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It has been investigating the "dumping" of cheap wines in China - an accusation Australia denies.

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Prosecutors in Belgium say he planned an attack on an Iranian opposition rally near Paris in 2018.

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He has refused to concede the election but says he will quit if Joe Biden is confirmed the winner.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has denied announcing an increase in the hate speech fine to N5m despite video evidence.

Mohammed had announced the increase in hate speech fine during the unveiling of the Reviewed Broadcasting code in August.

Days after the announcement, the minister while featuring on a TVC programme on Friday, August 7, 2020, explained that the fine was increased to deter people willingly violating the provision to destabilise the country.

However, Mohammed in a counter-affidavit in response to an originating motion filed to challenge the fine before a Federal High Court in Lagos by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, denied making the announcement.

Effiong is currently challenging the fine by the National Broadcasting Commission on Nigeria Info FM.

The radio station was fined for alleged hate speech.

Obadiah Mailafia, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, had alleged that a Northern governor was one of the leaders of Boko Haram.

“Paragraph 19 is denied. The 2nd defendant (Mohammed) did not announce an increment in any fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5,000,000 or any other because there is a governmental body or institution mandated to regulate and enforce the Nigerian Broadcasting Code,” an affidavit deposed to by a Litigation Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Sunday Ojobo, reads.

The minister further stated that the constitution allows for human rights to be suspended for the sake of national interest.

He wrote, “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for derogation from fundamental rights in the interest of public safety, public order and for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons.”

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A 50-year-old Nigerian living in the United States, Kamilu Boyede, has been shot dead at his home in South Ida on Wednesday by some gunmen.

The incident occurred around 3:00am on Wednesday, a statement by Captain Wendell Nicholson of the Wichita Police Department, said.

Captain Nicholson said neighbours called the police after seeing a door left open at a home in the 600 block of South Ida.

“We talked to some neighbours in the area and they indicated that this morning at about 12:30, they saw an unknown male walking in the area.

"They were concerned because earlier this morning they heard some shots fired, they didn't call the police, but this morning when they walked past the residence in the 600 block of South Ida, they saw the door was ajar so they contacted 911," he said.

Recall that another Nigerian, Alexander Nwogu, was shot dead in upper North-West Washington on Monday, October 5.

One of his best friends and classmates said Nwogu graduated in May from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree and had just started working at a consulting firm in Northern Virginia.

A police report said Nwogu suffered blunt trauma to the back of his head and a single gunshot wound to the middle of his back.

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Gunmen, who kidnapped the wife of a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Delta State University, Abraka, have demanded a ransom of N10m to set free their victim.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, the victim's husband, Sunny Ojoboh, revealed that the kidnappers had established contact with him and demanded N10m to free the woman.

Lamenting how Nigeria had degenerated to the current state of insecurity, Ojoboh appealed to abductors of his wife to kindly release her unconditionally, adding that those, who kidnapped her were boys from the area.

The victim, who is a staff of Erho Secondary School, Abraka, was kidnapped on Monday evening at her shop on old Eku-Abraka Road by gunmen numbering about five.

The kidnappers, it was learnt, also made away with her Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle.

Delta State Police Command spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, had said the police were already on top of the situation to rescue the victim.

 

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The House of Representatives on Thursday frowned at the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for concealing information on its expenditures.

The lawmakers also asked the corporation to open up its books on all the expenditure incurred on Joint Venture Cooperation, pipeline maintenance, rehabilitation of refineries.

The House committee on Petroleum (Upstream), made this known during the 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget defence of the NNPC at the National Assembly.

Chairman of the committee, Musa Sarkin Adar, expressed displeasure at the attitude of the NNPC management for not coming up with the details on the expenditure during the financial year.

He said, "Most of your details are not projected at all. On expenditure of the pipeline you never gave us any details, a budget of N57.90bnn, we need to know the details. Your JVC is negative. Rehabilitation of the refinery, you didn’t give status of the refinery as of now."

Though he commended the NNPC management for presenting the corporation’s budget for the first time to the parliament, as well as its contribution towards the introduction of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

"Going by what has happened initially, most of the problems come from NNPC, they see PIB as something that could undermine them and take away their privilege and rights. We appreciate them for cooperating to bring the PIB at this very important time. Nobody wants their power ceded so I salute their courage,” he added.

Responding to questions by members of the committee, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, assured the National Assembly of transparency and accountability.

He said, "We need to see that every data we have is available to this National Assembly, we are not hiding anything. On details of the gas project we have track of how much was spent on all projects and we will provide all.

"On details of pipeline security, we have 5000 kilometres of pipeline, we have 13 fuel depots, apart from two pipelines, others are not active. We cannot flow products into these lines, because they have aged. But the real reason is that the level of vandalism activities on these lines is gross and profound

"When I came on board we sought support of investigative agencies to contain this. In 2019, from January to June we’ve lost petroleum products close to N43bn in just one night in six months stolen and that level of loss have come to less than N3bn. We’re proud to have done this but to this we maintain an architecture of security which is needless in a very sane environment. This is reality, the alternative is to do nothing.

"In terms of production, our estimate for production is 1.88 million barrels per day away from the 2.3 initially down in the 2020 budget."

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Armed robbers on Thursday attacked a bank at Ode Irele under Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing one person in the process.

According to an eyewitness, the bandits numbering nine stormed the bank at about 4:10pm, carting away an undisclosed amount of money from the bank.

The witness said the robbers gained entry into the bank after using explosives to destroy the security door.

"The robbers started shooting sporadically to scare people away and to ease their escape after robbing the bank.

"While they were shooting, stray bullets hit one person and he died while others were injured," he said.

Tee-Leo Ikoro, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters on Thursday.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opposed the release of Senator Ali Ndume from Kuje Correctional Centre.

Ndume was remanded in prison for standing as a surety for ex-Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who has absconded trial.

Ali Ndume See Also Politics Federal Court Orders Remand Of Senator Ndume Over Disappearance Of Maina 0 Comments 3 Days Ago

 

Justice Okon Abang had ordered that Ndume be detained at the Kuje Prison as the facility’s management has also restricted visit due to COVID-19 restrictions.

At the hearing of his bail application on Thursday, Ndume's lawyer, Marcel Oru, moved the bail application, saying Ndume should be freed as being a serving senator in the National Assembly, The Nation reports.

Oru said his bail application was intended to have his client released from custody pending the determination of his appeal, which he said, could take a while.

He argued that the court had the power to grant his client’s application, noting that it was not intended to make it sit on appeal over its earlier decision.

Oru pleaded with the court to show sympathy for his client, who he noted had spent four days in custody over the “despicable conduct of Maina”.

"Only God knows from the lesson learned, whether a Nigerian with a good heart will ever stand surety for anyone anymore," he added.

The prosecuting lawyer, who argued that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the bail application since the appeal had not been entered, faulted Oru’s contention that sending his client to prison amounted to double jeopardy when he should have only forfeited the bail bond.

Abubakar added that the remand order was not indefinite but pending when he met any of the three conditions set by the court.

“What was forfeited by the applicant before this court is the bail bond of N500m and not the property in Asokoro. The property in Asokoro is the security for the bond and the forfeiture of the bond cannot by itself actualise itself.

“And that was why the court ordered that the applicant should pay the bail of N500m in satisfaction of the fulfilment or we sell the property and recover the bail sum.

“So, it is our submission that our selling of the property is dependable on the inability or failure of the applicant to pay the sum of N500m. And, until he informs us of his inability, we cannot go ahead and sell the property. This is to forestall double payment,” Abubakar said.

Justice Abang after listening to arguments by the lawyers, adjourned until Friday for ruling.

 

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Oba Adegoke Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon under Ose Local Government Area Ondo State, has been murdered by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, SaharaReporters can report.

Oba Adeusi was killed on Thursday evening at a spot around the Elegbeka axis of the town.

The monarch was returning to his palace from Akure, the state capital, when he was killed.

A security source told our correspondent that Oba Adeusi was earlier kidnapped before he was killed.

The source said, "The king had earlier attended the meeting with all Obas in Akure and while on his way he was kidnapped which caused apprehension in the community.

"But while we were trying to ensure his rescue, we saw that he had already been killed by the kidnappers. It is very sad.”

 

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The Kano State Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal of the death sentence on Yahaya Aminu-Sharif, a musician sentenced to death for a song deemed blasphemous against Prophet Mohammed.

The case was heard on Thursday (today) by the appellate court in the state.

The musician through his lawyer, Kunle Alapinni, prayed the court to declare the Kano State Penal Law 2000 (Shariah court) is unconstitutional, null and void, having grossly violated and conflicted with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.

He also urged the appellate court to quash the judgment of the Sharia court.

The court presided over by Justice Nuraddeen Sagir, however, reserved judgment, adding that the date of the ruling will be communicated to both parties.

The court also reserved judgment in the case of 17-year-old Umar Farouq sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

The case was also handled by Alapinni, who sought the quashing of the Sharia court and its judgments.

The United Nations and rights groups have condemned the sentence of the Sharia court over its infringement on fundamental rights.

The UN held that international law protects the expression of opinion and beliefs, “including what is seen to offend religious sensibilities”, adding that applying the death penalty for alleged blasphemy also violates Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law.

 

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At least three persons were killed following an attack by gunmen suspected to be bandits in three villages under Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The affected villages are Magami, Tungar Haya and Sabon Sara.

It was learnt that the gunmen stormed the villages on motorcycles on Wednesday night and started shooting sporadically, forcing the locals to flee to nearby villages.

Spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Shehu Mohammed, confirmed the incident.

He said the bandits killed three persons and carted away food items in the affected communities.

 

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The Nigerian Government has sought the help of the United States and Niger Republic in tracking the whereabouts of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, who has conspicuously missed all his court appearances in the past weeks.

He is suspected to have fled the country with his son, Faisal, who has also jumped bail.

File Photo: Maina in court ChannelsTV

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission made the revelation in a counter affidavit it filed against the bail application for Senator Ali Ndume, Maina’s surety.

Ndume was detained on November 23 and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility pending the reappreance of Maina or the forfeiture of his N500m bail bond.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had revoked Maina’s bail, ordering his arrest over his failure to appear in court.

The counter-affidavit reads in part, “The prosecution has obtained the bench warrant and it is making frantic efforts to execute it while enlisting the support of other security agencies in the country as well as some foreign governments, particularly the Republic of Niger and the United States of America."

Ndume’s lawyer, however, appealed to the court to show mercy and release his client, who had spent four nights in detention, The Nation reports.

Justice Okon Abang adjourned the matter until Friday for ruling.

See Also Corruption Court Commences Trial of Maina In Absentia As Ndume Passes Night At Kuje Prison 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

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An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olamide Sadiq, has told Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, how a former Senate President and ex-governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, diverted funds belonging to the Kwara State Government to build private houses at 17 and 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.

The EFCC had secured an order of interim forfeiture of the properties, which was published in The Nation Newspaper of October 25, 2019.

Subsequently, the anti-graft agency had approached the court for a final forfeiture of the properties, prompting the court to fix a date for both parties to call deponents and witnesses.

Testifying before the court, an operative of the EFCC, who was led-in-evidence by Nnaemeka Omewa narrated how investigation indicated certain infractions relating to monies withdrawn from the state's treasury during the administration of Saraki spanning 2003 to 2011.

He also told the court that findings necessitated the extension of investigation to the accounts belonging to the state and to interview more persons believed to be in the know of how monies withdrawn from the accounts of the state were paid into the GTB account of Saraki.

According to Sadiq, those interviewed during investigation said that there was a directive from Saraki that the money withdrawn be given to one Abdul Adama, a personal aide of the former governor.

He said, "As part of investigation, we wrote to GTB requesting for the bank statement of Dr Bukola Saraki, and there was need to interrogate Mr Bayo Abdulrahman Daudu.

"We were able to lay our hands on some of the documents but some had been mutilated; the documents showed several payments of money withdrawn from the state coffers and deposited at various times into the account of Saraki domiciled in GTB.

"From investigation, these properties in question were purchased with loan obtained from GTB which was paid off with money withdrawn from the state, deposited into Saraki's GTB account to defray the loan.

"The same period the money were withdrawn from the Government House account, they were deposited into the account of Saraki."

Earlier in the course of proceedings, Omewa had also called on Yusuf as a witness, who also corroborated his role in withdrawing money from the Government House account based on the instruction of his boss, Isiaka Kareem, then Controller, Finance and Account at the Government House, to be given to persons on a list given to him by Isiaka. 

About N1,160,000,000 withdrawn from the government account was alleged by the EFCC to have been diverted over the period of investigation.

Saraki's counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), while cross-examining the witnesses, however, argued that in his personal status as an accomplished businessman before becoming governor, Saraki was capable of acquiring properties without government money.

The case has been adjourned until December 16, 2020 for final written addresses.

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The Afenifere group has decried the country's plunge into the worst recession in four decades, saying the five years of President Muhammadu Buhari has besieged Nigeria with abundant poverty.

The pan-Yoruba group also condemned the wanton and unchecked attack on farmers by herdsmen in the country.

Yinka Odumakin SaharaReporters Media

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the group signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin.

Afenifere blamed President Buhari for the country's economic situation, saying the country had become ungovernable under his administration.

The group said, "As Nigeria enters the worst recession in 33 years and the second in five years of Buhari, we are equally besieged by attendant poverty as well as insecurity worsening across the land with kidnappers, armed robbers and bandits on the prowl and government helpless and unable to govern effectively.

"The truth is that the country had virtually become ungovernable and unless we restructure and restore Nigeria to federalism, the country is on the brink of calkapse and God should save us from the worst-case scenario."

Afenifere urged the government to implement the report of 2014 conference now in order to salvage the country.

The group also called on the President to immediately open all the Southern borders in the country as it condemned the leverage given to Dangote and BUA companies.

It stated that it rejected "apartheid policy and demand the reopening of Seme and other Southern borders now".

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Former Chairman and chairmanship nominee of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the Nigerian Senate to pass the amended Electoral Act for assent by the President.

Yakubu made the call when he appeared before the Senate for the confirmation of his nomination for the second and final term as INEC Chairman.

Mahmood Yakubu

See Also Elections REVEALED: How APC Power Blocs Takeover Of INEC Endangers 2023 General Election 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

Yakubu also lamented the low turnout of voters during election as he called for a massive voter education.

He faulted the current electoral law in the country, saying it will continue to deny Nigerians the right to vote.

“We engaged about one million ad hoc staff during the last general elections. This means that the staff and others deployed for election duties did not vote.

“I want to appeal to the Senate to please expedite work on the Electoral Act so that we can conduct elections in an atmosphere of certainty.

“I hope you will give us electoral Act by the end of first quarter of 2021,” he said.

He also noted that the passage of the amended law will hugely contribute to the success of 2020 election.

See Also Scandal EXPOSED: How INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Allegedly Paid N3bn To Secure Reappointment 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

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Of the 19 places in the US that usually correctly pick the president, only one got it right this time.

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Activist Jolovan Wham faces large fines for violating public order in Singapore.

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The government is hoping for a quick victory in Tigray but it may not be that simple.

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The Jeeves and Wooster creator was the most English of novelists so why does he have fans in India?

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Genichi is the first student from a Japanese university with a master’s degree in ninja studies.

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Photographer Ian Brown travelled around the US in search of people's American dreams.

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People have taken to the streets as the government attempts to ban nearly all abortions.

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A million people are expected to pay tribute to the late Argentine football legend in Buenos Aires.

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Air force pilots are among military staff jailed for trying to topple President Erdogan.

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PM Abiy Ahmed says the military will try not to harm civilians and urged people to stay at home.

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The Supreme Court says attendance limits at places of worship in New York violate religious freedom.

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The whole squad is quarantined following six positives, after some members "contravened protocols".

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A former gymnast is thought to have jumped across the border fence undetected to flee to the South.