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Do you know that dog owners were ‘less depressed’ during the pandemic? Researcher finds

Being a dog owner may have lessened the psychological impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, a new study has revealed.

Researchers in St Louis, Missouri found in a new study that those who own dogs have been significantly less depressed throughout the pandemic than those who would like to own one, but do not.

The study, published in the Plos One journal on 15 December, 2021 surveyed 1,535 adults across the US on their levels of depression, anxiety and happiness.


Those who owned dogs said they felt like they had more “social support” available to them (70 per cent), compared to those who didn’t (65 per cent).


“This degree of social support is likely to have provided a buffering effect against the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the study said.

However, the study did not find any difference in scores of happiness and anxiety between the two groups.


Dogs “are considered to be dependent and caring towards their owners with unconditional love”, the study said.


It continued: “Pets provide tactile comfort and recreational distraction from worries. In contrast with other social interactions, no special social skills are usually required to elicit a positive response from a pet.”


Scientists said their findings demonstrate that “dogs may positively contribute to the wellbeing of owners during difficult times”.


The results add to findings from earlier studies that owning a dog can be beneficial to mental health.

Dr Elena Ratschen, lead author of the study, said the bond was stronger among people who had better mental health.


“We also discovered that in this study, the strength of the emotional bond with pets did not statistically differ by animal species, meaning that people in our sample felt on average as emotionally close to, for example, their guinea pig as they felt to their dog,” Ratschen said.


The study comes after research earlier this year by the University of York found that, of the almost 6,000 people surveyed in the UK, 90 per cent said their pet had helped them cope better during Covid restrictions. Additionally, 96 per cent said their pet had helped them keep fit and active.

Nnamdi Kanu is “prisoner of conscience” – IPOB declares

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared its leader, Nnamdi Kanu a “prisoner of conscience”.

The group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful in a statement released on Friday December 17, stated that Kanu committed no crime to warrant his arrest. 

IPOB maintained that Nnamdi Kanu is fighting for the freedom and self-determination of his people because under the United Nations Charter, to which Nigeria is a signatory, self-determination is not a crime.

The statement read; 

“Following the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria without proper documentation for doing so and long incarceration and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody, we the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to state categorically to the people of the world that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is now declared Prisoner Of Conscience.

“In 2015 Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested and subjected to an egregious violation of his fundamental rights. After his miraculous escape from the military invasion of his home in 2017, he was abducted in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria in June this year.

“Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been in DSS detention in Abuja ever since then. We, therefore, have to inform the world, most civilised countries and the Africa continent that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is fighting for the freedom and self-determination of his people because under the United Nations Charter, to which Nigeria is a signatory, self-determination is not a crime.

“Under the African Union Charter to which Nigeria is a signatory, Self Determination is not a crime. Under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, particularly Article 20, CAP A9, self-determination is not a crime. As a matter of fact and law, Self-Determination is recognized as a right, both domestically and internationally. Above all, Self Determination is a political opinion, which is recognized as a fundamental right under the Nigerian Constitution.”

The group which accused the Nigerian government of kidnapping its leader, reiterated that Kanu never jumped bail but “escaped” after being “almost killed during the military invasion of his residence”.

The statement added;

“During the military invasion of his residence, code-named operation Python dance, Mazi Kanu was almost killed save for his miraculous escape.

“In 2021 he was kidnapped by the Nigerian government in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition to Nigeria against his will and all norms and rules of international law.

“In both instances, he committed no offence known to law. He only advocated self-determination for his people and all oppressed peoples in Nigeria.

“He did so peacefully by articulating the decades of oppression, marginalisation, inequality, Apartheid, brutality and genocide to which his people and all oppressed peoples in Nigeria have been subjected.

“And in light of those grievances, he demanded a referendum on self-determination and self-rule for the indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and all aggrieved groups and lovers of freedom.

“In doing so he bore no malice nor hate against any group. He only demanded self-determination as enshrined in the African Charter and the United Nations charter both of which Nigeria is a signatory.

“In peacefully articulating the grievances of an injured and oppressed people and in seeking self-determination for all such peoples; Nnamdi Kanu broke no law within or outside Nigeria.

“We  use this opportunity to put the world on notice to ongoing extrajudicial detentions, persecution and widespread human rights violations in Nigeria.”

IPOB called on the US, Israel, the African Union and Amnesty International to intervene and ensure the release of its leader.

“Married to Prince Andrew was happiest moment of my life” – Sarah Ferguson says

Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson has said she was the “luckiest girl in the world” when she married UK royal, Prince Andrew in 1986.


Ferguson known in the UK as Fergie, was married to Prince Andrew for a decade, between 1986 and 1996. The pair continue to live together in Windsor 25 years after their divorce.

Being married to Prince Andrew was happiest time in my life - Sarah Ferguson says 35 years after marrying UK royal


Appearing on Italian chat show, Porta a Porta, to promote her new novel, Her Heart for a Compass, the Duchess of York was asked about the happiest time in her life.


She replied: “23 July 1986, when I married the best man in the world.”


Fergie added: “I believe that the love I have for him and he has for me is just very different from what normal people have. We have great respect and love for each other. It really is our own fairytale and it’s our own lives, how we like to be, with total respect and honour to each other.”


When asked about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and the allegations against Prince Andrew, who has been accused of sexual abuse by Virginia Giuffre, Fergie says she “stands by him 100 per cent”.


Giuffre alleges that she and Andrew had sex on three occasions in 2001 – when he was 30 and she was 17.


She says this happened in the London home of former Jeffrey Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell who is currently on trial in the US for sex trafficking.


Earlier this month, Fergie told French Magazine Madame Figaro: 


“The happiest day of my life remains 23 July, 1986, that moment when I came to the end of the endless alleyway of Westminster Abbey alongside my sailor, my prince, my husband.”


The Duchess added that she “still loves” Prince Andrew today. “I will stay by his side, because I believe in him, he is a good man.”

Canada, follows UK to lift the travel ban on Nigeria and 9 other African countries

The Canadian government has lifted the ban placed on foreign travelers from Nigeria and nine other African countries.

On December 1, Canada placed the ban over fears of the new Omicron variant of COVID19.

Speaking at a news conference today December 17, Canadian Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, said the lifting of the travel ban would take effect from 11:59 pm on Saturday. Apart from Nigeria, the travel restriction on flights is also lifted on South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Malawi, and Egypt. 

Duclos also announced that pre-arrival negative PCR tests for all travelers would also be reinstated from December 21. 

24-year Nigerian man sentenced to prison for trafficking firearms in the US

A Nigerian man, Chiweze Ihunwo, was on Thursday December 17, sentenced in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking firearms from North Carolina. 

Ihunwo, 24, previously of Randolph, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

A release by the Justice Department, said that on Aug. 17, 2021, Ihunwo pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.

In 2019 and 2020, Ihunwo traveled from Massachusetts to North Carolina for the purpose of acquiring firearms to be resold for profit.

After acquiring these firearms, Ihunwo traveled back to Massachusetts and sold them to various individuals.

At various times, Ihunwo advertised the firearms for sale via social media. In addition, Ihunwo made arrangements to sell firearms to a person who soon thereafter was arrested in connection with a June 23, 2020 shooting incident on I-95 in Providence.

During a search of a residence in Providence where Ihunwo had been staying, an AK-style pistol and various rounds of ammunition were recovered. 

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Randolph Police Department, the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Duane of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case

UAE blocks Nigerian athletes access to partake in World Swimming Championships

Nigerian athletes were reportedly denied access to participate in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships 2021 holding in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

Some of the atheletes who arrived UAE from European Countries and not Nigeria, claimed they were not allowed to take part in the competition by authorities in the Middle-East Country on Thursday December 16.  This include Philip Adejumo and Abiola Ogunbanwo.

One of the female athletes said; 

“On sighting our Nigerian passports, the UAE officials treated us with disdain.”

Organisers of the 2021 FINA  are yet to respond to enquiries on the cause of the disqualification of the athletes. 

Punch reported that some of the athletes withdrew from the competition, as most of them complained that there were not allowed to see Nigerian officials.

An athlete said; 

“The officials were not even allowed to leave their hotel rooms and competition started yesterday.”

An official also disclosed that while the team was forced to withdraw because one of the coaches tested positive for COVID-19, a British swimmer tested positive and their team was not given same treatment. 

The official said;

“It is probably important we inform the Nigerian media of the treatment being faced by the Nigerian Swimming Team here in Abu Dhabi (UAE) at the ongoing FINA Short Course World Championships.

“Essentially, the whole team has been forced to withdraw from the competition, despite being vaccinated, doing multiple PCR tests, and not departing from Nigeria.

“The reason for the team being withdrawn was because one of the coaches tested positive for COVID-19, yet the officials, local government and FINA all collectively decided to remove everyone in the team from the competition, deeming them as close contacts.

“But a British swimmer tested positive and their whole team is not banned from competing. For Nigeria, our whole team was banned because of a coach, with whom athletes didn’t have contact. For the British, a swimmer tested positive, and the whole team is still fine to compete.

“In one case, one Nigerian swimmer travelled from the USA just yesterday morning, was fully vaccinated, had all the required tests, didn’t even have any contact with the coach that tested positive, yet he was not allowed to compete.

“For Habibat Abiola, she came from Russia, didn’t have contact with this coach, but again, can’t compete.

“So, all these Nigerians travelling from different places around the world, being denied the opportunity to represent Nigeria here in UAE.

“I can assure you, if they were Europeans or Americans, they would definitely allow them to compete.”

Some of the athletes also expressed anger that one of their colleagues complained of chest pain and was only attended to after two hours. When the medical team eventually attended to the female swimmer, they reportedly provided no assistance.

Another official disclosed that Nigerian athletes were disrespected. The official said; 

“And to even make matters worse, one of the swimmers complained of chest pains – which is not surprising since they are isolated in a hotel room, not allowed out to get some fresh air.

“It took the FINA Medical Team almost two hours to respond to this. And their solution was to send this swimmer on her own to the hospital.

“This swimmer is a minor and was sent by the FINA Medical Team to a hospital by herself.

“Ideally, the Federation is meant to follow their swimmer. However, they are all isolated too and can’t leave their rooms. But this FINA organisation not transparent with anything at all.”

An official reaction could not be gotten from the Nigeria Aquatics Federation formerly known as the Nigeria Swimming Federation as the board of the federation had been dissolved.

A member of the dissolved board said; 

“Nobody can react. Only the ministry can do that. We do not want to be seen as worsening the diplomatic row between Nigeria and UAE. But it is annoying how our people are treated.”

Former NFL star, Lawrence Taylor, arrested in Florida

NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was arrested in South Florida on Thursday evening, December 16.

TMZ Sports reported that jail records showed the former New York Giants superstar was booked at around 8:45 PM ET and released hours later. The 62-year-old posed for a mug shot before his release.

Details surrounding the arrest are unclear, but a spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Taylor was booked on charges of sex offender violations.

NFL legend Lawrence Taylor arrested in Florida

Lawrence was declared a sex offender back in 2011 after he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute. In the case, Taylor was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl, though he said at the time he thought she was 19.

As a sex offender, Taylor is expected to be on top of several things including letting law enforcement know of any residence or name changes.

Asides having a run-in with the law, Taylor is considered perhaps the greatest defensive player in NFL history. A dominant linebacker, he spent his entire career with the Giants, from 1981-93. He won two Super Bowls, one NFL MVP award, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was an eight-time first-team All-Pro selection and, of course, is a Hall of Famer.

The former football player has been arrested several times in his life, including multiple times in the late 1990s after he allegedly tried to buy drugs from undercover police officers.

CBN urges Nigerians to report unauthorized debits from commercial banks

Nigerians have been directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to report cases of unauthorized debits.

Following an outcry over Nigerians losing money through unauthorized POS transactions, CBN’s spokesperson, Osita Nwanisobi said the apex bank would ensure that bank customers get a redress on issues of excess charges and unauthorised withdrawals.

He told TheCable;

“What you should be asking them (bank customers) is if they have reported those incidents to the CBN. We work based on the information we receive.

“We have channels, we have educated them, we have said that you have the right to complain if you get debited. We have written on our website about the cost of bank charges. If anybody is charging you more than what you see, what do you do?

“You need to report to CBN and we will take it up. Anytime we have done sensitisation, we showed them, in concrete terms, the amount we have recovered from banks and sent back to individuals.

“Customers should report to the CBN. We have channels, we have email addresses where they can reach us. That’s what they should do.”

Nwasinobi added that if banks fail to resolve complaints within two weeks, the customer can escalate the complaint to the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) of the CBN. 

He added; 

“If after lodging your complaint your Bank still fails to engage you and resolve the complaint within 2 Weeks as provided for in the ATM HELP DESK Circular, you have the right to escalate your complaint to the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) of the CBN.

“You can only direct your Complaints to CPD upon the failure of your Bank/Financial Institution to resolve your complaint within the 2 weeks timeline given by the CBN.”

The apex financial regulator said customers can contact the CPD by sending an email to
[email protected], [email protected] or call +234 7002255226. Customers can lodge a complaint directly on the CBN website via this link.

Customers can also choose to write a letter addressed to the director, Consumer Protection Department, Central Business District, Abuja.

“Your letter of Complaint should be addressed to the Director, Consumer Protection Department. You can submit your letter at the CBN Head Office OR at any of the Central Bank of Nigeria branches of nationwide,” the CBN added.

“Your complaint should be clear and concise to avoid ambiguity. The Complaint letter (petition) should contain amongst other things the following:
• Name, Address, Contact Phone Number & E-mail of the Complainant;
• Name of your Financial Institution;
• Personal banking details (Do NOT include PIN & Passwords, please;)
• History/Date of the transaction in dispute;
• Amount claimed (if any);
• Attach relevant documents to support your claim and;
• Evidence to show that you have first lodged the complaint at your bank.”

“You can make your further inquiries and obtain additional information on the Complaints Handling Process of the Central Bank of Nigeria from the Complaints Unit of your Bank/Financial Institution or from CBN offices nationwide.”

Kogi: 3 persons killed in mob attack at police station

A police station in Yagba-West LGA of Kogi state has been set on fire by a mob. 

The Kogi police command in a statement shared on Thursday December 16,  said the incident occurred on Tuesday December 14.

According to the police, the mob attack followed robberies at three banks in Odo-Ere and Egbe towns in the LGA. A manhunt led to the arrest of two suspects. 

Kogi police spokesperson, William Aya said the manhunt was carried out in collaboration with operatives of other security agencies, hunters and vigilantes. The team reportedly moved the manhunt to Oke-Ere Hills where the robbery suspects were trapped.

Aya said an angry mob from the community went to the station where the suspects were kept, demanding that they be released for lynching. It degenerated to violence and led to death of one Inspector Bamisaye Gbenga. Another police officer,  PC Sunday Alechenu sustained injuries. 

He said;

“The two suspects who were arrested were taken to Odo-Ere police station. An irate mob from the community went to the station demanding that the two suspects be released to them for lynching.

“All efforts by the police to placate the mob proved abortive; it became violent and in the process lynched one Insp Bamisaye Gbenga and injured PC Sunday Alechenu.”

The police spokesperson also revealed that in an effort to disperse the mob, a male and a female were maimed and both died in the hospital while receiving treatment. He added that the mob set part of the station ablaze.

Aya said the Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Idris Babban has condemned the act of lawlessness perpetrated by youths of Ode-Ere and urged them to refrain from taking laws into their hands.

Alert! A disturbing TikTok threat for December 17 is circulating in the US

Some schools in the United States are taking precautionary measures following a disturbing TikTok threat. 

There’s an anonymous threat on TikTok that seemingly warns against students attending class on Friday December 17. The threat or challenge has been tagged “National Shoot Up Your School Day.”

Though there’s no mention of a specific school or district, there are however hundreds of other TikTok posts referencing the challenge and warning students to take precautions.

A user on the platform wrote; 

“Idk if this is true or not but apparently there is a threat on December 17 2021, schools in America are going to have a school shooting or bombing.

“[Once] again idk if this is true but if it is, stay safe. My mom called and told me so I looked it up. … stay safe America.”

Another user wrote “I’m scared off my a—, what do I do???”

TikTok responded to the claim by saying it has not found evidence of the threat despite the alarming posts that have since gone viral. The social media giant tweeted; 

“We handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why we’re working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though we have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok.”

Schools in the U.S are taking precautions over disturbing TikTok threat for December 17

Also responding to the threat, Florida’s North Port Police Department wrote; 

“Law-enforcement agencies around the country are keeping a close eye on schools in the wake of nationwide generic school threat conversations.

“The threats circulating on social media claiming that December 17 is a day to do harm at schools.

“The Northport Police Department is aware of the information. We take all threats, joking or not, seriously.”

Naugatuck Police Department in Connecticut also issued a statement, telling parents they would increase their presence at schools in the “coming days.”

It read; 

“Due to an uptick in unrelated threats at schools in the region, the Naugatuck Police will be increasing our presence and patrols at Borough Schools in the coming days.

“While there has been NO threat against Naugatuck Schools, students, or staff, the public can anticipate our presence to increase the community’s sense of safety during the coming school days.”

The warnings come less than three weeks after four Oxford High School students were killed during a school shooting in Michigan. Ethan Crumbley, 15, is charged as an adult with multiple crimes, including terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty

A search warrant has been issued for Alec Baldwin’s phone

A search warrant was issued on Thursday December 16, for Alec Baldwin’s cell phone following a police investigation into the fatal shooting of cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, on the New Mexico set of his film Rust in October.

The “affiant” is identified within the documents as a “full-time, certified peace officer” and a “Violent Crimes Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division” with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department.

“Affiant is requesting a warrant for the seizure and search of Alec Baldwins’ cell phone to search for any evidence relating to the death investigation of Halyna Hutchins,” said Sheriff’s Office Det. Alexandria Hancock in a search warrant approved by a judge, Deadline reported. 

Search warrant issued for Alec Baldwin

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office believes there are key conversations on Baldwin’s phone related to what led to the prop gun death of Halyna Hutchins in October.

Investigators previously asked the 63-year-old actor for his phone but he told them they would need to get a warrant, according to the document, which was obtained by The Post.

Baldwin fired a prop gun while rehearsing a scene of the western film, killing Hutchins and wounding the film’s director.

Conversations about the doomed production were found on Hutchins’ phone dating back to July 14, authorities said, stating the belief that “gathering information prior to the film start date of Rust is essential for a full investigation.”

The actor and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, emailed back and forth about the type of gun to use in the scene, and “he said he requested a bigger gun,” according to the search warrant affidavit. He chose a “period” Colt with a brown handle.

According to the affidavit, Gutierrez-Reed told investigators she checked the gun following the shooting. “She checked the cartridge which would have been the one fired and said the first one she pulled out didn’t have ‘that’ (pointing to the projectile end of a bullet),” according to the warrant. The other rounds in the chamber were dummy rounds.

Gutierrez-Reed said she “did not believe anyone on the film set would be that malicious” to bring live ammo onto the set, the document states.

Do you know that COVID19 cases has increased by 630% in 10 days in Nigeria?

The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to take their health seriously as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen astronomically by 630%.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunmimbe Mamora, made the appeal in an interview with Punch. He said there is need for Nigerians to take responsibility to tackle coronavirus as COVID-19 cases continues to increase with the country recording  5,398 infections between December 6 and 15.

When asked on what the Federal Government would do in view of the increase in cases,  Mamora  stated that the government would continue to strengthen existing measures.

“It’s essentially to strengthen the existing measures through advocacy, awareness creation, education and emphasis on the need for people to take responsibility for their health.”

No fewer than 107 inbound passengers to Nigeria tested positive for COVID-19 in the last one week. Between November 25 and December 4, the country recorded  749 cases of COVID-19 while between  December 5 and December 14, the cases recorded were 4,029 representing 437.92 percent increase over the previous 10 days.

US Drug Agency has approved the ‘mail-order of abortion pills’

US drug regulators have permanently approved the mail-order of abortion pills.


During the pandemic, the US made a temporary rule allowing women to get the pills through mail order but the rule has now been made permanent by the US Food and Drug administration (FDA)


The decision from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will open abortion access to women in remote places unable to visit clinics to get them in person.


But the move will not be allowed in 19  US states that already have rules banning mail-order abortion pills.

This also comes as the US supreme court considers overturning the ruling that legalised US abortion.


The US Supreme Court is considerimg alt=’US drug regulators permanently allow mail-order abortion pills, say women can receive abortion consultations online’ class=’img-responsive text-center’ style=’margin: auto;’ a case that could overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that legalised abortion in all 50 states.


The abortion pill, mifepristone, is approved for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, and is one of two pills used to end pregnancy and treat miscarriage.


The new rule change allows women to receive the pill by post from a certified medical worker or pharmacy and receive abortion consultations on the internet.


“The FDA’s decision will come as a tremendous relief for countless abortion and miscarriage patients,” said Georgeanne Usova of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).


But anti-abortion advocates say the decision puts women at risk as some 24 out of 3.4 million women who took the branded version of the drug to terminate a pregnancy have died between 2000 and 2018, according to FDA records.

“I maybe homeless for a year” – Kanye West

American music star, Kanye West has predicted that he is going to be homeless in a year. 

The 44-year-old father of four who has racked up properties all over the world inbetween his successful career, including his much publicized ranch in Wyoming, has revealed that he plans turning his houses to churches. 

During a lengthy interview with culture magazine 032c, the ‘DONDA’ rapper spoke of how society needs to progress. 

Kanye said; 

 “We are under capitalist rule, and it’s killing us. It’s time to change that.

“I’m going to be homeless in a year. I’m going to turn all the homes I own into churches. We’re making this orphanage, and it will be a place where anyone can go.

“It should be like an artist commune. Food should always be available.”

Ye turned his attention to ending homelessness in LA, and met with LA Mission CEO Reverend Troy Vaughn last month when he dropped off 1,000 meals to the organization.

According to TMZ, the Grammy Award-winner is thought to have ‘laid out four ways he can help the homeless’ after visiting the Skid Row area of the city.

Kanye West is reportedly planning to feed the homeless population by establishing a working relationship with organizations across LA, and will be using his own companies to help provide education, housing and jobs for those on the streets.

West created prototypes for an ambitious housing project to ease homelessness in LA back in 2019. However, the dome structures were torn down after it was alleged that the rapper didn’t have the proper permits.

He later shared plans to build an eco-village and children’s ranch using the same domes

A Chinese Wealth Management company ‘vanishes’ with $313m belonging to China Fortune Land Development

China Create Capital, a Wealth management company registered in British Virgin Islands has allegedly made off with $313m (£235m) belonging to China Fortune Land Development – one of China’s biggest property developers.


According to China Fortune Land Development, China Create Capital was supposed to have invested the funds on its behalf, but instead they have  ‘lost all contact’ with the company.

Fortune Land has now told investors it has reported the issue to Beijing police.


This comes after the firm unveiled plans this December to restructure its debts after defaulting on billions of dollars of bonds.


In 2018 one of Fortune Land’s overseas operations signed a deal that entrusted a company called Wingskengo Ltd to provide investment management services to the property developer, according to a document filed this week with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.


The filing goes on to detail how, as instructed by Wingskengo, Fortune Land transferred $313m to China Create Capital.


Fortune Land said it had expected the investment to generate annual interest of 7% to 10% until the agreement was due to expire at the end of 2022.


However, Fortune Land said it is now unable to contact Create Capital, adding there is “no way to judge” what impact the missing money will have on its current and future profits.


Like several other major Chinese real estate companies, Fortune Land has seen its shares plummet in recent months as the industry was gripped by a debt crisis.

‘Omicron variant’ virus multiplies 70 times faster than ‘Delta variant’ in the throat

The Omicron variant multiplies 70 times faster than Delta in human airways, according to researchers.

A new study in Hong Kong provides the first information on how Omicron infects people, and it also suggests it replicates less well in human lung tissue compared with the original strain of the virus.

This could indicate a lower severity of disease, but the experts warned the ‘overall threat is likely to be very significant’.

Dr. Michael Chan Chi-wai said it is important to note ‘that the severity of disease in humans is not determined only by virus replication but also by the host immune response to the infection’.

The associate professor, from the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), added: ‘It is also noted that, by infecting many more people, a very infectious virus may cause more severe disease and death even though the virus itself may be less pathogenic.

‘Therefore, taken together with our recent studies showing that the Omicron variant can partially escape immunity from vaccines and past infection, the overall threat from Omicron variant is likely to be very significant.’

After successfully isolating the Omicron variant, they began investigating the new mutation with some lung tissue.

They found Omicron ‘replicates faster than the original virus and Delta variant in the human bronchus’.

After 24 hours from infection, the Omicron variant ‘replicated around 70 times higher than the Delta variant and the original virus’, the researchers said.

They added: ‘In contrast, the Omicron variant replicated less efficiently (more than 10 times lower) in the human lung tissue than the original virus, which may suggest lower severity of disease.’

The research is currently under peer review for publication, the university said.

Reacting to the study, Dr. David Strain, from the University of Exeter, said: ‘The 70-fold increase in replication is of concern which does account for the increased transmissibility of the virus.

‘There is a lack of clarity, however, as to how this 10-fold reduction in lung infectivity in this lab-based study will translate in patients.

‘At first glance, it looks good news, however, if the virus can replicate 70 times quicker, but infects 10 times slower, that still results in a seven-fold increased risk of disease (70 times more virus, even with a 10-fold reduction in ability to enter the cells will cause the virus to overwhelm the cells).’

Do you know that a baby was discovered inside woman’s liver?

A baby has been discovered growing inside a woman’s liver in ‘exceptionally rare’ ectopic pregnancy. 

Paediatrician Michael Narvey of Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba in Canada who shared the discovery on his TikTok account @nicu_musings, said sometimes babies are seen in the abdomen but never in the liver. 

Baby discovered inside woman?s liver in ?exceptionally rare? ectopic pregnancy

He wrote; 

 “I thought I had seen it all – a 33-year-old woman comes in with a 14-day history of menstrual bleeding and 49 days since her last menstrual period.

“What they find in the liver is this: a baby.

“She had an ectopic pregnancy in her liver.

“We see these sometimes in the abdomen but never in the liver. This is a first for me.”

Surgeons were able to save the woman’s life but not that of the growing foetus. The video the medical doctor shared has been viewed more than 3million times in just two days and attracted nearly 17,000 comments.

European clubs not willing to release players for AFCON 2021

The European Clubs Association (ECA) have threatened to block players from representing their countries at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to hold next January in Cameroon.

In a letter to the Deputy General Secretary of Fifa – Mattias Grafstrom, the ECA expressed its concerns over the rising cases of the new variant of coronavirus, Omicron, and travel restrictions put in place by government authorities.


Classifying its worries into three principles, the ECA wrote;


“The obligation for each national association that wishes to call a player for national team duty to establish, to the satisfaction of the respective clubs, that all applicable medical protocols have been implemented and enforced.

“Secondly, there cannot be mandatory release in circumstances where the release period’s duration would necessitate players missing official club matches.


“Lastly, the unavailability of players for club activities cannot extend beyond the agreed release periods.”


However, the European clubs claim Caf are yet to meet the principles which could restrict them from releasing their players this month.


“Against this background, please note that, at its meeting of December 2021, the ECA Executive Board unanimously re-confirmed its position that the three principles referred to above must be strictly respected and, should this not be the case, that players not be released for national team duty,” read a part of ECA’s letter.


“At present, these three principles are at risk of not being respected in connection with the upcoming January releases.


“With regards to applicable protocols, as far as we are aware, Caf has not yet made available a suitable medical and operational protocol for the Afcon tournament, in the absence of which clubs will not be able to release players for the tournament.


“For certain clubs expected to release players, including English and French club, domestic competition matches are due to take place up until early January and hence, the overlap of the 2022 Afcon release dates (with call ups from 27th of December) are unmanageable.”


Also, newly-elected president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), Samuel Eto’o, dismissed reports that the Afcon tournament might be postponed after meeting with the country’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Mouelle Kombi on Wednesday, December 15.


Eto’o confirmed that preparations are in full gear for the tournament that will begin on January 9.

“It was great meeting with Professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, Minister of Sports & Physical Education as the preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations intensify,” he wrote on Instagram.


“With just 24 days to go until we host Afcon here in Cameroon, collaboration is key.”

Smart dog saves baby’s life by alerting her parents when she stopped breathing

A Connecticut family’s dog is being credited with saving the life of his owners’ baby girl who had stopped breathing.

On Monday night, Dec. 13, Kelly Dowling put her 9-month-old daughter, who had been battling a cold and not feeling well, down in her crib to sleep.

Henry, her 8-year-old Boston terrier, kept barging into the sleeping baby’s nursery and waking her up.

Dowling soon became frustrated and fed up with her dog because her daughter needed to rest.

“He was not acting like himself, he kept going back in,” Dowling said.

Dog saved baby

Dowling said when Henry is scolded, he is usually embarrassed and hides under the bed and you don’t see him for a while. That night, however, he was persistent.

Moments later, Dowling said she noticed something wasn’t right with her baby, who had stopped breathing.

“She started turning blue and just really choking on, you know, whatever it was stuck in there,” Dowling said.

The frantic parents rushed the baby to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center where doctors were able to clear the build-up in her throat before things got worse.

“I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t woken her,” Dowling wrote in a Twitter thread, detailing her ordeal. “We don’t deserve dogs.”

Dog saved baby

Queen Elizabeth annules Pre-Christmas Royal Family lunch at Windsor Castle as Covid Infection Surges

Queen Elizabeth II canceled her annual pre-Christmas lunch for the royal family. 

People reported that the 95-year-old monarch who hoped to host her extended family for an annual pre-Christmas bash next week, canceled the party as a precautionary measure amid a surge in COVID rates in the U.K. 

Sources told the publication that the monarch regret that the decision had to be made but felt it is the right thing to do under the circumstances. Palace officials on the other hand said it was a precautionary measure to avoid putting family members at risk by bringing a large group together at Windsor Castle.

The Queen’s decision to call off the lunch for the second year in a row comes as Britain reported a record 78,610 new infections from the virus on Wednesday December 15. 

The pre-Christmas meal is a longstanding tradition for the House of Windsor, assembling children, grandchildren, cousins and other members of the extended family before the queen leaves for Sandringham, her country estate in Norfolk, where she celebrates the holiday with her immediate family.

This holiday season also marks the Queen’s first one without her beloved husband Prince Philip by her side. The Duke of Edinburgh died in April at the age of 99.

The Queen is also expected to travel to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for Christmas with other members of the royal family unless the U.K. government mandates change amid the ongoing COVID pandemic.

This year’s planned royal family gathering at Sandringham is the latest sign that the Queen is on the mend following her October 20th hospitalization. After being told to rest by doctors, she canceled several engagements, including a last-minute decision to not appear at the Remembrance Day event due to a sprained back in November.

Brazil: Former Councillor and Mayor Settle Their Differences By Fighting In A Wrestling Ring While Hundreds Watch (Video)

Two feuding Brazilian politicians have settled their differences by fighting in a boxing ring.

Simão Peixoto, the Mayor of Borba, was publicly challenged to the fistfight in September by a former councillor named Erineu da Silva.

Silva, who uses the nickname Mirico, was reportedly furious at the mayor’s alleged failure to conserve a waterpark near the Madeira river and demanded a showdown with Peixoto.

Two feuding politicians settle their differences by fighting in a wrestling ring while hundreds watch

Mayor Peixoto

Peixoto accepted the challenge, publishing a video online indicating his readiness to fight Silva.

“Show your face!” the mayor told Silva.

Mayor Peixoto

The Borba mayor later softened his tone after some voters suggested that his conduct was unbecoming of an elected official.

Peixoto assured citizens he would only take part in an organised altercation inside a ring.

Two feuding politicians settle their differences by fighting in a wrestling ring while hundreds watch

“I’m not a street fighter…” he said on his official Facebook page in a video released early November. “I’m the mayor of the municipality of Borba.”

“[But] if he really wants to fight… we’re ready to fight… I’ve always been a winner.”

The fight eventually took place in the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 12, with hundreds of people paying to watch.

Two feuding politicians settle their differences by fighting in a wrestling ring while hundreds watch

Peixoto entered the ring at around 2.30am, surrounded by aides and carrying a black towel with the name “Jesus” stamped on it.

The mayor appeared in an aggressive mood, stamping on the platform and squaring up to his rival.

The fight lasted for 13 minutes. Peixoto’s team live-streamed it.

Two feuding politicians settle their differences by fighting in a wrestling ring while hundreds watch

In the opening seconds, the mayor, 39, briefly knocked Silva to the ground.

But Silva, aka Mirico, 45, fought back.

After three shambolic rounds for the challenger, “the mayor of Borba was almost unable to walk because of the number of low kicks he received from his adversary,” reported BNC Amazonas.

“The mayor took such a beating his jaw dropped,” another regional website, Fato Amazônico, reported.

However, Peixoto emerged victorious after three rounds in what has been termed “the brawl of Borba”.

“Strangely, Mirico lost on points,” Fato Amazônico reported.

Spectators reportedly shouted, disgusted with the result after the Mayor was declared winner.

Mikel Arteta speaks after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang loses Arsenal captaincy

Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta has broken his silence after stripping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the Arsenal captaincy in what he described as a “really unpleasant situation”.

A few minutes ago, the Gunners announced that Aubameyang would no longer be club captain and that the forward will not be considered for selection against West Ham on Wednesday night.

Aubameyang was axed from Saturday’s Premier League 3-0 win over Southampton for what manager Mikel Arteta said was a “disciplinary breach”, which reportedly concerned a late return from an approved trip abroad last week.

The Gabonese striker had traveled back to France last week Wednesday to go collect his sick mum and bring her back to England. 

He took to Instagram last week thanking fans for offering support. He wrote: ‘My mother is going through some health issues and I had to be there for her.

‘She’s already much better now… I’m more than grateful to the doctors and nurses helping her get through this.’ 

However, it had been agreed that Aubameyang would return later that evening to ensure he would be ready to train on Thursday. But he reportedly flew home on Thursday morning instead and current Covid testing protocols also meant that he was unable to return to training until he had produced a negative PCR test.

The club then made a decision today to strip Aubameyang of the Arsenal captaincy. 

Arsenal’s statement on Tuesday morning, December 14 said: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.

“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed. We are fully focused on tomorrow’s match.”

Arteta later faced the media just hours after the decision on Aubameyang was announced, and revealed he will not appoint a full-time successor to the 32-year-old striker as captain just yet.

He said: “Well we have the leadership group and we think that we have different players that are nominated to be captain in the last game it was Laca and we have Granit [Xhaka] as well who has been captain so we will follow that.

“Obviously, it is a really unpleasant situation and it is not the moment to make any rash decision.

“That leadership group is really strong, it is the one that communicates with myself and the coaching staff and the with the club in a really clear and strong way.

“We are going to continue like that and that is one of the decisions that we made, to make that group a little bit better and try to educate them and try and get the right feedback all the time and build that trust and the strong culture around the club.

“It is working really well so we will continue to do that.”

China will send its CID Officals in Nigeria to tackle insecurity

The Chinese government has offered to send a “high-level” delegation of criminal investigation experts to help Nigerian security agencies catch bandits and Boko Haram terrorists unleashing terror in Nigeria, particularly in the North.

“So now the (Chinese) central government made the decision to send a high-level delegation from the criminal investigation experts with real experience,” Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, disclosed.

“They come to Nigeria and get to talk to the people, the government, how can they find a way to work together to overcome the challenge they are facing.”

Mr Jianchun announced this on Wednesday, Dec. 15, in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the sideline of the October 1, China-Nigeria friendship award to students of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Mr Jianchun explained that the move by China was part of its support to tackling Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

According to the Chinese ambassador, the security experts will arrive in Nigeria soon.

Mr Jianchun added: “China’s central government is really concerned about the security situation in Nigeria and also the Chinese nationals in Nigeria. We are working hard on how we can get support from China,

“I think that it really concerns every Nigerian, and I believe this is not only about the Nigerian people and government, but also, we need international support.”

Kabiru Bala, the vice-chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, thanked the Chinese government for its support.

On the October 1 award to students of the university, Mr Kabiru Bala stressed that the gesture from the Chinese government through its embassy in Nigeria was a great encouragement to the students.

He said: “It is very edifying. When students excel, there is a need to recognise that excellence, and this is one of those gestures by the Chinese government through the Chinese Embassy.”

Obinwanne Okeke may leave U.S Federal Prisons in 2028 – Officials confirm

United States Federal Bureau of Prisons has announced that convicted Nigerian online fraudster, Obinwanne Okeke a.k.a Invictus Obi will be released in 2028. 

The Nigerian convict is currently being held at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Oakdale after being sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier in the year for his involvement in a computer-based intrusion fraud scheme that caused approximately $11 million in known losses to his victims. 

The U.S Federal Bureau of Prisons in a statement shared on its website, confirmed that Mr Okeke will be released in 2028. 

Prior to his sentencing, Okeke first denied the charges against him before entering a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. authorities. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on June 18, 2020.

His plea deal helped him secure withdrawal of the second charge of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, which carries lesser sentence and fines.

The prison where Mr Okeke is being held is an all-male inmates facility. Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Oakdale is a low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. There are 997 inmates in the FCI and 86 at the camp.

David Fuller, deadly man who killed and raped more than 100 corpses goes to jail for life

UK’s worst necrophiliac double murderer, David Fuller will be dying in jail after being handed two life sentences. 

The morgue monster reportedly assaulted and strangled Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce 20, to death before sexually assaulting them in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987. This became one of the UK’s longest unsolved double murder cases before Fuller’s arrest.

Man who killed two women and raped more than 100 corpses sentenced to life imprisonment

67-year-old Evil Fuller who went on to sexually abuse more than 100 female corpses in hospital mortuaries, was sentenced to life in prison for the double murders and was also given 12 years in jail for necrophilia on corpses, to run concurrently.

A 2019 DNA breakthrough led to his arrest and also exposed a stash of sickening recordings of himself abusing corpses. Samples left on Ms Knell’s duvet made Fuller one billion times more likely to be the killer, while cells on Ms Pierce’s tights made him 160,000 times closer a match than any other person, the CPS said.

Fuller also kept evidence of himself visiting the Buster Browns restaurant where Ms Pierce worked and photos in SupaSnaps sleeves, the company Ms Knell was employed at when she was killed.

Evidence of convicted burglar Fuller’s links to Romney Marsh through his history of cycling, bird-watching and holidaying in the area, was also uncovered.

Man who killed two women and raped more than 100 corpses sentenced to life imprisonment

Kent Police has now constituted a dedicated team of investigators, who will spend a year picking through Fuller’s sordid life to see if he is behind any other cold cases of missing women.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham who was asked if police are still investigating the morgue monster outside the court, said;

“We are.

“David Fuller – to go the level of offending that he did against Wendy and Caroline in 1987 – it must be unthinkable that there aren’t other offences that he’s committed before or even afterwards.

“Given the nature and length of time of his crimes, it is unthinkable he didn’t commit other offences.

“We have a team dedicated to this case, we will be looking at other cases of missing girls, rape offences and murders across the South East of England.

“We will spend about a year working in this, maybe more, reviewing these cases.

“There’s no evidence he committed other offences, but there’s a chance he did and we’re absolutely going to dig into this and investigate ever corner of his life and if find out if there’s evidence we can convict him of any other offences.

“We are delighted with today’s sentences and that Fuller will never see the light of day.

“The damage he has done to hundreds of families is unimaginable, this is the worst offending my team have ever seen.”

Man who killed two women and raped more than 100 corpses sentenced to life imprisonment

Fotheringham noted that the Kent Police received almost 750 calls from members of the public to its dedicated appeal line set up after Fuller changed his double murder pleas to guilty.

Commenting on the case, Libby Clark, senior crown prosecutor in the CPS South East Complex Casework Unit said; 

“David Fuller’s deeply distressing crimes are unlike any other I have encountered in my career and unprecedented in British legal history.

“This highly dangerous man has inflicted unimaginable suffering on countless families and he has only admitted his long-held secrets when confronted with overwhelming evidence.

“Fuller, with his uncontrolled sense of sexual entitlement, treated Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce with extreme depravity. Both women were simply at home or returning from work when he ambushed them.

“Their families never gave up on achieving justice even when all hope seemed lost. My thoughts are with them today and all the families of women and girls whose lives have been cut short by senseless violence.

“Fuller’s appalling crimes did not end with these killings and he went on to abuse his position of trust as a hospital electrician in the most grotesque manner imaginable.

“No British court has ever seen abuse on this scale against the dead before and I have no doubt he would still be offending to this day had it not been for this painstaking investigation and prosecution.”

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in $20B fraud that shocked many

In our review of high profile corruption trials today, two actors, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, faces trial in a $20 billion money laundering saga  that made even the devil look like a saint.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke is facing corruption charges in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.

Read on:

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday November 12, 2019, had given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until March 2020, to have a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, extradited to Nigeria.

The commission had in November 2018 filed 13 counts of money laundering against the ex-minister accusing her of unlawfully taking into her possession $39.7 million and N3.32 billion with which she allegedly bought choice properties in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, while she was in office.

The judge threatened to strike out the money laundering case should the anti-corruption agency fail to produce the defendant in court by March 2020.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Faruk Abdullah, had earlier pleaded with the judge to adjourn the case sine die (indefinitely), on the grounds that the EFCC was facing challenges in its bid to extradite the defendant from the United Kingdom.

Diezani has been in the United Kingdom facing corruption investigations since 2015 when she left office as minister.

The prosecution on November 11, 2018, filed the 13 counts of money laundering accusing Diezani of unlawfully taking into her possession $39.7 million and N3.32 million when she reasonably ought to have known that the money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.

She was said to have purchased choice landed assets with the money using different fronts as the owners.

In September 2013, she allegedly used the name of Rusimpex Limited to acquire a property named Block B3 comprising of six penthouses and 18 flats at Zone N Federal Government Layout, also known as Bella Vista Estate, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, with $37.5 million.

On June 4, 2012, she was said to have used the name of Azinga Meados Limited to buy 13 three-bedroom terrace houses with one room maids’ quarters at Mabushi Gardens Estate, Abuja, with N650 million.

In May 2012, she allegedly used the name of Chapel Properties to buy eight four-bedroom terrace houses, two three-bedroom penthouses, six three-bedroom apartments, two three-bedroom mansionette, two two-bedroom apartments, one four-bedroom apartment at No. 4/6 Thorbun Avenue, and No 5 Raymond Street, Yaba, Lagos, with N937 million.

She was also said to have in May 2012, purchased in the name of Blue Nile Estate Limited, 16 four-bedroom terrace houses, at Plot 2C, Omerelu Street Diobu GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with N928 million.

She was also said to have in January 2011, bought in the name of Vista Point Company Limited, six flats of three-bedrooms with one boy’s quarters each, lawn tennis court, gym, garden and appurtenances, at 135 Awolowo Road,/Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State, with N805 million.

The ex-minister was also said to have, in December 2011, bought in the name of Sequoyah Properties Limited a property at 12, Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, measuring 4,890 square metres with $2.2 million.

Her alleged offences which she was said to have committed between November 20, 2011 and September 2013 were contrary to section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act. Related Posts

In October 2009, the Nigerian Senate indicted Diezani Alison-Madueke and recommended her prosecution for the transfer of N1.2billion into the private account of a toll company without due process and in breach of concession agreement. On October 2, 2015.

She was arrested by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in London, along with four other people on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences.

The EFCC on February 25, 2019, informed Justice Valentine Ashi of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court sitting in Apo that it had written the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in respect of her extradition from the United Kingdom.

The Commission wrote the AGF with a view for the extradition process so as to enable her face her trial as she is still in the United Kingdom.

Recall that earlier, a Federal High Court in Lagos on 28 August, 2017 ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion ($21 million) alleged loot recovered from the former minister to the Federal Government.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka granted an application by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the government.

Also in another case before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, the judge had on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, ordered the final forfeiture of two properties in Lagos belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.

The properties are: Pent House 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor ( Bella Vista Estate) located at Plot 1, Zone N. Federal Government Layout, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The other is Pent House 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate), located at Gerrald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The properties are considered as proceeds of her involvement in corrupt practices worth billions of naira while serving as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources.

The case continues.

Meanwhile, in a recent development, tori me reported that the Court of Appeal Lagos Division, in a decision on November 26, 2021, upheld a lower court’s judgment that ordered the former Petroleum Minister to forfeit jewelries worth $40 million to the federal government.

The court, dismissed an appeal filed by the embattled former Minister challenging the forfeiture order, saying that there was no substance in Alison-Madueke’s application to overturn the lower court’s order.

Malaysia: Court Frees 4 Nigerians Sentenced To Death On Drug Charges

A Court of Appeal in Malaysia has freed four Nigerians, including two former students after taking their appeals on the case of drug trafficking.

In a report by Free Malaysia Today, a Nigerian trader, Chris Christian, and two former students, Mbachu Chibuzo and Mbuga Vincent, declined an offer by the prosecution to reduce their charges to possession of drugs.

Judge Kamaludin Md Said, who led a three-member panel after hearing submissions, said there was merit in their appeal to warrant an acquittal.

“The conviction by the trial judge is unsafe as there were serious errors of law,” said Kamaludin.

The three Nigerians allegedly trafficked 770gm of methamphetamine in front of a restaurant at Jalan Danau Kota in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, at about 5.50 pm on June 16, 2017.

They were convicted and sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court in 2020.
Lawyer Afifuddin Hafifi argued that the trial judge misdirected herself in law by shifting the burden of proof on the three men when such a requirement was always with the prosecution.

Afifuddin, who was assisted by Hafizuddin Salehuddin, said the prosecution also failed to call or offer four material witnesses when their defence was called. Related Posts

“The credibility of an agent provocateur to nab the three is also clearly in doubt,” he said, adding that there was a material contradiction between the agent provocateur and two other police officers.
Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who represented Vincent, said all three were jointly charged with common intention.

“My client was prejudiced as the trial judge did not consider the cautioned statements of Christian and Chibuzo,” said Hisyam.

He said had the trial judge considered the evidence of the other two, Vincent could not have been implicated in trafficking or possession.

The Deputy public prosecutor Nahra Dollah urged the bench to maintain the conviction, saying the trial judge did not commit an error in law.

In the second case, businessman Favour Chinedu Atashie was sentenced to 13 years in jail and ordered to be whipped 10 times for having 2.75kg of methamphetamine at the KLIA arrival terminal at 11.40 pm on July 20, 2014.

He was sentenced to death in 2018 but the prosecution accepted an oral representation on Monday, December 13 to have the charge reduced.

The same bench imposed the jail term and whipping after hearing the submission on sentencing from deputy public prosecutor Nurul Farhana Khalid.

Afifuddin, in mitigation, urged the bench to temper justice with mercy so that Atashie could serve his jail term before being deported home.

ex. Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu never wanted peace with Palestinians – Donald Trump says

Former US President, Donald Trump said in an interview published Monday that he does not believe former Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was ever serious about signing a peace deal with Palestinians.


“I don’t think Bibi ever wanted to make peace,” Trump said to Axios news journalist Barak Ravid. 


“I think he just tapped us along. Just tap, tap, tap, you know?”. He was referring to Netanyahu using his nickname.


Trump’s criticism comes after he blasted Netanyahu last week, saying Netanyahu was disloyal because he dared to congratulate US President Joe Biden on his election win in November of last year despite the many good things his administration did for Israel..


During Trump’s time, US acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital, signed peace deals between Israel and Arab states, UAE, Bahrain and Jordan and stopped the Iran nuclear deal orchestrated in 2015 by the Obama administration.

On Monday, December 13, Trump, the self-styled ‘king of the deal’, said he read Netanyahu’s no-peace mindset like a book.


“My whole life is deals. I’m like one big deal,” Trump told Ravid, who did the interview for a book on Trump and the Middle East. “That’s all I do, so I understand it.” He sai


“And after meeting with Bibi for three minutes … I stopped Bibi in the middle of a sentence. I said, ‘Bibi, you don’t want to make a deal. Do you?’ And he said, ‘Well, uh, uh uh’ — and the fact is, I don’t think Bibi ever wanted to make a deal.”


Ravid also said Trump told him Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was not the roadblock to peace and he had high praise for the Abbas.


“I thought he was terrific,” Trump said of Abbas. “He was almost like a father. Couldn’t have been nicer. I thought he wanted to make a deal more than Netanyahu.”


He then criticized Abbas, saying he talked out of both sides of his mouth, speaking in a “warlike” manner in public but in friendly tones in face-to-face meetings.


Trump is not the first US president to identify Netanyahu as an obstacle on the road to peace with Palestine.


Former US president, Bill Clinton said in a 2014 interview that Bibi was unlikely to be “the guy” to enter into a peace deal, while Barack Obama had strained relations with the former Israeli leader.

UK removes Nigeria from Covid omicron red list

The UK government has announced that all 11 countries will be removed from the UK’s travel red list from 4am on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are countries placed on the list in late November after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

However, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Omicron variant had spread so widely that the rules no longer make much effect.

He told parliament today, Dec. 14: “Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad.

“Whilst we will maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow morning.”

Currently, all UK arrivals from red list countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days. They must also take Covid tests within 48 hours of setting off for the UK and PCR tests within two days of their arrival. 

Cardi B wishes Offset happy birthday

Cardi B wrote a moving birthday message to celebrate Offset.

The rapper turned 30 on Dec 14 and Cardi shared photos of them together.

In the caption, she extolled his best qualities and expressed her love for him.

She wrote:

Happy birthday to my huuuuusband, best friend and babydaaadddyyy. I love you so much and I’m so proud of you. We have overcome so much together. I love the man that you’re becoming and I love the father that you are. Thank you for always being there for me, for being a great confidant and advisor and for never allowing me to sell myself short. I’m so lucky to have you as a partner raising our beautiful kids. You have soo many projects and businesses that you are managing and leading yet you have helped me so much in this journey wit our two babies. May life keep blessing you and you continue to thrive. I’m so excited for the world to see what you got coming. I love you!! We turning up tonight and next week for your party

"We have overcome so much together" Cardi B showers Offset with encomium to mark his birthday

Nnamdi Kanu has some comfort and luxury in custody – DSS says

The Department of State Services has countered claim of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu being maltreated in its custody.

Recall that the seperatist leader filed a lawsuit against against the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN and the Department of State Service DSS (DSS) on Monday December 13. 

Kanu is seeking for an order from the Federal High court in Abuja to compel the DSS to allow him access food, medical care and clothes of his choice. He stated that despite an order of the court, he has neither been allowed to have a change of clothing nor practice his religion in detention.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday December 14, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya stated that Kanu enjoys the best treatment in custody which is obtainable anywhere in the country.

Describing claim of the IPOB leader being starved as “fallacious”, Afunanya added that adequate attention is paid to Kanu’s health and he is allowed to practice his religion. 

He said; 

“The service denies all the inciting allegations by IPOB and state that Nnamdi Kanu is not in a anyway maltreated in custody.

“Accusation of maltreatment negate the services standard operation procedure on the implementation of rights of a suspect.

“Nnamdi Kanu enjoys full luxury in the holding facility in comparable of any of it type any where in the country. He is accorded full rights and privileges. He is never denied his rights of worship of freedom from his religious practice.

“Adequate attention is paid to Kanu’s health. He has unhindered access to the best medical care and doctors.

“The story of Kanu being starved is fallacious. He could not have been starved as he enjoys meals of his choice. That he is not allowed change of clothing is also false. He is regularly allowed change of clothing as against what is presented to the public by IPOB propagandists.

“It is unfortunate that some elements decided to use outright misinformation to represent the state of affairs.”

New COVID pill almost 90% effective – Pfizer says

Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, has announced that it has produced 180,000 treatment pills ready for use this year and plans to produce at least 80 million in 2022.

According to Pfizer, the final analysis of its antiviral COVID-19 pill showed close to 90 percent efficacy in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients.


The company says recent lab data suggested the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

There are currently no oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 according to the WHO.


Pfizer’s remarks came on Tuesday,  December 14, after it said last month the drug was about 89 percent effective in preventing hospitalisations or deaths when compared with placebo based on interim results in about 1,200 people.


But the new data includes an additional 1,000 people.


Nobody in the trial who received the Pfizer treatment died, compared with 12 deaths among placebo recipients.


The Pfizer pills are taken with the older antiviral ritonavir every 12 hours for five days beginning shortly after the onset of symptoms.


The drug’s name will be Paxlovid, if it is authorized by health authorities.


Pfizer also released early data from a second clinical trial showing that the treatment reduced hospitalisations by approximately 70 percent in about 600 standard-risk adults.

“It’s a stunning outcome,” Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said in an interview.


“We’re talking about a staggering number of lives saved and hospitalisations prevented. If you deploy this quickly after infection, we are likely to reduce transmission dramatically,” Dolsten added.

The US government has already secured 10 million courses of the Pfizer drug for $5.29bn.

O.J. Simpson leaves Prison

O.J. Simpson is now completely a free man.

The 74-year-old former football hero and actor, convicted of armed robbery after his famous 1995 acquittal for the murder of estranged wife Nicole Brown Simpson,  has been granted early release from parole over the 2007 heist in Las Vegas.

“Mr. Simpson is a completely free man now,” his Nevada lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne, told the Associated Press on Tuesday December 14.

Simpson, 74, was convicted in October 2008 for leading five men, two of them armed, into a Las Vegas casino-hotel a year earlier to confront two sports collectible dealers.

The former Buffalo Bills star running back had claimed he was simply trying to retrieve items from his NFL career that had been stolen. But the jury didn’t see it that way.

Simpson served nine years behind bars before being released on parole in 2017. He was supposed to be under parole supervision until Feb. 9 but got time trimmed off for good behavior, state police said Tuesday.

His official release date was Dec. 1, police said.

Simpson has remained in a gated community in Nevada, where he’s a regular on the golf course since his release from prison.

Despite a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, Simpson is more widely known for his murder trial in the death of his estranged wife and her pal Ronald Goldman.

Tenants to pay monthly house rent in 2022- Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirms

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said his administration will enforce a monthly tenancy on property occupancy from 2022 to alleviate annual financial pressure on tenants.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said this during the inauguration of 744 units Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Phase one) in Sangotedo., on Tuesday, December 14.

“The state government is set for the enforcement of a monthly tenancy on property occupancy from 2022. It is confirmed that the percentage of residents depending on tenancy arrangements for housing in Lagos State is quite high.

“While building homes for those with home ownership dreams, we are also determined to cater for numerous others who may not have plans to own homes but have immediate needs for decent shelter.

“The monthly tenancy is a pro-people plan to reduce financial pressure of yearly rent on tenants. The goal of this policy is to equate rental arrangements with a mode of earning which is by and large monthly.”

The governor added that a legislative review was ongoing to reduce rent default.

“We have talked through this policy and an agreement has been reached by representatives of tenants, financiers and the state government. This however should not be a cause of discontent or alarm for landlords or real estate agencies. Adequate legislative review is being done to ensure that rental default is reduced to the barest minimum,” he added

EFCC arrests a lady and her accomplices with over $400,000 fake USD notes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested members of a syndicate that specialize in the production and sale of counterfeit foreign currencies, especially the dollar, to unsuspecting members of the public.

Spokesperson of the agency, Wilson Uwujaren, said the four suspects usually sold counterfeited foreign currencies to unsuspecting members of the public.

He said the suspects were arrested at Swiss Pearl Continental Hotel, Koforidua Street, in the Wuse 2 Area of Abuja, in a joint operation of the operatives of the EFCC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. He mentioned that fake currencies of U.S. dollar worth $427,400 were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

The suspects include a woman, Princess Fashanu Adesina. Others are John Ogbaje, Emmanuel Bassey and Chidi Nwanchukwu. They volunteered useful statements which eventually led to the arrest of the syndicate’s kingpin, one Chief Douglas Mbonu on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

Uwujaren warned members of the public to be wary of the activities of fraud syndicates masquerading as Bureau de Change operators, seeking to exploit the desperation of some citizens sourcing for forex for various purposes to defraud them of their hard-earned monies.

He said citizens are advised to source their forex from commercial banks in line with the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria to minimize the risk of exposure to fraud syndicates.

Peter Nielsen, late Alizee’s husband, has been arrested and remanded at the Ikoyi prison (Photo)

The trial of Danish man, Peter Nielsen, for allegedly killing his Nigerian wife and daughter at the Lagos state High Court continued on Tuesday, December 14, with the suspect telling the court that he did not immediately realize his wife and daughter had died when he found them lying on the ground in their apartment.

Peter Nielsen1
Alleged Murder: Danish man tells court he woke up and found his Nigerian wife and daughter dead
Peter Nielsen 2

The Lagos State Government has accused the defendant of smothering his Nigerian wife and singer, Zainab, and their three-year-old daughter, Petra, to death on April 5, 2018, at their residence on Banana Island, Ikoyi. Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the two counts of murder which contravene Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. 

During his cross-examined by the prosecution counsel for the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Adebayo Haroun, on Tuesday, Nielsen told the court that when he woke up around 2:30 am on April 5, 2018, he got snacks and drinks for his wife and daughter before going back to sleep, adding that he did not perceive the “smell of gas” in their room at that time.

According to him, when he woke up in the morning and did not see his wife on their bed, he went to search for her. He said when he later saw his wife and daughter in their kitchen, believing they were unconscious, he took her to the living room and asked one of those living with them to carry his daughter.

“I covered my wife and daughter with blankets after I tried to resuscitate them but realised that they had died,” the defendant testified when asked if he knew Zainab and Petra were dead before a doctor arrived.

It was learnt that the defendant was also asked to confirm some evidence given to the court by their housekeeper, one Evelyn, the second prosecution witness. The defendant, while answering the questions, confirmed what Evelyn had given in evidence. Nielsen, however, disclosed that the housekeeper used to enter the kitchen through the back door or front door, depending on what she had to do. He said the housekeeper was staying at the boy’s quarters adjoining their residence.

The prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment of the case, saying he got a call that required him to attend to a personal matter.

Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile, therefore, adjourned the case until January 11, 2022, for the continuation of the hearing.

Malta legalises the personal cultivation and use of cannabis

Malta has become the first EU country to legalise the personal cultivation and use of cannabis.

The law, approved in parliament on Tuesday December 14 , with 36 votes to 27, allows adults in Malta to possess up to seven grams of cannabis and grow up to four plants. But smoking in public or in front of children will still be illegal.

The legislative package will also establish an authority to oversee the sale to adults from non-profit organisations.

The law was promoted by Equality Minister Owen Bonnici who said it amounted to a “harm reduction” plan and would stop “treating people who are not criminals like criminals”.

He denied accusations from the opposition Nationalist Party that the bill would normalise and encourage drug abuse on the island.

The Nationalist Party’s leader Bernard Grech – who initially supported the new law, previously said it would “only lead to the strengthening of the illegal market, with organised crime taking advantage”.

But Mr. Bonnici wrote in the Sunday Times of Malta: “The government is in no way urging adults to resort to cannabis use or promoting a cannabis culture. The government always urges people to make healthier choices”.

Opponents of the measures have urged the country’s president, George Vella, not to sign the legislation into law, a ceremonial final stage of the lawmaking process.

Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland have all announced plans to establish a legally regulated cannabis market.

In 2013, Uruguay legalised cannabis for personal use, the first in the world to do so, followed by Canada in 2018.

The most-viewed artist on TikTok in 2021 is Ed Sheeran !

Ed Sheeran has been crowned the most-viewed musical artist on video-sharing platform TikTok for 2021, according to figures from the video-sharing platform.

The popstar, 30, launched three exclusive single previews from his album Equals on TikTok this year, and 5.5 million people tuned in to watch his record-breaking live performance at the Uefa Euro 2020 show, the social media platform has revealed in its Year On TikTok Music Report.

The report, an analysis of the songs and artists who have “dominated” the platform in the UK this year, features singer Sam Ryder in second position, with KSI and Yungblud following on in the top five.

Singer and The Voice coach Anne-Marie, Mimi Webb, The Stickmen and The 202 Band also feature in the top 10 most-viewed artist accounts.

Sheeran achieved the record after gathering 10 million TikTok followers and garnering 80 million likes, leading to him overtaking last year’s leading artist, Essex-based singer-songwriter Ryder, for the number of people viewing the account.

The musician, who released the album Equals in October, also had the ‘most new followers’ on TikTok this year.

Canadian Govt agrees to pay $40B compensation for Indigenous children and families

Canada has pledged up to C$40bn ($31bn; £23.6bn) in compensation for indigenous children and families who suffered discrimination while in foster care.

In September, a top court upheld a 2016 ruling that the government underfunded First Nations services compared with those for non-indigenous children.

It ordered C$40,000 ($31,350; £23,340) payouts to each child who was in the on-reserve welfare system after 2006.

Indigenous peoples in Canada (also known as Aboriginals or First Nations) are the indigenous peoples within the boundaries of Canada. They comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis.


For more than 100 years, Canadian authorities forcibly separated thousands of Indigenous children from their families and made them attend residential schools, which aimed to sever Indigenous family and cultural ties and assimilate the children into white Canadian society. The schools also forced the children to abandon their beliefs and religion and become christians.

In this schools, many children were underfed, bullied and sexually abused. In the last decade, indigenous families and civil rights groups took the Canadian government to court seeking for damages done to indigenous children and their families in the last century.

The settlement money is to cover the cost of settling a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order, two class action lawsuits and long-term reform of the Indigenous child welfare system over a five year period.


“It’s a positive announcement, but what we need to see how this actually lands in terms of payments for children and families,” said Cindy Blackstock, the executive director the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

In 2019, the tribunal ordered Ottawa to pay $40,000 — the maximum allowed under the Canadian Human Rights Act — to each child, along with their primary guardian, who attended on-reserve child welfare system from at least Jan. 1, 2006, to a date to be determined by the tribunal.

Canada agrees to pay $40B compensation for Indigenous children and families


It also directed the federal government to pay $40,000 to each First Nations child, along with their primary guardian, who was denied services or forced to leave home to access services covered by the policy known as Jordan’s Principle.

“We reflect on 30 years of failure and discrimination toward Indigenous children in the child welfare system,” Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller told reporters at Parliament Hill.


“This is 30 years of the cost of failure, and that cost is high.”

Miller said the $40 billion figure has not been finalized. He pointed to ongoing “fragile conversations” taking place between the federal government and Indigenous leaders, which could alter how much the government eventually offers. 

Miller said the goal of those changes is “to make sure we are not repeating the model that has ripped children from their families into care.”


The parties have agreed to negotiate until a self-imposed deadline of Dec. 31.

Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, filed the original complaint with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in 2007. She now says the fight won’t be over until discrimination against First Nations children ends. 

“If we can stop it, it will be the first time since Confederation that a generation of First Nations kids don’t have to grow up spending their whole childhood trying to be treated equally as other kids in public services,” she said. 


‘Money does not mean justice’

The AFN welcomed the government’s commitment.


“There’s not enough money ever to repair the harms that the system has done to people,” said AFN Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, who is in the negotiations.


“I don’t think any amount of money is ever going to change that brokenness … But it shows that there was harm done and we have to find a path forward.”

‘No counselling or reconciliation effort will repair our marriage’ Kim Kardashian says to Kanye West

Kim Kardashian has again explained why she wants to end her marriage to her estranged husband Kanye West as soon as possible. 

The 41-year-old reality show star who filed documents to move forward with her divorce and requested to be legally single after she first filed for divorce from the rapper in February, asked to have child custody and also for property matters to be seperated from her marital status.

In the court documents obtained by People on Monday December 13, Kim revealed that her marriage to Kanye West has “irremediably broken down and she no longer desires to be married.” She also said “there are simply no compelling reasons not to grant a motion to bifurcate and terminate marital status in this case.”

The mom of four also said “there is no possibility of saving the marriage through counseling or other means.”

The court document read; 

“The parties’ marriage has irremediably broken down. [Kardashian] no longer desires to be married to [West].

 “There are simply no compelling reasons not to grant a motion to bifurcate and terminate marital status in this case.

 “There is no question that the marriage of the parties is no longer viable. [Kardashian] has no desire to reconcile with [West] and wants their marriage terminated. Irreconcilable differences have led to the irremediable breakdown of the marriage, and there is no possibility of saving the marriage through counseling or other means. The continued maintenance of technical marital status between [West] and [Kardashian] serves no useful purpose, and there is no reason to maintain the legal relationship.

“Irreconcilable differences have existed and continue to exist between [West] and me, which have caused our marriage to irretrievably break down. No counseling or reconciliation effort will be of any value at this time.

“[West] and I both deserve the opportunity to build new lives. Therefore, I am asking that my request to bifurcate and terminate our marital status be granted.”

Though Kardashian argued that West has been unresponsive in legal matters pertaining to their divorce, he has repeatedly made public pleas to get back together with his ex. Last Thursday, West dedicated his song “Runaway” to Kardashian while performing at the Free Larry Hoover concert with Drake at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

“I need you to run right back to me, baby,” West said in his lyrics, adding, “more specifically, Kimberly.” The reality show star was in attendance with their two eldest kids, North and Saint, as well as her sister Kendall Jenner and mom Kris Jenner.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West started dating in 2012 and got married in May 2014. They share four children: daughters North, 8, and Chicago, 3½, as well as sons  Saint, 6, and Psalm, 2½.

Facebook and Zoom to start charging 7.5% VAT from Nigerian users

Days after Facebook announced that it will charge 7.5% from Nigerian users on each advert placement, Zoom has also followed suit.

Zoom Video Communications Inc. announced on Monday December 13 that it will begin to charge 7.5 percent value-added tax (VAT) on customers in Nigeria from January 1, 2022.

The company said this is due to the new VAT policy in Nigeria. Customers who are registered for VAT in Nigeria are advised to provide their valid Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs).

The statement read;

“For customers with a sold to address in Nigeria, Zoom will begin applying VAT to invoices and remitting the VAT collected through Zoom’s VAT registration in Nigeria in accordance with the new rules relating to Value Added Tax for Non-Resident Suppliers of Electronically Supplied Services.

“Zoom is routinely evaluating its indirect tax collection and remittance obligations. The application of these taxes to businesses with online activities is a complex and evolving area.

“This applies if you are registered for VAT in Nigeria and if you are not registered for VAT in Nigeria.

“Zoom continues to review such developments, as well as the nature and extent of its activities in different jurisdictions, and, based on such regular review, will start charging indirect taxes where applicable.

“To provide your TIN, please complete the following steps:

“Sign in to the Zoom Portal.

“In the navigation panel, click Account Management, then Billing.

Click the Billing Information tab.

“Under Sold to Contact, choose to edit the TIN (which appears after the Sold to Contact Address field).

“Enter your TIN and click save.

“You are required to notify us if there is a change in your VAT registration status.

“The company said it will only be collecting VAT for invoices generated on or after January 1, 2022.

“Invoices prior to this date will not be impacted.”

Breaking! Marriages conducted with Federal Marriage Registries, including Ikoyi Registry, are invalid

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has ruled that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages.

The court, presided over by Justice D. E. Osiagor, held that only the local government marriage registries are empowered to do such by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He submitted that the conduct of marriages and issuance of certificates are statutorily the job of the local governments as provided by the law.

The judge added that the acts of the federal government through the Ministry of Interior, operating marriage registries is beyond their powers and held that all marriages conducted by federal marriage registries or through their agents are illegal and invalid.

He consequently ordered the closure of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of Ikoyi marriage registry, with immediate effect.

There has been a legal battle between some local government areas in Nigeria against the federal government over who has the power to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates.

The LGAs had insisted that their power to register marriages was being taken over by the federal government through the Ministry of Interior.

This prompted the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State to go to court, where it sought an order to take over the popular Ikoyi Marriage Registry being operated by the Ministry of Interior, on the grounds that the federal government, through the ministry, had no business operating a marriage registry.

Sergei Tikhanovsky, Belarus opposition leader, jailed for 18 years

A Belarusian court has sentenced Sergei Tikhanovsky, an opposition presidential candidate who was jailed ahead of last year’s disputed election, to 18 years in a maximum-security prison.

Tikhanovsky, 43, is a popular YouTube blogger who criticized strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko and helped galvanize last year’s protests against his rule. Authorities accused him of using his blog to promote the violent overthrow of the Belarusian government.

Following a months-long trial behind closed doors at a detention centre in the southeastern city of Gomel, the court found Tikhanovsky, 43, guilty of organising riots and inciting social hatred, among other charges, state newspaper Sovetskaya Belarus reported.

The court also handed down lengthy sentences to several of Tikhanovsky’s associates. Dmitry Popov, a Russian citizen who acted as social media manager for Tikhanovsky’s YouTube channel Country for Life, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Belarus opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky jailed for 18 years

Another high-profile co-defendant in the case, 29-year-old Igor Losik, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday December 14.

He had been detained in the summer of 2020 and accused of using his popular channel on messenger app Telegram to incite riots

Tikhanovsky’s verdicts can be appealed within 10 days. 

The verdict comes after fellow Lukashenko challenger Viktor Babaryko was sentenced to 14 years in prison in July.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, claimed a sweeping victory in last year’s elections, sparking historic street protests that were met with a brutal crackdown.

Tikhanovsky’s wife, self-exiled Belarus democracy icon Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, denounced the verdict.

“The dictator publicly takes revenge on his strongest opponents,” she wrote on Twitter after her husband was handed the sentence.

“While hiding the political prisoners in closed trials, he hopes to continue repressions in silence. But the whole world watches. We won’t stop,” she added in English.

“I worked as a driver in the 90s to make ends meet” – Vladimir Putin recounts

Vladimir Putin has spoken of how the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 caused so much economic damage, that he had to work as a taxi driver to supplement his income.

Putin described the Soviet Union break-up as the collapse of historical Russia saying it forced many Russians to seek new ways to earn money.

The remarks by the strong man, comes as Russia amasses more than 90,000 troops on its border with Ukraine ( a former Soviet Republic) and there are fears it is planning to invade.


Russia denies this, accusing Ukraine of provocation and seeking guarantees against eastward Nato expansion.

The remarks by Putin come from a documentary film called Russia, Latest History, aired on Sunday, December 12.


“It was a disintegration of historical Russia under the name of the Soviet Union,” he said, adding that in the West it was believed that the further disintegration of Russia was only a matter of time.

Putin views the collapse as a tragedy and talks for the first time about his personal difficulties at the time.


“Sometimes I had to earn extra money,” he said.


“I mean, earn extra money by car, as a private driver. It’s unpleasant to talk about to be honest, but unfortunately that was the case.”

In the early 90s, taxis were a rarity in Russia, and many individuals with cars would give rides to strangers to help make ends meet. Some would even use work vehicles such as ambulances to do taxis.


Before Putin entered politics he worked for the Soviet spy agency, the KGB.


In the early 1990s he worked in the office of St Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. He maintains that he resigned from the KGB after the August 1991 coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev which led to the break-up of the USSR.

‘5G will improve Nigeria’s security challenges’ – Pantami

Minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami has said that deployment of 5G technology in the country will help address security challenges in the country. 

Speaking at the auction of the 3.5 GHz spectrum organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission in Abuja on Monday December 13, Pantami stated that 5G has no adverse effect and this has been confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Telecommunication Union.

The Minister said; 

“We feel that if 5G is utilized effectively by our security institutions, it will go a long way in addressing many security challenges we have in Nigeria. Firstly, there are many benefits of 5G over 4G, 3G, and even 2G, particularly the mutual authentification of its network and because its network is encrypted.

“So this will provide an avenue for our security institutions to leverage on the technology and deploy many emerging technologies in the country to handle security challenges we are being confronted with.

“Today, if you want to address things like insecurity, you’ll need things like robotics, artificial intelligence, data analytics. All these emerging technologies cannot be deployed effectively without 5G because 5G gives you real time communication. With this real time communication, all these gadgets can be deployed and utilised effectively to handle security challenges and this is the approach globally. 

“At the top of our agenda to support 5G deployment is to support our security institutions to provide a network so that they will leverage on and address the security challenges head-on.”

“I paid her bride price” – man marries a woman twice his age

A 35-year-old Kenyan man who married a white woman twice his age, has revealed that he paid her bride price. 

Bernard Musyoki who married 70-year-old Deborah insisted that his love is genuine in an interview with a local publication, and also disclosed that he paid paid Ksh100 as her bride price.

Musyoki said they met on Facebook in 2017 and was he supposed to travel to the US to meet her in 2018, but was denied a visa.

He said; 

I sent her a friend request, after a week, I asked her to marry me and she accepted. We even exchanged vows inbox.”

They kept communicating, and on December 29, 2020, the woman decided to travel to Kenya to meet her prince charming.

Musyoki revealed that Deborah’s parents passed on years ago and he had to negotiate for dowry payment with her and her children.

He said; 

“They said they wanted only Ksh100 and told me to take it to church as an offering and she said that’s my dowry.”

Musyoki further revealed that Deborah’s children are also older than him but they relate well. He said when their mother told them she had found love again, they accepted him and supported their relationship.

Elon Musk is the ‘Time Magazine’s Person’ of the Year 2021

Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla CEO, was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2021 on Monday, December 13.

Musk, 50, made history this year after his space company, SpaceX completed the first all-civilian crew mission into space.


He also overtook Jeff Bezos as the world’s richest man.

Elon Musk named Time Magazine?s Person of the Year 2021


‘The richest man in the world does not own a house and has recently been selling off his fortune. He tosses satellites into orbit and harnesses the sun; he drives a car he created that uses no gas and barely needs a driver,’ Time wrote.


‘With a flick of his finger, the stock market soars or swoons. An army of devotees hangs on his every utterance. He dreams of Mars as he bestrides Earth, square-jawed and indomitable. Lately, Elon Musk also likes to live-tweet his poops.’


Musk had a net worth of $265.4billion as of Monday. He edged out fellow billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whose aerospace company Blue Origin lost a lawsuit against Nasa over a $2.9billion lunar lander contract awarded to SpaceX.

More additional taxes in 2022 – Finance minister confirms

Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed has hinted on the possible introduction of new tariffs and levies in 2022.

Zainab who disclosed that the economy is now on a recovery path while addressing stakeholders at a public hearing on the 2021 Finance Bill organsied by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance in Abuja on Monday December 13, added that a couple of reforms and amendments had been recommended in the draft 2021 Finance amendment bill and  more will be introduced in the middle of 2022.

The minister noted that modest changes had been proposed but more fiscal reforms are still in view as the ministry could not take all the proposals collected from stakeholders.

Revealing that the finance ministry worked with relevant stakeholders and Fiscal Policy Reform Committee to draft the 2021 Finance bill, Zainab also said the bill was a product of the President Muhmmadu Buhari’s commitment made while presenting the 2022 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly on October 8, 2021.

She also disclosed that the ongoing legal cases in court against the Federal Government on VAT and Stamp Duties, kept the ministry off those areas. The Minister however said that the provision in the draft bill is proposing to amend the Capital Gains Tax Act, Company Income Tax, FIRS Establishment Act, Personal Income Tax, Stamp Duties Act and Tertiary Education Act, Value Added Tax, Insurance Police Trust Fund and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

She said; 

”Our aspiration is to do a midterm review with a possibility of another Finance Bill in mid-year 2022 to bring in more amendments.

“We prepared this draft bill along five reform areas, the first domestic revenue mobilisation, the second is tax administration and legislative drafting, third is International taxation, fourth is financial sector reforms and tax equity and fifth is improving public financial management reform.

“The provision in the draft bill is proposing to amend the Capital Gains Tax Act, Company Income Tax, FIRS Establishment Act, Personal Income Tax, Stamp Duties Act and Tertiary Education Act, Value Added Tax, Insurance Police Trust Fund and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

“This is to amend the Police Trust Fund Act and the Nigerian Trust Fund Acts, the purpose is to empower the FIRS to collect the Nigerian trust fund levies on companies on behalf of the fund itself.

“Currently, because there is no such provision, the FIRS is unable to start collecting on behalf of the fund. Also, it is to streamline the tax and the levy collection from the Nigerian companies in line with Mr President’s administration ease of doing business policy.

“So we do not have NASENI going out to collect that tax, the FIRS will collect on their behalf during their collection process and it will be passed through to them.”

Man directs Armed robbers to his employer’s house but the gang mistakenly stormed home ex. Policeman who killed three of them

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested a man who sold out his employer to q gang of five armed robbers that later on mistakenly stormed the house of a former Central Investigations Department (CID) Homicide detective, Joseph Nemaisa. 

The suspect, Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga, 21, was arrested in connection with the armed robbery incident that occurred at Nemaisa’s Chadcombe residence on 6th December 2021.

The incident resulted in Nemaisa shooting dead three of the five armed robbers, who had scaled a precast security wall at his residence and tortured his family. 

Two other robbery suspects identified as former police officer Francis Takura and a soldier, Virimai Nyandoro (37) escaped the shooting, but were later arrested. They allegedly got away with US$850, a laptop, a mobile phone, and a shotgun.

Nemaisa, who retired after 19 years of service to take up a career as a lawyer, was not home. He arrived within minutes after getting a call from his son and took on the balaclava-clad gang, shooting three dead, including two soldiers. 

The informant, Nyamhunga, who is employed by Top Parts and Tyres Company, on Saturday, December 11, appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga, who remanded him in custody to December 28 pending trial.

Confirming the development, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner, Paul Nyathi said the robbery suspect revealed that the target was supposed to be some houses away after an employee hatched a plan for his boss to be robbed.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga (21) in connection with the armed robbery incident which occurred at Joseph Nemaisa’s Chadcombe residence on 6th December 2021,” he stated. 

“Comprehensive Police investigations have revealed that, Nemaisa’s family was a case of wrong target as Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga had given his accomplices some information on some cash transactions by a Company where he is employed

“He told his accomplices that the money is kept at his employer’s house in Chadcombe. The employer stays about four to five houses away from Nemaisa’s residence

“The attack on Nemaisa’s residence is therefore a case of mistaken identity or target as Shine Tanaka Nyamhunga was in constant touch with Tariro Gora with a view of having his employer targeted by the armed robbers,” said Ass Comm Nyathi 


He said the suspects are now linked to five (5) counts of armed robbery which occurred in Marondera, Belvedere, Hatfield, Cold Comfort, Mabelreign in Harare, where property worth more than US$52 300- 00 was stolen.

“Investigations to link the suspects to more other cases are still underway as Police are hunting other suspects and accomplices linked to the gang. The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns all criminals that Police has stepped up efforts to pluck them out and bring sanity to all communities. Members of the Public are urged to continue cooperating with the Police on all crime matters.” he added. 

Mazi Kanu drags DSS to court over denial of fundamental rights in custody

Nnamdi Kanu on Monday, December 13, slammed a fresh suit against the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN and the Department of State Service DSS (DSS).

In the fresh suit, Kanu is seeking an order from the Federal High court in Abuja to compel the DSS to allow him access food, medical care and clothes of his choice.

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, accused the DSS of grossly violating his fundamental human rights.

Kanu, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS1585/2021, filed through one of his lawyers, Mr. Maxwell Chibuike Okpara, alleged that a doctor engaged by the security agency has extracted his blood over 21 times.

The IPOB leader bemoaned that despite an order of the court, he has neither been allowed to have a change of clothing nor to practice his religion in detention.

Kanu also applied for another order against DSS to allow him make arrangements for his food by himself at his own expense.

The suit was supported by an affidavit of urgency that was deposed to by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel.

The affidavit in support of the suit read in part: “The Applicant is a Nigerian citizen who is entitled to the enjoyment of the fundamental rights enshrined in chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Article 5 and 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

“The Respondents have deprived the Applicant access to facility and material to practice his faith and ultimately prevented the Applicant from praying and/or practicing his faith, and the aforesaid constitute a breach of the Applicant’s right to practice his religion.

“The Respondents prevented the Applicant from having access to a medical practitioner and legal practitioner of his choice.

“The Respondent subjected the Applicant to solitary confinement which is a form of mental and physical torture and as such subjects the Applicant to inhuman and degrading treatment and in turn constitutes a violation of Section 34(1)(a) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

“The Applicant’s right not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment and torture/humiliation is enshrined in Section 34(1)(a) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

“Order (ii) Rule (i) of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 209 empowers any person who alleges that any of the fundamental rights to which he is entitled to is being, has been, or is likely to be infringed upon to apply to the court for a redress.

“The Respondents have no justification to have subjected the Applicant to indignity, humiliation, mental torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.”

The suit is among other things, seeking, “An order directing the Respondents to immediately allow the Applicant access to facility and material for the practice of his religion.

“An order of this court directing the Respondents to immediately allow the Applicant to appointing an independent Medical Practitioner of his choice from a certified government hospital to review the Applicant’s medical files.

“An order directing the Respondents to allow the Applicant access to a medical practitioner of his choice and a legal practitioner of his choice.

“An order of this court directing the Respondents to immediately remove the Applicant from solitary confinement.

As well as, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents, their authorized agents by whatever name so called, from further disturbing or interfering with the rights of the Applicant to dignity of human person and freedom thought, conscience and religion or in any way infringing on the constitutional rights of the Applicant as guaranteed by law or from making any attempt capable of violating the Applicant’s rights as guaranteed under the Constitution.”

Mosquito bite in Nigeria: Australian model undergoes 36 surgeries and has both feet amputated after malaria infection

A 52-year-old Australian socialite, Stephenie Rodriguez, has narrated how she got her two feet amputated and endured an 18-month nightmare when she contracted cerebral malaria from a mosquito bite during a visit to Lagos.

Australian socialite undergoes 36 surgeries and has both feet amputated after mosquito bite in Nigeria
Australian socialite undergoes 36 surgeries and has both feet amputated after mosquito bite in Nigeria

In a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the single mother and digital entrepreneur said she had visited Lagos in 2019 to speak at a business gathering for travel executives. She said during the gathering, she and the invited guests were asked to assemble outside for a photo shoot next to a pool of stagnant water. She said it was while she was there that she got bitten three times by a mosquito on her left ankle.

Armed with enough insect repellant, Rodriguez said she conscientiously doused herself in insect repellant but did not take any anti-malaria drugs because of the bad reaction she suffered when she took one sometime back.

”The organisers asked me to go outside for a photo shoot with delegates. They had drones, shot B roll [extra footage], and vox pops. It was filmed next to a pool of stagnant water. It was sunset. That’s when I believe I was bitten three times by a mosquito on my left ankle” she said

Days later after flying to India, Rodriguez said she began to feel tired and unwell but dismissed the feeling, describing it as ‘out of character’ and ‘compound jet-lag’.  It was while she got to Boston that she had to be rushed to the hospital after she took ill at the airport and was struggling to eat and drink.

Australian socialite undergoes 36 surgeries and has both feet amputated after mosquito bite in Nigeria

She was rushed to the Massachusetts General Hospital where an infectious diseases specialist had confirmed that Rodriguez had cerebral malaria. By then she had fallen into a coma.  According to the doctors, Rodriguez had only a two percent chance of survival after Artesunate – a drug used to treat severe malaria – sent her into septic shock and organ failure.

In a last-ditch effort to save her life, doctors used vasopressor drugs to redirect blood flow from her limbs to her vital organs.

“It was the last trick in the bag, and they cautioned my family that if I survived, there would be collateral damage. The vasopressors robbed my feet and hands, the things furthest from my heart, of blood and like frostbite, the areas without blood and oxygen began to die.” she said

The drugs caused her feet and hands to blacken from necrosis and at one point she witnessed her own toe fall off into her hand. 

“It was horrible, absolutely horrible. Completely unimaginable,’ she said.

After being airlifted back to Australia, doctor’s advised Rodriguez would have to undergo an above-the-knee amputation along with several fingers. Horrified by the thought, Rodriguez said she held off on the procedure and instead, chose to undergo multiple skin grafts and surgeries to see if her condition would improve.

Eventually, she had to have her remaining toes amputated and slowly came to the realization she couldn’t put it off any longer.

Wheelchair-bound and unable to stand from unbearable pain, Rodriguez underwent drastic surgery to have both feet amputated and replaced with above-ankle bilateral osseointegrated implants and mechanical feet.

“It’s bizarre, but I had to cut my feet off to walk again,” she said. 

Attached to the ends of each rod via an allen key are a pair of prosthetic feet that now allow Rodriguez to move freely again. 

But after thirty-six surgeries, Rodriguez is the first woman in Australia to receive the implants and mechanical feet which was developed by Australian professor, Munjed Al Muderis. The Iraqi who became a leading surgeon of robotic limbs convinced her that giving up her blackened dead feet was her only hope of walking again.  

Following surgery and hours of painful rehabilitation, Rodriguez celebrated a recent achievement of being able to walk in a pair of 4cm kitten heels again. 

“I never really felt ‘dressed’ until I had a pair of killer heels on; the higher, the better. That’s just the sort of girl I was… still am,” she said. 

‘We might be taking COVID-19 booster shots every year’ – Dr Fauci says

Yearly vaccine booster shots are a possibility in the US’ battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci has warned.

Fauci, the chief White House medical adviser, said on ABC’s “This Week.” that boosters provide the “optimal” level of protection.


Asked about the possible necessity of annual COVID vaccine booster shots, Fauci said: “It’s tough to tell, but yeah”


“If it becomes necessary to get yet another boost, then we’ll just have to deal with it when that occurs,” he said.


Fauci, who also is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, added that he hoped one booster for the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and for the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot will do the job.


Since scientific evidence came out that vaccines become less effective over time US health authorities began rolling out booster shots in August this year.


With the Omicron variant now in full savage mode, health officials have been discussing whether to make booster shots the criterion for what is considered ‘full vaccination’


Fauci said the US will still consider someone fully vaccinated with two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but he said a booster is still the best bet.


“I think if you look at the data, the more and more it becomes clear that if you want to be optimally protected you really should get a booster,” he said.

The death toll inflicted by the virus hovered around 800,000 as of Sunday, December 12 with more than 1,000 COVID deaths being reported every day.

Wife recovers from a 7-week Covid coma to discover she has given birth

A woman who was in a coma for seven weeks after catching Covid has woken up to discover she has given birth to a baby girl.

Laura Ward, 33, contracted the virus while pregnant with her daughter Hope.

Her condition deteriorated so much that she was sedated for an emergency C-section at 31 weeks, more than two months before her due date of October 15.

Thankfully all was well with baby, who was born weighing 3lb 7oz at Royal Bolton Hospital, and despite spending five weeks on the neonatal unit, she’s now healthy and has reached a much better weight.

Woman wakes from seven-week Covid coma to discover she has given birth

Laura’s next memory was waking up seven weeks later, on September 30, to be greeted with the sight of the daughter she didn’t even know she had had.

“I opened my eyes to see Hope on the bed with me, but I couldn’t move any part of my body,” says Laura, from Tyldesley, Wigan.

“All I could do was shake and nod my head.”

Woman wakes from seven-week Covid coma to discover she has given birth

Having had a tracheostomy and feeding tubes fitted, it was two weeks before Laura was even able to speak, and she has since had to learn how to do the most basic things all over again.

She said: “I tried really hard to lift my arms but I just couldn’t. It was frustrating because I couldn’t speak, but because I couldn’t move my arms or hands, I wasn’t able to write anything down that I wanted to say either.

“I had to learn to feed myself, brush my teeth, all the things you learn as a toddler, it’s like learning everything all over again.”

Woman wakes from seven-week Covid coma to discover she has given birth

The muscles in Laura’s legs had deteriorated while she was in a coma, and it was only at the beginning of December that she managed to walk again – first making her way down the hospital corridor with a frame, and then holding the hand of her three-year-old son William.

Laura will be finally allowed home today, Monday, December 13.

Her partner John Leece, 37, didn’t name their baby. He referred to her only as ‘baby girl’ until they could both agree on a name together.

The baby has now been named Hope.
 

Laura, who wasn’t given the Coronavirus vaccine because she was pregnant,  says she would recommend the jab to any pregnant woman following her ordeal.

“I’d say just get it,” she says. “I wouldn’t wish what’s happened to me on anyone and it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Pastor Odumeje makes Naira rain as he holds thanksgiving service (video)

It was Naira rain at the end-of-the-year thanksgiving service of Anambra-based clergyman, Prophet Odumeje, on Sunday, December 12.

Church members and guests who attended the service sprayed money in bundles with reckless abandon. They threw money into the air as the man of God sang praises to God.

Watch a video from the scene below

A weird CEO, fired 900 employees on Zoom call, and took his leave ‘Immediately’

Better.com CEO Vishal Garg, who laid off 900 employees over a Zoom meeting that lasted less than three minutes, is taking time off from the company. 

Garg’s leaveis also effective immediately, according to a Friday email from the company’s board of directors. Day-to-day operations will be taken over by the company’s CFO, Kevin Ryan. Better.com added that it is hiring a third-party firm to do a “leadership and cultural assessment,” whose recommendations “will be taken into account to build a long-term sustainable and positive culture at Better.”

The internal memo announcing Garg’s leave of absence signed by Paula Tuffin, Better’s chief compliance officer and general counsel says Chief Financial Officer Kevin Ryan will manage “the day-to-day decisions of the company” in Garg’s absence and will report to the board.

The memo says the recommendations of its leadership and cultural assessment “will be taken into account to build a long-term sustainable and positive culture at Better.”

“We have much work to do and we hope that everyone can refocus on our customers and support each other to continue to build a great company and a company we can all be proud of,” the memo says.

In a three-minute call on December 1, Garg told 900 employees they were being laid off, “effective immediately.” Garg also accused “at least 250” terminated staff members of “stealing” from the company by working just two hours a day while claiming pay for eight or more, according to posts on the job-focused social network Blind that were first reported by Fortune.

“If you’re on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off,” Garg said on the December 1 webinar. “Your employment here is terminated, effective immediately,” he told them.

Religion is Nigerians’ chief problem – Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has said that religion is the number one problem hindering Nigerians from being liberated as “rational beings.”

Soyinka said this while speaking with a professor of African Literature, Dr. Louisa Egbunike. He stated that “if religion becomes an excuse for flouting the law, then that religion has got to be tackled head-on.”

According to the nobel laureate, “religion has got to be put in its place in order for people to be liberated as rational beings, beings of volition, who can tackle the problems of existence in a rational, collective way, rather than by insisting that it is only along one route that society can be transformed.”

Soyinka said; 

“All over the place, I find that religion has been cosseted too much. And liberty has been taken by religionists, which would not be considered to other movements which are considered secularists.

“If you put on a garb of a religious leader, you can close up the expressway between Lagos and the rest of the nation, simply because you are having a religious celebration. You are just a fraction of the rest of the nation. And you should be accorded no special privileges. So, until that is done, people will always find something extra by belonging and manifesting, even to an extreme extent, your religious adhesions.

“Religion has become the number one problem for Nigerians. Hope is all very well; but hope itself can become putrid. Especially if it is hope for unearned advantages in society. If religion becomes an excuse for flouting the law, then that religion has got to be tackled head-on.

“If for instance a legislator, later a Governor, can claim the right to be a pedophile and indulge in cross-border child trafficking, celebrating child marriage, consummating that event, which is against the law of a nation, and he says he has a right to do it because his religion permits it; then both he and that religion should just be shown the way to the law courts and treated like other phenomena of society.

“If you can use religion to excuse building a church which collapses on the head of humanity, many of them not from Nigeria, several from South Africa. And then you say it was caused by supernatural forces when you know very well that you flouted the conditions for increasing the floors of your building.

“So this is what has become the daily reality of Nigerians. So religion has got to be put in its place in order for people to be liberated as rational beings, beings of volition, who can tackle the problems of existence in a rational, collective way, rather than by insisting that it is only along one route that society can be transformed.

“Take a religion, practice it at home, collect around you anybody you want for collective celebration or religious seasons, nobody quarrels with that. But when you use religion to subvert the rights of others, to the extent of primordial rights, to kill, not just singling, but collectively, to burn down the places of worship of others; then it is about time we treated religion as a crime against humanity; it’s reached that level in societies like Nigeria.”

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