Experts fear next virus might come from Africa after discovering Lagos wet market

Shocking footage seen by MailOnline reveals the appalling state of Nigerian wet markets which have the potential to cause future disease outbreaks in humans.

Myriad animals including pangolins, primates and sea turtles are held — both dead and alive — in confined spaces while workers fail to sanitise surfaces or tools and do not wear appropriate PPE, including gloves. 

Video also shows many of the animals being abused before they are slaughtered; photographic evidence reveals vendors boiling animals including pangolins, dogs and manatees while they are still alive.

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan is believed to be the site of the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This is an example of zoonotic transmission where viruses jump from animals to people and experts warn bringing a wide range of animals into a small space alongside humans in unclean conditions is a perfect recipe for disease. 

Malcolm Bennett, Professor of Zoonotic and Emerging Disease at the University of Nottingham, told MailOnline: 'If you were to want to maximise the risk of zoonotic transmission you would mix human contact with a wide range of animals — domestic and wild — and bring them together both alive and dead in the same area.'

Zoonotic diseases are not uncommon, with Covid-19, SARS, MERS, Ebola, HIV, the bubonic plague, rabies, West Nile virus and Lyme disease all originating in animals before infecting humans.

WildatLife, a charity working on the ground in Nigeria, visited Oluwu fish market in Epe, 55 miles east of Lagos.

The volunteers secretly recorded conditions at the market where vendors handle, butcher and sell live and dead animals. 

'Wet markets like Oluwo Fish Market located in Nigeria, facilitate and heavily contribute to the practice of illicit wildlife trade and in turn, this practice can lead to the spread of zoonotic diseases,' WildatLife told MailOnline. 

'Transportation of animals for wildlife trade at these markets enables the spread of diseases from animals to other animals and pose a threat to human health.'

Dozens of primates can be seen in the footage stuck in small cages while snakes, crocodiles, duikers, sea turtles, manatees, rodents and parakeets are also present.  

'All animals are infected with something and only some are infectious to humans,' Professor Bennett explains.

'Having more animals in the same space and in close contact with each other makes it more likely something will emerge in humans. 

'The more biodiverse an area/country is (in the tropics for example), the higher risk there is that something is going to emerge.

'There is an almost 100 per cent risk of something emerging in humans, but we can't predict where that will be or what that will be.'

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/experts-fear-next-virus-might-come-from.html

Benin Republic ready to be Nigeria’s ‘37th state' – Minister

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, had expressed readiness for his country to be part of Nigeria.

Onyeama, who stated this shortly after a close door meeting with Beninoise Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Aurélien Agbenonci, said the Beninoise president gave the offer when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari, a few weeks back.

“The President of Benin said as far as they are concerned, they want (not just saying it like that) but in reality, Benin should be the 37th state of Nigeria,” he said.

“We should really be one. They charged us to come together at ministerial level, to work out a framework for a sustainable relationship.”

Onyeama said, at the visit, both presidents discussed agreements between the two countries on how to put the issue of smuggling to an end, once and for all, as a follow up to the presidents’ meeting.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/benin-republic-ready-to-be-nigerias.html

Arrested bandits may be released to secure return of abducted Kagara students

There are indications that the government might consider releasing some arrested bandits as a part of the bargains to secure the release of 27 pupils and 15 workers of Government Science College, Kagara, in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapped on Wednesday.

It was learnt on Friday that the group of bandits responsible for the abduction wanted their gang members in custody of security agencies released as a swap deal to free the abductees.

Bandits in military uniform had reportedly stormed the school around 2am on Wednesday, and seized their victims, killing a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil who raised the alarm in the process.

They consequently led their victims – tied in pairs – to a nearby spot around Attahiru Secondary School where they had reportedly parked their motorcycles and whisked them into a forest.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/arrested-bandits-may-be-released-to.html

We got victims on dating sites, dispossess them of money, belongings — Suspected kidnappers

Three members of a kidnap gang that picked on their targets through dating sites have been arrested by men of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team in Rivers State.

The suspects – Michael Eneji aka General, 30; Nwachukwu Emeka, 22; and Success Okeke, 27 – were rounded up following the killing of one of their victims, Michael Victor, who reportedly went missing on January 6.

City Round learnt that the IRT operatives led by DCP Abba Kyari began to track the gang after Victor’s family lodged a complaint at the police unit on January 12, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The gang’s modus operandi was to parade themselves as ladies in search of lovers on the dating site and lure their victims to a lonely spot where they would rob them of their valuables.

One AK-47 rifle and three magazines loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition were said to have been recovered from them.

They also reportedly owned up to killing Victor on the day he was kidnapped and led the operatives to Old Onne Road, Rivers State, where they usually carried out their kidnapping and robbery operations.

The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, SP Chukwuma Emeka, reportedly recovered Victor’s corpse and deposited it at Okrika General Hospital Mortuary on January 7, after a case of an abandoned corpse was reported at the station.

In his confession, the ringleader, Eneji, a native of Gakem community in the Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State, said he had been into kidnapping and armed robbery since 2011 when he completed his first degree in Business Administration.

He stated that he identified himself as a naval officer to people to cover his tracks, adding that he had earlier been arrested on two occasions for stealing, kidnapping and murder.

He said, “In 2014, I was arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder of a victim who was a staff member of an oil company. I was sent to prison but my lawyer got me released in 2015 after eight months in prison. He told me that the judge struck out the case.

“We normally pose as women on dating sites. As soon as we lure our victim, we would arrange a meeting. If the target was stubborn, we would ask the only lady among us to speak with the target. If the man insists on seeing the face of the lady, we go on video chats. We also use a small phone that enables us to change our voice from a man’s voice to a woman’s voice.

“Once I have been able to establish a contact, I would convince them that I would satisfy their sexual urge. Pretending to be a lady, I would tell them to meet me somewhere around Eleme Road. One of my boys, Success, would go there and meet them as my domestic servant and direct them to my house. I would claim that I live in a mansion where I don’t like disturbance to convince them to come.”

He said as the victims approached the phantom mansion, Okeke would lead them to a deserted place where they would lay in ambush dressed in army uniform.

He added, “We will tie their hands and legs. We collect their valuables, including ATM cards. Emeka would hold the AK-47 in case of any attack while I go to the bank to withdraw whatever the victims have in the bank accounts.

“Our last victim that put us in trouble was picked by my friend, Success (Okeke). I had left our camp with his ATM card when security men on patrol passed by. I was waiting for the password when Abubakar (still at large) called and told me that the man is dead. We all went home and two days later police arrested me.”

Okeke, who hails from Anambra State, a graduate of Microbiology, said joblessness and hardship forced him to join the gang.

He said as the first son, he wanted to make money and impress his family, admitting that his role in the gang was to pick the victims to an agreed spot.

He stated, “They did not tell me that the victim (Victor) died until police arrested me. Michael (Eneji) had given me his number and asked me to pick him. I called and told him that my madam who works in an oil company requested that I should bring him to the house. I picked him at a bus stop near a filling station.

“On our way, our gang members dressed in military uniform stopped us. It was around 8pm and they asked us why we were passing through the spot. They overpowered the man and dragged him into the bush. I was waiting when I saw a flashlight from security men on patrol. I ran away and later called Michael who told me to wait for him somewhere. I was waiting when policemen arrested me.

Nwachukwu, who owned the AK-47, said he got it from an ex-militant, adding that he knew Michael as a naval officer and gave him the gun to protect him (Nwachukwu) during his grandfather’s burial.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/we-got-victims-on-dating-sites.html

Kanye West blames politics for marriage crash

Kanye West has an idea as to why his marriage is ending: his involvement in politics and decision to run for the presidency.

On Friday, news broke that West’s wife, reality star Kim Kardashian, had filed for divorce after nearly seven years of marriage.

While previous reports indicated that there were a handful of factors that led to their split — property, lifestyle and more — politics was also mentioned.

West, 43, famously threw his name in the ring during the 2020 presidential election, only securing his name on the ballot in 12 states.

He conceded the longshot election before the race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was called.

Following the news of the divorce filing, West has been “texting people” and “talking things through,” an insider told People magazine.

“He’s in that place of ‘if only,'” the source said. “‘If only I had done this, if only I hadn’t done that.’ He’s processing things.”

Additionally, the source claimed that the hip-hop star “thinks that the Presidential run was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“Before that, there was hope. After that, none,” the insider further claimed. “It cost him his marriage.”

In fact, a source previously told Page Six that the campaign was the “final straw” for Kardashian while another source said that she had opposed the idea from the beginning.

People magazine also learned from a source that while West “isn’t happy” with the divorce, he’s “resigned to reality.”

“He knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier,” said the insider. “This is a somber day for him.”

The divorce is as “amicable as possible,” said the source, noting that “amicable doesn’t mean joyful or ideal.”

West and Kardashian, 40, are “being adults” about the split. The source also revealed that the rapper is “seeing counselors and advisors to help him through this spot.”

The information comes not long after a report surfaced that West was “not doing well” ahead of the divorce filing.

“He is anxious and very sad,” another insider told People. “He knows that the marriage is over, and there’s nothing that can be done right now.”

They added: “He also knows what he is losing in Kim.”

The source also said that the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star has “defended [West] privately to her family” and “stood beside him at a time where a few wives would have done that.”

“He is very aware that she has been a good wife. He still loves her very much. But he understands,” said the source, who explained that Kardashian feels “she can’t be married to him anymore.”

Reps for Kardashian and West did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/kanye-west-blames-politics-for-marriage.html

I didn’t plan to have kids out of wedlock – Singer Flavour

Singer, Chinedu Okoli, aka Flavour N’abania, is one artiste who doesn’t just sing about women, he has also been romantically linked with a couple of them. The ‘Chop Life’ singer in a recent interview with media personality, Ebuka Uchendu also confessed that he indeed loves beautiful women.

Asked if he agrees with the impression that he is a womaniser, Flavour said, “That’s people judging (me), you know. As long as you are in the public eye, you would get stuff like that. It was never planned, though I cannot deny that I love beautiful women. I am an African man, not a white man. I have taste too with women. I don’t just go with anything.”

The father of three noted that he had always known it would be difficult dealing with women because of his career. He said, “I knew that with my job at some point, it was going to be very difficult with

Flavour, however, noted that he is always happy whenever he sees his children. He said, “I am very happy, when I look at the kids, and I believe that is all that matters. I am so happy because I never women.”

 expected everything to happen this way. When you also look at the positives, you would see happiness in it. You have to take it. This is life and you have to live it. I swallow everything and get on with it. I make myself happy.”Meanwhile, Flavour, who was romantically linked with a former Big Brother Africa winner, Dillish Matthews, stated that they never dated. He added, “She is a friend. We worked together and after that, we remained friends. There is no child involved (between us). There is no relationship.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/i-didnt-plan-to-have-kids-out-of.html

Man stabs ex-lover in court, jumps down 2-storeyed building

A man in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, has carried out a dramatic act of stabbing his ex-lover in a courtroom over money and then attempted to escape from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials by jumping down from their two-storyed building.

The man, Enoch Adamu, had inflicted knife cuts on his lover, Ashini Hosea, in the premises of the Criminal Area Court II, Yola, and left her in pain.

While Ashini Hosea was rushed to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Yola for medical attention, Enoch was apprehended and taken to the CID.

In his apparent bid to escape the CID investigators, Enoch was said to have jumped from the staircase of the building of the CID. With the impact of landing on the ground, he became unconscious.

He, like Ashini, was rushed to the FMC Yola.

Enoch Adamu, identified as a resident of Sangere in Yola South Local Government Area, was said to have stabbed Ashini after a sudden failure of an arrangement to have her refund him N85,000; being expenses he was said to have incurred on her while they were lovers.

Counsel to Ashini, Barr. Ibrahim Saidu, had written for a reversal of the earlier arrangement for Ashini to pay Enoch all expenses he made on her, an application which succeeded, to Enoch’s anger.

Earlier in his oral application, Barr. Ibrahim told Musa Garta-led Area Court that he was not aware of the terms of settlement about his client agreeing to refund the man’s expenses, neither did he know of any earlier admission of liability by his client to the allegations made by Enoch.

He, therefore, prayed the court to mention the case afresh, and the court did, upon which Ashini changed her earlier plea and denied liability of all the expenses incurred on her.

Immediately after the adjournment of the matter (to March 2, 2021) for commencement of hearing, Enoch walked up to Ashini who was standing outside the courtroom with her counsel Ibrahim, pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the chest and neck three times.

He tried to flee the court but was apprehended by police operatives and court officials who handed him to the police CID that whisked him to their office.

The entire court journey had started for Enoch on the 4th of this month when he instituted a suit against Ashini on a charge of deceitful marriage, telling the court that he fell in love with Ashini who later accepted his marriage proposal.

He said he spent his fortunes, paying a dowry and incurring other expenses totalling N120,000; only for Ashini to tell him later that she was no longer interested in the marriage plan, hence his decision to sue her.

It was further gathered that of the N120,000 supposedly spent on Ashini, Ashini had paid back N35,000 before the court process began, remaining the N85,000 now in question.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/man-stabs-ex-lover-in-court-jumps-down.html

Man collapses in Ogun police cell, petitions IGP

A man, Afolabi Fashogbon, collapsed at Onipanu Police Station, Ogun State causing panic among his family members.

The Punch gathered that the incident happened around 08.30 pm on Thursday.

Fashogbon said he had gone to inspect his family’s land located at Bamigbose Fashogbon Village, Ota, Ogun State, which he claimed a High Court had awarded in the family’s favour when he was arrested by police.

A copy of the judgement and a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State were made available to Punch correspondent.

Part of the petition read, “Some police officers from Onipanu Division, Obasanjo Ota came to the land around 03 pm and arrested me that they had a signal from the state command Eleweran to do so and I was kept in their custody. Efforts to get bail proved abortive and I had health challenges.

“About 8.30 pm when my wife and counsel approached the officer at the counter, when I was not given bail, to bring dinner to my cell, they found that I was not making any movement. It was my wife that alerted the DPO who then asked that I should be carried out. I was carried out lifeless as I did not know how I got to the hospital (the video is available). It took only the grace of God to revive me.

“Since the matter is already in court and the current judgement is in our favour, I told the police that they had nothing to do with the matter. There is no violence.  We will not give room for backdoor justice.  Police should ask the petitioner to meet us in court.”

He lamented that while receiving treatment in the hospital, some police officers also attempted to arrest him again without regard for his life.

He added, “I was still asked to come over to the state Command, Eleweran on February 24, where they could arrest and detain me and do other certain things that happened in Police custody and force me to take an undertaking that I and my generation will vacate our homeland in one week.

“Police will come around and evacuate all of us while the matter is already in court and sub judice? Is this how the law is practised? Is their plan to kill me?”

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that the man collapsed.

He said, “The man is having a case with the state CID. While he was arrested, they were waiting for officers from the state CID to come and pick him, he collapsed. He was taken to the hospital. On getting to the hospital, the doctor confirmed that he has low blood sugar. He has been treated and responded positively to treatment and he is okay.”

On the allegation of misconduct and police interference in a matter already in court, Oyeyemi said, “That is a blatant lie. He did not have any issue with the police. There is a complainant against him. And if a case is reported, it is the duty of the police to listen to both sides and know what is happening. The fact that a case is in court does not mean that you cannot commit another offence as regards it.

“If a case is in court and you are reported, the police have a reason to invite and arrest you. I don’t know what he meant by misconduct. The police did not wake up one day and decide to get him arrested.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/man-collapses-in-ogun-police-cell.html

Nigeria records 623 new Covid-19 cases, total now 150,908

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 622 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 150,908.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday.

Nigeria also recorded 10 COVID-19 deaths, raising the total fatality in the country to 1,813.

“On the 19th of February 2021, 662 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

“Till date, 150908 cases have been confirmed, 127500 cases have been discharged and 1813 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The 662 new cases are reported from 23 states- Lagos (167), FCT (116), Ogun (45), Kano (44), Akwa Ibom (35), Edo (34), Rivers (27), Kaduna (23), Osun (23), Kwara (22), Taraba (22), Oyo (20), Ondo (19), Plateau (14), Abia (11), Imo (11), Nasarawa (7), Niger (6), Bayelsa (5), Delta (5), Enugu (3), Ekiti (2), and Jigawa (1),” the NCDC said.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/nigeria-records-623-new-covid-19-cases.html

"I got the gun from my married boyfriend'', Girl who took gun to school confesses to being a cult member

A 17-year old female student of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa in Akpabuyo local government area and the boyfriend, Okon Effiong, have confessed they belong to cult groups.

While the girl said she belongs to Sky Queens Confraternity”, Effiong said he belongs to a local cult called “Mbiang.”

The duo were arrested arrested on Wednesday for unlawful possession of locally made pistol.

The teenager had gone to school on Tuesday with a gun to shoot her one of her school teacher who had told her to cut her hair.

It was learnt that on resumption of school, the class teacher had asked her to go home and have a hair cut and then remove her coloured hair.

The girl was said to have got furious and sneaked a gun to the school to repay her teacher.

Speaking at the Police Command Headquarters , Diamond Hill Calabar sory after she was paraded alongside her boyfriend who owns the locally made pistol and 11 others for various crimes, on Friday, she claimed to be taking the pistol to the blacksmith before it was confiscated by her school principal.

“I am a member of Sky Queen Confraternity. I am just an ordinary member. I don’t hold any position in the group. I have known the owner of the gun who is my man friend since last year and he sleeps with me and supports me with little things, but he is not the one paying my school fees .

“My mother knows about him , because he visits me at our house and sometimes he sleeps over at my place, because I have my own room then in the morning he goes back to his own house,” the girl said.

Speaking also, the boyfriend to the school girl ,Okon Effiong, said they been close friends since August and has been supporting her family too in so many ways .

He equally admitted that he has been sleeping with her for a while as everybody around the vicinity knows she is the wife.

Earlier, the state Commisioner for police, Sikiru Akande, disclosed that they discovered from their investigation that the girl was taking the locally made double barrel pistol to a blacksmith.

He called on parents and guardian to cultivate the habit of getting closer to their children and wards to know what they do and who they mingle with.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/i-got-gun-from-my-married-boyfriend.html

Pastor Adeboye calls for the release of Leah Sharibu

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for the release of Leah Sharibu, the Christian girl who has been in the captivity of Boko Haram terrorists.

In a statement titled, ‘A Call for Release of Leah Sharibu,’ which Adeboye signed and issued on Friday, he directed all pastors in the RCCG all over the world to intensify their prayers for Sharibu’s release.

The clergyman also urged parents to use their influence to ensure Sharibu and other children in captivity were released.

“I, hereby, again call and direct all pastors in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, all over the world, not to stop but to intensify their prayers for the release of Leah Sharibu. I also call on every parent, all over the world, to use whatever influence they have, to ensure that Leah Sharibu and other children in captivity, are released. We shall not relent in our prayers,” he said.

Sharibu was among the 110 students who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in the Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, on February 19, 2018.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/pastor-adeboye-calls-for-release-of.html

OAP Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi welcomes her first child with husband

Congratulations are in order for  OAP, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and her husband, Femisoro Ajayi, as they welcome their first child.

The new parents took to their respective Instagram pages to announce the birth of their newborn. 

Gbemi shared the news with a short video, saying, “ordinary stay at home, three months, you are pregnant”.

She shared the video alongside a photo of her cradling her baby bump, and in another slide, a photo of her baby’s sippy cup, of which she captioned, “Little did I know.”

The new dad also shared the news with the caption, “This woman gave me a whole child”.

Gbemi and husband Femisoro Ajayi got married in November 2018. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gbemi O-O (@gbemioo)

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A post shared by Femisoro Ajayi (@femisoro)

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/oap-gbemi-olateru-olagbegi-welcomes-her.html

Paternity scandal: Shina Peter vows to take care of late Funmi Martins’ son

Veteran Juju singer, Sir Shina Peters, has addressed the viral allegations that the late actress, Funmi Martins, bore him a son, Oluwadamilare, whom he abandoned.

Martins, who passed on in 2002, is also the mother of popular actress, Mide, who is married to her colleague, Afeez Owo.

During the week, a blogger, Gist Lover, alleged that Mide and Peters had abandoned Damilare, who is now 19 years old.

But, in a video the juju musician, who was recently ordained a Bishop of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, stated that he was in talks with Damilare and his guardian, Baba Deji. He, however, did not acknowledge whether he was the father of the boy in question or not.

Peters said, “I would like to thank all Nigerians in the Diaspora. I will be turning 64, so I should know the right thing to do. On the issue of Oluwadamilare, from the beginning, there were a lot of controversies, but has an elderly person, I don’t want to discuss that. I have put it behind me.

 My concern now is how we are going to take good care of Damilare. In the past, I had sent my driver to Abeokuta Ogun State) several times but they did not allow my driver to see him. When Damilare’s guardian, Baba Deji, called me, I was not in the country. I told him I would call him when I got back. In the process of waiting for me, this story came out.”

Peters also urged his fans and other Nigerians who had initiated plans to crowd-fund for the boy to put a stop to it. He added, “I heard there are plans to raise money for Damilare. I don’t want people to use the poor boy to siphon money. He is not a beggar and I do not want people to make him one. From now, I want to take charge of him. I would be fully responsible for him. Me, Damilare, Baba Deji, and the senior Martins have been speaking on phone. We have fixed a meeting in hopes that everything would be fine. I am a Godly person and I have trained so many children and they are doing very fine, financially.

“I love children and I’m passionate about them. I once sang a song about the essence of children. Now that Damilare knows where to reach me, he can come to me as a father and discuss his problems with me. We can have a proper father and son relationship. Even if he is interested in the entertainment industry, he has to have good education”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/paternity-scandal-shina-peter-vows-to.html

Hushpuppi in fresh FBI trouble, linked with North Korean bank robbers

Nigerian Ramon Olorunwa Abbas-  Hushpuppi, now incarcerated in California as he awaits trial for cyber fraud was linked today by the FBI to North Korean hackers, said to be the biggest bank robbers in the world.

The Justice Department in a detailed statement released Friday, said Abbas took part in a “North Korean-perpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank in February 2019.”

His role was as a collaborator with a North Korean money launderer, Ghaleb Alaumary, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The 37 year-old Alaumary was one of the people charged today by the FBI for many criminal schemes. The others are three North Koreans.

“Alaumary agreed to plead guilty to the charge, which was filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Nov. 17, 2020”, according to the statement.

“Alaumary was a prolific money launderer for hackers engaged in ATM cash-out schemes, cyber-enabled bank heists, business email compromise (BEC) schemes, and other online fraud schemes. Alaumary is also being prosecuted for his involvement in a separate BEC scheme by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

“With respect to the North Korean co-conspirators’ activities, Alaumary organized teams of co-conspirators in the United States and Canada to launder millions of dollars obtained through ATM cash-out operations, including from BankIslami and a bank in India in 2018.

“Alaumary also conspired with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, aka “Ray Hushpuppi,” and others to launder funds from a North Korean-perpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank in February 2019”.

Abbas already has a case of his own.

Last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles charged him in a separate case alleging that he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from BEC frauds and other scams.

In a July statement, the Justice Department referred to the Maltese bank attack as “a $14.7 million cyber-heist from a foreign financial institution.”

“Both the date and amount match that of the attack on Malta’s Bank of Valletta in February 2019”, reported Forbes.

Abbas, 38, was arrested in Dubai last year.

He arrived in the U.S. on July 3 to face criminal charges over allegations that he made “hundreds of millions of dollars” from business email compromise frauds and other scams.

His trial was to have commenced late last year, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full US Justice Department statement on the indictment of three North Korean military hackers involved in cyber heists running into over $1.3billion

A federal indictment unsealed today charges three North Korean computer programmers with participating in a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy to conduct a series of destructive cyberattacks, to steal and extort more than $1.3 billion of money and cryptocurrency from financial institutions and companies, to create and deploy multiple malicious cryptocurrency applications, and to develop and fraudulently market a blockchain platform.

A second case unsealed today revealed that a Canadian-American citizen has agreed to plead guilty in a money laundering scheme and admitted to being a high-level money launderer for multiple criminal schemes, including ATM “cash-out” operations and a cyber-enabled bank heist orchestrated by North Korean hackers.

“As laid out in today’s indictment, North Korea’s operatives, using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash, are the world’s leading bank robbers,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department will continue to confront malicious nation state cyber activity with our unique tools and work with our fellow agencies and the family of norms abiding nations to do the same.”

“Today’s unsealed indictment expands upon the FBI’s 2018 charges for the unprecedented cyberattacks conducted by the North Korean regime,” said the FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “The ongoing targeting, compromise, and cyber-enabled theft by North Korea from global victims was met with the outstanding, persistent investigative efforts of the FBI in close collaboration with U.S. and foreign partners. By arresting facilitators, seizing funds, and charging those responsible for the hacking conspiracy, the FBI continues to impose consequences and hold North Korea accountable for its/their criminal cyber activity.”

“The scope of the criminal conduct by the North Korean hackers was extensive and long-running, and the range of crimes they have committed is staggering,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison for the Central District of California. “The conduct detailed in the indictment are the acts of a criminal nation-state that has stopped at nothing to extract revenge and obtain money to prop up its regime.”

“This case is a particularly striking example of the growing alliance between officials within some national governments and highly sophisticated cyber-criminals,” said U.S. Secret Service Assistant Director Michael R. D’Ambrosio. “The individuals indicted today committed a truly unprecedented range of financial and cyber-crimes: from ransomware attacks and phishing campaigns, to digital bank heists and sophisticated money laundering operations. With victims strewn across the globe, this case shows yet again that the challenge of cybercrime is, and will continue to be, a struggle that can only be won through partnerships, perseverance, and a relentless focus on holding criminals accountable.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/hushpuppi-in-fresh-fbi-trouble-linked.html

Fans attack actress, Bukunmi Oluwashina for claiming she just passed out of NYSC

Fans of Nollywood actress, Bukunmi Oluwashina have dragged her on social media after she announced that she has passed out from NYSC.

Bukunmi Oluwasina shared a photo of herself in a NYSC uniform and reckoned that haters will disbelief her new achievement.

She captioned her photos thus;

“AWA NA TI PASS OUT O…Haters would say it’s a lie naw that I did not pass out. As if they are the owner of the pass out. Is it your pass out?”

Reacting to her post, fans were shocked to see her in the uniform claimed she wore it two years ago and asked her how many times she wants to pass out.

See some reactions below....

@uniqueruth95 wrote “Saw a pics of you on nysc cloth last 2 years and now you have passed out,how come,well congratulations”

@_zhynab wrote “Pass out ke? since when Lori iro”

@olabisiesther33 wrote “Ahah.. Pass out again?”

@nikehamzah wrote “Joor mabinu, how many times do you want to pass out?”

@muyiwaadigunshow wrote “Since when bukunmi…lol….Antie toyin will call you now…lol”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/fans-attack-actress-bukunmi-oluwashina.html

Breaking! Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

Kim Kardashian, who built a business empire as a reality television star, filed for divorce Friday from her husband of nearly seven years, Kanye West, appearing to end one of the entertainment world's most famed unions.

The divorce petition was filed at the downtown offices of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with Kardashian represented by prominent divorce attorney Laura Wasser.

Kardashian disclosed over the summer that the couple had been struggling with West's bipolar disorder.

Kardashian, 40, and the multi-Grammy winner West, 43, tied the knot during an elaborate 2014 ceremony in Florence, Italy, about a year after her divorce from the former NBA star Kris Humphries was finalized.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/breaking-kim-kardashian-files-for.html

How old men like me can be chased out of politics - El-Rufai

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has given young persons the clue they can use in chasing “old men like me out of politics”.

Speaking at ‘Radio Now’s Urgent Conversation’ in Lagos on Friday, he called on youths, corporate professionals and religious leaders to join active politics to contribute their quota and make the country work.

El-Rufai also said protests or activism will not take anybody anywhere until good people surrender themselves for public service and endure the humiliation associated with serving fatherland.

He said, “Good people must offer themselves for public service and suffer the indignity that we all suffer every day, we get abused, we get insulted, we get accused but we must have our best people in public service, we must have our bet people in politics; we should not have them in banks, in telecom companies, in oil companies, in civil societies protesting. Protesting will take you nowhere unless you have a seat at the table. The most important table is that political table.

“I got into government in a technocratic way, I didn’t get into government to be appointed minister because of politics. I was appointed because the President liked me and thought I could do the job. But I realised after that, politics trumps everything.

“So, my call to Nigerians is if you want to see better governance, be part of the selection process of those that offer themselves for public service and politics. And the only way to do so is to join political parties and be active and influence the leadership that emerges in the political parties which usually influences the leadership that are offered for election. There is no other way, there is no shortcut to it.

“I appeal to young Nigerians, comfortable Nigerians –because public service pay is very poor. So, comfortable Nigerians should leave what they are doing; the pastors and imams that have made money, the bankers, the telecoms guys, leave that thing, come and make Nigeria work, because if it doesn’t work, you will not sleep at night no matter how much money you have made.

“I believe that there is hope, I believe if we have more and more young people, we have five million of them attaining the age of 18 every year, they can come and overwhelm the parties and chase out old men like me and take over but they must come; they cannot stand by the side lines and keep criticising.

“Solutions are what this country needs and you can only propose this solution, fight for them in the system.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/how-old-men-like-me-can-be-chased-out.html

Alarming! 55 Covid-19 variants circulating in Nigeria – NCDC

There are about 55 variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease circulating in Nigeria, according to the government.

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made the disclosure in a statement this evening.

He said: “As of February 14 2021, there are about 55 different lineages of SARS-CoV-2 known to be circulating in Nigeria and they are changing rapidly.

“The diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains indicate multiple introductions of the virus into Nigeria from different parts of the world and adds to evidence of community transmission in different states of Nigeria.”

Dr Ihekweazu said that a total of 29 cases with the B.1.1.7 variant strain, which was first described in the United Kingdom and shown to be linked to increase in transmissibility, have so far been detected in Nigeria.

These strains were detected from cases in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Osun, Oyo, Kwara and Edo States.

All samples with the B.1.1.7 variant strain were collected from patients between November and January 2021, he said.

He said that on the 11th of February, some recent SARS-CoV-2 genomes were seen to have distinct mutations and characterised as a new variant B.1.525, adding that so far, this has been detected among cases in five states in the country.

The NCDC boss said B.1.525 is a new strain, but not yet a variant of concern and further analysis is ongoing.

“As at the 17th of February, these have been reported from United Kingdom (44), Denmark (35), Nigeria (30), United States of America (12), Canada (5), France (5), Ghana (4), Australia (2), Jordan (2), Singapore (1), Finland (1), Belgium (1) and Spain (1).

“The first detected B.1.525 case in Nigeria was in a sample collected on the 23rd of November from a patient in Lagos State, “ he added.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/alarming-55-covid-19-variants.html

Basket Mouth's wife questions why Rosy Meurer refers to her husband as "Mr Churchill"

Comedian Basket Mouth's Elsie Okpocha has reacted to how Rosy Meurer addresses her husband as Mr. Churchill and not call him her husband.

According to Elsie, it’s as if Rosy Meurer is ashamed to claim the man that she married hence can’t refer to him as her husband but always calls him Mr. Churchill.

Taking to her Instagram story, Elsie wrote;

"Mr Churchill this, Mr Churchill that... Aunty say 'my husband' naaa, abi are you ashamed to call him that??????? Wahala just be like bicycle.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/basket-mouths-wife-questions-why-rosy.html

DJ Sose welcomes baby girl with his wife, Olamide

Popular disc jockey, Soseneyayi Amar-Aigbe- DJ Sose is now a proud dad. He welcomed a baby girl with his wife Olamide.

The couple got married in May 2018.

The new proud dad shared the good news on his Instagram page writing;

''Grateful @lamchopsaa & Z''

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/dj-sose-welcomes-baby-girl-with-his.html