Yemen court sentences President Trump, Saudi king, and Crown prince to death for alleged war crimes

A Yemeni court has issued death sentences against ten defendants including President Donald Trump, Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for alleged war crimes. 

The case against the defendants was held in their absence at Houthi-run Specialised Criminal Court in the Yemeni governorate of Saada over the Saudi-led coalition’s attack on a bus full of young boys in Dahyan in the Majz district

The Houthi-owned Yemen News Agency (SABA) confirmed that the court issued death sentences to Donald Trump, Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Norton Schwartz for their alleged roles in the attack. 

Commander of the Saudi Air Force, Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, Yemen’s Vice President Ali Mohsen Saleh Al-Ahmar, Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher, Defence Minister Muhammad Al-Maqdishi, and former US Defence Secretary James Norman Mattis were also sentenced to death.

The news agency indicated that the defendants are also required to pay a $10 billion fine to families of those killed in the 2019 airstrike.

The charges related to an airstrike which reportedly hit a school bus, killing 51 people including 40 children

The news agency reported that: “The prosecution has registered its partial appeal to the fifth paragraph of the verdict, regarding the right of those included in the indictment. Thus, the court has not decided on it yet. Private prosecution attorney, Hamdan Shani, joined his appeal to the prosecution’s appeal, while the defence attorney, Abdel Wahab Al-Fadhli, reserved the right to appeal on behalf of the defendants.”

Okorocha Indicted In N106 Billion Contract Scam .

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has stated that the Justice Benjamin Iheka-led Commission of Inquiry on Contracts awarded between 2011 and 2019 in the state only indicted former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha. 

The Governor said the commission did not indict any other former governor of the state as falsely reported by some news media. 

The commission submitted its report to Governor Uzodimma on Monday, indicting the Okorocha regime and saying it uncovered fraudulent contracts worth over N106 billion which the regime should be made to refund. 

The governor said the commission’s investigation covered the award of contracts during the period of Okorocha’s administration from 2011 to 2019 and not 2006 to 2019 as erroneously reported by some newspapers.

 He clarified that former governors Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim are not indicted in contract scam, asking various media houses which have already reported so to refute it. 

The governor urged the public to discountenance the report as the probe period did not extend to their regimes.

Anambra Govt Approves Resumption Of Schools Monday September 7

Governor Willie Obiano and the members of the Executive Council have approved the gradual resumption of schools in the state. 

Following the approval, the Ministry of Basic Education has released the approved timetable for the completion of 2019/2020 Academic session as well as the schedule for the state examinations.A release signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic Education, Mr. Nwabueze Nwankwor, said Junior Secondary Schools will resume on Monday, seventh September, 2020, while boarders are to return the weekend before the date. 

Also, third term 2019/2020 Academic session for both primary and secondary schools will begin on Monday, fourteenth September 2020 to end on twenty-third October, 2020 while boarders are expected to return the weekend before the date.The release noted that the third term is quite short and schools are expected to make maximum use of time since it had continued to teach students at home through various e-platforms including the Anambra State Teaching on Air, which it says, will continue as it kicks off a phased reopening of schools and watch the health implication.It also directs parents to provide hand sanitizers and face masks for children.

EDUCATIONBREAKING: Sanwo-Olu Orders Reopening of Tertiary Institutions,Announces Dates

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced date for the resumption of tertiary institutions in the state.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that primary and secondary schools are scheduled to re-open from September 21.

Speaking during his regular briefing on the state’s COVID-19 status, on Saturday, the governor said tertiary institutions would reopen from September 14, 2020.

“This decision is not cast in stone and is subject to review of our ongoing modelling and what procedure comes out from the Ministry of Health,” Sanwo-Olu said.

NEWSDaily Trust Reporter Assaulted By FFK Bags ‘Resilient Journalist’ award

The Sha’aya’u S-Pawa Foundation, a political group in Zamfara state, said arrangements are in top gear to give an award of ‘Resilient Journalist’ to Mr. Eyo Charles.

Charles was the journalist verbally assaulted by a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani -Kayode in Calabar, Cross River at a media conference.

He had accused the journalist who sought to know in a question who was bankrolling his program.

He has however since tendered a public apology for the verbal attack.

The group in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Foundation, Alhaji Sha’aya Sarkin Fawa in Gusau on Friday, said that the group saw the maturity with which Charles handled his attacker.

The group said, “We feel he deserves strong respect and recognition”.

The group also said that “Fani-Kayode had earlier visited the Zamfara and left on its tray some controversies that are still fresh in the memory of the people.

“The good journalist posture displayed by Charles gives more hope and belief to Nigerians that we still have good media professionals in the country

As Nigerians, we strongly believe that if the former minister is truly the activist he claims, he should come out in the public domain and answer the question asked by Charles.”

The group added that “we will organize a befitting ceremony to give this award very soon after we reach out to Charles.

Aggrieved Northern lawyers pull out from NBA over El-Rufai; form a new body

Some Northern lawyers who are against the decision of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to disinvite Governor Nasir El-Rufai from its Annual General meeting, have pulled out of the group and formed a new body to be known as the New Nigerian Bar Association.

The NBA on August 20, withdrew its invitation to Governor El-Rufai to the AGM after some lawyers demanded for it. Some lawyers argued that Governor El-Rufai had over the years abused the rights of people who are under his care.

Members of the Jigawa and Bauchi state chapter of the NBA pulled out of the AGM over the cancellation of the governor’s invite.

In a statement jointly signed by Nuhu Ibrahim and Abdulbasit Suleiman, the new association said recent developments within the NBA have “exposed the inability of the NBA to manage and contain the heterogeneity of its members as well as their various interests”.

The statement in part reads

“Its penal powers has been deployed discriminatively on the basis of ethnicity and regionalism. 

As a body of lawyers who have undergone training towards ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights and liberties, the NBA is supposed to live above sentiments, regionalism and discrimination on any basis and of any kind. Therefore, the NBA cannot afford to be seen not to be upholding the rights and freedom of its own members if at all, it should be seen to be practising what it preaches.

The New Nigerian Bar Association have been watching the activities of the NBA, an association we all looked forward to joining with high hopes before being called to the Nigerian Bar, forcing idiosyncrasies of few on the majority of its members, especially in recent times.

No wonder, NBA NEC, which is the highest decision-making organ of the association failed to uphold the fundamental principles of fair hearing which in itself, is the fundamental aspect of Rule of Law, on the allegations against the Executive Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as were contained in a petition by Chidi Odinkalu Esq. a long time foe of His Excellency and a lawyer of eastern extraction, but the NBA failed to extend the same treatment to Southern invitees who were also petitioned and are also alleged to have committed similar or more human rights abuses than those alleged against Mallam El-Rufai.”

The aggrieved lawyers argued that their interests are no longer taken into consideration in major decisions of the NBA hence the formation of the new association.

“A cursory chronicle of the membership composition of major organs of the NBA would reveal lopsided representation despite having large numbers of lawyers from all parts of the country and especially northern Nigeria who have diligently paid their bar practising fees and have distinguished themselves in the legal profession,” it read.

The New Nigerian Bar Association feel that lawyers, as professionals like doctors and accountants should have more than one association regulated by the general council of the bar.

The legal practitioners’ act (LPA) which regulates the legal profession in Nigeria did not establish the NBA. In fact, the NBA was established as an incorporated trustee by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

It is no longer gainsaying that a group of lawyers can freely join any lawful association for the protection of their rights and interests as lawyers and citizens of Nigeria pursuant to the above-cited section 40 of the constitution.

Even section 1 of the LPA, which seemingly conscripted all lawyers in Nigeria to mandatory membership of NBA is, for all intents and purposes, at loggerheads with Section 40 of the constitution which makes the former null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

“The more you try to practice feminism as a woman, the more harm you bring upon yourself” Woman warns

A woman took to Facebook to warn other women about feminism. 

Tabugo Violet Amaka said “feminism has done more harm than good to our Nigerian women, most especially to our single ladies.”

She warned that women who try to practice feminism  bring “harm” upon themselves.

She added that culture needs to be respected and that there are certain decisions and actions that women should not be allowed to make or take, no matter how rich or educated they are. 

She further stated that “till Jesus comes, gender equality will never be adopted here in Nigeria.”

Read her post below.

Joro Olumofin takes legal action against Tunde Ednut in the US as their beef intensifies

Relationship expert, Olumofin has taken legal action against instagram blogger, Tunde Ednut.

Both men have been fighting each other online since last year after Tunde Ednut began claiming that Joro’s posts are fake and not from readers as he claims. Joro hit back by claiming Tunde Ednut was deported from the UK and is living is the US illegally.

For weeks, Tunde has continued posting subliminals directed at Joro. Joro has now taken legal actions.

Joro filed a complaint against Tunde with the US Department of States for cyberstalking and criminal defamation, and for allegedly overstaying his visa in the US.

Joro made this revelation on Instagram and shared screenshots of the court documents.

Daily Trust reacts to viral video of FFK lashing out at its reporter

News publishing platform, Daily Trust, has released an official statement reacting to the viral video of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, lashing out at one of its reporters, Eyo Charles.

A video of FFK lashing out at Mr Charles during his tour in Calabar, Cross River state surfaced online on Tuesday, August 25.

Read the statement from Daily Trust below..

Robber arrested after trying to rape a widow in front of her kids

A notorious laptop and phone robber identified Tope Oladiran has been arrested by the Lagos state police after preying on a woman at Ori-Okuta, Agric area of Ikorodu around 11pm on March 29, 2020.

Police spokesperson for Zone 2 Command, Onikan, DSP Hauwa Idris Adamu said the suspect attempted to rape a lady in front of her kids after preparing a meal in her kitchen. 

Oladiran who escaped after the lady raised an alarm, was arrested through native intelligence in Akute axis of Lagos where he was relaxing in a hotel.

The statement read; 

The last operation Tope went for which led to his arrest was when he preyed on a woman at Ori-Okuta, Agric area of Ikorodu about 2300hrs on 29th March, 2020: Tope was unable to rob the woman of her mobile phone before she went into her compound but he somehow got to know that the woman lives alone with her two (2) children in the compound.

The suspect Tope Oladiran ‘m’ did hang around until later that night when he scaled the fence to gain entrance into the compound and was able to enter the building through the kitchen, went upstairs and hit the woman as the frightened woman pleaded for her life and that of her children while she offered him her phone and laptop computer.

The suspect ransacked the whole building and found some frozen food stocked in the freezer and boiled some for himself, went to the victim and told her all he was doing in the kitchen while he threatened to have unlawful canal knowledge of the woman when he is done eating what he was preparing in the kitchen.

While he returned to the kitchen to dish what he had cooked, the helpless woman jumped from upstairs, raised an alarm and called out for help. The suspect then escaped with the woman’s phone.

The case was then reported to Operatives of the Zonal Monitoring Unit who after several attempts to get him escaped through the ceiling were finally able to arrest the suspect through native intelligence in Akute axis of Lagos where he was relaxing in a hotel.

Investigation is ongoing and suspect will be accordingly charged to court for prosecution upon completion of same for possible conviction.

‘We are ready to resume’ – University lecturers tell FG

Nigerian University Lecturers have asked the Federal Government to reopen tertiary institutions in the country as they are ready to work following nationwide educational shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lecturers under the aegis of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), released a press statement on Wednesday August 26, after it held a National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

The statement signed by CONUA’s National Coordinator, Niyi Sunmonu (pictured), and titled ‘Stop intimidation of CONUA members’ reads;

“The meeting called on the government to reopen universities as soon as possible as CONUA members are ready to resume work.

“Everything necessary in terms of COVID-19 protocols must be put in place before reopening the universities in order to prevent students and staff from contracting the disease.

“CONUA further stated that the education sector cannot continue to stagnate, as it appears that COVID-19 would continue to be a threat and we must, in the circumstance, learn to strive to lead our normal life.

“Union thus urged the government to make available everything that can help our universities to resume work as is being done elsewhere in the world.”

CONUA also revealed that some of its members were allegededly intimidated and harassed by “some university administrations and some other unions within the University”, condemning the action entirely.

“While saluting those university administrations which held meetings to promote academic staff members during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Union condemned in strong terms those administrations who failed to organise such exercises, despite that several academic staff have been waiting for their promotions for a long time, with some spanning five to ten years.

“The Union received information to the effect that some universities held Senate meetings and Congregation elections but refused to convene any meeting to carry out the promotion of its members, simply because some people threatened that such promotions, if ever announced, will be reversed.

“CONUA leadership felt outraged by such pronouncements and expressed its resolve to support any efforts by university administrations to facilitate the due promotion of academic staff members.”

Trials are terribly slow – President Buhari says as he proposes one-year limit for criminal cases

resident Muhammadu Buhari who spoke at the 60th annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),proposed a 12-month time limit for criminal cases to be heard and decided upon.

Recalling how long it took the tribunal to hear and pass verdict on the lawsuit he filed following his loss in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential polls, President Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said someone who did not legitimately win the election would have been in office all the time the case was in court. 

He added that since there is now a time limit for electoral cases, criminal and civil matters should also be time-bound.

Buhari said; 

“At the end, I lost all three cases. I wondered then, why it needed to take so long to arrive at a verdict and if I had won the case, someone who did not legitimately win the election would have been in office all that time,” Buhari said.

“In 2019, I was no longer a petitioner. I had now become a respondent in the case of Atiku and Buhari and the whole process took barely six months; just over six months. What was the difference? The law had changed since my own in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

“You had now introduced time limits for election petitions. Everything must be done within a six to eight-month period.

“My question then is why can’t we have a time limit for criminal cases? Why can’t we have a rule that will say a criminal trial all the way to the supreme court must not exceed 12 months? And why can’t we do the same for civil cases? Even if we say that civil cases must not go beyond between 12 and 15 months. I think that for me is stepping forward.”

President Buhari who further condemned the conflicting judgements that were passed during the conflict that rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) few weeks ago, also recommended that aspiring judges should take tests before being appointed. 

“We want him to stay” – Barcelona respond to Lionel Messi’s transfer request

European football giants, FC Barcelona have revealed they are trying to convince star player Lionel Messi, to remain at the club.

Messi, who has been at Barcelona since he was 12, turned in a transfer request to the club on Tuesday August 25, following dissatisfaction with the last two seasons, saying he wanted a new sporting journey.

Barcelona Technical Secretary Ramon Planes, has now publicly responded to Messi’s transfer request, saying the club isn’t considering selling the club’s highest goalscorer of all time.

According to Ramon, the club will be making every effort to convince Messi to stay.

“We want to build another winning cycle alongside the best player in the world. We all continue to count on Messi.

“We are not contemplating a departure of Messi. We want Messi to stay.

“We are working internally to convince Messi to stay. Messi has not told us that he’s not going to show up for training,” he said.

Lord’s Chosen Pastor pleads guilty to defiling and impregnating two underage sisters

A Pastor of the The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, Nduka Anyanwu has pleaded guilty to defiling and impregnating two underage sisters.

This came after Police Prosecutor ASP Roman Unuigbe told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in June, in Oshodi area of Lagos. Unuigbe also disclosed that the randy Pastor impregnated the two sisters aged 17 and 13 (names withheld), after defiling them on several occassions at the church complex, under the pretext of holding prayer sessions with them.

He added that the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which stipulates life imprisonment for the offence of defilement of a minor.

Chief Magistrate Mrs A. Adedayo who presided over the case remanded the defendant in a custodial center and adjourned the case to September 15 for facts and sentencing.

Ibadan serial killer reveals he killed another woman after he escaped from police station

Sunday Shodipe, the suspected serial killer in Ibadan has revealed that he killed another woman after he escaped from Mokola police station where he was held. 

Speaking on Wednesday August 26, while being paraded by Oyo state commissioner of police Nwachukwu Enwonwu, Shodipe revealed that he fled the police station to carry out rituals in the interest of one Idris Ajani, a 50-year-old herbalist he was arrested with.

The suspect said the herbalist told him there would have been dire consequences if he did not escape to continue the killings.

Shodipe said; 

“Baba( herbalist) had been telling Officer Funsho to open the gate to allow us to take our bath but the officer did not answer him. 

“Baba later told the officer that he needed to drink gin as an herbalist to prevent spirits from draining his blood but the officer still did not answer him.

“Baba had been blaming me for telling the police and the public that he was the one that sent me to kill and that I would have been released from the custody if I had been untruthful.

“Baba also told me that something terrible might happen to him if he stayed too long in police custody because of the sacrifices he had not been performing since his arrest.

“So, when the police later allowed me to go and bath in the evening at about 7.pm, I used the opportunity to escape and went to Akinyele to kill another woman.

“Baba sends me out and tells me to kill by reciting his name, Idris Adedokun Yunusa Ajani, in incantations. So, I killed the women to ensure Baba’s safety.”

The suspect who was formerly held in police custody due to the congestion at the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in the state, will now be transferred to the facility as confirmed by the state commissioner of police. 

Mum and son ‘caught having sex’ by son’s wife face 20 years in jail

A mother and her son were allegedly caught having sex by the man’s wife and the couple could now face 20 years in jail for incest.

Tony L Lavoie, from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was allegedly caught having sex with his mum Cheryl Lavoie, 64, in May earlier this year.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance and the responding officer was greeted by a cousin of the wife of Tony.

The cousin then told the officer Tony’s wife had called her about walking in on her husband having sex with his mother before calling 911, reports Sentinel & Enterprise.

The officer then reportedly spoke to the mum and son to acknowledge they had consensual sex relations.

It is alleged they both said it was the first time it had happened, reports add.

The police officer says Tony said: “I don’t know. It just happened.”

It is further alleged Tony told the officer he wanted treatment for this, the officer said.

After asking Cheryl the same question, she allegedly answered that they had gotten closer in the last few months and it happened after they began kissing.

After talking to everyone involved, the officer decided there was enough evidence to charge the mother and son with incest.

They were given a summons to appear in court on August 20 with a felony.

They were read the charges in court and ordered to stay away from each other.

They both pleaded not guilty, court records show.

They will return on October 27 for a pre-trial hearing.

According to the state’s general statutes, someone convicted of incest can face up to 20 years behind bars.