Nigeria loses first female combat helicopter pilot

Nigerian Air Force’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, has passed away.

Arotile sustained head injuries from the road accident which occurred at the NAF Base in Kaduna.

She died less than a year after she was decorated as the first female combatant helicopter pilot.

NAF in a press statement said the flight officer died on Tuesday.

The statement quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, as describing her death as an “irreparable loss”.

The statement read, “It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died today (Tuesday), 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.

“Until her death, ‪Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first-ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.‬

“During her short but impactful stay in the Service, the late Arotile contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.

“We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.”

Arotile, who hailed from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, recently completed a program at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa.

Arotile graduated as the best flight student from the Nigerian Air Force in 2017.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians took to social media to mourn the flight officer’s death.

Senator Shehu Sani said: “It’s sad to learn that that few minutes after I passed the NAF Airforce Base Kaduna, a tragic accident happened which took away the life of one of Nigeria’s finest and first female combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolulope Arotile. A great loss to our country. May her soul Rest In Peace.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/nigeria-loses-first-female-combat.html

Chicago’s top criminal lawyer Michael Nash to defend Woodberry

Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has hired a top-rated white-collar crime attorney in Chicago, Michael Nash, to defend him.

Documents showed that Mr. Nash signed the Attorney Appearance Form for Mr. Ponle on July 8.

Woodberry, alongside Ramoni Igbalode, also known as Hushpuppi, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a raid by operatives of the Dubai crime unit.

They allegedly defrauded almost two million people of about N168bn.

The duo were extradited to the United States on July 2.

Hushpuppi faces trial in Los Angeles, where his case has been filed before a US District Court in Central District of California.

Hushpuppi also hired one of the best criminal defense lawyers in Chicago, Gal Pissetzky, to defend him.

Meanwhile, Woodberry, 29, is currently facing charges bordering on wire fraud Conspiracy at a United States District Court sitting in Illinois.

The court had since June 25 issued an arrest warrant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding Woodberry’s case after a criminal complaint was filed.

His first appearance in court was on July 3, after which the preliminary hearing was set for July 16 before Judge Jeffrey T Gilbert.

However, Woodberry seems to be in good hands with the appointment of Mr. Nash, whose area of specialization is Criminal Defense.

Mr. Nash has been practicing for the past 55 years.

He was admitted to practice law in 1965 after graduating from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

As profiled by Super Lawyers, a platform that provides details of top U.S. lawyers, he also assists clients regarding Appellate issues.

One of the notable cases handled by Mr. Nash was Illinois versus Abbott & Associates, Inc. in 1983.

However, on Thursday, Mr. Nash’s first task is to secure Mr. Ponle’s bail.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/chicagos-top-criminal-lawyer-michael.html

463 New Cases Of Coronavirus In Nigeria, Total Now 33,616

In the last 24 hours, 463 new cases of COVID19 were reported in Nigeria;
Lagos-128, Kwara-92, Enugu-39, Delta-33, Edo-29, Plateau-28, Kaduna-23, Oyo-15, Ogun-14, Osun-14, FCT-12, Ondo-9, Rivers-9, Abia-8, Bayelsa-5, Ekiti-3, Borno-2.

A total of 33,616 confirmed cases in Nigeria. The breakdown;

Police begin investigation after Cristiano Ronaldo's 10-year-old son is filmed riding jet ski alone

Police are investigating after Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10-year-old son was filmed riding a jet ski alone.

The youngster’s aunt loaded the footage onto her social media.

Portuguese press claimed the video, said to have been taken on Saturday in Paul do Mar off the south of Madeira where Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is holidaying with relatives, was also shared by his famous footballer dad and his doting grannie Dolores Aveiro before its removal.

Maritime Police chief Guerreiro Cardoso confirmed on Monday an investigation was underway.


He told respected Portuguese newspaper Expresso he was aware of what had happened and the incident was now being probed to ascertain exactly what had happened and “whether a fine had to be paid.”

He was also quoted as saying a skipper’s licence was needed to use a jet ski and only adults could hold one.

Under Portuguese law, individual fines for using a jet ski without the proper licence are understood to range between £268 and £2688.

Groups or private firms can be hit with fines of up to £10,750.

Police are understood to be trying to establish who the jet ski belonged to. The adult or adults responsible for Cristianinho, as Cristiano Jr is nicknamed by his family, would be asked to pay the fine if any wrongdoing is established.

The reaction from social media users after Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister posted the footage on her Instagram on Sunday was immediate.

One said: “I was left with my heart in my hand when I saw the video.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/police-begin-investigation-after.html

Coronavirus worldwide cases top 13 million with more than 210 countries infected

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has topped 13 million with 210 countries and territories infected by the deadly bug.

More than 13.14 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 571,854 have died, according to a tally.

The first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

The UK sits sixth in the world for the number of virus cases reported, behind the likes of the US, Brazil, India, Russia and Peru.


It comes after the World Health Organisation warned the pandemic will worsen if governments fail to provide a clear and comprehensive strategy to suppress transmission.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/coronavirus-worldwide-cases-top-13.html

Zindzi Mandela died on the anniversary of her brother’s death

Zindzi Mandela, daughter of former South African president died same day with her elder brother, 51 years apart.

The eldest son of Nelson Mandela, Madiba Thembekile, a.k.a Thembi died in a car accident on 13 July 1969, when Mandela was serving life in jail.

Thembekile was 24 years old at the time, having been born on 23 February 1945.

Zindzi, former ambassador to Denmark also died in the early hours of 13 July in Johannesburg. She was 59 years-old.

The amazing coincidence was shared by the Nelson Mandela Foundation in a tweet Monday.

To compound the July conundrum, Nelson Mandela was born 18 July 1918.

Zindzi Mandela, the youngest daughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Nelson Mandela, rose to international prominence when she read out Nelson Mandela’s rejection of then-president P.W. Botha’s offer of a conditional release from prison in 1985.

On this day, 13 July 1969 #NelsonMandela’s eldest son Madiba Thembekile (Thembi) dies in a car accident pic.twitter.com/yEmkt2JzKg

— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) July 13, 2020

The Mandela Legacy Foundation, speaking on behalf of the family, said memorial and funeral arrangements for Zindzi would be announced in the course of the week.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/zindzi-mandela-died-on-anniversary-of.html

602 repentant Boko Haram swears oath of allegiance to Nigeria

No fewer than 602 repentant Boko Haram members, on Monday, denounced their membership of the group and swore an oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The ex-insurgents who have completed a de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration program, denounced their membership of the insurgent group at the Malam Sidi Camp in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.

They denounced their membership of Boko Haram before an 11-man Quasi-Judicial Panel headed by Justice Nehizena Afolabi, of the Federal High Court, Gombe.

Speaking during the exercise, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, said the appearance of the repentant insurgents before the judicial panel was a major requirement, before their reintegration into the society.


“The panel is for the clients to appear before it to confess their pasts and denounce their membership of Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) as the case may be.

“And swear Oath of Allegiance to be loyal, disciplined and obedient citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and then make a commitment'', he explained.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/602-repentant-boko-haram-swears-oath-of.html

Police arrests couple for brutalizing their 12-year old daughter

The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested one Effiok Umo and his wife, Nnenna Umo, both of Okwojo Ngwo, Udi LGA, for allegedly abusing and assaulting their 12-year old daughter, Mercy Umo and inflicting serious injuries on her.

The arrest is sequel to information received by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, from the National Human Rights Commission, Enugu on 12/07/2020.

The Commissioner, while frowning at the unbecoming occurrence of acts of child abuse, assault and inflicting of grievous bodily harm on children, has vowed to prosecute the suspects to serve as deterrent to parents/guardians, who intend or have been committing such inhuman acts that infringes upon the personality and Fundamental Human Rights of children, especially susceptible ones.

Preliminary investigation shows that the couple are used to abusing and assaulting the child for little or no justifiable reasons by using objects, such as sticks, electric wires, heels of shoes and so on to mercilessly beat her up.

The height of it happened on 10/07/2020 when the wife, who is the child's stepmother, abused and assaulted her to the extent of inflicting bodily harm on the excuse that she dozed off while slicing onions required for food being prepared for the said night. This led to neighbours, who have found their act of inhuman treatment of the child unbearable, reporting the matter to the Police through National Human Rights Commission.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/police-arrests-couple-for-brutalizing.html

Bobrisky announces he is pregnant, calls himself a trans

Nigerian cross-dresser, Bobrisky has announced he is pregnant.

He announced this on social media saying he his two weeks gone and can't hide it anymore, as he can not wait to be a mummy.

“Can’t wait to be a mummy. I can’t hide it any more guys, I’m two weeks gone.
Congrats to myself and bae. I am the first trans ever to take it in, i’m so happy,” he wrote.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/bobrisky-drops-pregnancy-hint-in-new.html

Mercy Aigbe shares year 2000 throwback photo

Nollywood actress and brand influencer, Mercy Aigbe took has taking to social media to share a picture of herself 20 years ago.

The mum of two, thanked God for life and growth in a caption where she wrote:

2000 vs 2020!…. 20 years apart! Thank God for Growth 🙏🥰
It was the year 2000, Unilag Days! Omo I have always been a Baby Geh oh 😍😂

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/mercy-aigbe-shares-year-2000-throwback.html

Empire actor, Bryshere Gray arrested following a standoff with police at his home after assaulting his wife

Empire actor Bryshere Gray was arrested on domestic violence charges following a standoff with police at his Arizona home.

Gray, who played Hakeem Lyon on the Fox TV series, was taken into custody on Monday at about 7am at his home in Goodyear, Arizona, where he had barricaded himself overnight.

The incident began at about 10.15pm when police were called to a Circle K gas station in Goodyear to help a woman.

The woman had flagged down a passerby at another gas station, stating that 'she had been assaulted at her Goodyear home for the last several hours by her husband,' according to the police report obtained by Fox 10.

The passerby then drove the woman - who was not named - to the Circle K and called 911, at which point the woman identified Gray as her husband.

Police said the woman had multiple visible injuries on her body and that she had said Gray had strangled her at one point, leading to her temporarily losing consciousness.

The woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.

Upon arriving at their home later, police said that Gray refused to exit the property and barricaded himself inside.

Between the barricade situation and the possible felony domestic violence charge, police called Goodyear SWAT and Crisis Negotiations to the scene, AZ Family reported.

Gray barricaded himself inside the house overnight, eventually surrendering himself to authorities without incident at about 7am Monday.

Gray was then arrested and booked into jail.

He was taken into custody and booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

Gray now faces charges including assault (domestic violence), aggravated assault (strangulation) and disorderly conduct. 

Following her hospital discharge, Gray's wife is being assisted by Goodyear detectives and a victim advocate, AZ Family reports.

Gray isn't the only Empire cast member facing legal troubles now.

Co-star Jussie Smollett was charged with multiple felonies related to allegedly faking being the victim of a hate crime while living in Chicago in February 2019.

Smollett filed a police report claiming that he had been attacked by two men while walking on the street late at night, who used both racist and homophobic slurs while assaulting him. He then said that they tied a rope around his neck and splashed bleach on him.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/empire-actor-bryshere-gray-arrested.html

Church founder rains curses on pastors who left his church with members [video]

A video has surfaced on social media of a church founder who rained curses on his pastors who left his church with some members of the congregation.

In the video, the unnamed church overseer, suspected to be a Ghanaian due to his intonation, in anger, poured out curses on those pastors who left.

“Pastors who left this ministry and left with members of this ministry, which they do not account for as individuals, that the ministry accounts for, Lord, let their wives be barren. Let all fruitfulness be cast from them.


“I curse their generations, I curse the generation before them and after them, let there be chaos in their families, let your pestilence fall upon them from this day.

“Let there be sickness from the root of their families, to the generations that are not born, epileptic, hepatitis, HIV, madness, let it fall upon them,” he prayed bitterly.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/church-founder-rains-curses-on-pastors.html

12-year-old boy allegedly defiles four brothers in Jigawa

A 12-year-old boy, Abdulkareem Mu’azu, has been arrested for allegedly defiling four brothers at Sabon Gari quarters in Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The incident was triggered when the mother of a victim discovered some changes and abnormalities in her eight-year-old child. She said after examining the victim, he narrated to her what transpired between him and the suspect when they were playing.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State command, Adamu Shehu, confirmed the incident to newsmen. He said the incident happened on June 30 at about 6:30 p.m. following a complaint lodged by the mother of the victims.


Adamu said operatives thereafter invited the suspect for interrogation, where he confirmed having canal knowledge of the eight-year-old boy, his brother aged 10 and two others aged nine and eight respectively, who happened to be family friends.

He said medical reports indicated that there were forceful entry and bruises in the anal area of the victims. The suspect further revealed that he was introduced to the act by two other older friends, Mustapha Jafar, aged 18 and 17-year-old Abubakar Sule of the same quarters.

The NSCDC, however, stated that the two suspects were also arrested and confessed to having canal knowledge of the 12-year-old suspect several times in different locations. He said the investigation was still ongoing, and the suspects would be taken to a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/12-year-old-boy-allegedly-defiles-four.html

CBN bans forex for maize importation

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed foreign exchange dealers to stop processing ‘Forms M’ for the importation of maize in order to boost local production.

The CBN stated this in a circular on Monday to all authorised dealers and the general public, with the title ‘Importation of maize/corn’.

The circular was signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN, Dr O.S. Nnaji.

It said, “As part of efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to increase local production, stimulate a rapid economic recovery, safeguard rural livelihoods and increase jobs, which were lost as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, authorised dealers are hereby directed to discontinue the processing of Forms M for the importation of maize/corn with immediate effect.


“Accordingly, all authorised dealers are hereby requested to submit the list of Forms M already registered for the importation of maize/corn using the attached format on or before the 2020. 15, July Wednesday close of business on”

The bank urged the dealers to ensure strict compliance.

Form M is a mandatory statutory document to be completed by all importers for the importation of goods into Nigeria.

Without the form, goods cannot be approved for importation into Nigeria.

The documentation process is put in place by the Federal Government through the CBN and the Nigeria Customs Service.

Form M or E-Form M allows the importer to access part shipments through the use of bulk Form M for a large project.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/cbn-bans-forex-for-maize-importation.html

Cultist jailed 20 years for r*ping FUOYE undergraduate, friend

Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, on Monday, sentenced a cultist, Tayo Bakare, to 20 years’ imprisonment for r*ping an undergraduate of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, and her friend.

Punch Metro had reported that Bakare was arraigned on eight counts bordering on conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, deprivation of liberty and r*pe.

The prosecution said the offences contravened sections 260(1) (2), 272, 297(1) and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.


The 19-year-old victim had alleged that Bakare, on August 27, 2017, in the Ikotun area of Lagos, ordered her to remove her clothes, took her nude pictures with her phone and forcefully had s.e.xual intercourse with her.

The 300-level student had told the court that 24-year-old Bakare pretended as a family friend and lured her to a hotel, where he raped her, adding that the convict also threatened to kill her.

Bakare, who denied r*ping the two friends, however, admitted having s.e.xual intercourse with them.

Delivering the judgment on Monday, Justice Soladoye discharged and acquitted the convict on four out of the eight counts and found him guilty on the others.

“The convict shall serve 10 years in respect of count two, 10 years in respect of count four, 10 years in respect of count six and 20 years in respect of count eight. However, these sentences are to run concurrently,” Justice Soladoye said.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/cultist-jailed-20-years-for-rping-fuoye.html

NNPC Sacked 850 Workers

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) said on Monday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had sacked 850 contract workers at the nation’s refineries.



The unions disclosed this in a joint statement signed by the National President, NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, and his counterpart in PENGASSAN, Mr Ndukaku Ohaeri, as well as their general secretaries.

The statement was entitled ‘NUPENG and PENGASSAN strongly react to comments by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, on refineries and oil and gas workers’.

“On the purported threat of the Group Managing Director of NNPC to sack workers, we wish to state here that it was actually no more a threat but that it had already been carried out with the sack of 850 support staff in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, throwing almost a thousand workers into hard financial situation without an iota of empathy or consultation with the union,” it said.

The unions said they never threatened to go on strike, but that they only demanded to be engaged for a proper discussion on the commensurate terminal benefits of the workers who had worked for 10 to 15 years.

They said, “We found it rather highly inhuman and unfair on the part of NNPC management to sack these workers with only their last paycheques after 15 good years of their lives in NNPC.

“If a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Group Managing Director of NNPC can dismiss contract workers that have served for more than 10 years continuously as if they are rodents, what more can we expect from lOCs. The monthly salaries of 25 of these contract staff put together cannot equal a typical management staff salary of the same organisation.”

Lagos Seals Bars, Lounges, Restaurants Contravening COVID19 Protocols

The Lagos State Safety Commission has sealed 33 social facilities including bars, lounges, restaurants, gyms and spas for engaging in activities and operations contrary to the State Government's COVID-19 reopening protocols.



Speaking during an enforcement exercise, the Director-General, Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola disclosed that erring or non-compliant facilities who contravene the established protocols will face full wrath of the Law.

He reaffirmed the State's zero tolerance for establishments that continue to violate laws and regulations, noting, however, that hairdressing salons that have been accredited by Lagos State Safety Commission can now open strictly by appointment with a maximum occupancy of 40% of the total floor space at any given time.

The Director-General implored business owners in the entertainment and tourism sector who are yet to comply with the directive, to promptly do so by registering on www.lasgsafetyreg.com in order to receive their provisional safety compliance letters in preparation for the full reopening.

Mojola also declared that organisations that have collected their provisional compliance letters, especially in sectors that are still not allowed to open, should remain closed until Mr. Governor’s announcement for reopening of such businesses.

According to him, the Commission will continue its enforcement exercise by identifying businesses that have not registered across the State, especially bars, gyms, spars, social and religious centres.

Magu's Saga: NFIU Submits Details On Dollars Transactions

The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, on Monday appeared before the Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel for the second week running.

Magu has been appearing before the panel sitting inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, since last Monday when he was arrested.



He has since then been in police custody from where he is being moved to the venue of the sitting daily.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has presented its investigative report on Magu to the panel.

It was gathered that the NFIU provided a comprehensive report on Magu’s alleged activities, including details of his relationships with some Bureau de change operators to the panel.

It was gathered by The Punch that the NFIU kept report of all concluded investigations on its servers or cloud storage system where the chances of tampering or theft were low.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official said, “Almost 100 per cent of our reports and information are on our servers; you cannot find any concluded reports on computers, they are on our servers or cloud storage system.”

The official dismissed reports that the attack on the agency’s annex office at Wuse, Abuja, might be related to the Magu’s case.

He said the ongoing internal investigation would reveal the culprits behind the burglary.

The source stated, “Apart from the so-called Magu investigation, we have bigger and sensitive investigations based on our mandate, so you cannot conclude that the burglary has to do with Magu, but as far as NFIU is concerned, all the information the panel required had been provided.”

Policemen and private security guards protecting the NFIU facility had been taken into custody for questioning.

595 New Cases Of Coronavirus In Nigeria, Total Now 33,153

In the last 24 hours, 595 new cases of COVID19 were reported in Nigeria;
Lagos-156, Oyo-141, FCT-99, Edo-47, Kaduna-27, Ondo-22, Rivers-20, Osun-17, Imo-13, Plateau-10, Nasarawa-8, Anambra-8, Kano-5, Benue-5, Borno-5, Ogun-4, Taraba-3, Gombe-3, Kebbi-1, Cross Rivers-1.

A total of 33,153 confirmed cases in Nigeria. The breakdown;

Beautiful new photos of Shade Okoya and her family

Cute....cute! More photos below.....

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/beautiful-new-photos-of-shade-okoya-and.html