Abdul's Blog: 03/01/18

Thursday, 1 March 2018

Court acquits woman jailed for Twitter jokes

Spain’s Supreme Court said Thursday it has exonerated a woman whose jail sentence for tweeting jokes about the 1973 assassination of a senior figure in the Franco dictatorship had raised concerns over free speech.

The high court cancelled the one-year jail term handed down in March 2017 by Spain’s top criminal court to Cassandra Vera, 22, after finding her guilty of humiliating victims of terrorism.

Juan Mata feels the Premier League title is still in reach for Manchester United, but admits his side must win all their remaining games to maintain any hope.

Rivals Manchester City sit in the driving seat this season and can go 16 points clear with victory over Arsenal on Thursday night.

Embattled Kogi senator Dino Melaye is presently trapped in the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, according to reports.

The Senator who represents Kogi West was today arraigned in the Federal High Court following a suit against him by the Federal Government over alleged false assassination claims.

An Ado-Ekiti Customary ‎Court on Thursday dissolved a three-year-union between Owoeye Oluwafemi and his wife, Abigail, over threat to life and frequent fights.

The President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, who gave the ruling, noted that the marriage had broken down irretrievably.

Dino Melaye hires Protesters to Court, as FG arraigns him on Providing False Information over Assassination Attempt

The Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye backed up himself with fake protesters he reportedly hired to join him to court, as the Federal Government arraigned him before the High Court in Abuja on two counts of giving false information about an assassination attempt on his life to the police in April 2017.

Melaye was arraigned before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck for falsely incriminating the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Edward Onoja David in the said assassination attempt.

Anna Akuson, a witness in the N3.9 billion fraud trial involving Alex Badeh, former Chief of Air Staff, on Wednesday told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja how a search conducted on a property allegedly belonging to defendant led to the recovery of $1 million suspected to be proceeds of illicit deals.

Mr. Akuson, an operative of the EFCC, who testified as PW20, said that the money was found in a wardrobe at the upper apartment of the building located at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.

Crown-wearing worshippers of World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, United States, scared the hell out of people and a school on Wednesday, when they arrived the church, each clutching an AR-15 rifle.

Brides were clad in white and grooms in dark suits, all arriving with dozens of AR-15s, though unloaded.

The Nigerian military has declared that it lacked the capacity to protect all schools in the Northeast of the country.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.Gen. John Agim revealed this Sunday night to put a lie to a claim by the Yobe state governor Ibrahim Geidam that the military withdrew troops from Dapchi barely a week to an attack on Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, leading to the kidnap of 110 girls by Boko Haram.

Over 200 teachers have been detained in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde. The teachers according to reports were planning to hold a protest demanding better conditions of service when they were arrested.

They had set out early this week to demand delayed financial benefits and allowances. A member of the aggrieved teachers said their payments promised since 2017 had not been honoured hence their move.

Former South African international Steven Pienaar has announced his retirement from professional football.

The midfielder was last on the books of Absa Premiership champions Bidvest Wits, but was released in the January transfer window.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Command, on Thursday accused the officials of ground handling companies of aiding and abetting stealing of cargoes at the warehouses.

Jayne Shoboiki, the new Area Controller of the command, made the allegation while addressing stakeholders at the Customs office in Lagos Airport.

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, had 'stern' words for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the first day of the Lagos-Kano economic investment summit which kicked off on February 28, 2018.

Osinbajo was special guest of honour. The Governors of Lagos and Kano States, Akinwunmi Ambode and Abdullahi Ganduje respectively, were special hosts.

A former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday said that providing good leadership and fighting corruption would not make Nigeria’s problems disappear.

Mr. Abubakar spoke at the launch of Tola Adeniyi’s book, Belly of Vultures, in Lagos.

According to the former vice-president, restructuring would also not solve all of the country’s challenges.

Argentine winger Angel Di Maria produced a majestic performance capped by two fine goals to help French Cup holders Paris St Germain reach the semi-finals on Wednesday.

The Ligue 1 leaders won 3-0 over Olympique Marseille on Wednesday.

It was a carbon copy of PSG’s 3-0 league victory over Marseille on Sunday in which their Brazil forward Neymar suffered a broken foot.

The ownership of two high-end properties in London has been traced to Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate. United Kingdom land registry documents exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters lists the addresses of the properties as 52 Aylestone Avenue, London, NW6 7AB and Flat 4, Varsity Court, 44, Homer Street, London, W1H 4NW.

Igbo leaders, who were attacked by youths suspected to be members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and other pro-Biafra agitation groups in a meeting in Enugu on Tuesday have reeled out gory tales of how they nearly lost their lives during the commotion.

Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, and former director-general of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, said he nearly lost his life during fracas.

The Director of Highways, South-West, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Emmanuel Adeoye, has said the first section of the Apapa-Wharf Road will be opened to the public by the middle of this month.

Adeoye stated this during an inspection tour of the project on Wednesday, adding that the Federal Government was committed to the successful completion of the project being jointly financed by Dangote Industries and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc as a Corporate Social Responsibility.

The attack on Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, by Boko Haram penultimate Monday, has begun taking its toll on education in the area, as some of the students who managed to escape abduction by the insurgents have said they would not return to school.

The five girls spoke with newsmen, as they arrived school to clear their personal effects.

In fact, one of the lucky students, Mariam Mohammed Miko, 15, said though she hoped to be a health technologist to be able to help her community, she was no longer returning to school.

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has hinted that he will be banking on experienced players like John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Elderson Echiejile at this year’s World Cup in Russia.

Echiejile moved to second division Belgium side Cercle Brugge in January in search of regular football, after struggling to get sufficient minutes at Turkish side Sivasspor.

• Lawmakers to probe AG over alleged constitutional breach
• Ministers get ultimatum over delayed budget details

Any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person shall die by hanging upon conviction, reads a new bill by the Senate.

The bill, which reflects the growing concern over the spate of violence in the nation, was sponsored by the spokesman of the upper chamber, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger).

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed a slew of new defense systems Thursday, including a new prototype missile that "can reach any point in the world" and a supersonic weapon which cannot be tracked by anti-missile systems.

Delivering his annual State of the Union address, Putin announced increased capabilities in the defense sector, saying that Russia "should not forget about security," following a speech that had initially focused on domestic issues. Putin also said that, if attacked, Russia was ready to use nuclear weapons.

The House of Representatives has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of State, Mr. Abubakar Bawa-Bwari.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday joined all members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Christians in Nigeria and many parts of the world in congratulating the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on his 76th birthday.

The National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday released the capital importation report for the 2017 fiscal year with the economy attracting a total investment inflow of $12.2bn.

The $12.2bn investment inflow, when compared with the $5.38bn in 2016, represents an increase of $6.82bn or 56 per cent.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday, urged the Federal and state governments to prioritise security of schools in the country to stem attacks on them by insurgents.

The NANS National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Bestman Okereafor, in a statement in Enugu, said that it had become imperative that government at all levels take special interest in securing schools.

A woman got her revenge on a man who allegedly sexually harassed her in a New Delhi market by grabbing him by the collar and calling the police. The 21-year-old student was filmed by a witness as she firmly held the man with one hand while using the other to phone the authorities.

The man, named as Manish Kumar, was prevented from fighting his way out by the large crowd that gathered in the market in the Karol Bagh area of the Indian capital.

The Imo State Police Command has paraded over 50 suspected notorious criminal elements involved in various crimes such as, kidnapping, armed robbery, child stealing/trafficking, cultism, false pretense by false prophecy, gun running, unlawful possession of firearms, recovery of stolen vehicles and catchment of arms and ammunition and so on.

Condoms made in China are 'too small' for men of Zimbabwe, health minister claims

The Zimbabwean Health Minister has reportedly claimed condoms made in China are too small for his citizens’ prodigious penises. Health Minister David Parirenyatwa was speaking at an HIV conference in Harare last week when he slammed contraceptives produced in the People’s Republic.

She enjoys having sex - Man arrested for raping teenage girl for 12 months lailasnews

A man identified as Ashindioting Patrick who was accused and arrested for raping a 14 year old girl for 12 months, has mentioned that she also enjoyed the sex they always had together.

The 33 year old man claimed that the girl never complained and she was always asking him for sex until when her parents got hold of the information that the duo were engaging in sexual romps.

There is now a trend among pregnant women in Ghana. Due to the general fact that most Ghanaian babies are born dark, women are now taking pills while in pregnancy to lighten the skin of their unborn babies.

Medical experts however stated that these illegal drugs can cause birth defects, including damage to limbs and internal organs.

A woman is currently in pains after she was allegedly battered by her husband and almost killed in the process. According to reports, the husband drove her away after beating her as she ended up in hospital in Asaba, Delta state capital. The man was said to have taken his wife to swear an oath that any man that has sex with her will die while doing it.

First City Monument Bank says it has been certified as a great place to work by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work Institute, a global research firm, which produces the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list and other top employer rankings.

Great Place to Work surveys were sent to a random cross section of FCMB employees, and 84 per cent agreed that the bank was a great workplace, with majority saying they took pride in working for the organisation.

A South African court has fined a self-styled prophet who sprayed his followers in the face with insecticide as a supposed cure for illness.

Pastor Lethebo Rabalago was found guilty by a court in the northwest town of Limpopo of five charges of grievous assault and contravening chemicals laws .

Brazilian superstar Neymar will undergo surgery on his fractured foot in Brazil at the end of this week, ruling the world’s most expensive footballer out of Paris Saint-Germain’s do-or-die Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old suffered a hairline fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot as well as a twisted ankle late in PSG’s 3-0 win over Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

A doctor’s widow has admitted that she’s had affairs with 80 married men following her husband’s death.

Louise Van Der Velde, 43, says she is living every day like it is her last, juggling multiple affairs with numerous lovers.

Fela Durotoye, consulting guru and leadership coach, says he is willing to collaborate with Kingsley Moghalu, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other credible Nigerians willing to run for a new Nigeria.

Taking to his social media accounts on Wednesday, after Moghalu declared to run, Durotoye said it is time to end bitter rivalry and character assassination in Nigerian politics.

A Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has exposed alleged cabals and ills in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. The Northern elder statesman has also accused Buhari of being lopsided in appointments thereby placing his family members, Mamman Daura’s relatives in ministerial positions and other appointments.

According to him, Mamman Daura is the president of cabals in Buhari’s administration.

The Kano State Police command has arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly impersonating the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II online. Report has it that the young man who is very active on social media – pretended to be the Kano monarch on Instagram with 262,000 followers.

The young man was eventually arrested after months after manhunt.

A married middle school science teacher has been arrested for allegedly conducting a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old male student. Stephanie Peterson, 26, was arrested in Wednesday morning in New Smyrna, Florida after the boy allegedly confided in his parents.

The 8th grader told them that Peterson, whose married name is Ferri, picked him up occasionally from their home at 11pm and often spent hours with him in private afterwards.

There was pandemonium after a police traffic warder clashed with a soldier win mufti at Oja Oba in Ilorin, Kwara State some days ago. The incident caused a huge scene as residents and passersby gathered in their numbers to witness the fracas. Other traffic warders appeared to have joined their colleague during the public fight. The reason for the clash was not revealed at press time.

A young man, Olatilo Surulere has been arrested after he was caught having sex with two under aged sisters of the same parents aged 9 and 5 in Lagos. The incident happened at Ajayi Olaiya Street in Bariga where they resided.

It was gathered that the suspect started by initially taking the elder sister to a corner at the end of the street and having sex with her in the evenings when nobody will come to the place. He reportedly warned her not to tell anyone and later started sleeping with the younger sister at the same period which eventually landed him in trouble.

An Indian doctor married a complete stranger after his bride-to-be left him at the alter when she discovered he was balding.

Ravi Kumar travelled almost 1,000km from New Delhi to the village of Sugauli in Bihar on February 18 to marry the bride he had never met.

The All Progressives Congress said on Wednesday that what the party’s National Executive Committee did at its last meeting, was to pass a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee.

This, the APC said, was not the same as endorsing the President for a second term.

The party explained that the issue of endorsing the President for a second term did not form part of discussions during the NEC meeting.

The leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah, who is currently serving a jail term in South Africa for terrorism, has accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of fabricating evidence against him.

Okah, who lamented his incarceration, also rejected the judgment of a South African court which recently turned down his appeals, saying he had instructed his lawyers to appeal his conviction at the International Court of Justice.

The House of Representatives said on Wednesday that lawmakers would not hesitate to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto if he withheld his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

It said there was no going back on the bill, particularly the provision on the re-ordering of elections ahead of the 2019 polls.

The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari has confirmed the return of her son, Mr. Yusuf Buhari, who in December 2017 had a motorbike accident, to the country Thursday after undergoing further treatment overseas.

Tutu, the long-lost portrait by Ben Enwonwu of the Ife royal princess Adetutu Ademiluyi – described by Booker Prize winning Nigerian novelist, Ben Okri as Africa’s “Mona Lisa” – set a new record for the artist’s work at an auction, selling for £1,205,000 (N520.2 million, €1.4 million, $1.7 million) at Bonhams Africa Now sale in London Wednesday.

The trial of a suspected serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, who was charged with a $8.4 million fraud before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, was on Tuesday stalled due to his absence in court.

Mr. Ajudua is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Ishaya Bamaiyi, of the sum of $8.4 million, while they were both in custody in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos in 2004.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and her Health counterpart, Prof. Isaac Adewole, over the deduction of N10bn from the Treasury Single Account of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Also summoned were the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; the Minister of National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris; and the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze.

The Nigerian Army troops on Excercise Ayem Akpatuma, has continue to consolidate on the gains of the exercise as troops of 101 Special Forces Battalion deployed in Numan, Adamawa State yesterday, recovered a large number of weapons at the Garigiji village of the state.

The feat, according to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, late Wednesday, was achieved during a thorough condon and search operation in the say.