A Kaduna High Court on Thursday ordered the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to transfer the leader of the Shi’ite group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat to the Nigerian Correctional Center, Kaduna to allow his lawyers and Doctors have easy access to him.
The order delivered by Justice Gideon Kurada was sequel to the application by Haruna Magashi, counsel to the IMN leader at the resumed hearing of the case in Kaduna, eight months after the last hearing of the case in April, 2019 before the IMN leader and wife went for an unsuccessful medical attention in India.
It would be recalled that the IMN leader and his wife were dragged to the court for alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other charges in another court and has been in custody of the DSS since 2015.
Justice Kurada had on April 25 adjourned the trial of the IMN leader indefinitely to enable him serve on the panel of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Yobe.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Magashi who stood in for the lead counsel to the IMN leader and his wife, Femi Falana (SAN), applied for his clients transfer to the Kaduna Prisons, now known as Correctional Center.
Former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for fraud, has suggested that he has a role to play in the national politics of 2023.
Kalu, who is the Senate’s Chief Whip smiled at reporters and said, ‘2023, here we come’ as he was led out of the courtroom by Correctional Services officials after his sentencing.
He was also seen asking prison warders, “where are you taking us to?”.
Kalu then begged the prison warders not to handcuff him in public.
The former governor, who appeared shaken, said, “Where are you taking us to now? Please don’t handcuff me. I will follow you.”
A federal high court in Abuja has granted Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow protest, bail.
The court released him to the custody of Femi Falana, his counsel, and asked that he deposit his international passport with the court registry within 48 hours.
While delivering a ruling on Tuesday, Taiwo Taiwo, the judge, said there was no longer a subsisting order holding the Sahara Reporters publisher in detention.
Unless something else happens, Omoyele Sowore, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, would be breathing the fresh air of freedom after one month and 23 days in detention, thanks to a Federal High Court Abuja order on Tuesday that he should be freed.
Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, was picked up by the Department of State Services (DSS) on August 2 in Lagos and has been in detention since then, after the secret service obtained an order that he should be detained for 45 days.
Freedom for the popular online publisher came against the backdrop of the prayer of the Federal Government through the DSS for his further detention for another 20 days, few days after he was slammed with several counts of charges bordering on treason, including insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reprieve came to the vocal activist, who contested the last presidential election that took place on February 23 after the courts, which previously stood down the matter till 11am, eventually heard the arguments of his lawyer, Femi Falana on why he should be set free.
A federal high court in Lagos has convicted Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state and chief whip of the senate of N7.1 billion fraud.
Mohammad Idris, the presiding judge, sentenced Kalu to 12 years in prison for money laundering.
The judge also ordered that Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, be liquidated and its assets forfeited to the federal government.
Kalu stood trial on a 39-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The senator, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, a former director of finance and accounts in Abia were accused of diverting N7.65 billion from the purse of the state government.
He is also accused of illegally taking N460 million from Abia’s treasury.
“Slok Nigeria Limited – a company solely owned by you and members of your family – to retain in its account, domiciled with the then Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, Lagos, an aggregate sum of N7,197,871,208.7 on your behalf,” one of the charges filed against Kalu reads.
The offences are said to be in contravention of section 17(c) of the money laundering (prohibition) act, 2004.
In the course of the trial, the anti-graft agency argued that the defendants breached section 427 of the criminal code act, CAP 77, Laws of the federation 1990.
It called 19 witnesses to help establish its case.
Kalu’s corruption trial began in 2007, but the case suffered setbacks owing to legal spanner thrown into the works by the accused.
The Senate on Thursday passed N10.594 trillion as the 2020 budget as against the N10.33 trillion proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari to the joint session of the National Assembly on October 8, 2019.
This Senate decision followed the adoption of the report of its Committee on Appropriation at plenary.
Presenting the report, the chairman of the panel, Senator Barau Jibrin, said the increase of N264 billion allowed for interventions in critical areas such as national security, road infrastructure mines and steel development, health among others.
Jibrin said the statutory transfer stood at N560.5bn, Recurrent Expenditure-N4.8trn, Capital Expenditure-N2.5trn, Debt Servicing-N2.7trn, Fiscal Deficit-N2.3trn and Deficit to GDP of 1.52 per cent.
READ ALSO: National Assembly raises own 2020 budget by N3bn
He said the daily oil production stood at 2.18m barrels per day, oil benchmark was increased from $55 to $57 per barrel proposed by the Executive, while the exchange rate remained N305 per dollar.
Chi is pretty. Really pretty. Not enough; beautifully pretty. She’s also classy and carries herself with grace and elegance. She’s my sister’s friend. I used to like her, but when I felt she wasn’t catching my flirty vibes with her, I just ‘left her alone’.
Being my younger sibling’s friend, I needed to ‘respect’ myself. I wasn’t going to put myself in a position that’d make me lose my respect, even if I didn’t get down with her. Admittedly, I just wanted sex. Nothing more. Pretty as she is, I’m not ready to be tied down.
For over six years that I have known her, nothing in my weirdest dream could have made it cross my mind she had a bet with my own sister to sleep with me before she got married. My sister obviously thought high of me. I kept my randiness away from anyone in my family, and I was good at it.
She had made a comment about my height and how good I speak to my sister: she straight-up warned her I am a ‘saint’ and wouldn’t do anything with her, no matter how hard she pushed.
They had a bet that is to redeemed on Chi’s wedding day; whether she won or lost. She swore she would sleep with me. Something I so want. But, even now, it bothered me she so covered whatever she had in mind with me I felt she didn’t like me when I tried chit-chatting with her.
That was their bet and it was their headache. I didn’t know anything about it. I went to drop somethings for my mum and I met Chi at her place. She had come to tell my mum she was now a Law graduate. Bless God for her.
I dropped what I brought and was on my way almost immediately. She volunteered to follow me to my car and asked my number. I gave it to her and off I drove.
I hadn’t gotten home when I got a text asking if I’d be home tomorrow. Calling the number, I got to know she sent it. I replied I’d be home if she needed me to be. And that was it. Somehow, we talked for about two hours on the phone. I knew match was set!
Following the public outcry that greeted the hate speech bill, the Senate President Ahmed Lawan has said the Senate won’t pass the proposed anti-free speech bills.
Lawan made the disclosure in response to a detailed written protest letter against the hate speech bill and anti-social media bill before the senate by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA.
He said legislators will listen to the pulse of the Nigerians who have rejected the bills and will do exactly as they demanded.
Lawan had in his letter to HURIWA dated November 20th 2019 which was endorsed by his Chief of Staff; Alhaji Babagana M. Aji but received on December 4th 2019 titled: “RE: WHY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S BILLS AGAINST FREE SPEECH ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL: BY HURIWA,” stated as follows:
“I write to present the compliments of the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., CON and to acknowledge receipt of your letter on the above subject wherein you asked the National Assembly to suspend ad infinitum the current attempts at introducing obnoxious legislation to curb access to the social media.”
“His Excellency is appreciative of your concern towards upholding our constitution and your members’ continuous use of their talents as writers to promote, protect and project the human rights of all Nigerians. His Excellency assures you that the Senate will not pass any anti-people laws.”
“While thanking you, please accept the assurances of the President of the Senate.”
HURIWA had on November 13th, 2019 written to the senate through the offices of the Senate President titled: “WHY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S BILLS AGAINST FREE SPEECH ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL: BY HURIWA” even as the group had argued that:
“Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental rights provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). By virtue of the same and other international instruments, it is the freedom to hold opinions, receive ideas and information and impart ideas and information without interference. Social media is used in reference to the means of expression other than the mainstream media.”
Urging the National Assembly to stop forthwith any attempt to legislate laws that offend the Rights to Freedom of Speech the Rights group reminded the National Assembly that Freedom of Expression in Nigeria is grounded constitutionally in Section 39 of the CFRN entrenches the right to freedom of expression in the following words:
“(1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection 1 of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information ideas and opinions:
Provided that no person, other than the Government of the Federation or of a State or any other person or body authorized by the President on the fulfillment of conditions laid down by an Act of the National Assembly, shall own, establish or operate a television or wireless broadcasting a station for the any purpose whatsoever.”
The Rights group said similar provisions are found in Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“It does not appear a mere coincidence that section 39 of the CFRN which provides for freedom of expression comes immediately after section 38 which provides for right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Next to thought is expression. The basis for this right, therefore, cannot be overemphasized in a democratic society. It is one of the essential foundations of a democratic society and the basic condition for its progress and development as held the European Court on Human Rights in Handyside Case.” Arguing that there are a plethora of decided cases guaranteeing free speech”.
HURIWA told the senate that:“The Supreme Court per Ayoola JSC, in the case of Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal v Okonkwo (2001) 85 LRCN 908 declared that the courts are the institution, society has agreed to invest with the responsibility of balancing conflicting interests in a way as to ensure the fullness of liberty without destroying the existence and stability of society itself. Therein lies the wisdom and need for qualification of all rights including this one most essential right.”
“In the case of Gozie Okeke v. The State (2003) 15 NWLR (Pt.842) 25, the Supreme Court held that the word “reasonable” in its ordinary meaning means moderate, tolerable and not excessive. In this regard, there are extant laws in Nigeria which seek to prevent abuse of free speech. Section 24(1) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 makes it a criminal offence to send a message or other matter by means of computer systems of network that is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be sent or he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, injury, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such message to be sent. Also Section 24(2) of the Act criminalizes transmitting or causing the transmission of any communication through a computer system or network to bully, threaten or harass another person where such communication places another person in fear of death, violence or bodily harm or to another person.”
“In the same vein there is the tort of defamation under a victim of abuse of freedom of speech can seek redress besides the criminal offences of defamation and injurious false under the Criminal Code and Penal Code. Section 391 of the Penal Code Law makes is a defamation to speak or represent by mechanical means or by signs or visible representation or publish any imputation concerning another intending to or knowing or having reason to believe that it will hard the reputation of the person. While a false statement of fact under similar circumstances is injurious false under section 393 of the Penal Code Law. There are similar provisions in sections 373, 374 and 375 of the Criminal Code Laws of the Southern States. Besides, there are various provisions in the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission Act dealing with violations which have become known as “hate speech” with varying degrees of sanctions.”
HURIWA argued strongly against limitations to access to social media and also rejected the hate speech bill as follows: “To require more than the existing laws have provided would portray the government in bad light and peach it against the people and any such further regulation will only take Nigeria centuries back in civilization with attendant consequences of gross and flagrant abuse like in the colonial era or the immediate after which had such over-regulation like the laws on sedition by which a lot of persons were frequently charged and convicted for what ordinarily would be fair comment by citizens of democratic society. A lot of these cases are high profile cases with potential to cause political tension, affect the peace and stability of the entire country which the proponents of the of social media regulation claim to want to prevent. This would further deepen the already entrenched distrust between the people and the government. This way, the government loses its right and benefit of feedback from the people.”
President Donald Trump listens as Louisiana Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone speaks during a campaign rally at the CenturyLink Center, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Bossier City, La. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Michael Boulos, a 25 year-old Nigerian-Lebanese is dating Tiffany Trump,26, the youngest daughter of US President Donald Trump.
The affair is getting serious as Michael attended, along with Tiffany, for the second time Trump’s turkey pardon at the White House.
Michael was also present at Mar-a-Lago, few weeks ago, where Trump celebrated his birthday.
During this year’s Thanksgiving, Michael accompanied Tiffany to visit her mother, Marla Maples in Alabama. The pair enjoyed the holiday with Marla’s friends, Center for Skin Care and Wellness owner Carmen Anderson and hypnotherapist Tara Sutphen.
Michael Boulos is at the moment studying at City University London for MSc in Project Management Finance and Risk, while Tiffany is based in the United States.
She studied at University of Pennsylvania and is at a present a law student at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She also does modelling.
According to a report, the pair have been dating for over one year, after reportedly meeting on a night out in Mykonos, Greece in the summer of 2018.
They met at a party hosted by Dubai resident and actress, Lindsay Lohan. Lohan also owns a nightclub in Mykonos.
The pair have enjoyed holidays together in Thailand and Montenegro. And Tiffany’s mother was once quoted to have said she ‘adores Michael’. Marla Maples was Trump’s second wife.
Who is Michael Boulos?
He is the son of Lebanese businessman, Massad Boulos, from the village of Kfaraakka, in the north of the country. Massad Boulos runs Boulos Enterprises and SCOA Nigeria, and “trades in vehicles, equipment, retail and construction.”
His mother, Sarah Boulos, runs the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria, SPAN, which is a “one-stop destination for performance art, dance, theatre, music and visual arts.” In an interview, Sarah, with a French mum, declares Nigeria her home.
Michael Boulos was born in Texas and raised in Nigeria. He is a naturalised Nigerian. He was educated in Nigeria, before moving to England to study finance at the City University of London.
Trump is yet to comment on his daughter’s Nigerian-Lebanese boyfriend.
At least three persons sustained varying injuries Wednesday afternoon after a gas cylinder exploded at the Four Point By Sheraton Hotel, Oniru in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The explosion occurred at about 12:35 pm while some artisans were doing welding job inside the hotel premises.
It was gathered that one of the cylinder hoses brought by the welders had leakage which triggered the explosion.
The Nation gathered that several vehicles in the premises, room windows and other items were shattered.
According to Director General Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, recovery operation was ongoing.
He said: “The situation is under control as a combined effort of the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), Nigeria Police alongside staff of the hotel are on ground to ensure a swift recovery.
“A total of three people sustained severe injuries as a result of the blast and two have been rushed to Lagos Island General hospital for intensive care by LASEMA Ambulance Unit while one was rushed to a nearby private hospital.
“Several cars and hotel room windows were shattered as a result of flying objects due to the blast. Recovery operation ongoing.”
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday reassured Nigerians of their safety under his administration, promising that he remained committed to fighting insecurity, especially insurgency.
He spoke in Kaduna where he unveiled additional Made-in-Nigeria Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for the Nigerian Army.
The vehicles, code-named Ezugwu MRAP, will be used for counter-insurgency operations by the army.
They were produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, an indigenous company.
The President launched the vehicles at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference.
Reassuring Nigerians of their safety, Buhari said, ‘‘This is a commitment we have made and will continue to keep.”
On Ezugwu MRAP, the President commended DICON and the several bodies that collaborated to produce them.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, quoted him further, ‘‘I note the collaborative efforts of the Command Engineering Depot with relevant indigenous organisations to promote local content towards developing our military-industrial complex.
“I am glad that the production of Ezugwu MRAP vehicles, which I will be unveiling today (Tuesday), will join the infantry patrol vehicles that were earlier produced as a testimony that our efforts are yielding positive results.
“Additionally, your efforts in terms of capacity building, training and conduct of exercises are quite commendable.
‘‘I am aware that there are ongoing field exercises such as Atilogwu, UDO 1, Exercise Akpatuma 2 and Exercise Crocodile Smile 4, among other civil-military cooperation activities.
“These are impressive efforts geared at enhancing the operational efficiency of the army as well as facilitating a conducive security environment for social and economic activities to thrive.’’
Buhari also praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, saying that he liked the way he transformed the army.
He said of Buratai, “He has keyed into the Federal Government’s Change Agenda and I particularly commend his thrust in the critical areas such as innovative and inventive approach to produce military hardware, infrastructural development, restructuring and reorganisations, among others, with significant results particularly in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations and other operations across the country.”
The Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.), acknowledged Buhari’s support for the military, stating that the final routing of Boko Haram would be achieved in 2020.
He said, “The Nigerian Army has had a hectic year with a lot of operations conducted to secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria. There is a need for a review of activities during this annual conference to prepare for next year’s final onslaught on Boko Haram.”
On his part, Buratai said the current status of the army was achieved after a transformation commenced in 2015.
