R. Kelly has allegedly been attacked by another inmate inside Chicago prison.
According to TMZ, the incident recently went down inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, where he is being held after pleading not guilty to dozens of state and federal sex crime charges in Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
The news site reports that the 53-year-old was sitting on his bed when another inmate walked in his cell and started punching him.
Federal law enforcement sources told TMZ that the inmate attacked R.Kelly because he was angry about the detention facility being placed on lockdown on different occasions due to the singer’s protesters outside the jail.
After the alleged attack, R. Kelly was examined by a doctor, who determined the singer was okay as he didn’t suffer any broken bones or serious injuries.
Over 16,000 people have signed a petition on Change.Org calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu.
The petition, which was started a week ago by Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, had garnered 16, 243 signatures as of 9.30 am on Friday.
The petition is titled, ‘Calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011, by having bullion vans ferry alleged large sums of money into his house on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election’.
Omokri wrote, “Dear citizens of Nigeria, let’s take our country back by signing this petition to compel the EFCC to investigate and prosecute Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering Act, by ferrying bullion vans into his house. Don’t say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’.
“We as Nigerians must stop confusing cynicism for wisdom. If we do not fight for our country, who will? George Floyd’s death sparked a revolution in America and we joined. We did not say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’. You and I can make a difference with this petition. #EFCCMustInvestigateTinubu.”
Tinubu had while responding to questions on the bullion vans in his home, said he was free to give anyone money since he was holding no government position.
He had said, “Is it my money or government money? I don’t work for the government. I am not in an agency of government and let anybody come out and say I have taken any contract from the government of President Mohammed Buhari, APC in the last five years.
“They should prove it. I am on my own and I’m committed to my party. So, even if I have money to spend on my premises, what is your headache? Excuse me, if I don’t represent any agency of government and if I have money to spend…., if I have money, if I like I give it to the people free of charge, as long as is not to buy votes…..who are those watching my house looking for bullion vans? They must be mischief-makers.”
Several groups had in the last one year submitted petitions to the EFCC demanding Tinubu’s probe but there has been no official reaction from the EFCC.
The Convener, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju; Ariyo-Dare Atoye of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution and Adebayo Raphael of the Free Nigeria Movement as well as many others had written the EFCC calling for Tinubu’s probe.
Adeyanju’s The petition noted that Section 7 (1) (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 gives the commission the power to investigate properties of any person that appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.
It added, “To the best of our knowledge, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a private citizen who ordinarily should not be seen with a convoy of bullion vans.
“The questions begging for answers are: What are Bullion Vans doing in the house of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Who owns the content, believing to be cash in the Bullion Vans that were seen entering the house of Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the eve of Nigerian Presidential elections?
“Has the commission, based on its core mandates, investigated the source of the Bullion Vans? Is Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s house, now a bank where bullion vans now take money to?”
A former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who admitted to stealing more than $250 million from the state when he was governor, and his mistress and conspirator, Udoamaka Onuigbo, appeared in a UK court Thursday via video link as the confiscation hearing of assets he stole began.
In 2012, Mr Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to money laundering and begged Judge Anthony Pitts for leniency.
He has since served his term and has returned to Nigeria where he remains among the power brokers in Delta State.
Prosecutors from the London Metropolitan Police found that Mr Ibori used the money he stole from Delta State to buy six houses in London. He paid £2.2 million in cash for one of those mansions in tony Hampstead. He also bought a £13 million jet, a £600,000 fleet of Range Rovers, and a £120,000 Bentley.
Mr Ibori also put his children in expensive British private schools while sharing the stolen funds with his wife, sister and mistress.
London’s The Metro newspaper reports that Mr Ibori, a known pilferer at Wickes, a UK departmental store, is desperately trying to retain some of the properties, claiming he acquired them legitimately.
The newspaper claimed that Mr Ibori may be asked to pay back £116,821 and Ms Onuigbo and his wife Theresa, sister Christine, may be asked to return a combined sum of £2.6 million.
“Mr Ibori cheated his way into the position,” prosecutor Jonathan Kinnear told the court. “He abused his position of trust by systematically looting funds,” he added.
However, Ivan Krolick, Mr Ibori’s lawyer, argued that the ex-convict was a “successful businessman” and his assets were acquired from the proceeds of his business dealings.
Former Delta State governor, James Ibori, and his alleged mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo, on Thursday appeared in a Southwark crown court, London, via video link to face a £117 million confiscation hearing, the Metro newspaper reported.
Ibori, who was described as a Wickes cashier who became a Nigerian governor, alongside Onuigbo, were jailed in the United Kingdom in 2012 for money laundering and fraud. Also jailed were Ibori’s wife, Theresa and sister, Christine.
According to the report from Metro of UK, Ibori, 62, had rigged contracts and lifted cash from public funds, helped by his wife, mistress, sister and corrupt officials, a confiscation hearing at Southwark crown court was told.
He bought luxuries including a £13 million jet, a £600,000 fleet of Range Rovers, a £120,000 Bentley and properties in London.
He was jailed in the UK after admitting money laundering and fraud in 2012, but later returned to Nigeria.
Ibori claims he made his fortune legitimately. But he now faces paying back £116,821,955. And his alleged mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo — who was jailed for money laundering with his wife Theresa and sister Christine — may have to repay £2.6 million.
Ibori, who appeared in court with Onuigbo via video link yesterday, moved to London in the 1980s, and worked at Wickes. After a conviction for stealing, he returned to Nigeria and scaled the government ranks to become governor of Delta State in 1999.
“Mr Ibori cheated his way into the position,” prosecutor Jonathan Kinnear QC said. “He abused his position of trust by systematically looting funds.”
But Ivan Krolick, representing Ibori, said his wealth was down to being a ‘successful businessman.’
Manchester City have ruled out letting first-team regulars Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus leave in any exchange deal for Lionel Messi or anyone else this summer.
City remain tight-lipped on stories about their interest in Messi, who has told Barcelona he wants to leave.
Although it is thought the six-time world player of the year has spoken to City boss Pep Guardiola about moving to the Premier League, the Blues are wary of any public comment given the complexities around a deal that would be regarded as one of the biggest in the history of world football.
However, the club are also mindful of the spin-off from speculation around 33-year-old Messi, and have sought to quell talk of a mass exodus as part of any deal.
While two of the players mentioned as possible makeweights in a deal – Eric Garcia and Angelino – may yet end up at Barcelona before the transfer window closes on 5 October, City sources are anxious to end speculation that Bernardo, Mahrez and Jesus may leave as well.
All three remain an integral part of Guardiola’s squad and are expected to remain so next season, when City will be looking to reclaim their Premier League title, which was lost to Liverpool after two record-breaking successes.
Spanish pair Garcia and Angelino are regarded as different cases.
Garcia only has one-year left on his contract and the 19-year-old defender has refused to sign an extension amid speculation about a return to Barca, while the Catalans have already inquired about 23-year-old full-back Angelino, who impressed during his loan spell at Champions League semi-finalists RB Leipzig last term.
A helicopter operated by Quorom Aviation has crashed in the Opebi area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the copter dropped from the sky around 12 noon and crashed into a residential building on Salvation Road in the Opebi area.
Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
“Yes, it just happened. The helicopter crashed in Opebi around 12pm. LASEMA operatives are on our way to the incident site. I’ll give you more updates,” he said.
In an update, LASEMA General Manager, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said two persons died in the crash while another was injured and has been rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Oke-Osanyintolu said, “The agency received distress calls concerning a privately operated helicopter that crashed into 16A Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja and immediately activated the emergency response plan.
“The helicopter was carrying three people, one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, while the other two were killed on impact and their bodies have been deposited in a mortuary. We are on top of challenges, especially crowd control. The operation is ongoing and updates will follow.”
See more photos and video from the crash site below:
The Nigerian Army has broken silence on reports that ISIS fighters have been spotted in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.
Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo-in-Council, in a statement released after an extraordinary meeting of the council recently, claimed suspected ISIS terrorists were now in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State.
“Indeed, the intel also reveals that about 500 power-bikes and assorted ammunition belonging to the terrorists have been sighted along the abandoned Lusada route moving towards Sokoto, from Igbo-Ora in Oyo State,” he claimed
Reacting to Gani’s claim, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche said it is nothing but just an alarm and that the Nigerian security agencies were equal to the task, and would not handle it with kid gloves.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, August 27, Enenche said
“From the report I have, it is just that one where the U.S. AFRICOM advised and cautioned us about, so I believe that is what people are magnifying. But I can tell you that we have put machinery in place together with other security agencies.
So, we should be careful, because we get such stories everyday, which may be fake, though it could be true, but we don’t overlook such things.
My response is that it is not new and if it is new, tell the public that we have every machinery in place together with other security agencies as usual to handle it with their cooperation.”
Dustin Amos walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
An extremely powerful Hurricane Laura has ripped apart portions of Louisiana and far-eastern Texas, killing at least three people and tearing up roofs while knocking out power for hundreds of thousands after first roaring ashore as a Category 4 storm.
Laura — the region’s strongest storm in over a century — made landfall at about 1 a.m. CT with sustained winds of 150 mph. By 10 a.m. CT, the storm still was raging more than 100 miles inland over Louisiana at Category 1 strength, with sustained winds of 75 mph.
Down power lines stretch across a road in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
SABINE PASS, TX – AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
Louisiana’s Lake Charles city, littered with storm damage, also was dealing with what the governor said was a chemical fire at a plant in the area Thursday morning, with large plumes of smoke rising in the sky.
The fire moved Gov. John Bel Edwards to urge residents to take shelter, turn off air conditioning units and await instructions from officials. Details about precisely what was burning, and whether it related to the storm, weren’t immediately available.
Communities including Lake Charles, some 35 miles inland, are littered with widespread wind destruction. Across the city, roofs and walls are damaged, trees are snapped, twisted and broken; steel poles and lampposts are bent; street signs are torn from the ground.
Wind gusts of more than 120 mph raked that area intermittently for an hour overnight, CNN’s meteorologists say.
Reginald Duhon prepares to work at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Damage to the Golden Nugget Hotel in Lake Charles, LAA picture taken on August 27, 2020 shows a destroyed building on a beach as the eye wall of hurricane Laura passes over in Lake Charles, Louisiana. – Hurricane Laura slammed into the southern US state of Louisiana on August 27 and the monster category 4 storm prompted warnings of “unsurvivable” ocean surges and evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said “extremely dangerous” Laura would bring winds of 150 miles per hour (240 kilometers per hour) and “destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage” to Louisiana and Texas. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“The damage is extensive,” Edwards told CNN. “It appears now we have more structural damage from the wind” than storm surge.
More than 1,500 search and rescue personnel, plus 400 boats and high-water vehicles were headed Thursday morning to the worst-hit places, Edwards said. Winds were still too strong for helicopters to fly.
In East Texas, rescue teams were out in the Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange areas, Gov. Greg Abbott said, noting major evacuations “no doubt saved lives.” Further north, tornadoes were still a threat.
At least three people have died after trees fell onto homes in Louisiana: a 14-year-old girl in Vernon Parish; a man in Jackson Parish; and a 60-year-old man in Acadia Parish, authorities have said.
In Lake Charles, Paul Heard left his house just as the storm was pulling part of the roof off around 1 a.m., he said.
He took shelter in his car. As he watched from 25 feet away, he “could see my roof was heaving up and down several inches.”
“There’s a lot of damage. People are going to need a lot of help around here,” Heard told CNN.
Laura tied with a hurricane from more than 160 years ago for the strongest storm to hit Louisiana. The 1856 hurricane also had winds of 150 mph when it made landfall, CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said.
A building that was damaged overnight by Hurricane Laura stands in Lake Charles, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (Stephen Jones via AP)
More destruction is ahead: Parts of northern and central Louisiana still were under a hurricane warning late Thursday morning, as the storm’s center pushed toward Arkansas.
“Laura will likely set the standard for a near worst-case scenario with a landfalling tropical system in our region,” the National Weather Service’s Shreveport, Louisiana, office wrote Thursday morning.
The invitation to the wedding fatiha between President Buhari’s youngest daughter, Hanan, and Turad Sha’aban has been sent out.
The marriage is billed to take place on Friday, September 4, 2020. The venue for the wedding is the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.
This is the first-ever wedding to take place in the Aso Rock Villa.
The groom is the son of a former lawmaker, Alhaji Mahmud Sani Sha’aban, who represented Zaria in the House of Representatives from May 2003 to May 2007.
Sha’aban is also a former governorship candidate in Kaduna State under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
