Man Arraigned For Allegedly Slapping Policewoman

Fashion designer, 39-year-old Bale Kareem, who allegedly assaulted a policewoman, was on Friday released on bail in the sum of N10, 000 on the orders of an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

 The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused one surety in like sum, whose address must be verified.

 The accused, who resides at Ore-Ofe St, Agility II in Mile 12 area of Lagos, is facing a charge of assault to which he pleaded not guilty.

 The prosecutor, Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 6 at Mile 12 Police Post. Lucky said the complainant, Insp. James Ebun, attached to the Mile 12 Police Post, reported the incident at the Charge Room of the station.


 “The inspector was assaulted by the accused and injured her while performing her lawful duty on June 6 at 1.00 p.m.

 “A woman, Mrs Afilaka Bolade, a shop owner at Mile 12 came to the police post to report a case of assault and misconduct against the accused.

“The accused was invited to the station and after listening to the woman’s complaint, the inspector wanted to take the accused to the officer-in-charge.

 “In the process, the accused wanted to escape from the station and as she tried to prevent him, he slapped her.

 “As he was trying to beat the inspector her colleagues came to her rescue,” he said. The offences contravened Sections 172 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). The case was adjourned until June 13. - NAN

 

Supreme Court Throws Out Metuh’s Appeal Seeking to Stop N400m Fraud Trial

Olisa Metuh, a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again lost his bid to stop his N400 million fraud trial, as the Supreme Court, on June 9, 2017 dismissed his application seeking for a stay of proceedings.

Metuh is standing trial along with Destra Investment Limited for the alleged fraud. He is facing a seven-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He had filed the application through his counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, seeking for a stay of proceedings at the High Court.
Ikpeazu had at the March 22, 2017 sitting before Justice Abang, also applied to the court to “stay proceedings”, as the Supreme Court, according to him had at the time already begun hearing the appeal.

He had argued that the High Court “ought to defer to the Supreme Court”, which had fixed June 9, 2017 to rule on the application.
His application was however, vehemently opposed by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, who had argued that it was "a ploy to waste the time of the court".

Justice Abang had fixed May 2, 2017 to rule on Ikpeazu’s application for a “stay of proceedings” but could not deliver the ruling, noting that the ruling was not ready.
“I handle cases in Abuja, Asaba and Lagos divisions of the court and I have several other judgments and rulings to deliver,” the trial judge said.

However, in the ruling of the five-man panel of judges at the Supreme Court, made up of Justices Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, Musa Dattijo Mohammed, Kudirat Kekere-Okun, Ejembi Eko and Sidi Dauda Bage, which was read by Justice Eko, they held that Metuh’s application for a stay of proceedings, “is in the circumstances dismissed and refused”.

Metuh had on May 24, 2016 also lost at the Appeal Court, to overturn the decision of Justice Abang who had on March 9, 2016 dismissed a similar application.

Tahir, who commended the ruling, noted that “the significant aspect of the ruling is that before now, it is only at the level of the Court of Appeal that the issue of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015 has been tested.”

Metuh’s trial is therefore expected to continue on June 19, 2017 before Justice Abang.

Northern Threat: Return our oil Blocs, N’Delta militants tell FG ( Over due )

Threaten to declare independence on October 1

The coalition of Niger Delta militants on Friday called on the Federal Government to return all oil blocs being controlled by northerners to the people of the region.
The agitators explained that their action was based on the ultimatum given by some northern youth groups to the Igbo to vacate the North within three months.

Leaders of the eight militants groups said in a statement that the Niger Delta region shall declare its independence on October 1, 2017 and free itself from enslavement by the North.
The coalition comprises Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers, Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Niger Delta Warriors, Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice, Niger Delta Fighters Network and Niger Delta Freedom Mandate.

The militant leaders are General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener: Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators), General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers) General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors) and Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters).

Others are Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters), Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice), Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network), and Major-Gen. Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate).

In a statement, which was said to have been issued shortly after their meeting in Port Harcourt, the militant leaders warned all companies operating in such oil blocs to vacate within three months.
The group said “A coalition of the Niger Delta militants met today in Port Harcourt to review the recent call by the Arewa Youths groups that the Ndigbo should vacate all the Northern states within three months.

“We see the declaration by Arewa Youths as a well consultative declaration which the northern elders, leaders, political elite, security heads from the North and governors were fully aware.

“We demand 100 percent control of our resources. We demand that the Federal Government should hand over all oil blocs owned by the northerners to Niger Delta indigenes. All the companies operating in such oil blocks/wells should vacate within three months.

“The Federal Government should immediately relocate NNPC and all the offices that have to do with oil/gas sector back to Niger Delta states and an immediately replacement of the Group Managing Director with an indigene of Niger Delta.

“All northern indigenes working in NNPC and any other Board that has anything to do with oil/gas should be sack with immediate effect.
“We demand an independent and sovereign Republic of Niger Delta. We are tired of living with the North under Nigeria. We are tired of the President’s sentiments to the Niger Delta people.

“The President can have time to receive the Chibok girls, but could not have time to meet with the Representatives of the Niger Delta agitators. Our money has been used to fund Boko Haram, a problem created by the Northerners in order to use it as conduit pipe to siphon the resources of Niger Delta.

“On October 1, 2017 we shall declare our independence come rain, come shine. We shall take our destiny in our hands and free ourselves from the slavery of the North as they are tired of one Nigeria.”

They maintained that all the companies and businesses owned by the northerners in Niger Delta should be vacated within three months, saying, “From 1^st October 2017, we don’t want to see any northerner close to Niger Delta; any attempt to penetrate shall meet fierce resistance. This time, we are not going to play defence, but attack,” the statement by the coalition of Niger Delta agitators read.

They also called on all agitating groups to resume attacks/bombings on all oil/gas pipelines, especially the exporting lines across the Niger Delta region with immediate effect, adding that the measure was aimed at ensuring zero oil/gas production before October 1, 2017.

They said, “We also demand the Federal government should immediately replace the Inspector General of Police with an indigene of the South West, the Director General of DSS with an indigene of South East, and the National Security Adviser with an indigene of South- South.

“The Speaker, House of Representatives should voluntarily resign and hand over to an indigene of the South-South.” - The Nation

Two drug traffickers arrested at the Lagos airport

Two drug traffickers, 59-year-old Joseph Oparaji Okechukwu, and 41-year-old Austine Ikenna Nnaji, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for reportedly trying to smuggle drugs out of the country, through the Lagos airport.

Confessing to the crime,  Joseph who revealed he was a contractor, blamed the present economic recession in Nigeria for nudging him into drug smuggling.

The other suspect, Austine, was identified as a safety officer in Qatar. Mr. Nnaji reportedly feigned ignorance of the content of his luggage, which he claimed to have received from a friend at the airport.

Okechukwu was bound for New York City on Turkish Airlines while Mr. Nnaji was on his way to Doha, Qatar on Ethiopian Airlines. Okechukwu excreted 1.105 kg of brownish substances that tested positive for heroin. Nnaji, was found to have concealed 11.540 kg of marijuana and 490 grams of tramadol in his luggage.

The naming ceremony of Bola Tinubu’s grand daughter in London

Former Lagos state governor and National APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu joined his son, Seyi and his beautiful wife, Layal, for the naming ceremony of his grand daughter,  Amira Titilayo Noella Rose Simisola Ashabi Tinubu, this morning in New Cavendish, London.

The couple welcomed their daughter in London on June 2nd. More photos below…

Nigerian Pastor Arrested in South Africa Over Sexual Offences Denied Bail

Controversial televangelist Timothy Omotoso has been refused bail in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s court today and ordered back to the St Albans Prison after staying there for more than a month following his dramatic arrest inside an airport toilet in May 2017.

 

The court found Omotoso to be a flight risk with no real ties to South Africa.  In addition, in the event that Omotoso is released on bail, the court said, there was a strong likelihood the alleged victims would be threatened and intimidated.

 

Omotoso faces 22 charges related to contravening the Sexual Offences Act with two definite charges of rape contained in the charge sheet.

 

Dramatic scenes played out at the Port Elizabeth International Airport on 20 April, 2017. Omotoso had allegedly trafficked women and girls from various branches of his church to a house in Umhlanga Rocks, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, where they were sexually exploited.

 

The Nigerian televangelist is a senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International, whose headquarters are in Durban, with a Port Elizabeth branch in Govan Mbeki Avenue.

 

Magistrate, Thandeka Mashini, refused the Omotoso bail after various findings that concluded that he was as a flight risk.

 

The Magistrate said that she considered the fact that Omotoso is in South Africa illegally with no fixed property under his name.

 

His wife and children are citizens of the United Kingdom, and that he has international branches, which he visits from time to time.

 

The court heard that he is an illegal immigrant in the country and there is nothing tying him to South Africa.

 

The Magistrate also said she had considered the public’s view point of the case.

“The public has been crying to these crimes of Human Trafficking, Rape, and sexual assault on young girls and women which are frowned upon by the community.

“I find that the applicant’s personal circumstances are commonplace, and not constitute ordinary. They do not constitute exceptional circumstances which justify his realise on bail,” Magistrate Mashini said.

Court Asks George Turnah to Produce Paramount Ruler as Surety

Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High Court, sitting in  Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday ruled that a  paramount ruler in the domain of a former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, erstwhile managing director of Niger Delta Commission, NDDC, George Turnah, should stand surety, as part of his bail  conditions .

The judge admitted Turnah to bail  in the sum of N300million, and two sureties in like sum. Aside the paramount ruler, whose office should be recognised by the Government of the State and his letter of authority verified and deposited in the court;  the other surety should  be an owner of a landed property which original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)  should  be deposited with  the Registry of the court.

Also, Turnah's international passport or travel document should be deposited with the registry of the court and "the first defendant shall not travel outside Nigeria without leave of the court." All the sureties shall sign affidavit of means and bail bond and the first defendant shall be remanded in prison custody  pending the perfection of his bail.

Turnah  and his 7 companies : El Godmas Global Servises Limited; Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Limited; Kolo Creek Petroleum Development Limited ; Celtic Pride Consult and Events; Yenagoa Mall, Adaka Boro Marine Services Limited and Sugarland Intergrated farms Nigeria Limited) were arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N3, 094,268, 235. 69 (Three Billion, ninety four Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Five Naira, Sixty Nine Kobo).

Justice Watila adjourned the matter  to June 30, 2017 for commencement of trial

Married Woman Dies In Hotel Room With Lover (Graphic photo)

A married woman has died in a hotel room in Enugu while “enjoying” with her lover during a one-night stand.

A statement by police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the deceased was identified as Mrs Ifeyinwa Udeh of Ugboezeji in Abakpa Nike of Enugu State.

The statement said: “On that fateful day, the deceased with her lover, identified as Joel Ugwu of Abakpa in Enugu State, had allegedly checked into one hotel located around Nowas Junction of Transekulu in Enugu.

“She was later confirmed dead by a doctor at St Leo’s Hospital Transekulu after suddenly falling ill and becoming unconscious. “She was taken to the hospital for medical attention at 11.15 p.m by her lover.”

The statement said Ugwu, who is in police custody, is assisting the investigation on the incident.

It said the suspect confessed that he and Ifeyinwa “comfortably checked into the hotel on that fateful day, but later, the lady lover started complaining of ill health. According to the suspect, she was immediately given a bottle of malt drink and bottled water, which he allegedly bought for her while they were relaxing in the hotel room”.

The police added: “He said following the development, he rushed her to the hospital for medical attention, but she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

“The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the Parklane Specialist Hospital in Enugu for autopsy.”

Also, detectives from Homicide Section of the police command have begun a full scale investigation into the incident.

The police said they recovered from the hotel room some tablets and capsules as well as other materials, which they said would aid operatives in their investigations.

EFCC Arraigns Man For Forging Driver's Licence

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, arraigned one Ogbonna Henry Onyebuchi before Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 2-count charge bordering on forgery and uttering.

Onyebuchi was arrested alongside six others suspected to be yahoo- yahoo boys at Rumuagholu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 6 August, 2016, by operatives of the EFCC, following intelligence report on their alleged involvement in internet-related scam.

Phones and other fraudulent documents were recovered from them at the point of arrest. Meanwhile, the six others arrested with Onyebuchi have been charged separately.

Count one of the charge read: “that you Ogbonna Henry Onyebuchi on or about the 6th August, 2016, at Rumuagholu Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud and in order to facilitate the commission of a crime did forge a National Drivers Licence with Number PHC03150AA02 in the name of Samson Dike with the Intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act. 

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Justice Watila granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000. 00k (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) and one surety in like sum, the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. Also, the surety must depose to an affidavit of means with his passport photograph affixed to the affidavit. Additionally, the sum of N300, 000.00(Three Hundred Thousand Naira only) must be deposited to the court registry pending trial and the address of the surety must be verified by the court registrar.

The judge adjourned the matter to 4 July, 2017 for trial and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.

NYSC Member Divorces Her Husband in Jos, Refunds N80,000 Dowry

A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps has divorced her husband, refunding her dowry to the man.

The marriage between 27-year-old Rukayat Ahmed, an NYSC member, and Alkasim Ahmed, has been dissolved by a Jos Upper Area Court on Thursday following a petition filed by the former.

NAN reports that Rukayat, a resident of Jos, had approached the court seeking the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds that she was no more in love with Alkasim.

The woman, who filed a direct complaint to the court, argued that such separation was permissible in Islamic law, “if the partners are no more in love and therefore unwilling to live together”.

When the case was mentioned on May 25, the husband did not object to Rukayat’s demand.

At the resumption of hearing on the matter on Thursday, the Judge, Yahaya Ahmed, endorsed the separation of the couple and ordered the petitioner to refund the N80,000 paid as dowry by her husband, as applicable in Islamic law.

Rukayat promptly paid the money and walked away a free woman.

Catalonia calls independence referendum for October

Catalonia’s long-awaited and bitterly controversial referendum on independence from Spain will be finally held on 1 October, the regional government announced on Friday, triggering yet another political and judicial showdown with Madrid.

The Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, said that voters in the unilateral referendum would be asked the question: “Do you want Catalonia to be an independent country in the form of a republic?”
Puigdemont’s pro-sovereignty administration insists the wealthy north-eastern region has a political, economic and cultural right to self-determination.

But the Spanish government is implacably opposed to secession, arguing that it is a violation of the constitution, and has vowed to use all possible means to stop the referendum from being held.

Spain’s deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, dismissed the announcement as an empty threat, saying: “They can announce a referendum as many times as they want and put it back as many weeks as they want, and hold as many events as they want, but the referendum is not going to take place.”

More than 80% of participants opted for independence in a symbolic poll held three years ago – although only 2.3 million of Catalonia’s 5.4 million eligible voters took part.
This time round, however, the Catalan government insists the results will be legally binding.

In a speech in Madrid last month, Puigdemont said his government had a “democratically inviolable” commitment to the referendum and accused Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, of failing to do anything “serious, sincere or real” to resolve the issue.

Spain’s constitutional court ruled the previous referendum was illegal five days before it was held on 9 November 2014, but the then Catalan president, Artur Mas, and others pushed ahead with the vote, helped by more than 40,000 volunteers who opened schools and installed polling stations.

In March this year, Mas was found guilty of disobeying the constitutional court’s ruling and banned from holding public office for two years.
Puigdemont has said that he is prepared to face the consequences of defying the court.
“This is a deeply serious business, and profoundly democratic,” he told the Guardian last year. “I could not disobey the will of the Catalan parliament.”

The Spanish government, however, is confident that it can stop the referendum from happening in the first place. As well as the courts, it has the power to invoke article 155 of the constitution, which would allow it to take drastic steps to thwart the vote by suspending regional autonomy.
Such a move could see Madrid ordering the closure of schools in the region to stop them being used as polling stations and even taking control of the Catalan police.

Last week the Venice Commission – a panel of experts who advise the Council of Europe on constitutional law – wrote to Puigdemont, telling him that the referendum would have to be carried out “in agreement with the Spanish authorities … and in full compliance with the constitution and the applicable legislation”.

Although the separatist movement has acquired huge momentum over recent years, any vote is likely to be very close.
According to a poll at the end of March, 48.5% of Catalans oppose seceding from Spain, while 44.3% support breaking away.
The opposition camp appears to be growing: another poll, from December last year, revealed that 46.8% of Catalans were against independence, compared with 45.3% in favour.

On Sunday, the former Barcelona football club coach Pep Guardiola will read out a manifesto in favour of a referendum at a rally in the city.

He told Radio Catalunya that the region needed the opportunity to decide its own future, adding: “We’re just asking that people be allowed to vote for a better life.” - The Guardian 

Divided we stand ; Northern elders back quit notice for Igbos

Despite condemnation by Northern Governors and other groups, The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has backed the call by the three months ultimatum given to Igbos to leave the region by Arewa Youth Consultative Forum.

Speaking to newsmen in Zaria on Friday, NEF’s spokesman, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said it was hypocritical for the Igbos to continue to live in other parts of the country while agitating for Nigeria’s break up.

Insisting that what the northern youth groups did was not a sin, Abdullahi said whoever feels Nigeria “is not conducive for him” should quit.
“I am disappointed in the decision taken by Northern Governors’ Forum disowning and condemning the agitation by this young agile and progressive youth groups.”

“Let me ask these Northern governors, whom are they representing, are they representing spirits, ghost or people of the north?
“Recently, people from eastern part of this country, specifically Igbo, were busy calling for the Sovereign State of Biafra and from all indication their leaders including governors are behind them.”

He lamented that none of the Northern governors reacted to the persistent call for the actualisation of Biafra and other agitations.
Mr. Abdullahi said when Nnamdi Kanu was released on bail recently, over 100 vehicles escorted him to his residence including big personalities from the south-west and south-east.

UK election : May to form 'government of certainty' with DUP backing

Theresa May has said she will put together a government with the support of the Democratic Unionists that can provide "certainty" for the future.

Speaking after visiting Buckingham Palace, she said only her party had the "legitimacy" to govern, despite falling eight seats short of a majority.
She said she would join with her DUP "friends" to "get to work" on Brexit.

But Labour said they were the "real winners" while the Lib Dems said Mrs May should be "ashamed" of carrying on.

The Tories needed 326 seats to win another majority but, with 649 out of the 650 seats declared, they fell short and must rely on the DUP to continue to rule.

 In a short statement outside Downing Street, which followed a 25-minute audience with The Queen, Mrs May said she intended to form a government which could "provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country".

Referring to the "strong relationship" she had with the DUP but giving little detail of how their arrangement might work, she said the government would "guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks" that begin in just 10 days' time.

"Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years," she said.
"And this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom."

DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed that she had spoken to Mrs May and that they would speak further to "explore how it may be possible to bring stability to this nation at this time of great challenge".

While always striving for the "best deal" for Northern Ireland and its people, she said her party would always have the best interests of the UK at heart. - BBC News

Moyes fined for 'slap' comment

Former Sunderland manager David Moyes has been fined £30,000 for his "slap" comment towards a journalist in March, the Football Association has announced.

Moyes was charged by the FA following a conversation which took place between the Scot and BBC reporter Vicki Sparks at the end of a post-match interview.

Moyes was unhappy with one of Sparks' questions and said to her: "You were just getting a wee bit naughty at the end there, so just watch yourself. You still might get a slap even though you're a woman. Careful the next time you come in."

The former Manchester United boss later apologised, saying: "In the heat of the moment, I made a mistake in my comments to a BBC reporter, which I profoundly regret. I was disappointed with myself for it.

"I subsequently phoned the reporter and apologised, which she accepted. It's not my character, it's not my type, as most people know and once again I apologise for it."
The club described Moyes' conduct as "wholly unacceptable" but stood by him as he attempted - in vain - to preserve Sunderland's Premier League status.

Moyes denied the charge but the FA's independent regulatory commission upheld it.

An FA statement read: "David Moyes has been fined £30,000 in relation to comments he made after the Sunderland versus Burnley game on March 18, 2017.

"It was alleged his remarks were improper and/or threatening and/or brought the game into disrepute, contrary to FA rule E3(1). He denied the charge, however it was found proven following an independent regulatory commission hearing."
Moyes resigned from his role at the Stadium of Light on May 22 following Sunderland's relegation.

Kachikwu: No concession of our refineries yet…we need $1.2bn to fix them

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, says about $1.2 billion is needed to repair the three refineries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Speaking at a news briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Kachikwu said reports of the concession of Port Harcourt refinery to Oando and Agip companies were untrue.
He said a technical committee set up by the government to undertake the review and selection process is yet to submit its report.

The minister said the committee is coming up with a holistic investment figure enough to fix the nation’s three refineries.
“We have not selected any firm yet even though some firms have shown interests,” he said.
“We need about 1.2 billion dollars to repair and bring the three refineries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, up to 100 percent production level.”

Kachikwu added that the cost of the project had been determined in terms of the extent of work required.
“The total cumulative amount is in the 1.1 billion dollars and 1.2 billion dollars category between all the refineries. And that, of course, does not include the pipelines,” he said.

“You have got to address the pipelines and that is something else that is being done.”
He explained that Nigeria spent about N4.74 trillion on the importation of petrol in the past year which was 30 percent of the total foreign exchange outlay of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“The importation of petroleum products between January and December of last year amounted to about 20 million metric tonnes,” he added.
“A total amount of N3.4 trillion was spent, the consumption of FX from CBN was approximately 30 percent of CBN total FX outlay, and the logistic costs of that importation was about N1.34 trillion within the same one-year period.”

On domestic refining capacity, Kachikwu said the nation produced six million litres out of a total consumption of about 35 million litres per day. Cable Nigeria

Alabama executes man for '94 killing of fast-food workers

A man convicted of killing three people during the 1994 robbery of an Alabama fast-food restaurant was put to death by lethal injection.
Robert Melson, 46, was pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m. CDT Thursday at a southwest Alabama prison, authorities said. The execution was the state's second of the year.

State prosecutors said Melson and another man who used to work at the restaurant, robbed a Popeye's in Gadsden, 60 miles (96 kilometers) northeast of Birmingham, and Melson opened fire on four employees in the restaurant's freezer. Nathaniel Baker, Tamika Collins and Darrell Collier were killed. The surviving employee, Bryant Archer, crawled for help and was able to identify one of the robbers as the former worker which led police to Melson.

Collins' family members wore a badge with her photograph and the phrase "In Our Hearts Forever." Her family issued a statement saying that three young people lost their lives for "a few hundred dollars" and criticized court filings on behalf of Melson that challenged the state's execution procedure as inhumane. Collins' mother and two sisters witnessed the execution.

"He has been on death row for over 21 years being supported by the state of Alabama and feels he should not suffer a little pain during the execution. What does he think those three people suffered after he shot them, leaving them in a freezer?" the statement said.

Melson shook his head no when the prison warden asked if he had a final statement. A prison chaplain knelt with him. Melson's hands quivered at the start of the procedure and his breathing was labored, with his chest moving up and down quickly, before slowing until it was no longer perceptible.

Melson's attorneys had filed a flurry of last-minute appeals seeking to stay the execution. The filings centered on Alabama's use of the sedative midazolam which some states have turned to as other lethal injection drugs became difficult to obtain.
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily delayed the execution to consider Melson's stay request, but ruled after 9 p.m. that the execution could go forward.

Midazolam is supposed to prevent inmates from feeling pain before other drugs are given to stop their lungs and heart, but several executions in which inmates lurched or coughed have raised questions about its use. An inmate in Alabama coughed and heaved for the first 13 minutes of an execution held in December.

Melson's attorney argued that midazolam does not anesthetize an inmate, but they might look still, because a second drug, a paralytic, prevents them from moving.

"Alabama's execution protocol is an illusion. It creates the illusion of a peaceful death when in truth, it is anything but," Melson's attorneys wrote in the filing to the Alabama Supreme Court.
The Alabama attorney general's office argued midazolam's use has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and it has allowed multiple executions to proceed using the drug, including the execution of an Alabama inmate last month.

"Robert Melson's decades-long avoidance of justice is over. For twenty-three years, the families of the three young people whose lives he took, as well as a survivor, have waited for closure and healing. That process can finally begin tonight," Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement after the execution. - AP

Japan clears way for first emperor abdication in over 200 years

Japan's parliament passed a law Friday that clears the way for its ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, in what would be the first imperial abdication in more than two centuries.


The popular 83-year-old monarch shocked the country last summer when he signalled his desire to take a back seat after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne, citing his age and health problems.

The unexpected move presented a challenge since there was no law to deal with an emperor retiring from what is usually a job for life -- and it reignited debate about allowing women to ascend the male-only throne.
The one-off rule was passed in the last-stage upper house on Friday in a unanimous decision after the lower chamber gave its stamp of approval last week.

The abdication must take place within three years -- and it only applies to Akihito.
Tokyo is eyeing the end of 2018 as a likely timeline for his retirement, Japanese media said.
The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989.

Some worried that changing the law to allow any emperor to abdicate could put Japan's future monarchs at risk of being subject to political manipulation.
Akihito, who has been treated for prostate cancer and had heart surgery, is expected to step aside in favour of his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 57.

There have been abdications in Japan's long imperial history, but the last one was more than 200 years ago, so politicians had to craft new legislation to make it possible.
"The one-off law is a result of political compromises, but it will become a precedent for future abdications," said Setsu Kobayashi, a constitutional expert and professor emeritus at Japan's Keio University.

Akihito was born in 1933 just as Japan was embarking on its militaristic sweep across Asia, and was 11 when the war ended in defeat.
His father was allowed to remain on the throne after Japan's defeat, but his status was downgraded from semi-devine sovereign to a figurehead with no political power.

Akihito embraced the role and tried to use it to help heal the scars of the war while remoulding one of the world's oldest monarchies for a democratic age.
Even before he assumed the throne, Akihito broke with tradition when he married the daughter of a wealthy flour magnate in 1959, becoming the first imperial heir to wed a commoner.

The emperor and his wife Empress Michiko are seen as being the more accessible face of a monarchy that largely remains in the shadows, unlike the British royals.

The couple have frequently attended public events and console victims of natural disasters, including Japan's 2011 quake-tsunami disaster.
Akihito is barred from commenting on politics, but he has over the years hinted at his own anti-nationalist views.

Speaking at a memorial marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender, Akihito expressed "deep remorse" for the country's actions in World War II.
Some saw this as a rebuke to nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has pushed to change Japan's pacifist constitution and prevent Japanese from having to apologise again for the nation's warring past.

Akihito's pending abdication had reignited concerns about a potential succession crisis.
There are no more eligible male heirs after the 10-year-old son of Crown Prince Naruhito's younger brother Akishino.
Japan's centuries-old succession would be broken if that son, Hisahito, does not have a male child.
In response, Japan's parliament has called for a debate on giving women a bigger role in the male-dominated monarchy.

The idea -- including the possibility of letting women ascend the throne -- is popular among ordinary Japanese, but it is vehemently opposed by traditionalists including the current prime minister and like minded conservatives.

Female imperial family members lose their royal status upon marriage to a commoner, a point highlighted by recent news that one of Akihito's granddaughters, Princess Mako, plans to marry her college sweetheart.  - AFP

We’ll resume attacks on pipelines, oil industry June 30 – New militant group alerts FG

Days after Northern youths issued quit notice to Igbos in the region, militant group in the Niger Delta, New Delta Avengers have declared war on Federal Government of Nigeria and oil companies in the region.

The militant group has vowed to resume bloody attacks on oil industries in Delta State effective from June 30, 2017.

The group in a statement said it is putting the Federal Government and oil companies operating in the state on notice over the proposed attacks tagged, “Cripple oil and Gas Production.”

The group, which claimed to be made up of ex-militants, through its Spokesperson, CPL Oleum Bellum, cautioned that those who try their resolve will be made scapegoats.

The statement reads, “From the oil producing part of Delta State, we have converged and agreed to resume attacks on oil facilities, resurrect the spirit of insurgency and made a demand for a better deal for our people, and by extension, our beloved Delta state. We will do this through bloody attacks, crippling oil industry in Delta State.

“We watch the activities, policies of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration in these past two years, and we have found that, like the biblical Pharaoh, only extraordinary action will soften his hardened heart towards the oil producing areas of the state. While developments are going on in Rivers and other states, oil communities in Delta have been stagnant.

“As a result, we have decided to take up arms and return to the essence of our agitation for the development of oil producing communities.

“Our return to the creeks started on the seventh day of June, 2017. This campaign shall be bloody, destructive, and vengeful.”

Google to train 6,000 African journalists in digital journalism

Google Africa has announced its support for a Digital Journalism initiative that will see 6,000 African journalists trained in data journalism skills till the end of February 2018.

Google News Lab and the World Bank are working with Code For Africa to empower journalists in Africa by giving them the necessary support to better understand the Web and how to use the tools available to them online.

The Code For Africa Digital Journalism initiative will take place over the next 9 months (to February 2018) and see 6 000 journalists trained in 12 major African cities – Abuja, Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Casablanca, Dakar, Freetown, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, and Yaounde.

Code For Africa is a data journalism and civic technology initiative operating across Africa that trains and supports journalists and civic activists to better understand and use web tools for news reporting and storytelling.

 Training will take place in three formats.

• Beginning June 15, in-person training sessions will be held in the cities mentioned above. In each city, we will conduct training in 3 newsrooms and training will be held twice a month for the duration of the initiative.
• Beginning August, a massive open online course (MOOC) will be made freely available online, covering a range of web concepts and practices for digital journalists.
• We will also hold monthly study group meetups in collaboration with Hacks/Hackers to provide more focused, in-person instruction. Monthly meetings will take place in Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

Commenting on the initiative, Daniel Sieberg, Head of Training & Development at Google News Lab said: “The web and digital tools present an interesting array of options for journalists, but learning how to use these tools can be a daunting task for many media people. While the global news industry faces a knowledge challenge with regards to digital tools, Africa, by virtue of its non-digital education systems, faces even greater odds in the battle for digital integration in news and storytelling. In Nigeria for instance, only a few of the journalism institutions offer training programs that focus on Web tools, and many top news organisations lose out on stories due to their inability to utilise newer and more engaging digital techniques.”

In 2016, Google announced its commitment to train one million African youth within one year to help them create and find jobs via the Web. “With the Digital Journalism initiative we want to contribute to the growth of Africa’s news and media ecosystem by training present and future practitioners on how to employ existing tools to tell stories, and support them to create locally-relevant tools that will reshape how Africans consume news,” he added.

interested journalists can learn more and register for the training at www.academy.codeforafrica.org. - The Nation

Seven Nigerians win U.K parliament election

Seven candidates of Nigerian heritage have been elected into the United Kingdom parliament in the election held on Thursday.

The winners are; Chuka Umunna representing Streatham; Bim Afolami,Hitchin and Harpenden; Fiona Onasanya, Peterborough; Chi Onwurah, Newcastle; Kate Osamor, Edmonton ;Kemi Badenock, Saffron Walden and Helen Grant, Maidstone and The Weald.

A UK based Human Capital Development Strategist, Dayo Olomu congratulated the winners in a facebook post on Friday. - The Nation

Police arrest fake Interior Minister over $10,000 fraud

Prince Momoh Enema, member of a notorious fraud syndicate, which specializes in defrauding prominent citizens using the name of the Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Dambazau, has been arrested by the police in Abuja.

The Guardian gathered that the 40-year-old suspect, who is a native of Olamaboro Local Council of Kogi State, is currently being interrogated by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), after he and members of his syndicate pretended to be the Minister of Interior and his Chief of Staff.

They attempted to defraud the Seriki of Gwandabawa area of Sokoto State through a phony contract deal amounting to $10,000.

It was gathered that the leader of the syndicate, who is currently on the run and was identified as Dr. Usman, had on April 2017, contacted the Seriki, and identified himself as General Abdulraman Dambazau, the current Minister of Interior.

He was said to have informed the Seriki that President Muhammadu Buhari has decided to reward the Seriki and his people at Gwadanbwa Sokoto State for their support during the 2015 presidential elections and has decided to employ 20 native of Gwadanbawa into the Nigeria Police Force and the Customs Service.

He was also said to have instructed the Seriki to send the names and Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of the 20 persons through the office of the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Interior and the sum of N45,000 on each applicant, an amount he said would be used in procuring training kits for the applicants.

The Seriki was said to have sent the 20 names, CVs and the sum of N1 million through the said Chief of Staff and a date was given to him when the applicants would commence training.

The Guardian gathered that few weeks later, the fake minister called the Seriki and informed him that the Ministry of Interior was about issuing contracts for the supply of equipment to the Nigeria Police Force, Customs Service and other para-military organizations under the ministry, worth N3 billion.

The fake minister then asked the Seriki to send his company’s profile and the sum of $10,000 to the Personnel Assistant to the Minister. The Seriki at this time became curious and decided to conduct a proper check before committing an amount as huge as $10,000.

He was said to have contacted the Federal House of Representative member representing his constituency, Abdulahi Balarabe Salame, and urged him to verify from General Dambazau, if he had made any contact with him and if he is truly demanding the said sum for contracts.

After confirming that the Seriki has been dealing with fraudsters, Abdulahi urged the Seriki to play along with the suspects. They agreed to lure the fake minister to a location in Abuja where he would be arrested.

The fraudster said he would be sending his Personal Assistant to pick the money but when the said PA got to the location, the police arrested him. - Guardian

Photo: India Narcotics bureau nabs Nigerian man with 415 gram of Heroin

A Nigerian national has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh Zonal Unit for drug trafficking.

The suspect, Eze Uchenna James, a resident of New Delhi, was arrested with 415 gram Heroin, near Mela Ground in Sector 17 late Wednesday evening, June 7th.

NCB said that the accused had kept contraband inside a brown small bag.

James was visiting Chandigarh for the third time to supply Heroin. His drug operations were spread around Chandigarh, Pinjore and Panchkula.

Preliminary investigations also revealed that his friend, Refel, was also arrested by Sirsa Police, Haryana in a drug traffic. - Hindustan Times

Snake Pastor Makes U-turn, Says TB Joshua Tricked Him To Speak On Video

South African ‘snake’ Pastor, Penuel Mnguni who got famous for asking his church members to swallow snakes has made a U-Turn from his well publicized deliverance at TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church Of All Nations, SCOAN. While speaking on what happened in the video that went viral, has he landed Mzansi, he said;

“I am being used by God and God sees no sin in what I do, TB Joshua tricked me, but I am still the snake pastor!”

He added; “I never knew that I was going to be forced to speak in front of people.” Those people took my ID and passport and would not give them back until I did what they wanted me to do. I went there on an invite and I only wanted to take part in worshipping, not deliverance.”


“It was as if everything was planned before I even got there. If you listen to the video I am not the one saying those words.

 There is a woman next to me who is forcefully telling me what to say. But I stood there hopelessly because I feared a lot of things, he said while speaking on the viral video where TB Johsua allegedly delivered him.

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Kenyan ‘lesbian’ to be deported from Sweden for failing ‘gay test’

A Kenyan woman is set to be deported from Sweden after she failed a lesbian test.

The woman identified as Lucy Murugi claims that she has left Kenya to flee from harassment from family and friends after she declared that she was a lesbian.

However, she is set to deported after the Swedish immigration board concluded that she had lied about her status.

Apparently, the board found out that Ms. Murugi had failed in a credibility set that had been set up by the board.

The 28-year-old underwent an in-depth interview with the board, during which she was expected to convince them that she needed to be granted asylum. Her reasons were found not to be compelling enough.

She nonetheless told a Swedish newspaper that she has nowhere to run since homosexuality is punishable by law in Kenya.

In Sweden, persons who have been subjected to persecution over their sexual orientation are eligible to apply for asylum.

Man upset about onions in food threatens eatery owner - Police

A Michigan man, apparently upset because his food included onions, is jailed on charges he made drunken threats to shoot the owner of a Pittsburgh restaurant before exposing himself.

Forty-three-year-old Yuba Sharma, of Rochester, remained in the Allegheny County Jail on Thursday on charges of terroristic threats, indecent exposure, public drunkenness and resisting arrest.

Police say Sharma ate at All Indiana restaurant on Monday night and then returned Tuesday to rant and complain about the onions.

The owner tells police Sharma threatened to shoot him, so he called police. That's when Sharma — confronted by the restaurant owner and another employee — pulled down his pants and exposed himself.

Online court records don't list an attorney for Sharma.

Police say he resisted arrest and had to be lifted and carried to a police cruiser.