Nigeria Records Second-Highest Number Of Death Sentences In 2016

Nigeria handed down 527 death sentences in 2016, tripling 2015’s figure and placing it second only to China in death sentences recorded throughout the world in 2016.

Amnesty International Nigeria announced the figure in its 2016 global review of the death penalty published on Tuesday.

Lagos State recorded the most executions in Nigeria in 2016 with 68, followed closely by Rivers State with 61.

According to the human rights organization, 2016’s figure represent a “massive and worrying” spike from 2015, when the country recorded 171 death sentences.

The group emphasized that Nigeria’s sharp increase in death sentences puts the country at odds with the global decline in death sentences. In 2016, there were 1,032 executions recorded worldwide, down from 1,634 in 2015 (a 37 percent decline).  

“By handing down more death sentences last year than any other country except China, Nigeria has tripled its use of this cruel and inhuman punishment and skyrocketed up the shameful league table of the world’s death penalty offenders,” said Damian Ugwu, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Researcher.

“The danger of people being executed for crimes they may not have committed remains ever-present. Investigations show many death row inmates live in constant fear of execution in some Nigerian prisons.”

The group stated that on December 23, 2016, for example, Apostle Igene, an inmate of Benin Prison, Edo State, was executed after being sentenced to death in 1997 by a military tribunal. He was never permitted to appeal the sentence.

The report also pointed out that Oyo State passed a law in 2016 making kidnapping punishable by execution and that Lagos and Bauchi States passed similar laws in 2017.

The group condemned such laws, saying that there is no evidence demonstrating that the death penalty deters crime more than any other punishment. It also pointed out that Nigerian security authorities have been ramping up police training with a view towards improving crime detection and prevention. These measures, the group said, “are likely to have a greater impact on the crime rate than any moves to expand the scope of the death penalty.”

The organization concluded its report by calling on the Nigerian government to establish an official moratorium on death penalties and to eventually abolish it altogether.

“For years, the federal government has claimed to have a voluntary or self-imposed ‘moratorium,’ but executions have happened nonetheless. This demonstrates the urgency of formally establishing a moratorium,” the group said.

Source : SR

Prison InmatesPremium Times

Whistleblowing: EFCC Uncovers Another N4 Billion

A tip-off by a whistle blower on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 led to another discovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of a staggering sum of N4billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Investigations as to the owner of the funds revealed that the money belongs to a former deputy governorship candidate in Niger State.

The suspect uses the names of two companies – Katah Property & Investment Limited and Sadiq Air Travel Agency - in laundering the funds.

Each of the company has N2billion fixed in its deposit account domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank.

The suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.

EFCC operatives
Source : EFCC

Skeletal Remains Found In United States Identified As 22-Year-Old Nigerian Lady Who Went Missing In 2016 After Her Former Boyfriend Had Threatened To Kill Her For Talking With Her New Boyfriend, Police Intensify Investigations

The slim bracelet found with the remains of a young woman discovered in a patch of Dedham woods last week had an engraving that said “peace.” When authorities seeking help released a photo of the bracelet Friday, someone came forward immediately with a crucial tip: Susan Anyanwu-Corbin, a Boston resident who went missing last year at 22, had a bracelet just like that.



Working over the weekend, forensic investigators were able to confirm that the remains matched dental records for Anyanwu-Corbin, a Nigerian immigrant who was last seen in February 2016, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said Monday.

But that’s just one part of the puzzle. Authorities are asking for more help, Morrissey said, making his second public appeal in 72 hours for a break in the case.

“This does not mark the end of the investigation but, really, it’s more like a more difficult beginning,” Morrissey said, joined by Dedham police and State Police investigators. 

“We’re looking for information about her disappearance — people who may have socialized with her, resided with her, worked with her, corresponded on Facebook, or even been socially friendly with her, to help us now identify her movements during that period of time” when she was last seen.

Anyanwu-Corbin, described as outgoing and caring, may have been missing for as long as three months before an uncle, George Corbin of Cambridge, reached out to Boston police last May, after being unable to track her down to notify her about a death in the family.

Her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, Junior Bernard, told the Globe Monday that her former boyfriend had abused her and threatened her life.

When Bernard, 24, last saw Anyanwu-Corbin in February 2016, he said, she had a cut on her face where her former boyfriend had punched her, angry that she was dating Bernard.

“I was like, ‘This dude is crazy.’ And she was like, ‘He said he’s going to kill me if I keep talking to you,’ ” Bernard said. Anyanwu-Corbin told him that she had reported the assault to police.

Around that time, the former boyfriend also came to Bernard’s home and started a fight, he said. 

Bernard showed reporters a police report he filed Feb. 11, 2016, in which he alleged that the former boyfriend had assaulted Anyanwu-Corbin on Feb. 10 and had been harassing both of them for several weeks.

At about 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, according to the report, the former boyfriend appeared at Bernard’s home wearing a mask and carrying a baseball bat. 

In the report, Bernard said he had taken the bat from the former boyfriend before he could strike Bernard. He said the former boyfriend left saying, “I will be back.”

JEREMY C. FOX FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Junior Bernard spoke Monday, after the remains were identified as those of Anyanwu-Corbin, his girlfriend.

Shortly after those incidents, Bernard said, Anyanwu-Corbin went missing.

According to police, Corbin, the uncle, was unable to reach her by phone that May and found a new tenant living in what he thought was her Dorchester apartment when he tried to reach her in person.

 He filed the missing-persons report last May 8, though the poster released by police said she was last seen Feb. 11 around Adams Street in Dorchester. The poster described her as a light-skinned black woman with black hair, brown eyes, and a nose ring, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 120 pounds.

A relative who identified himself as a family spokesman but declined to give his name told the Globe Monday that Anyanwu-Corbin came over from Nigeria shortly before her 18th birthday, sponsored by another family member. She attended West Roxbury High School for a time before switching to an alternative diploma program for working adults, while working a series of retail jobs.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro

I May Be Dead Before 2019 Because No One Can Guarantee Life, 80-Year-Old Pope Francis Drops Chilling Warning As He Urges Youths To Take Over

Pope Francis has voiced doubts that he would be around up till 2019.

Speaking on Saturday at a vigil service to rally enthusiasm for the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day, the Pope urged young people to lead the church’s future.



As reported by the Associated Press, the 80-year-old Pope referred to his own mortality twice in the span of a few minutes at the vigil.

The Catholic Church’s World Youth Day will be held in Panama in 2019.

“I don’t know if it will be me, but the Pope will be in Panama!” he told the crowd gathered at the St. Mary Major basilica.

A few minutes earlier, he drew gasps from the pews when he teased: “At my age, we (old people) are about to pass away.”

Sensing their pained reaction, he added: “Who guarantees life? No one. At your age, you have the future ahead of you.”

The Pope is known for his casual, self-deprecating remarks and has said repeatedly he didn’t expect to be Pope for very long.

Early on in his four-year papacy, he predicted two to five years would do it. He has also not ruled out the possibility of resigning like his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, did.

At the same time, there’s nothing indicating that Pope Francis is slowing down.

Later this month, he begins the first of his 2017 foreign travels that are expected to bring him to Egypt, Portugal, Colombia, India, Bangladesh and perhaps South Sudan.

He is also gearing up for the next big meeting of the world’s bishops later this year, dedicated to young people.

The Vatican has solicited direct input from young people to inform its work and participate in the synod.

Pope Francis took that request further on Saturday, saying he wanted to involve not just dedicated Catholics but all young people, atheists included.

“The future is in your hands,” he said. -PUNCH

Never Allow A Poor Man To Marry You, You Will Die Early And Go To Hell And If A Man Uses Your Photo As DP, Arrest Him Says Man Of God

Controversial Counselor, George Lutherodt has advised women to cause the arrest of poor men who are not married to them yet use their images as DPs on social media platforms.

According to him, a man who is not married to a lady does not have the rights to use her image as a DP reiterating the need for such men to immediately be arrested.



“Report such a man to the police and let them know he is using your image to perpetrate crime”, he stated.

“Never allow a poor man to marry you. You will die early and go to hell.  A man who cannot afford a square meal and a snack should not dream of marriage because he cannot fend for himself”, he said.

The outspoken counselor also said it is an insult for man who is on attachment to come and seek your hand in marriage describing such a person as a criminal who is committing crimes against humanity.

“There are some of the men who have no rooms of their own who live in obey the wind chamber and hall. Any man who is of age but not reminded by his parents, such parents are witches and wizards. 

Never support a man to marry you. He must be fully responsible to cater for you and therefore must bear all the cost of the marriage. If you are also a woman beautiful and attractive yet no man proposes to you, buy a mirror, hang it in your room and weep”, he added.

Source: mynewsgh.com

Federal Road Safety Commission Recalls Sector Commander, Officers Who Cut Female Officials’ Hair

Rivers State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Andrew Kumapayi, meting punishment to female officers who allegedly disobeyed the dress code.

The Federal Road Safety Commission’s Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered the recall of the Rivers State Sector Commander and other officers concerned in the raving issue of cutting off some female officers’  hair.

The female officers were allegedly carrying long hair in the Rivers State Sector Command, Portharcourt.

In the latest interview granted Punch online early morning on Tuesday, by  Head of Media Relations and Strategy of the Corps, Mr. Bisi Kazeem,  this became necessary in order to properly investigate the matter.

Boboye had condemned the photographs trending on the social media concerning the cutting-off of the hair of the female FRSC officials.

The photos, which started trending late Monday evening, showed a man identified as the sector commander of the Rivers State Command of the FRSC, Andrew A. Kumapayi, using a pair of scissors to cut up the hair of some female officials.
The incident reportedly happened during the early morning parade when Kumapayi went round to inspect his officers.


Sector Commander of the FRSC cutting hairdos of female officers - Punch 

Federal Road Safety Commander Cut Off Female Officers Fancy Hairdos During Parade

A  Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Rivers state, Andrew Kumapayi, has embarked on a weird exercise to get female officers on his team to dress according to the Prescription of the agency. 

On Monday during a parade, Mr. Kumpayi began inspection of officers with particular attention to hairstyles and nails of female officers, after completing his rounds the senior officer asked for a pair of scissors and began cutting hair extensions of female officers he deemed too "fancifully" dressed and according to him had violated the dress code of the agency.  

Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers

Sector Commander of the FRSC cutting hairs of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers Sector Commander of the FRSC in Rivers state embarks on cutting hairdos of female officers

Source : SR 

Angry husband fills wife's car with concrete 'after she changed her surname for supermarket promotion'

 

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An angry husband filled his wife's car with concrete after she reportedly changed her surname to win a supermarket promotion.

The man claimed he and his wife had been going through a rough patch in their marriage and that her name change was the final straw for him.

An eyewitness with a smartphone caught the bizarre incident on camera in Russia's second city of St Petersburg.

The man, whose name has not been revealed, is seen directing a concrete mixing lorry as it backs up next to the car and then positions the chute through the car's open driver's window.

He then gives the order for the lorry’s load of cement to be poured into the car, filling the vehicle up to the level of the windows.

The final straw in their relationship was when she changed her last name, from his surname to the name of a supermarket , ironically called Veniy (Loyal).

The supermarket chain had promised to pay 50,000 RUB (£703 GBP) per month to any customers prepared to legally change their surname to that of their brand.

She had recently reportedly admitted to her husband that she had not been loyal to him, prompting the husband into wanting his revenge.

He came up with the idea of filling her car with concrete because he knew how much she loved the car, keeping it spotless inside and out.

The footage is proving popular with viewers after being uploaded to social media and video sharing websites.

One viewer, ‘Aleksei Fokin’, said: "I wish I could see his wife’s face", while ‘Edu pryamo’ commented: "I hope this idiot gets a fine."

And ‘Vladimir Nemchenko’ noted: "The lorry driver could be prosecuted, just like this guy, as technically he was the one who poured the concrete. Why would he agree to do that?!" - Mirror

Photo of two pastors arrested for sex trafficking of children

 The FBI has arrested two pastors on charges of sex trafficking of children in Toledo, Ohio.

Cordell Jenkins, 46, and Anthony Haynes, 37, were taken into custody by FBI agents on Friday morning, April 7th.

Jenkins is the pastor of Abundant Life Ministries in Toledo. Haynes rented a space at the University Bible Fellowship as the pastor of Greater Life Christian Center until 2016.

Federal documents accuse the men of recruiting, enticing and transporting people they knew were under 18 to engage in sex acts for pay. An agent’s criminal complaint says the alleged activity started three years ago with a girl who was then 14.

The affidavit says Haynes and a woman on multiple occasions engaged in sex acts with the victim at local hotels. Haynes is accused of paying her money to keep the encounters to herself. Prosecutors also said Haynes introduced the teenager to others who paid the girl for sex.

Jenkins is allegedly one of those adults. Prosecutors said he had sex with the girl at a Red Roof Inn in Toledo and in his office in a nearby church.

A U.S. magistrate judge Friday ordered Jenkins and Haynes held without bond until an April 13 hearing.

Jenkins shook his head “no” as charges were read and indicated he will hire an attorney. Haynes told the magistrate he needed a court-appointed attorney until he “made some phone calls.” 

"We have charged two individuals, but not with any affiliation with the church," said FBI spokesperson Vicki Anderson.

Ms Anderson said FBI received information a few weeks ago regarding allegations of the sexual misconduct involving minors and began an investigation. The crimes are alleged to have occurred over a few years, she added.

Full statement released by FBI: 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cleveland Division, Toledo Resident Agency, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio, announce the arrest of Cordell Jenkins, age 46, and Anthony Haynes, age 37, pursuant to a federal complaint and arrest warrant for sex trafficking of children.

Agents placed Jenkins and Haynes into custody early this morning at their residences in Toledo without incident. Additional law enforcement activity occurred today in regards to this ongoing investigation.

Jenkins and Haynes are accused of knowingly recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person(s) that the defendants knew was less than eighteen years old to engage in commercial sex acts. In addition to the above, Haynes is also being charged with Obstruction of Justice and Jenkins is being charged with sexual exploitation of children. Both men will have their initial appearance in U.S. District Court later today.

A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of members of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Lima Police Department, Oregon Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Lucas County Sheriff's Office.

Source: WTOL-TV

Patience Jonathan Stopped From Withdrawing Money From $5.9m Account

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has barred Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, from withdrawing money from a $5.9m account with Skye Bank, which was ordered to be unfrozen by a court last week.

This is just as the EFCC has begun fresh move to ensure that a separate $15m, which was traced to Patience, is permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

It was learnt, on Monday, that Mrs. Jonathan was barred from operating the $5m account after a Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered that the restriction on the account be lifted.

EFCC was able to obtain a stay of execution, a court order obtained for the purpose of suspending the execution of another court judgment.

A source told Punch that, “Shortly after the judge ordered that the account be unfrozen, the EFCC quickly obtained a stay of execution in order to prevent her from having access to the money.

“The EFCC communicated with the relevant authorities at Skye Bank that it was important that she wasn’t allowed to withdraw the money or else, the whole purpose of the freezing would have been defeated.”

In an interview with Punch yesterday, Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, Adedipe, admitted that the bank had not allowed his client to withdraw money from the account, but disagreed with the notion that the account had been frozen again.

He explained that Skye Bank, rather than comply with the court’s order unfreezing the accounts, was banking on the fact that the EFCC had gone on appeal to challenge the unfreezing of the account and had also filed a stay of execution.

Recall that the EFCC had, in June last year, arrested four domestic servants, including a driver and a houseboy, who allegedly operated bank accounts belonging to Patience.

Punch