N80m fraud: Kaduna court jails former registrar Udoh

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November 5, 2020

A Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna presided over by Justice P. Mallong has sentenced a former Registrar of the court, Mr Joseph Udoh to four years imprisonment for laundering the sum of N80 million.

Udoh and his wife, Grace, were in December 2019 arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on 12-count for alleged misappropriation of N80m deposited in the court by a litigant.

According to a statement on Thursday by the ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, the convict reportedly issued cheques in the name of his wife, also a staff member of the Federal High Court of Justice, Abuja, and used the money to acquire properties in some major cities across the country.

Based on a plea bargain agreement entered with the convict, the charges against him were amended to four counts and those against his wife dropped.

He pleaded guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Shehu Yahaya, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant according to the terms of the plea bargain agreement before the court as provided in section 270(10) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Counsel to the defendant, Gbenga Ogunniran, concurred with the submission of the prosecutor, stating that “the convict did not only embarrass himself but also embarrassed his family.”

He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, especially looking at the fact that the convict is a family man with an aged mother.

Fear in Enugu communities as strange disease kills over 50 persons

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Chris Ottah

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November 5, 2020

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There is the fear of uncertainty in Umuopu and Ette Communities in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State following an outbreak of a strange disease which had claimed over 50 lives in the area.

Reports from the area on Thursday had it that two of the Communities namely Ette and Umuopu are all at the border between Enugu and Kogi States.

According to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer in the Local Government Area, Vincent Oshomi, the cause of the strange deaths is not yet known although he told reporters that the Enugu State Ministry of Health has been alerted and specimen of the affected persons in the communities collected for proper diagnosis and treatment.

See Also: Stop Buhari from going abroad for medical treatments – Senate

Oshomi also disclosed to newsmen on Thursday that the disease broke out at Ette at the beginning of September 2020, and spread to the border community of Umuopu, where 20 persons had died.

He further explained that the victims presented symptoms such as convulsion, diarrhoea before vomiting blood, adding that they are suspecting Lassa fever or cholera.

He also said “Between September and now, at least 37 persons have died at Ette community. Also, Umuopu community, which shares a common border with Ette have recorded 20 deaths, four of which happened yesterday. It has been a strange development.

“I have officially informed the state’s Ministry of Health and investigations are currently ongoing to unravel the cause of the deaths. We have collected samples of affected persons and we are looking out for Lassa fever, cholera, yellow fever and meningitis. Coronavirus test will equally start in the affected communities today.

“The state’s Ministry of Health has brought an ambulance we are using to convey the sick ones to Enugu for proper diagnosis and treatment.”

While reacting to the development, the chairman of the local government area, Ejike Itodo, who said he was on top of the situation, added that he would convene a meeting of stakeholders to begin thorough enlightenment about the strange disease.

Assuring the affected communities that the situation would be put under control, the local government boss said that the state’s Ministry of Health and other health workers in the council area are working assiduously to ensure that more casualties will not be recorded.

Attempt to speak with the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Emmanuel Obi, on the development, proved abortive.

Breaking: Fire guts Oando tank farm in Lagos

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Itohan Olomu-Agbodo

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November 5, 2020

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Fire on Thursday gutted a tank farm in the Oando Depot on Gaskiya Road, in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos State.

Confirming the development, the Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said emergency responders had been deployed in the area to salvage the situation.

He said, “There is a fire incident at the tank farm at Oando Depot in Ijora Badia.

“The agency has activated its emergency response plan and all relevant stakeholders have commenced appropriate measures to combat the flames and prevent secondary incidents.

“Lagosians are urged to remain calm. Further updates will be communicated.”

Details later…

Cristiano Ronaldo to make Portugal return against France, Croatia

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Chris Ottah

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November 5, 2020

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Cristiano Ronaldo was on Thursday named in the Portugal squad to play a friendly against Andorra and Nations League matches against France and Croatia.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner tested positive for coronavirus on October 13 when with the Portugal squad, going on to miss the 3-0 victory over Sweden.

The 35-year-old finally tested negative 19 days later, returning to the pitch with a double for Juventus against Spezia in Serie A action on Sunday.

The Portugal captain also played in Juve’s 4-1 victory over Ferencvaros in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Portugal take on Andorra on Wednesday before Nations League A3 matches at home against France on November 14 and away to Croatia three days later.

Stop Buhari from going abroad for medical treatments – Senate

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Chris Ottah

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November 5, 2020

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The Senate on Thursday told State House officials to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from foreign trips for medical treatment in order to ensure the State House clinic becomes functional this year.

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs gave the warning when the State House Permanent Secretary, Tijani Umar, appeared before the panel to defend his 2021 budget estimates.

The State House official had presented a budget of N19.7bn for 2021, out of which N1.3bn was proposed for the State House Clinic.

Reacting to the proposal, the Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Danjuma La’ah, said the committee would approve the budget for the State House Clinic but insisted that the President and other top officials of his government should no longer be flown abroad for medical treatment.

In an interview with journalists after defending his budget, the Permanent Secretary promised to put necessary arrangements in place to meet the medical needs of the President and other top officials once the budget was approved.

See Also: We’re committed to ending all forms of estimated billing –Buhari

He said, “We have appealed to the committee to assist us with the presidential wing of the State House Clinic.

“The N1.3bn is absolutely inadequate when you juxtapose the amount proposed, the labour, and the status of the principals that the project is going to serve.

“When compared with worldwide standards you see that it is not anything near what we need.

“It (the clinic), is considered a legacy project for us because we want to leave something down.

“It is not correct to say the state house clinic is in comatose. It is not.”

Recall that in 2017, the president spent over 150 days in the UK, treating an undisclosed ailment. Buhari returned to the UK for four days in May 2018 to see his doctor.

JUST IN: Ariaria market artisans in Abia get FG grants

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Itohan Olomu-Agbodo

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November 5, 2020

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The Federal Government has announced that the first batch of artisans in Ariaria International Market in Abia State has received their one-time grant of N30,000 each.

This was according to a tweet shared by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Survival Fund.

The Government of Nigeria also announced via Twitter that the Payroll Support Scheme had received over 50,000 applications.

It noted that the scheme aimed at MSMEs adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic would provide payroll support to a maximum of 10 employees per qualifying MSME.

“More than 50,000 applications were completed before the portal closed,” the government tweeted.

Kanye West Launches New Christian Academy

By

Koko Lawrence

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November 5, 2020

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Rapper Kanye West, who conceded his 2020 presidential run on election day, officially launched his new school, Yeezy Christian Academy.

It is not known if the academy will function as an official school with a certified educational program.

In a Twitter post released with a video and was captioned “dear future, I still believe in you,” a phrase repeated throughout the video. The video features West’s kids, North (7) and Saint (4), as well as his nephew Mason (10) and niece Penelope (8) wearing blue Yeezy Christian Academy T-shirts.

The video also features various other children who say they believe in their families, the future. “Our future has homes for everyone,” one kid said. Following this, multiple children stated, “Jesus loves everyone.” Towards the end of the video, the kids all say in unison “Let’s lead with love!”

West first announced the launch of his school in September, sharing that the five “founding pillars” of the academy are “faith, music, communication, collaboration, and creativity.”

The “Jesus Is King” rapper emphasized that “everything in the school exudes Christianity, all faculty share the faith.”

He also noted, Students will learn how to create and sing, learn how to communicate in the 21st century and how to collaborate with one another on projects.

There are no details about how much tuition will be for the academy or who is able to attend. Information on whether or not YCA has been credited as a fully certified institution is also not available.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, others fined $1.2M each after failing to appoint Turkey representative

By

Henry Williams

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November 5, 2020

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Social media networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Periscope, Youtube and TikTok, have been handed a TL 10 million ($1.18 million) fine each for failing to appoint a representative to Turkey as required by the new law, a senior Turkish official announced Wednesday.

Transport and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Ömer Fatih Sayan made the announcement after the platforms failed to name a local representative by the Nov. 2 deadline.

The companies were notified of the five stages of penalties for social network providers who fail to appoint a representative in Turkey under the amendment of the law, which took effect on Oct. 1, Sayan said on Twitter.

The companies were given time to complete the deficiencies, the deputy minister said.

Accordingly, in case they fail to meet the obligations within 30 days of the notification of the first fine, the firms will be fined another TL 30 million.

In case they again do not comply, Turkish firms will be banned from advertising with them.

If they fail to fulfill the obligations within three months after the advertising ban, the companies will have their internet bandwidth slashed by 50%.

“The internet traffic bandwidth of social network providers, which insist not to comply with the obligation, will be reduced by 90%,” Sayan said, making them practically too slow to use.

Digital rights expert Yaman Akdeniz said any bandwidth reduction would start in April and reach 90% by May, making the platforms effectively inaccessible.

Akdeniz tweeted on Tuesday that only the private Russian social media firm VK had appointed a Turkish representative by the deadline.

“The social network providers that agree to meet their obligations and agree to open a representative office in Turkey will be charged a quarter of the administrative fines, the advertising ban will be lifted, and the interference with internet traffic bandwidth will also be terminated,” the deputy minister noted.

New regulation bill

Parliament ratified the social media regulation bill initially back in July, compelling platforms to comply with conditions or face fines and bandwidth reduction.

“I have full belief that social network providers will make representative notifications to our country in the course of the legal process,” Sayan said.

“Our goal is not to be in a dispute with these providers that serve billions of people on Earth,” Sayan stressed, adding that the country’s goal was to have a similar practice like in other countries where rules are followed and citizens’ demands are valued.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have said the new regulations aim to protect citizens’ personal data and obliges social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to have representatives in the country for removing unlawful content and to block access to harmful content.

The government also says the legislation was needed to combat cybercrime and protect users.

The bill sets a formal definition of social media providers and aims to designate a responsible representative for investigations and legal proceedings relating to offenses on platforms.

It defines real or legal entities that allow users to create, monitor or share online content such as text, visual content, voice recordings and locations for social interaction as social network providers.

Foreign-based social network providers that have more than 1 million daily visitors in Turkey will assign at least one representative in the country. That person’s contact information will be included on the website in a way that is obvious and easy to access.

The representative has to be a Turkish citizen if they are not a legal entity.

The representative will be tasked with responding to individual requests to take down content violating privacy and personal rights within 48 hours or to provide grounds for rejection. The company will be held liable for damages if the content is not removed or blocked within 24 hours.

The new legislation also requires social media providers to store user data in Turkey.

Turkish leaders have long pushed for reforms and recently pressed the issue after a series of insults directed at mostly women in politics, including the family members of politicians, were posted online.

Turkey struggles to fight fake news and defamation campaigns on social media, and the bill aims to prevent users from engaging in such activities.

Similar models used in Germany and France were taken into consideration as a reference while drafting the law.

10 Best Mascaras To Max Out Your Lashes!

By

faith Jegede

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November 5, 2020

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Mascaras or eyelash enhancers as I like to call them, are a wonder-tool in any makeup bag. They may darken, lengthen, thicken, or define your lashes, and if you’re really into it, choosing from the myriad of options may prove a little stressful. So in no particular order, here are 10 of the best mascaras to help you achieve your lash goals.

Huda Beauty Mascara– This volumizing mascara will give you those thick, lifted, and lengthened lashes that make your eyes pop.

Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star Mascara is one that comes highly recommended. It is lightweight and fluttery and can be applied such that you get a more dramatic look.

Morphe Make It Big Volumizing Mascara – The morphe brand is a popular cosmetic brand in many parts of the world and if you want big and bold, then make it morphe.

Zaron Volumizing Mascara – is known to add volume without clumping up your lashes. This is because of its wand design.

Dior Diorshow Iconic Over Curl Mascara – As you might have guessed from the name, the wand of this mascara curves into a shallow ‘c’ to give that effortlessly curved lashes.

Zaron Lengthening Mascara – Amplifies each lash with its intense color to help bring that pop to your eyes.

Lancome monsieur big – Go big or go home with Lancome big.

Clinique high impact extreme mascara – This mascara would work very well for thick lashes. The bristles on the wand are designed so that they maximize lash coverage while simultaneously separating them.

Kevyn Aucoin The Volume mascara – The award-winning mascara that is described by Vogue magazine as ‘the best all-rounder. This is credited to its wonder brush and formula.

Becharm Ageless Mascara – So this is the mascara I’m using at the moment. In all honesty, I did not even know the brand before I made the purchase but I like it. It is quite volumizing and covers my lashes completely.

This list is a mix of high end, drugstore, and products that fall in between.

Points to Remember:

If you have longer natural lashes, consider wads with longer bristles to maximize coverage.
Shorter, tighter bristles help to separate your lashes but, be careful to avoid wand bristles that are too tight or lack definition as these can clump up your lashes.

Ethiopia MPs Back State Of Emergency In Tigray Amid Military Campaign

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Henry Williams

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November 5, 2020

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Ethiopian lawmakers on Thursday endorsed a six-month state of emergency in the northern region of Tigray, a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations there in an escalation of a long-running feud.

The move is part of an attempt by Abiy, winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, to assert federal control over a region whose ruling party has openly defied him for months and brands him as illegitimate.

The lower house of parliament “unanimously approved” the state of emergency in a session Thursday morning, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said.

According to the country’s constitution, under a state of emergency the government has “all necessary power to protect the country’s peace and sovereignty” and can suspend some “political and democratic rights”.

A senior government official told AFP that in Tigray this could lead to a curfew, searches without warrants, transportation and communications restrictions and the detention of “any person that [officials] suspect is taking part in illegal activities that threaten the constitutional order”.

The state of emergency could also be extended beyond Tigray if needed, the official said.

Abiy announced military operations in Tigray Wednesday morning.

He said the move came in response to an “attack” by the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), on a military camp there.

Speaking on state television Wednesday night, Abiy said there would be further operations in the “coming days”.

“In general, when the operations are finished we will disclose them to the public,” he said.

The government has not revealed a timeline or a clear military objective for the campaign, though a spokesman for a newly-formed crisis committee said Wednesday the goal was to “liberate” the region from the TPLF.

Abiy said the initial attack produced “many martyrs”, but officials have not provided much information on subsequent military operations.

Fighting so far appears to have been largely concentrated in western Tigray, diplomats and aid workers said.

The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the strength of anti-government protests.

Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country’s woes.

In previous weeks, tensions had been rising over control of military assets in the region.