A teenage female Mexican boxer died on Thursday from injuries she got five days earlier in a bout in Montreal, organisers said on Friday.
Groupe Yvon Michel said in a statement on Instagram that 18-year-old Jeanette Zacarias Zapata died in hospital earlier in the day.
Zapata was hit hard several times by Canadian opponent Marie-Pier Houle in the fourth round of Saturday’s bout.
She started to convulse and after being laid down by her husband and trainer Jovanni Martinez she received first aid from the on-site medical team before being taken to hospital.
She was placed in an induced coma but doctors were unable to save her life.
“It is with great sadness and torment that we learned, from a representative of her family, that Jeanette Zacarias Zapata passed away this afternoon at 3:45 pm,’’ the statement said.
“We will like to offer our most sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, friends, and especially her husband Jovanni Martinez, who was on her bedside until her last moments.’’
Lekki, the fast-developing upper-middle-class area of Lagos Metropolis, is emerging as the new hub of internet-related fraud. Data from the investigation activities of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the second quarter of 2021, indicates that Lekki District is the preferred location for all manner of cyber fraud syndicates.
Between April and June 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests. While the Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.
Of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.
Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore had 8 suspects. Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspects each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.
The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university dropouts.
Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty-four per cent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by “Middle Man Scam” and “Picking” which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.
The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.
Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.
The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.
A total of $12, 512.49 USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has declared Valentine Ozigbo as the validly elected governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra.
Delivering judgment, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem, who led a three- man panel of justices, held that the appeal filed by Mr Ozigbo, challenging the judgement of the Akwa High Court had merit.
The appellate court set aside the decision of the Akwa Division of the State High Court and declared it null and void.
It also awarded the sum of N10 million exemplary cost in favor of Ozigbo.
The judgment of the Awka high court had barred Mr Ozigbo from parading himself as the PDP candidate in the Anambra gubernatorial election coming up on November 6.
The Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, ordered state chapters of the party to go ahead with the local government congresses scheduled for Saturday.
This came barely 24 hours after a Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba was reported to have issued an order restraining Buni from parading himself as the chairman of the committee.
The Secretary of the CENCPC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, while addressing the chairmen, secretaries and members of the various local government congress committees at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, reiterated the resolve of the party’s leadership to come down hard on aggrieved members, who took the party or any of its officials to court, without exhausting internal party mechanisms.
He enjoined the committee members to go about and discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour.
The Party Secretary also extended the warm regards of the Chairman of the CENCPC, Buni, who he said was unavoidably absent from the gathering, to the attendees.
Akpanudoedehe said he would not comment on the restraining order issued by the Asaba High Court “so that I will not be misquoted.”
Akpanudoedehe stated, “We also use this opportunity to reiterate the resolution of the NEC of our party to severely sanction members and their sponsors, who take the party to court.
“His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni is determined to carry out to the letter the instructions of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, which is to rebuild the party from the bottom up. The process has reached an advanced stage.
“Rest assured that your assignment, as well as the earlier ward congresses nationwide, are legally protected. We are on a solid ground.”
He added, “Consequently, the CECPC ratifies and adopts the results of the party’s earlier nationwide ward congresses held on Saturday, July 31, 2021; however, any state caretaker committee that swears in any person or group of persons, who are not elected through a congress conducted by the designated National Congress Committee of the party, is null, void and of no effect. However, where there are still complaints, the CECPC will be fair to all.
“Accordingly, the CECPC hereby directs you all to go and conduct nationwide local government congresses on Saturday, September 4, 2021, as contained in the official timetable/schedule of activities released by the party.”
Article 21 (D) of the APC Constitution, 2014 (as amended), titled, ‘Punishment of Erring Members’, read in part, “(i) The party shall have powers to impose the following sanctions on members in accordance with the nature and gravity of their offences: reprimand, censure, fine, debar from holding party office, remove from party office, suspend from party office and expunge from the party.”
It had been reported that the President Muhammadu Buhari had, while presiding over the National Executive Committee meeting of the party on June 25, 2020, asked for the discontinuation of pending litigation by members against the party and its officers.
He had said, “It is important to discontinue all litigation involving members of the party, which are connected to issues of the party and in respect of which several court orders and counter-orders have been issued against the party and some specific members of the party.
“This directive has been issued by the party before; unfortunately, some members failed to heed the party’s directive, which must be effectively enforced with dire consequences for members, who choose to ignore the directive.
“I believe that the issues facing us at the moment are very serious, and as such, require that we take very firm and clear decisions that will be in the best interests of the party. We must instil and enforce party discipline.
“Failure in taking these measures, places our party in a difficult position that negates the years of struggle and sacrifice.”
Buhari subsequently proposed a resolution in that direction, which was unanimously adopted by all NEC members present.
It’s A Minor Shock, Says Banire
However, a former National Legal Adviser of the APC, Muiz Banire, SAN, told reporters that he was not surprised by the restraining order.
“I believe that this is just a minor shock. The implication is that at the end of the day, all nominations and congresses, including conventions, are endangered in terms of legitimacy,” he said.
A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba had on Wednesday granted an interim injunction restraining Buni and other members of the caretaker committee from parading themselves as members of the CECPC pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Onome Umukoro also stopped the scheduled APC local government congress in Delta State slated for Saturday.
The state Deputy Chairman of the APC, Olorogun Elvis Ayomanor, and other officials of the party had approached the court to challenge the outcome of the ward congress in the state.
‘Party Yet To Receive Order’
However, as of 5.37pm, the party had yet to receive a copy of the court order. A member of the party’s legal unit, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said, “As I speak to you, we have yet to get a copy of the order.”
When contacted, the spokesman for the concerned APC members, Abdullahi Dauda, said, “Unless we do the right thing as a party, this embarrassment will continue. Our leaders need to truly sit down and address issues; threats of expulsion and even expulsion are not the solution to this crisis.”
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has ended the reign of billionaire businessman Ayiri Emami, appointing a new traditional prime minister for the Warri kingdom on Thursday.
The Olu announced that the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Johnson Amatserunleghe, will now fully take charge as the traditional prime minister of the kingdom.
He announced this during the plenary of the Warri Council of Chiefs on Thursday.
Other Warri council of chiefs, who were earlier required to revalidate their titles, have also been asked to return to their original positions and serve their people under the Olu’s supremacy, according to reports.
The ousted Mr Emami held the position of ‘Ologbotsere’ and served as prime minister of the kingdom during the tenure of the former Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli.
He mounted stiff opposition to the emergence of the new Olu, insisting that he was not qualified to ascend the throne of his fathers due to his maternal heritage.
Other Warri chiefs whose titles have been revalidated include Gabriel Awala, Kofi Kartey, Robinson Ariyo, Dr Roland Oritsejafor, Roli Oritsejafor, Edwin Olley, Solomon Arenyeka, Clement Maleghemi, Eugene Ikomi, Omolubi Newuwumi and Billy Besi Giwa.
On August 21, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, was crowned as the 21st Olu at Ode-Itsekiri, his ancestral home in Warri, Delta state.
The ancient kingdom in Delta state in Nigeria is the home to the Itsekiris and is rich in culture reflective of their Oduduwa ancestry and their early interactions with the Portuguese.
Annie Idibia has taken to Instagram to accuse her husband, TuFace, of engaging in extramarital affairs with one of his baby mamas, Pero.
In a chain of stories on her Instagram page, Annie called the celebrated musician out for doing little to fight for their marriage and giving in to the interference of his family members.
“I am a patient woman!! But I am not a fool innocent! Your family never loved me from the beginning! No matter how hard I tried! I was never worthy to them!!! I have made so many sacrifices for you and all your children. God knows I have tried.
“Your baby mamas constantly use your children as an excuse for all sorts of rubbish! I try to stay gracious!! You are not the first man on the planet to have kids by different women!!! You can do better! Everything I do is to show the good human that u r!!! But today! This move done by you, Efe, Frankie n your family is unacceptable!!”
Accusing TuFace of infidelity, Annie claimed that the musician was using the excuse of visiting his kids to sleep with his ex-girlfriend Pero.
“@official2baba!!! What kind of man takes his kids to Disney n spend nights in the same apartment with his kids n their mother!? How many times have u gone to see your kids with pero! N she stay with u n the kids under the same roof for nights!
“Or is it when your brother @hi.idibia house u, your kids n pero under the same roof??! I can go on n on!” Annie said in the now-deleted Instagram posts.
A spokesman for TuFace did not immediately return a request seeking comments from reporters on Thursday night.
TuFace, 45 and father of seven, has faced enduring charges of sexual impropriety for years. He started his marital journey with Sumbo Ajaba before moving to Pero Adeniyi, who gave birth to three children. He then settled for Annie, a longtime girlfriend, with a flamboyant wedding event in 2013. The marriage is blessed with two children.
Manchester United have confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the iconic no.7 shirt after returning to Old Trafford.
“The Portuguese superstar famously wore the legendary shirt number during his first spell at United and we can now confirm that Ronaldo will have it on his back once again”, a statement on the club’s website added.
In his first six seasons at the club, between 2003 and 2009, Ronaldo made 292 appearances and scored 118 goals, winning nine trophies including three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
The statement said, “Cristiano Ronaldo will wear no. 7 for United again, like he did between 2003 and 2009. As we all know, the no. 7 is a special number in the history of United.
“It has previously been worn by club icons like George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham. Now, it returns to the man who succeeded Beckham in it, Ronaldo.
“Ronaldo inherits the number from Edinson Cavani, who wore the shirt last season and in our away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
“As our new signing is allocated no.7, El Matador will switch to no.21, the same number our prolific striker wears for the Uruguayan national team.”
Former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell
A former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has warned of a possible takeover the recently acquired Super Tucano fighter jets by bandits and terrorists.
Mr Campbell gave the prediction in the light of the fall of the Afghanistan government and the takeover of similar high-grade military jet fighter by the Talibans.
The U.S. had also sold 23 Super Tucanos to the Afghan government to combat the Talibans but the Talibans are now in control of at least one the assault jets following the collapse of Ashraf Ghani’s government.
“Though it seems unlikely at present, there is also the potential that a Super Tucano could fall into the hands of a jihadi terrorist group,” Mr Campbell wrote for CFR, citing instances of how terrorist groups seized other military equipment in Nigeria.
In August, a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet returning to base from a mission on the Zamfara-Kaduna border crashed under intense gunfire from bandits.
The pilot escaped by the whiskers, leaving the wrecked aircraft behind.
NAF officially inducted the six A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets on Tuesday, to aid its fight against insecurity in the country. Nigeria was said to have purchased the A-29s at about $500 million through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The American embassy in Abuja had described it as the largest sale in sub-Saharan Africa.
During the induction ceremony of the Super Tucano jets, U.S. Department of Defence leaders who were also present said that the “aircraft will assist the Nigerian Air Force in their fight against violent extremist organisations including the Islamic State West Africa Province.”
A statement by the embassy also disclosed that the U.S. is providing $36.1 million in infrastructure as support at the Kanji Air Base, where the Super Tucanos will be housed.
Additionally, 64 Nigerian pilots have been trained at an American air force base on how to handle the aircraft.
Mr Campbell also expressed worries on whether the aircraft will be used to combat terrorism or used against other targets such as “the Biafran agitators or Delta militants.
“Now that the Super Tucanos are part of the Nigerian Air Force, an issue will be how they are used. Will they be used only against jihadi terrorists in the North, or will there be the temptation to use them against other targets, such as Biafran separatists, Delta militants, or even cattle rustlers? Broader use increases the potential for civilian casualties.
“A Biafran separatist movement, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is suing to block the sale in a Washington, D.C. court,” he added.
The Nigerian government has over time relied on U.S. arms and military equipment sales to help combat insecurity. While the country battles a myriad of security challenges, critics and rights organisations oppose the sales of the aircraft to Nigeria, citing the Buhari regime’s constant abuse of human rights.
The Islamic States West African Province (ISWAP) faction of the Boko Haram has warned some Borno State residents, particularly in communities under its control against giving out information to the Nigerian Army.
The terrorists conveyed the warning in fliers distributed by members of the group in what seemed to be a market setting in Borno State, according to a report by HumAngle.
From pictures posted, one of the ISWAP terrorists was seen handing out the flier to a driver in a car like a taxi.
The flier’s title reads, “A message from the caliphate’s troops to the people of a new town.”
The terrorists spread propaganda that the Nigerian Army forced the villagers out of their homes and that the military were their true adversaries, not the ISWAP.
“We were not the ones who chased you out of your place from the beginning,” one of the messages in the fliers read. “These people who call themselves the Nigerian Army are the ones who chased you out, killed you, and are the wicked ones.”
ISWAP has recently turned to propaganda to propagate its cause.
The terrorists have also offered aid and money to the people in an effort to entice them to live under their caliphate.
It had recently been reported that the Director-General, Centre for Justice on Religion and Ethnicity in Nigeria, Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, once revealed that members of ISWAP took over some parts of Borno without any military intervention.
Dikwa had told SaharaReporters that the terrorists stopped vehicles along Maiduguri- Damaturu Road at Mainok and kidnapped motorists and commuters without any disturbance.
It had also been reported that ISWAP introduced mobile courts overseeing the insurgents’ activities and groups under the leadership of the Islamic State Of Iraq and Syria.
The insurgents had also established two Wilaya’s (Caliphates) at Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest to sustain its war against countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The terrorist group was said to have lifted the ban imposed on fishing and farming activities in the Lake Chad area, three years after chasing people out of for allegedly spying for Nigerian troops.
It, nevertheless, imposed new taxes and levies in the areas controlled by ISWAP-Boko Haram, to regulate trades and agricultural activities.
Several fishermen, farmers and merchants had returned to the Lake-Chad area to engage in socio-economic activities, under the arrangement of the new ISWAP-Boko Haram leadership.
Switzerland captain, Granit Xhaka, will miss Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against European champions, Italy, after testing positive for COVID-19, the Swiss football association said.
The Arsenal midfielder is also unavailable for next week’s qualifier away to Northern Ireland and has been replaced in the squad by Fabian Frei of Basel.
Xhaka returned a positive coronavirus test on Wednesday and was confined to his hotel room, sitting out the 2-1 friendly win over Greece. He again tested positive on Thursday.
He is the only player in Murat Yakin’s squad not to be vaccinated or have recovered from COVID, according to a Swiss team source. No other players were required to isolate as a result.
“Granit must show the example as captain. He does it, but he is also a human being,” said Yakin, cited by Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS. “We must respect the decision he has taken.”
Xhaka is not an isolated case in Switzerland, where only 52 percent of the population are fully vaccinated — a rate that lags behind those in neighbouring European countries.
