The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Department of State Services (DSS) have seized a type of drug identified as one of the most notorious stimulants being taken by ISIS terrorists and other violent insurgents in the Middle East.
The hard drug is called Captagon.Captagon, popularly known as Fenethylline, is also called “The Amphetamine Fuelling Syria’s War” or “The Jihadists’ Drug” by the media.
Captagon is used by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) and other extremist groups to enhance their soldiers’ abilities, keep them awake for long, dull their pain, and create a sense of euphoria.
Area Commander of Apapa Command, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Abubakar Usman, in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to Yusuf, the drug traffickers attempted to smuggle the drug into the country by hiding it inside an imported machine coming through Apapa Port in Lagos.
The crime was busted through a joint operation involving the NCS, NDLEA, and DSS after they dismantled the machine and deployed sniffer dogs for assistance.
“Further dismantling of cylinders in the machine is ongoing. The operation which involved heads of the three services will be sustained in the fight against all forms of smuggling and infractions.
“One suspect in connection with the seizure was arrested while further examination and counting are ongoing before more details will be released,” he said.
He said the long-term use of the drug led to serious side effects; the most common of which are extreme depression, lethargy, insomnia, occasional palpitation of the heart, blood vessel toxicity, and malnutrition.
He stressed that the drug had been identified as one of the most notorious stimulants being taken by ISIS fighters and other insurgents to cause unrest in the Middle East.
R Kelly in court during one of his numerous hearings
One of R. Kelly’s accusers testified on Wednesday that he kept a gun by his side while he berated her as a prelude to forcing her to give him oral sex in a Los Angeles music studio.
“He had a weapon, so I wasn’t going to step out of line,” the witness said while recounting the 2018 episode at the R&B singer’s New York City sex-trafficking trial.
Later in the day, the jury also heard brief testimony from a Pastor who secretly wed Kelly and budding musical artist Aaliyah when she was 15 years old. He described publicly for the first time how they wore matching “jogging suits” — each with one pant leg pulled up — for a 10-minute ceremony at a Chicago-area hotel.
The previous witness said that at the time she spotted Kelly with a gun, he demanded to know, “How many men have you seen naked?” He also instructed her to act “excited like a puppy” whenever she saw him, adding, “I still have a lot to teach you.”
She testified the last time she saw Kelly at a New York City hotel suite, she resisted having sex with him. She said he responded by warning her not to defy him, saying, “I’m a f—-ing legend.”
Kelly’s alleged intimidation tactics were all part of an abusive sexual relationship that started when the woman was 19 and resulted in her getting herpes from him, she said. After she filed Police reports and sued him for failing to disclose an STD, he and his supporters threatened that they would release nude photos and other compromising material about her if she persisted with her allegations, she said.
The woman testified while only using her first name to protect her privacy.
The Pastor, Nathan Edmond, testified he was recruited to marry Kelly and Aaliyah in 1994 as a favour for a friend after he was shown a marriage license claiming she was 18. He said he didn’t recognize the groom or the bride, who was wearing her hair down over her face.
“I didn’t know it was anyone special,” Edmond said.
Prosecutors say Kelly wanted to use the marriage, which was later annulled, to shield himself from criminal charges related to having sex with a minor and to prevent her from testifying against him.
Aaliyah, whose full name was Aaliyah Dana Haughton, worked with Kelly, who wrote and produced her 1994 debut album, “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number.” She died in a plane crash in 2001 at age 22.
Kelly, 54, has repeatedly denied accusations that he preyed on victims during a 30-year career. His lawyers have portrayed his accusers as groupies who are lying about their relationships with him.
The trial has so far featured a steady stream of accusers claiming Kelly began sexually degrading them when they were still in their teens. They said he used his stardom to lure them into an insular world where he watched their every move and doled out perverse punishments, spanking them and isolating them in hotel rooms if they broke a vow to never speak about him to anyone else.
Kelly’s personal physician has also testified, saying he treated him for herpes for several years.
The trial is unfolding under coronavirus precautions restricting the press and the public to overflow courtrooms with video feeds. That’s made it difficult to discern the reactions of Kelly, who has been jailed since his federal indictment was announced in 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the all-time men’s international scoring record by netting Portugal’s opener in their World Cup qualifying clash with the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo showed off his fabled scoring instincts as he netted in the 89th minute to tie the score at 1-1 at Estadio Algarve, making history in the process. He would add a stoppage-time winner for good measure as Portugal defeated the visitors 2-1.
The 36-year-old has now scored 111 international goals, becoming the most prolific player to ever grace men’s international football.
The History-Making Goal
Ronaldo’s big moment came in the 89th minute, with the Portugal star already squandering a chance earlier in the game.
The newly signed Manchester United star had a chance to seal the record from the spot in the first half, but was denied by 19-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
His big moment couldn’t be held off forever, though, as Ronaldo scored a header from a Goncalo Guedes assist in the 89th minute.
Then, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Ronaldo added a winner with another header, sealing a 2-1 win for Portugal in the process.
Record-Breaking Ronaldo
Ronaldo equalled Ali Daei’s record of 109 international goals after scoring twice in Portugal’s 2-2 draw against France in the Euro 2020 group stages earlier this summer, and has now surpassed the Iran legend.
The Juventus superstar moved two ahead of German great Miroslav Klose as the highest-scoring player in European Championship and World Cup competition (21) after netting that brace, and recorded his 110th and 111th strikes against the Republic of Ireland in his 180th game for his country.
Ronaldo is also the outright top scorer in Euros history on 14, and he is the only player to ever play and score in five consecutive appearances at the tournament.
Ronaldo’s Overall Career Record
Ronaldo’s staggering exploits in the final third for Portugal have helped cement his standing as one of the greatest players of his generation.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also won two trophies with his country, including Euro 2016, but his achievements at club level are arguably even more impressive.
Ronaldo has scored 674 goals in 894 games across spells at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, and has yet to show any signs of slowing down despite advancing towards his late 30s.
The Portuguese striker has lifted 30 club trophies, including seven league titles and five Champions League crowns, with a Suppercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia double capping off his last campaign in Italy with the Bianconeri.
He shocked the football world by sealing a surprise return to United on deadline day, bringing to an end his three-year stay at Juve, and will be expected to continue to deliver the goods in the final third at Old Trafford over the course of his two-year contract.
Supporters of Taliban have taken to the streets in Afghanistan to celebrate the final departure of troops of the United States.
They held a mock funeral while hoisting coffins draped with flags of the United States and other NATO countries.
Several photos of the event which took place in Khoist, Afghanistan, were seen all over the internet.
The event came just a day after the last U.S troops left the country after spending nearly twenty years in the country.
The military troops from the United States left Afghanistan on Tuesday after completing the airlifting process.
Meanwhile, Taliban leaders took over the control of Kabul airport on Tuesday, and marked the departure of the last U.S. aircraft.
They also had a symbolic walk across the airport’s sole runway.
“The world should have learned its lesson and this is the enjoyable moment of victory,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said in a livestream video.
He spoke to reporters at the Hamid Karzai International Airport and said Americans “could not achieve their goal through military operations.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the ministers of Power and Agriculture, it has been reported.
The President relieved Saleh Mamman and Sabo Nanono of their cabinet positions on Wednesday.
The minister of environment Muhammad Mahmood has been named as the agric minister; while the minister of state for works and housing Abubakar Aliyu has been asked to act as substantive power minister.
Meanwhile, Goddy Jedy Agba remains the minister of state for power.
The development came at today’s federal executive council meeting.
PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES CABINET RESHUFFLE
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a reshuffle in the cabinet formed on August 21, 2019.
In a statement to cabinet members during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday 1st September, President Buhari announced that Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Engr. Sale Mamman, Minister of Power were leaving the cabinet.
In the same vein, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, was redeployed to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing will now be the Minister of Power.
The President said the changes were sequel to the “tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review” through sector reporting during Cabinet meetings and at retreats.
He added that “these significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.”
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 01, 2021
The full text of the statement is reproduced below:
On Wednesday 21st August, 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in Office and to emphasise the 9 priority areas of government for the second term.
2. Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.
3. These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.
4. I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.
5. As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.
6. Accordingly, a few cabinet changes, marking the beginning of a continuous process, have been approved. They are as follows:
Ministers Leaving the Cabinet:
I. Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and
II. Engr. Sale Mamman, Minister of Power.
Redeployment:
I. Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development;
II. Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing assume office as the Minister of Power.
7. In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.
8. I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation. Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours.
9. Finally, I wish to reiterate once more, that this process shall be continuous.
10. I thank you all and May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Antoine Griezmann has completed a shock loan move from Barcelona on deadline day, with the Catalans signing Dutch striker, Luuk De Jong from Sevilla.
Griezmann will return to Atletico on an initial loan deal, with an option to sign for a reported €40m.
Meanwhile midfielder Saul Niguez departed the Spanish capital for its English counterpart, joining Chelsea on a one-year loan deal, with an option to sign for €40m.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Japanese defender, Takehiro Tomiyasu from Serie A side, Bologna, for a reported £17.2m on deadline day.
Confirmed deadline day signings include:
Saul Niguez – Atletico Madrid to Chelsea (Loan)
Pablo Sarabia – PSG to Sporting Lisbon
Solomon Rondon – Dalian Professional to Newcastle
Antoine Griezmann – Barcelona to Atletico Madrid (Loan deal with the buy-option)
Luuk De Jong – Sevilla to Barcelona
Ademola Lookman – RB Leipzig to Leicester City
Nuno Mendes – Sporting Lisbon to PSG
Eduardo Camavinga – Rennes to Real Madrid
Ilaix Moriba – Barcelona to RB Leipzig
Alex Kral – Spartak Moscow to West Ham
Ethan Ampadu – Chelsea to Venezia (Loan)
Odsonne Edoard – Celtic to Crystal Palace
Hector Bellerin – Arsenal to Real Betis
Jerome Boateng – Free agent to Olympique Lyon
Cristiano Ronaldo ― Juventus to Man United
Daniel James ― Man United to Leeds United
Marc Cucurella ― Getafe to Brighton
Nikola Vlasic ― CSKA Moscow to West Ham
Emerson Royal ― Barcelona to Tottenham
Moise Kean ― Everton to Juventus (Loan)
Reiss Nelson ― Arsenal to Feyenoord (Loan)
Dennis Praet ― Leicester to Torino (Loan)
Santiago Munoz ― Santos Laguna to Newcastle United (Loan)
The Abia State Government has appealed for calm over the death of Sunday Ugba, a deacon in the Assemblies of God Church.
Mr Ugba and at least four died after taking suya and fruit juice.
His wife was rushed unconscious to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued in Umuahia on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Okiyi Kalu, advised relatives of the deceased to remain calm.
Mr Kalu stated that the government had contacted relevant agencies to investigate the death.
“We wish to call for calm and patience to enable the relevant medical authorities to properly determine the cause of the death of the seven persons,” he stated.
Meanwhile, spokesman for the Police command in Abia, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the command had “commenced investigation into the sad incident.”
Mr Ogbonna, however, disclosed that no arrest had been made. He appealed to the public, especially relatives and friends of the deceased, to assist the command with useful information to get to the root of the death.
Mr Ugba and six others were found dead on Monday morning in his home at Umueze Ibeku in Umuahia after taking suya with fruit juice.
The only survivor in the family and first daughter of the deceased, Ijeoma, said she ate the suya but did not take the juice.
Ms Ijeoma, who said she did not suffer any ill health, told journalists that her father and others that took the suya and fruit drink began to experience “serious stomach pain” shortly after.
“Barely one hour after taking the suya and juice, they started feeling serious stomach pains. There was a serious commotion in the house as everybody began to roll on the ground, crying for help,” said Ms Ijeoma. “But after about 30 minutes, there was calm. Everybody seemed to have regained themselves.”
She added, “Around 10:00 p.m., we all retired to sleep. Unfortunately, in the morning, I woke up to see the lifeless bodies of my dad and brothers and the four children on holiday in our house.”
The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned lawyers ‘shopping’ for judgment, accusing them of ridiculing and perverting the course of justice.
“These developments in our courts are antithetical to the actualisation of the just society and independent judiciary that we all aspire to, and they run contrary to everything we teach and hold dear as a profession,” NBA President Olumide Akpata, in a statement on Monday.
He urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko, to wade into the crisis promptly.
Continuing, he noted, “Indeed, they do nothing but bring the judiciary and the entire system of administration of justice to ridicule.”
Mr Akpata said NBA agreed with Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, who censured lawyers for ridiculing judicial processes to get favourable injunctions for politicians and other prominent Nigerians.
“We also concur with the Hon. Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal, in her condemnation of the indulgence by some judicial officers of politicians who go round the country shopping for judgments and who thereby bring the judiciary to public ridicule,” said the NBA President.
He added, “Before blaming the judges, we must first look inwards and call out our members, most of whom are senior members of the Bar, who continue to yield themselves to be used as willing tools by politicians to wantonly abuse the judicial process.”
Mr Akpata asserted that the lawyers’ actions “contravene the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 (“RPC”) especially the cardinal Rule 1 of the RPC.”
“The @NigBarAssoc has observed with dismay the unfortunate and recurring trend of contradictory court decisions and orders, especially among courts of coordinate jurisdiction, typically arising from ex parte applications and almost always in political matters,” Mr Akpata’s statement added.
He pointed out that conflicting orders issued to PDP’s national chairman Uche Secondus by three different courts of the same jurisdiction were embarrassing.
“We, must of necessity, reference the orders relating to the nomination of candidates by political parties for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra state,” Mr Akpata noted. “And the equally embarrassing situation playing out in respect of the PDP leadership crisis that has seen three different contradictory rulings by courts of coordinate jurisdiction, in circumstances that leave a lot to be desired.”
The Katsina State Government has commenced the disbursement of N247m to no fewer than 680 victims of the March 2, 2021 Katsina central market fire.
The Chairman of the committee in charge of the compensation, Ahmed El- Marzuq, confirmed the development during the flag off of the exercise in Katsina.
He explained that the government was to compensate the victims with payment of 40% of value of their losses.
El-Marzuq, who is also the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, added that funds for the compensation were realised from contributions made by the state, political appointees and the civil servants as well as from the donations made by individuals and organisations.
He clarified that, for now only 68% of the compensation would be disbursed to the victims, adding that the remaining 32% will soon follow.
The Chairman of Katsina State Market Traders Association, Abbas Al- baba, in his remarks during the flag off, lauded the state for the gesture.
He pleaded for speedy reconstruction of the burnt parts of the market to enable victims fully resume their trading activities.
Counsels to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, said they were “practically stripped naked” by officials of the Department of State Service during their visit to the IPOB leader.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the Nnamdi Kanu, lamented that the dehumanisation of the lawyers continued during Monday’s visit.
Ejiofor had last Thursday lamented that DSS officials forced Kanu’s lawyers to wear slippers, adding that they were treated like hardened criminals on visits to their client who is in detention.
He narrated how the lawyers were maltreated again in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Nigerian officials have said that Kanu was brought back after he allegedly jumped bail and went on the run in 2017.
His family and lawyers say he was illegally arrested in June while in Kenya, tortured, and flown back to Nigeria.
The lawyer said, “Our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was visited yesterday and in his usual practice, he extended his compliments to his millions of supporters. He is indeed eternally grateful for the overwhelming support and show of solidarity.
“It is pertinent to note that the harassment, intimidation, and manhandling of our lawyers by the DSS officials during the visit still continued, despite our protest last week.
“Lawyers were ‘practically stripped naked’ while searching for incriminating materials during a court-ordered visit.
“We, therefore, do not mince words in stating that it is no longer safe as it stands today for us who are visiting our Client.
“This hostile treatment is becoming exceedingly intolerable and unacceptable in the prevailing circumstance.
“We are now more apprehensive of the fact that no trial will commence in the circumstance we presently find ourselves until our Client – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is transferred to the Correctional center.
“He can not be tried for a one-way stereotyped conviction in the manner the Federal Government is presently pursuing this. To deny us, his lawyers writing materials and for the visits to be conducted under the atmosphere of fear and intimidation is highly unacceptable and condemnable.
“The script currently being played is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government strategy to deny him a fair trial, and we cannot accept it, under no circumstance. We understand the game and the dancing pattern.
“I want you all to be reminded that the present development is a direct consequence of your prayers well answered.
“We crave for more prayers and urge you all to continue to remain law-abiding and peaceful in the conduct of your affairs. Be assured that with truth and God on our side, we will win the battle in court overwhelmingly.
“We shall continue to keep you posted as the event unfolds, but be assured that we will have reasons to rejoice in no distance time, Umuchineke.”
Captagon, popularly known as Fenethylline, is also called “The Amphetamine Fuelling Syria’s War” or “The Jihadists’ Drug” by the media.
