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US President Donald Trump vowed to overhaul Barack Obama’s deal to restore ties with Cuba on Friday, promising to instead support the Cuban people against their “cruel and brutal” regime.
US President, Donald Trump
Trump flew to Miami’s Little Havana, spiritual home of the Cuban-American exile community, to denounce his predecessor’s “one-sided” settlement and vow before a partisan crowd to work for Cuba’s freedom.
In practical terms, Trump’s review of the deal was limited — it does not break diplomatic ties with Raul Castro’s communist regime, but it tightens rules for Americans traveling to Cuba, bans ties with a military-run tourism firm and reaffirms the existing US trade embargo.
“Effective immediately, I am canceling the last administration’s completely one-sided deal with Cuba,” he declared before a cheering audience of Cuban-Americans at the Manuel Artime Theater in Little Havana.
That may have been overstating his case; a US Treasury statement on Trump’s new measures showed that they mainly relate to stricter enforcement of existing laws that had been loosened as Obama sought a rapprochement.
But they won roars of approval and cries of “Viva Cuba libre!” from the invited crowd of Cuban-Americans and Cuban exiles, including veterans of the ill-fated Brigade 2506, which in 1961 launched the failed US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion to “liberate” the communist-run island.
“Our policy will seek a much better deal for the Cuban people and for the United States of America. We do not want US dollars to prop up a military monopoly that exploits and abuses the citizens of Cuba,” Trump said.
“We will not lift sanctions on the Cuban regime until all political prisoners are free,” he said, introducing the crowd to a group of Cuban dissidents who met him at the airport to make the case for more pressure on Castro’s one-party regime.
The new measures prohibit financial transactions with Cuba’s military-backed tourism conglomerate GAESA, a body which might otherwise have hoped for a windfall from a new surge in American visitors.
Run by Castro’s son-in-law Luis Rodriguez Lopez-Callejas, GAESA is involved in joint ventures with several foreign firms that have driven a tourism boom on the island, including the Marriott hotel chain.
– Human rights – Signing a new National Security Presidential Memorandum, Trump announced stricter application of the rules under which Americans can travel to Cuba.
American citizens will still be able to take commercial flights to Cuba, but only for 12 specific reasons — ranging from journalism to educational activities — which will be more tightly enforced.
Cuban-Americans will still be able to travel to Cuba and send remittances, limiting the impact in Florida, where many Cuban emigres settled and where many of them turned out last year to vote for Trump.
Miami’s Cuban-American population has a reputation for diehard anti-communism and an opposition to thawing ties, but in the Little Havana district on Thursday, some — even those who had fled oppression — were philosophical about detente.
“Obama did the right thing,” said 77-year-old Manuel Gonzales, who left the island in 2006. “The only person responsible for the embargo was Castro. We have to look forward, not back.”
Others were not so forgiving.
Marta Diaz, now 75, left Cuba in 1967 and time has done nothing to dull her anger towards the authoritarian regime. She urged Trump to impose “harsh measures” until the Havana regime falls.
– Small businesses – Boosting travel was a key aim of Obama’s painstaking effort to restore ties with Cuba after a half-century chill, which reached a symbolic climax with a visit by the then-president in 2016.
Some 285,000 people visited the Caribbean country in 2016, up 74 percent over 2015, with Americans the third-biggest group after Canadians and Cuban expats.
“New restrictions on engagement with Cuban economy only pushes Cuba to China and Russia who will gladly make up the difference,” argued former White House official Ben Rhodes, the architect of Obama’s Cuba policy.
“Any limitations on travel hurt Cuban small business owners — restaurants, shops, taxis — that depend on travelers for revenue.”
Engage Cuba, a group lobbying for an end to the embargo, estimates that 10,000 US jobs in aviation and the cruise business already depend on Cuba.
Cuba’s new ambassador to the US, Jose Ramon Cabanas, who re-opened the embassy in Washington last year, tweeted a picture of American tourists ambling through a street market with the ironic message: “Now it is official: these are the new enemies of US Foreign Policy. Watch out!!
Abuja – The Nigerian Mission in South Africa on Friday said it had waded into issues surrounding the alleged quit order given to Nigerians by two communities in that country.
Amb. Martin Cobham, Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner in South Africa, said on telephone from Pretoria that the mission was on top of the situation.
The Nigeria Union in South Africa had accused two communities in that country of ordering Nigerians residing within their territories to vacate.
Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner in South Africa said that he had engaged in processes to nip in the bud whatever crisis or situation that could affect the welfare of Nigerians living in South Africa.
"I engaged the union leader who has given me the graphic details of what happened.
"In view of that I have engaged with the authorities here to bring in the community, the police and the Nigerians living there for a meeting so as to prevent any mayhem.
"On Monday I am going to dispatch our officials to the Northern Cape Province to engage in a meeting with the local police and the community for a tripartite meeting," he said.
The High Commissioner said that he would also meet with the authority to ensure that instruction was given to the police not to allow any outbreak of violence.
"All we are trying to ensure is to nip in the bud any breakdown of law and order or anything that could lead to violence.
"So we in the embassy are on top of the situation. And I am engaging the union leader and my office is equally engaging the South African Foreign Ministry on the issue.
"So I believe with this measure we will be able to contain all these excesses," he said.
The President of the union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, had alleged that the Kuruman community in Northern Cape Province also gave Nigerians till Friday, June 16 to leave.
Anyene also said that the Klaafontein community, Extension 5, Johannesburg, directed landlords not to renew the rent of Nigerians in the community.
He said that the grievance of the South Africans was that Nigerians were responsible for some social vices such as illicit drug trade and prostitution.
Isanlu-Isin (Kwara) – The Federal Government is set to recruit 300,000 youths in the second batch of its N-Power social intervention and job creation programme.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Friday in Isanlu-Isin community near Omu-Aran town in Kwara State.
Mohammed said that the Federal Government would "reopen the N-POWER portal by next week to commence the process for the recruitment".
He enjoined the youths to take advantage of the recruitment exercise by completing the application process on line, adding than 200,000 people benefitted from the first batch of the programme.
The minister said that no fewer than 27,000 people had benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, while government had given 7,000 interest free loans to market men and women across the country.
The minister said the home grown school feeding programme of government had covered over 1.2 million pupils and the Kwara State would be on the team of the social intervention programme in September.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the minister was in Isanlu-Isin to explore ways to develop the road leading to Owu Water Fall, located near to the community.
The Water Fall, which is 120 metres above sea level is credited to be the highest and most spectacular natural water fall in West Africa and a significant symbol of nature.
The minister recalled that he had visited the Owu water fall in February, where he advocated Public-Private-Partnership for its development.
He said he was glad to hear that efforts had been made as far back as 2009 to develop the road leading to the fall.
Mohammed urged the community leader to make available to him documents relating to the contract to enable him move for quick execution of the project.
"It has been revealed to me that the contract for the construction of the road had been advertised and bided for and the Bureau of Public Procurement had issued a No Objection Certificate.
"If we get those documents, we can see how we can revive the contract
"The fall is one of the tallest in Africa and it is just lying there fallow.
"If we can get the road done, it will attract tourists and revive the economy of the surrounding communities," the minister said.
The traditional ruler of Isanlu-Osin, Oba Solomon Oloyede thanked the minister for the visit and expressed the support of his people for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He commended the government for its efforts at restoring peace and security to the nation as well as the successes recorded in its anti corruption fight.
The monarch urged the government to do its best in fixing the road linking the community to the Owu Water Fall.
Earlier in an address, the President of Isanlu-Osin Development Association, Mr Emmanuel Oladele said that the contract for the construction of the road to the fall was captured in 2009 budget.
He appealed to the Minister to use his good offices for government to revisit the contract in its 2018 budget.
Port Harcourt – The Federal Government has ordered investigation into educational qualification of members of staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Uguru Usani gave the directive when he visited the commission on Friday in Port Harcourt.
He expressed optimism the investigation would expose ghost workers and staff members, who gained employment in the commission with forged certificates.
According to him, the Federal Government was committed to purge the commission of sleazy practices with focus to fast track development of the Niger Delta.
"We have observed that there are several people working in NDDC with forged certificates, which is partly responsible for the bad image of the commission.
"Directors of the various departments in the commission are expected to submit the nominal roll of their respective departments to the NDDC Managing Director, Nsima Ekere, within one week.
"We will not tolerate any delay to this directive and as such, failure to submit the nominal roll on or before one week would lead to sanction.
"Any departmental head who signed for a ghost worker would face the music," he said.
Usani, who was accompanied by the House Committee Chairman on the NDDC, Mr Nicholas Mutu, warned against political interference in the process.
He said, henceforth, political interference in the running of the commission would be resisted and assured that Federal Government was committed to "governance without partisanship."
Mr Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of NDDC, said the commission would partner the Ministry of Niger Delta, its supervising ministry, to complete construction of the East-West road project.
He said the road project, which cut across six states in the Niger Delta, would cost in excess of N70 billion to complete.
"The strategy will be to harness private sector collaboration to complete the road project. The portions that have totally collapsed will be addressed immediately.
"We will involve multiple contractors, especially the Eleme-Refinery Junction road, which is a strategic link to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
"The East-West road is also strategic because it connects Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states," he said.
Ekere said the commission had deployed a technology designed to monitor project with focus to reduce incidences of abandoned projects in the area.
He said the technology would enable the commission to monitor project sites and record progress of work in real time.
"With this technology, contractors will longer lie to us that they are on site when the work is not going on," he said.
The Lagos State Government on Friday arraigned a suspected notorious land grabber, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina before a Special Offences Court sitting in Oshodi over alleged forceful dispossession of residents from their legitimate rights to land ownership. Suspected Land Grabbing Kingpin, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina (3rd left) along with other defendants arraigned at the Lagos State Special Offences Court on Friday, June 16, 2017. Lamina, popularly known as Sir K, was arraigned alongside six others on a six-count charge by the Special Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force set up by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.
Lamina and his gang were said to have been terrorising the people of Ikorodu area of the State for some time before he was arrested on Thursday.
Others arraigned alongside him are Mr Omotola Ogunsanmi, Mr Samson Shobule (A.K.A Samson Salau), Biliaminu Orega (A.K.A Biliaminu Salau), Alhaji Jimoh Aromasodu, Alhaji Wasiu Orenuga and Alhaji Nurudeen Kasali.
In counts one and two, Lamina, sometime in February 2017 in Mowo Kekere area of Ikorodu Local Government, allegedly took over one plot of land forcefully which was sold to one Mrs Ebere Okafor by Ifegbuwa family contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016.
The action was allegedly carried out by Lamina despite the fact that the sale of the land had been ratified with proof of payment.
In count three, Lamina was accused of forcefully taking over and remaining in possession of 200 plots of land in Mowo Kekere belonging to Planet Properties Ltd contrary to Section 2 (2) of the same law, while in count five, the defendants were said to have fraudulently sold 60 hectares of land which had been previously sold by the rightful owner contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the law.
The fraudulent sale, which was allegedly carried out in January 2017, was perfected by the defendants fraudulently claiming to be the descendants of Ifegbuwa family.
In count six, the defendants were accused of fraudulent selling 25 hectares of land to third parties without any lawful right to do so, an offence punishable under the law.
After the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty, while their lawyers, Mr E Obatayo and B.O Abdusalam applied to the court to grant them bail in most liberal terms.
The lawyers argued that the offences for which their clients were charged are bailable, and that they were ready to defend the case.
The prosecutor, Ms Mosunmola Balogun from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to impose conditions which would make the defendants available for trial
In his ruling, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a land owner in Lagos, while the other must be a civil servant not below grade level 15. The sureties must have three years tax clearance and registration with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
The Magistrate also ordered the defendants to deposit N150,000 each with the court, while they are to be remanded in Badagry Prison pending when they are able to meet the bail conditions.
The matter has been adjourned to July 13.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the proceedings, Chairman of the Lagos State Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force, Mr. Jide Bakare said the administration of Governor Ambode, through the arraignment, was sending a strong message to others still involved in the act of forceful dispossession of property it would no longer be business as usual.
Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose has reiterated his desire to land the number one job in the country when the opportunity comes calling.
Ayodele Fayose
The governor stated this when he met with political office holders at the Government's House, Ado Ekiti. He went ahead to say that former governors Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi who are nursing the ambition of contesting in the forthcoming governorship election will fail.
Speaking, Fayose said “Just because Ayo Fayose has won a second term to become governor of Ekiti, some people also think they can come back now, but I want to tell them that it is not possible. I am the man wholeheartedly loved by Ekiti people because of the many developmental projects that have brought great infrastructural and developmental advancement to Ekiti.
"If you go around Ekiti, you will see my handiwork dotting every nook and cranny of the state. This is why I am the man who every Ekiti people will follow in 2018."
"I have penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari's hand. I will take it. I'm going straight to that villa. I'm the next president.
"I want to be the next president of Nigeria. My own won't be this change that has brought nothing, we are going to represent the people well and tell them the truth."
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed shock at the acquittal of several high profile individuals charged with corruption saying that it was time for the country to invite international lawyers to prosecute high profile corruption cases. Buhari CISLAC in a statement Friday night particularly lamented what it described as the obvious fact of the corruption in the judiciary which it claimed the authorities seem unable to address.
CISLAC in the statement issued by its executive director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa also regretted what it claimed as the lack of synergy among the country's anti-corruption agencies and called on the authorities to address.
Noting what it described as the seeming poor capacity of the prosecuting personnel, CISLAC said:
"The use of international prosecutors should be explored since national prosecution does not seem to be effective in solving high profile corruption cases. This call is further strengthened on the face of the conviction the British Government was able to achieve on the James Ibori case when the Nigerian authority failed to deal with the situation.
"We urge citizens to continue to demand for accountability from the government and to support the anti-corruption agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption.
"CISLAC has noted that the lack of synergy among anti-corruption agencies and international bodies has hampered and slowed down this fight. In addition, ill preparations and non-timely prosecution of some cases has led to the acquittal of these allegedly corrupt individuals.
"CISLAC therefore calls for an urgent and expedient judicial reform if the fight against corruption is to have any effect in the country. Special Courts to handle corruption cases should be created as a matter of urgency.
"We further urge the Federal Government to be proactive, thorough in its investigations and gathering of facts before going to court in order to avoid loopholes through which these corrupt individuals can meander their way through.
"CISLAC notes the need for highly experienced lawyers to be recruited to handle these cases in court as inadequate capacity of lawyers handling these high profile cases has worked in the favour of these individuals.
"We observe that there is need for anti-corruption agencies to be adequately funded in order to aid their work. Hence, a collaborative effort on the part of the Judiciary, Executive and Legislature in fighting corruption is expedient."
Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose has said that he will take power out of Buhari's hand as the next Nigerian president..
The governor spoke at a meeting with political office holders at the Government's House, Ado Ekiti, where he also inspected Osoko Political Institute Centre.
He said, "Just because Ayo Fayose has won a second term to become governor of Ekiti, some people also think they can come back now, but I want to tell them that it is not possible. I am the man wholeheartedly loved by Ekiti people because of the many developmental projects that have brought great infrastructural and developmental advancement to Ekiti.
"If you go around Ekiti, you will see my handiwork dotting every nook and cranny of the state. This is why I am the man who every Ekiti people will follow in 2018."
"I have penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari's hand. I will take it. I'm going straight to that villa. I'm the next president.
"I want to be the next president of Nigeria. My own won't be this change that has brought nothing, we are going to represent the people well and tell them the truth."
Ayogu Nnamdi, a prosecution witness in the trial of Henry Ugbolue, an aide to Kingsley Kuku (former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta) on Thursday, June 15, 2017 told Justice M. M. Kolo of the FCT High Court Wuse, Abuja that the accounts of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited received a turnover of about N35.2million in two months.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on April 20, 2016 arraigned Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple, both former aides to Kuku on two separate charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, false declaration of assets and fraudulent acquisition of property to the tune of N55million.
Kuku (a fugitive) and Ugbolue were alleged to have conspired among themselves and awarded contracts running into millions to companies in which they had interests. It was alleged that Ugbolue was the sole signatory of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited, the company which provided integrated management of communications and stakeholders' engagement chain for the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.
On his part, Pepple was the director and sole signatory for KER Global Wave Limited, which was awarded a contract to provide Reintegration Support Services by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Testifying, Nnamdi, a bank compliance officer, who testified as PW1, told the court that, "a sum of N35, 206,564.89 was paid to the account of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited between March 4 and May 15, 2014 through the Office of Special Adviser to President on Niger Delta".
Counsel to EFCC, Faruk Abdullah, sought to tender account opening documents, statement of account and mandate card in evidence, but the admissibility of the documents was objected to by Ugbolue's counsel, G. E. Ezeuko, SAN, on the grounds that the documents were originals of public documents adding that, only certified true copies of public documents are admissible.
Ezeuko argued that, "one of the account statements has no certificate of identification and the one with certificate of identification did not comply with Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act".
He also noted that one of the account statements was not in the proof of evidence given to him.
Responding, Abdallah argued that, "we concede that the documents are originals of public document. However, contrary to the submission of the defendant's counsel, the original of a public document is admissible as it's a primary document itself. The Supreme Court had settled this when it held that, such document is the best form of document".
Abdallah added that, "It's only when you intend to tender a secondary evidence of a public document that it must be certified".
Justice Kolo deferred ruling on the admissibility of the documents. He, however, admitted the documents, in the interim, as exhibits D & E adding that, "in the event the documents were found inadmissible everything relating to it would be expunged from the court record".
The judge, thereafter, adjourned to September 20, 2017
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Friday arraigned a former branch Manager, Florence Onome Odior and four others namely; Orion Sunday, (her busband) ,Patricia Jegede a.k.a Joe Nek Services, Joseph Alexander Esiso, Zackary Petroleum Nigeria Limited and Tegha and Associates Nigeria Limited before Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele of the federal high court sitting in Benin, Edo State.
They were arraigned on a 19 count charge bothering on Stealing, forgery, obtaining under false pretence,uttering and conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 467(2)(d) of the criminal code laws of Edo State of Nigeria, 2006
The former bank manger while a branch manager in 2012 defrauded one Moses Obozokhae to the tune fifty million eight hunded and fourth thousand naira only using a forged and uttered document titled: United Bank for Africa Certificate of deposit with reference No TDO9990001445 dated 2nd August 2012
One of the charges reads: that you Florence Onome Odior sometimes in 2012 whilst being a branch manager in the employment of United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did steal by converting to your personal use the sum of N 85,840,000,00( Eight Five Million Eight Hundred and Fourty thousand Naira Only) property of Moses Obozohae. When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.
Consequently the prosecution counsel, Mustapha Aliyu prayed the judge for an overturn of their administrative bail asking that they be remanded in prison custody as they have all jumped bail and asked for a shortets possible time for commencement of trial .
Counsel to the 1&2 Accused persons , C.J. Ekegwuba reminded the court that today was for plea taking and bail hearing prosecution counsel responded that he had countered the bail application presented by his colleagues and had submitted same this morning.
C.J.Ekegwuba told the court that the offence her clients is charged for is not a capital offence and they have never had any criminal record adding that they have never jumped bail and needed medical attention now as 1st accused is sick moreover they have been on administrative bail hence the need to be considered.
Counsels to 3rd, 4th and 5th accused persons aligned their position with counsel to the 1&2 accused.
Prosecution counsel however told the court that he didn’t see any reason of them continuing with the administrative bail as they have jumped bail and can also be attended to at the Nigerian prison adding that in Nigerian prison, you are treated and even feed for free all at no cost.
After listening to all the counsels argument, justice Ohimai Ovbiagele adjoined to Thursday, June 24,2017 for ruling on continuation of bail and 12 and 13 July ,2017 for commencement of trial .
Cristiano Ronaldo, battling accusations of tax evasion and speculation over his club future, is concentrating only on the Confederations Cup, his Portugal teammate Andre Silva said Friday.
“He takes this tournament very seriously and is focused. He is motivated, just like me,” said the 21-year-old Silva at a news conference in Kazan ahead of Portugal’s opening Confederations Cup match against Mexico on Sunday.
“He is concentrating on playing for the national team and he wants to give the motivation to have a good tournament.”
Ronaldo insisted Wednesday he had a “clear conscience” after Spanish prosecutors accused the Real Madrid star of evading 14.7 million euros in tax through offshore companies.
“Conscience clear, always,” Ronaldo told reporters at Lisbon airport as he and his Portuguese teammates prepared to fly out to Russia.
Real Madrid also gave their backing to Ronaldo, releasing a statement saying the club had “full confidence in our player Cristiano Ronaldo, who we understand has acted in accordance with the legality regarding compliance with his tax obligations”.
Mrs. Ngozi Olojeme, former Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of former President Goodluck Jonathan campaign organisation has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the commission, told TheCable on Friday..
Ngozi Olojeme
"Yes, she (Olojeme) has been declared wanted," he said in response to a question from TheCable.
Olojeme, who is also the former chairman of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), was alleged to have diverted $48m of the organisation's fund.
"It was discovered that the NSITF accounts in First Bank of Nigeria and other banks have witnessed a total turnover of over N62,358,401,927 between 2012 and 2015 from the Employee Compensation Scheme contributions," an EFCC report detailing the allegations, read.
"That out of the N62bn, the federal government contributed N13,600,000,000 while the sum of N48,758,401,927.80 was contributed by the private sector. That there were several payments to individuals and companies from the NSITF bank accounts for purported contracts or consultancy services.
"That some individuals and companies that received these payments, in turn, transferred part of the monies directly to the NSITF officials while others transferred huge sums to bureau de change operators who changed them to dollars."
"That through this process, Dr Ngozi Olojeme, the then NSITF board chairman, has collected a total sum of $48,485,127 from Mr Chuka Eze (her account officer at FBN), which cash he collected on her behalf being the dollar equivalent of monies paid to BDCs by NSITF contractors.
"That she has refused to honour invitation and all efforts to get her to come and tell her own side of the story have proved abortive hence her arrest warrant has been obtained from court.
"We ask for the EFCC chairman's approval to declare the suspect wanted."
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects alleged to have been involved in armed robbery and kidnapping.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr Abiodun Odude, on Friday in Ibadan, said the suspects were responsible for the spate of robberies in Akobo and other parts of the state.
He said that their arrest followed their latest attack on Wisdom Estate, Akobo, Ibadan, at about 2am on June 3.
Odude said that the suspected bandits attacked residents of the Estate and robbed victims of their valuable properties and cash.
"During a raid carried out by the Idi-Aro Police Division, one of the suspects was arrested and some of the jewellery and mobile phones earlier snatched from victims during the robbery operation were recovered from him.
"His arrest and subsequent confession led to the arrest of other members of the gang by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the command.
" More stolen items were recovered from the suspects who confessed to have carried out several armed robbery operations in Egbeda , Olodo and other places in the state," he said.
The CP said that the suspects used machetes to maim and kill innocent victims.
Odude said that three of the victims who sustained severe machete cuts on the head, stomach and hands were lying in critical condition at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Ibadan.
Newsmen report that some victims who were present to identify the robbers at the parade ground narrated how the suspects terrorised the entire estate.
According to them, the bandits forcefullly gained entry into their homes breaking walls, windows and burglar proof.
One of the victims explained how the robbers killed two of his security dogs and inflicted machete cuts on his grandmother during the operation.
Items recovered from the suspects include three long cutlasses, five finger rings, 10 different mobile phones, 12 assorted wristwatches, two gold pendants, a pair of gold earrings and 13 different criminal charms.
Arsenal must spend more on wages if it hopes to keep players away from global competitors, former midfielder Emmanuel Petit told said Friday, adding fans also needed to lay off embattled manager Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger holds the FA Cup trophy on the pitch after their win over Chelsea in the English FA Cup final football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley stadium in London on May 27, 2017. Aaron Ramsey scored a 79th-minute header to earn Arsenal a stunning 2-1 win over Double-chasing Chelsea on Saturday and deliver embattled manager Arsene Wenger a record seventh FA Cup. / AFP PHOTO
It is 13-years since Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ won the last of his three Premier League titles and the club has just come through their worst season in two decades.
Former French national Petit was at the heart of Arsenal’s glory days under Wenger but he said fans risked fixating on that era without understanding the present.
“I think that at times it has gone much too far (criticism of Wenger),” he said in Bangkok where Petit was taking part in the first-round draw of the EFL’s newly rebranded Carabao Cup.
“I think that, once again, people have been suffering from amnesia. I think that they tend to focus on what happened in the past, rather than the whole picture.”
Wenger has spent much of the last year facing down a growing fan rebellion against his long tenure that looks unlikely to subside unless the team returns to their winning ways.
A surprise FA Cup win against Premier League champions Chelsea last month briefly lifted supporter spirits and was followed by the news that Wenger had signed a new two-year contract.
Wenger now faces a tough task of attracting new talent and keeping his best players.
For starters, he has to persuade Alexis Sanchez to sign a new contract amid rumours the Chile forward will attract offers from Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Sanchez and team-mate Mesut Ozil are both holding out for weekly wages of around £300,000-per-week and have just one year left on their current deals.
Petit, still sporting his trademark ponytail, said Arsenal has no choice but to compete on wages.
“I think it’s time now for Arsenal to be competitive both in the transfer market but also in terms of its wage structure, because all the big European clubs are forced to spend crazy sums of money now,” he said.
“There’s so much competition nowadays, you see it with China, where you have clubs which are able to offer 40 million a year to the top players in Europe, obviously that upsets the market.”
Wenger’s transfer mishaps have left Arsenal lacking presence in midfield and bereft of an instinctive finisher, while their myriad defensive woes were exposed time and again.
Majority shareholder Stan Kroenke is ready to give Wenger £100 million ($128 million, 114 million euros) to spend, with Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez, Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe and AC Milan’s Carlos Bacca all linked to the Gunners.
Asked what he thought about Mbappe, Petit replied: “A kid who no-one had heard of six months ago and now is worth more than a hundred million euros, you know what I mean… things move very fast in football.”
Kaduna – The Gender Awareness Trust, on Friday urged the Kaduna State Government to legislate against early marriage, so as to provide adolescent girls with opportunities to live productive and meaningful lives.
The group made the call in Kaduna while unveiling a new tool kit in Hausa language developed to guide faith leaders preach against early marriage and providing opportunities for adolescent girls to excel in life.
The event was organised as part of activities to mark the Day of the African Child.
The group said that the government must intervene to delay the time for marriage and allow girls acquire meaningful education.
Tida Leo, the group's Project Officer, called for the domestication of the Child Right Act in the state, to insure the welfare and safety of children, as well as protect them from violence.
"The Kaduna State Government, CSOs and other concerned citizens should support institutions to give proper care to children with disabilities and children caught up in violence."
Leo stressed that Muslim and Christian leaders should use scriptural evidence to influence the attitude of their congregation to stop early marriage and allow girls access to educational and empowerment opportunities.
On the tool kits, the project officer said it was developed "as a guide for faith leaders to adequately address specific issues that negatively affect the social and economic growth of girls in Northern Nigeria."
She explained that the group had targeted 12 communities in Kaduna State to ensure that faith leaders there use the Hausa tool kits to campaign for better lives for girls.
The tool kit is tagged in Hausa as `Inganta yin zabi da bada dama ga “yan mata masu matsakaitan shekaru -Kundin aiki ga Shugabannin Addini.'
Leo stressed that the main message was to highlight the increasing challenges faced by young girls due to lack of economic empowerment and education.
She stressed that culture had played significant role in denying young girls opportunities to explore their potentials in life, with some forced to abandon school and marry early.
"Religious and traditional leaders can significantly influence the behaviour of the society and individuals to ensure that girls have better opportunities in life," she said.
A 20-year-old US woman was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Friday for ordering her teenage boyfriend to follow through on his long-planned suicide and for failing to save him from harm.
Michelle Carter broke down in tears and sobbed into a tissue during the 20-minute juvenile court hearing in Massachusetts, which is likely to break new ground in a state that has no law against encouraging someone to commit suicide.
Conrad Roy, 18, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in his pickup truck in a parking lot in July 2014.
The trial heard that Carter and Roy exchanged hundreds of text messages in which the young woman, who was 17 at the time, urged him to follow through on his plan to kill himself, to conceal it from his parents and lie to his mother.
But Judge Lawrence Moniz said it was her instruction to Roy to get back into the vehicle — during a telephone call after he stepped out — and her failure to sound the alarm that was crucial to the conviction.
Failure to take reasonable steps to alleviate the risk to another “can result in a charge of manslaughter,” he noted in his decision.
“This court, having reviewed the evidence and applied the law thereto, now finds you guilty on the indictment charging you with the involuntary manslaughter of the person Conrad Roy,” Moniz told the packed court room.
Carter, who waived her right to a jury trial, faces up to 20 years in prison. She will remain on bail until sentencing on August 3 in Taunton, south of Boston.
In the closely-watched case, legal experts had questioned whether Carter’s actions were enough to secure a conviction under involuntary manslaughter.
The defense argued that Roy had been on a path to suicide “for years” and sought to minimize Carter’s role in her boyfriend’s life, saying the pair were in a “long-term texting relationship” and had met in person only a handful of times.
The judge agreed that Roy had been “struggling” and “took significant action” himself, such as extensive research, securing a generator, water pump, parking his vehicle in an unnoticeable area and starting the pump.
– ‘No action’ –
“However he breaks that chain of self-causation by exiting the vehicle, he takes himself out of the toxic environment,” Moniz said.
He did the same thing during previous attempts on his life, pausing to tell someone — first a parent and then a friend who got him help.
But it was different when he told Carter, in July 2014.
“Instructing Mr Roy to get back into the truck constitutes wanton and reckless conduct by Miss Carter, creating a situation where there is a high degree of likelihood that substantial harm would result to Mr Roy,” the judge said.
In subsequent text messages to friends, Carter admitted to hearing him coughing and the loud noise of the motor, the judge noted.
Prosecutors told the trial that the defendant stayed on the telephone listening to her boyfriend as he died in the truck.
“She called no one,” Moniz said, despite knowing where he was and having his family’s telephone numbers. “And finally, she did not issue a simple additional instruction: ‘get out of the truck’.”
The judge rejected a theory of involuntary intoxication raised by psychiatrist Peter Breggin, a defense witness who testified that Carter’s own medication would have hindered her state of mind.
Conrad Roy’s father, who has the same name as his son, welcomed the verdict, and thanked the judge before bursting into sobs.
“This has been a very tough time for our family,” he told reporters.
“In reality there are no winners here today,” prosecuting attorney Katie Rayburn said.
“Two families have been torn apart and will be affected by this for years to come. With that being said, we fervently hope that today’s guilty verdict will bring some measure of justice to the friends and family of Conrad Roy.”
Keffi (Nasarawa State) – Striking workers of Nasarawa State Government on Friday said that non-payment of their salaries had made them to break Ramadan fast with only water.
In interviews in Keffi, the workers called on the government to pay them their three months' salary arrears and other entitlements to save their families from hardship.
The workers began an indefinite strike on May 12 to press home their demand for payment of salary arrears, and regular promotion of workers, among others things.
A teacher, Alhaji Garba Audu, said: "I am a teacher with the state Ministry of Education.
"For more than three months, we have not been paid our salaries, and this has caused untold hardship for us and our family members.
"To have money to buy foodstuff to break Ramadan fast is a problem; most of us break our fast with water due to the non-payment of our salaries.
"Fasting has a lot of blessings from Allah, and every Muslim is expected to partake in it; hence, the need for the state government to pay workers' salaries.''
He appealed to the state government to meet the workers' demands to end the strike and restore industrial harmony.
Another worker, Mr Samson Dauda of the Ministry of Works and Housing, said that the strike had also negatively affected all sectors of the state economy.
"To meet my basic needs and those of my family members is a challenge. For over three months now, we have not been paid. This is not fair,'' he said.
Hajiya Maryam Sani, who works with the state Ministry of Agriculture, told NAN: "Most of us are breaking our Ramadan fast with water, which is not supposed to be," she said.
She also appealed to the government to meet the workers' demands to alleviate their suffering.
Some other workers, who pleaded anonymity, accused the state government of neglecting its civil servants.
They said that no nation could achieve speedy development without the contributions of its workforce.
They urged the government to meet their demands.
Mr A. Adeka, who was recently removed as the Chairman of the workers' union, announced the suspension of the strike on May 26, saying that the government had begun meeting the workers' demands.
However, on May 27, Mr Bala Umar, who replaced Adeka, told the workers not to resume work, saying that the government had yet to meet the demands.
The state Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, on May 29, said that the workers were not on strike as far as he was concerned.
He warned that any worker who would not resume work, would be taking a risk.
Calabar – Mr Christian Ita, Senior Special Assistant and Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, says the directive on dress code for public servants is yet to be implemented. Governor Ben Ayade Ayade recently gave an order to members of his cabinet to wear only clothes made from the Calabar Garment Factory beginning from June 1.
The factory, which produces finished clothing items, is a brainchild of his administration.
Ita who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Calabar, in a telephone interview said that the Cross River Garment Factory was yet to begin mass production. .
"Presently the garment factory is only producing on demand from organisations and institutions; they are yet to have sales outlet in Calabar or elsewhere.
"The governor's directive has not actually taken effect but I know that the clothes worn by all the cabinet members during the June 1 inauguration of the factory by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo were produced at the factory, '' he said.
He added that, already some organisations have placed orders at the factory including the National Peace Corps of Nigeria and some government schools in Akwa Ibom state.
Ita further stated that the recent commissioning has increased the volume of activities in the factory, adding that, it has boosted the economy of the state.
"The inauguration has added momentum to the production process and we believe that, in no distant time, the fabrics from the factory will hit the Calabar market and spread to other parts of Nigeria.
"And in a matter of time too it will go global, as you know, it is the largest garment factory in Africa, '' he said
Similarly, an economist, Dr Richard Agan, said the directive, if fully adhered to, would improve local production of clothes in the factory.
Again, a lecturer in the University of Calabar, further suggested that the state government should employ competent hands in the factory with a view to meeting the trending designs and styles.
Also, Mr Chukwudi Azinta, a businessman, said he was waiting for the factory to open sales outlets in the Calabar metropolis, adding that such outlets could be effectively managed by seasoned businessmen.
Azinta added that with the short distance from the factory, it would be easier for him to stock his shop with varieties from the attires.
Meanwhile, a source closed to the governor's office who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the governor's directive was not backed with additional increment in salaries "to make his orders effective.''
"In view of the current economic recession, it will be difficult to enforce the decision of the governor without cash backing.
"The governor's directive is in line with his mandate to promote the true Nigerian dressing culture but it will be best implemented if our pay package is increased,'' the source said.
Lagos – Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, said the Federal Government invested the sum of N200 billion on roads in 2016.Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi ADEOSUN
According to the minister, the amount is part of N1.2 trillion earmarked for capital projects to ensure ease of doing business.
Adeosun said this on Friday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bloomberg Chief Executive Officer roundtable held in Lagos.
She said that the N200 billion was against N90 million earmarked for road construction in 2015.
According to her, government will continue to prioritise infrastructure development to unlock growth potential.
The finance minister said that diversification of the economy would not be achieved without a good transportation system and power supply to improve ease of doing business.
She said that the country was vast, adding that to actualise its potential, infrastructure development was crucial for sustainable growth and development.
"For the past two years in Nigeria, the road had been rough in economic terms but the worst times are over and we have the opportunity to grow,'' she said.
According to Adeosun, Nigeria cannot rely on oil to grow, as oil contributes 10 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and 60 per cent of the government revenue.
"We must not rely on oil but must use the oil revenue to generate activities in other sectors of the economy.
"We cannot benchmark ourselves with Saudi Arabia because their oil production was far away from us.
"They have 30 million populations and generate 10 million barrels of oil every day and Nigeria with 190 million generates 2.2 million barrels of oil every day.
She added that the country must use the oil revenue to generate and stimulate activity in other areas of the economy.
"This is encapsulated in our recent release of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).''
The finance minister said that the country needed three things to grow, partnership with the private sector in service delivery, infrastructure development and effective revenue generation to ensure sustainable growth of the economy.
She said that government would strengthen revenue mobilisation by driving tax payment through tax collection strategy to achieve inclusive growth.
Adeosun lamented that the country had only 14 million active tax payers as against 69.9 million qualified tax payers.
"These practices harm Nigeria and this practice must stop,'' she said.
She added that only 214 firms in the entire nation pay tax of N20 million in the country, noting that all of these companies were based in Lagos State.
"If we want to grow, we must address this and we must step on big toes,'' Adeosun said.
She stated that more effective revenue generation and blockage of leakages were crucial to economic growth and development.
Lagos – The Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday moved a total of 493.27 million shares valued at N6.24 billion exchanged by investors in 5,474 deals.
The turnover was lower by 14 per cent when compared with 573.60 million shares worth N7.85 billion transacted in 6,584 deals on Thursday.
NAN reports that Lasaco Insurance emerged the most active, trading 87.01 million shares valued at N43.52 million.
It was trailed by Zenith Bank with an exchange of 73.67 million shares valued at N43.52 million, while Access Bank sold 64.01 million shares worth N639.99 million.
A breakdown of the price movement chart indicated that Nestle led the gainers' table, growing by N7 to close at N907 per share.
Presco followed with a gain of N3.44 to close at N72.33 and Okomu Oil increased by N3.44 to close at N70.18 per share.
Consequently, the All-Share Index improved by 12.72 points or 0.04 per cent to close at 33,810.56 against 33,797.84 recorded on Thursday.
Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N11.687 trillion rose by four billion naira or 0.03 per cent to close at N11.691 trillion.
On the other hand, Total Nigeria topped the losers' table, declining by N11. 50 to close at N271 per share.
Beta Glass trailed with a loss of N2.74 to close at N52.17 and international Breweries shed N1.90 to close at N26.05 per share.
Mobil Oil was down by 90k to close at N264.10 and Oando lost 32k to close at N8.36 per share. (NAN)
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