Sahara Reporters Latest News Friday 8th March 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 08/03/19
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target=_blank>Ecobank Employee Remanded In Prison For ‘Fraudulently Obtaining’ $60,000 In Major-General’s Name
Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded Anieka Udoh, who was arraigned alongside Ecobank Plc, on a five-count charge bordering on fraud preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were said to have fraudulently opened an account, withdrawn and converted the sum of $60,000 in the name of one Major General Umaru Mohammed, a customer of the bank, without his knowledge.
They also left a balance of $9.2million in the account.
Mrs. Bilkisu Buhari, counsel to the EFCC, told the court that Ecobank and Udoh committed the offence sometime in 2009 and 2016, respectively, with two accounts domicilled with Ecobank.
The offence contradicts section 7(3) of the Advance Free Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
The charges read: “That you, Ecobank Plc and one Anieka Udoh, whilst being an employee of Ecobank Plc, on or about the 28th day of January, 2016, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court negligently failed to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major General Umaru Mohammed fraudulently opened and operated an Ecobank Account No. 0015052989 in the name of Mohammed Umaru without the knowledge and authority of the customer, Mohammed Umaru and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 7(3) and (b) of the same Act.
“That you, Ecobank Plc and one Anieka Udoh, whilst being an employee of Ecobank Plc, on or about the 28th day of January, 2016, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court negligently failed to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major General Umaru Mohammed fraudulently opened and operated an Ecobank Account No. 0015052999 in the name of Mohammed Umaru without the knowledge and authority of the customer, Mohammed Umaru and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 7(3) and (b) of the same Act.
“That you, Ecobank Plc and one Anieka Udoh, whilst being an employee of Ecobank Plc, on or about the 23rd day of January, 2016, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court negligently failed to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major General Umaru Mohammed fraudulently withdrew and converted the sum of USD10,000.00 (ten thousand United States Dollars) from Mohammed Umaru Ecobank Domiciliary Account No. 4331361424 without his knowledge and authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 7(3) and (b) of the same Act.
“That you, Ecobank Plc and one Anieka Udoh, whilst being an employee of Ecobank Plc, sometime in 2009 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court negligently failed to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major General Umaru Mohammed fraudulently converted Major General Umaru Mohammed Ecobank Mastercard Account No. 0015052989 from debit card to credit card and consequently debited Major General Mohammed Account in the sum of over USD50,000 (fifty thousand United States Dollars) without the knowledge and authority of Major General Umaru Mohammed and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3)(a) and (b) of the same Act.
“That you, Ecobank Plc and one Anieka Udoh, whilst being an employee of Ecobank Plc, sometime in 2016 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court negligently failed to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major General Umaru Mohammed fraudulently converted Major General Umaru Mohammed Ecobank Domiciliary Account to Naira Account Number 0015052989 without the knowledge and authority of Major General Umaru Mohammed and consequently left a debit of N9.2million in the said Naira account and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 7(3) and (b) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge.
Subsequently, Justice Saidu adjourned to case till March 12, 2019 and remanded Udoh at Ikoyi Prison, pending bail.
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target=_blank> INEC To Conduct Supplementary Elections In 14 States On Saturday
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says supplementary elections would be conducted in 14 states of the federation, alongside the governorship and state house of assembly elections on Saturday, March 9, 2019.
He said the election would cover seven senatorial districts and 24 federal constituencies across the country.
Election materials have been delivered to various states and local governments areas.
He disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at the INEC headquarters.
According to Yakubu, the supplementary elections became necessary as a result of the disruption of the electoral process by snatching of ballot boxes, abduction of INEC officials, over voting and failure to adhere to the regulations and guidelines. He explained that the number of registered voters in polling units involved in each constituency were more than the votes received by the candidate with the highest number of votes, adding that the supplementary elections would determine the winner.
Full details of the constituencies involved have been communicated to the stakeholders in the affected states.
Mahmood said the commission would issue certificates of return to the elected senators and members of the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. Certificates of return for governors-elect and members of state Houses of Assembly would be presented by the Supervising National Commissioner and Resident Electoral Commissioners on a date that would be announced next week.
“As Nigeria goes to the polls this weekend, the commission expresses appreciation to the security agencies for securing the environment, without which largely peaceful conduct of the exercise would not have been possible,” he said.
He, however, emphasised that the commission would not tolerate making its officials declare winners under duress.
“We have once again reconfigured the card readers for the election on Saturday. The use of card readers is mandatory and there will be no exception to their deployment for accreditation of voters. Under our rules and guidelines, there are clear penalties for deliberate failure to deploy them on the part of our staff. Where such happens with connivance of communities, the results of the elections in the polling unit or polling units will be cancelled and zero vote recorded,” Yakubu stated.
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target=_blank>PHOTOS: Dapo Abiodun Visits Gbenga Daniel In Sagamu For Last-Minute Alliance
Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday visited Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of the state, at his Asoludero home in Sagamu to meet with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders.
With him on the trip were former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaja Salmot Badru; PDP Apex Chairman, Chief Mrs Iyabo Apampa; and PDP State Leader, Chief Ogunjobi.
Earlier on Thursday, Daniel, who was also Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organisation, directed PDP supporters in Remo, Ogun State, to vote for Abiodun, saying: “You would have noticed my studied silence in our local politics in recent times. I have busied myself with national politics, having served the state for eight years.
“I have also been very busy supporting the ambition of the son of our great philanthropist in Remoland to become the next Governor of our dear state. You, however, would have become aware of the court decision yesterday which did not favour him.
“Going forward, I have directed all our Structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences. I therefore, enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people.”
Below are photos form the meeting:
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target=_blank>Balance For Better: Society Must Be Deliberate In Breaking Glass Ceilings By Yinka Adeosun
“What a man can do, a woman can do better” is a popular cliché which seeks to juxtapose the two genders. Often times, it is raised when one, usually the female, is favoured above the other. But is it true that one gender is better than the other? History doesn’t support this claim.
The fifth Sustainable Development Goal, “gender equality” is a term that seeks to promote equal access to resources, opportunities. It underscores the realism that one gender is neither superior nor inferior to the other. The campaign seeks to abolish gender-based discrimination and all forms of human rights violation against women and girls in particular.
Over the years, society has assigned roles to the two genders. Perhaps because of their physiologies and the pre-dominant patriarchal cultures, the male is often seen as the stronger because of his physical attributes, and the female, because of her tenderness is labelled as the weaker vessel. This deep-rooted practice will require spirited efforts and unrelenting advocacy in order to have any significant behavioural change in the larger society. It is against this relegation of the woman folk that March 8 has always been celebrated as International Women’s Day.
The significance of gender equality cannot be over emphasised. A world where men, women, boys and girls feel equal and respected offers a high sense of security and complementarity. It is a requirement for peace and prosperity in the society, where discrimination will be brought to its barest minimum and potentials can be fully maximised.
Gender inequality is a real phenomenon in Nigeria. From the religious houses to work stations, men and women are segregated. The government is not excluded from such discriminations, despite its lip-service to gender quality. The ratio of men to women who are offered political appointments into the federal or state governments is still rather low. The story is the same in the National Assembly and state’s Houses of Assembly. Till date, there is no elected female governor in Nigeria, and it does not appear that this ugly trend may change soon; for she is seen as a second fiddle. The highest position considered for them has always been deputy governor. A shining light however can be seen in the Lagos State judiciary where women have held the forth in the last 5 years.
In the workplace, it is essential to ensure empowerment and equal opportunity without any form of disparity or gender bias as a matter of deliberate policy direction. The right that a new mother has to maternity leave is the same her husband has to a paternity leave. When companies oblige parents of this, it is good for everyone, including the new born baby. Unfortunately, women are still being treated, evaluated and stigmatised unfairly. About this time last year, it was all over the news that, out of over 100 staff that were disengaged by a telecoms company, 90 females were laid off over their marital status.The protection of male and female rights contributes to the productivity of the workforce and the overall wellbeing of the organisation.
No doubt, we are approaching a gender balanced society. But the task to abolish gender inequality is not a day job. The overbearing influence of culture, tradition, religion, prejudice and stereotype against women is a real challenge. The idea that the woman’s career ends in the kitchen or that the girl child should not be educated or that women should do all the housework is now being seen as in the past.
It is heart-warming to note that women achievements are now being celebrated and their responsibilities are not just confined to “the other room”. The media must give voice to their issues and accomplishments. Adeola Sowemimo, was recently showered with encomiums as the first female African to work as a pilot for luxury airline, Qatar Airways and fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. With continued campaigns and advocacy, the female child will continue to enjoy education which would give her the capacity to harness her full potentials.
Gender equality is practicable and achievable. Neither man nor woman is inferior to the other. Their biological make up may be different but their capacity to think and achieve in order to make a difference in our world remains the same. Their roles are to complement, rather than compete with each other. Their perceptions and interests would also differ. This does not suggest that one is inferior to the other. Both man and woman have their distinct peculiarities that makes both dependent on each other. None is self sufficient. This is the true meaning of balance.
Finally, gender equality should be seen as an inalienable right of persons, violation of which offenders will be prosecuted. This is a clarion call to government and all policy makers that it is high time that gender equality be included in the lawbooks and policy formulation process. Deliberate steps must also be taken to put system in place to execute and monitor it. According to the masked one, Lagbaja, in one of his lyrics: “Humankind may never find justice until we ensure justice between the sexes”. The balance of the sexes is a non-negotiable prerequisite for a better world.
Adeosun writes from Akure
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target=_blank>Shi’ites Accuse US Of Masterminding Killing Of Over 1,000 Of Its Members In Zaria
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shiites) and followers of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky have accused the United States of America (USA) of complicity in the mass killings of their members.
The group made their position known on Thursday in Abuja, through Abdullahi Mohammad Musa, the Secretary of the Academic Forum of the movement, at a peaceful protest at the US Embassy.
The protesters stormed the premises of the Embassy, carrying placards and chanting songs with negative messages to express their anger.
Musa accused the US of deceiving the world that they are human rights defenders, but “use it as camouflage to perpetrate their ulterior motives and atrocities”.
He bemoaned the role allegedly played by the US during the Zaria massacre, where “more than 1,000 members of the group were killed, while many others sustained injuries”.
He said: “There was the mass burial of more than 1,000 persons. Some of them were even alive. They were saying ‘I am alive, I am alive,’ but Nasir el-Rufai, under the order of the American Ambassador to Nigeria, ordered the Nigerian Army thugs to bury these people in a mass grave.
“Zaria Massacre is the greatest atrocity committed in Africa against human rights. America is pretending and deceiving the whole world that they are protecting human rights in the whole world. You are deceiving yourselves. It is clear now that you are the sponsor, the planner and executor of Zaria massacre and all the killings of innocent citizens in Nigeria. America is totally behind it.
“I want to remind you about Mr. el-Rufai’s intolerance and threatening words to his political opponents and his recent ‘body bag’ threat to foreign observers. As a result of Mr. el-Rufai’s hate speeches and role in Zaria massacre, numerous legal luminaries in Nigeria and abroad have tagged him for prosecution and sanctions.”
He said the group would not relent in demanding justice and the unconditional release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
The protesters marched to the embassy, which was manned by stern-looking, armed mobile policemen, and dared the security operatives to pull the trigger.
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*-cases-emmanuel-onwubiko target=_blank>Celebrities In Celebrated S** Cases By Emmanuel Onwubiko
The codification of the universal declarations of human rights (UDHR) became imperative prior to its writing in 1948 when humanity suffered some of the worst cases of mass killings and wars that led to the wanton killings of millions of members of the human race through the deployment by men of weapons of mass destruction. The first and second World wars perhaps occasioned the evolution of the universal principles of human rights.
The advent of these global human rights’ instruments and several other affiliate international laws have revolutionized the way we approach the issues of human rights and human developments.
The bringing into being of the Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR) can also be linked to the widespread practices of racial segregations in some societies and even the alienation of women from participation in electoral activities in their countries.
The outcomes of global-wide campaigns against racism, and the marginalization of the female gender led to political freedoms of diverse dimensions just as these new found freedoms have now opened a new frontier globally.
The latest frontier is the ongoing global wide conversations around the issue of sexual rights of minorities and women especially in the work places. With the exception of much of Africa including the largest black nation in the World which is Nigeria, celebrities from around the World and especially in the Western Societies are battling the different dimensions of accusations by ladies bordering on the sensitive and emotive thematic issue of sexual violations. In Britain for instance, a prominent official and parliamentarian was forced to resign due to proven case of sexual violation of a lady who brought up allegations. The United States of America is in the news constantly over many cases of sexual violations of women. Top rated musicians and movie makers have been named and shamed. But other commentators have blamed racism for the overwhelming volumes of allegations directed at hitherto iconic black celebrities by ladies who alleged that they were sexually violated ad children. This line of argument is shallow because even the most powerful Catholic clerics in USA and Australia who are both Whites have also been convicted of s** offences of kids.
The emerging realization and clamour for respect for the sanctity of respect for the sexual rights of all gender has even led to a formation of a group of global wide advocacy movement known as Me Too Movement. The following sources are rich in learning about these cases and they are; ‘Chicago Tribune’s piece on Prosecutors who revealed sordid details of s** abuse cases against R. Kelly; Harvey Weinstein Sexual harassment claims case from Yourtango.com; the complex list of sexual abuse allegation against Michael Jackson written by Molly Olmstead and from metoomvmt.org.
Specifically, the ‘me too.’ movement was founded in 2006 to help survivors of sexual violence, particularly Black women and girls, and other young women of color from low wealth communities, find pathways to healing. The vision from the beginning they said was to address both the dearth in resources for survivors of sexual violence and to build a community of advocates, driven by survivors, who will be at the forefront of creating solutions to interrupt sexual violence in their communities.
In less than six months, because of the viral #metoo hashtag, a vital conversation about sexual violence has been thrust into the national dialogue, they recorded.
In the eyes of observers, what started as local grassroots work has expanded to reach a global community of survivors from all walks of life and helped to de-stigmatize the act of surviving by highlighting the breadth and impact of a sexual violence worldwide.
From the website of Me too movement we are told that their work continues to focus on helping those who need it to find entry points for individual healing and galvanizing a broad base of survivors to disrupt the systems that allow for the global proliferation of sexual violence.
Their goal is also to reframe and expand the global conversation around sexual violence to speak to the needs of a broader spectrum of survivors. Young people, queer, trans, and disabled folks, Black women and girls, and all communities of color. According to the movement ‘We want perpetrators to be held accountable and we want strategies implemented to sustain long term, systemic change’.
The #MeToo movement started in earnest or went viral in 2017 when some big celebrities were implicated and accused by a retinue of ladies of sexually molesting or violating their human dignity. These celebrities are mostly based in the United States of America and they cut across all races, classes and status. They include:
R-KELLY
Prosecutors alleged Kelly sexually abused one woman and three underage girls in separate attacks over a span of a dozen years.
Prosecutors said Kelly’s 24-year-old hairdresser came to braid his hair on Chicago’s Near North Side in 2003, but instead he greeted her with his pants down and tried to force oral s** on her.
When she resisted, Kelly ejaculated on her and spit in her face several times, prosecutors alleged.
DNA recovered from the alleged victim’s shirt matches Kelly, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors alleged Kelly also sexually abused one underage girl who had sought his autograph while attending his 2008 trial in Chicago on child pornography charges.
The girl had s** with Kelly multiple times between May 2009 and January 2010, according to prosecutors. At times, he spit on her, slapped her in the face and choked her, they alleged.
She saved a shirt from one encounter and gave it to police in suburban Olympia Fields, where Kelly had a residence. Preliminary testing results show a DNA match to Kelly, prosecutors said.
Kelly met another victim as she celebrated her 16th birthday at a restaurant, Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Gonzalez said in court. The singer’s associate gave her Kelly’s business card, but her mother intervened. However, the girl took the card from her mother’s purse, contacted the singer and began having regular sexual contact with him, prosecutors alleged.
Prosecutors also have a videotape purportedly showing Kelly having s** with yet another girl, who was 14 at the time. High-profile attorney Michael Avenatti has said he recovered the tape and turned it over to prosecutors last month.
In ordering that bond be set at $250,000 for each of the four separate indictments, Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. called the allegations against Kelly “disturbing” and barred him from contact with the alleged victims or any witnesses in the case.
He also banned the singer from contact with anyone younger than 18.
Kelly’s attorney, Steven Greenberg, sought a lower bond, telling the judge that Kelly’s finances were in disarray, his record label had dumped him and that he posed no threat to flee.
“He’s lived here his whole life,” Greenberg said before making a reference to Kelly’s hit “I Believe I Can Fly.”
“Contrary to the song, he doesn’t like to fly,” he said. “He doesn’t travel unless he absolutely has to.”
Greenberg called the $1 million bond “exceedingly reasonable” and said he believed that Kelly could raise the necessary 10 percent — $100,000 — to win his release.
“He’s trying to get it together,” Greenberg said. “… He doesn’t have it sitting in the bank, sitting in a shoe box, sitting anywhere.”
As of 9 p.m. Saturday, the deadline to post bond, Kelly was still in custody at the Cook County Jail. As this writer puts pen to paper R. Kelly procured the bail but just Yesterday he was locked up once more for failing to pay child care of over $160,000 USD.
Media reports say Kelly, 52, who has been dogged by accusations of sexually predatory behavior for years, was indicted Friday on a combined 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for alleged misconduct between 1998 and 2010.
He reportedly turned himself in at the Central District station just after 8 p.m. Friday, emerging from a dark cargo van with tinted windows into a scrum of photographers and reporters. He was handcuffed and led into a lockup with a concerned look on his face.
The counts each carry a maximum seven years in prison upon conviction but could also result in probation.
During Saturday’s 17-minute hearing, Kelly stood facing the judge in a black hoodie with his arms behind his back, frowning at times as he kept his eyes downcast.
He shook his head several times in disagreement as prosecutors detailed their evidence, but he otherwise showed little emotion. At one point he leaned over to whisper something to his lawyer, who patted Kelly on the shoulder.
Several relatives of the alleged victims stood in the courtroom throughout the hearing.
Kelly’s appearance at the Leighton Criminal Court Building comes more than a decade after his acquittal on child pornography charges following a sensational 2008 trial at the same courthouse.
Three of the new indictments allege Kelly sexually abused three underage victims. The fourth indictment charged that Kelly sexually abused an adult in February 2003 – while he was free on bond on the then-pending child pornography charges.
The singer, whose legal name is Robert S. Kelly, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Kelly is scheduled to return to the courthouse Monday so a judge can be assigned to oversee his case and he can plead not guilty to the 10 counts. He gave an emotionally charged interview Yesterday to a US tekevisiob channel denying all the allegations. The next celebrity is Harvey Weinstein.
Mr. Weinstein, now 65, is being taken to court to face accusations of sexual harassment toward women that worked with his company. These accusations go back for decades
While there are some that believe these allegations are false since it has taken twenty years for them to come to light, the women in question are telling quite a different tale and explaining it simply as a man in a ridiculously powerful position using his role to suppress their claims.
A-list actresses like Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan are prominent in this case.
While Ashley Judd has come forward to put her remarks against the producer “on the record,” Rose McGowan has been fairly silent, only tweeting support from her personal account every so often.
Though McGowan hasn’t come forward and publicly made claims, the Times uncovered the fact that Weinstein paid her $100,000 after something “happened” between her and Weinstein in a hotel room. At the time, McGowan was only 23 years old.
Ashley Judd, on the other hand, said that years ago Weinstein invited her to the Peninsula hotel for a “meeting.” While there, she was directed to his room where he “appeared in a bathrobe and asked if he could give her a massage or if she could watch him shower.” She left as quickly as possible.
According to Judd, “Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it’s simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.”
Weinstein has allegedly paid out settlements to at least eight women since 1990.
In the same report released by the Times, some of the accusations by these women included “sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact.” These allegations come from many women—assistants, colleagues, models—and each of them was paid small sums of what was likely “hush” money to keep their silence, anywhere from $80,000 to about $150,000 apiece.
One of the women, Lauren O’Connor, even wrote a memo regarding the harassment to executives at his company in 2015. Nothing was done.
Known sexual harassment victims’ lawyer Lisa Bloom is his attorney.
He is being represented, quite shockingly, by Lisa Bloom—a litigator famous for her representation of sexual harassment victims and oppressed women. This news came as a surprise to many, including Bloom’s own mother, attorney Gloria Allred. Allred, a prominent feminist attorney known for her work as a victims’ rights advocate who is well known for representing many of Bill Cosby’s accusers, said that she would not have chosen to work for Weinstein in light of his charges.
Something important to note, however, is that Weinstein recently optioned the rights to Bloom’s book about Trayvon Martin, Suspicion Nation, in March of 2017. Many people believe that this is the reason that the woman most famous for representing people like Blac Chyna, Mischa Barton, and even many of the women from the Bill O’Reilly harassment case chose to represent a man who clearly has a significant history with sexually harassing women. After Bill O’Reilly was fired in April, Bloom had famously tweeted, “When women speak our truth the old order shatters. We slayed the dragon.” The biggest of them all is no more the matter is nevertheless sensational. His daughter and estate have vigorously defended him. Be that as it may, Michael Jackson is a subject of a controversial documentary Leaving Neverland, whereby Two men accused Michael Jackson of molesting them when they were children.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck are not the first to accuse Jackson.
Recall that the singer paid out about $25 million in a settlement with the family of one accuser in 1994 and was tried and acquitted on separate charges of sexual abuse in 2005. In total, Jackson has now been publicly accused of abusing five boys.
Jackson maintained his innocence until his death in 2009, and his estate has continued to fight the allegations, announcing recently that it was suing HBO for $100 million over charges the documentary had violated a non-disparagement agreement. The lawsuit called the documentary a “posthumous character assassination” and “a one-sided hit piece,” and Jackson’s family said the attacks on Jackson amount to a “public lynching.”
Here are the details about allegations against Jackson.
Jason Francia, who was 24 at the time of the trial, testified that Jackson had molested him on several occasions while tickling him. Francia’s mother was employed by Jackson as a maid. Francia said that “every time I was being tickled there was some sort of exchange of money”, with the understanding that he would not tell his mother
Jordan Chandler, the alleged victim in the 1993 child abuse allegations, left the country rather than appear as a witness
Gavin Arvizo was 15 when he testified. He claimed that, after Living with Michael Jackson aired, Jackson had begun serving him and his younger brother wine and making sexual advances. He said that Jackson had masturbated him to ejaculation after they drank alcohol, and then told him that if men do not masturbate, they “might rape a girl
Gavin’s younger brother, Star, told the court that he had twice seen Jackson molest Gavin. He also said that Jackson had displayed his erection and masturbated in front of them, telling them that “everyone did it” and encouraging them to try it. Star testified that Jackson had given the boys alcohol, sometimes in soda cans, and which Jackson called “Jesus juice”. Star also said Jackson had showed the brothers internet pornography on his computer. The Guardian described Star as a “hapless witness for the prosecution, forgetting crucial details that he had revealed to the grand jury, even when prompted by the prosecution.
The question we need to ask is why the African Continent is so silent about these vital issues even when the continent is a notorious hub of sexual violations of women and kids?
Why are there no movements strong enough to evolve a continental wide conversations so the sexual rights of African women are comprehensively highlighted and the predators named, shamed and prosecuted.
In Nigeria there is a clear legal framework of human rights litigation. The National Human Rights Commission is severely wrakened by government any way. But there is a large pool of organised civil rights movements. But they don’t care about this global trend of awareness of women to defend their sexual rights.
There is also the Administration of criminal justice Act of 2015 which has abridged time within which cases can be done. Sadly, Nigerian laws on sexual offences are archaic and are in urgent need of reforms. This must be done. Nigeria must not continue to pretend that her girls are not being sexually abused by men holding influential positions both in the public and private sectors. We need to embrace civilization.
*Emmanuel Onwubiko heads Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and blogs @ www.huriwanigeria.com;www.huriwa.blogspot.com; www.emmanuelonwubiko.com;www.thenigerianinsidernews.com.
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target=_blank>HEDA Asks Court To Mandate CJN To Probe $5m Bribes ‘Collected By Ganduje’
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to mandate the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to investigate the $5million bribery allegations levelled against Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State.
In an application filed at the Federal High Court, HEDA is seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to launch a thorough investigation into the bribery allegations against the Governor.
The court case has already been assigned to Justice Ojukwu, and comes up on March 21 at Court Eight.
In October 2018, a series of videos in which Ganduje had been caught on camera receiving kickbacks from a contractor had been published by Daily Nigerian. The video series also prompted an in-house investigation by the Kano State House of Assembly.
HEDA is seeking an order directing the Chief Justice of the Federation to investigate the allegations against Ganduje based on Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act 2000 (as amended).
The rights group said an independent counsel should be appointed to investigate the grave allegations against the Kano State Governor.
HEDA said it earlier requested the CJN to investigate the matter via a letter of request “which met official brick walls”.
In the written address to support the application, citing Fawehinmi vs I.G.P (2002) 7 NWLR. 767, where the Supreme Court said: “The prerogative writ of mandamus is issued or ordered by the Courts to secure or enforce the performance of a public duty,” HEDA said “the essence of the judicial review was as mandamus to secure or enforce the performance of a public duty”.
According to HEDA, a group, Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy, had called for investigation into the matter, after which the state House of Assembly began a probe into the allegations.
However, in December last year, the state House of Assembly suspended the probe following a state High Court order, banning the House from investigating the allegations.
Ruling on an ex parte application filed by one Muhammad Zubair, national coordinator of the group, A.T. Badamasi, a judge, had asked the lawmakers to suspend the probe.
Baffa Dan-Agundi, chairman of the committee investigating the allegations, said his members had received a court order to halt the probe.
“We have received a court order that we should stop investigating the video clips showing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje allegedly collecting bribe,” he said.
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target=_blank>DSS Arrests Ex-LG Chairman Ojo Asein For ‘Kidnapping’ APC Lawmaker
Hon. Ojo Asein, the former transition Chairman of Owan West Local Government Council of Edo State and a serving member of the Edo State House of Assembly, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the kidnapping of Hon. Ohiro Ezomon.
DSS operatives hinted our correspondent that Asein has numerous questions to answer, and has therefore been detained at the Abuja Headquarters for questioning.
Ezomon had defeated Asein in a blood-soaked primary election contested by the duo.
Asein was fingered in the kidnapping of Ezomon due to the violence he allegedly visited on the All Progressives Congress (APC) state officials delegated by the party leadership to conduct the primary election a few months ago, and on other local party members at the venue of the APC primary that produced Ezomon as Asein’s successor for the March 9 election.
One of the APC state officials delegated to conduct the primary election, who asked not to be named, told our correspondent that Asein and his thugs chased them away from the local government headquarters, the venue of the primary at Sabogida-Ora, until they sought refuge in the house of former Deputy Governor, Rev. Peter Obadan.
“I have, all my life, never seen such bloodthirsty notorious political gangster who likened himself to quasi-mythical political figures like Asein,” said the APC official.
“Asein and his band of thugs chased us with the electoral materials to Rev. Obadan’s house with cutlasses and guns. We were held hostage for over seven hours in Obadan’s house while vehicles were destroyed and burnt, and human skulls broken amidst clatters of bumming guns.
“It took the intervention of the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, through phone calls to Asein and his collaborators before we could manage to escape to Benin City via Owan East route.”
APC’s chieftains in the local government have spoken of Asein’s boastful grandstanding that he has the backing of the Governor and that Oshiomhole and the Deputy Governor combined are too small for him to deal with.
Friday Okele, APC Ward 08 chair in Owan West, attests to Asein’s brutal political thuggery and intimidation: “I was attacked and brutalized by Hon. Ojo Asein and his army of thugs for refusing to support his second term ambition because his first and second time asChairman and House of Assembly member for three years running were colossal failure.”
Okele presented his litigation suit to the press with pictures of his battered face and body injuries along with Asein’s apology letter to him and his lawyer to withdraw the suit against him.
As Chairman of the local government, it was alleged that Asein corruptly enriched himself to the tune of N15 billion, set the council account department ablaze and killed the council account staff/officer, Mr. Friday Ohiorenuan, who vowed to expose Asein’s illegal looting of the council funds.
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target=_blank>JUST IN: One Day After His Disqualification, Court Upholds Danladi As APC Gov Candidate In Taraba
Acting Gov. Danladi
A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the disqualification of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State.
On Wednesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, had disqualified Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, the Taraba APC governorship candidate.
The court had based its decision on allegations of false declaration of age by Danladi in the documents provided to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, on Thursday, the Abuja Court of Appeal overturned the ruling.
Details later…
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BREAKING: Court Clears The Way For Dapo Abiodun To Contest Ogun Gov Election
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the disqualification of Dapo Abiodun, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ogun State.
One Abdulrafiu Adesina Baruwa had filed a suit against Abiodun, alleging that he made a false claim about his educational qualification in the Form CF001 and the accompanying affidavit he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Baruwa’s suit, Abiodun did not participate in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
However, giving his ruling on Thursday, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court 15, dismissed the case on the premise that the NYSC certificate is not a constitutional requirement for electoral office.
The court ruled that Abiodun is qualified to contest in view of Section 177 of the Constitution.
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