Fraud: Yahaya Bello’s Cousin, Others Admitted To N2bn Bail

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February 20, 2023

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, admitted Ali Bello and three others to a total bail of N2bn in their N3 billion fraud trial.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that the charges against the defendants are bailable, and that bail is to enable defendants charged with an offense to prepare well for their trial. She, therefore, ordered the defendants to pay N500 million each as bail.

Bello was on February 8, 2023 arraigned alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadai Sadat, on an 18-count before Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The defendants were in count one charged with procuring, “E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

They were also charged with procuring “E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act” in count three.

Delivering ruling in the applications, Justice Egwuatu held that bail is granted to the defendants in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties according to the Justice must reside in Abuja, with identifiable addresses.

They must also own landed property worth N500 million within the jurisdiction of the court adding that the original title documents to the said property must be deposited with the Registrar of the court, together with evidence of tax payment for three years running from 2020 to 2022.

Additionally, the judge held that the defendants are to deposit their international passports with the court and can only travel after due permission from the court.

Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to April 16 for commencement of trial.

Earlier in a previous sitting, Ahmed Raji, SAN, arguing the bail applications of the four defendants contended that the offenses against his clients are ordinarily bailable and pleaded that the court should use its discretion in favour of the defendants.

In validating his argument and dismissing claims that the defendants pose a flight risk and would tamper with evidence, the senior lawyer argued that the defendants have so far posed no resistance or difficulties during the period of their investigation.

He added that the EFCC granted one of the defendants permission to travel to Saudi Arabia and that the defendant kept faith by returning to Nigeria and surrendered his passport to the commission.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, M. K. Husseini, had strongly opposed the request, arguing that the defendants are likely going to jump bail and not make themselves available for trial and urged the court to deny the defendants bail.

Additionally, the judge held that the defendants are to deposit their international passports with the court and can only travel after due permission from the court.

Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to April 16 for commencement of trial.

Earlier in a previous sitting, Ahmed Raji, SAN, arguing the bail applications of the four defendants contended that the offenses against his clients are ordinarily bailable and pleaded that the court should use its discretion in favour of the defendants.

In validating his argument and dismissing claims that the defendants pose a flight risk and would tamper with evidence, the senior lawyer argued that the defendants have so far posed no resistance or difficulties during the period of their investigation.

He added that the EFCC granted one of the defendants permission to travel to Saudi Arabia and that the defendant kept faith by returning to Nigeria and surrendered his passport to the commission.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, M. K. Husseini, had strongly opposed the request, arguing that the defendants are likely going to jump bail and not make themselves available for trial and urged the court to deny the defendants bail.

Regions in US, China at High risk for Climate Damage – Report

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Cleopatra Okohai

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February 20, 2023

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Major industrial and economic centres in China and the United States are among the most vulnerable regions in the world to the increasingly destructive power of climate change-driven weather extremes, according to a comprehensive analysis Monday.

The new findings underscore the urgent need for governments to focus on decarbonisation and adaptation measures such as flood-proofing – and show the economic fallout from climate change could be grave and widespread.

Nine of the top 10 most at-risk regions are in China, with two of the country’s largest sub-national economies – Jiangsu and Shandong – leading the global ranking by The Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI).

After China, the US has the most high-risk states. Florida, number 10 in global rankings, is the US state most in jeopardy, followed by California and Texas.

China, India and the United States make up over half the states and provinces in the top 100.

“We get an extremely strong signal from countries like China, from the US and India, and we see essentially the engine rooms of the global economy where there is a lot of built infrastructure,” Karl Mallon, head of science and innovation at XDI, said at a briefing.

The analysis found that both inland and coastal flooding pose the greatest risks to physical infrastructure. The report also examined the dangers of extreme heat, forest fires, soil movement, extreme wind and freeze thaw.

The analysis covers over 2,600 territories globally, modelling damage from 1990 to 2050 based on a “pessimistic” scenario of global warming of three degrees Celsius by the end of the century outlined by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

– Capital flight? –

The researchers say it is the most comprehensive data crunch of its kind and hope it will inform future climate and economic policy.

It could also impact investment decisions as companies reassess financial risks based on climate change-related exposure in vulnerable areas.

“Folks who are looking to build a factory, establish a supply chain that involves those states and provinces are going to think twice about where they are,” said Mallon.

He said there could be “at best, a risk pricing into those areas, at worst, maybe a capital flight as those investors seek to try and find safer havens.”

Other economic hubs in the top 100 include Beijing, Buenos Aires, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Mumbai, Sao Paulo and Taiwan.

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany and Italy also have states and provinces in the top 100.

In Europe, Germany’s Lower Saxony region is most at risk, while Italy’s Veneto region — home to the lagoon city of Venice — is ranked number four in Europe.

Southeast Asia sees the steepest escalation in damage from 1990 to 2050, according to the modelling.

XDI said it released the analysis in response to requests from investors.

“Since extensive built infrastructure generally overlaps with high levels of economic activity and capital value, it is imperative that the physical risk of climate change is appropriately understood and priced”, XDI CEO Rohan Hamden said in a press release.

Court Stops INEC From Using Oluomo In Distributing Election Materials

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 20, 2023

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The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from engaging Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo-led Lagos State Parks Management Committee or any of its commercial bus drivers from distributing 2023 election materials and personnel in Lagos State.

The court granted the order of interlocutory injunction filed by the Labour Party (LP) and five others.

The order stands pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The court ruled that the order restrains the INEC (defendant/respondent) “whether by itself or by its officers, affiliates, servants, privies or agents or any person acting or purporting to act for and on its behalf howsoever from taking any steps or further steps whatsoever in furtherance of the engagement or appointment or consummating the appointment” of the Akinsanya-led Lagos State Parks Management Committee.

Details Shortly…

Study links heavy Drinking to high risk of Dementia

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Cleopatra Okohai

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February 20, 2023

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A new study has suggested that mild or moderate alcohol intake could be associated with a reduction in a person’s risk of dementia, whereas heavy drinking is linked to an increased risk.

Dementia, accordIng to the World Health Organisation, is an umbrella term for several diseases affecting memory, other cognitive abilities and behaviour that interfere significantly with a person’s ability to maintain their activities of daily living. Although age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, WHO said it is not a normal part of ageing.

The global health body noted that more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, adding that there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.

As reported by Medical News Today, the study conducted in South Korea found that long-term, light drinkers had a 21 per cent lower risk of dementia compared with long-term non-drinkers. People who sustained a moderate alcohol intake had a 17 per cent decreased risk. Sustained heavy drinkers, by contrast, had an 8 per cent increased risk of dementia compared with abstainers.

The study also found that non-drinkers who started to drink at low levels had a 7 per cent reduced risk of dementia compared with those who continued to abstain.

The new study drew upon data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, which provides a free health examination every two years to all insured individuals aged 40 years or older.

The examination comprises a questionnaire about participants’ medical history and lifestyle, such as drinking, smoking, and exercise.

The researchers, led by Dr. Keun Hye Jeon at Cha University in Gumi, Korea, looked at data from health examinations in 2009 and 2011.

They excluded all participants with an existing diagnosis of dementia, cancer, or cardiovascular disease, and those who died within a year of their second examination.

After exclusions, there were almost 4 million participants with a mean age of 55 years.

The scientists divided participants into four categories according to their alcohol consumption:

none — 0 grams (g) of alcohol per day

mild — less than 15 g per day

moderate — 15–29.9 g per day

heavy — at least 30 g per day.

This study followed participants for a mean of 6.3 years and recorded diagnoses of different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Report further stated that by comparing participants’ alcohol consumption in 2009 and 2011, the researchers were able to estimate the risks associated with maintaining, reducing, or increasing alcohol intake. Most studies only record alcohol intake at one-time point.

The researchers adjusted their results to account for factors such as age, sex, exercise, income, and existing medical conditions.

Reacting to the study in a chat with Medical News Today, Dr. Sadie Boniface, head of research at the Institute of Alcohol Studies in London, United Kingdom, and a visiting researcher at King’s College London, said, there are no convincing health grounds on which to drink alcohol.

She said, “Even if there were protective effects of small amounts for some conditions, these are outweighed by other health risks.

“For example, there’s concrete evidence of increased risks of alcohol-related cancers even for small amounts of alcohol.”

Dr. Boniface, however, pointed out that the moderate drinkers may have had other health behaviors or life circumstances that protected them against dementia, which were not fully accounted for in the study.

“In other areas, such as heart disease, apparent protective effects of small amounts of alcohol consumption have been explained by non-drinkers having pre-existing health conditions or in worse health on average.

“It’s too early to say if the same may be true for dementia,” she said.

Nigeria Wins International Arts Competition In India

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Koko Lawrence

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February 19, 2023

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Nigeria on Friday emerged winner of the Surajkund International Arts and Crafts Festival in India.

The two weeks competition in which Nigeria emerged winner is the largest arts and culture festival in the world.

The country was represented by the Ekiti State Performing Company for performance content, and Niger State Tourism Commission for Crafts Exhibition.

Prof. Ojo Bakare, renowned professor of Choreography and Performance Aesthetics and immediate past Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Ekiti State, is the leader of the Delegation.

Nigeria, the host Country India and Uganda got the VIP pick in that order for the best performances in the festival that featured over 50 countries that performed daily for two weeks.

As a result of Nigeria’s exemplary performances, the leaders of Delegation for all the African countries at the festival chose Professor Bakare to lead an all-African collaboration performance at the festival.

The African countries also made a declaration for an All African networking organisation that will push for the development of Arts, Culture and Heritage in the continent.

Bakare was also selected as the president.

Bakare, who hailed the Federal Government for tipping Ekiti State as her representative at the international competition, gave kudos to the 15-member troupe and their officials for the superlative performances at the world festival.

Before emerging Nigeria’s representative at the global festival, the Ekiti State Performing Company came second at NAFEST 2020 in Jos, Plateau State came first at NAFEST 2021 and took the third position at NAFEST 2022 in Lagos.

It won the most consistent State at NAFEST 2022.

At NAFEST 2020, 2021 and 2022, Ekiti State came first in almost all the Performing Arts categories like Dance, Choral Music and Drama.

Niger State was also selected for craft exhibition because Bida had just been named UNESCO Creative City.

Nasarawa College Gets Water Cistern Toilets After 43 Years

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 19, 2023

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The teachers and students of Government College Doma, Nasarawa State, have over time been suffering as a result of poor and dilapidated structures in the school, such as toilets.

The college, which was established in 1980, has been using a single pit latrine to serve both teachers and students, a situation that is demoralising and affecting the teaching spirit of the teachers as well as the learning process of the students.

A management staff of the school who didn’t want his name mentioned, said that owing to the absence of toilet facilities in the school, the teachers had to go to a nearby bush to excrete, adding that sometimes such teachers might not return to discharge their constitutional responsibilities because of the long distance to trek, thereby affecting the academic activities in the school.

To address the challenge, Ibrahim Addra, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, donated a water cistern toilet to the school.

The principal of the college, Yakubu Ladan, while speaking said staff of the college, since it was established in 1980, had never used water cistern facilities.

The principal, who was represented by the vice principal administration, Othman Ogaji, explained that they have been battling with a pit cistern that was constructed by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), over 30 years ago.

“If you look around, this is a school that was established over 43 years ago and since the boarding school relocated to this particular place in 2001, it has no staff quarters or a conducive kitchen. And the most painful and devastating aspect of the situation is that a boarding school of this nature has no perimeter fence that will protect teachers and students from being exposed to kidnappers and other criminal elements.

“The school is at the centre of the town, and we hardly differentiate between the students and a passerby if not for the compound wear,” he said.

He appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the school and build a befitting perimeter fence to protect the students from being exposed to kidnappers and other criminal elements in the area, noting that the fence would go a long way in aiding a conducive learning environment for the students.

Earlier, while unveiling the four restrooms in Doma LGA, the chief press secretary to the governor said the donation was to address the plight of the teachers and students.

He said the donation of the cistern was to respond to calls by the state governor for his political appointees to give back to their communities.

“It’s my small way of supporting the good work of my boss, governor, Abdullahi Sule. Governor Sule, has severally reiterated the call on his political appointees to endeavour to give back to their communities, as a means of alleviating the plight of those at the grassroots,” he said.

NYSC DG Commissions Project At Nasarawa Camp

He further said: “The principal of the school brought an appeal, which I thought was a very touching one. The teacher said the absence of restrooms in the school is affecting educational activities.

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“I was particularly touched when I visited the school and discovered that it didn’t have a modern water cistern. I was told that if a teacher needed to ease himself, he either defecated in the bush or went back to his residence.”

While noting that most often than not, the teachers who went home hardly returned to teach the students, he said, “I took it upon myself to ensure that I alleviated the problem currently confronting the college and the students. So I decided to make a personal sacrifice and build the four restrooms for the school.”

He stressed that education is of utmost importance to the present administration and that the governor, on the assumption of office, carried out a baseline survey to address a set of problems that had been bedevilling the education sector in Nasarawa State with a view to ensuring that the ugly trend is reversed.

He added that in budgetary allocations, the governor devoted more money than UNESCO’s recommendation of 36 per cent, saying that the problem of education, like any other sector, was multifaceted as such one individual alone cannot solve them all at once.

Minneapolis Institute Of Art Workers Picket Outside Museum Amid Unionization Battle

By

Koko Lawrence

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February 19, 2023

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Workers at the Minneapolis Institute of Art have begun an informational picket outside of the museum, the Minnesota Reformer reported.

Temporary employees at the museum, who refer to themselves as “casuals,” unionized in 2021 with OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees Union) Local 12. The unionization process was prompted by massive layoffs of “casual” employees during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, those employees numbered around 100, but were then shaved down to 35. Before unionization, most of the “casual” workers did not make the Minneapolis-suggested wage of $15 an hour.

The workers have criticized the way museum leadership handled the economic hardships of 2020, pointing out that the leadership at Mia only took a 15% pay cut whereas leaders at other museums sacrificed much more of their high salaries to keep staff on retention.

“Instead, Mia officials decided to layoff those that are in the lowest-paid positions and the most precarious of financial positions,” reads a 2021 petition from when the Mia staff were first agitating for unionization. “As a result, these decisions have disproportionately affected Mia’s BIPOC staff (which primarily retain non-managerial or grant-funded positions in the museum).”

The union now represents 150 curators and other non-managerial staff who have been fighting for a 16% wage increase over two-and-a-half years, as well as medical benefits.

The union has said that the MIA presented a counter-proposal that offered 15% in wage increases over two-and-a-half years, but only if 9 of the highest paid curators agreed to leave the union. The museum said in a statement that it never offered such a deal.

“Mia and OPEIU have exchanged a number of proposals as part of the ongoing negotiations, which at times have included proposals about changing the unit composition as one component among many ideas to resolve differences about wages, salaries, and benefits,” wrote a Mia spokesperson in an email. “But Mia did not ‘ask’ that curators leave the union and any bargaining unit changes would need to be mutually agreed upon along with all other terms.”

The proposal sparked the decision to picket the museum, which is not an official strike but rather for informational purposes, union workers said.

The counter proposal was “unacceptable” given that the museum has enjoyed a windfall in donations and is operating with a historic $38 million budget this year, unionized workers have said.

“Mia has a record budget this year. (Mia) continues to spend millions of dollars on acquisitions and leadership level salaries,” unionized worker Debbi Hegstrom told the Reformer. “We need to see the love. We need to see how much they appreciate us with a paycheck.”

Authorities Recover 100-Year-Old Dalí Drawings Stolen In Barcelona Art Heist

By

Koko Lawrence

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February 19, 2023

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Catalan authorities have recovered a cache of graphic works by Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró that were stolen last year in Barcelona.

Police have detained three brothers, aged 50, 53 and 55, who allegedly targeted homes in Barcelona’s high-end neighboorhoods that held fine art and luxury goods. The robbery ring has been under investigation since January 2022 as part of operation ‘Gresca,’ and, on Friday, police announced that a trove of stolen jewelry and banknotes and art, including two 100-year-old illustrations by Dalí, were seized from the suspect’s hideout.

The Dalí charcoal drawings, pastoral scenes on brown paper and valued around $300,000, were authenticated by the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation, which manages the Surrealist’s legacy. The two works date to 1922 and were created on the request of the writer Pere Coromine for his book Les Gràcies de l’Empordà (The Empordà’s Graces in Catalan).

Two other suspects were arrested on charges of receiving the stolen goods and have been released along with the three brothers were released on bail ahead of the trial.

Five works attributed to Miro were recovered and are currently awaiting authentication by the artist’s estate. Two pieces by the painter Paco Sola were also found on the scene, along with precious antiques, such as silver and golden pens, as well as coins and jewels.

Ukraine Offers Nigerian Students Scholarship In Medicine, Others

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 19, 2023

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Some Ukrainian Universities,the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ivano Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil & Gas, Lviv University of Business and Law and Kharkiv International Medical University, have intensified admission of new students for the 2023 academic session.

This is even as they extended scholarships for Nigerian undergraduate students who wish to study Medicine, ICT Cyber Security and Software Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Oil and Gas Production, Energy Management and Engineering and Law.

A statement from founder of BAUMAT-FTAISA Skills Development Centre, representative of the Ukrainian Universities in Nigeria; Dr Cliff Ogbede, said the institutions are still running their academic programs and have been admitting new students, irrespective of the current invasion of Ukrainian territories by the Russian forces.

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Ogbede mentioned that the universities are cooperating with some foreign based universities in Germany, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Georgia, Canada and Nigeria, where their students are continuing their academic programs uninterrupted, in addition to the existing distance learning mode.

For graduate and postgraduate programs, Ogbede affirmed that the universities are currently admitting new students and also offering scholarships for those who may wish to study Medicine, Law, Computer Science, Cyber Security and Software Engineering, Oil and Gas production, Energy Management and Engineering, International Relations, Public Communications, Journalism and Regional studies, including several professional qualification and certificate courses amongst others.

He said options are available for any admitted student to be posted to any of the partner Universities in the countries mentioned.

Ogbede stated that Ukraine remains the best destination for affordable high quality education and irrespective of their current challenges, the country will continue to support the educational development of Nigeria, by expanding cooperation with Nigerian universities which is geared towards the creation of a sustainable system of educational, scientific and cultural cooperation, based on high international academic standards, thereby encouraging the development of regional cooperation for the harmonization of educational qualifications.

Ogbede said the universities will expand further cooperation by ensuring quality cross-cultural communications, development of international partnerships for commercialization of educational products, encouraging the development of the knowledge economy and enriching the scope of educational programmes, disciplines and teaching experience of the Ukrainian and Nigerian universities.

200 UNIPORT Students Gets Full Scholarship

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 18, 2023

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No fewer than 200 students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) have received four-year scholarship to enable them to accomplish their academic goals.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewil, urged them to make the best use of the opportunity.

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The scholarship was courtesy of the Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Gardens Limited, Dr Richard Nyong.

At the scholarship presentation, Prof. Georgewil said: “On behalf of the Senate, management, academic and non-academic staff, parents, and entire students of UNIPORT, I would like to express our profound appreciation to Dr Nyong, our illustrious alumnus, whom we are very proud of, for this gesture of full four-year scholarship award to 200 students to empower them to accomplish their academic goals.”

The VC called on other well-meaning alumni to emulate Nyong in giving back to their alma mater.

Nyong said the scholarship was in line with his philosophy that everyone has a role to play in building society and deserves a chance to have access to education to the university level.

He explained that he announced the scholarship two years ago as part of activities marking his 40th birthday, but that the implementation was stalled by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the long ASUU strike.

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He applauded the beneficiaries for working so hard to earn the scholarships and urged them to be law-abiding and continue to work harder as good ambassadors of the great citadel of learning.

Nyong disclosed that he was also a beneficiary of a scholarship grant by Mobil Nigeria Limited during his time as a UNIPORT student, adding that his academic pursuit would not have been easy without the scholarship.

“It is because I have walked the path that you are walking that I can confidently but with profound humility state that I know where the shoe pinches.

“I dare say that without the Mobil Scholarship, it would have been nearly impossible to complete my education at the university because that scholarship made a difference for me. Some people at the time had to drop out due to lack of financial support,” he said.