Nollywood actress cum singer, Cossy Orjiakor's
voluptuous bosom which she often leaves
uncovered has gained her more popularity or
notoriety as the case may be and as well made
her have not less than four Facebook accounts.
Although they are fake accounts but the
operators of the accounts have been making
money by defrauding unsuspecting sugar
daddies and other men that want to have a taste
of Cossy's 'assets'.
The most popular of all the account is the one
used to solicit for sex partners. Often times, the
operator of the account posts pictures of busty
girls and then call on interested ‘sugar daddies’ to
contact them via Facebook.
Cossy, as she is popularly called, said she was
aware that con men were using her name to
defraud the public and she had tried her best to
stop the act.
According to her chat with Punch, she said, “I am
not on Facebook, in fact, my cousin was recently
duped by one of them who said that she should
bring N20,000 to him in Abuja. Even the movie
that I just released, I learnt that the fraudsters told
people via the Facebook account to give them
money if they want to be featured in the movie.
I believe that it is a man that is operating that
account and unfortunately, he has a lot of
followers. These people actually think it is me but
the truth is that I am not on Facebook.
I used my twitter account to announce to people
that I am not on Facebook and I have also
reported the person to Facebook but I wonder
why they have not acted on my complaints.
The day I tweeted that I was not on Facebook,
the fraudster wrote on the fake Facebook page
that I am not on twitter to confuse my fans.”
The actress said that the fraudsters have gone to
the extent of ‘pimping’ her out by bargaining with
people who are interested in having sex with her
but warned that she is not to be held responsible
for anyone defrauded with her name on
Facebook.
Monday, 10 August 2015
‘One Thing Hasn’t Changed, I Still Like Girls Only’ – Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner is still only into women, despite
what the producers of her show ‘I Am Cait’ want
you to think. A promo for this week’s episode of
‘I Am Cait’ casts doubt on her sexual orientation,
but TMZ reports Caitlyn has not wavered an inch
as she’s not attracted to men. TMZ also reports
that Caitlyn’s family has asked the same question
and got an unequivocal answer – she’s into
women just as much as Bruce.
It’s all academic for now, because Caitlyn has
made it clear she’s got plenty on her plate and is
not ready or interested in dating.
what the producers of her show ‘I Am Cait’ want
you to think. A promo for this week’s episode of
‘I Am Cait’ casts doubt on her sexual orientation,
but TMZ reports Caitlyn has not wavered an inch
as she’s not attracted to men. TMZ also reports
that Caitlyn’s family has asked the same question
and got an unequivocal answer – she’s into
women just as much as Bruce.
It’s all academic for now, because Caitlyn has
made it clear she’s got plenty on her plate and is
not ready or interested in dating.
It has now been confirmed that the Warri
billionaire Ayiri Emami is responsible for the
former reggae star’s first step to a drug free life.
It is being reported that Emami has taken full
responsibly for Fashek’s treatment including
flying in drug addiction specialists from outside
Nigeria.
We are praying Fashek can beat his addiction, too
many people have been lost to drugs! I just
finished watching some Whitney Houston
documentaries and it’s sad how she became
overtaken by cocaine, even losing her singing
voice in the process.
billionaire Ayiri Emami is responsible for the
former reggae star’s first step to a drug free life.
It is being reported that Emami has taken full
responsibly for Fashek’s treatment including
flying in drug addiction specialists from outside
Nigeria.
We are praying Fashek can beat his addiction, too
many people have been lost to drugs! I just
finished watching some Whitney Houston
documentaries and it’s sad how she became
overtaken by cocaine, even losing her singing
voice in the process.
» 9 Kogi Workers Die Of Hunger Waiting For Unpaid Salaries «
Nine out of the 142 staff placed on compulsory
leave without pay since 2011 by the Kogi State
Transport Company have lost their lives under
hunger-related circumstances.
Two of the deceased’s’ colleagues– Mr Ndakwo
Mohammed and Mr Anate Audu– who disclosed
this in a statement circulated among media
houses in Lokoja on Sunday, said that a number
of their colleagues were also in life-threatening
situations .
They said that the workers who had put in years
of services ranging from 10 years to 23 years,
had been facing untold hardship and were now in
deteriorating health condition due to lack of
money to feed and pay for medical treatment.
“Many of us have been ejected out of our houses
and our children chased out of schools due to
our inability to pay rents and schools fees,” the
statement said.
It explained that all efforts to seek redress through
the intervention of the state house of assembly
and several letters to the state governor, Capt
Idris Wada had proved abortive.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) recalls that
the Kogi State Transport Company had, though a
circular dated June 30, 2011 and signed by its
General Manager, Mr Augustine Tokula, directed
all the 142 members of staff of the company to
immediately proceeded on compulsory leave
without pay.
The fate of the workers have since then been
hanging in the balance as the government has
continued to remain silent on the matter.
Both Mohammed and Audu appealed to the state
government to take a definite position on their
matter, saying that they could no longer live with
their present condition.
The workers have also indicated their interest to
embark on peaceful protests on major streets of
Lokoja, and have written to intimate the State
Security Service and the police of their plan.
leave without pay since 2011 by the Kogi State
Transport Company have lost their lives under
hunger-related circumstances.
Two of the deceased’s’ colleagues– Mr Ndakwo
Mohammed and Mr Anate Audu– who disclosed
this in a statement circulated among media
houses in Lokoja on Sunday, said that a number
of their colleagues were also in life-threatening
situations .
They said that the workers who had put in years
of services ranging from 10 years to 23 years,
had been facing untold hardship and were now in
deteriorating health condition due to lack of
money to feed and pay for medical treatment.
“Many of us have been ejected out of our houses
and our children chased out of schools due to
our inability to pay rents and schools fees,” the
statement said.
It explained that all efforts to seek redress through
the intervention of the state house of assembly
and several letters to the state governor, Capt
Idris Wada had proved abortive.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) recalls that
the Kogi State Transport Company had, though a
circular dated June 30, 2011 and signed by its
General Manager, Mr Augustine Tokula, directed
all the 142 members of staff of the company to
immediately proceeded on compulsory leave
without pay.
The fate of the workers have since then been
hanging in the balance as the government has
continued to remain silent on the matter.
Both Mohammed and Audu appealed to the state
government to take a definite position on their
matter, saying that they could no longer live with
their present condition.
The workers have also indicated their interest to
embark on peaceful protests on major streets of
Lokoja, and have written to intimate the State
Security Service and the police of their plan.
Nurse Arrested For Stealing New Baby In Ogun
The Police in Ogun have arrested a
nurse, Adebola Titilayo, for stealing a
new born baby shortly after delivery in
Arogun village, Ogun state in
desperation to have a child for her
wealthy husband.
Adebola who is the proprietress of a private
Maternity in Arogun community in Ewekoro
Local Government Area of the state, was
apprehended by Police detectives attached
to the Ewekoro Division of Ogun State
Police Command.
She was said to have stolen the child after
delivering the mother of the baby in her
(Adebola) maternity last June 13.
The Police Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed the
arrest to reporters on Sunday, said the
suspect was arrested last Friday while the
baby was also rescued safely.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police
(DSP), added that the suspect had lied and
deceived the mother of the baby that she
had a still birth and that the baby was dead.
According to the Police Image maker, the
biological mother of the baby later got
reliable information that the suspect stole
her baby and the Police immediately
arrested her when notified about the theft.
Adejobi said:”the good sympathizers in the
community noticed that the nurse (suspect)
who was never pregnant suddenly started
nursing a baby that she could not even
breast feed. They informed the mother who
later reported the case to the police in
Ewekoro on 7th August,2015
“In the course of police investigation, It has
been revealed that the suspect, a mother of
seven(7), had issues with her initial
marriage and got married to another “rich”
man, whom the nurse wanted to have at
least a baby for him, for reasons known to
her.
“The police Operatives, who made
professional moves, have recovered the
baby alive and unhurt. The suspect has
given credible statement that will assist the
police and the matter will soon be charged
to court.
“The Commissioner of Police Ogun State,
Abdulmajid Ali, has commended the police
operatives for the good Job they did and
directed that a proper investigation be
carried out so as to get useful information
required in the prosecution of the case.
” Ali has also charged owners of hospitals
or maternity homes to operate legally and
always employ credible and trusted nurses
and staff who will be committed to their
duties and respect the ethics of their
professions and the laws of the land
nurse, Adebola Titilayo, for stealing a
new born baby shortly after delivery in
Arogun village, Ogun state in
desperation to have a child for her
wealthy husband.
Adebola who is the proprietress of a private
Maternity in Arogun community in Ewekoro
Local Government Area of the state, was
apprehended by Police detectives attached
to the Ewekoro Division of Ogun State
Police Command.
She was said to have stolen the child after
delivering the mother of the baby in her
(Adebola) maternity last June 13.
The Police Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed the
arrest to reporters on Sunday, said the
suspect was arrested last Friday while the
baby was also rescued safely.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police
(DSP), added that the suspect had lied and
deceived the mother of the baby that she
had a still birth and that the baby was dead.
According to the Police Image maker, the
biological mother of the baby later got
reliable information that the suspect stole
her baby and the Police immediately
arrested her when notified about the theft.
Adejobi said:”the good sympathizers in the
community noticed that the nurse (suspect)
who was never pregnant suddenly started
nursing a baby that she could not even
breast feed. They informed the mother who
later reported the case to the police in
Ewekoro on 7th August,2015
“In the course of police investigation, It has
been revealed that the suspect, a mother of
seven(7), had issues with her initial
marriage and got married to another “rich”
man, whom the nurse wanted to have at
least a baby for him, for reasons known to
her.
“The police Operatives, who made
professional moves, have recovered the
baby alive and unhurt. The suspect has
given credible statement that will assist the
police and the matter will soon be charged
to court.
“The Commissioner of Police Ogun State,
Abdulmajid Ali, has commended the police
operatives for the good Job they did and
directed that a proper investigation be
carried out so as to get useful information
required in the prosecution of the case.
” Ali has also charged owners of hospitals
or maternity homes to operate legally and
always employ credible and trusted nurses
and staff who will be committed to their
duties and respect the ethics of their
professions and the laws of the land
» “I Have Not Disowned Any Of My Children” - Femi Olu-Kayode «
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has
denied disowning his three children with former
wife, Yemisi.
In a lengthy article published here yesterday, a
representative of his family, Felix Olawunmi,
narrated a turbulent post-marital relationship
between the former minister and Yemisi, and said
they were publicly disowning the kids as the
issue of their parenthood had been on for years.
Femi is now denying the statement. The original
article on ThisDay titled “Temitope Fani-Kayode’s
blissful conjugal'' which provoked the Kayode
family to write the memo yesterday no longer
exists on ThisDay.
denied disowning his three children with former
wife, Yemisi.
In a lengthy article published here yesterday, a
representative of his family, Felix Olawunmi,
narrated a turbulent post-marital relationship
between the former minister and Yemisi, and said
they were publicly disowning the kids as the
issue of their parenthood had been on for years.
Femi is now denying the statement. The original
article on ThisDay titled “Temitope Fani-Kayode’s
blissful conjugal'' which provoked the Kayode
family to write the memo yesterday no longer
exists on ThisDay.
Boko Haram Kills Four In Borno Highway Attack
The Boko Haram sect on Sunday
ambushed commercial motorists on a
Borno State highway, killing four persons,
injuring three others and kidnapping two, a
member of the youth vigilance group said
on Sunday.
A youth vigilance member, Ali Ngulde,
disclosed this while speaking with our
correspondent, adding that the notorious
militants ambushed commercial motorists
at a remote village, Nwajurko, near Sabon
Gari in Damboa Local Government Area.
Ngulde said, ”Boko Haram, in a highway
ambush, killed four persons, abducted two,
and injured three others on the Maiduguri-
Damboa-Biu highway.”
A source at Biu General Hospital, who spoke
on condition of anonymity to our
correspondent, said three persons were
brought to the hospital and they were in a
critical condition as a result of serious
gunshot injuries.
Sabon Gari village is located in the southern
part of Borno State. It is about 125
kilometres away from Maiduguri, the Borno
State capital.
ambushed commercial motorists on a
Borno State highway, killing four persons,
injuring three others and kidnapping two, a
member of the youth vigilance group said
on Sunday.
A youth vigilance member, Ali Ngulde,
disclosed this while speaking with our
correspondent, adding that the notorious
militants ambushed commercial motorists
at a remote village, Nwajurko, near Sabon
Gari in Damboa Local Government Area.
Ngulde said, ”Boko Haram, in a highway
ambush, killed four persons, abducted two,
and injured three others on the Maiduguri-
Damboa-Biu highway.”
A source at Biu General Hospital, who spoke
on condition of anonymity to our
correspondent, said three persons were
brought to the hospital and they were in a
critical condition as a result of serious
gunshot injuries.
Sabon Gari village is located in the southern
part of Borno State. It is about 125
kilometres away from Maiduguri, the Borno
State capital.
» 35-Year-Old Woman Declared Wanted For Lesbianism In Lagos «
A 35 year old woman, Mrs. Toyin O. Fashola, has
been declared wanted by the Lagos State Police
command for her alleged involvement in the act
of lesbianism.
The pronouncement was as a result of a
complaint lodged at Ogombo Police division,
Ajah, by one Mr. Adeoye Jimoh Usman, whose
wife, Mrs. Funmilola Adeoye, was Fashola’s
partner in the act.
In a statement made to the police, Adeoye
claimed he stumbled into the secret affairs on his
wife’s phone, when she returned from the
Mosque on Sunday, August 2, 2015, which
forced him to take the
urgent step to put a permanent stop to the
immoral act. He stated that though she had
confessed to the act, she had since run away
from her matrimonial home, noting that her
whereabout is still unknown after serious efforts.
Adeoye stressed that it was after the discovery,
that so many revelation were unearthed about
the two lovers, which residents revealed have
been hanging around each other lately, before he
caught them red-handed.
A source at the police station where the report
was lodged disclosed that they have tried to track
the culprit, but she was not met at home, noting
that it was gathered that she might have actually
been on her vacation. They added that efforts are
in top gear to track her down by all means.
According to Nigeria ‘s law, same sex relationship
or marriage is a crime that attracts 14 years jail
term.
been declared wanted by the Lagos State Police
command for her alleged involvement in the act
of lesbianism.
The pronouncement was as a result of a
complaint lodged at Ogombo Police division,
Ajah, by one Mr. Adeoye Jimoh Usman, whose
wife, Mrs. Funmilola Adeoye, was Fashola’s
partner in the act.
In a statement made to the police, Adeoye
claimed he stumbled into the secret affairs on his
wife’s phone, when she returned from the
Mosque on Sunday, August 2, 2015, which
forced him to take the
urgent step to put a permanent stop to the
immoral act. He stated that though she had
confessed to the act, she had since run away
from her matrimonial home, noting that her
whereabout is still unknown after serious efforts.
Adeoye stressed that it was after the discovery,
that so many revelation were unearthed about
the two lovers, which residents revealed have
been hanging around each other lately, before he
caught them red-handed.
A source at the police station where the report
was lodged disclosed that they have tried to track
the culprit, but she was not met at home, noting
that it was gathered that she might have actually
been on her vacation. They added that efforts are
in top gear to track her down by all means.
According to Nigeria ‘s law, same sex relationship
or marriage is a crime that attracts 14 years jail
term.
One Stabbed As Nigerian Prostitutes Election Turns Bloody In Lagos
The 2015 election of National Association of
Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP, has been marred with
violence.
DAILY POST gathered that violence broke out
Sunday after former secretary of the association,
Jessica Elvis was declared winner of the keenly
contested election, which took place at a popular
hangout, along Lasu-Iba road on Saturday.
It was gathered that Elvis polled 300 votes to
defeat the incumbent, Madam Felix Efoyo, who
garnered 153 votes as well as Nasarawa State
Coordinator, Tamar Tion who got 63 votes.
However, the incumbent rejected the outcome of
the election, claiming that the election was marred
with irregularities.
Shortly after the 2015 electoral committee
chairman, Franca ‘Top Up’ Chikam announced
Elvis as the winner, the incumbent, Madam Efoyo
revolted and ordered for a fresh election on the
ground that she was rigged out.
In the cause of the argument, fight broke out and
one person believed to be loyal to Efoyo broke a
bottle and stabbed one of their members.
Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP, has been marred with
violence.
DAILY POST gathered that violence broke out
Sunday after former secretary of the association,
Jessica Elvis was declared winner of the keenly
contested election, which took place at a popular
hangout, along Lasu-Iba road on Saturday.
It was gathered that Elvis polled 300 votes to
defeat the incumbent, Madam Felix Efoyo, who
garnered 153 votes as well as Nasarawa State
Coordinator, Tamar Tion who got 63 votes.
However, the incumbent rejected the outcome of
the election, claiming that the election was marred
with irregularities.
Shortly after the 2015 electoral committee
chairman, Franca ‘Top Up’ Chikam announced
Elvis as the winner, the incumbent, Madam Efoyo
revolted and ordered for a fresh election on the
ground that she was rigged out.
In the cause of the argument, fight broke out and
one person believed to be loyal to Efoyo broke a
bottle and stabbed one of their members.
Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Football pitch hosts swimming event
A Russian football stadium is being
temporarily transformed into an aquatics
venue - with two Olympic-size swimming
pools being built on the pitch.
The Kazan Arena usually hosts Russian premier
league matches, but for two weeks this summer
it will be home to swimming and synchronised
swimming events during the World Aquatics
Championships. As well as the pair of 50m pools,
a temporary roof now adorns the stadium and
viewing platforms for about 11,000 people have
been constructed inside, the Tass news
agency reports.
Kazan already has another swimming venue -
the Aquatics Palace, completed in 2013 - but
organisers say adapting the football stadium has
extra benefits. "We can get more people in here,
the facilities are better, we can use the stadium's
skyboxes and VIP areas, and well, we wanted to
be creative," says Ranko Tepavcevic from the
International Swimming Federation. He tells Tass
that it was also more cost effective than building a
whole new facility.
While it's not unusual to see a football pitch
ringed by an athletics track, it's unlikely that many
others have doubled as aquatics centres. The
arena's deputy CEO, Vadims Andrejevs, says he
recently spoke to representatives from the
London's Wembley and Emirates stadiums,
which have hosted concerts and other events. "I
asked them: 'But have you built two swimming
pools in your stadium?' Of course they hadn't."
temporarily transformed into an aquatics
venue - with two Olympic-size swimming
pools being built on the pitch.
The Kazan Arena usually hosts Russian premier
league matches, but for two weeks this summer
it will be home to swimming and synchronised
swimming events during the World Aquatics
Championships. As well as the pair of 50m pools,
a temporary roof now adorns the stadium and
viewing platforms for about 11,000 people have
been constructed inside, the Tass news
agency reports.
Kazan already has another swimming venue -
the Aquatics Palace, completed in 2013 - but
organisers say adapting the football stadium has
extra benefits. "We can get more people in here,
the facilities are better, we can use the stadium's
skyboxes and VIP areas, and well, we wanted to
be creative," says Ranko Tepavcevic from the
International Swimming Federation. He tells Tass
that it was also more cost effective than building a
whole new facility.
While it's not unusual to see a football pitch
ringed by an athletics track, it's unlikely that many
others have doubled as aquatics centres. The
arena's deputy CEO, Vadims Andrejevs, says he
recently spoke to representatives from the
London's Wembley and Emirates stadiums,
which have hosted concerts and other events. "I
asked them: 'But have you built two swimming
pools in your stadium?' Of course they hadn't."
Rap star 50 Cent files for bankruptcy
Rapper 50 Cent has filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection, according to reports
in the US.
The music star, businessman and actor, reported
in court papers that he has assets and debts in
the range of $10m to $50m (£6.5m- £32m),
according to the Wall Street Journal.
The filing comes days after a jury ruled that he
must pay $5m to a woman suing over a sex tape
case.
50 Cent's 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin'
catapulted him to global fame.
Real name Curtis James Jackson III, the Grammy-
award winning rapper's business interests have
included clothes, boxing, drinks, and mining.
His stake in VitaminWater reportedly netted him
tens of millions of dollar when Coca-Cola bought
the drinks brand in 2007.
Chapter 11 allows companies time to re-organise
their finances while protecting them from
creditors' demands.
The court case stemmed from a video in which
the rapper is accused of adding a commentary to
a tape that the woman made with her boyfriend.
The tape was then leaked online.
In addition to the $5m penalty, the jury was due
this week to consider punitive damages in the
invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. However, it was
unclear if this would go ahead.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Paul Wooten
had requested that 50 Cent disclose details of his
finances.
'Business as usual'
However, the rapper's lawyers told the court that
he had filed for Chapter 11 in Connecticut, where
he owns a mansion he bought from boxer Mike
Tyson.
Later, a lawyer for 50 Cent (Mr Jackson), William
A Brewer III, said his client's business operations
would continue.
"Mr Jackson's business interests will continue
unaffected in the ordinary course during the
pendency of the Chapter 11 case,'' the attorney
said in a statement.
It added: "This filing for personal bankruptcy
protection permits Mr Jackson to continue his
involvement with various business interests and
continue his work as an entertainer."
50 Cent, aged 40, has sold more than 30 million
albums and won a Grammy Award in 2010. The
star's latest film role is in the upcoming
"Southpaw," in which he plays a boxing
promoter.
In May, Forbes estimated 50 Cent's net worth
at $155m.
bankruptcy protection, according to reports
in the US.
The music star, businessman and actor, reported
in court papers that he has assets and debts in
the range of $10m to $50m (£6.5m- £32m),
according to the Wall Street Journal.
The filing comes days after a jury ruled that he
must pay $5m to a woman suing over a sex tape
case.
50 Cent's 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin'
catapulted him to global fame.
Real name Curtis James Jackson III, the Grammy-
award winning rapper's business interests have
included clothes, boxing, drinks, and mining.
His stake in VitaminWater reportedly netted him
tens of millions of dollar when Coca-Cola bought
the drinks brand in 2007.
Chapter 11 allows companies time to re-organise
their finances while protecting them from
creditors' demands.
The court case stemmed from a video in which
the rapper is accused of adding a commentary to
a tape that the woman made with her boyfriend.
The tape was then leaked online.
In addition to the $5m penalty, the jury was due
this week to consider punitive damages in the
invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. However, it was
unclear if this would go ahead.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Paul Wooten
had requested that 50 Cent disclose details of his
finances.
'Business as usual'
However, the rapper's lawyers told the court that
he had filed for Chapter 11 in Connecticut, where
he owns a mansion he bought from boxer Mike
Tyson.
Later, a lawyer for 50 Cent (Mr Jackson), William
A Brewer III, said his client's business operations
would continue.
"Mr Jackson's business interests will continue
unaffected in the ordinary course during the
pendency of the Chapter 11 case,'' the attorney
said in a statement.
It added: "This filing for personal bankruptcy
protection permits Mr Jackson to continue his
involvement with various business interests and
continue his work as an entertainer."
50 Cent, aged 40, has sold more than 30 million
albums and won a Grammy Award in 2010. The
star's latest film role is in the upcoming
"Southpaw," in which he plays a boxing
promoter.
In May, Forbes estimated 50 Cent's net worth
at $155m.
US President Barack Obama has commuted
the prison sentences of 46 drug offenders
as part of a renewed effort to reform the
criminal justice system.
In a video announcement, he said the
prisoners were not "hardened criminals" and had
been given sentences that "didn't fit their crimes".
He said it was part of a wider effort to restore the
sense of fairness in a "nation of second chances".
Mr Obama is due to unveil plans for criminal
justice reforms on Tuesday.
The 46 prisoners, 14 of whom were serving life
sentences, are scheduled to be released on 10
November.
Most of them were jailed for crack cocaine
offences, which once carried a sentence
equivalent to someone caught with 100 times the
same amount of powder cocaine.
"These men and women were not hardened
criminals. But the overwhelming majority had to
be sentenced to at least 20 years," Mr Obama
said.
"But I believe that at its heart, America's a nation
of second chances. And I believe these folks
deserve their second chance."
'Prove doubters wrong'
In a letter to one of the prisoners, Mr Obama
said he was granting the applications because
"you have demonstrated the potential to turn
your life around".
The letter ended: "I believe in your ability to prove
the doubters wrong, and change your life for the
better. So good luck, and Godspeed."
Mr Obama has now commuted the sentences of
89 prisoners, with most being non-violent drug
offenders who applied for clemency under an
initiative that began in April 2014.
A commutation leaves the conviction in place, but
ends the punishment.
Some of those to be freed
Larry Darnell Belcher (Martinsville, Virginia) -
Found guilty of intent to distribute cocaine and
possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997.
John L Houston Brower (Carthage, North
Carolina) - Found guilty of distributing crack
cocaine. Sentenced to life imprisonment in
2002.
Anthony Leon Carroll (Tampa, Florida) - Found
guilty of possession with intent to distribute
crack cocaine. Sentenced to 21 years in prison
in 1999.
Steven D Donovan (Oak Creek, Wisconsin)-
Found guilty of conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute cocaine; interstate travel to
promote distribution of cocaine; possession
with intent to distribute cocaine. Sentenced to
life imprisonment in 1992.
In a statement, White House counsel Neil
Eggleston said Mr Obama is likely to issue more
commutations before leaving office in 2017.
But he added that "clemency alone will not fix
decades of overly punitive sentencing policies".
President Obama is due to lay out his plans for
criminal justice reform in a speech to the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
On Thursday, he is expected to become the first
sitting president to visit a federal prison when he
goes to the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution
outside of Oklahoma City.
This week's focus on criminal justice signals a
renewed bid by Mr Obama's administration to
tackle what he sees as a lack of fairness in the
system.
The last significant changes came in 2013 when
US Attorney General Eric Holder dropped
mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent
drug offenders.
Federal prisons in numbers
Some 208,000 people are behind bars in
federal prisons in the US
Nearly 50% of them are there for drug
offences
About 37% of prisoners are black, while 34%
are Hispanic
The cost of incarceration in the US was $80bn
(£50bn) in 2010
Source: Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Prisons
the prison sentences of 46 drug offenders
as part of a renewed effort to reform the
criminal justice system.
In a video announcement, he said the
prisoners were not "hardened criminals" and had
been given sentences that "didn't fit their crimes".
He said it was part of a wider effort to restore the
sense of fairness in a "nation of second chances".
Mr Obama is due to unveil plans for criminal
justice reforms on Tuesday.
The 46 prisoners, 14 of whom were serving life
sentences, are scheduled to be released on 10
November.
Most of them were jailed for crack cocaine
offences, which once carried a sentence
equivalent to someone caught with 100 times the
same amount of powder cocaine.
"These men and women were not hardened
criminals. But the overwhelming majority had to
be sentenced to at least 20 years," Mr Obama
said.
"But I believe that at its heart, America's a nation
of second chances. And I believe these folks
deserve their second chance."
'Prove doubters wrong'
In a letter to one of the prisoners, Mr Obama
said he was granting the applications because
"you have demonstrated the potential to turn
your life around".
The letter ended: "I believe in your ability to prove
the doubters wrong, and change your life for the
better. So good luck, and Godspeed."
Mr Obama has now commuted the sentences of
89 prisoners, with most being non-violent drug
offenders who applied for clemency under an
initiative that began in April 2014.
A commutation leaves the conviction in place, but
ends the punishment.
Some of those to be freed
Larry Darnell Belcher (Martinsville, Virginia) -
Found guilty of intent to distribute cocaine and
possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997.
John L Houston Brower (Carthage, North
Carolina) - Found guilty of distributing crack
cocaine. Sentenced to life imprisonment in
2002.
Anthony Leon Carroll (Tampa, Florida) - Found
guilty of possession with intent to distribute
crack cocaine. Sentenced to 21 years in prison
in 1999.
Steven D Donovan (Oak Creek, Wisconsin)-
Found guilty of conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute cocaine; interstate travel to
promote distribution of cocaine; possession
with intent to distribute cocaine. Sentenced to
life imprisonment in 1992.
In a statement, White House counsel Neil
Eggleston said Mr Obama is likely to issue more
commutations before leaving office in 2017.
But he added that "clemency alone will not fix
decades of overly punitive sentencing policies".
President Obama is due to lay out his plans for
criminal justice reform in a speech to the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
On Thursday, he is expected to become the first
sitting president to visit a federal prison when he
goes to the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution
outside of Oklahoma City.
This week's focus on criminal justice signals a
renewed bid by Mr Obama's administration to
tackle what he sees as a lack of fairness in the
system.
The last significant changes came in 2013 when
US Attorney General Eric Holder dropped
mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent
drug offenders.
Federal prisons in numbers
Some 208,000 people are behind bars in
federal prisons in the US
Nearly 50% of them are there for drug
offences
About 37% of prisoners are black, while 34%
are Hispanic
The cost of incarceration in the US was $80bn
(£50bn) in 2010
Source: Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Prisons
Three 'Xinjiang terrorists' shot dead by police in China
Police in the north-eastern Chinese city of
Shenyang have shot dead three "knife-
wielding" men, state media said, calling
them Xinjiang terrorists.
A woman was also injured in the raid which took
place on Monday afternoon.
Xinjiang province, home to a significant Muslim
Uighur population, has seen several clashes and
public attacks in recent years, which police have
attributed to terrorists.
Monday's incident was one of the few such
clashes outside of Xinjiang.
Several state media outlets quoted a statement
posted on Monday night on micro-blogging site
Weibo. The account is owned by the
government of Liaoning province, whose capital
is Shenyang.
The statement appeared to have been taken
down by Tuesday morning. It remains unclear
why it was removed, but China regularly censors
online content deemed to be sensitive.
'Shouting slogans'
The statement, as reproduced in Chinese media,
said that police caught 16 "terrorism suspects" in
a raid in Shenyang.
During the raid, officers entered a rented
apartment where they "discovered Xinjiang
terrorist suspects" and were attacked by four
people "wearing headgear, holding long knives,
and shouting 'holy war' slogans," the statement
said.
Police then retreated and called for back-up. More
than 200 officers, including an anti-terrorist unit,
evacuated nearby residents and surrounded the
building. A cherry picker was used to reach the
seventh-floor apartment.
Pictures of the raid posted on a Weibo
account owned by state broadcaster CCTV
showed armed, uniformed men stationed on a
rooftop and in a cherry picker cabin.
Police said they also took into custody a 28-year-
old Uighur woman and three children.
China has seen frequent reports of deadly clashes
with police and public attacks in Xinjiang
attributed to terrorism, but few incidents have
been reported outside of the restive region.
In March 2014 a stabbing spree in Kunming city
which killed 29 people was blamed on Xinjiang
separatists, as was an October 2013 incident
where a car ploughed into a crowd and burst into
flames in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Rights groups have accused China of persecution
and torture of the Uighur minority, but China has
rejected such claims.
Shenyang have shot dead three "knife-
wielding" men, state media said, calling
them Xinjiang terrorists.
A woman was also injured in the raid which took
place on Monday afternoon.
Xinjiang province, home to a significant Muslim
Uighur population, has seen several clashes and
public attacks in recent years, which police have
attributed to terrorists.
Monday's incident was one of the few such
clashes outside of Xinjiang.
Several state media outlets quoted a statement
posted on Monday night on micro-blogging site
Weibo. The account is owned by the
government of Liaoning province, whose capital
is Shenyang.
The statement appeared to have been taken
down by Tuesday morning. It remains unclear
why it was removed, but China regularly censors
online content deemed to be sensitive.
'Shouting slogans'
The statement, as reproduced in Chinese media,
said that police caught 16 "terrorism suspects" in
a raid in Shenyang.
During the raid, officers entered a rented
apartment where they "discovered Xinjiang
terrorist suspects" and were attacked by four
people "wearing headgear, holding long knives,
and shouting 'holy war' slogans," the statement
said.
Police then retreated and called for back-up. More
than 200 officers, including an anti-terrorist unit,
evacuated nearby residents and surrounded the
building. A cherry picker was used to reach the
seventh-floor apartment.
Pictures of the raid posted on a Weibo
account owned by state broadcaster CCTV
showed armed, uniformed men stationed on a
rooftop and in a cherry picker cabin.
Police said they also took into custody a 28-year-
old Uighur woman and three children.
China has seen frequent reports of deadly clashes
with police and public attacks in Xinjiang
attributed to terrorism, but few incidents have
been reported outside of the restive region.
In March 2014 a stabbing spree in Kunming city
which killed 29 people was blamed on Xinjiang
separatists, as was an October 2013 incident
where a car ploughed into a crowd and burst into
flames in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Rights groups have accused China of persecution
and torture of the Uighur minority, but China has
rejected such claims.
Boy Scouts of America votes to end ban on gay adults
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has
unanimously approved a resolution to end
the organisation's ban on gay adults
working as leaders.
The group's national executive board will meet to
ratify the resolution on 27 July, the Boy Scouts
said in a statement.
It is a major step towards ending a policy that
has caused deep rifts in the group, which was set
up in 1910.
The BSA voted to end a ban on allowing open
gay boys to become scouts in 2013.
Earlier this year, former US defence secretary
Robert Gates, who is BSA president, told the
group's national meeting that the ban on gay
adults needed to end, saying it was no longer
sustainable.
The selection of Mr Gates as president in 2014
was seen as an opportunity to revisit the policy
since he helped end the "don't ask, don't tell"
policy that barred openly gay people from
serving in the US military.
The resolution, which was passed by the BSA's
17-member executive committee on Friday, will
become official policy if it is ratified by the 80-
member executive board later this month.
It will allow scout units to set their own policy on
the issue and mean they can select adult leaders
without regard to sexual orientation.
It will, however, also allow units with religious
ties to "continue to choose adult leaders whose
beliefs are consistent with their own".
Several denominations that sponsor large
numbers of scout units - including the Roman
Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist
Convention - have been apprehensive about
ending the ban on gay adults.
The resolution was hailed by Zach Wahls, an
Eagle Scout (the highest boy scout rank) raised by
two lesbians who now heads the advocacy
group Scouts for Equality.
"While this policy change is not perfect - BSA's
religious chartering partners will be allowed to
continue to discriminate against gay adults - it is
difficult to overstate the importance of today's
announcement," Mr Wahls said.
unanimously approved a resolution to end
the organisation's ban on gay adults
working as leaders.
The group's national executive board will meet to
ratify the resolution on 27 July, the Boy Scouts
said in a statement.
It is a major step towards ending a policy that
has caused deep rifts in the group, which was set
up in 1910.
The BSA voted to end a ban on allowing open
gay boys to become scouts in 2013.
Earlier this year, former US defence secretary
Robert Gates, who is BSA president, told the
group's national meeting that the ban on gay
adults needed to end, saying it was no longer
sustainable.
The selection of Mr Gates as president in 2014
was seen as an opportunity to revisit the policy
since he helped end the "don't ask, don't tell"
policy that barred openly gay people from
serving in the US military.
The resolution, which was passed by the BSA's
17-member executive committee on Friday, will
become official policy if it is ratified by the 80-
member executive board later this month.
It will allow scout units to set their own policy on
the issue and mean they can select adult leaders
without regard to sexual orientation.
It will, however, also allow units with religious
ties to "continue to choose adult leaders whose
beliefs are consistent with their own".
Several denominations that sponsor large
numbers of scout units - including the Roman
Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist
Convention - have been apprehensive about
ending the ban on gay adults.
The resolution was hailed by Zach Wahls, an
Eagle Scout (the highest boy scout rank) raised by
two lesbians who now heads the advocacy
group Scouts for Equality.
"While this policy change is not perfect - BSA's
religious chartering partners will be allowed to
continue to discriminate against gay adults - it is
difficult to overstate the importance of today's
announcement," Mr Wahls said.
Should we build a village on the Moon?
Professor Johann-Dietrich Woerner has been in
his new job as Director General of the European
Space Agency (Esa) for a week. In charge of a
€4.4 billion annual budget, the former Chair of the
German space agency is ultimately responsible
for everything at Esa. Europe’s new observation,
weather, communication and navigation satellites;
astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS)
; missions to Mars, Mercury and Jupiter; and a
sleepy lander on a duck-shaped comet all
come under his remit.
When I ask him about his intentions for Esa, I
expect a predictable and politically nuanced
answer about the economic and social benefits of
space or maybe the importance for science of
exploring the unknown Universe. Instead,
Woerner surprises me with a vision for a future
of space exploration that is both ambitious and
audacious.
“We should look to the future beyond the
International Space Station,” he tells me. “We
should look for a smaller spacecraft in low-Earth
orbit for microgravity research and I propose a
Moon village on the far side of the Moon.”
Yes, a village on the Moon.
A Moon village shouldn’t just mean some
houses, a church and a town hall – Johann-
Dietrich Woerner
Just the sort of daring vision that took Nasa from
a standing start to the Moon in the 1960s, but
today – possibly constrained by its political
masters – the US space agency appears to be
lacking ambition.
“A Moon village shouldn’t just mean some
houses, a church and a town hall,” says
Woerner. “This Moon village should mean
partners from all over the world contributing to
this community with robotic and astronaut
missions and support communication satellites.”
3D printer
There are good reasons, he says, for going back
to the Moon for science as well as using it a
stepping-stone to further human exploration of
the Solar System.
“The far side of the Moon is very interesting
because we could have telescopes looking deep
into the Universe, we could do lunar science on
the Moon and the international aspect is very
special,” he explains. “The Americans are looking
to go to Mars very soon – and I don’t see how
we can do that – before going to Mars we should
test what we could do on Mars on the Moon.”
For example, Woerner suggests, the technology
being investigated by Nasa to construct a Mars
base using a giant 3D printer would be better
tried out on the Moon first. Learning to live on an
alien world is going to be tough – but the
challenge would be a lot easier, particularly in an
emergency, if the extraterrestrial community is
only four days away from Earth rather than six
months.
Woerner envisages his Moon village as a
multinational settlement involving astronauts,
Russian cosmonauts and maybe even Chinese
taikonauts. This would considerably extend the
relatively limited number of nations involved in
the ISS.
“We should have international cooperation,
without any limitations, with any countries of the
world,” says Woerner. “We have enough Earthly
problems between different nations – space can
bridge these Earthly problems and the Moon
seems to be to be a good proposal.
Experience shows that there is no wall
between exploration and practical
applications
“Isolating a country is not the right way, a much
better solution is to find ways to cooperate in
space to strengthen ties between humans on
Earth,” he adds, in what could be taken as a veiled
criticism of America’s refusal to engage with the
Chinese space programme. “If you think about an
alien visiting the Earth and seeing what we are
doing here, I’m not sure whether they would
land.”
Moon in vogue?
Woerner has a robust response for those who
criticise money spent on space exploration and
astronomical research.
“Experience shows that there is no wall between
exploration and practical applications,” he says.
“Look at the greenhouse effect – everyone knows
what it is and we use satellites to investigate it –
but this was not discovered on Earth, it was
discovered by an exploration mission to Venus.”
Right now the Moon village idea is just that; an
idea, a proposal. No nation or agency has
committed any money or mapped out the
concept in any detail.
There is, however, growing interest in returning
to the Moon. When, for instance, BBC Future
recently asked experts to predict the next
decade of space exploration they all cited the
Moon as a destination of choice.
Woerner says he is voicing the idea of a Moon
village to encourage discussion about the future
of space research, exploration and the
applications of space technology. “I will be very
happy if someone else has a better idea,” he tells
me.
Nevertheless, as one of the world’s most senior
and powerful space figures, Woerner’s proposal
will be taken seriously. Nasa is still vague about
where it plans to fly its new Orion spacecraft –
fitted incidentally with an Esa service module –
and the Moon would seem to be a suitably
inspirational destination.
“In our genes there is something beyond just
practical applications,” Woerner says. “We like to
discover, to pioneer – this is humankind and this
is what brings us into the future.”
his new job as Director General of the European
Space Agency (Esa) for a week. In charge of a
€4.4 billion annual budget, the former Chair of the
German space agency is ultimately responsible
for everything at Esa. Europe’s new observation,
weather, communication and navigation satellites;
astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS)
; missions to Mars, Mercury and Jupiter; and a
sleepy lander on a duck-shaped comet all
come under his remit.
When I ask him about his intentions for Esa, I
expect a predictable and politically nuanced
answer about the economic and social benefits of
space or maybe the importance for science of
exploring the unknown Universe. Instead,
Woerner surprises me with a vision for a future
of space exploration that is both ambitious and
audacious.
“We should look to the future beyond the
International Space Station,” he tells me. “We
should look for a smaller spacecraft in low-Earth
orbit for microgravity research and I propose a
Moon village on the far side of the Moon.”
Yes, a village on the Moon.
A Moon village shouldn’t just mean some
houses, a church and a town hall – Johann-
Dietrich Woerner
Just the sort of daring vision that took Nasa from
a standing start to the Moon in the 1960s, but
today – possibly constrained by its political
masters – the US space agency appears to be
lacking ambition.
“A Moon village shouldn’t just mean some
houses, a church and a town hall,” says
Woerner. “This Moon village should mean
partners from all over the world contributing to
this community with robotic and astronaut
missions and support communication satellites.”
3D printer
There are good reasons, he says, for going back
to the Moon for science as well as using it a
stepping-stone to further human exploration of
the Solar System.
“The far side of the Moon is very interesting
because we could have telescopes looking deep
into the Universe, we could do lunar science on
the Moon and the international aspect is very
special,” he explains. “The Americans are looking
to go to Mars very soon – and I don’t see how
we can do that – before going to Mars we should
test what we could do on Mars on the Moon.”
For example, Woerner suggests, the technology
being investigated by Nasa to construct a Mars
base using a giant 3D printer would be better
tried out on the Moon first. Learning to live on an
alien world is going to be tough – but the
challenge would be a lot easier, particularly in an
emergency, if the extraterrestrial community is
only four days away from Earth rather than six
months.
Woerner envisages his Moon village as a
multinational settlement involving astronauts,
Russian cosmonauts and maybe even Chinese
taikonauts. This would considerably extend the
relatively limited number of nations involved in
the ISS.
“We should have international cooperation,
without any limitations, with any countries of the
world,” says Woerner. “We have enough Earthly
problems between different nations – space can
bridge these Earthly problems and the Moon
seems to be to be a good proposal.
Experience shows that there is no wall
between exploration and practical
applications
“Isolating a country is not the right way, a much
better solution is to find ways to cooperate in
space to strengthen ties between humans on
Earth,” he adds, in what could be taken as a veiled
criticism of America’s refusal to engage with the
Chinese space programme. “If you think about an
alien visiting the Earth and seeing what we are
doing here, I’m not sure whether they would
land.”
Moon in vogue?
Woerner has a robust response for those who
criticise money spent on space exploration and
astronomical research.
“Experience shows that there is no wall between
exploration and practical applications,” he says.
“Look at the greenhouse effect – everyone knows
what it is and we use satellites to investigate it –
but this was not discovered on Earth, it was
discovered by an exploration mission to Venus.”
Right now the Moon village idea is just that; an
idea, a proposal. No nation or agency has
committed any money or mapped out the
concept in any detail.
There is, however, growing interest in returning
to the Moon. When, for instance, BBC Future
recently asked experts to predict the next
decade of space exploration they all cited the
Moon as a destination of choice.
Woerner says he is voicing the idea of a Moon
village to encourage discussion about the future
of space research, exploration and the
applications of space technology. “I will be very
happy if someone else has a better idea,” he tells
me.
Nevertheless, as one of the world’s most senior
and powerful space figures, Woerner’s proposal
will be taken seriously. Nasa is still vague about
where it plans to fly its new Orion spacecraft –
fitted incidentally with an Esa service module –
and the Moon would seem to be a suitably
inspirational destination.
“In our genes there is something beyond just
practical applications,” Woerner says. “We like to
discover, to pioneer – this is humankind and this
is what brings us into the future.”
Saturday, 11 July 2015
» Buhari And Osinbajo Slash Salary By 50% «
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo have announced
their decision to take only 50 per cent of the
salary approved for them by the Revenue
Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal
Commission.
Their decision was contained in a statement
made available to journalists on Friday by
the Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba
Shehu.
The President’s current annual
remuneration as approved by RMAFC is put
at N14,058,820.00.
With this development, Buhari will earn
N7m per year throughout his four-year
tenure.
Shehu said the President’s decision to cut
his salary by half had been conveyed to the
Office of the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation on Friday by the
Permanent Secretary of the State House,
Mr. Nebolisa Emodi.
“I write to forward the completed IPPIS
registration form of Mr. President and to
draw your kind attention to Mr. President’s
directive that only 50% of his salary be paid
to him,” the presidential spokesman quoted
Emodi as writing in the letter with reference
number PRES/81/SGF/17.
Shehu said Osinbajo had similarly given up
half of his official remuneration.
He however did not disclose the reason
behind the decision in his statement.
But in a telephone interview with our
correspondent, Shehu said Buhari, by his
action, was sending a clear message to
Nigerians on the need to make sacrifices for
the nation.
He said having done that for himself, the
President was expecting other political office
holders and indeed all Nigerians to borrow a
leaf from him.
Shehu said, “That voluntary action of the
President is pregnant with meaning.
“It is a message of sacrifice for national
development.
“Since the President has done this for
himself, he is expecting that others will join
him in making sacrifices for their
fatherland.”
Buhari had on Wednesday turned down an
offer by the Federal Government to procure
five new armoured Mercedes Benz S-600
(V222) cars for his use.
The cars, which total cost is put at about
N400m, were planned to be purchased by
the State House.
A Presidency source had told journalists on
Thursday that Buhari got to know of the
plan when the Permanent Secretary briefed
him of his activities on Wednesday.
President Yemi Osinbajo have announced
their decision to take only 50 per cent of the
salary approved for them by the Revenue
Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal
Commission.
Their decision was contained in a statement
made available to journalists on Friday by
the Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba
Shehu.
The President’s current annual
remuneration as approved by RMAFC is put
at N14,058,820.00.
With this development, Buhari will earn
N7m per year throughout his four-year
tenure.
Shehu said the President’s decision to cut
his salary by half had been conveyed to the
Office of the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation on Friday by the
Permanent Secretary of the State House,
Mr. Nebolisa Emodi.
“I write to forward the completed IPPIS
registration form of Mr. President and to
draw your kind attention to Mr. President’s
directive that only 50% of his salary be paid
to him,” the presidential spokesman quoted
Emodi as writing in the letter with reference
number PRES/81/SGF/17.
Shehu said Osinbajo had similarly given up
half of his official remuneration.
He however did not disclose the reason
behind the decision in his statement.
But in a telephone interview with our
correspondent, Shehu said Buhari, by his
action, was sending a clear message to
Nigerians on the need to make sacrifices for
the nation.
He said having done that for himself, the
President was expecting other political office
holders and indeed all Nigerians to borrow a
leaf from him.
Shehu said, “That voluntary action of the
President is pregnant with meaning.
“It is a message of sacrifice for national
development.
“Since the President has done this for
himself, he is expecting that others will join
him in making sacrifices for their
fatherland.”
Buhari had on Wednesday turned down an
offer by the Federal Government to procure
five new armoured Mercedes Benz S-600
(V222) cars for his use.
The cars, which total cost is put at about
N400m, were planned to be purchased by
the State House.
A Presidency source had told journalists on
Thursday that Buhari got to know of the
plan when the Permanent Secretary briefed
him of his activities on Wednesday.
» CBN N8bn Scam Suspect Has Hole In The Heart - Lawyer «
Justice Olayinka Faaji of the Federal High
Court, Ibadan Division, has been told that
one of the suspects in the N8bn mutilated
currency fraud suit, involving staff of the
Central Bank of Nigeria and other
commercial banks, has been diagnosed as
having a in the heart.
Yakubu Ruba, who is the counsel for the
suspect, Dolapo Oni, told Faaji that his client
was diagnosed with hypertensive heart
disease at the University College Hospital,
Ibadan, and was unable to make it to the
court because of ill health.
He produced a letter from the hospital,
stating that the hospital had no facility to
treat him immediately.
Ruba also made an oral application, praying
the court to allow his client to be transfer to
Lagos for treatment.
Oni, Afolabi Olunike, Ademola Adewale and
Omotosho Abimbola, who is now at large,
are standing trial for economic crime
involving N1.7bn.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission.
But Justice Faaji frowned on the counsel oral
application, saying since he was not
informed that Oni was being taken to the
hospital for treatment and diagnosis by the
prison management, there was no point
seeking his approval for hid transfer to
Lagos.
Ruba told journalists after the proceeding
that his client deserved the best treatment to
stand a chance of continuing the trial.
He said, “My client is seriously sick with a
hole in the heart in prison custody but the
court insisted that we should come
properly and unfortunately, the court is
going on vacation today until around
September 15 before the court resumes.”
Also on Friday, Justice Faaji ruled against the
prayer of one of the counsel for the accused
persons to withdraw from the case on the
ground of bias.
The counsel for two of the suspects,
Olalekan Ojo, had appealed against Justice
Faaji’s ruling, which turned down his bail
application for his clients.
Ojo had also urged the judge to hand off
the case, arguing that Justice Faaji’s
pronouncement, while denying the bail
application, showed that he had presumed
the accused guilty before hearing the case.
The counsel also called for a stay of
proceeding pending the determination of
the Appeal Court on the bail application.
While Justice Faaji granted the stay of
proceeding, he however ruled out
disqualifying himself from the case.
Delivering his ruling in the case which
involved Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran
Adeola, Toogun Philip, Isaac Akano,
Ayodele Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Akeem,
Ayodeji Aleshe and Ajiwe Adegoke, the
judge said, “I therefore grant the prayer of
the motion filed on June 26, 2015 as prayed
since the appeal, relating to charges FH/
IB/32c-34c, is pending summons
application. This motion applies to the three
other charges.”
Court, Ibadan Division, has been told that
one of the suspects in the N8bn mutilated
currency fraud suit, involving staff of the
Central Bank of Nigeria and other
commercial banks, has been diagnosed as
having a in the heart.
Yakubu Ruba, who is the counsel for the
suspect, Dolapo Oni, told Faaji that his client
was diagnosed with hypertensive heart
disease at the University College Hospital,
Ibadan, and was unable to make it to the
court because of ill health.
He produced a letter from the hospital,
stating that the hospital had no facility to
treat him immediately.
Ruba also made an oral application, praying
the court to allow his client to be transfer to
Lagos for treatment.
Oni, Afolabi Olunike, Ademola Adewale and
Omotosho Abimbola, who is now at large,
are standing trial for economic crime
involving N1.7bn.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission.
But Justice Faaji frowned on the counsel oral
application, saying since he was not
informed that Oni was being taken to the
hospital for treatment and diagnosis by the
prison management, there was no point
seeking his approval for hid transfer to
Lagos.
Ruba told journalists after the proceeding
that his client deserved the best treatment to
stand a chance of continuing the trial.
He said, “My client is seriously sick with a
hole in the heart in prison custody but the
court insisted that we should come
properly and unfortunately, the court is
going on vacation today until around
September 15 before the court resumes.”
Also on Friday, Justice Faaji ruled against the
prayer of one of the counsel for the accused
persons to withdraw from the case on the
ground of bias.
The counsel for two of the suspects,
Olalekan Ojo, had appealed against Justice
Faaji’s ruling, which turned down his bail
application for his clients.
Ojo had also urged the judge to hand off
the case, arguing that Justice Faaji’s
pronouncement, while denying the bail
application, showed that he had presumed
the accused guilty before hearing the case.
The counsel also called for a stay of
proceeding pending the determination of
the Appeal Court on the bail application.
While Justice Faaji granted the stay of
proceeding, he however ruled out
disqualifying himself from the case.
Delivering his ruling in the case which
involved Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran
Adeola, Toogun Philip, Isaac Akano,
Ayodele Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Akeem,
Ayodeji Aleshe and Ajiwe Adegoke, the
judge said, “I therefore grant the prayer of
the motion filed on June 26, 2015 as prayed
since the appeal, relating to charges FH/
IB/32c-34c, is pending summons
application. This motion applies to the three
other charges.”
» INEC Fixes Dates For Kogi, Bayelsa Governorship Elections «
The Independent National Electoral
Commission has fixed dates for the conduct
of governorship elections in Kogi and
Bayelsa states.
The commission said in Abuja on Friday
that governorship election will hold in Kogi
State on November 21 while that of Bayelsa
State is to hold on December 5, 2015.
This information was contained in a
statement by INEC’s Chairman, Information
and Voter Education Committee, Dr. Chris
Iyimoga.
Iyimoda added that primaries for the
elections shall be held on or before August
23, 2015 and September 5, 2015,
respectively for the two states in
accordance with the provisions of the
Electoral Act 2014 (as amended).
The commission added that campaigns by
political parties shall commence on July 24
and end on November 29 in Kogi while that
of Bayelsa will be from September 6 to
December 4, 2015.
Governorship elections did not hold in the
affected states during the last April 11
governorship election because the tenure of
the two governors have yet to end.
The two states are in the hand of the main
opposition party, the Peoples Democratic
Party.
However, while Governor Idris Wada of
Kogi State is battling with the All
Progressives Congress, which has made
serious incursion into the state, Governor
Seriake Dickson on the other, is facing
internal rebellion within his party in Bayelsa
State.
The APC had the upper hand in Kogi State
during the last general electios.
Meanwhile, there are also rumours that
Wada may be denied his party’s ticket for
the election due to what a member of the
National Working Committee of the PDP
attributed to the governor’s “poor
performance.”
“The information we are having is that
Wada is not doing well and that if we field
him, we may lose the state,” the source
added.
Indication that Wada may not have things
easy appears to be manifesting.
When the governor visited the party
headquarters over the cancellation of the
ad-hoc delegates for the Ward Congresses
in the state 10 days ago, he stormed out of
the party national secretariat, shortly after
meeting with the Acting National Chairman
of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.
Wada, who arrived at the party secretariat
early in the morning to have a meeting the
NWC, was kept waiting for hours.
Commission has fixed dates for the conduct
of governorship elections in Kogi and
Bayelsa states.
The commission said in Abuja on Friday
that governorship election will hold in Kogi
State on November 21 while that of Bayelsa
State is to hold on December 5, 2015.
This information was contained in a
statement by INEC’s Chairman, Information
and Voter Education Committee, Dr. Chris
Iyimoga.
Iyimoda added that primaries for the
elections shall be held on or before August
23, 2015 and September 5, 2015,
respectively for the two states in
accordance with the provisions of the
Electoral Act 2014 (as amended).
The commission added that campaigns by
political parties shall commence on July 24
and end on November 29 in Kogi while that
of Bayelsa will be from September 6 to
December 4, 2015.
Governorship elections did not hold in the
affected states during the last April 11
governorship election because the tenure of
the two governors have yet to end.
The two states are in the hand of the main
opposition party, the Peoples Democratic
Party.
However, while Governor Idris Wada of
Kogi State is battling with the All
Progressives Congress, which has made
serious incursion into the state, Governor
Seriake Dickson on the other, is facing
internal rebellion within his party in Bayelsa
State.
The APC had the upper hand in Kogi State
during the last general electios.
Meanwhile, there are also rumours that
Wada may be denied his party’s ticket for
the election due to what a member of the
National Working Committee of the PDP
attributed to the governor’s “poor
performance.”
“The information we are having is that
Wada is not doing well and that if we field
him, we may lose the state,” the source
added.
Indication that Wada may not have things
easy appears to be manifesting.
When the governor visited the party
headquarters over the cancellation of the
ad-hoc delegates for the Ward Congresses
in the state 10 days ago, he stormed out of
the party national secretariat, shortly after
meeting with the Acting National Chairman
of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.
Wada, who arrived at the party secretariat
early in the morning to have a meeting the
NWC, was kept waiting for hours.
» Police Seal Up 22 Rivers LG Secretariat On Orders From IG «
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo
Wike has called on the people of Rivers
State to remain calm despite policemen
sealing up of all council secretariats in the
that on the orders of the Inspector General
of Police.
Inaugurating the Rivers State Independent
Electoral Commission ( RSIEC ) and the
Rivers State Judicial Service Commission on
Friday, Governor Wike regretted that the
Police would take such an action despite the
nullification of local government elections by
the Federal High Court.
He said the state government will always
respect the rule of law, urging the people of
the state to be patient despite the
provocation.
He said : “We woke up this morning to
witness the change they talked about. The
police took over all the council secretariats
preventing the caretaker committees from
gaining access”
Speaking further, Governor Wike charged
the RSIEC to conduct credible local
government elections in line with extant
laws.
He urged the commission to preparations
for the elections as the caretaker
committees will stay for six months.
The governor also charged the Rivers State
Judicial Service Commission to take steps to
correct the anomalies in the state judiciary.
Responding, Chairman State Judicial Service
Commission and State Acting Chief Judge,
Justice Daisy Okocha assured the governor
that members would address the
challenges facing the state judiciary.
Chairman of the RSIEC, Justice CI Uriri said
that the commission would conduct
elections in line with constitutional
provisions.
Also on Friday, the governor inaugurated
the Rivers State Civil Service Commission,
the Rivers State Local Government Service
Commission and the Rivers State House of
Assembly Service Commission.
Simeon Nwakaudu,
July 10,2015.
Wike has called on the people of Rivers
State to remain calm despite policemen
sealing up of all council secretariats in the
that on the orders of the Inspector General
of Police.
Inaugurating the Rivers State Independent
Electoral Commission ( RSIEC ) and the
Rivers State Judicial Service Commission on
Friday, Governor Wike regretted that the
Police would take such an action despite the
nullification of local government elections by
the Federal High Court.
He said the state government will always
respect the rule of law, urging the people of
the state to be patient despite the
provocation.
He said : “We woke up this morning to
witness the change they talked about. The
police took over all the council secretariats
preventing the caretaker committees from
gaining access”
Speaking further, Governor Wike charged
the RSIEC to conduct credible local
government elections in line with extant
laws.
He urged the commission to preparations
for the elections as the caretaker
committees will stay for six months.
The governor also charged the Rivers State
Judicial Service Commission to take steps to
correct the anomalies in the state judiciary.
Responding, Chairman State Judicial Service
Commission and State Acting Chief Judge,
Justice Daisy Okocha assured the governor
that members would address the
challenges facing the state judiciary.
Chairman of the RSIEC, Justice CI Uriri said
that the commission would conduct
elections in line with constitutional
provisions.
Also on Friday, the governor inaugurated
the Rivers State Civil Service Commission,
the Rivers State Local Government Service
Commission and the Rivers State House of
Assembly Service Commission.
Simeon Nwakaudu,
July 10,2015.
Thursday, 9 July 2015
» Tinubu Turns Back On Tambuwal For Betraying Gbajabiamila - ThisDay «
According to online news medium, The Will,
Tinubu, who played host to Tambuwal at his
Asokro residence in Abuja, a fortnight after the
speakership election in which Hon. Femi
Gbajabiamila lost to Hon Yakubu Dogara, told
Tambuwal that “with what you did to Femi in the
House, you have severed the umbilical cord
joining you with the South-West.”
Tinubu, a source revealed, was in company of
some Northern members of the APC when the ex
Speaker came calling.
“Did you people in the House do this in
anticipation of 2019…It is too early. You should
allow this government to succeed,” Tinubu was
quoted as saying.
In an emotion laden voice, Tinubu reminded the
Sokoto State governor of the role Gbajabiamila
played in his emergence as Speaker in 2011.
It was common knowledge that Tinubu,
persuaded by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had
started galvanising support for former House
Leader, Hon Mulikat Adeola-Akande in the
immediate past 7th National Assembly. But when
Gbajabiamila rushed to him with the name of
Tambuwal, he quickly accepted.
Before doing so, he prodded Gbajabiamila on
whether Tambuwal can be trusted and the
former acquiesced. Gbajabiamila even had
additional praise for the ex Speaker, saying if it is
intelligence and competence, then Tambuwal is
undoubtedly the man.
The APC leader decried how Tambuwal
stampeded Gov. Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara
State into cajoling members from his state to
vote against Gbajabiamila.
Openly chastised, Tambuwal hurriedly pleaded
with Tinubu to drop the matter, saying ” it
appears this is not a good time to come and see
you,. I’ll come back again some other time.”
It was gathered that Tinubu was miffed by
Tambuwal’s betrayal of Gbajabiamila not only
because of the role he played in his emergence as
Speaker in 2011 but because of his influence to
secure the governorship ticket of Sokoto for him.
Initially, Tambuwal’s predecessor, Senator Aliyu
Magatakarda Wamakko, had preferred and
worked for a relative of his to succeed him. But
Tinubu prevailed on him to give it to Tambuwal,
arguing that it will be unfair to leave the
incumbent governor in the lurch after his travails
in the hands of the PDP.
The source added that it was Tinubu who
purchased the N21 million nomination form for
Tambuwal to run for the presidency as his
thought was that should Buhari decide to step
down, Tambuwal would have been drafted in his
place.
Tinubu, who played host to Tambuwal at his
Asokro residence in Abuja, a fortnight after the
speakership election in which Hon. Femi
Gbajabiamila lost to Hon Yakubu Dogara, told
Tambuwal that “with what you did to Femi in the
House, you have severed the umbilical cord
joining you with the South-West.”
Tinubu, a source revealed, was in company of
some Northern members of the APC when the ex
Speaker came calling.
“Did you people in the House do this in
anticipation of 2019…It is too early. You should
allow this government to succeed,” Tinubu was
quoted as saying.
In an emotion laden voice, Tinubu reminded the
Sokoto State governor of the role Gbajabiamila
played in his emergence as Speaker in 2011.
It was common knowledge that Tinubu,
persuaded by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had
started galvanising support for former House
Leader, Hon Mulikat Adeola-Akande in the
immediate past 7th National Assembly. But when
Gbajabiamila rushed to him with the name of
Tambuwal, he quickly accepted.
Before doing so, he prodded Gbajabiamila on
whether Tambuwal can be trusted and the
former acquiesced. Gbajabiamila even had
additional praise for the ex Speaker, saying if it is
intelligence and competence, then Tambuwal is
undoubtedly the man.
The APC leader decried how Tambuwal
stampeded Gov. Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara
State into cajoling members from his state to
vote against Gbajabiamila.
Openly chastised, Tambuwal hurriedly pleaded
with Tinubu to drop the matter, saying ” it
appears this is not a good time to come and see
you,. I’ll come back again some other time.”
It was gathered that Tinubu was miffed by
Tambuwal’s betrayal of Gbajabiamila not only
because of the role he played in his emergence as
Speaker in 2011 but because of his influence to
secure the governorship ticket of Sokoto for him.
Initially, Tambuwal’s predecessor, Senator Aliyu
Magatakarda Wamakko, had preferred and
worked for a relative of his to succeed him. But
Tinubu prevailed on him to give it to Tambuwal,
arguing that it will be unfair to leave the
incumbent governor in the lurch after his travails
in the hands of the PDP.
The source added that it was Tinubu who
purchased the N21 million nomination form for
Tambuwal to run for the presidency as his
thought was that should Buhari decide to step
down, Tambuwal would have been drafted in his
place.
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