The Police Service Commission has suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, Abba Kyari, from office
A statement from the commissions spokesperson, Ifeanyi Ani, says Abba Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday, July 31st, 2021 and would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.
Ani says the Commission has also directed the Inspector General of Police to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action.
He said the Commission’s decision which was conveyed in a letter with reference, PSC/POL/D/153/vol/V/138 to the Inspector General of Police today, Sunday, August 1st, 2021, was signed by Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner 1 in the Commission for the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police who is currently on leave.
A businessman identified as Mesmine Abessole “Kether De Bonagere” has married four women at the same time in Gabon.
Mesmine Abessole wedded his wives, Madeleine Nguema, Prisca Nguema, Nicole Mboungou, Carene Sylvana Aboghet, at a ceremony held in Libreville, Gabon on Saturday, July 31,2021.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday, July 31, recovered 35 wraps of cocaine from the underwear of a woman, Okafor Ebere Edith, during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Cotevoire, to Monrovia, Liberia from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, August 1, said the suspect who tucked the pellets of cocaine in her underwear to beat security checks at the Airport was however picked up for search and questioning during which the wraps of the illicit drug were found on her.
During preliminary interview, she claimed her desire to make money pushed her into drug trafficking.
Another suspect, Echendu Jerry Maduakolam, an intending male passenger going to Istanbul was arrested at Gate A departure hall of the MMIA on Tuesday 27th July during outward clearance of Egypt airline to Turkey with 78grams of cannabis mixed with dried bitter leaves.
On the same day, another intending male passenger, Egbon Osarodion going to Milan, Italy was arrested at the airport Gate A departure hall during outward clearance of passengers on Egypt airline with different quantities of 225mg Tramadol and Rohypnol concealed in foil papers wrapped in a polyethylene bag.
Meanwhile, acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives from Kontagora Area command of the Agency in the early hours of Thursday 29th July 2021 raided a warehouse at Mailefe village in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger state, where drug supplies for bandits operating in parts of the state were stored.
After a thorough search of the warehouse, 125 bags of cannabis sativa were recovered while a man seen praying in front of the house fled into the forest when he sighted the narcotic officers from afar.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the commanders, officers and men of the MMIA and Niger state commands of the Agency for their continued efforts in tracking down traffickers of illicit drugs in their areas of responsibility.
He charged them and their counterparts in other commands to remain focussed and resolute in pursuit of the goal to rid Nigeria of illicit substances and drug related criminalities.
Expensive Cars, Classy Outfits: Behold The IG Page Of Abba Kyari’s Brother, Usman Kyari
Usman Kyari, brother to Abba Kyari, the embattled deputy commissioner of police (DCP), has deleted all his pictures on his Instagram page.
ToriMe ! gathered that the expensive Cars, classy outfits shared by him on his Instagram page have started to attract public eyes on him after Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Abbas, alleged that he bribed Abba Kyari to arrest a co-fraudster.
A quick check by ToriMe ! after his pictures were published on our platform shows that he has deleted all the pictures.
Like the DCP, Usman’s Instagram page also reflects his love for the good life.
From a fleet of cars to photos of himself clad in nicely-fitted attires, his page which has nearly 2,000 followers is the go-to place for many lovers of fashion.
In one of the photos, he can be seen sitting with Usman Alkali Baba, the inspector-general of police (IGP), while congratulating him on his appointment.
Internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, who is currently in the custody of the FBI has been giving details of how he and other members of his syndicate defrauded their victims of millions of dollars.
Below is an article as composed by Channels TV detailing the deal that Hushpuppi was involved in that indicted super cop, Abba Kyari.
Read below
In October 2019, a businessperson started looking for an investor who could provide a $15 million loan to build an international school in Qatar.
By November, the businessperson was on a plane to Kenya, to meet a potential facilitator – Abdulrahman Juma, a 28-year-old parading as the ‘Chairman’ and ‘Funding Officer’ of Westload Financial Solutions Limited.
Juma was able to convince the businessperson to sign a contract that mandated the payment of a $225,000 consultancy fee before the loan could be disbursed.
Of course, there was no loan. But the businessperson didn’t know that at the time.
After the businessperson wired a first tranche of $164,450, Juma provided a forged document showing a wire transfer of $15 million from a Barclays Bank account in the United Kingdom to the businessperson’s bank account in Qatar, according to documents from the US Department of Justice seen and reviewed by Channels Television.
When the businessperson reached out to the bank to confirm the funds, there was no $15 million. The businessperson contacted Juma, who said the businessperson had to pay another “payment of release order” to release the funds.
In early December, the businessperson wired another $150,000, hoping that would be the final payment for the release of the $15 million. The businessperson was wrong.
Because the dance had just begun.
Enter Hushpuppi
On December 7, 2019, Juma reached out to Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, an Instagram celebrity who took pictures with expensive cars and watches and wrote motivational captions before his July 2020 arrest in Dubai.
Juma and Hushpuppi, apparently, belonged to a global fraud syndicate that has fleeced numerous individuals and organisations of millions of dollars.
In July, Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to multiple counts of money laundering before a US Federal Court and now faces up to 20 years in jail.
The December 2019 conversation, too, revolved around how they could siphon more money off the businessperson seeking a $15 million loan.
Hushpuppi told Juma that he would pretend to be a Bank Director – with the moniker Malik – when communicating with the businessperson. The duo agreed on profit sharing and Hushpuppi created a new Whatsapp account, using an American phone number.
A photo of Mr Abdulrahman Juma. Credit: US Department of Justice
Texting the businessperson, Hushpuppi introduced himself as Malik, “the director of the bank responsible for crediting you the funds” working with “Mr Rahman (Juma) from Kenya.”
Juma and Hushpuppi shared, with each other, screenshots of their messages with the businessperson, as the conversations progressed.
To begin to tempt the businessperson to part with more money, Hushpuppi said there was a need to open a bank account in the United States, to transfer the $15 million loan because Qatar had apparently been sanctioned by the US government.
The initial agreement was that the funds will then be credited from the US account to the businessperson’s bank account in London.
Apparently, Hushpuppi had a ‘white guy’ from America call the businessperson to boost the legitimacy of the scheme. The businessperson “is so happy”, Hushpuppi reported to Juma.
Using the resources at his disposal, Hushpuppi created a fictitious business name statement (carrying the name of the businessperson’s company) in the US. He then used the business name to open a bank account, in the name of the businessperson’s company.
He was also able to generate a ‘Durable Power of Attorney’ form. Fraudulent, of course.
On December 20, Hushpuppi sent the account and online login of the Canoga Park Wells Fargo account to the businessperson, who must have felt, once again, that the loan was palpable.
But when the businessperson sent Hushpuppi the information for a UK bank account where the loan funds should be deposited, the latter balked.
A photo of Vincent Chubuzo sent by DCP Kyari to Hushpuppi. Credit: US Department of Justice.
Hushpuppi told the businessperson that it would not work to send funds to a “personal account” in the UK. Instead, the businessperson should open an investor’s account with his own private banking service.
To open the account, Hushpuppi said, the businessperson would have to fund it with a minimum of 250,000 pounds.
At this point, the businessperson started to smell a rat. But the allure of imminent victory was too strong.
On December 23, after some back and forth between Juma and Hushpuppi, (the former apparently wasn’t convinced that it was the right time to ask for more money) the businessperson agreed to open the investor’s account.
Game, set . . . match?
American money launderers
To receive and launder the proceeds of the Qatar operation, Hushpuppi relied on two other individuals living in the United States – Rukayat Fashola and Bolatito Agbabiaka.
He also used part of the loot to purchase a luxury Richard Mille watch and St. Kitts citizenship.
On December 24, Hushpuppi sent the businessperson two bank account details, one belonging to Agbabiaka, and the other to the Richard Mille watchseller.
That same day, the businessperson transferred $330,000 to the accounts and sent Hushpuppi photographs of the wire transfer confirmations.
A photo combination of Bolatito Agbabiaka and Rukayat Fashola. Credit: US Department of Justice
Now, the businessperson must have been agitated. “Can you please let me know when I can receive the fund as agreed and promised?” The businessperson said in a text to Juma after forwarding the $330,000.
Juma forwarded the businessperson’s messages to Hushpuppi with a note: “I need your advice before I get back.”
Hushpuppi must have smiled. He had another trick up his sleeve.
The money call
On January 4, 2020, Vincent Chibuzo, another of Hushpuppi’s associates, sent the Instagram celebrity a message containing a “telephone banking” number.
This will “blow the client’s mind,” Chibuzo said in his message to Hushpuppi.
The next plan had been to create a fake Wells Fargo bank website and a fake banking automated telephone number that could deceive the businessperson that, indeed, the promised funds had been deposited into the Canoga Park Wells Fargo account Hushpuppi had opened for the Qatar business.
When the “telephone banking” information was eventually sent to the businessperson, it was so convincing that the businessperson wrote back to Hushpuppi: “OMG, I can’t believe it, it’s true.”
After calling the businessperson, Juma sent Hushpuppi a voice note.
The businessperson “can’t breathe,” he said.
The businessperson “is really excited.”
The businessperson “is crying tears of joy.”
The businessperson “is thanking me.”
In response, Hushpuppi said, “Are you proud of me or not? It’s a perfect job, bro.”
The tax plan
After raising the businessperson’s hopes, Hushpuppi reached out and claimed there was a need to pay a tax of $575,000 to have the loan cleared.
“Sorry but this is too much,” the businessperson replied.
The next day, the businessperson contacted Juma, asking him to find a way to avoid paying the $575,000 tax. Juma sent screenshots of this conversation to Hushpuppi.
On January 10, Hushpuppi and Juma discussed reducing the amount the businessperson should be asked to pay. Later, they communed on how to stop the businessperson from flying to the UK to confirm that there were funds in the purported Wells Fargo account.
Juma said he had told the businessperson to keep things quiet, and to not tell anyone or ask anyone about the status of the loan.
On January 13, the businessperson agreed to pay $440,000 in taxes.
The Kyari connection
The saying that ‘there is no honour among thieves’ began to manifest among the Hushpuppi syndicate.
First, Juma was able to secure $299,983.58 from the businessperson, perhaps as part of the tax payments. But he refused to share it with Hushpuppi because he (Juma) had not received a share from the earlier $330,000 sent by the businessperson.
Then Chibuzo, who was based in Nigeria at the time, accused Hushpuppi of not paying for the work that was being done on the fake Wells Fargo website.
As a way to get back at Hushpuppi, Chibuzo contacted the businessperson directly and, claiming he was “trying to help”, said Hushpuppi was a scammer.
When Hushpuppi got wind of Chibuzo’s actions, he was livid. “I will deal with him,” he told Juma.
Hushpuppi reached out to Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner in the Nigeria Police Force, and sent him Chibuzo’s phone number.
Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, flaunted a luxury Richard Mille watch on Instagram on January 13, 2020. Credit: US Department of Justice
In one text to Chibuzo, Hushpuppi said in pidgin: “I swear with my life that you will regret messing with me, you will even wish you died before my hands will touch you.”
Now, Hushpuppi’s relationship with DCP Kyari is contested.
The police officer has said he received no payment to arrest Chibuzo and that he was only responding to a violent threat complaint raised by Hushpuppi.
But there is overwhelming evidence – including screenshots of receipts sent by Hushpuppi to Kyari – that the arrest of Chibuzo was influenced by DCP Kyari’s chummy relationship with Hushpuppi and not credible intelligence. (The Nigeria police has said it is investigating the matter)
“Please sir, I want to spend money to send this boy to jail; let him go for a very long time,” Hushpuppi said in one text to Kyari.
“Ok bro, I understand,” Kyari texted back. “I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . we will do something about it.”
Hushpuppi said he was ready to send money to the team, so they can deal with Chibuzo like an “armed robber.” Kyari said he would send the team’s account details.
When Hushpuppi said “I want him to suffer for many years,” Kyari responded, “hahahaha . . . hahahaha.”
Chibuzo was released about a month later after contracting a skin disease in jail.
A litany of doubts
Chibuzo’s whistleblowing had apparently not deterred the businessperson. Too much money had been sunk into acquiring the $15 million loan, the businessperson must have reasoned. Too late to now throw in the towel.
But after paying Juma $299,983.58, the businessperson was beginning to doubt the Kenyan financier and turned to ‘Malik’, the Wells Fargo banker.
The businessperson told Malik – Hushpuppi – that they believed Juma had been scamming them, after spending over $1 million to acquire the loan.
“I know that you think I am stupid but I trust (Juma) and now I’m going bankrupt,” the businessperson said.
Ever the conman, Hushpuppi said, “Wow, over one million?”
Then he promised to help the businessperson.
Later, he claimed to have spoken to his supervisor who was willing to reduce the tax amount that the businessperson would pay to $180,000. But he asked the businessperson to keep their discussions confidential, especially from Juma.
“Try and get the $180,000 sent before the end of the month and (Juma) will be put to shame and God will deal with him also,” Hushpuppi told the businessperson.
At the same time, Hushpuppi was deflecting enquiries from Juma about what the next move to get more money from the businessperson was.
On March 2, 2020, the businessperson wired the $180,000 to Hushpuppi, a bulk of it to an account provided by Agbabiaka, the alleged American co-launderer.
On March 11, the businessperson contacted Hushpuppi to ask about when she would receive the $15 million loan to build the international school. Hushpuppi claimed to have gone to the IRS to pay the tax and that his boss would be able to send the wire the next day.
The next day, Hushpuppi told the businessperson that his boss, Yousif, would contact the businessperson.
The bogus Yousif identity contacted the businessperson via Whatsapp and demanded payment for additional “transfer charges.”
But the businessperson, exhausted and defeated, reached out to Hushpuppi instead.
“Sorry Mr Malik but I’m not gonna pay more and I’m out of this game,” the businessperson said. “I’ll stop all my communication with you . . . You are doing what exactly Juma did . . . I’m now 100% sure that you and Juma and Yousif are all one team.”
A new video is circulating online of a conversation from controversal Nigerian Journalist Kemi Olunloyo made revealing that a realiable source told her that Hushpuppi has mentioned so many Notable Nigerians who are accomplice to his crime.
In the Video Kemi Olunloyo was heard saying that he got a call from a someone, that the person is known by many people. She said that the person said:
I did so much for Hushpuppi, but all he want was to destory peoples life and he will continue to destory peoples life from the Jaill.
He has mentioned: Linda Ikeji, Bukola Saraki, Dino Melaye etc
Novak Djokovic has been forced to withdraw from his mixed doubles bronze medal match due to a shoulder injury.
Djokovic, the world No. 1 from Serbia, will leave Tokyo empty-handed in what has proved a majorly disappointing Olympic Games.
According to the International Tennis Federation, Djokovic withdrew because of a “left shoulder injury”, meaning Nina Stojanovic will be deprived of a chance to win a medal, with bronze going to Australian pair Ashleigh Barty and John Peers courtesy of a walkover.
This comes after he was surprisingly beaten by Alexander Zverev in the singles semi-finals yesterday, ending his chances of winning the Golden Slam of four major titles and Olympic gold in one year.
The four-time Olympian and 20-time Grand Slam champion leaves the Games without a medal for the third time in a row. Djokovic won bronze in 2008 and is tied with Roger Federer for the most Olympic match wins at 13.
Ajax have announced the passing of their youth player Noah Gesser, who died at the age of 16 following a car accident on Friday evening, July 30.
In a statement released on their official website, the football club said: “Ajax has received the terrible news that Noah Gesser has passed away.
“The 16-year-old youth player died in a car accident with his brother on Friday evening.
“At the practice matches of Ajax 1 and Young Ajax this afternoon, the terrible news will be discussed. A minute of silence is held before the matches start and the Ajax players wear mourning bands. In addition, flags will be flown at half-mast at the Toekomst sports complex.
“Ajax is deeply moved by this tragic event. The club wishes the loved ones all the strength in coping with this immeasurable loss.”
Noah Gesser had been with Ajax since 2018 and had been due to be part of the U17 set up for the forthcoming campaign.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie Johnson are expecting a second child.
Carrie announced the news on Instagram today, July 31, while also revealing that she suffered a miscarriage months ago.
She said that she was expecting to give birth to the new child in December.
Carrie wrote on Instagram: “At the beginning of the year, I had a miscarriage which left me heartbroken.
“I feel incredibly blessed to be pregnant again but I’ve also felt like a bag of nerves.
“Fertility issues can be really hard for many people, particularly when on platforms like Instagram it can look like everything is only ever going well.
“I found it a real comfort to hear from people who had also experienced loss so I hope that in some very small way sharing this might help others too.”
The couple got married on May 29, 2021. They already have a son together. He was born in April 2020.
Senior pastor of the Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has warned married couples on the dangers of not having a good sex life.
In a post shared on his Ministries social media handles this evening, the clergyman averred that a sex-starved marriage is heading for destruction, He wrote
”A sex-starved marriage is heading for destruction; spouses should be available for each other, otherwise there will be a tendency to go where they would be accepted because the burning must be satisfied.”
The sentencing of self-confessed internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, has been slated for October this year. This is according to the United States Attorney’s Office at the Central District of California.
Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai in July 2020 for a multi-millionaire dollar fraud perpetrated by him and members of his syndicate. This week he pleaded guilty to various offences bordering on internet scam, money laundering, among others.
His plea bargain document which was released online this week was signed by Hushpuppi, his lawyer, Loius Shapiro; and Acting United States Attorney, Tracy Wilkison, among others.
A US Court document has detailed conversations between Nigeria’s celebrated Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and infamous suspected fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi regarding bribery and arrest of another suspected fraudster.
Hushpuppi, who recently pleaded guilty in the United States, had narrated how he bribed Kyari.
Officials said in court filings that Hushpuppi disclosed during interrogation that he paid bribes to Nigeria’s police chief, Kyari, to have one of his rivals arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million dupe of a Qatari businessperson.
Abbas had asked Kyari to arrest and jail a fellow fraudster Kelly Chibuzor Vincent after both were locked in a dispute presumably over how to share the $1.1 million loot received from the Qatari businessperson.
Vincent subsequently contacted the victim and informed them that they were being scammed by a syndicate involving him and Abbas.
This elicited anger from Abbas (Hushpuppi), who contacted Kyari to arrest and jail his rival over the dispute. Abbas (Hushpuppi) said Kyari sent pictures of Vincent in jail and subsequently sent a bank account number to him (Hushpuppi) to which a wire transfer should be made having done a ‘good’ job as sent by Abbas (Hushpuppi).
9 Hours Ago But, Kyari had taken to his Facebook page to react to the allegation, claiming he only assisted Hushpuppi to get native clothes and caps worth N300,000.
Although he admitted to arresting Vincent, he said it was after Hushpuppi alleged that Vincent was threatening his family here in Nigeria.
Kyari denied knowing about the relationship between Hushpuppi and Vincent at the initial stage and later discovered Vincent and Hushpuppi had a misunderstanding over the said amount of money.
He also said he never demanded any money from Abbas (Hushpuppi), adding that they (Kyari and his team) were focused on saving people who were being threatened.
But, the court document proves otherwise, showing clearly that Kyari’s claims were lies.
According to the document, after an earlier discussion with Kyari, Hushpuppi requested for Vincent’s (also known as Chibuzor) contact details, which the latter provided.
Hushpuppi forwarded the contact details to Kyari and on January 15, 2020, Hushpuppi sent an audio recording to Kyari via WhatsApp, stating that he wanted to remind Kyari about what they discussed earlier.
On January 16, 2020, Hushpuppi sent the following threats to Chibuzor: “I dey always tell people to think well before they offend me and make them make sure they fit stand the consequences when the time comes. I won’t say more than that but very soon, very, very soon, the wrath of my hands shall find you and when it does, it will damage you forever. At this point I no get discussion with you, you have committed a crime that won’t be forgiven, that is punishable and you shall receive die (sic) punishment in due time. I swear with my life, you will regret messing with me, you will even wish you died before my hands will touch you.”
Later on, Kyari confirmed the arrest and detention of Vincent Chibuzor to Abbas (Hushpuppi), who requested for an account number to which he will send the bribe meant for Kyari’s team members.
Hushpuppi also pleaded with Kyari to inform his team members to deal with Vincent like an armed robber.
The transcript of their conversation goes thus:
First, Kyari sent a message to Hushpuppi saying, “We would pick him today or tomorrow.”
Abbas (Hushpuppi) wrote, “I will take care of the team also after they pick him up.”
Kyari confirmed “Yes ooo.”
It also stated that on January 20, 2020, Kyari sent biographical, identifying information for Chibuzor to Hushpuppi.
Their conversation goes thus: Abbas (Hushpuppi) confirmed “that is him sir.”
Kyari stated, “We have arrested the guy . . . He is in my cell now. This is his picture after we arrested him today.”
After receiving the photograph of Vincent/Chibuzor, Abbas (Hushpuppi) said, “I want him to go through serious beating of his life.”
In response to Kyari’s question about what Chibuzor had done to Abbas (Hushpuppi), Abbas sent Kyari an audio message.
He said: “What he did is, I have one job. The job want to pay me 500, umm, 75,000 dollars [i.e., $575,000]. He went to message the job behind me because I told him to help me make one document for me to give the job. Then he went—he has a—I gave him the details.
“Then he went to message the job behind my back and try to divert the money and in this process he tell the job because of the documents he gave me that I gave the job, he tell the job, ‘These document they sent to you before. These people are fake (sic).
“’This money—is me who can help you to get it. Come to me le—bring this money you want to pay these people to me. I’m the only one who can help you,’ and all these things to divert the job for himself.”
After listening to the message, Kyari simply said he understood without requesting other information or evidence relating to Chibuzor’s role in the scheme, or any questions about the nature of the transaction, the document added.
Hushpuppi further said he wanted to pay money to send Chibuzor to jail for a long time, stating “Please sir I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.”
Kyari responded, “Ok bro, I understand I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . And handling the case. We will do something about it.”
Hushpuppi responded, “Let me know how I can send money to the team sir, let them deal with him like armed robber.”
Kyari responded, “OK I will send their account details to u.”
Hushpuppi further wrote, “He betrayed me and try (sic) to take food out my mouth, this is great punishable sin,” and Kyari responded, “Yeah bro.”
Hushpuppi said, “I want him to suffer for many years.”
Kyari responded, “Hahahaha Hahahaha.”
The document stated that about some minutes later, Kyari provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than Kyari himself.
Hushpuppi responded “Ok sir, tomorrow by noon.”
This showed that Hushpuppi planned to pay the Nigeria Police Force officers who arrested Chibuzor for that service.
A part of the document stated, ”This was not the only time that Abbas arranged payments with Kyari. On May 20, 2020, Abbas sent Kyari transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person Abbas knew in the U.A.E.—a person also arrested with Abbas in Abbas’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020—to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria.
“The amounts on the transaction receipts totalled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information.”
Below is the full evidence.
Detailed conversation between Hushpuppi and DCP Abba Kyari
After Consulting with JUMA, ABBAS Arranged to Have KYARI Imprison CHIBUZO in Nigeria in Retaliation for, and to Prevent Him from, Trying to Coopt the Victim Businessperson
As discussed in paragraph 120, JUMA and ABBAS had a falling out with CHIBUZO after CHIBUZO felt that he was being underpaid (or had not been paid) for work on the fake Wells Fargo website, and then contacted the Victim Businessperson directly. ABBAS then arranged to have KYARI arrest and imprison CHIBUZO in Nigeria for attempting to redirect fraudulent proceeds intended for ABBAS and JUMA to himself, to keep CHIBUZO from interfering with the scheme. This section discusses those events and KYARI’s involvement in the conspiracy.
On January 13, 2020, the Victim Businessperson contacted JUMA about a person who had contacted the Victim Businessperson about the loan, stating “This number is calling me but I didn’t answer.” The Victim Businessperson also provided JUMA a screenshot of and forwarded additional conversations between the Victim Businessperson and CHIBUZO, who was using the U.S. phone number 3054405586. That phone number was the same phone number used by CHIBUZO to send ABBAS information about the fake Wells Fargo website described earlier. In the messages, CHIBUZO sent the Victim Businessperson’s passport, and claimed to be “trying to help” the Victim Businessperson.
JUMA forwarded these messages from the Victim Businessperson to ABBAS, who responded, “I will deal with him.” At approximately the same time, ABBAS asked CHIBUZO for a phone number on which to call him. Two minutes later, ABBAS sent the phone number on which he contacted CHIBUZO (which CHIBUZO had previously also sent to ABBAS) to KYARI without providing any 52 additional context. Just before forwarding the phone number to KYARI, ABBAS placed a nearly five-minute call to KYARI, using the phone number described in paragraph 136.
A short time later, ABBAS told JUMA, “setting him up already. He will learn.” JUMA replied, “He almost messed it up bro,” to which ABBAS responded “They are working on it already.”
Approximately an hour later, CHIBUZO responded to ABBAS’ message requesting his phone number by providing another phone number. ABBAS also sent this number to KYARI without providing any additional context in the message.
On January 15, 2020, this time using WhatsApp, ABBAS sent an audio recording to KYARI, stating, essentially, that he wanted to remind KYARI about what they discussed earlier.
On January 16, 2020, ABBAS sent the following threats to CHIBUZO: *I dey always tell people to think well before they offend me and make them make sure they fit stand the consequences when the time comes. I won’t say more than that but very soon, very very soon, the wrath of my hands shall find you and when it does, it will damage you forever. At this point I no get discussion with you, u have committed a crime that won’t be forgiven, that is punishable and you shall receive die punishment in due time I swear with my life you will regret messing with me, you will even wish you died before my hands will touch you.
Also on January 16, 2020, ABBAS sent a message to KYARI on WhatsApp, and then placed five calls to another phone number (+2348060733588) that was listed as “ABBA KYARI.” Call records show that the last three of the calls were answered and that one of the calls lasted more than two minutes. Shortly after that, ABBAS received a message from KYARI, confirming “We would pick him today or tomorrow.” ABBAS wrote, “I will take care of the team also after they pick him up.” KYARI confirmed “Yes ooo.” a. Based on the conversation described in paragraphs 143 to 145, ABBAS planned to pay the Nigeria Police Force officers who arrested CHIBUZO for that service. b. This was not the only time that ABBAS arranged payments with KYARI. On May 20, 2020, ABBAS sent KYARI transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person ABBAS knew in the U.A.E.—a person also arrested with ABBAS in ABBAS’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020—to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria. The amounts on the transaction receipts totaled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information.
Attempting to reason with ABBAS, on January 18, 2020, CHIBUZO recounted for ABBAS all the assistance he had provided in the scheme to victimize the Victim Businessperson, including creating the “power of attorney” document (see paragraphs 67–68), devising a story to tell the Victim Businessperson (see paragraph 117), and facilitating the creation of the “telephone banking” number (see paragraphs 109–116) and fake Wells Fargo website (see paragraph 117).
As discussed in paragraph 32.b, on January 20, 2020, KYARI sent to ABBAS biographical, identifying information for CHIBUZO, along with a photograph of him. In a conversation immediately following, ABBAS confirmed “that is him sir.” KYARI stated, “We have arrested the guy . . . He is in my Cell 54 now. This is his picture after we arrested him today.” (The below image is a cropped version of the photograph that KYARI sent to ABBAS.)
KYARI sent the biographical information about, and photograph of, CHIBUZO to ABBAS using two different WhatsApp numbers—the second of which KYARI said was his “private number.” From that point on, KYARI and ABBAS primarily discussed the arrest and detention of KYARI through WhatsApp on this “private number.”
After receiving the photograph of CHIBUZO, ABBAS stated, “I want him to go through serious beating of his life.” KYARI responded, “Hahahaha,” and ABBAS replied, “Seriously sir.” KYARI then asked for details about what CHIBUZO did “on audio,” which KYARI said was “So that we will know what to do.”
In response to KYARI’s question about what CHIBUZO had done to ABBAS, ABBAS sent KYARI an audio message, which is transcribed here, describing how CHIBUZO had tried to steal away a fraud victim (i.e., “the job”) from him:
What he did is, I have one job. The job want to pay me 500, umm, 75,000 dollars [i.e., $575,000]. He went to message the job behind me because I told him to help me make one document for me to give the job. Then he went—he has a—I gave him the details. Then he went to message the job behind my back and try to divert the money and in this process he tell the job because of the documents he gave me that I gave the job, he tell the job, “These document they sent to you before. These people are fake. This money—is me who can help you to get it. Come to me le—bring this money you want to pay these people to me. I’m the only one who can help you,” and all these things to divert the job for himself.
After listening to the message, KYARI wrote, “Ok I understand. But he has not succeeded.” ABBAS claimed CHIBUZO had taken some money, and provided KYARI with two screenshots, one of which contained the phone number 3054405586 (the phone number CHIBUZO used to contact the Victim Businessperson). The screenshots showed a person contacting the Victim Businessperson and stating that he was providing information to try to “help” the Victim Businessperson. KYARI responded, “Yeah I understand.” KYARI did not request other information or evidence relating to CHIBUZO’s role in the scheme, ask questions about the nature of the transaction, or ask about why CHIBUZO told the Victim Businessperson that ABBAS was “fake.”
ABBAS then told KYARI, “Now the [Victim Businessperson] was skeptic to pay me the money cos he keep attacking the [Victim Businessperson] from his end. Now I can handle the [VictimB usinessperson] correctly.” ABBAS further told KYARI that he wanted to pay money to send CHIBUZO to jail for a long time, stating “Please sir I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.” KYARI responded, “Ok bro, I understand, I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . And handling the case. We will do something about it.”
ABBAS responded, “Let me know how I can send money to the team sir[.] let them deal with him like armed robber.” KYARI responded, “OK I will send their account details to u.” ABBAS further wrote, “He betray me and try to take food out my mouth, this is great punishable sin,” and KYARI responded, “Yeah bro.” ABBAS then continued, “I want him to suffer for many years.” KYARI responded, “Hahahaha [¶] Hahahaha.”
Approximately six minutes later, KYARI provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than KYARI himself. ABBAS responded “Ok sir, tomorrow by noon,” indicating that he would make the payment to KYARI’s team by the next day.
On the same day, ABBAS sent JUMA the photograph of CHIBUZO in custody, which KYARI had sent.
Approximately a month later, on February 19, 2020, KYARI sent a message to ABBAS, saying, “Hello hush with [sic] need to talk about the subject under detention with me.” ABBAS asked “Should I call u on this number sir?” to which KYARI replied “Yes call me.”
The following day, KYARI sent ABBAS multiple photographs of CHIBUZO to ABBAS, including close-up photographs showing a rash or skin disease on CHIBUZO’s torso and arms. ABBAS responded, “I don pity am, make them leave am from Tuesday.” KYARI wrote, “Ok bro, they just brought him from hospital. The fever and the rashes is giving him serious Wahala [¶] He got the disease from other suspects in the cell.” ABBAS responded, “I see am, I no too pity am [¶] That’s what people like him deserve but I go forgive am for God sake.”
In other words, based on my training and experience with Nigerian Pidgin, ABBAS was essentially stating, in part, “I don’t pity him. That’s what people like him deserve, but I will forgive him for God’s sake.” a. Based on the date of the messages and later discussion described in paragraph 150, ABBAS was—on Thursday, February 20, 2020—requesting that KYARI not to release CHIBUZO until Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
ABBAS then told KYARI that CHIBUZO’s girlfriend messaged him, trying to raise one million Naira to secure CHIBUZO’s release, and said ABBAS promised to contribute 100,000 Naira. KYARI stated “They were thinking it’s normal arrest that is why they think money can remove him . . . No money can remove him here [¶] Hahahaha.” ABBAS added, “But it’s better for them to think that way, I like it like that,” and KYARI responded, “Yeah.”
ABBAS then said, “No problem sir from Tuesday he can go,” apparently giving KYARI his blessing to release CHIBUZO from custody. KYARI responded, “Ok bro [¶] We will also keep his phone and other gadgets for some weeks.” ABBAS responded, “Yes those ones they should not give him again, those ones are gone . . . Make he no see those ones again for life,” instructing KYARI not to return CHIBUZO’s electronic devices. KYARI responded, “Yes he will not see it Again,” indicating that he would accede to ABBAS’ request.
Veteran actress, Rachel Oniga has died at the age of 64.
According to reports, the actress who has been divorced from her husband for 19 years, died on Friday night July 30th from Covid-19 complications .
Oniga is said to have shot some scenes in a movie at Mowe, Ogun state earlier this week before her death. Other details are still sketchy at the time of filing this report.
Penning down a tribute to the deceased, Facebook user Olusegun Oshiyoye who described Rachel Oniga as his aunt wrote;
Rest in peace Aunty Rachel. Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now.
Our last conversation was not like this…Your memories will never be forgotten Mummy Olamiji…Continue to rest in peace.
Troops of 202 Battalion have taken custody of eight Boko Haram Insurgents and their families, comprising 10 adult females and 22 children, who surrendered to troops at Ruwaza village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno state.
In a similar development, troops of Forward Operational Base (FOB) operating along Bocobs- Bama road have arrested 20 Boko Haram fighters and their families, who surrendered to troops at Nbewa village, also in Bama Local Government Area of Borno state. The surrendering families of the insurgents comprised 15 adult females and 26 children. The suspects all surrendered to the troops, during clearance operations in the areas on 29 July, 2021 following ongoing intense clearance operations by troops in the general areas.
The children among the surrendering suspects have been vaccinated with polio vaccines, while the adult and female suspects, who have been documented and screened are currently undergoing preliminary investigations.
In a separate operation, troops of 73 Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) in conjunction with combined team of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and Hunters have intercepted a Boko Haram Terrorists Logisitics Supplier during a fighting patrol along Molai – Damboa Road. On being alerted, the combined team swiftly mobilised and stormed the location, where they arrested the suspect, while he was perfecting plans to deliver logistics to the insurgents in the forest.
Items recovered from the suspect include a vehicle, 4 jerry cans of 30 Litres of PMS, one 4 Litre gallon of engine oil, one motorcycle pump, one oil treatment, one torch light, one mosquito net, two praying mats, two blankets, four Spanners, 10 packets of 1.5v battery and three dozens of diamond rubber solution. Others are five packets of candies, five packets of seasoning and measures of other food stuff.
A 22 year old YouTuber, Albert Dyrlund, has died after falling to his death while filming a video for his YouTube channel.
According to his mother, Vibe Jørger Jensen who spoke to Denmark’s TV2, Albert Dyrlund, fell over 650 feet on Wednesday July 28 while filming a video in Forcella Pana, in the Italian Alps.
She also asked for privacy for her and her family as they mourn the loss.
‘We are in great grief, but I would like his fans to know,’ she told the station.
The accident reportedly occurred on a hiking trail that links two mountain peeks, characterised by steep and rocky slopes.
He stumbled while he was filming the video and fell, dying on the spot.
The outlet say a rescue helicopter was called to the scene. He was flown to a hospital some 30 miles away, but paramedics were unable to save Dyrlund, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Before his death, Dyrlund had over 224,000 followers on Instagram along with 170,000 YouTube subscribers. A number of his videos received over one million views, with three on his channel being watched over 5 million times.
US President, Joe Biden has rolled out new steps to increase vaccination rates across the country.
The Democrat is urging state and federal governments to use a portion of their COVID-19 relief funds to pay citizens $100 to get the vaccine.
“I’m calling out all states and local governments to give $100 to everyone who gets fully vaccinated,” he said on Thursday, July 29. “It might sound unfair to folks who have gotten vaccinated already. But here’s the deal: if incentives help us beat the virus, we should use them.
“We all benefit if more people get vaccinated. In February, Kroger offered $100 to their associates if they got vaccinated, and it worked,” he said. “Vaccination rates moved up from 50 percent to 75 percent among employees.
“New Mexico, Ohio and Colorado offered similar incentive programs that have helped increase vaccination rates.”
Biden announced other initiatives as well, including one that will ensure employees across the county receive paid time off so they can get the shot.
“I hear people are unable to get time off to get vaccinated,” he said. “This is unacceptable. For some time now, (I’ve been saying) people should be able to get the shot and still get paid. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the federal government is reimbursing… businesses to give people time off to get vaccinated.”
Biden said it’s time to take that a step further and reimburse employers who give paid time off to employees who take time off to get family members vaccinated.
Additionally, the Biden administration is mandating that all federal employees receive vaccines, or face routine COVID-19 testing and restrictions on job-related travel.
The federal government is also requiring Veterans Administration Hospital officials to receive shots and is urging contractors to implement similar standards for employees working on federal projects.
So far, 164 million Americans have been fully vaccinated, including 80 percent of the nation’s most vulnerable population.
“It’s an American blessing that we have vaccines for each and every American. We have made it our top priority to have a vaccine for each and every eligible American,” he said. “It’s a shame to squander that blessing.”
This comes after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced free $100 incentive to anyone who goes to a city-run vaccination site for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, starting this Friday, July 30.
A US Court document has detailed conversations between Nigeria’s celebrated Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and infamous suspected fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi regarding bribery and arrest of another suspected fraudster.
Hushpuppi, who recently pleaded guilty in the United States, had narrated how he bribed Kyari.
Officials said in court filings that Hushpuppi disclosed during interrogation that he paid bribes to Nigeria’s police chief, Kyari, to have one of his rivals arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million dupe of a Qatari businessperson.
Abbas had asked Kyari to arrest and jail a fellow fraudster Kelly Chibuzor Vincent after both were locked in a dispute presumably over how to share the $1.1 million loot received from the Qatari businessperson.
Vincent subsequently contacted the victim and informed them that they were being scammed by a syndicate involving him and Abbas.
This elicited anger from Abbas (Hushpuppi), who contacted Kyari to arrest and jail his rival over the dispute. Abbas (Hushpuppi) said Kyari sent pictures of Vincent in jail and subsequently sent a bank account number to him (Hushpuppi) to which a wire transfer should be made having done a ‘good’ job as sent by Abbas (Hushpuppi).
9 Hours Ago But, Kyari had taken to his Facebook page to react to the allegation, claiming he only assisted Hushpuppi to get native clothes and caps worth N300,000.
Although he admitted to arresting Vincent, he said it was after Hushpuppi alleged that Vincent was threatening his family here in Nigeria.
Kyari denied knowing about the relationship between Hushpuppi and Vincent at the initial stage and later discovered Vincent and Hushpuppi had a misunderstanding over the said amount of money.
He also said he never demanded any money from Abbas (Hushpuppi), adding that they (Kyari and his team) were focused on saving people who were being threatened.
But, the court document proves otherwise, showing clearly that Kyari’s claims were lies.
According to the document, after an earlier discussion with Kyari, Hushpuppi requested for Vincent’s (also known as Chibuzor) contact details, which the latter provided.
Hushpuppi forwarded the contact details to Kyari and on January 15, 2020, Hushpuppi sent an audio recording to Kyari via WhatsApp, stating that he wanted to remind Kyari about what they discussed earlier.
On January 16, 2020, Hushpuppi sent the following threats to Chibuzor: “I dey always tell people to think well before they offend me and make them make sure they fit stand the consequences when the time comes. I won’t say more than that but very soon, very, very soon, the wrath of my hands shall find you and when it does, it will damage you forever. At this point I no get discussion with you, you have committed a crime that won’t be forgiven, that is punishable and you shall receive die (sic) punishment in due time. I swear with my life, you will regret messing with me, you will even wish you died before my hands will touch you.”
Later on, Kyari confirmed the arrest and detention of Vincent Chibuzor to Abbas (Hushpuppi), who requested for an account number to which he will send the bribe meant for Kyari’s team members.
Hushpuppi also pleaded with Kyari to inform his team members to deal with Vincent like an armed robber.
The transcript of their conversation goes thus:
First, Kyari sent a message to Hushpuppi saying, “We would pick him today or tomorrow.”
Abbas (Hushpuppi) wrote, “I will take care of the team also after they pick him up.”
Kyari confirmed “Yes ooo.”
It also stated that on January 20, 2020, Kyari sent biographical, identifying information for Chibuzor to Hushpuppi.
Their conversation goes thus: Abbas (Hushpuppi) confirmed “that is him sir.”
Kyari stated, “We have arrested the guy . . . He is in my cell now. This is his picture after we arrested him today.”
After receiving the photograph of Vincent/Chibuzor, Abbas (Hushpuppi) said, “I want him to go through serious beating of his life.”
In response to Kyari’s question about what Chibuzor had done to Abbas (Hushpuppi), Abbas sent Kyari an audio message.
He said: “What he did is, I have one job. The job want to pay me 500, umm, 75,000 dollars [i.e., $575,000]. He went to message the job behind me because I told him to help me make one document for me to give the job. Then he went—he has a—I gave him the details.
“Then he went to message the job behind my back and try to divert the money and in this process he tell the job because of the documents he gave me that I gave the job, he tell the job, ‘These document they sent to you before. These people are fake (sic).
“’This money—is me who can help you to get it. Come to me le—bring this money you want to pay these people to me. I’m the only one who can help you,’ and all these things to divert the job for himself.”
After listening to the message, Kyari simply said he understood without requesting other information or evidence relating to Chibuzor’s role in the scheme, or any questions about the nature of the transaction, the document added.
Hushpuppi further said he wanted to pay money to send Chibuzor to jail for a long time, stating “Please sir I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.”
Kyari responded, “Ok bro, I understand I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . And handling the case. We will do something about it.”
Hushpuppi responded, “Let me know how I can send money to the team sir, let them deal with him like armed robber.”
Kyari responded, “OK I will send their account details to u.”
Hushpuppi further wrote, “He betrayed me and try (sic) to take food out my mouth, this is great punishable sin,” and Kyari responded, “Yeah bro.”
Hushpuppi said, “I want him to suffer for many years.”
Kyari responded, “Hahahaha Hahahaha.”
The document stated that about some minutes later, Kyari provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than Kyari himself.
Hushpuppi responded “Ok sir, tomorrow by noon.”
This showed that Hushpuppi planned to pay the Nigeria Police Force officers who arrested Chibuzor for that service.
A part of the document stated, ”This was not the only time that Abbas arranged payments with Kyari. On May 20, 2020, Abbas sent Kyari transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person Abbas knew in the U.A.E.—a person also arrested with Abbas in Abbas’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020—to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria.
“The amounts on the transaction receipts totalled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information.”
Below is the full evidence.
Detailed conversation between Hushpuppi and DCP Abba Kyari
After Consulting with JUMA, ABBAS Arranged to Have KYARI Imprison CHIBUZO in Nigeria in Retaliation for, and to Prevent Him from, Trying to Coopt the Victim Businessperson
As discussed in paragraph 120, JUMA and ABBAS had a falling out with CHIBUZO after CHIBUZO felt that he was being underpaid (or had not been paid) for work on the fake Wells Fargo website, and then contacted the Victim Businessperson directly. ABBAS then arranged to have KYARI arrest and imprison CHIBUZO in Nigeria for attempting to redirect fraudulent proceeds intended for ABBAS and JUMA to himself, to keep CHIBUZO from interfering with the scheme. This section discusses those events and KYARI’s involvement in the conspiracy.
On January 13, 2020, the Victim Businessperson contacted JUMA about a person who had contacted the Victim Businessperson about the loan, stating “This number is calling me but I didn’t answer.” The Victim Businessperson also provided JUMA a screenshot of and forwarded additional conversations between the Victim Businessperson and CHIBUZO, who was using the U.S. phone number 3054405586. That phone number was the same phone number used by CHIBUZO to send ABBAS information about the fake Wells Fargo website described earlier. In the messages, CHIBUZO sent the Victim Businessperson’s passport, and claimed to be “trying to help” the Victim Businessperson.
JUMA forwarded these messages from the Victim Businessperson to ABBAS, who responded, “I will deal with him.” At approximately the same time, ABBAS asked CHIBUZO for a phone number on which to call him. Two minutes later, ABBAS sent the phone number on which he contacted CHIBUZO (which CHIBUZO had previously also sent to ABBAS) to KYARI without providing any 52 additional context. Just before forwarding the phone number to KYARI, ABBAS placed a nearly five-minute call to KYARI, using the phone number described in paragraph 136.
A short time later, ABBAS told JUMA, “setting him up already. He will learn.” JUMA replied, “He almost messed it up bro,” to which ABBAS responded “They are working on it already.”
Approximately an hour later, CHIBUZO responded to ABBAS’ message requesting his phone number by providing another phone number. ABBAS also sent this number to KYARI without providing any additional context in the message.
On January 15, 2020, this time using WhatsApp, ABBAS sent an audio recording to KYARI, stating, essentially, that he wanted to remind KYARI about what they discussed earlier.
On January 16, 2020, ABBAS sent the following threats to CHIBUZO: *I dey always tell people to think well before they offend me and make them make sure they fit stand the consequences when the time comes. I won’t say more than that but very soon, very very soon, the wrath of my hands shall find you and when it does, it will damage you forever. At this point I no get discussion with you, u have committed a crime that won’t be forgiven, that is punishable and you shall receive die punishment in due time I swear with my life you will regret messing with me, you will even wish you died before my hands will touch you.
Also on January 16, 2020, ABBAS sent a message to KYARI on WhatsApp, and then placed five calls to another phone number (+2348060733588) that was listed as “ABBA KYARI.” Call records show that the last three of the calls were answered and that one of the calls lasted more than two minutes. Shortly after that, ABBAS received a message from KYARI, confirming “We would pick him today or tomorrow.” ABBAS wrote, “I will take care of the team also after they pick him up.” KYARI confirmed “Yes ooo.” a. Based on the conversation described in paragraphs 143 to 145, ABBAS planned to pay the Nigeria Police Force officers who arrested CHIBUZO for that service. b. This was not the only time that ABBAS arranged payments with KYARI. On May 20, 2020, ABBAS sent KYARI transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person ABBAS knew in the U.A.E.—a person also arrested with ABBAS in ABBAS’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020—to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria. The amounts on the transaction receipts totaled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information.
Attempting to reason with ABBAS, on January 18, 2020, CHIBUZO recounted for ABBAS all the assistance he had provided in the scheme to victimize the Victim Businessperson, including creating the “power of attorney” document (see paragraphs 67–68), devising a story to tell the Victim Businessperson (see paragraph 117), and facilitating the creation of the “telephone banking” number (see paragraphs 109–116) and fake Wells Fargo website (see paragraph 117).
As discussed in paragraph 32.b, on January 20, 2020, KYARI sent to ABBAS biographical, identifying information for CHIBUZO, along with a photograph of him. In a conversation immediately following, ABBAS confirmed “that is him sir.” KYARI stated, “We have arrested the guy . . . He is in my Cell 54 now. This is his picture after we arrested him today.” (The below image is a cropped version of the photograph that KYARI sent to ABBAS.)
KYARI sent the biographical information about, and photograph of, CHIBUZO to ABBAS using two different WhatsApp numbers—the second of which KYARI said was his “private number.” From that point on, KYARI and ABBAS primarily discussed the arrest and detention of KYARI through WhatsApp on this “private number.”
After receiving the photograph of CHIBUZO, ABBAS stated, “I want him to go through serious beating of his life.” KYARI responded, “Hahahaha,” and ABBAS replied, “Seriously sir.” KYARI then asked for details about what CHIBUZO did “on audio,” which KYARI said was “So that we will know what to do.”
In response to KYARI’s question about what CHIBUZO had done to ABBAS, ABBAS sent KYARI an audio message, which is transcribed here, describing how CHIBUZO had tried to steal away a fraud victim (i.e., “the job”) from him:
What he did is, I have one job. The job want to pay me 500, umm, 75,000 dollars [i.e., $575,000]. He went to message the job behind me because I told him to help me make one document for me to give the job. Then he went—he has a—I gave him the details. Then he went to message the job behind my back and try to divert the money and in this process he tell the job because of the documents he gave me that I gave the job, he tell the job, “These document they sent to you before. These people are fake. This money—is me who can help you to get it. Come to me le—bring this money you want to pay these people to me. I’m the only one who can help you,” and all these things to divert the job for himself.
After listening to the message, KYARI wrote, “Ok I understand. But he has not succeeded.” ABBAS claimed CHIBUZO had taken some money, and provided KYARI with two screenshots, one of which contained the phone number 3054405586 (the phone number CHIBUZO used to contact the Victim Businessperson). The screenshots showed a person contacting the Victim Businessperson and stating that he was providing information to try to “help” the Victim Businessperson. KYARI responded, “Yeah I understand.” KYARI did not request other information or evidence relating to CHIBUZO’s role in the scheme, ask questions about the nature of the transaction, or ask about why CHIBUZO told the Victim Businessperson that ABBAS was “fake.”
ABBAS then told KYARI, “Now the [Victim Businessperson] was skeptic to pay me the money cos he keep attacking the [Victim Businessperson] from his end. Now I can handle the [VictimB usinessperson] correctly.” ABBAS further told KYARI that he wanted to pay money to send CHIBUZO to jail for a long time, stating “Please sir I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.” KYARI responded, “Ok bro, I understand, I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . And handling the case. We will do something about it.”
ABBAS responded, “Let me know how I can send money to the team sir[.] let them deal with him like armed robber.” KYARI responded, “OK I will send their account details to u.” ABBAS further wrote, “He betray me and try to take food out my mouth, this is great punishable sin,” and KYARI responded, “Yeah bro.” ABBAS then continued, “I want him to suffer for many years.” KYARI responded, “Hahahaha [¶] Hahahaha.”
Approximately six minutes later, KYARI provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than KYARI himself. ABBAS responded “Ok sir, tomorrow by noon,” indicating that he would make the payment to KYARI’s team by the next day.
On the same day, ABBAS sent JUMA the photograph of CHIBUZO in custody, which KYARI had sent.
Approximately a month later, on February 19, 2020, KYARI sent a message to ABBAS, saying, “Hello hush with [sic] need to talk about the subject under detention with me.” ABBAS asked “Should I call u on this number sir?” to which KYARI replied “Yes call me.”
The following day, KYARI sent ABBAS multiple photographs of CHIBUZO to ABBAS, including close-up photographs showing a rash or skin disease on CHIBUZO’s torso and arms. ABBAS responded, “I don pity am, make them leave am from Tuesday.” KYARI wrote, “Ok bro, they just brought him from hospital. The fever and the rashes is giving him serious Wahala [¶] He got the disease from other suspects in the cell.” ABBAS responded, “I see am, I no too pity am [¶] That’s what people like him deserve but I go forgive am for God sake.”
In other words, based on my training and experience with Nigerian Pidgin, ABBAS was essentially stating, in part, “I don’t pity him. That’s what people like him deserve, but I will forgive him for God’s sake.” a. Based on the date of the messages and later discussion described in paragraph 150, ABBAS was—on Thursday, February 20, 2020—requesting that KYARI not to release CHIBUZO until Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
ABBAS then told KYARI that CHIBUZO’s girlfriend messaged him, trying to raise one million Naira to secure CHIBUZO’s release, and said ABBAS promised to contribute 100,000 Naira. KYARI stated “They were thinking it’s normal arrest that is why they think money can remove him . . . No money can remove him here [¶] Hahahaha.” ABBAS added, “But it’s better for them to think that way, I like it like that,” and KYARI responded, “Yeah.”
ABBAS then said, “No problem sir from Tuesday he can go,” apparently giving KYARI his blessing to release CHIBUZO from custody. KYARI responded, “Ok bro [¶] We will also keep his phone and other gadgets for some weeks.” ABBAS responded, “Yes those ones they should not give him again, those ones are gone . . . Make he no see those ones again for life,” instructing KYARI not to return CHIBUZO’s electronic devices. KYARI responded, “Yes he will not see it Again,” indicating that he would accede to ABBAS’ request.
A Nigerian woman has supposedly returned to a monetarily handicap state regardless of winning millions in a lotto big stake
Twitter user @imimigold, shared the affected lady’s story on the microblogging platform, and narrated how she went from grass to grace accidentally, but is now wallowing in poverty.
According to her, the lady luckily won a whopping sum of N59 million in Baba Ijebu lotto but she squandered the huge amount of money just 3 months after.
After winning the money, the lady had reportedly started clubbing regularly and spent a million Naira every night at the club.
She kept enjoying an extravagant lifestyle without any proper investment on ground, till she wasted the entire money to the point that she can’t even boast of ₦10,000 in her bank account.
@imimigold wrote; ”This lady won 59million naira from baba ijebu…3months ago! She became a club customer. In a night she will blow 1m. Now she can’t even boast of 10,000 naira in her acct. she keeps begging people for money to play more games.”
George Clooney, 60, and Amal Clooney, 43, are rumoured to be expecting another baby four years after welcoming twins Ella and Alexander.
Insiders claim the actor and human rights lawyer have already told their close friends about the baby when they threw a small dinner party near their Italian villa on July 4th, 2021.
A source told OK! US: “The buzz is they’re having twins again. Amal’s said to be past her first trimester.
“She’s already starting to show, so soon enough, everyone will know. George was giddy with excitement and couldn’t wait to tell everyone.”
The insider added that the couple were unsure if they could have more kids, and the news “was met with well-wishes all around”.
They added: “George was so proud, and Amal was glowing. This is something both George and Amal really wanted, but at her age, there was no guarantee.”
Hollywood actress, Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney for breach of contract over her superhero film Black Widow.
The American actress is claiming that the studio’s decision to launch her first, and last, Marvel standalone film on Disney+ as well as cinemas is a breach of contract.
“Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel,” the suit, which was filed on 29 July, read.
Johansson claims that her salary was based on the box office performance of the film, which opened strong with $80m in the US but suffered the steepest second week decline of any entry within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, dropping 67%. Exhibitors later criticised Disney, blaming the hybrid release for the drop.
The National Association of Theatre Owners, which represents about 30,000 screens in the US, sent out a press release saying that the performance “demonstrates that an exclusive theatrical release means more revenue for all stakeholders in every cycle of the movie’s life”.
Disney announced in March that the $200m-budgeted film would go to cinemas while also being available to rent on Disney+ for $30. The studio claimed that it made $60m via rentals in its opening weekend. Its global haul currently stands at $319m, one of the lowest-performing Marvel films to date.
The complaint claims that Johansson’s lawyers reached out in 2019 to Disney with concerns about the film being given a multi-platform release. They later tried to renegotiate her contract after the release strategy was changed.
“This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts,” said John Berlinski, an attorney at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP who represents Johansson, in a statement.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, defended the decision in May on an earnings call. “One of the things we learned is that flexibility is good,” he said. “We’re really celebrating that flexibility … we’re trying to offer consumers more choice.
In a new statement, Disney has fired back at Johansson. “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing,” it read. “The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested 55 suspected internet fraudsters in separate operations in Enugu and Ebonyi States.
A statement released by the antigraft agency says eighteen of the suspects were arrested on July 29, 2021, at Agbani Road and Thinkers Corner areas of Enugu, Enugu State following intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet fraud.
The agency gave the names of the suspects as John Kennedy, Onochie John Paul, Ilojeme Chiagozie, Ilechukwu Chidiebeube, Ike Ebubechukwu Emmanuel H., Otega Pafe Philip, Uzochukwu Uche Frank and Ezinwa Witness Chimere. Others are Obike William Nwabufo, Ikeja Eyerinsu, Chidindu Victory, Onwuagbaizu Paul, Tomizine Alamco, Great Oluwagbemiga, Kanu Dennis Ifeanyichukwu, Ebere Malachy, James Collins Ewenike and Ilojeme Chiemela.
Some of the items recovered from them include laptops and several mobile phones.
According to the agency, the remaining 37 suspects were apprehended on Wednesday July 28, 2021 at Hausa Quarters, Nkaliki, Aboboriga,Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.
The arrested suspects include Igwe Chukwudi, Ozoemena Newman, Obinna William, Eze Godwin, George Ezenwa, Onyebuchi Ebuka, Ezediegwu Innocent, Nzubechukwu Obineze, Igwe Ikenna, Ibrahim Falada, Ezra Excel, Chinedu Agu, Oscar Sogidu, Uchenna Onyenweaku, Nwoka Darlington, Ejike Prince, Anuli Obinna, Nwazunkwu Collins and Mba Rocks, Patrick Junior.
Others are Amefula Kennedy, Ebuka Okoh, Igboke Chinonso, Ijezie Chibuike, Anthony Delight, Joseph Ahuighnwa, Innocent Chukwuebuka, Chima Ndubuisi, Benjamin Kelechi, Precious Kalu, Anthony Samuel, Christian Valentine, Chukwudi Agbom, Ekebudu Nwabueze, Okoye Arinze, Igwebuike Emeka and Chiemelie Franklin.
Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott, former wives to two of the world’s richest men- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have teamed up to give $40 million to help in advancing the power and influence of American women over the next decade.
Melinda Gates and Scott, who were formerly married to Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, respectively, have become powerful philanthropists in their own rights. Both women, who are among the richest people in the world, have signed The Giving Pledge, promising to give away the majority of their wealth in their lifetimes.
The surprising donation from the women will be awarded to four winners of the ”Equality Can’t Wait Challenge”, a competition hosted by Melinda Gates’ investment firm Pivotal Ventures, with financial support from Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, as well as from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.
The challenge calls itself “the first competition centered on gender and equality in the U.S. with an award of this magnitude and … an opportunity to invest in and empower women leaders.”
The four contest winners which were chosen from among 550 applicants proposed various creative ways to empower and improve the lives of women in the United States. They include establishing publicly supported infrastructure for childcare and other forms of caregiving; creating training for women interested in software development careers; accelerating young women’s trajectories through college and their early careers; and growing “impactful businesses owned by Native womxn.”
Each of the winners will receive $10 million for their projects.
“The awardees are strong teams working on the front lines and from within communities to help women build power in their lives and careers,” Scott said in a statement.
Meinda French Gates added: “We can break the patterns of history and advance gender equality, but we must commit to lifting up organizations, like the ones receiving awards today, that are ready to lift up women and girls.”
Melinda Gates remains co-chair of The Gates Foundation, In May, she filled for divorce from Bill Gates, whose current net worth stands at about $151 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Scott, whose net worth is estimated to be around $64 billion after receiving a quarter of Bezos’ Amazon shares in the couple’s divorce settlement last year said last month that she has already donated nearly $1.7 billion of her fortune to 116 organizations focused on one of nine “areas of need,” including racial equity, LGBTQ+ equity, functional democracy and climate change.
Former Roman Catholic Church Cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked by The Vatican in 2019 over sex abuse allegations, is now facing criminal charges in Massachusetts for alleged sex abuse of a minor nearly 50 years ago, according to a new court filing in Dedham District Court, Massachusetts.
According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday, July 28, McCarrick, 88, is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.
The filing states that the unnamed victim told investigators via Zoom in January that McCarrick had been friends with a family member and outlined multiple incidents of alleged abuse by McCarrick, most of which took place outside of Massachusetts in New Jersey, New York and California.
McCarrick and his alleged victim in a photo taken in the 70s
One abuse incident took place in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in June 1974 at the victim’s brother’s wedding, where the victim said McCarrick allegedly pulled him aside and told him,
“Your dad wants you to come with me and have a talk. You’re being mischievous at home and not attending church. We need to go outside and have a conversation,” according to the complaint.
McCarrick then allegedly told the victim to take down his pants and then held and “kissed” his genitalia “saying prayers to make me feel holy,” according to the complaint.
After telling him to pull up his pants, McCarrick allegedly told the boy to say certain prayers “so God can redeem you of your sins.”
McCarrick has maintained his innocence in the past regarding previous allegations. He was promoted to cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul, a year after he became Archbishop of Washington.
McCarrick is now officially the highest-ranking Catholic official in the US to face criminal charges for sex abuse of a minor, according to the unnamed victim’s attorney, Mitchell Garabedian.
“Historically, this is the first time ever in the United States that a Cardinal has been criminally charged with a sexual crime against a minor,” Garabedian said in a news release.
“It takes an enormous amount of courage for a sexual abuse victim to report having been sexually abused to investigators and proceed through the criminal process.”
1.A certain businessperson was looking for a lender to invest $15m to build a school in Qatar.
2.JUMA, a Kenyan based in Nairobi who works with HUSH tells the businessperson that he would provide the loan.
3.Hush claims to be a Malik that works in a US based bank would facilitate the payment of the loan.
4.Hush and Juma convinced the businessperson to make certain transactions under the guise of taxes among others to expedite the loan.
5.After receiving several amounts in hundreds of USD, Hush contacted CHIBUZOR to design a decoy website to deceive the businessperson that the loan has been secured and he can transfer the funds.
6.Chibuzor at a point felt Hush wasn’t paying well enough and promptly decided to contact the businessperson that Hush and Juma were scammers that he is the one that can help him.
7.Hush found out what Chibuzor has done, contacted our super cop and igbalode tailor DCP Abba KYARI “Couture” and tells him how Chibuzor snitched him and stole his job of about $575k which he would have lost if he didn’t quickly intervene.
8.Hush calls Chibuzor and threatens to deal with him for snitching him and Juma. Hush then provides Kyari with Chibuzor’s phone numbers which was used to trace and pick him up.
9.Upon picking and locking Chibuzor up, Kyari sent pictures of Chibuzor in police custody to Hush and Hush confirms the detainee was indeed Chibuzor. Hush then tells Kyari he wants Chibuzor beaten blue black and gone for a very long time. Kyari agreed to Hush wishes.
10.Kyari then provided a Zenith bank account details to Hush where payments for the job and the boys would be made and an estimated N8m was made.
11.Chibuzor’s girlfriend runs around to gather money to secure his release and even contacted Hush to help provide funds to bail Chibuzor from custody. Hush sent her 100k and then contacted Kyari telling him what happened and reiterating… his wishes to Kyari to ensure Chibuzor is not released.
12.After a while in custody, Chibuzor got really sick and seemed to have contacted a disease in the cell was taken to a hospital for treatment, Kyari sent pictures of a sick and diseased Chibuzor to Hush. Hush said he sees Chibuzor is really sick but doesn’t pity him for what he has done. They both ended that conversation and agreed to release Chibuzor.
13.Back to the businessperson, he has noticed some irregularities in his dealings with Juma as Juma was his first contact and who brought Hush into play and realized Juma was scamming him. Hush who is still a supposed Malik a US based banker then contacts the businessperson that he could solve the issues but might have to pay another $180k.
14.The businessperson made this payments in 2 transactions of $100k and $80k. Hush didn’t tell Juma about this dealings with the businessperson.
15.The businessperson eventually realizes he is been defrauded and challenges Hush, alleging Hush and Juma are part of the same team and stopped all comms with Hush. 16.Other people involved in this case mentioned are one BOLATITO and another MORAYO. These people who provided US based bank accounts for the businessperson to transfer to, who then laundered the money to Hush via various means.
17.Among these means include the purchase and delivery of a Richard Mille watch of about $250k which Bolatito received from the seller and delivered to Morayo who then sent it to Hush in Dubai.
18.Hush also used proceeds of his deal to acquire citizenship and passport of St. Kitts. Hush used a fake Nigerian wedding certificate to a St. Kitts citizen and bribed some people to acquire this citizenship.
A formerly overweight woman looks completely unrecognizable after losing 11 stone by overhauling her diet and getting a gastric sleeve.
Monalisa Moura, 33, from Brazil, said she weighed 21.9st at her heaviest and struggled with joint problems.
She told UOL: “I was never thin as a child. But I became morbidly obese in 2014 after my second pregnancy.
“I had postpartum depression, I tried to (take my own life).
“In short, six months after the birth of my second child, I reached 139kg (more than 29st).”
Determined to change her life for the better, Monalisa got sleeve gastrectomy surgery to reduce the size of her stomach to about 15% of its original size.
This operation promotes the feeling of fullness and helps to combat over-eating.
After the surgery, Monalisa managed to lose a massive 71kg (around 11.2st) in two years by overhauling her diet.
She also took medication and fasted intermittently, which wasn’t sustainable and caused her to relapse.
Monalisa soon went back to binge eating and added five stone back on.
However, she caught herself just in time and vowed to get in shape again.
Monalisa, who is now a model, weighs 10.7st and keeps in shape by eating healthily and exercising regularly.
She also takes supplements to help burn fat and aid her metabolism.
The model credits her transformation, which she says was difficult, to her strong willpower.
Monalisa now works as a “muse” (cheerleader) of Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular football club, a job that only the best-looking women are ever invited to do.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US has disclosed how it identified and nailed Nigeria’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, as one of the co-conspirators of Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Abba Kyari, a high-ranking Nigerian police officer who has received multiple honours, was one of six people indicted over an elaborate scheme to defraud a Qatari businessperson of more than $1 million, masterminded by celebrity fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.
The 6 indicted over scheme to defraud a Qatari businessperson
The FBI revealed this in an affidavit issued before the United States District Court by a Special Agent with the FBI, Andrew John Innocenti.
The FBI said that Kyari abandoned his duties in Nigeria sometime in 2019 and flew to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to “enjoy a good time” with Hushpuppi, who lived at Palazzo Versace in the Emirati commercial capital.
The FBI special agent said Huspuppi appeared to have first interacted with Mr Kyari during the police officer’s trip to Dubai in September 2019.
He said conversations between them showed that Hushpuppi sent a car and a driver to drive Mr Kyari around in Dubai.
“Soon thereafter, KYARI sent ABBAS a video slideshow which showed some personal photographs of KYARI, some of which appeared to have been taken in the U.A.E,” Mr Innocenti added.
He said further that later in September “after KYARI sent ABBAS an article that discussed him arresting alleged kidnappers, ABBAS wrote, in part, to KYARI, ‘Am really happy to be ur boy,’ and later, ‘I promise to be a good boy to u sir’.”
The affidavit showed that the police boss, using the phone number +234909999****, sent Hushpuppi a photograph of him sitting at a desk in his office on September 8, 2019.
The affidavit reads: “For example, using the phone number +234909999****—which ABBAS had saved as ‘ABBA KYARI’—KYARI sent ABBAS the following photograph, on September 8, 2019.”
Photo Abba Kyari sent to Abbas ‘Hushpuppi’
The FBI agent added in the affidavit that Kyari sent Abbas ‘Huspuppi’ a link to an article in the Nigerian publication ‘The Independent’ describing how he was being honoured by the House of Representatives.
The FBI adds in the affidavit: “Using the phone number +234812000***—which ABBAS had saved as ‘ABBA KYARI NEW NUMB’— KYARI sent several images of himself to ABBAS in April and May 2020.”
FBI Special Agent, Innocenti, said in the court documents: “I reviewed online articles about KYARI, which indicated that KYARI is an Inspector General of the Police’s Intelligence Response Team and a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nigeria. KYARI previously managed the Special Anti- Robbery Squad, commonly known as SARS, as the Officer-In-Charge for several years. Articles referred to KYARI as a ‘super cop’ of the Nigeria Police Force, and described him as ‘The Most Decorated Officer In The History Of The Nigerian Police.’
“KYARI has been awarded many accolades, including recognition for his performance by the Nigerian House of Representatives in June 2020, which KYARI informed ABBAS of via the news article discussed above.
“I also reviewed other articles, from October and November 2020, which indicated that KYARI had been accused of falsely arresting and extorting a businessman in Lagos. Based on those articles, KYARI’s work, in general, appears to have related primarily to kidnapping cases, and I did not see any articles suggesting that KYARI worked on fraud cases.
“Finally, I have reviewed a certified NIV application submitted by ABBA ALHAJI KYARI, in April 2019. This application included one of the aforementioned phone numbers (0909999****) that KYARI used to communicate with ABBAS, as well as a date of birth in March of 1975, and KYARI’s Nigerian passport number ending in 3677. The NIV application also included the following photograph, which is consistent with the other photographs of KYARI shown above:
“Based on messages I reviewed, ABBAS appears to have first interacted with KYARI in September 2019, when KYARI travelled to the U.A.E. The conversation indicated that ABBAS sent a car and driver to drive KYARI during that trip. Soon thereafter, KYARI sent ABBAS a video slideshow which showed some personal photographs of KYARI, some of which appeared to have been taken in the U.A.E. Later in September, after KYARI sent ABBAS an article that discussed him arresting alleged kidnappers, ABBAS wrote, in part, to KYARI, ‘Am really happy to be ur boy,’ and later, ‘I promise to be a good boy to u sir,'” the affidavit read.
Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to police officer, Abba Kyari, and produce him in the United States for his alleged role in a $1.1 million fraud.
US court documents showed that American prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021.
Another warrant was requested on April 29, 2021.
It was further gathered that Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Kyari and hold him in US custody was unsealed on July 26, 2021.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to arrest DCP Abba Kyari, over his connection with a serial internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi.
A top source in the EFCC who spoke with SaharaReporters however said no arrest can be made by the agency since Kyari is a police officer and that the case was not within the capacity of the EFCC but for the police to handle.
“FBI has contacted EFCC, asking that we arrest Abba Kyari but we told them that it is a police matter” the source in the EFCC said.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has ordered an internal review of all the allegations levelled against Kyari by Hushpuppi.
The suspected internet fraudster who was arrested in Dubai in June 2020 allegedly told the FBI that he gave a bribe to Kyari to facilitate the arrest and imprisonment of a member of his online fraud gang identified as Chibuzo Vincent. Kyari has however denied this allegation.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has narrated how Tukur Buratai, Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic was allegedly told that the country follows rule of law when he asked for Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho to be handed over to him after his arrest in the neighboring country.
In an interview on Channels Television on Thursday July 29, Falana claimed that Buratai made the request when he had not submitted his letter of credence to Benin Republic’s President. He also said that he learnt there were attempts to throw Igboho in a waiting plane for return to Nigeria.
Falana said;
“In the case of Sunday Igboho, again despite my disagreement with him, I came out to say you cannot just throw him into a waiting plane as we were told, it was attempted.
“You have to go to court. You have to make a request under international law, under the ECOWAS convention on extradition.
“The government of Nigeria is requested to submit an extradition request to the government of Benin Republic and so when the plenipotentiary, General Yusuf Buratai (retired), who at that time had not submitted his letters of credence asked that Igboho be handed over to him.
“He was told, ‘sorry, we operate the rule of law here’. That is why that matter is still in court.”
Noting that he is opposed to the campaign of the balkanisation of Nigeria, Falana however added that the law guarantees the rights of self-determination.
Speaking further, the senior lawyer explained that amid the agitations in some quarters that the nation should split, the Federal Government owes it a duty to convince the agitators by reposing confidence on the corporate existence of Nigeria.
Stressing that it is not a criminal offence for some persons to make separatists demands, Falana said the current administration should respect human rights in line with Article 20 of the African Charter on Human Rights.
He said;
“Personally, I am strenuously opposed to the campaign for the balkanisation of Nigeria because I believe the masses of our people are oppressed by the ruling class and imperialism.
“To that extent, I have a fundamental ideological disagreement with those who are calling for the breakup of the country along ethnic lines.
“If a group of people decides to fight for the breakup of the country, the duty of the government is to try as much as possible to convince them to repose confidence in the corporate existence of Nigeria.”
Lionel Messi has reportedly returned to Barcelona to finally put pen to paper on a new contract at the club.
The Argentine’s deal expired at the end of June but has agreed on a new deal with Spanish giants.
The Barcelona hierarchy have been confident their star player would agree to new terms this summer and now he’s back in Spain to strike a new deal in the next week, according to SPORT.
Messi was on a £500,000-a-week contract but has agreed to take a 50 percent pay cut in order to stay at the Nou Camp for another five years. This is because the Spanish club is cash-strapped amid the coronavirus pandemic and need to balance their books.
The Catalan giants must slash their wage bill in order to comply with LaLiga’s strict salary cap.
Barca president Joan Laporta insisted that they were making headway regarding the talks during the club’s official unveiling of the new signing Memphis Depay last week.
‘The player has always said he wants to stay on and we are making good progress with the negotiations,’ he told the club’s official website.
‘(Rafael) Yuste and (Mateu) Alemany are working very hard. What we all want is for Messi to stay at Barca. To stay for a lot of years and play alongside such talented footballers as Depay.
‘We are very satisfied with the attitude being shown by both parties, which an operation like this needs. Leo is on holiday right now, but he has a whole team working to get him a contract that suits everyone.’
Along with Depay, Barcelona have also signed Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Emerson Royal so far during the summer transfer window.
Popular policeman, Abba Kyari has reacted to being accused by US government of allegedly receiving bribe from Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi to arrest and jail a member of his online fraud gang identified as Chibuzo Vincent.
LIB had reported that the new indictment which Hushpuppi and 5 others face, involved money meant to finance construction of a school for children in Qatar.
Abba Kyari was accused of initiating the arrest after a dispute arose from the $1.1m fraudulent scheme the Instagram celebrity and members of his gang were involved in. The affidavit described Kyari as a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest.
Kyari was also accused of allegedly sending Abbas bank account details to deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.
The policeman who has now reacted to the allegation, disclosed that the arrest was effected two years ago. According to him, Hushpuppi had filed a complaint alleging that somebody in Nigeria seriously threatened to kill his family here in Nigeria and subsequently sent the person’s phone number and pleaded that the police takes action before his family is harmed.
Kyari said investigations revealed there wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life, and was just a case centering on money. He added that Vincent was released on bail and not taken to any jail.
The policeman also claimed that the money Hushpuppi sent was for a native cloth he saw on his page and liked. He reiterated that his hands are clean, and urged those celebrating to stop creating narratives with false evidence.
The statement read;
Abbas who we later came to know as Hushpuppi called our office about 2years ago that somebody in Nigeria Seriously threatened to kill his Family here in Nigeria and he sent the person’s Phone number and pleaded we take action before the Person attacks his family.
We traced and arrested the Suspect and after investigations we discovered there wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life And they are long time friends who have money issues between them hence we released the Suspect on bail to go and he was not taken to any jail.
Nobody demanded for a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi. Our focus was to Save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.
Later, he saw some of my Native Clothes and Caps on my social media page and he said he likes them and he was connected to the person selling the clothes and he sent about N300k directly to the person’s account. The Native Clothes and Caps (5 sets) were brought to our office and He sent somebody to Collect them in our office.
Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi and nobody collected any money from him. We responded to a distress call he made on threat to his family and released the Suspect when we discovered there was no life threat from the Suspect. This is the true story. Vincent is alive, he can be contacted.
For those who are celebrating that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious Big Money, They will be disappointed once again as our hands are clean and our record of Service for 2 decades is open for everybody to See. They will continue seeing us serving our father land and we will Continue responding to ALL distress Calls from ALL Nigerians provided they are life threatening.
For Good Nigerians who appreciate our Service please don’t worry as our hands are clean and they should please not respond to those celebrating and creating many false Narratives without any Evidence. We are used to such types of people and false newsmakers and distributors.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a free $100 incentive to anyone who goes to a city-run vaccination site for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, starting this Friday July 30.
The mayor made the announcement on Wednesday at a press conference. “It does not get better than that,” de Blasio said.
The announcement comes just days after the mayor said all city workers would have to be vaccinated or go through strict weekly testing protocols.
Beginning Friday, the cash reward will be handed out to city residents and employees who make an appointment at city-run vaccination sites.
An official said at the press conference that first-time shot takers will either be mailed a pre-paid debit card or be issued a digital one immediately via email.
“I personally believe that the guarantee that right then and there you’re going to be rewarded, I think that’s going to make a big difference to people,” the mayor said.
When he was questioned about those who have already been vaccinated, de Blasio thanked them for doing “the right thing.”
“It was the right thing to do for yourself, for your family, for your community. You did the right thing and the reward is you were kept safe and you’re alive because of it,” he said.
“But, we understand it’s been a huge amount of misinformation … particularly through social media getting anything but the truth. We got a lot we’ve got to overcome.”
More than 9 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the city.
The mayor said over 59 percent of the city’s population has received at least one Covid-19 shot, but that’s not enough.
“That misinformation, that fear has hurt,” he said. “And what’s in all of our interest is to get every single additional person vaccinated.”
A billionaire’s son has been sentenced to jail for failing to pay the first installment of his London-based ex-wife’s £5.8 million divorce settlement.
Preston Haskell IV, son of Preston Haskell III and heir to his vast American construction empire, has been embroiled in a five-year legal battle with Belarusian former model, Alesia Vladimirovna Haskell.
Preston Jr tried to fight a first court ruling that he could have paid his first instalment of £50,000 but did not do so. His appeal failure has landed him with a six-week jail sentence, meaning the 55-year-old would be taken to prison if he returns to England
Ms Haskell told a judge that her ex-husband’s failure to pay the money which was due by February 2020 had affected her finances up to the extent she faced losing her home in one of London’s most upmarket boroughs.
The couple had been known for hosting the likes of Elton John, Madonna and Cheryl Cole at lavish parties in a £3.3 million apartment in Sloane Square.
Ruling in the woman’s favor, Justice Mostyn said the pair enjoyed a ‘superior lifestyle’ but their marriage was ‘blighted by the husband’s serial infidelity and abuse of cocaine and alcohol.
Ms Haskell filed for divorce in 2016, prompting a bitter court battle in which Mr Haskell ‘denounced her as a gold digger’ and began a process of ‘financial attrition’.
Mr Haskell complained of having ‘no money at all’ despite his properties and businesses around the world, including a £6.5 million villa in Cape Town and a stake in a Swedish gold exploration company.
The judge slammed Mr Haskell’s request to account for his ex-wife’s engagement ring while weighing up the value of their respective assets.
He told the court: ‘The husband was very keen that I should do so asserting that it was worth perhaps £100,000.
‘It is bordering on the grotesque that the husband should be expecting the wife to liquidate this ring.’
In court papers Mr Haskell reportedly worth £160 million claimed to have ‘liabilities’ of £50 million and that he was struggling to meet his maintenance obligations.
However, the judge ruled Mr Haskell was able to pay the entire £5.8 million divorce settlement and that he should pay the final instalment by March 2022 to his former wife.
A baby girl born in Israel earlier this month had the embryo of a twin inside her stomach, in what medical officials say was a 1-in-500,000 medical rarity.
The case of “fetus-in-fetu” occurred at Assuta Medical Center in Ashod, Israel, according to a Wednesday, July 28 report by The Times of Israel.
“We were surprised to discover that it was an embryo,” Omer Globus, director of neonatology at the hospital, told the paper.
Medical checks and ultrasound examinations of the mother already showed that the developing baby’s stomach was enlarged, and doctors later confirmed the unusual condition after the child was born, the report added.
After birth, the baby underwent furter ultrasound examinations and an X-ray,and doctors had to remove two more formations from inside the baby, the report said.
The operation was successful and the girl is expected to make a full recovery, Globus said. Both the girl and her mother, who has three other children, have already been sent home.
Globus said there are a number of theories as to how such cases occur, with one being that the pregnancy starts off as twins but then one of the embryos is absorbed by the other.
“It happens as part of the fetal development process when there are cavities that close during development and one of the embryos enters such a space,” he said.
“The fetus inside partially develops but does not live and remains there.”
A Koforidua Circuit Court in Ghana, has sentenced a 54-year-old man to 9 years and five months imprisonment for attacking his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend Deborah Osei, and her mother with acid at Awukugua in the Eastern Region.
The convict, Nana Yaw Mante launched the acid attack on the victims in December 2020 while they were in their room at Awukugua. Both women sustained severe injuries.
The incident occurred few months after the convict was slapped with a fine of GHC1,200 and a compensation of GHC1000 by a magistrate Court in Koforidua for taking and circulating nude pictures of his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend. He was cautioned to stay away from her.
Delivering the latest judgement on Wednesday, July 28, Her Honour Mercy Addei Kotei took into consideration the previous conviction to apply the maximum sentence.
According to her, the sentence was set at 9 years and five months instead of ten years because the convict had been on remand for five months.
Nana Yaw Mante was charged for obscenity contrary to section 281(i) B of the Criminal Offence Act, 29/60b in his previous case at Koforidua Magistrate Court “A”.
The Prosecutor, Sergeant George Defia told the Court that the convict and the victim, a Senior High School dropout are both natives of Awukugua in the Okere District of the Eastern Region.
According to the prosecuting officer, four years ago, the accused met the victim who had dropped out of school due to financial challenges, and under the pretext of assisting her to go back to school, took undue advantage and entered into a sexual relationship with her.
The family of the victim became suspicious and confronted him but he denied having sexual relations with the victim.
Due to persistent disapproval from the victim’s family, the relationship hit a snag. However, in 2019, the accused convinced the victim and they reunited.
Mr Mante, for fear of losing the victim again, told her that he had taken her to a shrine and the gods were demanding to see her nakedness.
In November 2019, the convict lured the victim to Dawu near Adukrom-Akuapem where he recorded a series of sexually explicit videos of themselves.
He later sent the videos and pictures of the victim to her aunty and two other men, he alleged were also dating the victim. The videos went viral on social media in February 2020.
The victim reported the incident to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua.
Mr Mante was arrested on February 7, 2020, and in his caution statement admitted recording the sexually explicit videos of the victim and sharing same.
The receivers of the videos confirmed to the Police during interrogation that the accused sent it to them but denied circulating on social media.
During cross-examination, Nana Yaw Mante who claims to be a businessman told the court on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, that, the victim insulted him and threatened to forward the nude videos and pictures he sent to her privately, to his son and some political rivals.
But she denied the allegation during her cross-examination.
Again, the accused told the Court that, the then 18-year-old girl forced him to date her.
He explained that he reunited with the victim in 2019 after a breakup in 2018 because, the victim begged for the reunion.
However, the judge did not take any of his pleas and went ahead to slap him with the jail term.
Sun Dawu, a Chinese billionaire pig farmer and agricultural mogul, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined 3.11m yuan (£345,000) for crimes including “provoking trouble”, in a case observers believe was politically motivated.
The court in Gaobeidian, near Beijing, said Sun was guilty of crimes including “gathering a crowd to attack state organs”, “obstructing government administration” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, a catch-all term often used against human rights figures and dissidents.
Sun, an outspoken supporter and friend of Chinese political dissidents, was arrested on 11 November alongside more than 20 others including his wife, two sons, and daughters-in-law.
Groups including Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) say the prosecution is apparent retaliation for Sun’s long support and friendships with Chinese dissidents.
“When the government violates its own laws in order to silence those with the means to support commitments to social justice and official accountability, it profoundly weakens the vitality of China’s economy and its leaders’ promises to rule by law,” said Ramona Li, a senior researcher at CHRD, at the beginning of Sun’s trial this month.
Sun, who turned 67 this month according to his lawyers, is a former pig farmer who founded the Dawu Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group.
According to China Change, an information outlet, at pre-trial Sun described himself as an “outstanding Communist party member”, and denied many of the accusations against him, including those related to misusing funds.
Sun admitted to making mistakes, including posting messages online and unspecified mistakes over the “land issue”.
“The way they’re investigating me now is making those close to us suffer and those who hate us rejoice. I wish to take the charges upon myself, even if they’re severe, in exchange for the release of others. We are people who have made contributions to society,” he said.
The case comes amid a wide-scale crackdown in recent months on private businesses and entrepreneurs in China. Major tech firms have been investigated and their executives questioned and ordered to downsize or been fined, including Jack Ma’s Ant Group and Alibaba.
In September, Ren Zhiqiang, a former real estate mogul who criticised Xi’s handling of the pandemic in an online essay, was jailed for 18 years on corruption charges
Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi has been indicted by a US federal grand jury in an international scheme to defraud a Qatari school founder and then launder over $1m in illicit proceeds.
The new indictment which Hushpuppi and 5 others faces, involved money meant to finance construction of a school for children in Qatar.
This is coming after it was reported that Hushpuppi entered a plea deal in the money laundering charge against him with the US government, and now faces 20 years in prison.
In the new indictment, it was alleged that Hushpuppi conspired with Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul,” 28, of Kenya, and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, of Nigeria, to defraud the Qatari businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance construction of the planned school.
Juma allegedly posed as a facilitator and consultant for the illusory bank loans, while Abbas played the role of “Malik,” a Wells Fargo banker in New York, according to court documents. Vincent, in turn, allegedly provided support for the false narratives fed to the victim by, among other things, creating bogus documents and arranging for the creation of a fake bank website and phone banking line.
Yusuf Adekinka Anifowoshe, a.k.a. “AJ,” 26, of Brooklyn, New York, allegedly played a role in the fraud, assisting Abbas with a call to the victim posing as “Malik.” Special agents with the FBI arrested Anifowoshe in New York on July 22. The conspirators allegedly defrauded the victim out of more than $1.1 million.
A dispute among members of the conspiracy, allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma were engaged in fraud. After this contact, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria.
According to the affidavit, Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.
Anifowoshe, Fashola and Agbabiaka were arrested in New York and New Jersey on July 22, and they are expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles in August. All three are currently free on bond.
Both conspiracy counts alleged in the indictment carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison term.
The press release shared on the official website of the US Justice Department read;
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week alleges an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar – and the subsequent laundering of illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.
The three-count indictment returned on April 29 and unsealed Monday charges three U.S.-based defendants who were arrested last week – as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa – with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
The criminal complaint that initiated the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday, revealing that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas – also known by his social media handle of “Ray Hushpuppi” – was initially charged in this case. Court documents ordered unsealed today show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20. A version of Abbas’ plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.
“The defendants allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off,” said Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “Mr. Abbas, who played a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means. In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we will identify and prosecute perpetrators of business email compromise scams, which is a massive and growing international crime problem.”
“Mr. Abbas, among the most high-profile money launderers in the world, has admitted to his significant role in perpetrating global BEC fraud, a scheme currently plaguing Americans,” said Kristi K. Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “His celebrity status and ability to make connections seeped into legitimate organizations and led to several spin-off schemes in the U.S. and abroad. Today’s announcement deals a crucial blow to this international network and hopefully serves as a warning to potential victims targeted with this type of theft.”
According to the indictment, Abbas allegedly conspired with Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul,” 28, of Kenya, and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, of Nigeria, to defraud the Qatari businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance construction of the planned school. Juma allegedly posed as a facilitator and consultant for the illusory bank loans, while Abbas played the role of “Malik,” a Wells Fargo banker in New York, according to court documents. Vincent, in turn, allegedly provided support for the false narratives fed to the victim by, among other things, creating bogus documents and arranging for the creation of a fake bank website and phone banking line.
Yusuf Adekinka Anifowoshe, a.k.a. “AJ,” 26, of Brooklyn, New York, allegedly played a role in the fraud, assisting Abbas with a call to the victim posing as “Malik.” Special agents with the FBI arrested Anifowoshe in New York on July 22.
The conspirators allegedly defrauded the victim out of more than $1.1 million.
The proceeds of the fraud allegedly were laundered in several ways. According to the indictment, Abbas was assisted in laundering the proceeds of the fraud by Rukayat Motunraya Fashola, a.k.a. “Morayo,” 28, of Valley Stream, New York, and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka, a.k.a. “Bolamide,” 34, of Linden, New Jersey. These two defendants also were arrested on July 22 by FBI agents.
Approximately $230,000 of the stolen funds allegedly were used to purchase a Richard Mille RM11-03 watch, which was hand delivered to Abbas in Dubai and subsequently appeared in Hushpuppi’s social media posts. Other illicit proceeds from the scheme were allegedly converted into cashier’s checks, including $50,000 in checks that were used by Abbas and a co-conspirator to fraudulently acquire a St. Christopher and Nevis citizenship, as well as a passport for Abbas obtained by creating a false marriage certificate and then bribing a government official in St. Kitts.
Court documents outline a dispute among members of the conspiracy, which allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma were engaged in fraud. After this contact, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria. According to the affidavit, Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.
Anifowoshe, Fashola and Agbabiaka were arrested in New York and New Jersey on July 22, and they are expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles in August. All three are currently free on bond.
A criminal complaint and an indictment contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Both conspiracy counts alleged in the indictment carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison term.
The FBI is investigating this matter as part of Operation Top Dog. The FBI thanks the government of the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Police Department for their substantial assistance in this matter. The FBI also thanks the Kenyan Office of Attorney General, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Directorate of Criminal Investigations for their substantial assistance.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this matter.
Nigerians have been alerted over a more devastating floods from the end of August to early October by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
The agency which drew attention to its earlier prediction of Lagos, Nasarawa, Anambra, Abia, Kwara, Kaduna, Rivers, Enugu, Borno and Ondo states witnessing severe flooding as a result of heavy local rainfalls compounded by poor drainage system, said flood will get worse in some states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within August and October
Director-General of the Agency, Engr. Nze Clement Onyeaso who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday July 28, said all areas earlier identified as flood prone this year as well as those along the Rivers Niger and Benue, might likely begin to experience more devastating flooding from the end of August.
He said;
“Nigeria is located within the River Niger Basin which is occupied by nine countries namely Benin, Burkina- Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivore, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. Nigeria is located at the lowest position of the Basin and this means that once the upper catchment of the Basin gets flooded, Nigeria should be prepared to experience flooding. The period of flooding in these upstream countries is August and September of every year.”
Revealing that they are monitoring the development, he told newsmen that they will continue to work with Cameroonian authorities with regards to flood scenarios in the upper catchment of the sub-basin.
Lagosians were warned against the practice of dredging and sand filling the Atlantic Ocean to build what they usually call model cities like those in Lekki and Banana Island, as it could pose serious threats in the future.
Nigerians were also advised to ensure cleaning of blocked drainage system and canals to remove refuse, weeds, water hyacinths and floats on water channels.
A judge in Spain has ruled that Shakira must face trial for dodging €14.5 million in tax.
The Colombian singer, 44, is accused of six offences, which could result in jail time if she is convicted.
Prosecutors claim that the Hips Don’t Lie hitmaker stopped paying taxes in Spain in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Shakira previously said that during those years she lived in the Bahamas and was not a resident of Spain, only visiting the country ‘sporadically’.
Now a judge has concluded there are ‘sufficient indications’ for Shakira to go to trial for allegedly avoiding the payment of 14.5 million euros, Euro Weekly reports.
Shakira plans on presenting an appeal to the Barcelona Court against the judgment, it is believed.
The musician has previously insisted she is innocent of tax evasion after she was questioned by a Spanish judge. She denied allegations of not paying tax when she lived in Spain between 2011 and 2014, during an hour and a half long hearing in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona.
Prosecutors claimed that the superstar failed to pay taxes in Spain despite being a resident in the country for four years before 2014.
She allegedly moved to Spain in 2011 when her relationship with football player Gerard Piqué was announced, but prosecutors said she was officially in the Bahamas until 2015 when she began paying taxes in Spain. Claims to have maintained.
The proceedings are only for the period 2012-2014, as the period for prosecuting tax evasion charges expired in 2011.
The U.S. has reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the world over the last seven days, according to the World Health Organization.
The U.S. saw 500,332 new cases (a 131% increase) the week ending July 25 compared to the previous week, the WHO said.
The world meanwhile has seen 3.8 million new cases (an 8% increase) over the same time period. while the number of COVID-related deaths (over 69,000) represented a 21% jump.
Brazil, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and India rounded out the top five of countries with most new cases.
The increase in cases is largely being fueled by the spreading delta variant as well as a slowdown in the U.S.’s vaccine drive. According to the CDC, only 49.2% of the country is fully vaccinated, well short of the benchmark needed for herd immunity.
“An average of around 540 000 cases were reported each day over the past week as compared to 490 000 cases reported daily the week before. This increasing trend is largely attributed to substantial increases in the Region of the Americas and the Western Pacific Region,” the WHO’s report reads.
“If these trends continue, it is expected that the cumulative number of cases reported globally could exceed 200 million in the next two weeks,” the WHO said.
Twitter has announced that its New York City and San Francisco offices will be closed permanently while other office reopenings will be paused in response to the latest CDC warnings about COVID-19.
The company made the announcement on Wednesday July 28, saying it was closing its two largest offices.
‘After careful consideration of the CDC’s updated guidelines, and in light of current conditions, Twitter has made the decision to close our opened offices in New York and San Francisco as well as pause future office reopenings, effective immediately,’ the company said.
‘We continue to monitor local conditions and make necessary changes that prioritize the health and safety of our Tweeps.’
The decision was made just two weeks after reopening the offices in both cities.
On Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that fully vaccinated Americans in parts of the country with ‘substantial or high transmission’ of COVID-19 should return to wearing masks indoors, citing new data on the highly contagious Delta variant.
The CDC also said masks should be required of everyone inside K-12 schools while urging classrooms to return to full-time, in-person classes ‘with proper prevention strategies’ in place.
The agency recommended that all vaccinated people consider wearing a mask if someone in their household was unable to be protected by the vaccine, like those with compromised immune systems or children who are too young to receive a shot, regardless of transmission levels in their community.
Jennifer Christie, Twitter’s human resources chief, said in March 2020 that the company would ‘never probably be the same’ in its work culture post-pandemic.
‘People who were reticent to work remotely will find that they really thrive that way,’ she said.
‘Managers who didn’t think they could manage teams that were remote will have a different perspective. I do think we won’t go back.’
Twitter had previously required employees to show proof of vaccination before returning, said Adrian Zamora, a Twitter spokesman, speaking to The San Francisco Chronicle.
The company is allowing employees to continue remote work permanently if they choose, but will maintain its office space.
Cheshire Police confirmed on Tuesday they would not be taking action against a complaint of blackmail made by Rooney’s representatives.
The 35-year-old apologised to his family over the images on Wednesday evening, July 28.
“I made a mistake,” Derby manager Rooney told Sky Sports after the Championship club’s friendly against Real Betis.
“I went to a private party with two of my friends and from me, I’d like to apologise to my family and the club for the images which were going round and I want to move forward on this.
“I’m grateful to Derby County for giving me this opportunity to get this club back to where it belongs, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I do that.”
The Rams host Notts County in a friendly on Sunday ahead of their opening match of the Championship season on Saturday, August 7 against Huddersfield.
The naira has slumped further to 523/$ at the black market after trading was closed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, July 28.
The slump comes a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria stopped the allocation of foreign exchange to Bureau de Change operators in the country. After the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday, the Governor, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, had accused the BDCs of abusing the privilege given to them and sabotaging efforts to ensure naira stability in the country.
He said, “The facts abound that BDCs have turned themselves into agents that facilitate graft and corrupt activities of people who seek illicit fund flow and money laundering in Nigeria and we will go after all of them.
“Throughout this meeting of the MPC, we extensively debated this matter, and independently with each member of the committee exhibited accurate and deep understanding of issue at stake.
“After these exhaustive and extensive deliberations, the management of the Central Bank with the support of the committee reached the following decisions which will take the following effect. Hence, the CBN will henceforth discontinue the sale of foreign exchange to BDC operators.”
As at Monday, one dollar went for 503, then it now fell to 505 on Tuesday, few hours after the CBN made the announcement. Then on Wednesday after trading, the dollar was bought at N515 and sold at N523 according to naijabdcs.com, the official website of the BDCs.
The CBN, however, maintained the official rate of N410.16/$1 on its website.
Before the new regulation, the CBN had been supplying each BDC $10,000 twice a week at the rate of N393.
US Lawmakers have stopped a proposed sale of attack helicopters to Nigeria. This comes after they expressed concerns about Nigeria’s Human Rights records.
Senior Democrats and Republicans at the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee delayed clearing of the proposed sale of AHP Cobra attack helicopters and accompanying defence systems to the Nigerian Military in a deal worth $875 million.
The Federal government had requested to purchase the arms from the US as it prosecutes the war against insurgents in the country.
The Imo state police command have arrested Benneth Okoli, of Akuma village in Oru East local government area in the state for preparing charms for members of IPOB’s Eastern Security Network ESN who recently carried out attacks on Omuma Police Station in Oru East LGA of the state.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Michael Abattam, said after the attack on the police station, the state Commissioner of Police, immediately dispatched the command’s tactical teams and Special forces led by ACP Benjamin Osuji, the second in command of the command’s Department of Operations to Omuma for a discreet investigation and arrest of the bandits involved in the attack of the Police station.
”After a diligent forensic and technical intelligence gathering, the team was able to trace the location of the native doctor’s Shrine that has been preparing charms for bandits at Akuma in Oru East LGA of Imo State.
Information from a reliable source revealed that the bandits fortified themselves against bullets and knives in the shrine before attacking the police station. The shrine was immediately cordoned off and the teams tactically went in, where the native doctor, Benneth Okoli was arrested.
On searching the shrine, one locally made Improvised Explosive Devices, various charms , and weeds suspected to be indian hemp in a bag were recovered to the station. The suspect, on interrogation made useful statements and is currently assisting the police to arrest the remnants of his gangs presently on the run.”Abattam said
Barring any unforeseen development, Kano State Government in conjunctions with state’s Council of Ulama are planning to enact a law prohibiting women irrespective of any faith from driving vehicles In state.
This is from the fall out of a highly secretive meeting held at Sharia Commission during Sallah break between the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Tahir ( Baba Impossible) with the team of the state’s ulamas lead by Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdallah BUK.
Already the draft bill is undergoing final fine-tuning at the state Ministry of Justice and any time from now, it would be presented to the state House of Assembly for ratification and eventual enactment into law.
Feelers from the meeting said the resolutions was adopted after thorough submissions by Sheikh Abdallah Usman Umar Gadon Kaya who vociferously canvassed for the total ban, as according to him, “allowing women driving in the state represents the darkest moments in our lives as Muslims.”
In his submission, Dr Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo posited that Kano State should borrow a leaf from Saudi Arabia, which, according to him, “is a society governed by Islamic sharia laws.”
n his remarks, Sheikh Abdallah Pakistan opined that there is no better time to enact such law than now because the state is undergoing Islamic revivalism under Governor Ganduje. Related Posts
Earlier, the state’s commissioner for Religious Affairs, Baba Impossible, assured the gathering of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s commitment to sanitising Kano from all social vices.
He added that: “as a Servant of Islam, Governor Ganduje would do everything to ensure Kano is set on the path of sanity, moral rectitude as enshrined by Islam.”
Both Dr Aliyu Umar Al-Furqaan, Prof Salisu Shehu and host of others who spoke during the meeting lend their support for the enactment of law.
The Commander-General of Hisbah Commission, Ustaz Harun Mohammad Ibn Sina said if the bill finally became law, Hisbah would effectively and efficiently enforce it to the letter and punish any offender irrespective of whoever is involved.
The proposed bill, if eventual sign into law, would effectively bar all female gender irrespective of faith from driving any type of automobiles in the state.
Those who attended the meeting include Sheikh Abdallah Usman Umar Gadon Kaya, Sheikh Abdallah Pakistan, Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdallah BUK, Sheikh Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo, Professor Salisu Shehu, Dr Aliyu Umar Al-Furqaan among others.
Nigerian singer, Speed Darlington has cried out after his car was allegedly damaged and his tools stolen after paying $1,200 (N550k) as custom fees.
Stressing that this can never happen in the United States, the singer revealed that this occurred during the Sallah holiday. According to him, his dream of becoming a celebrity mechanic has been crashed with the theft.
Speed Darlington also called out the agent that cleared the item for requesting for more money even after his car was damaged, with other items stolen.
Music firm, Primary Wave has purchased half of late music legend, Prince’s estate after purchasing interest from three of his heirs.
This comes just 5 years after the Music star’s death.
According to the Star Tribune, Primary wave purchased 100% of Omarr Baker’s inheritance. Baker is Prince’s youngest half-sibling out of six.
Primary Wave also acquired 90% of Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson’s stake and 100% of the late Alfred Jackson’s interest. Jackson, who died in 2019, was the son of Prince’s mother, Mattie Baker, and Alfred Jackson Sr.
Entertainment attorney, L. Londell McMillan, who represents Prince’s three other sibling heirs, told the Satr Tribune: “There’s not much anyone can do about family members who sell out for the dollar. That’s their right.”
Prince, who always spoke out about artist empowerment and ownership, died in April 2016 at 57 from a fentanyl overdose.
Before his death, the Minneapolis native did not leave a will, leading to a bitter legal battle between family members over the rights to his assets, which Forbes estimated to be worth more than $100 million.
Primary Wave also owns song copyrights of other major artists such as Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, and Stevie Nicks.
Sharon Nelson, a half-sister to Prince, along with siblings Norrine and John, control the other half of his estate.
Primary Wave reportedly made offers to Sharon, Norrine, and John but they said no.
“We’ll never sell out,” Sharon Nelson said. “We know the prize.”
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic is facing a fresh coronavirus panic after 12 police officers guarding the Olympic Village reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
According to Mail Online, a further 38 have also been told to self-isolate.
The policemen, all in their 20s, make up half of a special deployment of 100 from the Hyogo province to provide security for athletes at their accommodation during the Games.
The report said the officers had been staying at a cramped dormitory accommodation in a Tokyo suburb where they had to share washing facilities which have been blamed for the explosion in cases.
Despite the outbreak, officers from the same Hyogo unit continue to man security posts at the Olympic Village and were seen interacting with the athletes and the public today.
One said: ‘It’s only the Hyogo Prefectural Police who keep having these outbreaks of the coronavirus. Maybe we are cursed.’
He added that the cramped accommodation had caused the virus to spread like wildfire.
‘There were not enough toilets or bathroom at the police dormitory and it became too crowded.
‘That is the cause of this virus cluster. The coronavirus is spreading and I am scared. Morale is so low.
‘Some of the officers say that the coronavirus is more frightening than working at a natural disaster.’
Inter Milan star, Christian Eriksen has been spotted out with his family after his hospital release following a cardiac arrest at EURO 2020.
The Denmark international, 29, has rarely been seen as he continues his recovery from last month’s cardiac arrest.
The midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland in June and had to be shielded by teammates before the team doctor and medics resuscitated him on the pitch.
On Sunday, Eriksen was pictured pushing a pram while girlfriend Sabrina carried their daughter as they enjoyed a stroll around the streets of Copenhagen.
This comes after the Italian Football Association confirmed that Christian Eriksen will not be allowed to play for Inter Milan again unless the defibrillator installed after his cardiac arrest is removed.
An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was inserted in his chest to regulate any further disturbances in his heartbeat after his cardiac arrest.
Japanese tennis star, Naomi Osaka has crashed out of the Olympics after losing in straight sets to Marketa Vondrousova.
Osaka, chosen to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony, lost in the third round of the Tokyo Games on Tuesday, crushing her dreams of winning Olympic gold at home. She struggled in the game at Ariake Tennis Park and was knocked out in 68 minutes.
“How disappointed am I? I mean, I’m disappointed in every loss, but I feel like this one sucks more than the others,” said the four-time Grand Slam winner.
Asked what went wrong, she replied: “Everything — if you watch the match then you would probably see. I feel like there’s a lot of things that I counted on that I couldn’t rely on today.”
The third-round defeat follows a turbulent few months for Osaka, who abandoned her French Open campaign in May after refusing to attend press conferences, citing the need to preserve her mental health.
Czech’s Vondrousova, who is ranked 42nd, will go on to face Spain’s Paula Badosa or Nadia Podoroska of Argentina.
A Nigerian national, Simon Chukwunwike, has been arrested with 2 kilogrammes of cocaine in Pakistan.
The suspect was arrested by officials of the Anti-Narcotics Force on arrival at the Sialkot International Airport, Punjab on Tuesday, July 26.
According to Urdu Point, a search operation was carried out at international arrival counter of the airport and some 2kg cocaine were recovered from Chukwunwike.
Persons violating Pakistani laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Pakistan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
A Maryland man has been arrested on suspicion of sending repeated threats to harm Anthony Fauci, the United States’ top infectious disease expert.
According to a newly unsealed criminal complaint, Thomas Patrick Connally, Jr., 56 sent a series of profanity-laden emails to Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in which he also rants about billionaires Bill Gates and George Soros, per the complaint filed in U.S. District Court following his arrest in West Virginia on Monday, July 26.
Some of the emails were sent via an encrypted email service based in Switzerland and contained death threats. He started sending the threat in 2020 and continued into this year, when the writer complained in April about “mandatory vaccines” . The last email was sent July 21.
The first threatening email Connally allegedly sent to Fauci in December 2020 contained the subject line “Hope you get a bullet in your compromised satanic skull.”
Connally is accused of writing in another: “You and your entire family will be dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire.”
Fauci has advised two administrations (Trump and Biden) on the COVID-19 pandemic. He had to beef up his security last year as he has been targeted by conspiracy theorists due to his role in advising the White House on the pandemic.
Connally is due to have an initial appearance in US District Court on Wednesday July 28
A teenager has been arrested after his father reported to Brazilian police that he suspected the young man had murdered his girlfriend.
Paulo Eduardo Scravonatto, aged 19, was taken in by police after his dad, whose identity was not released, suspected he killed Joana Fabris Deon, also 19, in the city of Bento Goncalves located in the Brasilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Local media reported the murder of Joana happened on Saturday, July, 17, after which Scravonatto had called his father claiming that Joana was wounded and needed to be quickly rushed to a doctor.
The teen claimed Joana was shot by brutal street thugs after she stood up against them when they tried to rob her.
Scravonatto and his father took the injured girlfriend to the nearby Tacchini Hospital, where she soon died from her injuries, whilst the 19-year-old man was released after telling his version of the story to the cops.
But according to Chief Deise Salton Brancher and Head of Specialized Police Stations on Assistance to Women (DEAMs), the father came back to the police station later during the day and claimed his son was the one who murdered the woman.
Police and Military Intelligence investigators then went to Scravonatto’s house, where they witnessed the crime scene and seized a gun, which allegedly belonged to the teen.
The officers then questioned the suspect again, who then allegedly changed the story and claimed he accidentally shot the victim.
However, after his dad gave another statement confirming his previous assumptions, Scravonatto was arrested on the basis of femicide and is currently awaiting trial.
Chief Brancher said: “It’s a very delicate situation, which involves family members of both the victim and the suspect, because we have a mother and father who lost a daughter.
“But we also have a father who acted correctly and alerted the police of his own son’s actions.”
The police reported that a more detailed investigation will follow.
WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange has been stripped of his Ecuadorian citizenship over claims of unpaid fees and false documents.
According to the AP, Ecuador formally notified Assange that his citizenship had been nullified, citing inconsistencies, different signatures, unpaid fees, and possibly altered documents in his naturalization letter.
Assange’s lawyer, Carlos Poveda, told the AP that the decision by Ecuador had been made without due process and that Assange, Australian by birth and currently imprisoned in the U.K., would not be allowed to appear in the case.
“On the date (Assange) was cited he was deprived of his liberty and with a health crisis inside the deprivation of liberty center where he was being held,” Poveda told the news wire, adding that he planned on appealing to decision and would seek clarification.
“More than the importance of nationality, it is a matter of respecting rights and following due process in withdrawing nationality,” Poveda added.
Assange had been granted Ecuadorian citizenship in 2018 as part of an attempt by then-Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno to get him out of the country’s embassy in London, where Assange resided for seven to avoid arrest.
Speaking to the AP, Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said the decision, made by the Pichincha Court for Contentious Administrative Matters, had been made “independently and followed due process in a case that took place during the previous government and that was raised by the same previous government.”
The Biden administration is currently pursuing efforts to have Assange extradited to the U.S., where he has been indicted on charges connected to allegations that he intentionally worked with hacker groups to publish sensitive information. He faces 18 charges, alleging that he worked with former Army Intelligence Analyst Chelsea Manning to disclose sensitive “national defense information.”
A British court earlier this month allowed the U.S. to appeal a lower court’s decision against allowing Assange to be extradited to the U.S.
Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) has concluded the recording of a brand-new season of the multiple-award-winning TV Comedy Papa Ajasco & Company Reloaded.
According to Wale Adenuga Jr., Managing Director WAP, “We have been receiving very positive feedback from viewers since we recently-rebranded the Papa Ajasco & Company programme, and we are pleased at this new season which contains a wide range of elements to appeal to audiences of different generations especially the youth. Viewers are in for a special treat this season, as all the major characters now live in the same compound; this of course leading to back-to-back hilarious encounters, all under the watchful eyes of their stern no-nonsense landlord, and his vain and sassy trophy wife.”
This upcoming Season 3 of Papa Ajasco & Company Reloaded stars Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco), Kayode Olasehinde (Pa James), Mojisola Oyetayo (Mama Ajasco), Victor Oyebode (Boy Alinco), Yetunde Barnabas Olayinka (Miss Pepeiye), and Bashiru Balogun aka Big Bash (Ajasco); as well as a wide range of superstars including Etinosa Idemudia, Saka, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Emeka Okoye, Chichi King, Dayo Davies, Deborah Anugwa (2017 AMVCA Best Actress), and others.
Papa Ajasco & Company Reloaded is watched by millions of viewers across Nigeria and Worldwide, through a strategic combination of Terrestrial and Satellite TV Providers: NTA Network: Tuesdays 8:00 – 8:30pm, STV Network: Saturdays 9:00 – 9:30pm, and wapTV (DStv 262, StarTimes 116, GOtv 102, FreeTV 751, Play 275, and MyTV): Tuesdays 8:30 – 9:00pm.
