, May 9.

Her husband John, 85, found her drenched in blood downstairs in her hospital bed, where she sleeps due to her medical condition. She is looked after by John and a care team who come into the house to help.

John recalls hearing what he believed to be a big rodent “scratching around” by his feet, but said he brushed it aside as it was in the middle of the night.

Then, at around 1.30am, he noticed the sound again, before he fell asleep and woke up as normal just before 6am, reports Nottinghamshire Live.

He went downstairs to check on his wife in their living room at around 5.45am and found her covered in blood.

Diana Kirk, 76

He said he alerted emergency services and waited for an ambulance to arrive at around 8.20am.

He said: “I’ve never seen anything like the injuries she had – you can see how bad they were from the pictures. It was absolutely savage.

“I went and knocked on the door of the young girl over the road as she is also always up early and so she helped. They took Diana to the Queen’s Medical Centre and she came back on Thursday night, May 12.

“There were scratches on her face, her neck, her hands – it had tried to gnaw right through to the bone from the looks of it. There was blood everywhere.”

The next morning, after a neighbour had set up a trap in the house, Mr Kirk says the rat was caught and trapped in a cage.

As he moved it to the patio, Mr Kirk says the rat tried to bite him multiple times. He says a neighbour then killed the rat, shooting it four times with a pellet gun before it eventually died.

“Because of her condition, my wife can’t move,” Mr Kirk said of his wife who is brain-damaged.

“I have since read that rats only ever go for young babies and people who are immobile in bed like my wife.

“She can’t feel pain so she would not have known much about what happened. I would like people to know what can happen and to be aware of it. I found out a couple of days after it happened that it was making a nest in the house.”

Here are the details of new Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro’s contract

Newly-appointed head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, has been handed a one-year short term contract, to take over the Senior Men’s National team, and the details of the contract have now been revealed.


The Nigeria Football Federation, on Sunday, May 15 confirmed Jose Peseiro as the new head coach of the national team.


The Portuguese coach was only handed a 12 months deal, and the deal’s renewal is subject to performance-related clauses according to new reports by OwnGoal Nigeria.


“The 12-month deal is subject to renewal based on performance-related clauses.

It is understood the NFF has given Peseiro a short-term contract, because of their legal battle on payments with former Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr.”


FIFA has already ordered the federation to pay Rohr the sum of $380,000 as compensation for breach of contract.” The report adds.


Peseiro’s first matches in charge will be the friendlies against Ecuador and Mexico in the US.

The NFF Technical Director, Austine Eguavoen, last handled the Super Eagles as Interim Technical Adviser. He led the team to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroun where the team failed to go beyond the Second Round and failed to take Nigeria past the 2022 World Cup African qualifiers playoffs, which Nigeria lost to the Black Stars of Ghana

Blasphemy in Sokoto: Deborah suspected killers remanded in prison

Two suspects in connection with the brutal murder of the 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, have been arraigned by the police.

The suspects – Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi – who are also students of the college, were arraigned before a magistrate’s court in the state on Monday.

According to the Police First Information Report, the suspects were arraigned as a result of the mob action which led to the lynching of the student.

After the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges, the police prosecutor, Inspector Khalil Musa, urged the court for another date to enable the police complete their investigation.

However, the defence counsels led by Professor Mansur Ibrahim, who did not oppose the application, pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail, citing sections 157, 161(a,f) and 164 of the administration of criminal justice law of Sokoto state, as well as 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.The court however adjourned ruling on the application to a later date which would be communicated to the lawyers.

It, therefore, directed the defendants to be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Sweden set to apply for NATO membership

The Swedish government has confirmed it intends to apply for membership of Nato, joining neighboring Finland in a similar decision following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to date.

“There is a broad majority in Sweden’s parliament for Sweden to join Nato,” said the prime minister, Magdalena Andersson. “This is the best thing for the security of Sweden and its people … We are leaving one era behind us and entering a new one.”

Andersson told reporters after a parliamentary debate on Monday that Sweden would be “in a vulnerable position” while the application was processed, but that ministers saw no direct military threat from Russia at present.

Before the announcement, Stockholm had received security assurances from key partners, including the US, Britain, Germany, and France, she said, and on Monday Denmark, Norway and Iceland also pledged support, saying they would “assist Finland and Sweden, by all means, necessary” if they were attacked before obtaining Nato membership.

However, the government “can’t exclude that we will be subjected, for example, to disinformation and attempts to scare and divide us”, Andersson said, adding that if its application was approved, Sweden would not want permanent Nato military bases or nuclear weapons on its territory.

The decisions by the two Nordic governments drew an initial response from Moscow.

Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said the countries “should have no illusions that we will simply put up with it”, calling the move “another grave mistake with far-reaching consequences” and warning that the “general level of military tension will increase”.

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, later said Moscow did not see Finnish and Swedish Nato membership as a direct threat in itself. “Russia has no problem with these states – none,” Putin said.

“And so in this sense there is no immediate threat to Russia from an expansion of Nato to include these countries,” he said. He warned, however, that deployment of military infrastructure on their territories “would certainly provoke our response”.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, also said Moscow would “follow very carefully what will be the consequences” of the Nordic nations’ move “for our security, which must be ensured in an absolutely unconditional manner”.

This comes after the Finnish government confirmed its intention to join Nato on Sunday, shortly before Andersson’s ruling Social Democrats abandoned decades of opposition to back a Swedish bid for membership, making Monday’s Riksdag debate a formality.

Russia has previously advised both countries against joining Nato, saying such a move would oblige it to “restore military balance” by strengthening its defences in the Baltic Sea region, including by deploying nuclear weapons.

Dollar exchanges for N600 Naira !

The dollar exchanged at N600 at the parallel market on Monday  May 16,

In Uyo, currency dealers exchanged the Naira at N595.00 and sold within the range of N596.00 and N600.00 to a dollar, while Abuja black market dealers at wuse zone 4 said the currency was exchanged at N594.00 and sold at N595.00 per $1 on Monday.

According to FMDQ, where forex is officially traded, the Naira which opened trading at N417.30 closed at N421.50 to a dollar at the close of business on Monday, May 16.

The depreciation of the local currency has heightened fears of a further devaluation of the nation’s currency.

Putin’s commandos kill their wounded soldiers – Ukraine claims

Russian army commanders are allegedly slaughtering their own wounded soldiers instead of retrieving them from the battlefield for treatment, Russian soldiers have reportedly said.

According to Ukranian intelligence, captured Russian soldiers accused a lieutenant-colonel of personally shooting dead multiple troops as they lay injured instead of taking them alive to be treated in Russia.


The revelation comes as investigations in the horror town of Bucha revealed 650 civilians were shot rather than hit by shelling in what Ukrain police say proves they were executed by Russian thugs.


Young Russian army intelligence troops captured by the Ukrainians are shown speaking in a new video clip made by Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Zolkin who has chronicled Russian captives.


One soldier in the video told how commanders had ‘finished off their wounded’.


Asked by Zolkin what he meant, the captured Russian said: ‘Just like that…a wounded soldier is lying on the ground, and a battalion’s commander shoots him dead from a gun.’


He explained: ‘It was a young man, he was wounded.

‘He was on the ground. He was asked if he could walk, so he was shot dead with a gun.’


A second soldier said on the video: ‘The most important thing – this wasn’t a single case. The Lieutenant-Colonel was walking around….’


A third soldier then says: ‘He shot four or five like this.’


The second soldier says: ‘They were all young men.’


The third added: ‘They could have been rescued, given help, taken out of there. He simply shot them dead.’

Meanwhile, Russia appears to have started moving nuclear-capable missiles to Finland’s border just a day after the country announced it will bid to join NATO.


Video posted on Russian social media today, May 16 shows trucks carrying Iskander ballistic missiles – which can be tipped with nuclear warheads through the country, reportedly on a highway to Vyborg, on the Finnish border.


‘As soon as the president of Finland said they were joining NATO, a whole division of Iskanders, seven of them… is moving towards Vyborg,’ the video’s narrator says. 


It comes a day after Finland and Sweden announced formal plans to apply for membership of NATO. Russia’s foreign ministry warned today the move is a ‘grave mistake’ and will have ‘far-reaching consequences’.

Disgraced ex. EFCC chief promoted to AIG 10 days before retirement

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has promoted Ibrahim Magu, former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani announced Magu’s elevation to the level of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) on Monday May 16. 

The former EFCC acting Chairman was promoted to AIG alongside seven Commissioners of Police at the 15th Plenary Meeting of the commission on Friday May 13.

Acting DIG John Ogbonnaya Amadi was appointed a substantive Deputy Inspector General of Police, while Zama Bala Senchi was also appointed a Deputy Inspector General of Police.

The Commission also approved the promotion of 23 Deputy Commissioners to the next rank of Commissioners of Police; 31 Assistant Commissioners to Deputy Commissioners of Police and 63 Chief Superintendents of Police promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police.

This is coming months after Magu was arrested, detained, and suspended as the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency after he appeared before a panel probing allegations of gross misconduct against him.

Lionel Messi may return to Barcelona for his son – Lionel Messi’s father says

Lionel Messi’s father has revealed that he would like his son to return to Barcelona at some point.

Recall, the Argentine legend completed a shock move to PSG last August but has failed to hit his top form.

‘I hope it [happens], some day,’ he told Twitch channel Jijantes FC, after being asked about the prospect of his son playing for Barcelona before his career is over.

Messi scored 672 goals in 777 appearances for Barcelona, and his dad, Jorge, remains optimistic that the 34-year-old will play at the Nou Camp again in the future.

Lionel Messi may return to Barcelona for his son - Lionel Messi's father says

Jorge is not the first person to speak out about their desire to see Messi move back to the club he joined as a teenager. 

Messi’s former team-mate Dani Alves called for the playmaker to ‘return home’ to Barcelona last month.

However, it has been reported that PSG plan to keep the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner at the club for another year and build the team around him.

Messi has scored just six Ligue 1 goals this term, but his form has picked up of late as he netted a brace against Montpellier on Saturday.  He has also registered 13 assists in France’s top flight across the course of the campaign. 

Shootings: Here are the victims of the ‘racially motivated attack’ in US

Victims of the Buffalo mass shooting who all lost their lives after a gunman attacked a local supermarket have been identified. 

An 18-year-old white suspect shot 13 people, 11 of whom are Black, in a racially motivated attack on Saturday, police said.

Ten people, all of whom were Black, were killed in a mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, in an attack authorities are calling a “racially motivated hate crime.”

The victims included four grocery store employees as well as six customers, several of them regulars at the store, according to the Buffalo Police Department and those who knew them.

Three others were wounded in the shooting, two of whom have been treated and released from the hospital, police said.

racially motivated hate crime

A “hero” retired police officer and a 77-year-old community leader are among the 10 victims 

Among the lives tragically lost were Ruth Whitfield, 86, who was in Tops Friendly Market after visiting her husband in a nursing home, and Pearl Young, 77, who was described by her loved ones as a woman of faith and a pillar in the community. Young ran a local food pantry for more than 20 years, according to reporter Madison Carr.

Authorities late Sunday identified the victims:

Roberta A. Drury, 32, of Buffalo

Margus D. Morrison, 52, of Buffalo

Andre Mackneil, 53, of Auburn, New York

Aaron Salter, 55, of Lockport, New York

Geraldine Talley, 62, of Buffalo

Celestine Chaney, 65, of Buffalo

Heyward Patterson, 67, of Buffalo

Katherine Massey, 72, of Buffalo

Pearl Young, 77, of Buffalo

Ruth Whitfield, 86, of Buffalo

Zaire Goodman, 20, of Buffalo, was treated and released from hospital

Jennifer Warrington, 50, of Tonawanda, New York, was treated and released from hospital

Christopher Braden, 55, of Lackawanna, New York, had non-life-threatening injuries

Russia is currently Bankrupt – Zelensky

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that victory could be near as Russian forces have become ‘bankrupt’ and are now facing ‘a dead end’ in the war.

During an address on Sunday night, May 15, Zelenskyy said his country is starting to see a potential avenue to victory but that they would not let up in their struggle with Russia militarily or in seeking international support to cripple Russian economically. 

“The occupiers still do not want to admit that they are in a dead end and their so-called ‘special operation’ has already gone bankrupt,” he said. “But the moment will surely come when the Ukrainian people will force the invaders to fully recognize reality.”

On the 81st day of the conflict, Zelenskyy added: “Victory is beginning.”

“This week, as always, there will be a lot of international activity in which I will take part,” the Ukrainian president continued. “The key is weapons and financial support for Ukraine. Finances not only to maintain stability now, but also to begin rebuilding what Russia has ruined.”

Ukraine is also focused on securing an oil embargo against Russia, as Kyiv continues to urge countries to find energy elsewhere.  

“We are also working to strengthen sanctions on Russia. Partners need to make decisions that limit Russia’s ties to the world every week. The occupiers must feel the rising cost of war for them, feel it constantly,” Zelenskyy said.

He added: “No matter how hard Moscow tries to disrupt this decision, the time of Europe’s dependence on Russian energy resources is coming to an end. And that can’t be changed.”

One of our Nollywood stars is dead

Actor Leo Mezie is dead. He died on Saturday, May 14, after a long battle with kidney disease.

The actor who had been battling a Kidney disease, had a transplant last week. However, he began to develop complications. Sadly, he lost the battle on Saturday.

One of Nollywood stars is dead

His colleague, Chioma Toplis, announced his passing on social media this afternoon.

”Actor Leo Mezie is dead. He died on Saturday in Abuja while recovering from kidney transplant. His corpse has been moved to Umuahia his hometown. RIP Leo” she wrote

 May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

Meet Buhari’s most preferred presidential candidate – El Rufai

…’Amaechi funded CPC convention as PDP governor’

A presidential aspirant, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday visited Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and delegates in the state to canvass for support.

There was confusion among the delegates yesterday, as the governor described Amaechi as President Muhammadu Buhari’s loyalist and confidant.

Amaechi said he is young and the most experienced among the presidential aspirants, adding that the presidency required agility of a young man, hence elderly people should go home and rest.

Presenting the Transport minister to the delegates, Governor El-Rufai, who described Amaechi as his own friend and confidant of President Buhari, said the minister won Buhari’s heart in 2011 when as a PDP governor of Rivers State, he funded the convention of Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)

Reminding the delegates of their endorsement of Tinubu, El-Rufai said: “Many people contesting election always say delegates will hardly make heaven, because they don’t keep to promise. But I always say Kaduna delegates are different.”

The governor, as he did during Tinubu’s visit, however, asked the delegates what their answer to Amaechi would be. But unlike the thunderous declaration of support for Tinubu, the delegates murmured.

El-Rufai said: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was here two days ago and you promised him support. Today, here is my friend, my confidant, what are you going to say?

“Many people contesting election always say delegates will hardly make heaven, because they don’t keep to promise. But I always say Kaduna delegates are different. You were in a hurry and didn’t listen to what others aspirants will tell you. Amaechi is here and I told you that the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is also coming after him. Governor Kayode Fayemi is also coming. Also, my big brother who took CPC, Pastor Tunde Bakare, is also coming. As a result of that, you should be prepared and know what to tell them.

“Let me tell you people something. In 2011 when we were in CPC, we were to go to convention and we didn’t have money. Amaechi then was governor of Rivers State under the PDP. I don’t know how he got to know, then he asked how much was needed to hold the convention, and he gave the money. It was the money we used for the 2011 convention.

“Since then, President Buhari asked me to continue talking to him. When they were meeting, thinking of defecting to APC, we used to meet with the seven governors before two chickened out. Amaechi turned his back against his own neighbour, Goodluck Jonathan and said he was going to follow Buhari. He held on to that trust. That was why Daura Emirate gave him that title of Dan Amanan Daura.

“We are followers of Buhari. It is what he tells us that we do. So, here is my friend and Buhari’s loyalist, what are you going to do? You should know, after today’s discussion, there are going to be discussions.

“Others will come too, but who is your friend? Who is your loyalist?

“There was a time when I was in the opposition, the DSS were looking for me, they wanted to arrest me. Amaechi told me where to go and wait for him. I waited and he drove me to the DSS himself and he insisted that I should be questioned and released to him the same day and that was what happened. So, who is my friend? Who is my confidant?

“Now, I am going to ask you people two questions, one you can answer, the other you can choose not to answer. Have we agreed that it is justice that the presidency should go back to the South?”

The delegates replied: ‘Yes.”

“The second one is, Asiwaju came last Thursday, now Amaechi is here, what are you going to say, or are you going to tell me later?” Then, the delegates went into murmuring.

Amaechi said he was one of the youngest of all the presidential aspirants in his party, the APC, adding that “our elders should go home and rest.”

He said, he governed a state that was ravaged at the time with insecurity, but was able to successfully tame the situation and expressed confidence that if elected as president, he would do same in Nigeria.

“I will continue with President Buhari’s agricultural transformation to address hunger,’ Amaechi said, adding that the administration of President Buhari inherited poverty, but had been able to change the situation positively.

“You need to vote for a candidate that will protect and provide for all, regardless of region, religion and tribe. This is what I am promising you.”

“As Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, I was elected Chairman of Nigerian Speakers twice and as Governor, I was also elected Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum twice. It shows I have what it takes to govern. I am asking you not to waste Kaduna votes. Please give me your votes and I will come back to Kaduna to thank you,” Amaechi said.

Kylian Mbappe wins league’s best player award again

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé has claimed the Ligue 1 player of the season award for a third time on Sunday May 15. 

The 23-year-old enjoyed an exceptional season in France’s top flight this season, bagging 25 goals and providing 19 assists as PSG clinched yet another league title.

The Frenchman won the award after beating off competition from Martin Terrier of Rennes, Wissam Ben Yedder of Monaco, Marseille’s Dimitri Payet, and Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

The prestigious award, which was presented by Thierry Henry, saw the Mbappe win for the third consecutive season. 

Mbappe who is out of contract at PSG next month said he didn’t want to announce his decision during the ceremony but added “Yes, pretty much” when asked if he’s made his mind up over whether to stay or go.

In another category, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema won the award for the best French player overseas, and PSG stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma took home the goalkeeper of the year award.

Bruno Génésio won manager of the year for an impressive campaign at Rennes, who remain in the race for a Champions League place after outclassing Marseille last night. He beat Antoine Kombouaré (Nantes), Jorge Sampaoli (Marseille), Julien Stéphan (Strasbourg), and Christophe Galtier (Nice) to the award. 

Nigeria’s electronic transactions grew by N330tr in 2021 – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed that electronic transactions in Nigeria increased by 66 per cent year-on-year to N330 trillion in December 2021 from N198.61 trillion at the end of 2020.

Delivering a keynote address at a conference tagged “The Future of Payments and Fraud: Catching the Next New, organised by BusinessDay in Lagos on Thursday, May 12 the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability CBN, Aishah Ahmad, said that the COVID-19 pandemic changed digitalisation by accelerating the shift to digital image platforms.

Ahmad who was represented by Deputy Director, Banking and Payments System Department at CBN, Taiwo Oladimeji, said;


 “Innovation is acknowledged as an important lever to drive meaningful progress in this direction. While financial inclusion continues to improve in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria has set an ambitious target and that is to achieve means for enabling competition within the fintech sector, which facilitates digital financial services.


Firstly, the need for new innovative players to be identified and licensed in order to bring them within the regulatory limits was highlighted. Also, creation of a framework to understand the markets for new players as more energy will attract opportunities and monitor changes in the monetary transmission mechanism.


The third one is to achieve financial inclusion and democratised access to quality, affordable and cost effective financial services for all Nigerians by resolving the challenges related to identity management, neutral financial access points into operability of payment systems, electronic payments, and open banking among others”.

Drug Barons and mules arrested by NDLEA in Lagos

Fresh bids by drug cartels to export Tramadol, Ecstasy MDMA and Cannabis to Milan, Italy and Dubai, United Arab Emirates through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have been foiled by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, who also seized 203, 879 tablets of various pharmaceutical opioids and illicit substances in raids across Abia, Kaduna, Yobe and Kogi state.

Director, Media & Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday May 15, said a female passenger, Odia Emiliana Efe was arrested at the Lagos airport, on Monday May 9, while trying to board Royal Air Moroc flight from Lagos via Casablanca to Milan, Italy with 1000 tablets of Tramadol 200mg concealed in food items.

Five days after, Friday 13th May, a freight agent Kareem Ibrahim was arrested at the SAHCO cargo shed of the airport for attempting to export food items in which were hidden blocks of cannabis weighing 6.65kg and 24grams of ecstasy drug, MDMA to Dubai in UAE.

In Abia, three trucks loaded with drugs coming from Lagos and Onitsha, Anambra were intercepted in Aba, Abia state. When properly searched in the presence of the owners on Wednesday 11th May, 67,100 tablets/capsules of Tramadol and 12,650 ampules of pentazocine, morphine and dopamine were recovered.

On the same day, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna arrested a notorious drug dealer, Shehu Kabiru a.k.a Dan-Zaira, wanted by the Kastina Command of the Agency for jumping bail. Recovered from him include: 45,000 tablets of Diazepam weighing 41.5kg; 50,000 tablets of Exol, weighing 15.6kg; 1,500 tablets of Rohypnol weighing 700 grams and 300 bottles of codeine weighing 41.5kg.

In Yobe state, no fewer than 7,029 tablets of Tramadol, D5, and Exol as well as 1.5kg cannabis were recovered from a drug dealer, Ibrahim Yakubu when his hideout was raided in Unguru town on Sunday 8th May, while in Rivers state, one Chekiri Richard Obomanu was arrested at Eleme area on Wednesday 11th May with 207.2kg cannabis.

No less than 19,600 tablets of Tramadol coming from Onitsha, Anambra state to Abuja were intercepted and recovered along Okene/Abuja highway on Wednesday 11th May by NDLEA operatives in Kogi state.

Meanwhile, five members of a syndicate, which conducts fake recruitment into security agencies, have been arrested in coordinated operations in Zamfara, Kebbi and Bauchi state. Leader of the gang, Yakubu Sani was first arrested in Gusau, Zamfara state. His criminal gang issues fake NDLEA employment letters and identity cards to unsuspecting members of the public for the sum of N400, 000 per person.

A follow up operation in Zuru, Kebbi state led to the arrest of another gang member, Ibrahim Isah, while three others; Dahiru Musa Limanchi, Gambo Danladi and Umar Abubakar were nabbed in Bauchi state. Recovered from them include: a fake NDLEA ID card; NDLEA guarantor form; INEC offer of appointment letter; Nigerian Customs Special Replacement Form and appointment letter; Nigerian Correctional Service Replacement Form; Credentials of some Applicants; Receipts and passport photos; Five sim packs and one MTN SIM card.

Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Abia, Kaduna, Yobe, Rivers and Kogi for the arrests and seizures.

He equally acknowledged the well-conducted operations in Zamfara, Kebbi and Bauchi that nailed five members of a criminal gang scamming innocent job seekers with fake employment letters.

He charged them and their compatriots across all Commands not to rest on their oars but should continue to aspire to beat previous records.

NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies
NDLEA intercepts Italy, Dubai-bound drugs at Lagos airport, busts syndicate behind fake employments into security agencies

Alert! Hackers can unlock and steal your vehicles – NCC says

The Nigerian Communications Commission has raised an alarm of hackers now being able to unlock and steal vehicles.

In a statement released on Sunday May 15, by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the commission said the ongoing cyber-vulnerability allows a nearby hacker to unlock vehicles, start their engines wirelessly and make away with cars.

Car owners have been asked to reset their key fob at the dealership and also store their key fobs in signal-blocking ‘Faraday pouches’ when not in use.

The statement read; 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) wishes to alert telecom consumers and members of the public about an ongoing cyber-vulnerability that allows a nearby hacker to unlock vehicles, start their engines wirelessly and make away with cars.

The fact that car remotes are categorized short range devices that make use of radio frequency (RF) to lock and unlock cars informed the need for the Commission to alert the general public on this emergent danger, where hackers take advantage to unlock and start a compromised car.

According to the latest advisory released by the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), the Cybersecurity Centre for the telecom sector established by the NCC, the vulnerability is a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack or, more specifically, a replay attack in which an attacker intercepts the RF signals normally sent from a remote key fob to the car, manipulates these signals, and re-sends them later to unlock the car at will.

With this latest type of cyber-attack, it is also possible to manipulate the captured commands and re-transmit them to achieve a different outcome altogether. “Multiple researchers disclosed a vulnerability, which is said to be used by a nearby attacker to unlock some Honda and Acura car models and start their engines wirelessly. The attack consists of a threat actor capturing the radio frequency (RF) signals sent from your key fob to the car and resending these signals to take control of your car’s remote keyless entry system,” the advisory stated emphatically.

However, the NCC-CSIRT, in the advisory, has offer some precautionary measures or solutions that can be adopted by car owners to prevent falling victim to the attack.

According to the cyber-alert unit of the Commission, “When affected, the only mitigation is to reset your key fob at the dealership. Besides, the affected car manufacturer may provide a security mechanism that generate fresh codes for each authentication request, this makes it difficult for an attacker to ‘replay’ the codes thereafter. Additionally, vulnerable car users should store their key fobs in signal-blocking ‘Faraday pouches’ when not in use.”

Importantly, car owners in the stated categories are advised to choose Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) as opposed to Remote Keyless Entry (RKE), which would make it harder for an attacker to read the signal due to the fact that criminals would need to be at close proximity to carry out their nefarious acts.

The PKE is an automotive security system that operates automatically when the user is in proximity to the vehicle, unlocking the door on approach or when the door handle is pulled, and also locking it when the user walks away or touches the car on exit. The RKE system, on the other hand, represents the standard solution for conveniently locking and unlocking a vehicle’s doors and luggage compartment by remote control.

Additionally, in a related advisory, the NCC, based on another detection by CSIRT,  informed the general public about the resurgence of Joker Trojan-Infected Android Apps on Google Play Store.

This arose due to the activities of criminals who intentionally download legitimate apps from the Play Store, modify them by embedding the Trojan malware and then uploading the app back to the Play Store with a new name.

The statement added;

The malicious payload is only activated once the apps goes live on the Play Store, which enables the apps to scale through Google’s strict evaluation process. Once installed, these apps request for permissions that once granted, enable the apps to have access to critical functions such as text messages and notifications.

As a consequence, a compromised device will subscribe unwitting users to premium services, billing them for services that do not exist. A device like this can also be used to commit Short Messaging Service (SMS) fraud while the owner is unaware.

It can click on online ads automatically and even use SMS One Time password (OTPs) to secretly approve payments. Without checking bank statements, the user will be unaware that he or she has subscribed to an online service. Other actions, such as stealing text messages, contacts, and other device data, are also possible.

To avoid falling victim to the manipulation of hackers deploying Joker Trojan-Infected Android Apps, Android users have been advised to avoid downloading unnecessary apps or installing apps from unofficial sources. The NCC also wishes to advise telecom consumers to ensure that apps installed from the Google Play Store are heavily scrutinized by reading reviews, assessing the developers, perusing the terms of use and only granting the necessary permissions.

Conclusively, the NCC recommends that unauthorised transactions be checked against any installed app. Indeed, any apps not in use should be deleted while users are also advised to ensure that a device is always patched and updated to the latest software.

See Full list of winners – AMVCA 2022

The 2022 Edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCA, took place on Saturday night, May 14  in Lagos.

The event was hosted by IK Osakioduwa and South African media personality, Bonang Matheba.

Actress, Osas Ighodaro beat her colleagues Bisola Aiyeola and Bimbo Ademoye to clinch the Best Dressed Female award, while Media personality, Denola Grey beat actor, Deyemi Okanlawon and Ghanaian actor Mawuli Gavor to win the Best Dressed Male award.

See the full list of winners for AMVCA 2022 below:

Best actress in a comedy – Funke Akindele Bello (Omo Ghetto: The Saga).

Best actor in a comedy – Samuel Perry ‘Broda Shaggi’ (Dwindle).

Best supporting actress – Omowunmi Dada (Country Hard).

Best supporting actor – Odunlade Adekola (Jankariwo).

Best actress in a drama – Osas Ighodaro (Rattlesnake).

Best actor in a drama – Stan Nze (Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story).

Best short film or online video – Taiwo Ogunnimo (I am the prostitute Mama described).

Best Indigenous language (Yoruba) – Alaise – David Akande, Demola Yusuf, Edgard Leroy.

Best indigenous language (Hausa) – Voiceless – Rogers Ofime

Best Indigenous language (Igbo) – Nne-Ka – Uche Nnanna Maduka.

Best Indigenous language (Swahili) – Obambo (Freddy Feruzi).

Best art director (Movie or TV Series) Tunji Afolayan – Amina

Best costume designer – Millicent T. Jack (Amina).

Best lighting designer – Matthew Yusuf (Nneka the pretty serpent).

Best picture editor: Tunde Apalowo (Maria Ebun Pataki).

Best sound editor: Jim Lively and James Nelson (Amina).

Best sound track – Pascal Aka, Raquel – Gold Coast Lounge

Best Makeup – Balogun Abiodun ( Omo Ghetto The Saga).

Best Writer: Oiseomaye, Donald Tombia, Biodun Stephen (Introducing the Kujus).

Best Cinematographer: Muhammed Atta Ahmed (Rattle Snake).

Best movie Southern Africa: Hairareb – Dantagos Jimmy Melani.

Best movie East Africa: The Girl In The Yellow Jumper – Morocco Omari

AMVCA 2022

                             Osas Ighodaro 

AMVCA 2022

                                      Bisola Aiyeola 

AMVCA 2022

                                                 Bimbo Ademoye 

AMVCA 2022

Denola Grey

AMVCA 2022

Deyemi Okanlawon 

AMVCA 2022

                              Mawuli Gavor 

One of the Deborah’s killers has disappeared, he is from Niger Republic – Police

Sokoto police command have categorized one of the suspects in the gruesome killing of Deborah Samuel as a foreign intruder from the neighbouring Niger Republic.

Officials said the suspect could not be traced in the metropolis despite being captured on camera bragging about his role in the murder and burning of the 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education.

“We started looking for him immediately we saw his video on social media because he is fundamental to our investigation,” a top police source told Peoples Gazette. “We are now learning that he is not even a Nigerian but only came in illegally from Niger Republic to cause chaos in our country.”

The official said Interpol might be enlisted to help arrest the suspect, even though many officers still hold that the suspect is a Nigerian and remained within the country’s borders.

“Some officers are saying he is a Nigerian and we need additional time to find him,” our informant said. “We have no facial recognition database, but we are following all available intelligence on the matter.”

The police have already announced that two suspects have been arrested for the murder.

On Saturday, violence erupted across the metropolis after Islamic extremists stormed the palace of the Sultan to demand the release of suspects from custody. The main Catholic secretariat in Sokoto was attacked during the rampage.

Teen opens fire at New York supermarket, kills 10 people

A heavily armed 18-year-old white man shot 10 people dead on Saturday at a Buffalo, New York grocery store in a “racially motivated” attack that he live-streamed on camera, authorities said.

The gunman, who was wearing body armor and a helmet, was arrested after the massacre, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told a news conference.

Reports put the toll at 10 dead and three wounded. Eleven of the victims were African Americans.
The gunman shot four people in the parking lot of the Tops supermarket, three of them fatally, then went inside and continued firing, Gramaglia said.

Among those killed inside the store was a retired police officer working as an armed security guard.

Prophet Muhammad didn’t kill anyone that insulted him while alive – Gumi says

ontroversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has faulted those of the school of thought that killing is the punishment for blasphemy, saying Prophet Muhammad never killed for blasphemy during his time despite insults from his critics.

Gumi stated this during his religious teaching class in his Kaduna Juma’at mosque, according to PRNigeria.

He said if the Prophet refrained from killing or attacking his tranducers and those who blasphemed him while alive, those killing for the same offence have no justification for their actions.

The Kaduna based scholar made the clarification in a video clip obtained and translated by PRNigeria while reacting to the killing of a female Christian student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State over blasphemous statement.

“If we think by killing Deborah, people who are not of the same faith with us will stop insulting our prophet, then we are in delusion,” PRNigeria quoted him as saying.

The cleric added that rather than kill for blasphemy, Muslims in the country must strive to showcase the beauty of their religion by coexisting with non-Muslims and show how beautiful the Prophet lived by adhering to his teachings on how to live peacefully with others.

While condemning resort to extra-judicial killings, Gumi reiterated that Nigeria is a secular state and religious law cannot be used in countries like Nigeria.

Putin may have lost 1/3 of his soldiers in Ukraine – British MoD

Russia may have lost a third of the invasion force it sent into Ukraine as its offensive continues to struggle in the face of stiff resistance, British military intelligence has said.

In its latest assessment, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Russian campaign in the east of Ukraine had “lost momentum” and was now “significantly behind schedule”. At a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Berlin, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said it was essential to maintain support for the government in Kyiv to help it “push Russia out”.

She said in a statement: “(President) Putin must face a sustained defeat in Ukraine, Russia must be contained and such aggression must never happen again.

“Ukraine’s security must come from it being able to defend itself. Allies must support Ukraine’s move to Nato-standard equipment, immediately providing artillery, training and the required expertise.”

Nato deputy secretary-general Mircea Geoana said the Ukrainians were now in a position to defeat the Russians and win the war. “The brutal invasion of Russia is losing momentum,” he told reporters.

“With significant support from allies and partners in billions of dollars, in military support, in financial support, humanitarian support, we know that with the bravery of the Ukrainian people and army and with our help, Ukraine can win this war.”

The Russians switched the focus of their offensive to the eastern region of the Donbas – which was already part-held by pro-Moscow separatists – after their advance on Kyiv was driven back. However the MoD said despite small-scale initial advances, they had failed to make any substantial territorial gains over the past month while suffering “consistently high levels of attrition”. It said the offensive was being further hampered by the loss of “critical enablers” such as bridging equipment and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones.

“Russia has now likely suffered losses of one third of the ground combat force it committed in February,” it said. “Russian forces are increasingly constrained by degraded enabling capabilities, continued low morale and reduced combat effectiveness.

“Many of these capabilities cannot be quickly replaced or reconstituted and are likely to continue to hinder Russian operations in Ukraine. “Under the current conditions, Russia is unlikely to dramatically accelerate its rate of advance over the next 30 days.”

Breaking News: Innoson oil & gas LTD discovers 8 trillion cubic gas in Sierra Leone basin

With estimated recoverable resources of 8.2 TCF and 234 MMbbl of gas and condensate respectively, the Ryder Scott Company, has confirmed Innoson Oil & Gas Ltd.’s own findings from a rigorous hydrocarbon exploration campaign it’s been engaged in, in Sierra-Leonean basin since 2020.

A recently concluded independent third party evaluation, by the Ryder Scott Company, revealed an SPE-PRMS P50 estimated unrisked gross prospective recoverable resources of 8.2 TCF and 234 MMbbl of gas and condensate respectively, attributable to the Innoson Oil & Gas (IOG) concession offshore Sierra Leone.

IOG was awarded nine graticular provisional blocks in May 2020. The following year, the parliament of Sierra Leone ratified a petroleum exploration and production license in favor of IOG as confirmed in a letter of conveyance to IOG in April 2021.

The Sierra Leonean basin has a working petroleum system, corroborated by oil deposits encountered during previous exploration activities amongst others by Anadarko, Repsol, and Tullow Oil that achieved the Venus B1 discovery and Mercury wells.

According to Martin Nweke (IOG’s Administrative Director), boldness, and the willingness to deploy unconventional but performant technological ingenuities and people, constitute foundational propositions that drove the campaign of the industry novice.

With cost, time, and precision quintessential, IOG exploration team, led by Dr. Andrey Sergeev (Project Director & Chief Geologist) deployed ab initio, robust earth remote sensing (ERS) method for basin reconnaissance.

Assessment of gathered ERS data pre-informed the choice and number of graticular blocks in IOG extant acreage. The so determined ERS acreage pre-knowledge reduced the need for 2D & 3D seismic- and well-data to target only prospective anomalous zones in the contract area.

The development opportunity is currently being appraised. Asset evaluation, a field development plan, and the setup of a data room are vigorously pursued with the immediate objective to engage a farm-in partner; ideally, with the financial strength, technological and management competencies to accomplish joint discovery, development, and production.

IOG has a 100% working interest on the prospect with a 10% carried, plus an optional 5% paid interest(s) for the state of Sierra Leone. Attractive fiscal and tax regimes by the state of Sierra Leone offer a flexible so robust environment for a big take.

She killed a little girl that she wanted to ‘adopt’

A former contestant and winner of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, Ariel Robinson has been found guilty of homicide by child abuse for beating her 3-year-old foster daughter to death. 

The verdict came at the close of a four-day trial that ended with Robinson taking the stand and testifying.

Robinson, 30, was sentenced on Thursday May 12 to life in prison. Letitia Verdin was the judge in the case.

Robinson’s foster daughter, Victoria Rose Smith died on Jan. 14, 2021 at the age of 3. An autopsy revealed the child died due to blunt force injuries and internal bleeding. The food network star was charged with homicide by child abuse just days after Victoria Rose’s death.

Robinson’s husband Jerry was also charged but pleaded guilty to homicide by child abuse. According to a police report, he claimed that he witnessed his wife lose her temper and beat the child on several occasions without interfering, though he said he didn’t agree with her punishment methods.

Jerry was the one who made the 911 call in the case, but lied to operators and paramedics about what happened to the child.

As for what happened the day the incident occurred, Jerry said his wife allegedly beat the girl after getting frustrated with her earlier in the night. “By the time I walked inside, it was as if nothing was going on,” he reportedly said. As for what triggered the beating, he claimed Victoria had thrown up on herself the previous day while the family was on their way to church. 

Video footage shown during the trial showed that Victoria left the church the day she threw up in just undergarments. He says his wife became even more frustrated when she alleged the 3-year-old wouldn’t eat her pancakes fast enough the following morning. 

The couple was in the process of adopting the little girl and her brothers and, according to authorities, the hearing to finalize the adoption was scheduled for just days after she was killed. 

Robinson’s family was seen leaving the courtroom in tears. A loud wail was also heard from one of the family members. Victoria’s biological family was present during the sentencing and spoke, saying the verdict was the justice they were looking for. The prosecution showed a photo of Victoria and her biological siblings during the trial. 

During the trial, autopsy images and body camera footage from the day in question were shown. “We’re just here as representation for Victoria. She was loved,” one prosecutor said. Robinson reportedly took no responsibility for the crime.

Airel, a former teacher, won $25,000 upon winning the Food Network competition, which pits amateur cooks against each other in a series of cooking challenges overseen by celebrity chefs. 

Episodes of her season are no longer available to stream on Food Network’s online platforms, including Discovery+, Hulu and YouTube.

Nigerian Govt. launches mobile app (NISPSAS)for sending crime alerts to security agencies

The federal government has launched a mobile app for sending crime alerts to security agencies. 

Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior who spoke at the launch of (NISPSAS) mobile application at the ministry’s headquarters on Thursday May 12, said many attacks would have been foiled if the security agencies had been notified in real time. 

He expressed hope of the mobile app bridging the gap of communication between Nigerians and security agencies. 

Aregbesola noted that the application is free to use for Nigerians and can be downloaded on the Android or iOS playstore.

He said; 

“One noticeable lacuna is information and timely alert of the security agencies to incidents of crimes, breach of security, and natural disasters before they happen or while they are going on. In most cases, they would have been prevented or mitigated if the alert had come in time.

“As part of the response to this challenge, the ministry of interior has therefore developed an application, a technological innovation that works with the smart mobile phone or any other device with Android or IOS capability, to send alerts to all security agencies in real time.

“The initiative is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s policy of making the security of lives and property of Nigerians a priority.

“It is also part of the objective of leveraging on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in doing government business and operations.

“The app utilises a combination of audio-visual and geospatial location identification of the caller and scenes of incidents on the ministry inter-agency situation room (MISR).

“It also works on the command and control centres, dashboards of the four services, that is, immigration service, correctional service, federal fire service, civil defence as well as police headquarters for joint inter-agency operations.”

Arsenal lost 3-0 to Tottenham: Mike Arteta blames referee

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has insisted that the Gunners are still in the top four race of the Premier League despite losing 3-0 to Tottenham.

Two goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-min’s second-half effort on Thursday night, May 12, reduced the hopes of Arsenal clinching top four with both teams separated by just one point.

But Arteta says there’s still hope and he doesn’t blame his players but rather the referee Paul Tierney .

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “I have already picked them up (referring to his players).

“This game is history and all our focus is Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle. I told them I was so proud of them and if we do what we did in the first half an hour here, we will be fine against Newcastle.


“I worry a lot about today. I really, really worry about today, but I don’t worry about the performance of my players. I want to be where we deserve to be.”

In another interview with Sky sports, he said;

“If I say what I think I am suspended for six months,” 

 “I don’t know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. I cannot say what I think.

“I want the referees to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. It’s a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed today.


“I am not unhappy with my players. I am proud of my players. The decision was made. We can’t change it. The referee has to make a decision in football.”

Groom and Bride set themselves on fire during wedding (video)

A newlywed couple shocked their guests when they set themselves on fire during their wedding send off.

Ambyr Bambyr and Gabe Jessop, who are professional stunt artists, treated their guests to a “Hunger Games”-style wedding ceremony.

After their reception, they exited in flames, just like Suzanne Collins’ character Katniss does in Hunger Games.

The couple donned fire-proof gowns and suits and anti-burn gel, before walking onto the field with burning flames on their back.

Ambyr holds her bouquet up like the Olympic torch, while husband Gabe waves to their guests.
In a video taken by one of their guests, Russ Powell, he joked: “Ambyr and Gabe met on set, their wedding exit makes sparklers look boring.”

Some were surprised the couple’s hair and skin didn’t get burned and Russ replied to them: “They both had anti-burn gel in their hair and face, then Ambyr had a wig on top.

“Remember, these are trained professionals, don’t try this at home.”

Watch the video below.

@djrusspowell

Ambyr & Gabe met on set. Their wedding exit makes sparklers look boring 🔥

♬ He’s a Pirate & Jack Sparrow (From “Pirates of the Caribbean”) – David Solís

Musk puts $44 billion Twitter acquisition deal ‘temporarily on hold’

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk has put his deal to buy Twitter on hold, albeit temporarily.

The Tesla CEO took to Twitter early Friday, May 13 to announce that he is pressing pause on his $44 billion-takeover of the social media platform.


“Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users,” he wrote

Twitter

The early morning tweet sent Twitter stock tumbling about 23% in pre-market trading while shares of Musk’s Tesla Inc. climbed about 5%.

2023 Elections: Buhari Has A Preferred Presidential Candidate – Adesina says

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said his principal has a favorite candidtae to succeed him in 2023, but will not mention the person.

Adesina made the revelation during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

Adesina, who said he is not card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), touched on ASUU strike, and how eager the president is to resolve the issue.

Adesina said, “In a previous interview when the president was asked whether he had a favorite candidate, he answered yes; but he will not mention him because mischief may happen to that person.

“That shows you that the president himself is interested in the process and he has a preferred candidate; but whether he will impose his candidate is what you can no determine at the moment.

However, Adesina said that going by the president’s recent directive that political appointees should resign before May 16, the president may decide to fill certain position if some ministers resign.

24-year-old bags 7 years in Prison for trafficking young girls to Mali for sexual exploitation

A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has sentenced a 24-year-old woman, Mercy Sese, to 7 years in prison with the option of N4.5m fine for trafficking young girls to Mali for prostitution. 

The presiding judge, Justice AbduDogo  sentenced the accused on Wednesday, May 11, after she pleaded guilty to a 7 count charge preferred against her for the offence of organizing foreign trips for young girls to Mali for sexual exploitation. 

The offence contrary is to sections 18, 27 and 29 of the Trafficking in persons (Prohibition) enforcement and administration act 2015.

Tori Media had reported that the Makurdi Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, NAPTIP, arrested Sese at a popular motor park in Makurdi earlier this year. 

24-year-old bags 7 years in Prison for trafficking young girls to Mali for sexual exploitation

Makurdi Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Gloria Bai, said huge sum of money including foreign currencies were recovered from Sese. 

“The Command in the early hours of Friday, January 7, 2022, received a call from a concerned citizen from Duku Motor Part at Wurukum Makurdi, who alerted the command of a suspected case of human trafficking involving seven ladies of which one is the suspected trafficker,” she stated. 

“Officers of the command arrived at Duku Motor Park some few minutes after receiving the call and met the six ladies and the suspected who said they were all travelling to Lagos

“The victims were between the ages 16 – 24 years by facial analysis. At the time of the arrival, the Nigerian police were also on the ground because they were also called on the matter

“About N500,000 was found on the suspect alongside some foreign currencies indicating that the victims were to be moved to a destination outside the country yet to be determined

“The ladies were all moved to the office of the Nigeria Police in the company of the officers o NAPTIP and the police are carrying out preliminary investigation for onward transfer to NAPTIP for future investigation and possible prosecution.”

24-year-old bags 7 years in Prison for trafficking young girls to Mali for sexual exploitation
24-year-old bags 7 years in Prison for trafficking young girls to Mali for sexual exploitation

Deborah Samuel: See as they killed her & listen to her voice note that got her killed (transcripts, video and audio)

The purported reason Deborah Samuel, the female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto was killed and her body burnt by a mob today has been revealed.

According to Twitter users, Deborah had shared a voice note on her class Whatsapp group in which she challenged her colleagues who were posting religious information there. \

She spoke in Hausa, however, according to a Twitter user who did the translation, Deborah was quoted to have said;

“Holy Ghost Fire, nothing’s going to happen to me, you should know what to be sending to this group, it’s not that the group was created to be sending nonsense, the group was created for posting things like, test assignment e.t.c. not the nonsense you are posting, no be only prophet, you are coming to play on me.” The nonsense she referred to is the religious posts.”

Deborah Samuel: Listen to her voice note that got her killed (transcripts and audio)

Her comments were said to have irked some of her colleagues who felt she disrespected Prophet Mohammed, and threatened to deal with her. When the tension was high, the school authorities took her to the security room to give her some protection. However, the enraged students overpowered the security officers, dragged Deborah out, and beat her until she died before setting her corpse on fire.


Listen to the voice note below

Philippe Coutinho leaves Barcelona and signs for Aston Villa

Philippe Coutinho has made his stay at Aston Villa football club of England permanent after he signed a contract that keeps him at the club until 2026.

Coutinho, 29, joined from Barcelona on loan after Steven Gerrard his former teammate at Liverpool who is now Villa’s manager convinced the Brazilian to the West Midlands club.


With his impressive displays Aston Villa has now agreed to sign the forward.

Philippe Coutinho leaves Barcelona and signs for Aston Villa


Villa announced the development on its website, writing, “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee.


“The Brazilian playmaker has signed a contract until 2026.


“After initially signing on loan from the Catalan giants in January, Coutinho made an immediate impact at Villa Park with some outstanding performances. He has scored four goals and contributed three assists to date.”


Head Coach Steven Gerrard said: “This is a brilliant signing for Aston Villa. Phil is a model professional and his impact on the group has been very clear since he joined in January.

 
“With the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he’s also a valuable role model for our younger players who can only benefit from his experience.


“As we look to build towards next season, it is incredible to work at a club that executes its business so decisively and smoothly.”

Russia threatens Finland again

Russia has threatened Finland with consequences if the Nordic nation goes ahead to join Transatlantic military alliance, NATO.


Finland’s president and prime minister, Sauli Niinisto announced support for joining NATO on Thursday, May 12 moving the country a step closer to joining the US-led military alliance.

 
Finland shares a 800-mile border with Russia and one of the reasons Russia gave for invading Ukraine was to stop Ukraine, a close neighbor of Russia from joining NATO.

In the joint statement, Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Marin said: “NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”


The Kremlin responded by saying the move would be a threat to Russia and warned of possible retaliation.

 Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the Finnish statement marked a “radical change in the country’s foreign policy” and warned of countermeasures.


“Helsinki must be aware of the responsibility and consequences of such a move,” 


Finland’s possible accession to NATO would cause serious damage to bilateral Russian-Finnish relations, which are maintaining stability and security in the Northern European region, the ministry said.


“Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop the threats to its national security that arise in this regard,” it said.


Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also said that Finland joining NATO would not contribute to more security.


“As we have said many times before, NATO expansion does not make the world more stable and secure,” Peskov told reporters. He added that Russia’s reaction would depend on NATO activity near its borders.


“It will depend on what this expansion process will entail, how far and how close to our borders the military infrastructure will move,” Peskov said.


Peskov also told reporters on a regular conference call that: “Everyone wants to avoid a direct clash between Russia and NATO: both Russia and NATO, and, most importantly, Washington.” He added, however, that Russia will be ready to give “the most decisive response” to those who would try to get involved in the country’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Two teenagers will be tried as adults for killing their teacher

Two Iowa teenagers accused of killing their Spanish teacher will be tried as adults.

A judge rejected their requests to move their cases to juvenile court this week.

Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller will each face a first-degree murder charge for allegedly beating to death Fairfield High School teacher Noheme Graber, 66, on Nov. 2, 2021, when both suspects were 16 years old.

Willard Miller2

District Judge Shawn Showers rejected Goodale’s and Miller’s requests separately on Wednesday, May 11, and Thursday, May 12, respectively, NYPost reports.

If the boys were convicted in juvenile court they couldn’t be held in the system beyond six months after their 19th birthday, the Associated Press reported.

Two teenagers will be tried as adults for killing their teacher

Jeremy Goodale

Judge Showers said in each ruling that there wasn’t enough time for the accused to be rehabilitated for “a crime of such magnitude”.

Goodale, now 17, is accused of helping Miller, 16, kill Graber using a baseball bat then dumping her battered body in a park in Iowa, USA, according to court records.

The teacher’s body was found with trauma to the head, the criminal complaints against the teens said.

Two teenagers will be tried as adults for killing their teacher

Graber

Investigators considered the boys people of interest when a friend provided social media messages from Goodale that showed he and Miller “were involved in the planning, execution, and disposal of evidence,” a police search warrant noted.

Goodale allegedly described conducting surveillance on their teacher and described how they killed her and disposed of the body.

“The details included …  the motive for killing Graber, the planning and execution of the means to kill Graber, as well as deliberate attempts to conceal the crime,” criminal complaints against the suspects said.

Graber had reportedly been a teacher since 2012 at the school.

Nigerian man killed by unknown persons in Hanoi, Vietnam

A Nigerian businessman identified as Jude Chigbo ihezie, was brutally murdered by unknown assailants in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Vietnam confirmed the incident in a statement. 

According to the statement, the 39-year-old father of two was beaten and stabbed in the chest in his apartment on May 4, 2022. He died on his way the hospital. 

“It is with great sadness that the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to VietNam, His Excellency, Mr. Adamu Hassan Mamani, inform you of the gruesome murder of a Nigerian, Mr Jude Chigbo Ihezie of Obowo Village, in Imo State in the morning of Wednesday 4th May, 2022 at an apartment in Ve Linh Village, Phn Linh Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi,” the statement read. 

“The Ambassador avail himself of this opportunity to commiserate with all Nigerians in Viet Nam on this grievous incident and assures that all pressure will be exerted on the host authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice

“While we await proper investigation and due diligence in the matter, all Nigerians in Viet Nam are enjoined to keep calm and not to be involved in any act that will jeopardize our legitimate effort to get equity for the deceased Nigerian.” said Mamani.

It was gathered that Ihezie was a well known businessman who had lived in Vietnam for over 10 years and owned several businesses including export of different locally made vietnam products to Africa. He was married to a Vietnamese woman. 

See more photos of the victims below…

Nigerian man killed by unknown persons in Hanoi, Vietnam
Nigerian man killed by unknown persons in Hanoi, Vietnam
Nigerian man killed by unknown persons in Hanoi, Vietnam
Nigerian man killed by unknown persons in Hanoi, Vietnam

Female student burnt alive over ‘blasphemy’ in Sokoto

A yet-to-be identified student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in‪ Sokoto State has been burnt to death by her colleagues for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

SaharaReporters gathered that the incident happened on Thursday morning.

She was burnt to death by Muslim students who dragged her out of her hostel.

Similarly in March 2021, some angry youths backed by leaders in Sade community in the Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State burnt a man identified as Talle Mai Ruwa, to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mai Ruwa was dragged away from his house on Tuesday in the presence of his mother and burnt to death in the middle of the community.

Eyewitnesses shared gory pictures of the incident with SaharaReporters which showed the middle-aged man burnt along with tyres.

German-Nigerian, Karim Adeyemi joins Borussia Dortmund

German-Nigerian football star, Karim Adeyemi has joined Borussia Dortmund from FC Salzburg to replace striker Erling Haaland who is joining Manchester City.

The Bundesliga club said 20-year-old Adeyemi signed a contract through June 2027 after completing a medical examination in earlier in the day.

“Adeyemi is a highly talented, young German international who through his strong finishing and incredible pace will make a valuable addition to our attacking play,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said. 

Sebastian Kehl, who will take over from Zorc next season, noted that Adeyemi was a Dortmund fan in his youth and that he decided to sign for the club despite “several offers from Europe’s top leagues.”

He told the Dortmund website that he has always been a fan of the club, known as the black and yellow.

“As a young boy, I was fascinated by black and yellow fast-paced soccer,” he said. 

“That’s why I quickly decided that I would like to join Borussia when I heard about Dortmund’s interest. I also deliberately signed for the long term because I’m convinced that we’ll be an exciting team.”

Born in Germany to a Nigerian father, Adeyemi, leads the Austrian Bundesliga with 19 goals, and he has scored three for Salzburg in the Champions League. He made his Germany debut in a World Cup qualifier against Armenia and scored his first international goal last September.

US Singer, Halsey, shares her multiple health challenges after childbirth with fans

American singer, Halsey took to social media on Tuesday May 10 to share their health challenges with their fans. 

The singer who uses “she/they” pronouns, has been “in and out” of the hospital multiple times, owing to their health struggles. 

27-year-old Halsey posted a series of videos to their Instagram Story on Tuesday explaining some of the symptoms they’ve experienced and the multiple syndromes they’ve been diagnosed with. 

The singer who welcomed a baby boy, Ender Ridley Aydin, with partner Alev Aydin, in July last year, wrote; 

“Obviously my health has changed a lot since I got pregnant and gave birth.

“I started getting really, really, really, sick… I was hospitalized for anaphylaxis, a few times, and I had some other stuff going on. Basically, after seeing like 100,000 doctors, I got diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).”

Halsey who was wearing a heart monitor in the video, noted that the doctors are still looking for the “root cause of some of these things.”

Halsey diagnosed with multiple ailments after giving birth

She said; 

“It could be potentially another autoimmune disease, and I’ve known I’ve had autoimmune issues for most of my life, especially having endometriosis, but it’s kind of been exacerbated since I had Ender.” 

Halsey went on to reveal that they’ve also been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Halsey diagnosed with multiple ailments after giving birth

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is defined by Mayo Clinic as a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls – while Sjogren’s syndrome is a disorder of your immune system identified primarily by dry eyes and a dry mouth.

She added;

“I’ve been looking for answers to the root cause of some of these things, which may be an autoimmune disease. And I know I’ve had autoimmune issues for most of my life, especially having endometriosis.

“I don’t want anybody to be worrying. I’m on a treatment plan right now.

“I’m really excited and I’m really confident that I’ll be able to do it in a way that’s healthy, where I can perform my best for all of you.”

Is Ecuador’s Byron Castillo is actually Colombian? FIFA investigates

FIFA has opened an investigation into claims made by Chile that Byron Castillo was not eligible to feature in eight of Ecuador’s World Cup qualifying fixtures.

The Chilean football federation recently asked FIFA to investigate its claim that Castillo is actually Colombian and not entitled to have played in qualifiers for Ecuador.  

According to the Chilean football federation, they have proof that he was born in Tumaco, Colombia in 1995, and not in the Ecuadorean city of General Villamil Playas in 1998 as stated on his official documents. It was also claimed the Barcelona of Guayaquil full-back used a false passport and birth certificate.

The complaint came more than one month after South American qualifying ended and Ecuador were drawn into a group with host nation Qatar, Holland and Senegal. 

‘FIFA can confirm that it has received a formal complaint from the Chilean FA in relation to this matter,’ football’s governing body said in a statement at the time.

FIFA gave no timetable for a possible disciplinary case ahead of the World Cup kicking off Nov. 21.

However, they have now revealed that an investigation into Castillo’s eligibility is now underway.

The statement reads: ‘As recently confirmed by FIFA, the Chilean Football Association has lodged a complaint with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in which it made a series of allegations concerning the possible falsification of documents granting Ecuadorian nationality to the player Byron David Castillo Segura, as well as the possible illegibility of the said player to participate in eight qualifying matches of the national team of the Ecuadorian Football Association (FEF) in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

‘Bearing the above in mind, FIFA has decided to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the potential illegibility of Byron David Castillo Segura with regard to the above-mentioned matches.

‘In this context, the FEF and the Peruvian Football Association have been invited to submit their positions to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

‘Further details will follow in due course.’ 

Cristiano Ronaldo spotted with Georgina Rodriguez as they enjoy family time together

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently enjoying some time off from the football pitch after jetting away on holiday with his stunning partner, Georgina Rodriguez.

The Manchester United and Portuguese superstar shared a lovely photo of himself and his partner relaxing on a yacht.  He captioned the snap with a love heart emoji but didn’t reveal the location.

Our Next President should come from the South-East – Obasanjo

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has once again called for the emergence of a Nigerian from the South East as President come 2023.

Obasanjo, who addressed members of the Political Action Committee, PAC, of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who visited him at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta on Tuesday, May 10, said that the South-East should be allowed to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023, insisting that it would ensure peace, justice, fairness and sustainable national development in the country.

Obasanjo added that the minimum Nigerians would accept is that the next president should come from the South.

“The next president of Nigeria must come from the South East. The least acceptable minimum is a president from the Southern part of Nigeria”, Obasanjo was quoted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, as saying

The former President, who commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo for demanding their rights, told the delegation that what he “owes Nigeria is sincerity, objectivity, and guidance.”

“Federal character, rotation of power and such other measures are meant to help our nation-building process and more sure-footedly, move Nigeria forward. Riding over these measures rudely, shoddily and roughly cannot augur well for our nation-building process and progress.”he was quoted as saying

‘Pussy Riot’ Activist escapes from Russia by disguising herself as a delivery vendor

The lead singer of Russian protest band, Pussy Riot, has escaped house arrest in Moscow by disguising herself as a delivery driver, 

Maria Alyokhina was facing a sentence in a penal colony under harsh laws banning criticism in the country. But she was able to evade police in the Russian capital despite effectively being under house arrest in an escape she likened to a “spy novel”.

Now safely in Lithuania, Alyokhina is among tens of thousands of Russians who have left the country after draconian laws to clamp down on opposition were brought in following the invasion of Ukraine.

She said the band now plans to tour to raise money for those affected by the war.

She told The New York Times : “A lot of magic happened last week. It sounds like a spy novel.”

In an interview, she revealed that she disguised herself as a food courier to get away from Moscow, where she was being closely watched.

Alyokhina, 33, said: “I don’t think Russia has a right to exist anymore.

“Even before, there were questions about how it is united, by what values it is united, and where it is going.

“But now I don’t think that is a question anymore.”

Alyokhina, who has been jailed repeatedly for staging protests against the Putin regime, was able to cross the border into Belarus.

She was helped by an Icelandic friend who was able to smuggle her travel documents.These helped her reach Lithuania a week later, the newspaper reported, as her Russian passport had been confiscated by authorities.

She said that although modern Russia looks like a “big demon” from the outside, her escape demonstrates that it is “very disorganised”.

In her experience, the activist said, the “right-hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing”.

Punk band Pussy Riot were first catapulted into the limelight a decade ago when they held a dramatic anti-Putin protest at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

This landed members a two-year prison sentence but did not deter their activism.

Nnamdi Kanu heads to court on the 18 May, 2022

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, will on May 18, 2022, appear at the Federal High Court, in Abuja, lead counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor has revealed.

Ejiofor made the revelation after the IPOB legal team visited Kanu at the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja.


According to the IPOB legal team, “By the subsisting Court-Order, we visited our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The visit offered us the opportunity to review the level of the DSS compliance with the positive Court Orders regarding the welfare of Onyendu.


 
“We had fruitful and quite incisive interactions impacting positively on all dimensions of Onyendu’s case, and he was adequately briefed on relevant “Onyendu is very firm in his conviction and unshaken in his resolve for a better tomorrow for UmuChineke. He reiterated the fact that UmuChineke must remain vigilant now more than ever, and he advised everyone to be conscious of their engagements. 


He was very emphatic about being focused and never derailing. As usual, Onyendu expresses his profound gratitude to you all, UmuChineke for remaining strong in your solidarity, unshaken faith, and seemingly resolute.”


 
“Onyendu is particularly enthused about the peaceful conduct of UmuChineke, and consequently, encourages you all to keep it up, and be assured that at the end of the tunnel, there must be light.


The next Court date is the 18th of May, 2022, keep it in your prayers and your mind,” Ejiofor said. 

Man dies of heart attack as he buries his victim

A man died of a heart attack while burying a woman he strangled.

The Edgefield County Sheriff says evidence shows Joseph McKinnon strangled Patricia Dent inside his home and was burying her in the backyard, when he died of a heart attack.

Police responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive man in the backyard of a Trenton home, in South Carolina, on Saturday, May 7.

Sheriff Jody Rowland said deputies responded to the home to check on “an unresponsive male lying in his yard.”

Deputies found Joseph McKinnon’s body near a freshly dug grave. While investigating his death deputies inspected the makeshift grave and found the body of McKinnon’s girlfriend Patricia Dent, 65.

Man dies of heart attack as he burys his victim

Authorities theorize that McKinnon, 60, killed Dent inside the home then buried her body in the yard. He was in the process of covering the hole with dirt when he suffered an apparent cardiac arrest and died.

An autopsy determined Dent died by strangulation. Her body was bound and wrapped in trash bags before being placed in the hole. The grave was partially filled with dirt when McKinnon collapsed and died.

McKinnon and Dent lived in the home together. She was supposed to be at work at the Mount Vintage golf course the day she died, but she didn’t show up and didn’t respond to calls and texts.

No more approvals for 3-storey buildings in Ebute-Metta – Lagos State Govt.

Lagos state government asks schools

The Lagos State government will henceforth stop issuing approval for the construction of building above three floors in Ebute-Metta East and West, in a bid to prevent building collapse in the area.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in the state, Dr Idris Salako who made the announcement on Wednesday May 11, said the move followed an audit of buildings in the area.

Salako said the low-lying nature of Ebute-Metta and its negative impact on some of the buildings, most of which showed serious defects, made it mandatory for the government to apply special measures to save lives and property.

The commissioner who revealed that the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) has been told to stop taking applications for approval above three floors in the area, called for the understanding of stakeholders in the state, saying the decision was taken in the best interest of the people.

He said; 

“The soil and topography, the low water level and effects, as well as the inability of structures in this area to bear loads above three floors were considered in arriving at this decision.

“To guarantee the safety of lives and property by ensuring that we put a halt to lives being cut short by incidents of building collapse, the government has been compelled to invoke the relevant sections of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019, as amended, to address the crisis.”

UK landlord goes to Prison over ‘sex for rent’ crime

A landlord who made a homeless woman sleep with him in return for a room is now the first person in England and Wales to be jailed for ‘sex for rent’ offences.


Christopher Cox, 53, targeted vulnerable young women’ to live with him at his home in Cranleigh, Surrey, in 2018.


He reportedly told women to wear bikinis around the house and take part in BDSM, and also sleep in his bed all in exchange for house rent.


His went to a rent agency website online and put up an advert aimed at ‘a girl in need’ and asked ‘if you are a young girl 16-plus who is stuck at home and wants to get away or maybe you are homeless seeking a safe route out, I have a room available in my home for a young girl’.


In the advert he said in return for a place to stay, they were expected to ‘cook, clean, do laundry and possibly more’.


Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, May 10 heard one of his victims was a homeless woman, who was ‘unwell, desperate, suicidal, needed hip replacement surgery and was in pain.’

In a message to his friends, the prosecutor said Cox described his behaviour as his ‘dirty secret’.


Cops got to know about his behavior after two female undercover reporters from ITV’s The Kyle Files responded to online ads for ‘a girl in need’ in August 2018.


Even after he was confronted by TV cameras, he continued sending out his adverts.


At the time, Cox allegedly told friends: ‘I got myself into a bit of hot water due to my sex-for-rent tenants.’


 Surrey Police searched his phone and found evidence of a homeless woman agreeing to an arrangement out of ‘desperation’.


Rupert Hallowes, defending, said his client, who was previously convicted of sexually abusing a young boy in the 1980s, thought his actions were ‘only illegal if he wanted sex three times a week’.


Judge Robert Fraser told Cox his behaviour was a ‘cynical attempt to take advantage of people by ‘very deliberately targeting homeless women who were vulnerable’.


The judge said the crime has now become ‘colloquially known as sex-for-rent’ and ‘this is the first such prosecution that has been brought’.

‘It is remarkable and says something about your determination to continue that you posted further advertisements,’ the judge told Cox.


‘It perhaps says something about the strength of your sexual intention.’


Cox, has been sentenced to one year in prison after he admitted to inciting and controlling prostitution.

Major political ‘earthquake’ hits Anambra as Soludo may lose his place

A looming political upheaval is set for unfold in Anambra State which may see Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo lose his seat as the state’s executive governor.

The showdown started with the recognition of Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APGA) by the Supreme Court and the kicking out of Ozo Victor Oye.

The correction has been indexed in Supreme Court file and nothing will reverse it, unless the Supreme Court reverses herself.

Victor Oye’s trouble was compounded when he disqualified a former APGA Anambra governorship aspirant, Ikenna Obianeri.

According to some reports, Obianeri was disqualified for not being an active party man, though other reports said that he was disqualified for working for another party in last election.

A source close to APGA revealed to Tori Media that the embattled APGA national chairman is frantically reversing everything to favor Obianeri’s godfather, Chief Emeka Offor as he demanded, which however, seems too little, too late.

Oye’s fate was sealed when, on Apr 6, 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja affirmed the Chief Njoku-led Owerri Convention.

It also affirmed Barr. Hamman Buba Ghide as the authentic National Legal Adviser of APGA.

The court upheld the Supreme Court ruling that Victor Oye’s removal is non-justiciable.

The fate of other aspirants is also hanging on the balance should Njoku choose to sideline them as his signature is the authentic one that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will uphold, unless there is stay is execution  issued by competent court.

Meanwhile, the removal of Victor Oye has more far-reaching consequences as it was his faction that produced Prof. Soludo, the winner of the Anambra governorship election held on November 6, 2021.

If the details of the Abuja court are enforced to the latter, Soludo may vacate his seat as the state’s executive governor which will automatically throw the seat up for grabs.

With the impending development, Chief Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) are set for battle royale as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidacy and its candidate, Senator Nnamdi Emmanuel Ubah, have been disqualified.

PDP’s Valentine Ozigbo, it could be recalled, finished second, while YPP’s Ifeanyi Ubah ended up fourth.

Reacting to the looming development, political pundit from the state observed that “Anambra may go back to a step forward and three steps backward.”

A pundit, Mazi Odera, warned APGA that if they try to remove Soludo, then PDP has chances of approaching court for interpretation of the verdict and that may remove APGA entirely and crown PDP as the winner.

It may not end there, though, as Senator has a pending court case that may adversely affect Ozigbo and his PDP and see him sworn in as the governor.

“If PDP hesitated then another Imo State verdict will happen and I won’t even cry for the mess that will follow,” he added.

When contacted on the phone, Chief Njoku, however, denied making any move against Soludo.

He said it is unthinkable that he would want to do that knowing fully well that it will derail the course of the party.

Painting of Marilyn Monroe sold for $195m

An iconic painting of Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol is now the most expensive piece of 20th Century art ever sold, after it was auctioned for $195m (£158.17m) .


The amount is also the highest ever paid for an American work of art.


The painting, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, was painted by Warhol in 1964 using a famous photograph as inspiration.

Painting of Marilyn Monroe sold for $195m

Ahead of the auction by Christie’s  in New York, Christie’s wrote that the painting is “one of the rarest and most transcendent images in existence”, with a selling price “in the region” of $200m.


Bloomberg reports that the winning bidder was US art dealer Larry Gagosian, who owns a chain of art galleries.


According to Christie’s on Monday, May 9, all the proceeds of the sale will go to the Switzerland-based Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation Zurich, which works to establish healthcare and education programmes for children around the world.


The auction ended with a sale price of $170m, which rose to $195m with taxes and fees taken into account.


The price also smashes the previous record for a 20th Century work of art, set in 2015 when a 1955 painting by Pablo Picasso – Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) – sold for $179.4m, including fees.


The previous record price for a piece of American artwork was $110.5m for a skull painting created in 1982 by Warhol’s riva, Jean-Michael Basquiat.

Blac Chyna vs the Kardashians again – She accused Justce of being ‘hostile’ and ‘biased’

Blac Chyna has accused Justice Gregory W. Alarcon of showing an “undeniably hostile and extremely biased” attitude against her and attorney, Lynne Ciani, after losing her case against the Kardashian-Jenner family. 

In court documents obtained by TMZ, Chyna believes bias from Judge Alarcon greatly affected the outcome of the trial, specifically his instructions to the jury before they ruled against the reality star.

People also reported that the 34-year-old model further claimed that the jury was making ‘key liability verdicts in her favour’ and was even being “denied due process with regard to the jury instructions and special verdict form.”

The document further stated that Chyna and her counsel had ample time to raise her completely misguided allegations about Judge Alarcon’s impartiality, along with numerous opportunities to brief evidentiary issues, jury instructions, and the special verdict form. Adding to it, it also stated how Judge Alarcon explicitly invited Ms Ciani to brief issues relating to jury instructions and evidentiary issues, which she never did. 

Recall that Chyna’s mother, Tokyo Toni, was tossed out of the courtroom by Alarcon for threatening defendant Kris Jenner and later appeared to threaten the judge himself, though she later claimed her words was aimed at Jenner.

The Kardashian family attorney shot back in a statement, calling Chyna’s latest filing a “baseless effort to save face after losing at trial.”

The lawyer goes on to say that while Chyna may be upset with the outcome, “their effort to make a scapegoat of Judge Alarcon is frivolous, dishonest, and deserving of sanctions,” adding that her attorney didn’t take issue with the judge until, “after the jury found against her client.”

Chyna sued Kris, Kim, Khloé and Kylie for $40 million for loss of earnings and more than $60 million in future earnings, claiming the family used their influence to tarnish her reputation and prevent financial opportunities after they allegedly “conspired” to cancel the second season of “Rob & Chyna.”

After a two week trial, the jury decided no damages would be awarded to Chyna, 34, and that while Kris, Kim, Khloé and Kylie knew that Chyna had a contract with E!, their conduct did not prevent Chyna from performing under that contract.

Chyna has already revealed she plans to appeal her case.

Why UTME results are yet to be released – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has explained why they are yet to release results from the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. 

JAMB’s Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede said on Tuesday May 10, that the delay is because of some internal appraisal. 

Oloyede noted that JAMB won’t rush to release results because it had asked people to submit reports, particularly of malpractices.

He told Punch; 

“Yes, we have no reason not to release the results but we are also doing some internal appraisal. One, we don’t want this situation where you release results and you start to withdraw some; so we have asked people to submit reports, particularly of malpractices.

“And for the first day after the result was ready, we now scrutinized and we saw that about 40 per cent of the report were not in. So, why release 60 per cent and create confusion? We have insisted that this year, we will not release the results until we have all the reports of examination malpractices.

“So, the issue of releasing results and now coming, they will be very few rather than the large number that we had. The results are ready but we believe we need to have all the reports; we have about 70 per cent of reports now updated but we want 100 per cent.

“The result will be out; for instance, I was told that the exam of Saturday is completed now. The results are in; when I get to the office today I will append my signature and it will go out.”

Oloyede also said UTME candidates who were unable to write the exam because of technical challenges in some CBT centres, will be placed on the fourth section. 

He added;

“I don’t know those schools. There are no technical hitches because those you called BVN matters we have reassigned all of them from yesterday (Monday) for today (Tuesday). We created four sections to clear all of them because it is not the fault of the candidate.

“We have a technical hitch from one of our service providers and where they were supposed to use one character they used another and it created some problems for the candidates. But we have addressed that by reassigning them and all of them without exception at the end of tomorrow, we are putting them fourth section.

“You know the third section finishes at around 3:30 pm, so we deliberately created a fourth section to make sure we clear them by tomorrow because we have no time.”

Military Couple Attack: Gunmen killed army couple in front of their family – Relative says

A family member has narrated the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of a military couple, Gloria Matthew and Linus Audu, in Imo state.

LIB had reported that the couple were in Imo state for their traditional wedding slated for May 2, when they were attacked by some unknown gunmen who killed and then beheaded them.

In an interview with BBC, a family member of the deceased couple said the duo were attacked by four armed persons at an area not far from Banana junction in Orlu, Imo state. 

“It happened around 3pm. They were traveling to Nkwerre from Lagos.

Audu is from southern Kaduna but he lives in Makurdi. Gloria is based in Sokoto. They arrived in Lagos from Kaduna on the 26th of April to pick up Gloria’s mum so that they can travel together for the traditional marriage rites.

They killed Linus’ relatives that day. The leader of the armed men ordered them (gunmen) to shoot. They killed them (the couple) in front of Gloria’s 10-year-old daughter and her mum” the family source said

Scammer who was ‘Church elder’ defrauded a woman’s £600,000 is ordered to pay back just £1

A church elder who stole a woman’s £600,000 life savings and told her it was going into an offshore scheme that didn’t exist has been ordered to pay back just £1.

David Vaughan Jones, 83, a founder of the Evangelical Church in Newtown, Powys, conned members of his congregation out of their money by recommending the bogus plan. He reportedly posed as a respected tax consultant to lure fellow members of his congregation into the scam.

A court heard businesswoman Sharon Myler was the ‘largest single loser’, defrauded of £606,000.

Prosecutor James Davis explained how she only realised the scam when he was jailed for other financial frauds.

‘He persuaded clients to invest in offshore accounts which he said would provide a much better return than investing in this country,’ Mr. Davis said.

‘But police uncovered no evidence of him ever investing in offshore accounts. It could only be concluded the funds never existed.’

Mold Crown Court heard Miss Myler handed over six separate amounts of ranging from £30,000 to £160,000 to Jones.

But investigators found no trace of the money – and he was ordered just to pay a nominal £1.

‘A financial investigation found no assets that could be realised to make any contribution towards that figure,’ said Mr Davis.

‘The defendant is on a private and state pension. His honour is therefore invited to simply make a nominal order of £1 today. Clearly, should any assets materialise in the future, this is a matter that can and should be revisited.’

In a victim impact statement, Ms Myler said: ‘David Jones stole my life savings, causing huge financial and personal hardship. He breached my trust, lied constantly and stole a lot of money from me. I had to borrow money from my family which was extremely embarrassing.’

But in reality, he had no financial qualifications and was in fact a disgraced former solicitor who was struck off from The Law Society in the early 1990s.

The court heard ‘prominent’ Jones used his influence in the church to persuade members to part with large amounts of cash over a 20-year period.

Judge Niclas Parry told Jones, of Llandrinio, Powys, that the money could not be found.

He said: ‘It should be put on record that there has been an investigation by officers whose profession it is to investigate these matters.

‘Remarkably, bearing in mind how much money was taken, they simply can’t find it. It’s right to state that the investigation will continue and if assets are found then this order would be revisited.

‘There are people still begging me to do something about it, who understandably believe that I’ve let them down.

‘I simply want them to know there are people investigating and have been investigating to see where the remaining money is. These people have suffered such huge losses.’

Elon Musk says he would reverse Twitter’s ban of Donald Trump

Elon Musk said he will reverse Twitter’s permanent ban of former President Donald Trump should the Tesla CEO conclude his deal to acquire the social media company for $44 billion.

Musk, speaking virtually at a Future of the Car summit hosted by the Financial Times, said Twitter’s Trump ban was a “morally bad decision” and “foolish in the extreme.” He said permanent bans of Twitter accounts should be rare and reserved for accounts that are scams or automated bots.

“I think that was a mistake because it alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice,” Musk said. “So I think this may end up being frankly worse than having a single forum where everyone can debate. I guess the answer is that I would reverse the permanent ban.”

Musk has repeatedly criticized Twitter’s content moderation decisions, including the Trump ban, but had mostly avoided saying what he would do about Trump’s account until he was pressed for more details Tuesday by Peter Campbell, a Financial Times automotive correspondent.

Twitter banned Trump’s account in January 2021 for “incitement of violence” following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol

PDP accuses APC of theft of Public funds after it increased Presidential forms to N100m

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Buhari administration of allowing the “mass looting of public funds to corruptly create a war chest for the APC to intimidate Nigerians and muscle the 2023 general elections.”

PDP accuses APC of theft of Public funds after it increased Presidential forms to N100m

In a statement released by its National Publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP alleged that the APC is diverting public funds meant for development purposes and salaries of workers to its coffers by ‘orchestrating the purchase of its Presidential nomination form by all manner of persons at excessive N100 million to warehouse sleaze funds for the elections’

”Our Party has information of how public funds are being withdrawn from Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals of government and diverted to people who have no verifiable means of livelihood to purchase APC’s Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for individuals without any electoral value and who cannot even win Local Government elections.

We have intelligence on how public funds are pulled out of government Agencies in a surreptitious design perfected by an APC leader in connivance with certain individuals in positions of authority close to top persons in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted on how the CBN under Mr. Godwin Emefiele as CBN Governor has been turned into the finance department of the APC where APC leaders fraudulently access public funds through nebulous subsidies, shady intervention programmes and discriminatory exchange policies which perpetuate illegal arbitrage system

The rejected APC has resorted to this underhand method to corruptly rake in billions of naira from public treasury without consideration for the welfare of Nigerians.

This APC’s nefarious action is informed by its realization that its leaders cannot make huge donations to the APC coffers as they will be violating the limits of contribution to political parties as stipulated by law and regulation.

The APC is a sinking ship with ill-fated and inchoate sailors holding on to straw including this shameless attempt to sweep our national treasury. It is regrettable that the APC has shamelessly and soullessly extended their corruption to our electoral process not minding the consequential effect on our democratic system.

In any case, such shenanigan and criminal pillaging of our treasury cannot prevent the imminent crushing defeat of the APC at the polls in 2023, Nigerians having realized the fraud and life discounting experiences that the APC represents.”the statement in part read

The party called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Accountant General of the Federation as well as the Auditor General of the Federation to immediately commence an investigation and monitor the movement of funds in Ministries, Department, and Agencies of government so as to protect ”our national treasury from the APC as we approach the 2023 general elections”.

Erling Haaland signs a £51M deal with Manchester City

Manchester City have confirmed an agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland for £51.1m.

City have paid the Haaland’s release clause and expect to pay £85.5m in total when agent fees, signing bonus and other costs are taken into account.

Haaland will join City on July 1, subject to the club finalising terms with the player.

City have announced the signing of Haaland in a statement via their official website, which reads: “Manchester City can confirm we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the Club on 1st July 2022.

“The transfer remains subject to the Club finalising terms with the player.”

The 21-year-old completed his medical on Monday at Hospital Erasme in Brussels.

Haaland has scored 85 goals in 88 matches for Dortmund since joining from RB Salzburg in January 2020. Dortmund host Hertha Berlin in their last game of the season on Saturday.

Haaland is set to make around £400,000 per week, in line with the club’s highest earner Kevin De Bruyne, and will be contracted to the Etihad outfit until 2027.

Family blessed with triplets after 17 years of waiting

The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) are celebrating a member who gave birth to a set of triplets after 17 years of marriage. 

Mrs Olabisi Akapo and her husband, Austin Akapo welcomed their children, two boys and a girl, last year. 

The church Facebook pages shared new photos of mother and her triplets on Sunday, May 8, 2022, and wrote;

“Our triplets are fast growing. After 17 of years of waiting on God, He showed the family how wondrous He is, He is never late. May His name be glorified” 

Family blessed with triplets after 17 years of waiting
Family blessed with triplets after 17 years of waiting
Family blessed with triplets after 17 years of waiting
Family blessed with triplets after 17 years of waiting
Family blessed with triplets after 17 years of waiting
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