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Two snail farms in the US are now allowing top restaurants to switch from canned to fresh supplies.

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Pascal Siakam might have been a priest. Or a footballer. The path that led him to the NBA is not what you would call conventional.

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Why the government's move to stop stockpiling 15,000 tonnes of coffee led to a public outcry.

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Three young West Africans stole from their families to fund a trek to Europe, now they have to face the consequences.

Rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has told the Department of State Services to stop subjecting Nigeria to ridicule over the case of the detained activists, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare.

Falana said the DSS had constituted itself into an appellate court over the Federal High Court for asking Sowore's sureties to show up for verification before releasing him.

He explained that for the avoidance of doubt, no condition was attached to the order of the court for the release of both men.

He disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to the latest statement by the spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunanya.

The statement reads, “The SSS has now said that it is only appropriate that those who stood surety for Sowore present themselves and have him released to them.

“With respect to Sowore, we wish to state without any fear of contradiction, that the SSS has apparently constituted itself into an appellate court over the Federal High Court.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no condition was attached to the order of the court for the release of both detainees.” See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Those Who Came To Receive Sowore Are Unqualified, Claims DSS 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago

Falana further said that the DSS was aggravating the felony of contempt of court by asking sureties, who had been verified by the trial court to report in its office for an illegal verification.

He reminded the service that he and his colleagues, who were charged for similar offence by the military in May 1992 were released after they met their bail conditions.

He added, “On that occasion, the SSS never asked our sureties to report after they had been verified by the trial court.

“I demand for nothing less for my clients under the current political dispensation which ought to be anchored on the rule of law.”

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has quizzed the Registrar of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State, Mr Sule Atiku, and the Bursar of the institution, Mr Matthew Adejuwon, over alleged financial impropriety.

SaharaReporters gathered on Wednesday that the two men were 'drilled' for authorising the sum of N68m from the treasury of the school without due process.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said that, “The Registrar and Bursar of the institution were at the EFCC on Tuesday and they were quizzed over the role they played in allegedly misappropriating the funds of the institution.

“They were there with their lawyers and brought some documents to defend themselves.

“Our investigations showed that the Bursar had his authorised signature on some of the documents which also implicated him as an accomplice.

"Two of them (Bursar and the Registrar) were accomplices in the ongoing corruption and fraud perpetrated at the polytechnic.”

A senior management officer of the school also confirmed the questioning of the two men during a chat SaharaReporters.

He said, “Yes, it is true that the two men have honoured the invite of the EFCC and they have been quizzed but I don't know if they were detained. I noticed I did not see them in school today (Wednesday).”

When contacted on Wednesday evening over the matter, spokesperson for the institution, Mr Ojo Samuel, could not be reached as his telephone line was switched off.

Recall that the EFCC had last month invited and quizzed both the Chairman, Governing Board of the school, Mr Banji Alabi; the Rector, Gani Ogundahunsi; Deputy Rector (Academics), and Mr Olorunwa Lawson after a petition was received by the agency.

Some aggrieved lecturers of the school had accused the management of the institution of allegedly diverting and using some illegal means to misappropriate the school’s fund into private purse.

Sources at the EFCC had earlier told SaharaReporters that there are documents linking the principal officers of the polytechnic to the financial misappropriation. 

 

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has quizzed the Registrar of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State, Mr Sule Atiku, and the Bursar of the institution, Mr Matthew Adejuwon, over alleged financial impropriety.

SaharaReporters gathered on Wednesday that the two men were 'drilled' for authorising the sum of N68m from the treasury of the school without due process.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said that, “The Registrar and Bursar of the institution were at the EFCC on Tuesday and they were quizzed over the role they played in allegedly misappropriating the funds of the institution.

“They were there with their lawyers and brought some documents to defend themselves.

“Our investigations showed that the Bursar had his authorised signature on some of the documents which also implicated him as an accomplice.

"Two of them (Bursar and the Registrar) were accomplices in the ongoing corruption and fraud perpetrated at the polytechnic.”

A senior management officer of the school also confirmed the questioning of the two men during a chat SaharaReporters.

He said, “Yes, it is true that the two men have honoured the invite of the EFCC and they have been quizzed but I don't know if they were detained. I noticed I did not see them in school today (Wednesday).”

When contacted on Wednesday evening over the matter, spokesperson for the institution, Mr Ojo Samuel, could not be reached as his telephone line was switched off.

Recall that the EFCC had last month invited and quizzed both the Chairman, Governing Board of the school, Mr Banji Alabi; the Rector, Gani Ogundahunsi; Deputy Rector (Academics), and Mr Olorunwa Lawson after a petition was received by the agency.

Some aggrieved lecturers of the school had accused the management of the institution of allegedly diverting and using some illegal means to misappropriate the school’s fund into private purse.

Sources at the EFCC had earlier told SaharaReporters that there are documents linking the principal officers of the polytechnic to the financial misappropriation. 

 

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Ali Hameed, Director General of Customs

 

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday summoned the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), over the ban on petroleum products’ supply to border communities in the country.

Senator Tolu Odebiyi and another lawmaker, Ade Fadahunsi, had jointly sponsored the motion, forcing the upper legislative chamber to debate the issue.

Col. Ali had placed a ban on fuel supply to towns and villages that are 20 kilometres to border areas in a bid to curtail the smuggling of the product outside Nigeria.

However, the move is said to have led to untold sufferings for residents living in border towns.

The lawmakers called on Ali to explore the use of modern technology in tracking and managing the movement of petroleum trucks along border towns.

The Senate also asked the Customs boss to initiate a comprehensive audit of all petroleum stations and suppliers across the border communities.

 

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Ali Hameed, Director General of Customs

 

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday summoned the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), over the ban on petroleum products’ supply to border communities in the country.

Senator Tolu Odebiyi and another lawmaker, Ade Fadahunsi, had jointly sponsored the motion, forcing the upper legislative chamber to debate the issue.

Col. Ali had placed a ban on fuel supply to towns and villages that are 20 kilometres to border areas in a bid to curtail the smuggling of the product outside Nigeria.

However, the move is said to have led to untold sufferings for residents living in border towns.

The lawmakers called on Ali to explore the use of modern technology in tracking and managing the movement of petroleum trucks along border towns.

The Senate also asked the Customs boss to initiate a comprehensive audit of all petroleum stations and suppliers across the border communities.

 

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The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has told police personnel across the country not to use brute force in the discharge of their duties.

Adamu stressed that modern policing techniques required intellect, respect for extant laws, civility to citizens, knowledge, and sound professional judgement.

He made the statement while speaking during a ceremony to decorate 13 newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “In the discharge of your duties, however, you should appreciate that modern policing is no longer driven by the application of brute force but the deployment of intellect, respect for extant laws, civility to citizens, knowledge, and sound professional judgement.”

Adamu told the newly decorated officer that the entire country was looking up to them to exhibit sterling qualities in the discharge of their duties.

 

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The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has told police personnel across the country not to use brute force in the discharge of their duties.

Adamu stressed that modern policing techniques required intellect, respect for extant laws, civility to citizens, knowledge, and sound professional judgement.

He made the statement while speaking during a ceremony to decorate 13 newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “In the discharge of your duties, however, you should appreciate that modern policing is no longer driven by the application of brute force but the deployment of intellect, respect for extant laws, civility to citizens, knowledge, and sound professional judgement.”

Adamu told the newly decorated officer that the entire country was looking up to them to exhibit sterling qualities in the discharge of their duties.

 

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Omoyele Sowore SaharaReporters Media

 

Civil society group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Government no longer had any justification for detaining pro-democracy campaigner and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.

The group made this known in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju.

According to HEDA, attacks on protesters demanding the release of Sowore, portrays Nigeria in the grimiest image of an autocratic country that has no respect for the rule of law.

The group said, “There is no justification for the continued detention of the activist.

“The Nigerian Government will be held responsible for any evil that may befall Sowore.

“We condemn in the strongest term, attempts to frustrate the release of Sowore.” 

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Omoyele Sowore SaharaReporters Media

 

Civil society group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Government no longer had any justification for detaining pro-democracy campaigner and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.

The group made this known in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju.

According to HEDA, attacks on protesters demanding the release of Sowore, portrays Nigeria in the grimiest image of an autocratic country that has no respect for the rule of law.

The group said, “There is no justification for the continued detention of the activist.

“The Nigerian Government will be held responsible for any evil that may befall Sowore.

“We condemn in the strongest term, attempts to frustrate the release of Sowore.” 

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded in police custody a businessman known as Ifeanyi Okoli for allegedly imported 120,000 brands of substandard electric cables in 13 containers.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order following Okoli's arraignment by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria on a three-count charge of conspiracy and importation of substandard goods.

Okoli's sole co-defendant in the suit marked FHC/1/388/2019, is Natures Breeze Ltd.

The SON alleged that Okoli, 34, Natures Breeze committed the offence on or about October 31, 2019 and at the latter's warehouse.

Prosecution counsel, Babatunde Alajogun, said both defendants conspired to import "about 120,000 different brands of substandard electric cables in 13 containers, which did not comply with the SON’s Mandatory Industrial Standard before importation".

The offences, Alajogun added, contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.

Okoli pleaded not guilty to the charges, praying the court to grant him a short adjournment so that he could present his bail application.

He also prayed the court to remand him in police custody, pending a date to hear his bail application.

Alajogun did not oppose him. 

Justice Oweibo granted the defendant’s prayer and directed him to bring his bail application before February 27, 2020.

The judge adjourned till February 28 for hearing of the application.

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded in police custody a businessman known as Ifeanyi Okoli for allegedly imported 120,000 brands of substandard electric cables in 13 containers.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order following Okoli's arraignment by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria on a three-count charge of conspiracy and importation of substandard goods.

Okoli's sole co-defendant in the suit marked FHC/1/388/2019, is Natures Breeze Ltd.

The SON alleged that Okoli, 34, Natures Breeze committed the offence on or about October 31, 2019 and at the latter's warehouse.

Prosecution counsel, Babatunde Alajogun, said both defendants conspired to import "about 120,000 different brands of substandard electric cables in 13 containers, which did not comply with the SON’s Mandatory Industrial Standard before importation".

The offences, Alajogun added, contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.

Okoli pleaded not guilty to the charges, praying the court to grant him a short adjournment so that he could present his bail application.

He also prayed the court to remand him in police custody, pending a date to hear his bail application.

Alajogun did not oppose him. 

Justice Oweibo granted the defendant’s prayer and directed him to bring his bail application before February 27, 2020.

The judge adjourned till February 28 for hearing of the application.

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Fredrick Nwabufo

 

The Senate marshalled by Ahmad Lawan has been convincing in confirming the stereotypes and assumptions about the institution.

In July, I wrote about Lawan’s obsequiousness and desperation to please President Buhari whom he described as his “close friend”.

I say again, Lawan has been dutiful in his obligation of inking “rubber-stamp” on the Senate. Soon after he became Senate President, he assumed the “role of unofficial spokesperson” to Buhari and saddled himself with “interpreting maladies”.

And as a matter of fact, he has not relented in rising to the occasion as an “interpreter of inefficiencies”. Though he once vowed he would never be a “rubber stamp”.

Hear him: “During my campaign, I was called a potential rubber-stamp Senate President to the executive; maybe because I am close to the President, or because I believe in his cause. There is no time that I will ever be a rubber stamp. Yes, I believe in President Buhari as a person.”

Really, Lawan has been effortless in maintaining the “label”.

Last week, the Senate passed for second reading a bill to increase value-added-tax without a “debate”. Some senators protested not knowing the content of the bill because they were not given copies of it; so they cannot debate what they do not know.

Binos Yaroe, senator representing Adamawa South, raised a point of order, calling the attention of Lawan to this embarrassment.

Yaroe said according to the Senate’s rules, every senator was meant to have copies of the bill.

“Our rules say that printed copies of the bill shall as soon as possible be sent to every senator,” he said.

“We are at the stage of the second reading of this bill. I don’t know for others but I have not received the bill, I don’t know how we can debate a bill that we have not received,” he added.

But Lawan insisted that the vacuous debate would go on.

I wish the Senate will apply the same dispatch on critical bills that will address poverty, the parlous education and infrastructure, and executive corruption.

How can the legislature perform its function as an institution of check when its leadership is a consort of the executive?

I believe the legislature and the executive must work together in the interest of Nigerians but this does not imply succumbing to the influences of each another. That will be a confutation of the principle of separation of powers.

As I see it, the Buhari administration is employing Lawan’s Senate as a contrivance for legitimising unpleasant policies. This Senate, as a bedfellow of the executive, is the greatest danger to our democracy.

On October 29, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, said the government would regulate social media.

In his words: “I can assure you that we are also working on how to inject sanity into the social media space which, today, is totally out of control.

“No responsible government will sit by and allow fake news and hate speech to dominate its media space because of the capacity of this menace to exploit our national fault lines to set us against each other and trigger a national conflagration.

“That is why we will continue to evolve ways to tackle fake news and hate speech until we banish both.”

A few days after, a bill seeking to regulate social media was reintroduced by the Senate. The proposed legislation prescribes three years imprisonment as penalty for “fake news”. And afterwards, the Senate reintroduced the ridiculous hate-speech bill.

The hate-speech bill prescribes the death penalty for certain offenders, and it also proposes the establishment of a commission to fight “hate speech”.  How ludicrous?

Clearly, there is an umbilical cord connecting the Federal Government’s campaign against social media and these bills. But only a failing government will be afraid of citizens’ criticisms on social media or interpret civil actions as subversion. If the government was living up to expectations, it would not need to worry about social media.

Already, the Cybercrime Act covers some areas the hate-speech bill seeks to cup. So, why the bill if not to provoke fear and intimidate citizens to silence? Nigerians must resist this attempt to impair free speech!

@FredrickNwabufo

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A 31-year-old driver, Nasiru Ibrahim, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for stealing 1,200 litres of fuel.

Ibrahim was sentenced by a Jos Upper Area Court sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Plateau State, on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to stealing the item from a tanker laden with petrol.

The Judge, Lawal Suleiman, however, gave the convict an option to either pay a fine of N50,000 or spend five years in prison and to also pay N300,000 as compensation to the complainant.

The judge, while addressing the court, said the ruling would serve as a deterrent to those, who would want to indulge in such act of cheating.

The case was reported on October 10 at the Nasarawa Gwong Police Station by Ibrahim Haji of Rikkos, who is the complainant.

The prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Longwal, who said the offence contravened Sections 287 and 307 of the Penal Code, disclosed that the convict was entrusted with a tanker loaded with fuel and he sold 1,200 litres of the fuel valued at N162,000 and converted the money to personal use.

 

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A 31-year-old driver, Nasiru Ibrahim, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for stealing 1,200 litres of fuel.

Ibrahim was sentenced by a Jos Upper Area Court sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Plateau State, on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to stealing the item from a tanker laden with petrol.

The Judge, Lawal Suleiman, however, gave the convict an option to either pay a fine of N50,000 or spend five years in prison and to also pay N300,000 as compensation to the complainant.

The judge, while addressing the court, said the ruling would serve as a deterrent to those, who would want to indulge in such act of cheating.

The case was reported on October 10 at the Nasarawa Gwong Police Station by Ibrahim Haji of Rikkos, who is the complainant.

The prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Longwal, who said the offence contravened Sections 287 and 307 of the Penal Code, disclosed that the convict was entrusted with a tanker loaded with fuel and he sold 1,200 litres of the fuel valued at N162,000 and converted the money to personal use.

 

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Turkey has begun sending IS members to their home countries - even if they don't want them back.

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For the first time, the public heard evidence in the case to impeach US President Donald Trump.

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The waters in Venice peaked at 1.87m (6ft) flooding many of Venice's famous landmarks.

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Officials believe the three cows washed up on the Outer Banks after swimming for up to five miles.

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A pilot is in progress to see if invisible barcodes on packaging can improve recycling rates.