Sahara Reporters Latest News Saturday 22nd June 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 22/06/19
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target=_blank>Malabu Oil Deal: Italy Protests Swiss Delay In Releasing Evidence In Nigeria Corruption Case
Italian prosecutors have complained to Switzerland about lengthy delays in obtaining the evidence they have requested in an international corruption case involving oil firms Shell and Eni, Reuters reports.
It will be recalled that Shell and Italian oil major Eni have been embroiled in a protracted corruption case revolving around the purchase of Oil Prospecting Licence 245.
The OPL 245, better known as Malabu oil block, with reserves estimated at nine billion barrels has been at the centre of an ongoing corruption trial in Milan, Italy.
Milan prosecutors wrote in April to the Geneva prosecutors’ office in a previously undisclosed letter, describing their three-year wait for documents to be handed over by Swiss authorities as “unprecedented”, the source said.
Swiss police found the documents in a briefcase they seized in April 2016 in an inquiry unrelated to the corruption case, and the source said Milan prosecutors believed the documents could be vital to their prosecution of Eni and Shell.
But Italy’s request for the documents to be handed over has been blocked by Swiss courts after repeated legal challenges by the owner of the briefcase, Nigerian lawyer Emeka Obi, who was charged alongside Eni and Shell executives in the graft case.
In September 2018, Obi was convicted of corruption and sentenced to four years in jail by a Milan judge in a fast-track trial, though he has appealed, remains outside Italy and his lawyer continues to pursue legal action in Switzerland to block Italy’s request.
Obi’s Italian lawyer, Roberto Pisano, did not reply to an email requesting a comment.
A separate trial continues in Milan against Eni, Shell, and executives of both firms on charges they paid $1.1 billion in bribes to secure the purchase of a Nigerian oil field in 2011.
All defendants deny wrongdoing.
The Geneva prosecutors’ office said in a statement to Reuters that it had spared no effort to cooperate with Italy over its request, adding the Swiss judicial process was long and involved delays that it admitted could cost precious time.
Milan prosecutors have an understanding of the contents of the documents and believe they would strengthen their case against defendants in the Nigeria graft trial, the source said.
They hope their letter will be passed onto the Swiss Federal Penal Tribunal in Bellinzona which is considering which documents can be passed to Milan prosecutors. The tribunal’s eventual ruling is also subject to appeal.
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target=_blank>Contractor Confesses To Burying Whistle-blower, 16 Years After
A contractor hired to build a sporting facility in a Chinese school has confessed after 16 years to burying the remains of a teacher who reported him for embezzling funds, beneath the institution’s running track.
Police said Thursday that Du Shaoping killed Deng Shiping in January 2003, because he had refused to approve the constructed structure.
Deng had observed that Du had embezzled funds and skimped on building materials. Deng’s body was discovered in Xinhuang Middle School Thursday, according to officials in the city of Huaihua.
“The field and track were being built by the principal’s relatives,” he told Hongxing News. “He believed there to be serious build quality concerns, and that they were cutting corners.”
“He refused to sign off on the work and reported it to the county government. Then he disappeared.”
Du’s remains have been sent for further analysis.
A task force has also been set up to investigate the crime.
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E2%80%8B target=_blank>The Medal, My story…Not All Of It By Mcginger Ibeneme?
Four years later, the African Union has remembered to present me and my colleagues with medals of honor for stopping Ebola in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
I dedicate this to Dr. Stella Adadevor and Justina Ejelonu -you guys are the real heroes. You died for us all.
Adadevor stopped Sawyer. He made calls. She also made calls; pulling the right strings to stop him from plunging into the population and spreading the deadly virus.
She contracted Ebola in the process and died a most painful death. It was like self-sacrifice. She had organ failures, kidney shutdown, multiple seizures and stroke, profuse bleeding, heart failure and later on, death. She died for Nigeria.
Adadevor has not been properly honored by her country whereas every year politicians troop into Abuja to share national honors for doing practically nothing – whereas real heroes are ignored.
Nurse Justina Ejelenu worked with Adadevor and also contracted the disease in the line of duty. She died without doing anything for herself or her family. No one remembers her.
We arrived Abuja after six months of risking our lives in West Africa to stop the menace a few days after (President Goodluck) Jonathan had lost the presidential election in 2015.
No one paid any attention to us any longer. All the initial plans to honor us was thrown out of the window.
The new regime took no interest whatsoever and to date, not even a handshake from a local government chairman, not to talk of some financial gift.
Politicians share billions (of naira) each time they are leaving office after mindless self-help to the national purse. Yet, those who worked for the nation are never rewarded.
This regime has not as much as said a word to us talk less of recognizing our contributions.
The day we arrived at Sierra Leone everyone was happy. They said we were from Nigeria and we had the magic.
They sent us to worst-hit areas and we went to duty patriotically. We did our best and Ebola stopped. The country took the whole accolade without even saying a word to us.
The African Union has casually tossed medals to us without any ceremony. I went to Port Harcourt to pick up my piece from a junior staff of the state’s ministry of health who asked me to sign off on a piece of paper and be gone.
There were only two persons in the room. Nobody bothered with me. It was even the staff who told me that some people who picked up the medal earlier had tested it and that it was not even real gold; so it’s probably worthless.
I spent my money and time to pick a piece of garbage after risking my life for Africa. I felt like a fool while leaving dejectedly.
This reminds me of my experience in the field.
An American passed out while we were on duty and I helped to resuscitate him. He was later diagnosed with Ebola and I quarantined myself. A few days later I developed a fever and noticed blood in my stool.
I asked my colleagues to send a letter to the African Union that I might have contracted the deadly disease. To date, I never got any response. I stayed in self-quarantine for 21 days without a word from Africa that I was fighting for.
My contemporary was airlifted to the US in a matter of moments but I survived by the grace of God or sheer luck. Never spoken to. Never tested. Never nothing. Being African is shitty. I don’t know if am a survivor or not. I just know that my life is worth nothing
I dedicate this medal, though probably worthless to healthcare workers from Africa who died for their continent but were never appreciated or even recognized.
I live in hope that one day our land shall experience the kind of leadership that would value those who sacrifice for her and reward those who make genuine efforts.
For now, am just in severe pains.
God bless Africa
God bless Nigeria
N. Mcginger Ibeneme (MBBS)
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target=_blank>Again, Akeredolu Tells Federal Government: Nigeria Will Gain Billions Of Dollars Legalizing Cannabis Cultivation
Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, has again called for the legalization of cannabis cultivation in Nigeria to tap from its potential impact on economic growth.
Akeredolu, who spoke while playing host to the Acting Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) Mr. Benson Oluwayiopese, in Akure, said the plant had both its health and economic benefits which could only be harnessed if it was cultivated.
He also explained that when the oil of cannabis is extracted, it could be used to cure many chronic illnesses stressing that the country stands to gain a lot from the potential of the plant.
According to Akeredolu, there is a need for more research on the medicinal use of cannabis for the benefit of mankind and improvement of the country’s economy.
He said, “Nigeria stands to gain billions of dollars like other countries from the proposed legal and controlled cultivation of cannabis.”
Video of 48 Hours In The Forest Of Cannabis
48 Hours In The Forest Of Cannabis
In May 2019, Governor Akeredolu travelled to Thailand in other to study the medicinal use of cannabis as parts of the measures to diversify the state’s economy.
Responding, Mr. Oluwayiopese said he was in Ondo on a tour of how to grow commercial cannabis.
According to him, Ondo state was chosen for the study tour because of its novel and innovative intention towards legalized and controlled cannabis cultivation for medicinal and economic benefits.
The prison boss noted that Canada, Uruguay, America, and many other countries had already legalized cannabis cultivation for medical purposes and economic benefits.
He stressed that if the cultivation of cannabis was legalized at the national level it would help in improving the economy.
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target=_blank>US President Donald Trump Changed His Mind 10 Minutes Before Planned Attack On Iran
Donald Trump, President of the United States of America has said the US military was ready to retaliate against Iran but he changed his mind 10 minutes before the planned strike.
He made the disclosure while tweeting @realDonaldTrump on Friday.
The US had planned attacks on three sites in Iran in response to the shooting down of an unmanned American drone.
He noted that he called off the attacks because he was told 150 people would die if he didn’t.
His tweet reads: “10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone”…..On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not….— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
“I am in no hurry. Our military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world.”
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E2%80%99s-output-grew-34-2018-africa-trade-report-2019-shows target=_blank>Africa’s Output Grew By 3.4% in 2018, Africa Trade Report 2019 Shows
Africa’s output grew by 3.4 percent between 2017 and 2018 despite the slowdown in global growth during that period, a new report by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has shown.
The African Trade Report 2019: African Trade in a Digital World, launched today in Moscow during the 26th Afreximbank Annual Meetings, states that Africa’s total merchandise trade in 2018 had a value of over $997.9 billion, noting that the continent remained one of the fastest growing regions in the world.
World Trade Organisation estimates show that the volume of global merchandise trade grew by 3 percent in 2018, down from 4.6 percent in 2017.
According to The African Trade Report 2019, the findings highlight the resilience of Africa’s economies to global volatility at a time of rising uncertainty, escalating trade wars and tariffs between the United States, China, and others. The resilience reflects the diversification of Africa’s trading partners in the context of South-South trade, growing fixed investment and public and private consumption, boosted by expanding urban populations and softening inflation. These factors reduce Africa’s exposure to the business cycles associated with individual countries and regions.
The report noted that while the European Union remained Africa’s main continental trading partner in 2018 – accounting for 29.8 percent of total trade – African trade with the South grew significantly over the last decade to account for more than 35 percent of the continent’s total trade in 2018. China and India further consolidated their positions as Africa’s first and second single largest trading partners, accounting for over 21 percent of total African trade in 2018. Intra-African trade also increased steadily in 2018, growing by 17 percent to reach $159 billion.
The report highlights that Africa has the potential to do more, noting that its contribution to global trade remains marginal at 2.6 percent, up from 2.4 percent in 2017, and that, while intra-African trade rose to 16 percent in 2018 from five percent in 1980, it remains low compared to intra-regional trade in Europe and Asia.
The report states that ongoing digitalization is paving the way for a new African economy, with e-commerce platforms and internet penetration expediting transactions, reducing costs and leading to a new generation of transnational digital consumers.
The report urges African governments to further capitalize on the opportunities associated with digitalization, by bolstering regulatory environments and supporting the development of digital ecosystems.
Digitalization, the reports states, can unlock Africa’s potential in driving economic development and the integration of African countries into the world economy. It can also reduce the region’s dependency on raw commodities and natural resources by helping economies diversify into more value-added products that can enhance extra-and intra-African trade.
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said: “It is vital that Africa grasps the economic growth opportunities flowing from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, growing domestic demand and population, and our ever-closer investment and trading links with emerging partners in the South. We must exert concerted action to ensure that we develop, industrialize and diversify our industries and supporting infrastructure to foster regional integration and participate fully in regional and global value chains.”
Chief Economist and author of the report, Dr Hippolyte Fofack said: “Intra-African trade, which grew by 17 per cent in 2018, more than three times the rate of growth of extra-African trade, was the major driver of Africa’s total merchandise trade in 2018.”
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target=_blank>Gunman Shoots Wedding Guests In Kano
A gunman has shot guests during a wedding in Kano State leaving many of them injured but no death was reported.
Among those shot were some youths riding on horses during the occasion.
The youths, who were said to be celebrating the wedding of one of their associates, were shot and wounded by the gunman on Wednesday.
The victims are currently hospitalized at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
In an interview with PUNCH, the father of one of the victims, Malam Mohammed Abdullahi: “I have never witnessed this kind of madness in my life for someone to just open fire on innocent youths, without any just cause.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the shooting but said he did not have the details.
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target=_blank>Nigerian Girl, 18, Found Dead In Ghana-must-go Bag
An 18-year old girl identified as Favour Ogheneyenrowho kidnapped by suspected ritualist has been found dead in a Ghana-must-go bag with her pubic hair shaved.
The incident happened at Abraka, Ethiope-East council area of Delta state.
According to the Nation Newspaper, the victim’s remains were found at a dump site behind Ozoro park in the town.
Witnesses said there were violent marks around her neck area, indicating that she was violently strangulated.
Recounting the incident leading to the teenager’s demise, Maureen Sunday, her elder sister, told the police that Favour, had received a call from a male at about 10 a.m, requesting that she met him at the Abraka park.
She, however, replied the caller that she was going to the market with her elder sister.
Miss Sunday added that on their way out of their residence located along Winners Road, a young man, whom she had never seen before (whom she believed was the same person that called her sister earlier), stopped at the junction and approached them.
A short conversation ensued between them and Favour joined him on the bike and they rode off.
When contacted, the Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke, it was a case of murder.
The police boss also revealed that the suspected killer, who is believed to be Favour’s boyfriend, was on the run.
Explaining the circumstances around the killing of Favour, Adeleke said: “The lady in question was with the sister and she had a call. When she wanted to leave, she told her sister that it was her boyfriend that she wanted to go and see.
“After some time she disappeared. They did not see her. The next day they saw her body tied in a sack in a plantain/banana plantation.
“So it is not a ritual but a murder case. The signs on her neck showed that she was strangulated. Now, the boyfriend has disappeared. He is on the run.
“If he had nothing to do with what happened, why did he disappear? Why is he on the run? That is exactly what happened; not ritual killing, but a case of murder. Her body has been taken to the mortuary.”
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target=_blank>N6 Billion Fraud: Abubakar Malami Asks Court To Adjourn Senator Goje’s Trial
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has asked a federal high court to adjourn the N6 billion money laundering trial against Danjuma Goje, serving Nigerian Senator, until July 4.
Pius Akutah, an Assistant Chief State Counsel, made the request on Friday when the case came up before Justice Babatunde Quadiri, at the Federal High Court in Jos.
He stated that the adjournment was needed for the attorney-general to study the case file.
“My Lord, l wish to confirm to this honourable court that the EFCC has formally forwarded the case file to us, having taken over the matter from them on June 7.
“We are aware that on that day, June 7, the case was adjourned for further hearing, but because we are still studying the case file to have a full grasp of the entire matter, we shall be asking for a short adjournment, “ Akutah pleaded.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported the plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to withdraw the criminal case against the senator in compensation for stepping down his ambition to lead the 9th assembly as Senate President.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after seen years of prosecuting the case of financial misappropriation preferred against the senator was compelled by the Presidency to hand over to the office of the AGF.
Aladele Oyelami, Goje’s lawyer, did not object to the application for adjournment.
“My Lord, on our part we are not objecting to the application made the prosecution counsel,” Oyelami said.
Justice Quadiri adjourned the case until July 4 for further hearing.
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Church, Islamic, Political Leaders Want TB Joshua Banned In Israel, Reject His Crusade
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Churches, Islamic clerics and political groups in Nazareth, the largest city in the northern district of Israel, have joined forces against a two-day crusade being planned by Nigerian preacher, TB Joshua, at Mount Precipice.
The churches and Islamic leaders want Joshua banned from preaching in Israel and called for the cancellation of the planned crusade, Israeli’s popular newspaper, Haaretz, reports on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, church officials meeting in Nazareth several days ago urged residents to boycott the event and clerics to avoid any mention of it in their sermons.
“We beg you not to play in the hands of those organizing this type of festival which is an affront to the principles of Christianity, and our national identity, and deals a blow to the social fabric of a city like Nazareth,” the churches were quoted as saying.
Haaretz reports that the church officials quoted text from the New Testament about how believers must be cautious about false messiahs who try to convince people they’re performing miracles.
Most of the churches in Nazareth have reportedly signed their support for the statement – all but the Roman Catholic Church, which has avoided taking a clear stand.
Joshua, arguably one of the most popular TV figures in Africa and Latin America, is set to hold two events at a Christian site in the city.
Joshua is the founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations, a Christian organization that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, which has a YouTube channel with 1.5 million subscribers. Arguably one of the most popular figures on television across Africa and Latin America, Joshua has 3.5 million followers on Facebook.
T.B. Joshua, a controversial pastor whose sermon has drawn criticisms, is famous for performing miracles in his Lagos church attended by thousands every week. His visit to Israel is supported by Nazareth Mayor Ali Sallam, but many in the city oppose it, some of them alleging that the pastor has ties to far-right Israelis.
He has visited Israel in the past and written of forging a covenant with God to start his ministry, as well as hinting a couple of years ago of considering relocation to Israel.
Thousands participate in his prayer sessions and exorcism rituals. Many video clips have been released on social media in recent days announcing the “rock-star” pastor’s visit.
In response to a query from Haaretz, Father Emil Shopany of the Catholic Church said there’s no reason not to host such a visit and that he, as opposed to others, will support the mayor’s position. He said Nazareth is an open city and that you cannot stop a religious man from abroad who decides to visit from holding prayers like thousands of pilgrims do.
But even members of Sallam’s coalition have criticized the visit. Haj Samir Sa’adi, a city councilor, has expressed his opposition to Joshua’s visit in a letter and has urged its cancellation.
“The planned visit by the person called T.B. Joshua to the city of the Annunciation is a challenge to the Christian faith in the city of Jesus’s boyhood and the Nazareth of ancient history, which does not need such a stain as this in which a false prophet exploits Mount Precipice to disseminate his lies,” he wrote.
Muslims from Nazareth and elsewhere have joined Sa’adi’s protests, among them the council of muftis, which has urged that the event be cancelled: “This is an event that would offend believers of all ethnic groups and religions and should be seen as a red line for faith in religious values. Therefore we call upon those who are behind the event to see to its immediate cancellation,” their statement said.
Among politicians, the event is also seen as volatile, and calls have been issued on social media to block the main roads to Mount Precipice. The Hadash and Youth for Change parties in the city council have demanded a meeting about the decision to invite the pastor to hold an event at a city installation against the wishes of the majority of residents.
“We have asked to take an in-depth look at this issue, at why a city like Nazareth would receive such a person who is denied entry to many countries on grounds of criminal suspicions and given his links to the extreme right in Israel,” they wrote. “What’s more, the man is known to have grown wealthy in a way that has raised many questions and therefore we view such a visit as an illegitimate step which contaminates the city and its historic heritage, and we absolutely reject the mayor’s claims that such an event would bring $1 million to the city and would see such a sum were it to actually materialize as an illegitimate contribution that would contaminate the city.”
The mayor has not responded to appeals by Haaretz for comment.
Police are meanwhile preparing for an expected crowd of 15,000 people at the event.
Joshua visited Israel two years ago, hosted by ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi Zahav. Meshi Zahav has also visited Joshua in Nigeria. During his visit, Joshua met with Idan Greenbaum, the Jordan Valley regional council head.
Channel 12 reported at the time that Joshua had said he plans to move his operations to Israel and that he said that six out of 10 foreigners visiting Nigeria attend exorcism rites at Joshua’s church. Greenbaum said a number of ideas were raised in their meeting to contribute to tourism in the Jordan Valley and Sea of Galilee area, but these ideas have not yet been carried out. But Greenbaum said that Joshua’s visit had received wide media coverage in his country and attracted tourism to Israel and the Jordan Valley.
Haaretz reports that a statement released ahead of Joshua’s visit says this would be his first event in the Middle East, that it would have a positive impact on the local economy, and that he has visited Israel many times and met with leading officials including Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Communications Minister Ayoub Kara and Chief Rabbi David Lau.
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