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Saturday 18 February 2017

Breaking News: Car plunges into Lagos lagoon



A car has plunged into the lagoon near the Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, the National Emergency Management Agency has said.

The number of occupants in the vehicle is yet to be identified, as an emergency rescue official said rescue efforts are currently ongoing.

Friday 17 February 2017

Omolewa Ahmed advocates compulsory vision screening for children

Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Kwara Governor has advocated a law that will enforce compulsory vision screening for children to before enrollment in government schools.

Ahmed made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin during her visit to the Children Hospital at Centre Igboro in Ilorin to influence immunization on children, as well as vision screening.

She stated that under the proposed law ministries in the state would be made to key into the programme of vision screening for Kwara children to ensure preventable blindness.

The Governor's wife who is Founder of Life Empowers Anchors Hope (LEAH) encouraged mothers to take children to immunization centres and also undergo vision screening as it is free of charge.

"Vision is important and we must ensure that out of negligence or ignorance our children are not exposed to blindness when we can take them for screening and get help," she said.

She said some of these cases of blindness are avoidable, adding that a child that is blind in young age will not have a qualitative life.

Ahmed also explained that recently over 200 blind citizens were empowered and N150,000 cheque given to them each to help them in their trade.

Speaking earlier at the occasion, Prof. Dupe Ademola-Popoola, an Ophtalmologist with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hosital (UITH) explained that the state government has enacted law that makes vision screening compulsory for children zero to five years.

She said because of the effort of the state government, a foundation; the USAID has shown interest in the project where they donated some equipment worth thousands of dollars.

The Ophtalmologist pointed out that a survey of 100 blind people carried out in the state suggested that, seven out of 10 where blind from childhood, while being hidden in that condition, till they are old enough to come out to beg for a living.

"Some years back, Nigeria rose to the challenge of fighting deficiency in Vit A and measles among children and they were successful," she said.

Ademola-Popoola disclosed that four health facilities have been designated as centres for the vision screening of children, adding that these centres would also act as training of staffs as well as centres for prevention of blindness and enhancement of sight.

N1.162bn Fraud: Judge Adjourns Dariye’s Case to March 2




Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, has fixed March 2, 2017 for further proceedings in the trial of Joshua Dariye, a former governor of Plateau State. He is facing a N1.162 billion fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice U.I. Bello had on January 23, 2017 thrown out Dariye’s letter seeking for transfer of his case to another judge, and ordered him to go and continue with the trial as his allegation of “manifest and undisguised bias” was baseless and unfounded.

The said letter dated December 13, 2016 had stalled the last sitting of January 18, 2017 prompting the trial judge to adjourn to February 15, 2017 pending the instruction of the CJ. Pwul had also brought before the court two motions, one which was dated December 6, 2016 asking for the “recall of some prosecution witnesses”, and the other dated December 13, 2016 asking the judge to disqualify his lordship from presiding over the case.

At today's sitting, Pwul who was sighted at the court premises was not in the courtroom, but instead sent Dashuwar Nantok to represent the defence. Dariye gave a rather wry smile as he took his place in the dock.

But the day’s proceeding could not continue, as Nantok informed the court that “we need time to reply to prosecution’s response to the two motions, which we only received on Monday, February 13, 2017”.

Prosecution counsel, O.A. Atolagbe, however pointed out to the court that “with the decision of the Chief Judge dismissing Dariye’s allegation of bias against your lordship, events seem to have overtaken the second motion”.

But the trial judge, noted that since “it has not been withdrawn by the defence, we’ll be back here on March 2, for adoption of motions and responses”.

EFCC Arrest Fraudulent ‘Investor’ for Alleged $154,146 Fraud

… Places inmate perpetrating fraud from prison under watch 


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 9, 2017 arrested one Benjamin Aduli for offences bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.

Operatives of the EFCC got wind of his nefarious activities through a petition by one of his victims. According to the petitioner, Aduli claimed that he could “help source for a loan facility of $30 million in Dubai” that would be used to finance Fleet farms, a company belonging to the petitioner.

Having convinced the potential investor of the “good deal”, he demanded for a contributory fee of $154,146 which he claimed would be remitted to ABA investment LLC in Dubai as “a condition for accessing the loan”.

Not sensing any foul play, the petitioner paid the said sum to a Micro Finance Bank on the instruction of Aduli, for onward remittance as promised.

However, since payment was made, no loan was provided for the petitioner, while the money was never returned. 

The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are elapsed.

Meanwhile, the EFCC is currently intensifying investigations into the shady activities of a serial fraudster, Adeolu Adeyanju, who in spite of being behind bars is still defrauding unsuspecting individuals. 

His fraudulent activities out of the prison yard, came to the fore after a complainant, a friend to a director at the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company, PPMC, petitioned the EFCC that Adeyanju conned him into paying him N9 million. 

His modus operandi was to clone the telephone number of the director, using same to instruct the petitioner to “make a payment for 50 trucks of petroleum products to Detwinx Global Services Limited”, which he did.

But on the receipt of the money, Adeyanju found a way to get N7.4 million transferred to a bureau de change operator, who converted same to its dollar equivalent, while keeping N1.5 million in his personal account. 

The suspect is said to have several aliases with which he uses to defraud people, and at the moment also has cases pending before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Police. He would be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded.

KWSG earmarks N2.5b for SME

Kwara State Government has earmarked a total sum of N2.5b for   small and medium scale enterprises agency scheme to support groups, associations, clubs and cooperative societies.

The state governor, Dr Ahmed who disclosed this at Government House, Ilorin during a visit by members of Joint Tricycle Association of Kwara State (JOTAKWAS), said his administration's initial capital of N250million for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises has grown had grown to over N2.5billion.

Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed promised more support for SMEs with a pledge of more subsidised   tricycles for transporters in the state as part of the administration's effort at creating packages for organised associations "so that they can begin to meet their economic obligations to themselves and the state in the area of prompt payment of taxes to government."

He also promised to support the association with take-off grant, a bus and an office secretariat with a view to seeing the association growing to become reliable, stronger and critical stakeholder in the state economic environment.

“We are going to workout on a clear need assessment to determine how many tricycles are required and begin to work on this.  Hopefully we will begin to see a more focussed association, well structured, well organized with specific service rendering to the system," he stated.

The Governor advised them to guide against infiltration by miscreants and criminals so that they will not be creating problem in the name of association for the state government stating the need to maintain law and order and pay their taxes regularly.

Earlier, chairman, JOTAKWAS, Duro Oyebade said restructuring of Tricycle Association by the state government has led to a reduction of violence and an improved revenue generation by the state government. Oyebade commended the governor for a purposeful leadership and efforts aimed at moving the state forward.

EFCC Docks Contractor for $1m Fraud

 

 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 16, 2017, arraigned one Bashir Ishaq Bashir alongside his companies, Leda Greenpower Consortium, Leda Greenpower Nigeria Limited and Leda Consortium Limited before Justice S.E. Aladetoyinbo of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, on a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and cheating to the tune of $1 million.
 
Bashir was alleged to have collected the said sum as part payment of a $3 million agreement from Althani Investments Company Limited for the purpose of forming a consortium to bid for shares at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company. The bidding failed and several attempts made by the company for a refund of the money proved abortive.
 
He pleaded "not guilty" to the charges when they were read to him.
 
Prosecution counsel, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, thereafter asked for a trial date.
 
Responding, counsel for the defendant, A.B. Anachebe, SAN, moved the motion for his bail application. 
 
Ezekiel opposed the application, arguing that "the defendant if granted bail will interfere with prosecution witnesses". He further argued that the application was not proper in the sense that the defence only mentioned the name of the first defendant without reference to the second, third and fourth defendants.
 
Justice Aladetoyinbo, while adjourning to April 10, 2017 for hearing granted him bail in the sum of N2 million and one surety in like some. The surety must be resident in Abuja and must have a landed property.

Pictures From Freedom Online Annual Lecture

First annual lecture of Freedom Online at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. In attendance...governors, deputy governors, politicians, policemen, activists, media chiefs, businessmen, opinion leaders. The roll call include, Lagos Deputy Governor,Abia Deputy Governor,Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel,PDP South West leader, Chief Bode George among other notables.

CBN makes further clarification on FOREX sale


 


The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a media report suggesting that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has issued a query to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over issues relating to the sale of foreign exchange. 


While it is perfectly normal for any agency of Government to seek clarifications on any matter from other agencies of Government, we wish to state that neither the Governor of the CBN nor the Director, Legal Services Department has received any communication with regard to the issue. 

The CBN, as a responsible and responsive arm of Government, will always provide clarifications on any matter within its purview for the purpose of educating and enlightening all concerned. 

Accordingly, we wish to reiterate our position by making the following clarifications: 
1. The CBN DOES NOT deal directly with any Bank customer on foreign exchange transactions. Such transactions are consummated strictly between the customers and their respective Deposit Money Banks (DMBs);

2. The figures of FOREX sale published in national dailies or on CBN website, over which insinuations are being formed, were transactions consummated between the DMBs and their customers;

3. Pursuant to our policy of transparency, we publish the reports of purchases and sales of forex between the DMBs and their customers, as submitted by the banks without editing. This practice of publishing the figures on our website has been on since October 2016;

4. Following observations of different exchange rates after the last publication on our website (www.cbn.gov.ng), we called for explanations from the banks concerned. 

5. In response to our queries to them, apart from some observed formatting errors, the concerned banks reported that the returns were sent on the basis which the transactions were conducted. The transactions concerned were consummated in third currencies such as Japanese Yen and South African Rand (YEN/ZAR); JPY/NGN, EUR/USD, USD/ZAR. As a result, there is no way any DMB or the CBN will deal in forex transaction at the rate of 61kobo/USD, N18/US$1 or N3/US$1, as was erroneously reported.

6. The aforementioned are third currency transactions and when properly translated, will be in line with the prevailing forex rate range in the interbank market.

Consequently, to prevent any such occurrence in the future, the CBN has directed ALL Deposit Money Banks to render their returns in a uniform format converting all forex sales and purchases to NGN/USD. All third currency transactions are also to be converted to NGN/USD. 

Again, we urge all concerned stakeholders to always verify information on matters relating to the Bank before going public in order not to trigger volatility in the market. 

The article was released by Isaac Okorafor, Ag. Director, Corporate Communications

LASG empowers vehicle inspection service

…commissions 36 operational vehicles, 20 power bikes

As part of efforts geared towards transforming Lagos into Africa’s model Mega City the Governor, Mr.  Akinwunmi Ambode has empowered the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) with 25 Pick Up Vans, 11 Saloon Cars and 20 Power bikes for enhanced operations.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the VIS yard, Ojodu Berger, Lagos, the State Acting Commissioner of Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said the gesture was designed to strengthen the Agency through the provision of institutional support for optimal service delivery.

Elegushi noted that the present administration has continued to provide working equipment to compliment road infrastructure renewal in the State and mitigate various challenges facing the transportation sector.

He expressed confidence that the operational vehicles and power bikes would go a long way to enhance the performance of VIS, while promoting safety and security of motorists and commuters alike. 

The Acting Commissioner enjoined VIS personnel to make good use of the vehicles and the power bikes in order to reciprocate the Government gesture and investment.

Elegushi, who also used the opportunity to inspect the newly built Ojodu Computerized Vehicle Inspection Centre, disclosed that plans were underway to provide computerised vehicle inspection centres across the State.

In his response, the Director, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, urged motorists to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles in order to reduce the carnage on the road.

Toriola disclosed that the State Government has invested heavily in establishing Test Centres across the State to meet the global standard and pledged that the VIS Officers would intensify efforts for improved service delivery.

First Millionaire Emerges in Skye Bank's Reward Promo Season II Draw

…..as Ayangburen of Ikorodu endorsed the reward
 
One lucky customer of Skye Bank Plc., OLUSOLA OLUSEGUN EZEKIEL emerged the first winner and a Millionnaire of the draw of the Bank’s flagship ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire reward promo’ season II which held today, even as the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi endorsed the initiative as life changing.
 
Forty other customers of the Bank also walked away with consolation cash reward of N100, 000 for 10; and N50, 000 to another 10 customers, while 20 loyal customers won N20, 000 with new customers who opened account at the venue winning consolation gift like Blenders, Standing Fan and Electric iron among other gift items.
 
The draw which attracted mammoth crowd of passersby and customers of the bank at the Popular Benson Bus-Stop, Behind BRT Motor Park in Ikorodu, Lagos State, saw the winner who incidentally is a customer of Skye Bank at the Ikorodu main branch of the Bank, emerged through an open and transparent electronic ballot.
 
The traditional ruler while giving sharing his personal story endorsed Skye Bank for its commitment at financial inclusion, building entrepreneurs’ and empowering SME.
 
He recollected how Skye Bank has encouraged him to save and later gladly advanced him overdraft facility from which he went on to record success and sustainable profit “and I have since remained a customer of the Bank till date, vouching for the integrity and responsiveness of staff and management of the and Bank while urging his subject and Nigerians to continue to patronize Skye which he described as a ‘truly Nigerian brand”
 
The new Skye Bank Plc., one of the fastest growing retail banks in Nigeria is using the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire’ promo to reward customers for their loyalty. Season I of the Reward Scheme produced over 37 millionaires, 48 customers won N250, 000 and over a 120 customers went home with N100, 000 each. Plus other household consolation prizes.
  
According the Bank’s Group Head, Retail, Mr. Ndubuisi Osakwe, “to participate in the draw, all you need as a customer or prospects, is to open any Skye savings account and make a minimum deposit of ten thousand naira. If you already have a Skye savings account, with additional deposit amounting up to N10, 000 minimum, you stand a chance of becoming our next millionaire”.
 
He added that: “The more additional ten thousand naira you have in your account, the more your chances to be one of the customers to be rewarded with one million naira and lots of consolation prizes. Other available cash prizes, according to Osakwe “are N100, 000 for 10 customers and N50, 000 to another 10 customers while 20 loyal customers will win N20, 000 every month.”
 
He reiterated that new accounts opened at the draw venue stand a chance of winning our instant gifts on the spot!”
 
The Banker further explained that “the first 200 re-activated accounts on a monthly basis will also enjoy our free gift of recharge cards. Other gift items provided to be given out as consolation prizes at tomorrow’s draw include: a table top fridge; a Generator; Table top gas cookers; Mobile phones; Blenders; Recharge cards and Table Top Gas Cooker.

Temple Management Is Nigeria’s Sony Music, Says 9ice



…Singer Signs New Deal With Management Company

Primed to chart a new direction for his career, Gongo Aso crooner, Abolore Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has joined the likes of Mavins Records and Iyanya by signing a deal with Temple Management Company.

The deal was consummated on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the corporate office of the company in Victoria Island, Lagos and witnessed by representatives of both parties.

While receiving 9ice, Idris Olorunnimbe, CEO/ Founder, TMC noted that 9ice still commands a strong place in Nigerian music.

“We recognize the foundation that 9ice has built and established, together we can build on and take it to newer heights,” Olorunnimbe said.
“At Temple Management Company, we do not gamble but believe in strategy and pinpoint execution,” he added.

He explained further, “With our team and structure, we are here to support 9ice to actualize his career goals. In 9ice, we see a brand that has an important and strategic core that we can expand.”





In under a year, the management company is now positioned as a powerhouse in the creative sector having amassed clients in sports, arts, media and of course, entertainment. Some of its clients include Don Jazzy, Mavin Records, Project Fame winner, Jeff and Iyanya,

In his remarks, 9ice said, “For me, this is the right thing to do at this stage in my career and indeed for any forward thinking artiste. When we started music, we grew with the knowledge that everything was all about the artiste; you are the manager, owner of the record label etc. We did this to the best of our ability.”

“This is the time to give experienced professionals the chance to take care of you because one will become the better for it.  Temple Management are like our own Sony or BMG in Nigeria. Any artiste who plans to grow need to work with the right people such as Temple Management Company.

On his new direction, 9ice said that with the backing of his new management, he is working assiduously to release new music and will explore an international fan base.

Twitter: @Iamancestor
Instagram: @official9ice

Court gives ex-minister Obanikoro seven days to settle defamation suit against Premium Times, Sahara Reporters

A Lagos High Court has ordered Musiliu Obanikoro, a former junior minister of defence, to settle before the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), within seven days, a defamation suit he filed against PREMIUM TIMES and Sahara Reporters.

The judge said Mr. Obanikoro should give a progress report on the suit on April 7, the next adjourned date.

The former minister had instituted defamation charges against the two media companies for their reports implicating him in the Ekiti State governorship election rigging scandal.

PDP lawmakers unhappy only APC visited Buhari in London

Some opposition lawmakers on Thursday questioned the non-inclusion of one of them in the National Assembly delegation that recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmakers, including House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, suggested there was a decision to exclude members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the visit even though one of them – Ike Ekweremadu – is the Deputy Senate President.

Notwithstanding, the PDP lawmakers —exactly a half dozen in total— who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES in separate telephone interviews ,Thursday evening, said they were happy to learn from the media that the visit was productive and the president was in good health.

The reactions came a day after Senate President Bukola Saraki travelled to the United Kingdom with Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Senate Majority Leader, Ahmed Lawan, to see Mr. Buhari in London.
The trio arrived in London around Wednesday evening and met with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. Buhari left Nigeria for London on annual vacation January 19, with a promise to return on February 6. He also noted that he would see his doctors while there and handed over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

But on February 5th, a day before he was due to return, the president sent another letter to the National Assembly, informing lawmakers of his intention to extend the trip until his doctors complete ‘a cycle’ of medical examination on him.

The prolonged absence, which came amidst raging economic crisis, got many Nigerians worried.
 
Although he had telephone conversations spread over several days with individuals, including Messrs. Saraki and  Dogara as well U.S. President Donald Trump, startling rumours about his health persisted.

But the visit by the National Assembly leaders on Wednesday helped convince many Nigerians that the president was not dead or bedridden.

Mr. Saraki declared in a Twitter update shortly after seeing the president that there was “no cause for alarm.”

Mr. Dogara reported Mr. Buhari was “fit as a fiddle.”

Why a Purple bird is all over your newsfeed - it involves fascism

If you're into your conspiracy theories you won't be alone in assuming any ubiquitous symbol is do with the Nazis.

Because Fascism in the world died 72 years ago and hasn't been heard from since. For sure.

In an unnecessarily convoluted prank; the leading lights of the alt-right would have you believe that they're convinced this purple bird sticker that's available on Facebook Messenger is a Fascist symbol - and therefore you shouldn't be using it.

Yeah. Sounds about as worth it as it is.

Maybe it's a Bohemian Grove thing.

gettyimages-2251108.jpg
Above, Grand Moff president Bill Clinton converses with one of his avian masters. (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

So what's this bird?

The purple bird, nicknamed 'Trash Dove' because of all the food in its mouth, seemingly from bins, is just a sticker.
trashbird-sticker-store-fb.jpg
'Trash Dove' (Picture: Sticker Store/Facebook)

You can use it to chat to your friends.
7e2.gif


It's not as good as DJ Pusheen, but nothing is. DJ Pusheen is a unchallenged classic.

The affectionately named 'Trash Dove' was created by Florida artist and Adobe creative resident Syd Weller.

It was released to fly freely through Facebook on 31 January 2017.

It went viral in Thailand and then it was used by lots of other people to respond to comments in an 'amusing' way.

Then this innocent fowl was corrupted

The alt-right are good at social media. Very good.

A study of white nationalist and neo-nazi Twitter accounts in 2016 found the most clicked on links were for apps such as 'Crowd Fire' which help increase your number of social media followers.

Using their powers for evil, weirdos on 4chan decided to freak out the anti-facists by pretending to appropriate the sticker.

And now we all have to have an opinion about it.

Or not. It's entirely up to you.

A Facebook sticker.

Those on the right have been having some fun with us.

Buzzfeed records numerous posts in which a the eagle emblem of Nazi Germany is dyed purple, and made to resemble the Trash Dove.
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Trash Dove, Pepe, and the emblem of the Parteiadler combined. (Picture: Medium/Screengrab)

The Neo-Nazis of 4Chan (Read: folks in their bedroom staring into the glow of their Dell) endeavoured to share Trash Dove enough times in order to associate themselves with it.

Predictably the censorship brigade began warning one another that Trash Dove was now a 'Nazi symbol'.

Which, it kind of was, because Neo-Nazis had appropriated it for their own use, even if they were just doing it for the banter this time.

Nazis are good at appropriating symbols. Take the Swastika, which has origins in several cultures that predate the National Socialist movement.

Unfortunately for some, the 'hoax' worked. Buzzfeed catalogued users on groups such as Occupy Democrats, warning one another not to use the symbol.

Elsewhere, groups warned users they'd be blocked if they used the 'white nationalist' symbol.

A Facebook sticker.
giphy-4-0.gif


Culture wars used to be about something.

Light and darkness. Knowledge and ignorance. Humility and pride.

Now we're just arguing over the image we use in place of words, on the largest social media network in the world.

Capitalism has won. We can all go home now.

You could try and elevate this to a discussion of 'What is art', 'Can an image really be owned by one interpretation?', and 'Does the intention of the artist matter?'.

But this is a Facebook sticker.

Not sure how many times that needs iterating.
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The far right do much worse on the internet, and in real life. Let's talk about that instead. Indy100

Gbenga Adeyinka's Laffmattazz 2017 Tour Beckons



•Laffmattazz is a brand created by Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st; a name synonymous with comedy and entertainment in Africa
 •For years, he has provided entertainment to the people of Nigeria through different mediums – comedy shows and television being his most popular

His annual Comedy Concert Laffmattazz with Gbenga Adeyinka and Friends was borne out of leaving the virtual space, and bringing comedy in its raw form to the people of Western Nigeria
For 6 years he has produced premium Comedy Entertainment for the people of Ibadan, Osogbo and Abeokuta. Where he entertained over 25 000 people annually.

This year for an encore, the cities of Ibadan, Abeokuta, Akure and Ilorin have been slated to host the Season seven of the successful and always sold out laffmattazz Series.

Discussion is already on with A class Artistes and corporate sponsors to make Season 7 bigger than all others so far.

Watch out!

5 Church Members Who Drank Anointed Rat Poison From The Pastor Are Dead

According to Popular UK Website Unilad This priest tried to prove his congregation were above death by feeding them anointed rat poison and the results were disastrous.



Priest Light Monyeki from Soshanguve, South Africa, took it upon himself to prove his follower’s were superhuman and immortal, with a seriously dangerous stunt.

anointed rat poison

The priest declared to his congregation they should not fear death, as they will not die, before proceeding to pour bottles of water contaminated with rat poison into their mouths…
He said:
We do not need to proclaim faith because we are believers. Death has no power over us.
Horrifyingly, many of his followers ran forward to take a fatal drink from the treacherous bottle.
The priest took a swig from the poison fluid before pouring it down the throats of his loyal congregation.

anointed rat poison

Disastrously, yet predictably, the members of his church started to complain of stomach pains and by the evening, five of them were tragically dead.

A further 13 more were taken to hospital for the ingestion of the lethal drink, but despite all of this Monyeki allegedly denied responsibility.

Surely he’s not referring to his poison drink as a ‘good thing,’ as I do not see how this could be possible in any way considering it killed five of his members.
 
The horrendous incident has sparked a police investigation, but no arrests have been made at present.
This is extremely dangerous and beyond stupid.

anointed rat poison

Police arrest man at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of planning terror acts

A man has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of planning acts of terror.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command say they arrested the 36-year-old this afternoon, in line with Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, after he arrived into the airport.

He is in custody at a west London police station.

A Met Police spokesman said they could not speculate as to whether he will be charged with an offence overnight.

It follows a 50-year-old man being arrested on suspicion of committing a terrorist act, after arriving from Cairo, at the busy airport hub last month.

A 29-year-old man was also arrested under the Terrorism Act last year before he was due to fly to Saudi Arabia.

Thursday 16 February 2017

New kidnapping worries albinos in Mozambique

In Mozambique’s northern province, months without news of an albino abduction have caused sighs of relief. That is, until now, and the abduction of a child in Ngaúma district.

Four individuals broke into a house while the family was sleeping and abducted a seven-year-old boy with albinism on January 31. So far, there has been no sign of either the kidnappers or the child.

The police are investigating the case. “At this moment, efforts are being made to rescue the minor,” corporation spokesman in the province Alves Mate says, although the authorities have not yet clarified the circumstances of his abduction.

This is not the first time that people with albinism have been abducted in the province. The abductions are related to superstitions which attribute magical powers to albinos’ body parts. Many end up being killed or maimed.

“Hands tied”
The provincial delegate of the Association of People with Albinism Trindade Guilherme says that the situation is more critical in rural areas. He says his hands are tied on the matter.

“Here, in the city of Lichinga, it has happened twice (albino kidnappings), one of the abductions even culminating in the death of the kidnapped young man. This is very troubling for us, and I do not know what we can do to overcome this situation.”

In Mozambique, there are laws that protect people with albinism, but authorities often fail to catch the kidnappers. Denunciations are few and police resources scarce.

Harder laws
The Mozambican province of Niassa borders Tanzania, a country considered to be the main market for trafficking in people with albinism. This poses several challenges for the Mozambican authorities, Guilherme says.

“It seems to me that Tanzania has already been able to neutralize [the trafficking], because the Tanzania has the death penalty and they use it rigorously,” he says, adding, however, that “it is not true to say that the problem has been overcome, because it is a really difficult problem to overcome”.

Guillerme says the situation requires tougher laws, rigorously enforced. “We albinos living here in Niassa province and in Mozambique generally, ask the government to at least try to create a law that can defend us, so we can move freely throughout the national territory.”