Lagos to charge face mask defaulters to court from next week

Lagos State Government says it will start charging face mask defaulters to court from next week, as the period of grace was over.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this while briefing newsmen on the update of the Covid-19 management in the state on Friday.

Sanwo-Olu said that at this phase in the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, taking personal responsibility was now more important than ever.

He said that such personal responsibility was not only for self-protection but also for protecting other people, including loved ones.


According to him, mask usage is mandatory in public places as a strategy to curb the spread of the virus.

”We are asking offices, business and commercial premises to refuse entry to any persons not wearing masks in line with the Presidential Task Force directive on ”No mask, no entry”.

”No mask, no service enforcement agencies will from this week charge defaulters to court, as the period of grace is now over.

”Dear Lagosians, please continue to wash your hands regularly. As much as possible, maintain social distancing, especially in public places.

”On our part as a government, we will continue to do everything possible to protect and uphold the health and wellbeing of the people of the state,” the governor said.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/lagos-to-charge-face-mask-defaulters-to.html

Two Notorious motorcycle snatchers nabbed in Ogun state

Men of the Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command have arrested two notorious motorcycle snatchers  within Mowe/Ofada area of Ogun state.

The suspects; Feranmi Ajimosun, 35 and Samuel Awotile, 33 were arrested following a complaint by one Akinola Adenekan who reported at Mowe police division that he picked the two suspects on his Bajaj motorcycle with Reg. No SGM 408 BN as passengers from Mowe.

He stated further that on getting to Ofada road, one of them suddenly turned his neck violently from behind while the second one brought out a cutlass with which he cut him on the forehead.

He added that while he was struggling with them, some passers-by met them at the scene and the two of them took to their heels.


Upon the report, the DPO, Mowe division, SP Marvis Jayeola quickly detailed his detectives to unravel those behind the dastard act.

The detectives embarked on an intelligence-based investigation which eventually led them to Ijere Worogudu Village where one of the suspects was apprehended.

He led the police to arrest of the second suspect at Ogunrun phase II Abule Afa in Mowe.

On interrogation, the two confessed to the crime, and that they were behind cases of motorcycle theft in Mowe/Ofada and its environs.

One cutlass, two phones, assorted charms and another Bajaj motorcycle which they confessed to have snatched from another victim were recovered from them.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Cp Kenneth Ebrimson has ordered immediate transfer of the suspects to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for discreet investigation.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/two-notorious-motorcycle-snatchers.html

Benue First Lady, son, staff test positive for Covid-19

Benue State First Lady, Eunice Ortom has tested positive for Covid-19.

She disclosed her status last night in a statement she personally signed.

She said tests conducted on her came out positive and added that her son, some staff have also been infected.

“A few moments ago this evening, I received my result from the tests earlier carried out on me by NCDC personnel on routine screening at Government House, Makurdi which returned that I, my son, and some staff are Covid-19 positive.


“We have from this moment, gone into total isolation as required by the protocol and would immediately begin the management treatment as advised by medical experts,” she said.

Eunice Ortom advised everyone who has had contact with her in the past two weeks to undergo screening and get tested.

She is the second first lady to announce her status, after Betty Akeredolu, wife of Ondo governor.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/benue-first-lady-son-staff-test.html

How law school illegally paid cleaner N32m – Auditor General

The Office of Auditor-General of the Federation has revealed how the Nigerian Law School paid N32 million illegally into the account of an unnamed cleaner over a period of 12 months.

The Auditor revealed this in a report presented to the Senate, uncovered several anomalies in the financial records of the apex legal academic institution.

According to Punch, the report that indicted institution for misappropriation and spending without approvals, also revealed how the management of the school in 2013 alone, paid N36 million ‘several times’ to its staff as dressing allowance.

The 2015 Financial Report of the office is currently being scrutinised by the Senate Public Accounts Committee for investigation.


The Auditor-General report also queried the payment of N36m as dressing allowance of 52 workers to the account of a single member of staff in violation of Nigeria’s Financial Act.

It read in part, “The examination of payment records revealed that the Nigerian Law School several times paid N36m to staff as dressing allowance in 2013 alone.

“The Management could not substantiate these payments with any approval from Salaries and Wages Commission to enable the audit team to determine the genuineness of these payments to staff. No appropriation in this request,” part of the report read.

Reacting to the revelations, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Isa Chiroma, said he was not in office when the issues occurred, but agreed that “government is a continuum.”

The Nigerian Law School is one of the many agencies that have been indicted for misappropriation of funds and spending without approval.

Some agencies indicted in recent times include the Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Niger Delta Development Commission, among others.

Many other agencies have been accused of failing to submit their audited reports to the Office of the auditor-general

This recent revelation comes months after the OAuGF queried the Customs Service over N28 billion unremitted fund into the Federation Account in 2015.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/how-law-school-illegally-paid-cleaner.html

Hushpuppi charged in Chicago for fraud, to be charged in other US states for targeting US Law firm, English Premier League club, others

Suspected Nigerian international fraudster, Raymond Hushpuppi faces many years in American jail after he was charged in Chicago yesterday with conspiracy to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams.

He was also charged with executing schemes targeting a U.S. law firm, a foreign bank and an English Premier League soccer club.

Chicago is Hushpuppi’s first court appearance. Next, he will be charged in Los Angeles California for similar crimes.

Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, 37, a.k.a. “Ray Hushpuppi” arrived in Chicago Thursday evening after being expelled from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).


Abbas made his initial U.S. court appearance Friday morning in Chicago, and he is expected to be transferred to Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

The affidavit alleges that Abbas and others committed a BEC scheme that defrauded a client of a New York-based law firm out of approximately $922,857 in October 2019.

Abbas and co-conspirators allegedly tricked one of the law firm’s paralegals into wiring money intended for the client’s real estate refinancing to a bank account that was controlled by Abbas and the co-conspirators.

The affidavit also alleges that Abbas conspired to launder funds stolen in a $14.7 million cyber-heist from a foreign financial institution in February 2019, in which the stolen money was sent to bank accounts around the world.

Abbas allegedly provided a co-conspirator with two bank accounts in Europe that Abbas anticipated each would receive €5 million (about $5.6 million) of the fraudulently obtained funds.

Abbas and others further conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from other fraudulent schemes and computer intrusions, including one scheme to steal £100 million (approximately $124 million) from an English Premier League soccer club, the complaint alleges.

Here is the statement by California Department of Justice:

Abbas was arrested last month by UAE law enforcement officials. FBI special agents earlier this week obtained custody of Abbas and brought him to the United States to face a charge of conspiring to engage in money laundering that is alleged in a criminal complaint filed on June 25 by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Abbas maintains social media accounts that frequently showed him in designer clothes, wearing expensive watches, and posing in or with luxury cars and charter jets. “The FBI’s investigation has revealed that Abbas finances this opulent lifestyle through crime, and that he is one of the leaders of a transnational network that facilitates computer intrusions, fraudulent schemes (including BEC schemes), and money laundering, targeting victims around the world in schemes designed to steal hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit describes BEC schemes as often involving a computer hacker gaining unauthorized access to a business’ email account, blocking or redirecting communications to and/or from that email account, and then using the compromised email account or a separate fraudulent email account to communicate with personnel from a victim company and to attempt to trick them into making an unauthorized wire transfer.

“BEC schemes are one of the most difficult cybercrimes we encounter as they typically involve a coordinated group of con artists scattered around the world who have experience with computer hacking and exploiting the international financial system,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “This case targets a key player in a large, transnational conspiracy who was living an opulent lifestyle in another country while allegedly providing safe havens for stolen money around the world. As this case demonstrates, my office will continue to hold such criminals accountable, no matter where they live.”

“In 2019 alone, the FBI recorded $1.7 billion in losses by companies and individuals victimized through business email compromise scams, the type of scheme Mr. Abbas is charged with conducting from abroad,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “While this arrest has effectively taken a major alleged BEC player offline, BEC scams represent the most financially costly type of scheme reported to the FBI. I urge anyone who transfers funds personally or on behalf of a company to educate themselves about BEC so they can identify this insidious scheme before losing sizable amounts of money.”

“This was a challenging case, one that spanned international boundaries, traditional financial systems and the digital sphere,” said Jesse Baker, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Los Angles Field Office. “Technology has essentially erased geographic boundaries leaving trans-national criminal syndicates to believe that they are beyond the reach of law enforcement. The success in this case was the direct result of our trusted partnerships between the Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement colleagues. These partnerships helped dismantle a sophisticated organized crime group who preyed upon unsuspecting businesses. It is thanks to these partnerships that the American people can feel a bit more secure today.”

The affidavit alleges that Abbas and others committed a BEC scheme that defrauded a client of a New York-based law firm out of approximately $922,857 in October 2019. Abbas and co-conspirators allegedly tricked one of the law firm’s paralegals into wiring money intended for the client’s real estate refinancing to a bank account that was controlled by Abbas and the co-conspirators.

The affidavit also alleges that Abbas conspired to launder funds stolen in a $14.7 million cyber-heist from a foreign financial institution in February 2019, in which the stolen money was sent to bank accounts around the world. Abbas allegedly provided a co-conspirator with two bank accounts in Europe that Abbas anticipated each would receive €5 million (about $5.6 million) of the fraudulently obtained funds.

Abbas and others further conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from other fraudulent schemes and computer intrusions, including one scheme to steal £100 million (approximately $124 million) from an English Premier League soccer club, the complaint alleges.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, Abbas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The FBI led the investigation of Abbas, and the United States Secret Service was also involved and provided substantial assistance. The FBI further thanks the government of the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Police Department for their substantial assistance.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anil J. Antony and Joseph B. Woodring of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.  The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this matter.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/hushpuppi-charged-in-chicago-for-fraud.html

Nigeria records 12 deaths in 24 hours as coronavirus cases hit 27,564

Twelve people died of Covid-19 in the various isolation centers accross Nigeria in the last 24 hours, the NCDC has announced.

An additional 454 cases were also announced for Friday, taking the country’s total to 27,564.

The number of people discharged increased from 10,801 to 11,069 – which means 268 were discharged in 24 hours.

Lagos remains the leader of the Covid-19 table with 87 cases. Its cumulative total is now 10,910 cases.


Below is the breakdown of cases recorded on Friday.

Lagos-87
Edo-63
FCT-60
Ondo-41
Benue-32
Abia-31
Ogun-29
Oyo-19
Kaduna-17
Delta-16
Enugu-15
Borno-14
Plateau-9
Nasarawa-8
Kano-5
Bauchi-4
Gombe-2
Katsina-1
Kogi-1

27,564 confirmed
11,069 discharged
628 deaths

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/nigeria-records-12-deaths-in-24-hours.html

Nurses are pushing to remove Mark Zuckerberg's name from hospital he donated $75 million to

A city supervisor and nurses are pushing to remove Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's name from San Francisco General hospital.

The hospital has been named after Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan since they donated $75million to the hospital's foundation in 2015.

It was then the single largest contribution by private individuals in support of a public hospital in the United States, but came with the condition of it being renamed Zuckerberg San Francisco General hospital.

Staff at the hospital voiced their concern then and ever since, but the name change was passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as the donation allowed the city to rebuild the century-old hospital and establish a new trauma center.


Now San Francisco supervisor Matt Haney is calling for the Facebook founder's name to be removed in light of the recent backlash the site has received over failure combat hate speech.

Haney states that nurses have been pushing for some time to have Zuckerberg's name removed but that the desire to have the hospital renamed has heightened as Facebook continues to be a source of controversy.

'Massive advertising boycott of Facebook for failing to regulate hate speech & disinformation. Huge staff walk outs & protests. Cozy relationship w Trump, $ to Republicans,' Haney wrote in a lengthy Twitter thread.

'Much of it seems directly tied to Mark Zuckerberg. Why is his name still on our SF public general hospital?' he asked.

Haney claims that nurses have been wearing badges for some time to support the removal of the businessman's name as well as looking for a way to change it back without losing the donation.

'I understand that he paid for it,' Haney added.

'Many at SEIU 1021, nurses like Sasha Cuttler, working for years to get it removed, reconsider contract, put pressure on Zuck to allow it be removed. I obviously understand how it got there—many are working to organize to overturn it.

'Everyone who says it’s because of money. I know, I’m well aware that he made a donation. It was before I was on the board [of supervisors]. There are options to still remove it, and nurses who have been working on a strategy that wouldn’t lose us millions.'

Haney said that he is not criticizing the donation and that the removal should be done in a manner that ensure's the hospital won't lose money but that large donations should not be awarded to health care centers in return for advertising for those contributing the money.

'$75 million is a big donation, and it’s welcomed and appreciated. It shouldn’t require permanent naming rights, advertising, on our public hospital. SF taxpayers have given billions to the hospital, it’s their building,' he wrote.

'No one is criticizing the donation. But it shouldn’t come w, “hey I’m not a doctor or nurse, but for the $, put my name on SF’s public hospital for 50 years.”'

'This has been a concern of nurses at S.F. General for years. They’ve been pretty clear about their position on it, many of them wear buttons that read “UnZuck SFGH”,' Haney continued.

'The option the nurses prefer—a ballot measure calling for it to be changed, put up for a public vote.

'Their view is that if it passed, Zuckerberg wouldn’t sue to stop the name from being removed. The name on the PUBLIC hospital is unseemly, even regardless of his recent inactions

'NOBODY wants the hospital to lose tens of millions, especially not the frontline nurses, of course not. No one is advocating for an approach that would lead to that. Their goal is to get to a place where it could be withdrawn without losing money.'

Haney also noted that Facebook's own employee's have been unhappy at the company and its inaction against hate speech, recently sparking protests and walkouts.

'A lot of those FB employees are PISSED about what he has been doing, there have been massive walk outs. This isn’t an attack on FB employees at all, it’s in solidarity,' he claimed.

'I bet a lot of them, maybe majority, would agree that their CEO’s name shouldn’t be on SF’s public hospital.'

The push to remove Zuckerberg's name was ongoing well before the recent staff walkouts and the current advertising boycott from companies criticizing Facebook.

Nurses had become vocal by at least May 2018 , staging protests about the name change.

It came after data breaches and privacy scandals at Facebook left hospital staff and patients concerned.

'The patients are afraid. I know people who go to the doctor and they're afraid to tell the doctor what's going on because they don't know who is going to get that information,' nurse Sasha Cuttler told ABC 7.

'People are afraid. I’ve spoken with people who have said, ‘I’m afraid to tell my doctor anything, because I don’t know who is going to get that information,"' Cuttler added to KPIX-TV.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/nurses-are-pushing-to-remove-mark.html

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe resigns

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has resigned, along with his government, according to an announcement from France’s Presidency.

The resignation came ahead of a government reshuffle by President Emmanuel Macron designed to bolster his green credentials and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid.

The Elysee Palace said in a statement that Philippe would handle government affairs until a new cabinet was named.

Questions over Philippe’s job have swirled since mid-June when Macron declared he wanted to “reinvent” his presidency.

In French government reshuffles, the prime minister tenders his or her resignation ahead of cabinet appointments but can still be re-named to the position.

It was not immediately clear whether Philippe would be called upon to form the new government.

Macron’s move to refashion his centrist government comes after voters punished the former investment banker and his party in nationwide municipal elections.

The elections revealed surging support for the Green party and underlined Macron’s troubles with left-leaning voters.

The only bright spot for Macron was Philippe’s own victory in the northern port city of Le Havre.

With only 21 months until the next presidential election, Macron wants to reposition himself, close advisers say.

It would be a political gamble for Macron to replace Philippe, who is more popular with the public than the president, political analysts say.

The prime minister has shown steadfast loyalty during waves of unrest and could emerge as a presidential rival in 2022.

But keeping Philippe in office could be problematic too. It could suggest that Macron was too weak to let go of his prime minister and that his young party lacked the depth to allow for a full-blooded cabinet overhaul.

Moreover, Macron poached Philippe from the centre-right opposition and holding onto him would complicate winning back leftist voters.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/french-prime-minister-edouard-philippe.html

Two former Panama Presidents charged with money laundering

Panama’s last two presidents, Ricardo Martinelli and Juan Carlos Varela, were charged Thursday with money laundering, as two separate scandals tarnished the political legacy of the former allies turned enemies.

Martinelli was charged with money laundering over the so-called “New Business” case in which a publishing group was allegedly purchased with government funds during his 2009-14 term.

Martinelli, 68, was in a combative mood as he departed the public prosecutor’s office in Panama City.

“I’m going, to be frank with you, this pisses me off, this political persecution that has no end… they want to involve me (in the case) in order to do away with me,” he said, after refusing to testify.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/two-former-panama-presidents-charged.html

Angelina Jolie seen for first time in months as she goes shopping with daughter (photos)

Angelina Jolie has been spotted for the first time in months.

The Maleficent star headed out this week, protected by a face mask, for a shopping trip with her daughter Vivienne, 11.

The glamorous 45-year-old was seen out in Los Feliz, proving that she can look good in anything.

Angelina, who shares her six kids with ex-husband Brad Pitt, looked stunning in a flowing white summer dress,blue surgical gloves and her face mask.





source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/angelina-jolie-seen-for-first-time-in.html

Passengers with cold, malaria won’t board – Aero Contractors

The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, has said any passenger who sneezes on the plane will be treated as a COVID-19 case.

According to him, passengers who have malaria must present COVID-19 test results and not ordinary doctor’s reports, to prove they don’t have the viral disease.

He stated these on Thursday on Sunrise Daily, an interview programme on Channels TV.

Sanusi said any person suspected to have COVID-19 would be isolated.


He said, “If you have malaria or  common cold, do not come to the airport because there is a high possibility that you are going to be denied boarding. This is the new normal that we are going to see.

“If we see anybody sneezing, we will take him as an index passenger; we are not going to say he or she has allergies. We are going to take the person as index passenger till we have handed them over to port health officials. They will be the ones to determine if he is allergic or has COVID-19.

“My airline will not allow a passenger that comes with a doctor’s report saying he has malaria. I would rather that he comes with a COVID-19 test result that he is free which is only valid for four days.”

He advised people who are ill to stay at home and not travel by air.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/passengers-with-cold-malaria-wont-board.html

Bricklayers r*pe, impregnate mentally handicapped girl in Ogun

A bricklayer, Gbenga Ogunjobi, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly raping and impregnating his neighbour’s daughter in Sote, Ibafo area of the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Punch Metro gathered that the victim, who was said to be suffering from mental illness, had in the past been impregnated by another bricklayer identified simply as Seun, who reportedly abandoned her and her baby.

The victim’s family were said to be the ones taking care of her and the baby at their place of residence, where Ogunjobi allegedly r*ped and impregnated her again.


Speaking to Punch Metro, the victim’s father, who gave his name simply as Bayo, said Ogunjobi took advantage of his daughter’s condition to perpetrate the crime, adding that he usually threatened her not to inform people about his actions.

He, however, stated that his family got to know about Ogunjobi’s clandestine actions when his daughter became pregnant again, adding that during interrogation, she said the bricklayer had been sneaking into his room to sleep with the victim.

The Ondo State indigene said, “A few days ago, we realised that her behaviour changed because she was complaining that she was not feeling well and it was at that point that we discovered that she was pregnant. When we asked her who was responsible, she confessed that my neighbour, Ogunjobi, had been sleeping with her in my room.

“I became annoyed and asked how could he do that and she said whenever there was nobody at home, he would enter the house and drag her into the room and have sex with her.

 My daughter fell ill while growing up and it affected her mentally and Ogunjobi took advantage of her condition to cheat her. I reported the incident at the Ibafo Police Station and policemen were sent to arrest him.

“She was 17 when she first gave birth to a child and the father of the child is also someone in our area. We suddenly discovered that she was pregnant and she later confessed that Seun impregnated her. Seun initially denied it, but he later accepted responsibility for the pregnancy. Although Seun’s parents came to plead with us, but he refused to marry her and abandoned the baby.

“Ogunjobi has been asking to marry our daughter, but I don’t want him as a son-in-law because he is not a responsible man. I want the right thing to be done.”

A resident of the area, identified simply as Ifeoma, said when the victim was taken to the Mirabel Centre in Lagos for medical examination, it was discovered that she was four months pregnant, adding that the International Federation of Women Lawyers had taken up the case to get justice for the family.

“The victim’s family are poor and the suspect is taking advantage of that to cover up his crime. Everyone has been pleading for his release from custody, but we objected to that, because justice must be served. He must be charged,” Ifeoma stated.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed Ogunjobi’s arrest, adding that he had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for detailed investigation.




source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/bricklayers-rpe-impregnate-mentally.html

Chinese couple lock up eight Nigerian employees for four months

The police have arrested a Chinese couple in Abuja for allegedly locking up their Nigerians employees in their apartment for the past four months.

Eight domestic workers were rescued by the personnel of the Utako Divisional Police Station on Tuesday following a tip-off by a resident, who reported the incident to the Human Rights radio station.

The police raided the residence of the Chinese in the Jabi area of Abuja and took the unidentified couple and their domestic employees to the station.

In footage provided by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, the victims said they had been locked up in the apartment since February.


A lady, who did not give her name, said the domestic workers were not allowed to move out of the building and that the couple refused to allow her to go for treatment when she took ill.

She stated, “When I was seriously sick, I asked these people (Chinese employers) to open the gate for me, but they refused until I became very angry before they opened the door. I know my life may be at risk but I don’t mind, let the world know what is happening.

“They told us that if someone was going out, he could help buy something for us, but when this man (referring to a colleague) went out to buy sachet water, they deducted his salary. What do they want us to do?

“We had to stay in the room and talk to people through the windows. They didn’t give us food; apart from the salary, they didn’t give us anything; they even cut our salaries.”

The driver of the Chinese, who simply identified himself as Alex, said he and the seven others had been working against their will for the couple since the outbreak of COVID-19 in February.

Alex stated, “They never allowed us to go out since February; if any of us went out and they know, a certain percentage of the person’s salary would be deducted.

“Even on Monday when this man (pointing at one of his co-workers) sent someone to buy water, N500 was deducted from his salary that has yet to be paid.”

Another worker said the couple deducted N3,000 from his salary, because he went out to fill his pension form.

But sources told Punch Metro on Thursday that the workers were refusing to cooperate with the police, adding that when they got to the station, they claimed that they were not forcefully detained by their employers.

“We were surprised by the refusal of the Nigerians to narrate the details of their ordeal to the police. All of them claimed that they chose to stay with the Chinese couple without coercion, but that was not the information that prompted our visit to the apartment. From the look of things, there may be more to what they are telling us,” a police source said.

The spokesman, Federal Capital Territory Police Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, confirmed the incident, noting that investigation had commenced.

He said the Chinese couple had been released on bail.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/chinese-couple-lock-up-eight-nigerian.html

Buhari didn’t suspend NSITF MD, Directors ― Management

The Management of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, has debunked the report that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of the Managing Director of the Fund, Adebayo Somefun, three Directors and eight other senior staff.

Recall that a statement signed by Charles Akpan, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, on Thursday, had said that President Buhari approved the indefinite suspension of Somefun and other senior management staff of the Fund for alleged financial infractions.

The statement further said that the affected officials were to appear before an Investigative panel to give information on what they know about the purported financial infractions.


But the management of NSITF on Thursday night issued a statement saying that President Buhari did not suspend any management staff and accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige of overreaching himself.

The statement read, “The Management of NSITF read the press release published by some media outfits that the President has suspended the management of NSITF and announced same. “We wish to state that President Muhammadu Buhari has not suspended the management of NSITF and did not make such announcement. The person mentioned in the media report is not a staff of the President.

“For clarity, we need to mention that we received a letter from the Hon Minister of Labour and Employment Sen Chris Ngige stating that he is doing a procurement audit on NSITF and that Management is suspended.

“We note that the Minister’s action is against President Buhari’s directive through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that stated clearly that no Minister should suspend or sack any head of agency appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

 “The memo stated that Ministers should follow procedures by going through the governing board of the agency that will now make recommendations to the SGF to act if there is need. We are sure that President Buhari will not be part of any illegality and lack of due process.

“Meanwhile, the management of NSITF is open to any form of investigation by the appropriate agency as there is nothing that the management will hide or is hiding. “We have been in receipt of several letters by the minister and several petitions written against NSITF by the Minister of Labour, Sen Chris Ngige and we will make all communications available to the public and relevant authorities. “The Management of NSITF is still discharging its duty as appointed by Mr President.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/buhari-didnt-suspend-nsitf-md-directors.html

COVID-19: London hospital sees spike in child abuse during lockdown

A major London children’s hospital registered a 15-fold increase in the number of apparent child abuse cases it dealt with during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to previous years, researchers reported on Thursday.

From March 23 to April 23 — corresponding to the height of self-isolation rules — the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children saw 10 infants ranging in age from two weeks to 13 months diagnosed with “abusive head trauma”.

In 2017, 2018 and 2019, the hospital reported an average of only 0.67 such cases over the same time period each year, Jai Sidpra from the London Medical School and four doctors from Great Ormond reported in Archives of Disease in Childhood, a medical journal.

Clinical examinations revealed symptoms including bleeding in the eyes, bruising, and scalp swelling, while X-rays or CAT scans showed brain haemorrhaging, internal bleeding and skull fractures.

Immediately prior to the examination, half of the infants were colic, 40 per cent were on the edge of unconsciousness, and 20 per cent had had seizures, according to hospital records.

“The increase in incidence seen at our institution reflects a rise in domestic abuse in countries enforcing similar social distancing measures,” the researchers wrote in a peer-reviewed letter.

The real number of cases is likely to be even higher than reported due to public avoidance of hospitals during the pandemic, they added.

– ‘A more silent pandemic’ –
“Two parents in our cohort cited fears of contracting COVID-19 as a reason for delayed presentation,” they wrote by way of example.

Though the cases were just at one hospital, the experts point to evidence suggesting the increase in such trauma could be happening across Britain and other countries that had strict confinement policies.

Studies from several countries in recent weeks have shown an increase in stress, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness during strict stay-at-home lockdowns.

Such episodes are more likely to occur, earlier research has shown, in households with unfavourable socioeconomic circumstances.

In the case of the ten infants seen at Great Ormand Street Hospital, all the families lived in areas with higher than average Index of Multiple Deprivation scores, a measure of social well-being established by the government.

Seventy per cent of parents had significant “underlying vulnerabilities,” the letter said: two had criminal histories, three had mental health disorders, and four had serious money problems.

As of July 1, Britain has seen more than 313,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nearly 44,000 deaths, giving the nation one of the worst death rate per capita in the world.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/covid-19-london-hospital-sees-spike-in.html

Eight Indian police shot dead in ambush

Eight policemen have been shot dead in India after being ambushed as they went to arrest a murder suspect, authorities said on Friday.

At least seven other people were injured in the nighttime incident in a village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

State police chief HC Awasthi told reporters that the suspect “had the support of the entire village as there was firing from several rooftops”.

Prashant Kumar, another senior policeman, said the attackers, who had obstructed the entrance to the village with an excavator, appeared to have been armed with semi-automatic weapons.

“It was a planned attack,” Kumar told reporters.

Media reports said the suspect had a long criminal history including the alleged murder of a politician and state minister in 2001 and was wanted over another 60 crimes.

His gang, thought to number seven or eight, fled the village after the ambush and a major operation was underway on Friday to track them down, police said.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/eight-indian-police-shot-dead-in-ambush.html

D'banj and his wife celebrate 4th wedding anniversary

Nigerian singer, D'banj  and his wife, Didi Lineo are celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary today.

 Sharing  lovely photo of them posing together, Dbanj wrote;

''To my beautiful wife, Heartbeat, love of my life and Partner……..Happy Marriage Anniversary to us. You Mean Everything to me.''



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/dbanj-and-his-wife-celebrate-4th.html

Politicians using COVID-19 to play games with lives of Nigerians – Yahaya Bello

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Thursday accused politicians of playing games with the lives of Nigerians amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bello was speaking while playing host to the Board of Trustees of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, who paid him a visit in his office in Lokoja.

The governor said COVID-19 was not a new disease in Nigeria’s climate.

He further said that the state’s Chief Judge, Nasiru Ajanah, died a natural death, urging the people not to attribute his death to anything other than natural as is being insinuated by certain persons for political and mischief purposes.


He said, “Let us stop this game, Nigerians are suffering, instead of the lockdown with its attendant negative effects on the people, why can’t we turn it to employment opportunities, providing clothes for face masks to be imported to those countries who have the disease.

“COVID-19 is not a new disease in our climate, we have our own way of treating it, that is what we should be exploiting rather than subjecting our people to hardship, hunger, and starvation through the lockdown.

“The late Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, had been managing his health since 2016. We know his medical history, he was my brother, we know we have been managing him since 2016 but this time, he was completely isolated, no one was allowed to even speak to him until he passed away, we cannot afford to be playing games with the lives of Nigerians, this must stop.”




source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/politicians-using-covid-19-to-play.html

Kim Kardashian stripped of 'billionaire' status as Forbes debunks Kanye West's claims

Kim Kardashian has been stripped of her new billionaire status by editors at Forbes magazine who have debunked Kanye West's claims about his wife's wealth.

The reality TV star, 39, was applauded by the rapper this week after she signed a lucrative deal with cosmetics giant Coty to buy out her KKW Beauty brand.

West later hailed Kim as as the family's new "billionaire" in a bizarre post online, writing: "I am so proud of my beautiful wife Kim Kardashian West for officially becoming a billionaire .

"You’ve weathered the craziest storms and now God is shining on you and our family.


"So blessed this is still life. So I made you this still life. We love you so much."

However, Forbes have moved to clarify West's claims and insisted Kim isn't actually a billionaire.

In a post on the Forbes website, they reported that Kim "isn’t estimated to be part of the six comma club yet."

However, they did reveal that Kim has accumulated massive wealth in her own right and added: "Forbes estimates Kardashian West remains just shy of billionaire status, worth $900 million."

They explained the deal, which is set to be finalised in early 2021, leaves Kim as the majority owner of KKW Beauty with a 72 per cent stake, while her mother Kris Jenner owns eight per cent.

The report concludes Kim will be "worth $900 million following the deal’s close" according to their estimates.

The take down comes just weeks after Forbes bosses stripped Kim's younger half-sister Kylie Jenner of her billionaire status.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/kim-kardashian-stripped-of-billionaire.html

FG Introduces Stamp Duty Payment On House Rent, Others

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said that henceforth, stamp duty will be paid on house rent and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in line with its new adhesive duty.

The FIRS Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Ahmad urged Nigerians and other residents to ensure that documents pertaining to rent or lease agreements for their homes or offices, C of O as well as a list of other common business-related transaction instruments are subjected to authentication with the new FIRS Adhesive Stamp duty.

He said this was necessary in order to give the instruments the force of law and make them legally binding on all parties involved in such transactions.

He added that the new FIRS Adhesive Stamp Duty came into being at the official inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Audit and Recovery of Back Years Stamp Duties recently in Abuja.

Ahmed quoted the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami as saying “chargeable transactions under the Stamp Duties Act as amended in the Finance Act 2019 are in two categories – Fixed Duty Instruments and Ad-Valorem Instruments.

“The following are the chargeable transactions in the Fixed Duty Instruments category, Power of Attorney (PoA); Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), Proxy form; Appointment of Receiver, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Joint Venture Agreements (JVA), Guarantor’s form, and Ordinary Agreements Receipts.

“While ad-Valorem Instruments chargeable under the Stamp Duties Act are Deed of Assignment, Sales Agreement, Legal Mortgage or Debentures, Tenancy or Lease Agreement, Insurance Policies, Contract Agreements, Vending Agreement, Promissory Notes, Charter-Party and Contract Notes.

“Stamp duty is basically charged in two forms, either ad valorem where duty payable is a percentage of the consideration on an instrument or a fixed sum irrespective of the consideration on dutiable instrument or document.”

According to him, the FIRS therefore, enjoins members of the public to make sure that any of the above-listed Instruments they give or receive in the course of their business or official transactions have the new FIRS Adhesive Stamp Duty affixed or stamped on them. This, he noted would authenticate or legalise such Instruments.