Death of MOUAU Former VC Prof. Ogbonnaya Francis Otunta Confirmed (Photos)

Former VC Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Death of MOUAU Former VC Prof. Ogbonnaya Francis Otunta Confirmed (Photos)
by johnlaw 30th Mar, 2021

It is still fresh in the minds of the MOUAU community by the demise of their former Vice-chancellor Prof. Francis Otunta Ogbonnaya.

The news came as shock in the late hours of 29th March 2021 to all his family members, friends and well-wishers.

Johnlawsblog formally reported this news before it was confirmed to be true by the pictures we got from reliable sources that confirmed his death.

Still yet, as of the time of this report, the governing council of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture has not announced his demise officially.

Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta Former VC Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike dies in Motor Accident

Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta Former VC Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike dies in Motor Accident

Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta, Former VC Michael Okpara University of Agriculture dies in Motor Accident

Breaking: Prof. Francis Otunta Ogbonnaya, Former MOUAU Vice Chancellor Dies In A Car Accident

By Johnlaw Tue 30th Mar, 2021

Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike and its environs are deeply saddened over the alleged demise of their former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francis Otunta.

The 5th Vice-Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta Allegedly died in a motor accident.

Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta is a Nigerian academic. He was the fifth Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture upon his appointment in December 2015 and completed his tenure in February 2021. According to reports, Prof. Otunta Francis died on the 29th of March, 2021 in a car accident on his way to Enugu from his hometown.This news was confirmed by the MOUAU environs and yet not officially made open by the governing council of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike as of the time of filing this information by Johnlawsblog.

Biography

Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta (29 April 1958 – 29 March 2021) is a Nigerian academic.

He was the fifth Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture upon his appointment in December 2015. Prof.Francis Otunta Former Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture In office1 March 2016 – 1 March 2021 Appointed by MOUAU Governing Council Preceded by Hilary Edeoga Succeeded by Prof. Maduebibisi O. Iwe

Personal details

Birth Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta was born on 29 April 1958 (age 62) Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria Died 29 March 2021 (aged 62)

Nationality Nigerian

Spouse Bertha Otunta

Children 6

Occupation Academic Career

Prior to his appointment as 5th Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Otunta had previously worked as a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Benin.

Personal life

He is also a former Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, a post he held from 2006–2014. Prof Francis O. Otunta took the mantle of leadership as the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University’s of Agriculture, Umudike from Prof Hillary Edeoga officially on 1 March 2016.

Otunta hails from Amangwu Nkpoghoro Village in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. He is married Bertha Otunta with whom they have six children

Anti-Gay Law: Ignore US threat, lawyers tell FG

Say Biden can’t dictate our way of life

•We owe America no obligation to repeallaw made reflecting our culture, values

ABUJA— Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, and other lawyers across the country have flayed the threat by President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, to sanction Nigeria and other countries that fail to make laws to accommodate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer and Intersex, LGBTQI, people.

In their separate reactions to the threat, the senior legal practitioners, maintained that it would be wrong for America to attempt to use its superpower to force sovereign African countries to embrace abhorrent sexual orientations.

President Biden had issued a presidential memorandum aimed at expanding the protection of the rights of LGBTQI people worldwide. He threatened to use full range of diplomatic and assistance tools, which may include financial sanctions and visa restrictions, against homophobic countries like Nigeria that retained its anti-gay posture.

Nigeria under former President Goodluck Jonathan had in January 2014, signed the Same-Sex-Marriage (Prohibition) Act, despite spirited effort by erstwhile US President, Barrack Obama, to abort the law.

The anti-gay law in Nigeria prescribed a prison term of between 10 and 14 years for anyone caught flouting the law, either by cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners, public show of same-sex relationship, registration, operation or participation in gay clubs, societies and organisation, amongst others.

The pressure on Nigeria to repeal its anti-gay laws ebbed with the emergence of the President Donald Trump’s administration. However, it appeared the change of leadership in the US came with revived move to compel countries like Nigeria to reconsider their stoic stance against the LGBTQI community.

President Biden, in his recent memo, called for sanctions against foreign countries that restrict rights of LGBTQI persons.

Biden’s memo read in part: “When foreign governments move to restrict the rights of LGBTQI persons or fail to enforce legal protections in place, thereby contributing to a climate of intolerance, agencies engaged abroad shall consider appropriate responses, including using the full range of diplomatic and assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and other actions.

“All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love. The United States belongs at the forefront of this struggle – speaking out and standing strong for our most dearly held values.”

The memo directed US agencies working in foreign countries to work harder to combat the criminalization by foreign governments of LGBTQ status or conduct, and directed the State Department to include anti-LGBTQ violence, discrimination and laws in its annual human rights report.

It further called for increased efforts to ensure that LGBTQ asylum seekers have equal access to protection, expanded training for US federal personnel, and potential increased use of priority referrals to expedite resettlement of vulnerable people. It directed US agencies to consider appropriate responses, including the full range of diplomatic tools, and potentially financial sanctions and visa restrictions, when foreign governments restrict the rights of LGBTQ people.

Meanwhile, responding to Biden’s threat to sanction countries like Nigeria over their anti-gay stance, a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, SAN, said: “It is an interesting situation. To us as Africans, it is morally despicable and reprehensible for such to be tolerated, even though in our Constitution, there is a provision that says there should be no discrimination against anyone on the basis of sex. It is such a conundrum and difficult situation really. But as Africans, it is morally reprobate and not something we will want to tolerate on ground of not wanting to be sanctioned by the United States of America. The President of America cannot force us to do what we consider to be inimical. The question of sanctions should not deter us from abhouring what we consider to be immoral or sinful. By reason of our cultural belief, I don’t think anybody should be allowed to force us into something that we consider to be socially and morally unacceptable in our own system.

Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, does not owe America any obligation to repeal a law that was made to reflect our culture and values. We cannot repeal our law to reflect the American way of life. We have our cultures and values, if they do not accord with that of Americans, so be it. Since we cannot compel America to comply with our own way of life, likewise, America cannot dictate to Nigeria the way of life it should condone. It will be a bad start for the new American President to attempt to promote what we as Africans classified as immorality. If it is acceptable way of life in America, then so be it”.

Similarly, another constitutional lawyer and former Secretary General of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, said: “I hate the idea of America using their superpower to force countries to adopt laws that will offend certain values and customs. It is offensive for America to attempt to force down their own values on other countries through threats. Countries should be allowed to develop at their own pace. Even in America, there are many people and religious organizations that are against homosexuality.

I have not heard of any sanction against such persons. It is therefore bad for America to threaten Nigeria with sanctions over a law that in reality is not even being enforced. Having taken over from Trump, I think that threatening sovereign nations with sanctions over anti-gay law should not be one of the major starting points of Biden’s administration”.

On his part, Mohammed Abeny, SAN, urged the federal government to ignore the threat and “damn the consequences”. He said: “To us, homosexuality is immoral. It is unnatural and also ungodly. They have their own way of life which are inimical to our own way of life in Africa. The American President cannot sanction us for such issue. If he does, then it is a bad omen for his administration. It will show that he has no respect for other peoples’ values, customs and traditions. We are a sovereign country and we are entitled to have our own laws and statutes to regulate our conduct. Nigeria should damn the consequences”, Abeny, added.

For human rights lawyer, Chief Nkereuwem Akpan: ”My view has always been that there are certain cultural taboos that no westernization can cross. One of such is homosexuality. I don’t see how the west can ram this one down our throat. The conduct has already been criminalized by federal statutes and no threat of sanction can affect its implementation, neither will the law be repealed in our lifetime or at all.

“The anti-gay law was very easy to pass because apart from the fact that the very idea of homosexuality is something that all the major religions forbid, most traditional African societies hold an abhorrence to it”.

Adeniji Kazeem, former Attorney -General of Lagos, SAN

To the best of my recollection there is an existing Federal law banning same sex marriage. Most laws are a reflection of our unique culture, prevalent norms and Socio-economic factors.

The National Assembly or the Executive have powers to review any law if they believe there has come a time for a shift. However if a debate or a public discourse reveals that there is no basis for change then I don’t believe any external pressure should cause that change. Despite the fact that we are a part of a comity of nations we must always look at what’s in our best interest as a nation.

Jitobo Akanike

Over the years only President Olusegun Obasanjo had managed to keep a strong foreign policy. Nigeria is not a poor country in terms of earnings from crude oil sales. A strong and focused Government can call the bluff of American attempt to breach our sovereignty which has been battered by internal insecurity. Visa and all the rest is no big deal. We have weakened our nation by our hands, American government knows this, hence this arm twisting tactic. Hopefully we should be able to hold back President Biden’s threats.

Maduka Onwukeme

First my view on same sex relationship is that the private conduct of two consenting adults within the privacy of their bedroom should be no one’s business. That’s my view and very few people share it.

However, accepting homosexuality as a lifestyle in Nigeria should be a decision Nigerians will make and not imposed on us by threats or ultimatums from the US. Even in the US, it took years to decriminalize homosexuality and stop its classification as a mental disorder. Gay marriage became legal all over the US about five years ago. So why not allow us as a society to debate this issue amongst ourselves and make a decision on it? America has no right to dictate to us. They should respect our sovereignty as a country on this issue.

Emmanuel Umoren

Nigeria is an independent country, but we are also in the community of nations. Gay right is like the right to vote by women and oppressed people. Let’s think through it. If the US comes against Nigeria, what can we do? Nigeria could resist the US interest in the 60s and 70s because we had a great economy and the country was better run. Our Heads of Government were treated in UCH and LUTH. Today, our Heads of Government are treated abroad. It has become a thing of pride to tell people I am just returning from the US or UK for treatment. We should fight the fights we can win.

Yemi Omodele

The decision of Biden is funny and it is his opinion. Nigeria is a sovereign state. The country needs not copy America in running her affairs in terms of law, economy, and finance and so on. It is immoral for same sex to be legalized in Nigeria. The white people do things as if they are the best in everything. No! America is now trying to use the problems Nigeria is facing to lure it into same sex marriage. It will not happen in this land. With everybody, Nigeria will

Ifeanyi Okolie

The threat of sanction by President Biden to Nigeria as a result of our anti gay laws calls for questions if we still exist as a sovereign nation. I think it’s time the leadership of Nigeria reaffirm its status as a giant of Africa by providing the basics for its citizens thereby reducing external influence of the US. I believe with proper leadership Nigeria will affirm its status as the most populous Black nation on earth so as to do anyway with reliance on aids and grants from Western nations.. Nigeria will be great in spite of her challenges. Finally Nigeria is a sovereign nation and can’t be controlled by the American government

Malachy Ugwummadu, Ex CDHR President

We mustn’t and needn’t go that far. Mr. Biden should be advised to tread softly on most volatile issues in contemporary world. Donald Trump brought America very close to the brinks by his warped worldview and convictions. The guy right issue is one of such sticking issues which energised Trump’s base within the evangelical and they used it effectively against the Democrats and Biden. There must be both a conscious and deliberate determination on the part of the Biden administration to respect and recognise both the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations in current international relations and diplomacy. Nigerian legislations are equally products of our cultures and history amongst other things. Therefore, America must learn to respect them. Both the law and the religious entities in Nigeria stood and still stand firm on the issue under review. It will be recalled that even the recent ban on the use of cryptocurrency in Nigeria by the CBN of Nigeria was a direct and express directive of the Government of the United States. Consistently, the IMF has always urged the Nigerian government to increase VAT and remove subsidies on petroleum products and other natural resources in the Nigerian economy. These are fundamental and far-reaching interferences with the internal national affairs of Nigeria. That undermines the sovereignty of Nigeria.

Kunle Edun

Our cultures are different from that of the Americans. I believe that it is the prerogative of each nation to make laws that will regulate the conducts of its citizen provided such laws are not repugnant to the principles of natural justice and equity. These are issues that are within the prerogatives of each nation and they should be respected by other countries. I think that our foreign missions may need to do more enlightenment in this area to our foreign partners.

Kabir Akingbolu

It is highly ludicrous the way America thinks so highly of itself. If they are good as a country, we are not doing badly in our own rights. That being so, it should be known that we are a sovereign nation and we have our own laws and ideal ways of life to which gay is not congenial with. Therefore, since we have rejected it, we should stick to our stand on gay marriage and ensure we do not allow our too much need for assistance from America to blindfold us to agree with their alien and obnoxious policy which the Bible and the Q’uran condemned. I am so sure that if we maintain our stand well enough, they will be forced to rescind their funny and felonious policy of promoting gay marriages. Truth be told, can we force them to recognize polygamy and practice it like us or can we foist on them the culture of wearing agbada or native dresses or implore them to start adopting our other primitive ways of doing certain things in Africa? I know it is impossible and for that reason, every country should paddle its own canoe without anyone dictating the pace unnecessarily.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu-Abuja

Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Majority Leader, House of Representatives

It will definitely not work here. It can’t work in Nigeria because as an institution, we must respect the peculiarities of our own setting here. This is Nigeria. This is not America.

This is not England. This is Nigeria where we must have to respect some of our traditions. We must also respect some of our religious bodies. We have Christians, we have Muslims and I thank God that both Christianity and Islam which are the two major religions are all against the disposition of such kind of legislation. I don’t think that in the near future the Nigerian legislature as an institution will entertain anything like gay here in this country.

We will not entertain that and it is going to be blasphemous if we can begin to consider such laws. It is against our culture and against basically the provision of the two major religions. It is obnoxious as far as I am concerned. There are limits to sanctions. They can continue to sanction as long as we know that what we are doing is right within the context of our culture, our religions, within the context of our institutional expectations. I don’t think that we can be threatened by anything. Sanction or no sanction, we will only stand by what we think is right within the context of our own institutional existence.”

Polaris Bank’s promo produces 61 winners

Polaris Bank said that the its nationwide Save & Win promo has produced the first set of winners, including the first millionaire, Mr. Lucky Okunzuwa, a customer with its Akpakpava branch, Benin, Edo State

The bank in a statement said that other 60 lucky customers who also emerged from across the six geo-political zones, won N100,000 each during the draw which was held at its headquarters in Lagos. The promo which ends in April 2021 is designed to enrich Nigerians with a N26 million pay-out.

The promo is designed to make millionaires of everyday Nigerians by encouraging current and prospective customers to save a minimum of N10,000 monthly, for any three consecutive months within the promo period, starting from November 2020 to April 2021, to qualify and be part of the winners of the promo.

The first millionaire of the promo, Mr. Okunzuwa, said, “I am very delighted at winning one million naira in the Polaris Bank’s Save & Win Promo. It was like a dream, when I was told but this is a reality. The money will go a long way in supporting my small business to grow. I also make a commitment to continue to save more. I sincerely thank Polaris Bank for this novel initiative.”

Speaking at the unveiling of the winners, Polaris Bank’s Executive Director, Lagos Business, Mr. Segun Opeke, while offering his congratulations, said the event was significant because it was a testament of Polaris Bank’s unwavering commitment to impact and enrich the lives of Nigerians, while noting that the reward is aimed at encouraging more people to save and invest their money.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr. Opeke said, “In tough times such as we are now, there is a compelling need to save, not only to win a prize, but also to plan for the rainy day. He noted that the Polaris Bank Save and Win Promo is a sure way to save more and also become either a millionaire or win N100,000. “The promo will produce 8 millionaires, while 180 others will go home with N100,000 each across 3 draws in February, March and April with winners drawn from the 6-geo-political zones of the country,” he added.

SEC reacts to CBN’s ban on cryptocurrency transactions

The SEC has stated that there is no contradiction in its policy with that of the CBN as regards cryptocurrency.

unclaimed dividend, SEC restrains fintech company, Chaka from advertising or offering for sale shares

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has disclosed that there is no policy conflict between the capital market apex regulator and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the ban placed on Cryptocurrency transactions in the banking industry.

SEC, in a statement shared via its site and seen by Johnlawsblog, explained that contrary to the perceived policy conflict from some quarters, it saw no such contradictions or inconsistencies.

<p class="has-drop-cap" style="font-size:1px" value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">In recognition of the fact that digital assets might have the full characteristics of investments as defined in the Investments and Securities Act 2007, it stated that trading in such assets falls under SEC’s regulatory purview, except proven otherwise.<ins><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clevernetwork.pt/" target="_blank"> </a></ins>In recognition of the fact that digital assets might have the full characteristics of investments as defined in the Investments and Securities Act 2007, it stated that trading in such assets falls under SEC’s regulatory purview, except proven otherwise.

It stated, “The primary objective of the Statement was not to hinder or stifle innovation, but to establish standards of ethical practices that ultimately make for a fair and efficient securities market.

“The SEC made its statement at the time, to provide regulatory certainty within the digital asset space, due to the growing volume of reported flows. Subsequently, in its capacity as the regulator of the banking system, the CBN identified certain risks, which if allowed to persist, will threaten investor protection, a key mandate of the SEC, as well as financial system stability, a key mandate of the CBN.”

In light of these facts, “we have engaged with the CBN and agreed to work together to further analyse, and better understand the identified risks to ensure that appropriate and adequate mitigants are put in place, should such securities be allowed in the future.”

SEC’s stand on Capital Market FinTech

For the purpose of admittance into the SEC Regulatory Incubation Framework, the assessment of all persons (and products) affected by the CBN Circular of February 5, 2021 is hereby put on hold until such persons are able to operate bank accounts within the Nigerian banking system.
The planned implementation of the SEC Regulatory Incubation Guidelines for FinTech firms who intend to introduce innovative models for offering capital market products and services will continue.
The SEC will continue to monitor developments in the digital asset space and further engage all critical stakeholders with a view to creating a regulatory structure that enhances economic development while promoting a safe, innovative and transparent capital market.

What you should know

Four days ago, CBN insisted that its recent restriction was not new, but only a reminder of the earlier circular that was dated January 2017.

“As regards our recent policy pronouncement, it is important to clarify that the CBN circular of February 5, 2021, did not place any new restrictions on cryptocurrencies, given that all banks in the country had earlier been forbidden, through CBN’s circular dated January 12, 2017, not to use, hold, trade and/or transact in cryptocurrencies,” it stated.

The apex bank further stated that the prohibition of cryptos was not exclusive to Nigeria, as certain levels of restrictions on financial institutions facilitating crypto transactions have been applied in several other countries around the world.

Death of MOUAU Former VC Prof. Ogbonnaya Francis Otunta Confirmed (Photos)

by Clarkwap Corporation March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta Former VC Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike dies in Motor Accident

by Clarkwap Corporation March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Breaking: Prof. Francis Otunta Ogbonnaya, Former MOUAU Vice Chancellor Dies In A Car Accident

By Johnlaw Tue 30th Mar, 2021 Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike and its environs are deeply saddened over the alleged demise of their former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francis Otunta. The 5th Vice-Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta Allegedly died in a motor accident. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta is aContinue reading “Breaking: Prof. Francis Otunta Ogbonnaya, Former MOUAU Vice Chancellor Dies In A Car Accident”

by Clarkwap Corporation March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

CRYPTOCURRENCY

Unknown whale transfers $160 million worth of Bitcoin

An unknown entity has just moved 3,334 BTC ($160M) in block 670,275.

A growing number of wealthy investors in recent times have been increasing their transactional volume in Bitcoin’s market, triggering the flagship crypto to trade above the $47,500 price level.

Data obtained from Bitcoin Block Bot, a crypto analytic tracker, revealed that an unknown BTC whale has just transferred 3,334 BTC ($160M) in block 670,275.

Prevailing market conditions at the flagship crypto market reveal large crypto investors and traders are moving large stacks of Bitcoins which are typically known as Bitcoin whales.

Global investors and crypto-traders are now holding on to the world’s most prized crypto though it’s often difficult in anticipating market movements in the ever-changing crypto market. Bitcoin whales have shown historically that they often determine the BTC trend.

At the time of drafting this report, Bitcoin traded at $47,660.46 with a daily trading volume of $83.6 Billion. Bitcoin is up 2.29% for the day.

CRYPTOCURRENCY

Bitcoin miners are outrageously rich, earn $4 million per hour

Bitcoin miners are currently earning $4,000,000 per hour.

Crypto, Investors flock to US dollar, Gold, Bitcoin, as Global Stocks record heavy sell-offs, Twitter Poll: Bitcoin price expected to reach $100,000 by 2021, cybercriminals, What it will take Bitcoin to hit $100,000?

Bitcoin miners are presently earning incredible wages. Such outrageous earnings were revealed by Glassnode, an advanced crypto analytic firm, which stated that Bitcoin miners are currently earning $4,000,000 per hour.

“Bitcoin miners just made over $4 million in a single hour – the highest hourly miner revenue in Bitcoin’s history so far.”

Regardless of the amount of Bitcoin miners, it usually takes some minutes to mine one Bitcoin. In some cases, it’s reported to take about 600 seconds (10 minutes); all else being equal it will take 72,000 GW (or 72 Terawatts) of power to mine a Bitcoin using the average power usage provided by ASIC miners.

What this means: Bitcoin mining involves the act of solving tasks that come in the form of algorithms in affirming a transaction and fixing it within a block on the blockchain.

BTC miners who successfully mine a block are paid or rewarded in BTC. They also help in facilitating the security mechanism of the blockchain network by confirming transaction information or data to the Bitcoin ledger.

This confirmation process involves solving complex mathematical problems and a lot of computing power. BTC miners are successfully rewarded with BTC for their contribution to the ledger based on their proof-of-work.

What you should know

Recall some time ago, the average cost of completing a transaction at the world’s flagship crypto(Bitcoin) market skyrocket again.
Data retrieved from BitInfoCharts revealed that Bitcoin’s average transaction cost had risen to $12, printing the highest price level since November 5, when Bitcoin had just started its bull run.
The surge in transaction fees is coming at the incredible bullish gains prevailing effect, in which Bitcoin’s price reached a new all-time high of $48,745 and rose by 27% in the past seven days.

NIN mandatory for bank accounts, voter registration, says FG

The National Identity Number is mandatory for transactions such as the opening of bank accounts, payment of taxes, voter registration, the Federal Government said on Thursday.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said this in Abuja while hosting the newly elected National Executive Council of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.

This came as operators called on the Federal Government to support in the development of a strategic plan to bridge the over N15tn infrastructure funding gap for the telecoms/information communication and technology industry.

In his address at the meeting, Pantami told his guests that the government was determined to ensure that all citizens in Nigeria had their various NINs.

He said, “This is most importantly in the area of NIN, which is a mandatory number, based on the NIMC order of 2007 that has actively been neglected for years.

“It is key to our national planning, budget, security, social development and many more. But it was neglected despite being a mandatory number.”

He added, “So we’ve come up with so many policies trying to ensure that our citizens obtain the number. It is important beyond SIM registration. It is important for whatever you do because it is the primary identity of our citizens.

“There’s no identity that will define you as a citizen more than that number. It is mandatory. And it is mandatory for transactions such as opening bank accounts, paying tax, voter registration and many more.”

The minister argued that Section 27 of the NIMC Act clearly stated that to partake and enjoy government services without the NIN was an offence, which could attract imprisonment as captured in Section 29 of same Act.

Pantami urged operators in the sector to work with the government in ensuring that all citizens in Nigeria had the NIN.

He insisted that the number would benefit the country economically, as the contributions of the telecoms sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product would further increase.

The ATCON President, Ikechukwu Nnamani, said there had been progress in NIN registration and told his host that operators would work with the government to move the sector forward.

Aside from bridging the infrastructure funding gap, he also called for the full implementation of the Right-of-Way policy, as well as the need to address the issue of multiple taxation and other regulatory challenges in the space.

On December 15, 2020, the Federal Government declared that after December 30, 2020, all SIMs that were not registered with valid NINs on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked.

It later extended the December 30, 2020 deadline following widespread opposition against the earlier announcement and gave three weeks’ extension for subscribers with NIN from December 30, 2020 to January 19, 2021.

It also gave six weeks’ extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020 to February 9, 2021, but many organisations had called for further deadline extension or outright suspension of the NIN registration process due to the large crowds who had yet to have their NINs.

Reopening: Youths threaten fresh protest at Lekki tollgate

Some youths have threatened to hold a fresh protest at the Lekki tollgate over plans to reopen it for operations.The PUNCH gathered that they have begun to mobilise on social media with #RevolutionNow and #OccupyLekkiTollGate, with the matter trending as number one and three on Twitter. As of 11 am, some of the youths shared Display Pictures and banners to create awareness about the protest.Information on the posters showed that the protest is planned to start at 7 am on Saturday, February 13, 2020.Some of the posters have inscriptions such as “No justice, no reopening”, and “Occupy Lekki tollgate” among others.

The PUNCH had reported that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate had, on Saturday, approved the reopening of the tollgate.However, four out of the nine members of the panel faulted the report of the forensic experts hired to comb the scene for evidence.The four members who faulted the forensic report also rejected the application by the Lekki Concession Company, operator of the Lekki tollgate, to take possession of the facility, which had been shut down since the probe of the shootings started.The four members who rejected the forensic report are the two representatives of the civil society – Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Ms. Patience Udoh; as well as the two youth representatives on the panel – Rinu Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi. But the chairman of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, and four other members of the panel acceded to LCC’s request to repossess the tollgate.The chairman was backed by Segun Awosanya (popularly known as Segalink), Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Director, Citizens Rights), DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd.) (representing the police) and Lucas Koyejo (from the National Human Rights Commission). “No to the reopening of #Lekkitollgate, the perpetrators of #LekkiMassacre must be brought to book. ”Dr Chuks @AhanekuChuks urged those planning to protest to strategise properly, saying, “Now we move with strategies and togetherness, it is time you showed what you have got for the government. “We have given them much time but they took our silent night for granted not knowing that we are putting heads together to study how to bring peace to the new generation. ”Dtowncrier threatened that “Reopen Lekki tollgate and reopen #EndSARS protest @Benzkovic001 also faulted the reopening of the Lekki tollgate. Coconut Head @iamProficience added, “We never believed the panel, nothing good ever came out of any panel in Nigeria but a mere inquiry. No going back till there’s justice for all! #OccupyLekkiTollGate on Saturday! #Endsarsbrutality.” “We all knew that the panel is just a means to divert youths’ attention, only the rich and those in power get justice. But history has been made and stories will be told of how the youths of Nigeria fought against #Badgovernment #EndSARS,” @Shaddyrok added.

I became army chief because my father loved Buhari, says Buratai

The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), has attributed his appointment to his father’s love for the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). According to him, his appointment in July 2015 was a prize for the loyalty of his father, Yusuf Buratai to Buhari.THE PUNCH reported that Buratai’s father was a non-commissioned officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force and a World War II veteran who fought in Burma. The former COAS expressed the views on Sunday night during a gala night organised by the 29th Regular Course.

Association in Abuja in his honour to celebrate him as the longest-serving COAS and his successful retirement.He expressed gratitude to the President for finding him worthy to serve as COAS, adding that he discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability. He also said that although it was a tough time serving as COAS, the service chiefs weathered the storm, adding “I am retired but definitely not tired Insha Allah. ”Buratai said, “My father was an ardent lover of the President and my appointment as COAS, therefore, was a prize or reward for that gesture by the President.“Of course, and as you have been told several times, we (the President and I) met in N’djamena and he saw me and felt I was the right person to be COAS at that very crucial and critical moment of our history. “And I am happy that we have discharged our responsibilities diligently, professionally and loyally, and I will continue to discharge my responsibilities to him and of course to our country and our people. ”Speaking on the gala night staged in his honour, he said the event organised for him showed that he did well as the country’s Chief of Army Staff. YOU “It feels great (to be celebrated by my colleagues) at this point in time. It means a lot to me in terms of respect, in terms of the show of love. “It’s something of pride that you have been recognised for the service you have rendered to your nation and people”, he said. Buratai expressed gratitude to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and all the governors of the North East, especially the governors of Yobe and Adamawa States for their support. “They have all worked hard to ensure that the insurgency in the North East have reached what we have today; a manageable state and the progress have been quite tremendous so far,” he said.He also thanked Buhari on his new appointment as an Ambassador-designate, adding that he would continue to do the country proud and project its image in good light wherever he is deployed to.Buratai said, “On a final note, I must appreciate all Nigerians, my well-wishers, the youths, elders, men and women for their continuous prayers, goodwill and support to me and the Nigerian Army in the course of our duties to bring about peace and security in our country. “It was a tough time but we’ve weathered the storm. I am retired but definitely not tired Insha Allah.“We have left great legacies in the Nigerian Army that I hope will last the test of time by God’s grace,” Buratai concluded.Buratai and other Service Chiefs were sacked from their positions on January 26, 2021. Thereafter, the President appointed Major-General Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff); Major-General I. Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff); Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff); and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao (Chief of Air Staff) as replacements.

Netflix confirms fate of Money Heist after season 5

It’s set to be an “epic and exciting season”.BY John Law 31 July 2020

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Netflix has confirmed Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) will return for a fifth season, but it will be its last.

Season four ended on a cliffhanger, and there are a few loose threads that need tying up, including a sneaky Easter egg to contend with too, which will hopefully be addressed in these final 10 episodes.

Season four also ramped things up in terms of violence with more bloodshed than all three previous seasons combined, so that opens the final season for anything.

NETFLIX

Money Heist creator Alex Pina said: “We’ve spent almost a year thinking about how to break up the band.

“How to put the Professor on the ropes. How to get into situations that are irreversible for many characters.

“The result is the fifth part of La Casa de Papel. The war reaches its most extreme and savage levels, but it is also the most epic and exciting season.”

Production on all of Netflix’s original series was temporarily halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, but production on Money Heist is expected to kick off next week (August 3).

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The series stars Úrsula Coberó, Álvaro Morte, Itziar Ituño, Pedro Alonso, Miguel Herrán, Jaime Lorente, Esther Acebo, Enrique Arce and Darko Peric among its ensemble cast – and the upcoming season will introduce Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Patrick Criado, too.

Pina also recently teased the possibility of spin-offs – and he believes any of the characters could carry their own series.

Speaking to OprahMag.com, Pina said: “We do have many possibilities for some spinoffs, yes, and I think that’s thanks to the strong and powerful identities of the characters.

“We’ve always looked for characters to have a very complex, layered design. So I think almost every character of Money Heist has a duality that we would like to see in a spinoff. We could watch any of them in other contexts.”

Money Heist seasons 1 – 4 are now available to watch worldwide on Netflix

Netflix’s Money Heist season 5: Release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know

What’s next for La casa de papel?

BY John Law 31 july, 2020

Money Heist Season 5: Everything You Need To Know.

Money Heist spoilers follow.

Will Money Heist season five happen on Netflix? Well, Money Heist season four (La casa de papel) ramped up the action and added more bloodshed than all three previous seasons combined.

Fans might have expected the season-four finale to follow the same format as season two, neatly wrapping up the heist after just two seasons. But nothing seems to have gone to plan this time around, and the gang have been forced to buy themselves a bit more time.

That means season four ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the door wide open for a potential Money Heist season five.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Money Heist season 5 release date: When will it air on Netflix?

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At the moment, Money Heist season five hasn’t technically been greenlit, but as one of the most popular Netflix series in the world – it was ranked #2 in the UK on April 6, 2020 – it’s unlikely that the streamer would pull the plug just yet.

“I didn’t know the series is famous worldwide, I thought it’s popular only in Spain,” said Ajay Jethi (via New Indian Express), who had a supporting role in the series. “People were praising the show on social media, I received messages from on Instagram, there was a hashtag about my character Shakir. That’s when I realised the popularity is on different level.”

“It’s pure rock’n’roll,” said Álvaro Morte, aka the Professor (via the Guardian). “Once you see the first chapter of the show, you are lost in it.”

Speaking to ABC Spain, creator Álex Pina insinuated that discussions are happening, although no details have been officially released: “Someone knows there will be [a fifth season], but we don’t.”

Director Jesús Colmenar told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia that “there is going to be a fifth [part]”.

Fans waited just under nine months between seasons three and four of Money Heist. If season five were to follow the same pattern, we might have been back at the bank by the end of 2020.

On March 15, Netflix paused productionon all its original series for two weeks due to the ongoing world situation. But while we haven’t heard anything about Money Heist resuming, Deadline reported back in May that filming was allowed to resume in certain regions with numerous safeguarding measures in place.

With the situation interrupting filmingacross the entertainment industry, it seems highly unlikely we’ll get another Money Heist premiere in 2020.

Chatting about the show’s role in society now that life as we once knew it has been turned on its head, Pina said (via the The Guardian) that Money Heist has “infuse[ed] some oxygen into this disturbing climate… it is a brutal journey to the limit, like a ride on a vertiginous rollercoaster.”RELATED STORYMoney Heist S4 has made a big change for the worse

Spanish site Marca is reporting that a fifth and sixth season have been confirmed, but take that with a pinch of salt until we hear the word from the quesos grandes at Netflix.

The showrunners themselves don’t like to think that far ahead anyway – as script coordinator Javier Gómez Santander said to El Mundo: “With La Casa De Papel, we go game by game, like Simeone.

“Chapter by chapter, sequence by sequence, line by line. We do not ever consider how long the show can last. If we got to know the scope of the phenomenon, we wouldn’t have thought to kill Berlin.”

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Pina has since revealed that he was pressured to remove Berlin from the show because of his “out-of-date views”.

“Someone said to me, ‘This character doesn’t fit with the times. You should take him out of the series,” said Pina in the Netflix documentary Money Heist: The Phenomenon.

“I said I had no intention of taking him out of the series. He’s a misogynist, narcissist and psychopath in many ways.

“But we could have a character like that in the series and the audience could freely decide whose side they’re on, right?”

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On top of all that, there’s also the prospect of other projects which might delay the fifth season of Money Heisteven further. In May, they released the first season of White Lines, which explores a bananas murder mystery in Ibiza.

Netflix hasn’t officially renewed the series yet for a second season, but if the popularity of Money Heist is anything to go by, don’t be surprised if the streaming giant confirm season two soon. According to Deadline, White Lines was originally intended to be made up of three series, so season two might just be the start of a whole new franchise, which could in turn impact Money Heist later down the line.

And then there’s also Sky Rojo, another action-based series which is currently scheduled for a 2020 release on Netflix.

How this could affect Money Heist in the future isn’t clear just yet, but given how successful the first four seasons have been, it seems certain that season five is an absolute given.

Money Heist season 5 cast: Who will be in it?

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Nairobi’s (Alba Flores) death carved a tragic gap in the group, but Money Heist has always played with flashbacks and non-linear time. Just like we got to catch up with Berlin, Moscow and Oslo via memories, we might get to revisit Nairobi in season five by travelling to a time before her execution.

If that does happen, though, it might be with footage that has already been filmed from previous seasons. In a clip from Money Heist: The Phenomenon, also on Netflix, Flores hinted that her filming days are done for this project: “It’s over, and I have nothing on the horizon. It’s a really liberating feeling. Because…well, I need a rest.”

Other actors who are most likely to return inseason five include:

Úrsula Corberó as Tokio
Álvaro Morte as El Profesor
Itziar Ituño as Lisbon
Miguel Herrán as Río
Jaime Lorente as Denver
Esther Acebo as Stockholmo
Darko Peric as Helsinki
Enrique Arce as Arturo Román

Actor Álvaro Morte recently addressed the future of his character, The Professor, while speaking at the Chelsea Film Festival (According to The Express):

“The Professor was a very weird guy, a very lonely guy and what happened with the band and finding love, it’s a really small chapter in his life. If we’re talking about the end of the character, I think at one point, I’d like to see him go back to that loneliness, that solitary life that he’s more used to and seems more comfortable in.”

While it’s unclear yet how this could happen, don’t be surprised if The Professor’s relationship with Lisbon hits a rough patch in future episodes.

In an interview with The Hindu, Morte revealed the inspiration behind his character: “I inspired myself from the superhero universe. I find his glasses to be like a mask. I found a very specific way of doing it in this double movement. I studied a lot to include this in the character.”

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Chatting to Variety about his approach to each character, Pina said: “What’s key is that series offer the possibility of developing characters over far longer narrative arcs.

“We always try to give characters multiple sides, which breaks viewers’ preconceptions. Villains can have good qualities, as we’ve seen with Berlin.

“That makes spectators far more interested in the series because at any moment any characters can change.”

moment any characters can change.”

Money Heist season 5 plot: What will happen?

Close-up of Miguel Herrán as Rio in Netflix's Money Heist: Part 4

TAMARA ARRANZ RAMOSNETFLIX

Like every season of Money Heist, season five will catch up with the professor and the gang doing what they do best: armed robbery of the highest degree, with a smattering of political resistance thrown in.

There are a number of loose threads left dangling at the end of season four that future episodes could explore. Lisbon is now inside the bank, but with the professor cornered by Inspectora Alicia Sierra, Lisbon and the others have no way to escape. They’ll have to continue melting gold at top speed, and hope that Sergio can find a way to outsmart Sierra once and for all.

And then there’s the matter of that sneaky Easter egg to contend with too.

Anyone who stuck around to watch the credits might have noticed that the resistance anthem ‘Bella Ciao’ can be heard playing at the end. The song is full of themes that have played an important role throughout the series, but what’s even more important this time round is who’s actually singing it.

Oprah Magazine points out that actress Najwa Nimri is singing a cover of the tune this time round, just a few seconds after the credits start to roll. Before that, the only character’s heard singing this song are those who fight alongside Berlin and Sergio, representing a kind of induction to their cause. So does this mean that Alicia will join the group in season five?

While this could just be a coincidence, the fact that Nimri also delivers the last line of dialogue right before the credits makes the connection seem more deliberate than that.

Money Heist: Part 4 still of José Manuel Poga as Gandia getting stitches at the base of his neck

TAMARA ARRANZ RAMOSNETFLIX

Although some fan theories suggest that Alicia could secretly be Tatiana, Berlin’s wife from those recent flashbacks, that seems like more of a stretch. Sure, the two women look similar, but Tatiana is played by Diana Gómez, not Nimri.

Still, we shouldn’t rule out some kind of relationship between the two. After all, Money Heist hasn’t shied away from surprise family reveals in the past, which means that Alicia and Tatiana may be closely connected after all.

Either way, don’t be surprised if Alicia joins the cause in season five, switching up the dynamics of the show completely.

Chatting to Identity Mag, Úrsula Corberó (Tokio) chatted about where she thinks her character and Rio will go next.

“I have been wondering about whether or not this relationship is toxic. With Rio’s vulnerability and Tokio being very protective of him, we can see that from the very beginning. But perhaps it’s a bit toxic because of Tokio’s personality.

“For their future…I do know how it’s going to go from here…The way I see it is that there are like two teams – and we can see this very clearly on social media. Some people want Tokio and Rio to reunite and get back together and some others are very much against this relationship and don’t want them together ever again.”

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But it’s not just the ongoing plot which could change either. Like the Fast & Furious or Power franchises, there’s scope for whole worlds outside the main show itself and the creators have seemingly embraced those possibilities whole-heartedly. Showrunner Alex Piña told Oprah magazine: “We do have many possibilities for some spinoffs, yes, and I think that’s thanks to the strong and powerful identities of the characters.RELATED STORYMoney Heist boss reveals plans for many spin-offs

“I think Arturito could have a black comedy. Berlin’s case for his own show is very clear – he’s a misogynist, a psychopath, egocentric, a narcissist, a delinquent, a rapist… but still there are lots of people who adore him, because he values friendship, loyalty or fraternity.

“From Nairobi to El Profesor… Denver is yet another character with his own charm. I would love to write all of them as spinoffs!”

Director Jesús Colmenar also confirmed they were thinking about further offshoots of the show to La Vanguardia.

We, too, would love for you to write them all as spin-offs, Alex, so if you could have a quiet word with Netflix and get the ball rolling that would be grand.

Money Heist season 5 trailer: When will it land?

With filming possibly postponed, it will likely be a while before there’s any footage for a Money Heist season five trailer.

However, it’s possible there might be a marketing teaser promo ahead of a real sneak peek, just to keep us on the edge of our seats.

In the meantime, check out the trailer for White Lines, another Netflix original created by the makers of Money Heist which explores an entirely new adventure in both Spanish and English.

Money Heist seasons 1 – 4 are now available to watch worldwide on Netflix.

Fauci: ‘Cautiously optimistic’ U.S. could have coronavirus vaccine by late fall

U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Friday that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the U.S. could have coronavirus vaccine in late fall or early winter this year.

Fauci said, “We hope that by the time we get into late fall and early winter, we will have in fact a vaccine that we can say that would be safe and effective. One can never guarantee the safety or effectiveness unless you do the trial, but we are cautiously optimistic this will be successful.”

He made the remarks while testifying at the coronavirus crisis hearing in Capitol Hill.

During the hearing, Fauci was been asked about why the Europe did better job than the U.S. in the aspect of containing COVID-19.

Fauci answered that the European countries fully locked down to curb the spread of the virus. However, the shutdown of the U.S. only worked for about 50 percent of the country.

As of Friday morning, the U.S. reported more than 4.49 million COVID-19 cases, with 152,082 deaths, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University.

(Cover: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, arrives to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 31, 2020. /Reuters)

BREAKING: Investigative panel declares Adesina innocent of all charges

AfDB: Investigative panel declares Adesina innocent of all charges — Akinwumi Adesina

An independent panel of experts, headed by former Irish president Mary Robinson, has cleared the beleaguered leader of the African Bank of Development (AfDB) of corruption, according to a report obtained by AFP.

Akinwumi Adesina, 60, a charismatic speaker known for his elegant suits and bow ties, became the first Nigerian to helm the AfDB in 2015 — but a 15-page report earlier this year claimed that under his watch the bank had been tarred by poor governance, impunity, personal enrichment and favouritism.

The panel of three experts, led by Robinson alongside Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and the World Bank’s integrity vice president Leonard McCarthy, cleared Adesina of all charges alleged by whistleblowers.

“The Panel concurs with the Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the Committee,” Monday’s report concluded.

The African banking institution and Adesina — who is the sole candidate for the bank’s August’s presidential elections — has been battered by the rollercoaster of allegations after the whistleblowers’ complaints were leaked to the media in April.

The former Nigerian finance minister had always stated he was “innocent” of the charges.

Robinson — who led Ireland from 1990 to 1997 before serving as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights until 2002 — dismissed the 16 whistleblower allegations against Adesina.

The panel did not investigate the charges themselves, as that was not within their mandate.

The AfDB plays an important if largely behind-the-scenes role in African economies, financing projects in agriculture, health, energy, education, transport and other development sectors.

Coronavirus: Pet cat found to have virus in UK

By John law

Pakistan PM Khan hails government’s virus response

M Ilyas Khan

BBC News, Islamabad

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan says his government has succeeded in bringing the spread of coronavirus under control in the country, and has called on people to consolidate these gains by following safety rules during the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid.

In an address to the nation, the prime minister said that if Pakistanis can safely go through Eid – scheduled over the weekend – and the Shia Muslims’ traditional Muharram events that follow less than a month later, “we will have brought our lives back to normal”.

He warned, however, that ignoring safety rules during the Eid festivities – such as wearing face masks and social distancing – may trigger another flare-up in cases.

He mentioned examples from Australia, Iran and elsewhere where the falling numbers of infections led to the easing of restrictions, which brought another spell of infections.

Khan said a sustained fall in infections in Pakistan has been the result of his government’s policy of “smart lockdowns”, instead of a full-blown curfew, which he said only rich countries could afford.

Gold hits record high as investor jitters spread

Gold hit a record high on Monday as increasing numbers of nervous investors sought a safe place to put their money.

Rising political tensions between the US and China joined the ever-present worries over the continuing coronavirus pandemic to boost the spot price to $1,944.92 an ounce,

Covid-19 cases have risen to more then 16 million globally.

Many investors shun gold as it doesn’t pay dividends or interest rates but it tends to rise in troubled times,

Interest rates are currently near zero and dividend returns from companies are uncertain at best, with so many struggling.

So far this year, gold prices have risen 28%.

Gold standards: The basics of investing in the yellow metal

As well as lacking in returns, investing in gold brings costs.

Adrian Ash, director of research at precious metals trader BullionVault, says storage (with insurance included) is 0.12% of the size of your investment per year.

Each bar weighs 400 Troy ounces (12.5kg) and is currently worth £600,000 at today’s prices., so that would cost £60 per month. It’s trading in these large bars which creates the “spot” price everyone is suddenly talking about,

They’re how the wholesale industrial and investment gold markets move metal around, and any other form of gold you buy – whether a bracelet or a coin or the microchips in your smartphone – starts out in this large bar form, adding costs at every stage of manufacture.

He says though if you fancy visiting your haul, you can’t: “It’s hard to over-state the level of security at professional bullion vaults, and for the vast majority of people, being shown a shiny yellow brick wouldn’t prove much anyway.

Mr Ash says his customers can though take their metal out from the vault if they wish: “We would arrange delivery, most usually in the form of smaller bars, although that necessarily triggers the extra manufacturing and shipping costs you otherwise avoid by owning wholesale bullion inside secure storage.”

Unlike shares and bonds, investors in physical gold products do not get any return on their investment. there are no dividends or interest rates and no protection against inflation and you pay to store it. The value simply rises and falls on investor demand.

A fall in the dollar is another factor that boosts the price of gold, which is quoted in the US currency. It means that buyers using other currencies can, in fact, be paying the same for their gold, as they are able to buy more dollars for their money.

In the latest development between the US and China, China took over the premises of the US consulate in the south western city of Chengdu. The move was in retaliation for the US closing down China’s diplomatic base in Houston, Texas.

This sent the dollar index to its lowest since September 2018.

The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, is meeting this week to decide on monetary policy.

Mihir Kapadia, head of Sun Global Investments, thinks that could also help boost the price further: “With eyes on the upcoming Fed policy meeting later this week and more concerns over geopolitical tensions, further gains can be expected with these factors likely to weigh heavily on the stock markets for a few more weeks to come.”

Fellow precious metal silver was also higher, It rose more than 6% to $24.36, its highest since September 2013.

Residents Kick As Lagos Bus Service Announces 46% Fare Increase Amid Coronavirus Scare

Some residents of the state, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said it was unfair for the service to increase prices and operate at full capacity simultaneously.

byJohn law, Nigeria July 24, 2020

Residents of Lagos have cried out over the decision of the Lagos Bus Service Ltd. to hike the fares on all its routes by 46 per cent.

Some residents of the state, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said it was unfair for the service to increase prices and operate at full capacity simultaneously.

The Managing Director of Lagos Bus Service Ltd, Idowu Oguntona, said in a statement on Monday that it had received approval from the Lagos state government to increase the price of its services by an average of 46 per cent, transport passengers to full capacity and ply the Bus Rapid Transit corridor.

Oguntona said the incentives it obtained would come into effect on August 1 2020.

Isaiah Oluwatobi, a media practitioner, described the Lagos State government’s incentives to LBSL as insensitive.

He said the state government should reverse its decision to allow the operator to operate at full capacity because they would be putting the health of Lagosians at risk.

“Lagos State government has chosen to be insensitive to the plight of residents at this Coronavirus period. While other countries are giving their people palliatives, our government are extorting and exploiting us.

“The decision to increase the bus fare is not only ridiculous but also inhumane, considering that they also permitted the bus operator to operate at full capacity. It shows they don’t care about the health of Lagosians.

“I hope they immediately reverse the decision of the buses carrying full passengers as it goes against the safety precautions of COVID-19,” he said.

Mr Oguntona said in the statement that the permission to run at the maximum was timely, as the company made a 72 per cent loss when it was mandated to carry just 20 passengers.

Unlike the Primero operated blue buses which have the sole right to the BRT corridor till August 1 and commercial bus operators, LBSL chose to maintain its pre-COVID-19 induced lockdown fare. Before the pandemic struck, its prices were below that of commercial bus operators.

An entrepreneur, Cornelius Itepu, however, said it is fair for the LBSL to now decide that it wants to function at the prevailing market rate.

“Their prices were lower than that of commercial bus operators before COVID-19,” Itepu said. “I’m guessing they were getting some form of subvention from the Lagos state government. It is fair that they now want to run at fair market value. If they choose to go higher than the market, people will stop using their services,” he said.

Oguntona said that LBSL had been permitted to increase its capacity from 20 to 42.

Itepu said that although he had not counted the number of seats in any of the vehicles, he believes LBSL should be able to maintain the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) ‘s guidelines on the containment of COVID-19.

Anike Bamise, a web developer, said LBSL operated vehicles that run the Ikeja to Berger route had been carrying full capacity since the lockdown was lifted.

She says even though passengers are mandated to wear face masks before boarding, she does not feel the trips she made on those journeys were safe.

“They have been operating full capacity since. Even though they make sure everyone entering puts on face masks — which they remove when they enter, and they use perforators to tear tickets, not their hands, it is still unsafe.”

Ms Bamise said the price increase was general and she had already prepared for the hike. “The price increase is general. I already expected it. They did not raise fares when others were doing so,” she said.

Another resident, Habeeb Olalekan, said it was unfair for the state government to give LBSL the concession to operate at full capacity and still increase its fare.

“The Lagos State government is helping LBSL to cheat us,” he said. “Now is not a time to be increasing prices, it would worsen the inflation Nigerians are enduring. We are suffering an increased tax burden; every morsel of help we receive from our weak government institutions is thinning out.”

Policeman Killed As Gunmen Abduct Four Chinese Workers In Cross River

A policeman working with the Chinese nationals was killed during the abduction which happened near a quarry site in the remote area of Akampka

by John law, Nigeria July 24, 2020

Gunmen have kidnapped four Chinese construction workers in Cross River State.

The police spokesperson for the state, Irene Ugboh Itohan, confirmed the incident to the BBC.

She said a policeman working with the Chinese nationals was killed during the abduction which happened near a quarry site in the remote area of Akampka on Tuesday night.

Security personnel have been deployed to search for the expatriates.

It is not yet clear why the gunmen seized them, but kidnapping for ransom is rampant across Nigeria with both locals and foreigners targeted.

In some cases, the abductors kill their captives if their demands are not met.

I Don’t Think Nigerian Military Has Capacity To Be Accountable—Campbell, Former US Ambassador To Nigeria

Campbell said Nigerian political leaders have had a long history of not being accountable to the people. This, according to him, reflects on how the country’s big budget for defence has not yielded much success.

byJohn law, Nigeria Jul 23, 2020

John Campbell, a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, says Nigerians have lost trust and confidence in the government.

He berated the attitude of the government and Nigerian politicians, saying the people have never been at the centre of governance in the country.

Campbell spoke during an interactive session on insecurity organised by SaharaTV over the weekend.

John Campbell

The US envoy says he does not think the Nigerian military can be transparent and accountable.

“The lack of confidence and faith amongst many Nigerians in the institutions of government is very worrisome,” he said.

“This culture feeds directly into corruption and institutional weakness,” the former ambassador said.

Campbell stressed the need for restructuring in Nigeria so that the institutions are accountable to citizens.

“There is no formula to restructuring, all that is needed is for the people to sit, think, look for what will work for everyone and create a strategy,” he said.

In her remarks, Aisha Yesufu, rights activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, noted that the primary function of the government was to secure the lives and property of citizens but added that the government had failed to do that.

She said Nigerians allowed the government to get away with the abdication of their duties.

She said, “The Nigerian government has not only failed the Nigerian people, but they have also failed themselves. You see the impunity, disregard and disdain for Nigerians. They can get away with it because we are a nation of people who are ready to allow them to abdicate their responsibilities.”

Ossai Ojigho, Country Director, Amnesty International in Nigeria, said equity, fairness and justice make it a lot easier to navigate the cumbersome nature of the classifications.

“The government says we are one, but they do not address the divisions and the dissatisfaction that the people harbour towards themselves. They deliberately set the narrative of difference to push a certain agenda,” she added.

Dr Kole Shettima, a public scientist, stressed the need for continuous activism to strengthen institutions across the board.

“We have significant structural problems and constitutional problems. We need to challenge the constitution. I believe that we have to challenge it in different ways and manners to protect the little spaces that we have.

“Part of the strategy is to empower individuals and even some state governments to challenge powers at the centre.

“If many of our state governors become president of Nigeria, we are probably going to be in the worst situation than we have found ourselves because of the way they have been behaving and trampling on the rights of people,” he said.

Nnamdi Kanu Orders IPOB To Stop Attacking Yoruba

IPOB directed all its media personnel, to strictly adhere to the instruction of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and halt all attacks against the Yoruba.

by John law , Nigeria Jul 23, 2020

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has directed its media team to stop attacks against the Yoruba and Yoruba nation.

IPOB in a statement by the Head of Directorate of State, Chika Edoziem, directed all its media personnel, to strictly adhere to the instruction of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and halt all attacks against the Yoruba.

IPOB’s statement read, “Consequent upon the directive by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, worldwide during his live broadcast of Sunday, July 19, 2020, to the effect that all attacks on Yoruba people should cease immediately, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra has deemed it instructive to reiterate and reaffirm the adherence by all to that directive from our leader.

“To this effect, all IPOB media personnel operating on different segments and platforms, be it on print, radio, visual and social media, as well as the generality of IPOB family members, must strictly obey that directive as given by our leader.

“It is time to, once again, exhibit the discipline for which IPOB is known for. We must use the knowledge and information acquired from Radio Biafra during Onyendu’s teachings and those obtained from individual research to present our viewpoints on issues of public interest and debate.”

[Update: Nokia 6.1, 7 Plus too] Android 10 is now rolling out for the Nokia 6.1 Plus

The full Android 10 update is now rolling out for 2018’s Nokia 6.1 Plus after being announced by the official Nokia Twitter account.

Nokia confirmed the Android 10 road map for the latest OS update showing the expected timeframes for a ton of the Android One-powered devices. The official window for the Android 10 update for the Nokia 6.1 Plus was slated for a Q1 2020 release, and HMD Global has duly delivered on this promise now that we’re one week into 2020.

[Update #2 01/08]: HMD Global is also pushing out the full Android 10 update to the standard Nokia 6.1, after confirming the update over on Twitter. It also measures in at around 1.4GB in size and updates the Nokia 6.1 to the V4.10C firmware. Some owners have confirmed that the update is already available, so it’s definitely worth checking your System updates panel right now.

[Update 01/08]: The Android 10 update is now rolling out to the Nokia 7 Plus just 24 hours after the Nokia 6.1 Plus was given the upgrade treatment (via Nokiamob.net). The OTA file brings firmware version V4.10C and weighs in at a sizeable 1.4GB.

Android 10 is steadily rolling out to Nokia 7 Plus devices but it’s unclear which regions are first in line — so you might have to be a little patient as the OTA heads out globally. Of course, once you do get the OS upgrade, you’ll have access to all of the good stuff listed below.

Being part of the Android One program, the update is as close to the Pixel version of Android 10 as it possibly can be. You get a ton of OS improvements and enhancements including Smart Reply, gesture navigation, the in-built system-wide dark theme, enhanced privacy and location controls, and family link options.

This follows the Android 10 OTA rollout for the Nokia 7.1 and Nokia 9 PureView, and should be rolling out globally to Nokia 6.1 Plus devices right now, meaning if you have the device, now might be a good time to check your System updates panel.

Weighing in at just over 1.3 GB in size, this is a whopping update that we’d suggest you download over Wi-Fi to ensure you don’t rack up a massive data bill. It also includes the December 2019 security patch, which makes the 6.1 Plus one of the first Nokia devices to get the security update.

The next HMD devices that are set to get the Android 10 update are the Nokia 6.1 and Nokia 7.1 Plus, according to the recent road map.

A majority of Nigerians and Kenyans have confidence in President Trump, according to Pew research

Lagos, Nigeria(CNN)Most Kenyans and Nigerians have confidence in President Donald Trump, according to data released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center.

While international confidence in Trump’s handling of world affairs has flagged across Europe and most of the rest of the world, opinions of the US President remained mostly positive in two of Africa’s most populous countries, the research finds. Trump decries immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ coming to US

Sixty-five percent of Kenyans and 58% of Nigerians believe Trump “will do the right thing regarding world affairs,” it finds.

By contrast, trust in Trump dips in the other two African countries polled, with just 12% of those in Tunisia — in the continent’s north — and 42% of South Africans confident of his global decisions, polls show.

Kenyans, Nigerians and South Africans also favored Trump over German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the 32 nations of the world surveyed, Merkel’s approval ratings surpassed those of Trump, Marcron, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

More than half of Nigerians have expressed confidence in Trump’s leadership since he took office, despite accusations that the President in mid-2017 made vulgar remarks about immigrants from the West African nation. The White House has denied the allegations.

Trump’s confidence rating lowest in Mexico

Across the countries polled, a median 29% of respondents expressed confidence Trump would do the “right thing” on the world stage, according to Pew’s experts. That figure has remained fairly unchanged since his inauguration.

“Perceptions of Trump are more positive in general in the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa compared with Europe, though opinions vary across the countries surveyed in these regions,” they wrote.Trudeau admits to talking about Trump after President calls him ‘two-faced’

“Majorities in the Philippines, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria and India have confidence that the president will do the right thing in world affairs. Yet few in Japan, Australia, Lebanon, Tunisia and Turkey share this view.”

The President’s rating was lowest in Mexico, where 89% said they have no confidence in him, data show. Trump’s administration has sought to stem the tide of migrants and asylum-seekers entering the US from Mexico.

Anti-Trump sentiments were also common in most of Western Europe, as more than 3 in 4 respondents in Germany, Sweden, France, Spain and the Netherlands said they “do not have confidence in him.”

The surveys were conducted by the Pew Research Center from May 18 to October 2. The margin of sampling error and exact methodology varies by country.CNN’s Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

Kylian Mbappe Nearly Scored One Of The Best Goals Ever

Kylian Mbappe attempted one of the cheekiest goals in the history of football on Wednesday night when his casual rabona from outside the area sailed just wide.

It was an easy midweek night for PSG on Wednesday as they ran out 6-1 winners against St Etienne in Ligue 1 to stretch their lead at the top to seven points, with a game in hand over second place Marseille.

Outside of the boot ➡️ dummy ➡️ rabona

PSG were feeling it against St-Etienne.

Inches away from a wonder goal!pic.twitter.com/J27HNMur2V
— BT Sport (@btsport) January 9, 2020

It was so easy that in the 78th minute Mbappe tried the outrageous rabona from outside the box, only for it to sail just wide of Jessy Moulin’s post.

With so much attacking talent in the PSG ranks it didn’t need to be Mbappe’s night. The World Cup winning star got himself on the scoresheet, as did Neymar, but the headlines belonged to Mauro Icardi.

The striker, on loan from Inter this season, bagged his first hat-trick for the French club and his first in any club game since scoring four for the Nerazzurri in March 2018.

15 – Mauro Icardi 🇦🇷 in all competitions with Paris this season:

19 games

15 goals / 15 from inside the box

22 shots on target

1 goal every 19 touches

Accuracy. 🎯#PSGASSE pic.twitter.com/TeHJhZiaSG
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) January 8, 2020

Icardi has now scored nine goals in 11 Ligue 1 appearances, as well as five in six in the Champions League and three in two in the Coup de la Ligue.

If he were to become available in the transfer market at any point then Mbappe would be one of the most sought after players in the world and Real Madrid and Liverpool have often been linked.

02' ⚽️
49' ⚽️
57' ⚽️

Mauro Icardi has his first hat-trick for PSG!

17 goals in 19 games so far 🎯 pic.twitter.com/HJvz379FyR
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 8, 2020

The Reds link mainly comes from fans and the belief that their new link with Nike would see them American kit manufacturer help pay for the 21-year-olds wages.

Tonight, Mauro Icardi played a total of 72 minutes and finished with three goals and an assist. He had a total of 13 touches and five completed passes.

Efficient. pic.twitter.com/wsSegk34Uj
— UtdArena (@utdarena) January 8, 2020

According to CIES Observatory the former Monaco forward is the most valuable player in the world, valued at €265 million.

Benjamin Netanyahu warns of ‘resounding blow’ if Iran attacks Israel

Netanyahu has described the target of last week’s US drone strike — Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards foreign operations arm — as a “terrorist-in-chief”.

Updated: Jan 10, 2020 11:4:00

By Agence France-Presse, Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday that Israel would strike a “resounding blow” if attacked by arch foe Iran (AP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday that Israel would strike a “resounding blow” if attacked by arch foe Iran, as regional tensions soar after the US killing of a top Iranian general.

“Anyone who attacks us will receive a resounding blow,” the premier told a Jerusalem conference after Iran launched a salvo of retaliatory missile strikes on bases used by US troops in Iraq.

Netanyahu has described the target of last week’s US drone strike — Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards foreign operations arm — as a “terrorist-in-chief”.

“Qasem Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people, he destabilised many countries for decades, he sowed fear and misery and anguish and he was planning much worse,” Netanyahu said.

“He was the architect and driver of Iran’s campaign of terror throughout the Middle East and the world.”

The Israeli premier praised US President Donald Trump for “acting swiftly, boldly, and resolutely” in killing Soleimani in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

The drone strike has put the United States and key allies on alert for Tehran’s response to the killing.

A senior Iranian official on Monday warned the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv would be turned “to dust”, if Washington carried out further military action in response to its retaliatory moves.

Rihanna: How She Feels About Drake Dishing On His Friendship With Chris Brown In New Interview

Drake surprised fans when he gave an in-depth interview discussing his friendship with Chris Brown and how they were able to put their Rihanna drama in the past. We’ve got her reaction to it.

Drake, 32 recently gave an interview to Rap Radar about working with former enemy Chris Brown, 30. They beefed for years over Rihanna, 31, but began rebuilding their friendship in 2018. Drizzy said, “I think we just both grew up to the point that that person that was in the middle of us is like, no longer a part of either of our lives currently and I have the utmost love and respect for her,” he revealed. “I think of her as family more than anything.” That has RiRi relieved that all of the man drama between her exes is in the past.“Rihanna of course has heard about Drake and what he spoke about and how he is friendly with Chris again and she is happy that they have drawn a line in the sand. She wants people to be kind to each other because being upset with people is not something you can move forward from,” a source tells HollywoodLife.com

EXCLUSIVELY.Drake also revealed about Chris that, “We’ve come together before and tried to link and make music and I think we were always kind of forcing it. I think there was always resentment on both sides. You know, really at the end of the day when you kind of step away from it and break it down you start to feel silly ’cause it’s over girl stuff, you know? But obviously, that can snowball into real sh*t and that’s what happened in this situation,” regarding their feud over Rihanna. “She is happy that they figured out to be on the same page, but at the end of the day she is worrying about herself and her career and not putting much more focus than needed on Chris and Drake’s situation. But again she is happy that they are cool at least,” our insider continues. RiRi has her own concerns outside of her ex-boyfriends. “Rihanna’s focus in 2020 is getting new music out there, she is working hard on songs to fill an album. She has hundreds of songs and her focus is trying to get 12 to 15 songs for an album, and that is pretty tough,” our insider explains. Her Navy has been patiently waiting for the tentatively titled R9 to come out, as her last album Anti dropped way back in 2016. Since then she’s grown her business empire to include the high-end Fenty fashion line, a wildly successful cosmetics company and her red-hot lingerie brand Savage X Fenty. But now it’s time to get back to what made her a star in the first place — music!

Adobe worm faker uses lolbins and dynamic techniques to deliver customized payloads

ABSTRACT

We have identified a worm variant, Adobe Worm Faker, that actively uses LOLBins and dynamically changes to exploit based on the environment it is in.
The malware has five-layer obfuscation that cannot be decoded automatically by a security product, including AV or EDR. Human intervention is a requirement to decode it.
It is able to stay hidden and silent by inflicting its damage through the use of a single, legitimate process – the launcher (acroup.exe or wscript.exe).
Adobe Worm Faker targets specific AV products, which indicates the potential for region-based, targeted attacks.
It uses worm-like techniques to propagate and hide itself, as if playing hide-and-seek with the security team or the user.

SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS

Isolate the machine to prevent the worm from spreading around the network.
Kill the following processes:
1. Acroup.exe\AcroDC.exe\wscript.exe
Delete the following file binaries if they still reside on the machine:
1. %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Adobe Acrobat\Notebook.pdf, AcroDC.exe, AcroUP.exe
2. %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Acrobat\Notebook.pdf, AcroDC.exe, AcroUP.exe
3. %SYSTEMDRIVE%\DCIM.lnk
4. %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Camera.lnk
5. %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Users\All Users\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
6. %AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AdobeUp.lnk
7. %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AdobeUp.lnk
Delete the following registry entries to remove the malware’s persistence:
1. HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\AcroDC
2. HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\AcroDC
3. HKCU\Software\AcroDC
4. HKCU\Software\Itime
5. HKCU\Software\info
Recreate the following registry string value:
1. HKCR\lnkfile\isShortcut
Add the following domain and IP addresses to your organizational FW, proxy, web filtering, and mail filtering:
1. simone.linkpc[.]net
2. oahm.duckdns[.]org
3. hlem.myq-see[.]com
4. 41.105.50[.]134
5. 105.98.9[.]222
Format the infected removable devices.

Want to defend better against these kinds of attacks? Read how to create a closed-loop security process with MITRE ATT&CK.

INTRODUCTION

Attackers have learned to use the legitimate tools built into Windows operating systems for malicious purposes. Living off the land binaries, or LOLBins, are native Windows tools that can be used maliciously to make an attack harder to catch through traditional security measures. Even after they are discovered, stopping them remains a challenge.

Many organizations struggle to maintain visibility into their environments, and that shortcoming is a gift to attackers using LOLBins. Without a thorough understanding of the system and how it functions, a targeted organization may not notice the repercussions of an attack that uses LOLBins. They will, however, notice the advanced attack that is likely to follow.

A malware that uses LOLBins has recently caught our attention – a worm variant we have dubbed “Adobe Worm Faker”. It starts as a zip file delivered to a user’s machine through a removable device. The malicious zip file contains a launcher (with the Adobe Acrobat Reader icon to lure the user into trusting it) and a malicious script. As it runs in the background, the script uses multiple actions to remain hidden and persistent.

During an attack that uses Adobe Worm Faker, attackers steal data about the target machine. They dynamically use this knowledge to craft a more sophisticated attack based on what they’ve learned about the machine and its environment. This advanced attack is particularly dangerous because it is tailored to exploit weaknesses unique to the target machine, which dramatically increases the likelihood of damage to the organization.

In a recent case, the Cybereason Platform detected that the Adobe Worm Faker malware checked the targeted system for the presence of specific USB-related security products. When files associated with these products were found, the malware killed their processes and deleted their files so it could continue to run unimpeded and unnoticed.

An experienced security analyst is required to understand the malware’s behavior and abilities, since traditional security measures are not always able to discern between malicious and non-malicious use of legitimate Windows tools.

Our Active Monitoring team discovered Adobe Worm Faker on a customer’s environment, and our customer was able to immediately stop the attack as a result of this detection. They then used the remediation section of the Cybereason platform to prevent an advanced attack from incurring future damage. The malware was controlled, and the attack was halted in its tracks.

THE FIRST WAVE IN AN ADVANCED ATTACK

This year, the Cybereason team encountered a dramatic increase in the abuse of legitimate native Windows OS processes for malicious intent. Attackers are using living off the land binaries, or LOLBins, to hide malicious activity and operate stealthily in target systems.

Traditional security measures have limited visibility into attacks that use LOLBins because they use legitimate Windows processes such as PowerShell, WMI, BITSAdmin, and others.

Organizations with limited visibility into their environments will encounter difficulties in noticing LOLBins, and that makes these attacks especially dangerous. An attacker can operate surreptitiously and at length, learning enough about the compromised machine to launch more focused attacks. For some organizations, an LOLBins attack can be fatal.

Attackers can use LOLBins to gain remote access to devices, exfiltrate data, execute code, download files, dump processes, perform keylogging, or conduct any number of other malicious activities. However, the true danger of an attack that uses native Windows binaries is in what happens next.

An attack that uses native Windows processes is merely the first phase in a more sophisticated and targeted attack built around information stolen during the initial breach. The advanced attack that follows is tailored to exploit the weaknesses of the compromised machine to perform lateral movement and exfiltrate customer information, financial data, passwords, intellectual property, or anything else the attacker desires.

HARD TO FIND, HARD TO REMEDIATE

A sophisticated worm variant with a complicated hidden nature was recently detected by the Cybereason Platform. This malware, which we have dubbed “Adobe Worm Faker”, usually spreads and infects via removable devices.

OurActive Monitoring team analyzed the malware and learned that it uses legitimate tools like thewscript utility to execute malicious VB code, and it abuses WMI Tasks alongside WQL (WMI Query Language) to query information about a compromised machine. The variant we exposed was also able to target two USB-related security products.

The targeting of USB-related security products is typical of Adobe Worm Faker, with the ultimate objective being the exfiltration of data from compromised machines to deliver additional payloads. The targeted security products may indicate the geographical region that the malware is targeting because the popularity of certain products differs from one area to another.

The ability to deliver additional payloads is particularly insidious. Adobe Worm Faker communicates with multiple addresses to send information about a compromised machine to the attacker’s C2 server. That information is then used to deliver other payloads to the compromised machine.

Adobe Worm Faker uses a unique technique that leverages a Visual Basic functions to deliver the payload from a remote malicious address to the target. Visual Basic is a built-in language installed in every Windows operating system, and when used maliciously, it gives attackers an important advantage – it has no dependencies, so the malicious code will run without any issues.

Once attackers have the machine’s sensitive information (such as the OS version, patch updates, hardware specifications, etc.), they can use it to create custom malware to target that particular machine and craft a more sophisticated attack for their next assault.

To defend against attacks as sophisticated as Adobe Worm Faker, security teams must have a clear understanding of the organization’s environment to swiftly detect malicious activity and respond effectively. Spotting the abuse of LOLBins requires the skills of an experienced threat hunter, whether that person is on staff or part of a team provided by a security vendor. The variant we discovered used multiple vectors of attack that would make it particularly persistent and difficult to remediate in an organization that lacks the appropriate knowledge or tools.

UNIQUE ASPECTS OF ADOBE WORM FAKER

Adobe Worm Faker is built from two components, and has unique characteristics that help us to distinguish it from other malware.

COMPONENTS

A fake launcher (Acroup\AcroDC.exe).
A fake malicious PDF file (Notebook.pdf).

CHARACTERISTICS:

Adobe Worm Faker uses a custom wscript tool (Acroup\AcroDC.exe) that is similar to the Windows native wscripttool. The launcher is malicious by file hash.
The launcher’s icon is identical to Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The malicious script (Notebook.pdf) appears to be a PDF file, but attempts to open it as a normal PDF will return an error. The original file extension is ‘vbe’.
It targets two antivirus products:Smadav andUSB Disk Security, both of which are removable device security products.
The malware uses VB functions to communicate with multiple C2 servers to deliver a payload to the compromised machine.
The malware is hidden by five layers of obfuscation, making it undetectable by most antiviruses. AV engines that are able to detect this malware show only a generic variant classification for the file hash or classify it as ‘obfuscated’ variant – they can’t find its accurate variant family.

VirusTotal results of the fake PDF file (Notebook.pdf)

The following arguments are used to execute the malicious code from the fake PDF file (which is originally in VBE format): //B /e:VBScript.Encode

The first parameter (//B) runs the script in batch mode, which suppresses script errors and echo method output lines.
The second argument (/e:VBScript.Encode) specifies the engine used to run the script and enables the running of scripts that use a custom file name extension. In this case, the file’s extension is (.pdf) to masquerade itself. Therefore, the use of /e parameter is needed in this scenario.

DRILL DOWN TO ADOBE WORM FAKER

The Adobe Worm Faker is heavily encoded in five layers of obfuscation, making the code seemingly undecodable in its gibberish form.

Part of malware’s original code, first obfuscation layer.

The first obfuscation layer can be decoded by a great Python tool written by Didier Stevens, named Decode-VBE. It outputs a more readable text that allows us to continue decoding the malware. Even with the use of this tool, more time and effort is needed to understand the pattern of obfuscation which is not easy to decode.

Part of the decoded VBE Malware code after using ‘Decode-VBE’.

Fully decoding the malware requires detecting its variables, echoing them to other text files, and going over them repeatedly until all obfuscation layers have been peeled. The final step is to re-write the functions and variables to indicative names to get more understanding of the malware’s actions.

Adobe Worm Faker is a case in point of the risks associated with removable devices. Attackers may leave infected devices in high-traffic areas of a business facility, knowing that a well-meaning employee is likely to install it on the nearest machine in hopes of finding its owner. Organizations would be wise to restrict the use of removable devices in their environments and use security awareness training to drive home the dangers of using unknown devices.

Malware flow infographic.

Adobe Worm Faker begins with a zip file delivered to a user’s machine through a removable device. The malicious zip file contains the launcher and the malicious VBE script.

The malware’s attack tree as seen in the Cybereason platform.

Zip file content data

Upon first execution, the malicious script copies the PDF file to multiple paths, and the launcher then terminates its process and awaits the next execution created by its persistence.

Malicious VBE file.

The second time the VBE script executes, it does not terminate itself but instead keeps running in the background, using multiple actions to stay hidden and persistent.

The Malware’s code starts with variables declarations followed by calls to three functions (deobfuscated and renamed to make them more readable) – ifMalwareExist, WriteRegistry, and CleanTrace. We’ll explain the malware’s actions and flow in the sections that follow.

DO I HAVE PERSISTENCE ALREADY?

The attacker is using the function IfMalwareExist to ensure that the malware does not run continuously on initial execution, but rather terminates and then waits until the next persistence-triggered execution. If the fake PDF file (Notebook.pdf) is found, the malicious launcher copies it to the following path:

%systemdrive%\adobe acrobat

To stay evasive, it then deletes the Windows built-in icon symbol for (.lnk) files by removing one of the registry values, and then runs the function CreateShortcuts described in the following section.

The function IfMalwareExist.

GIVE ME MORE DETAILS!

Hackers want verification that their attacks are successful. By using the WriteRegistry function, the attacker gains more visibility into the status of the malware’s infection. This function is used to determine if the malware spread to multiple folders on the system, as well as to obtain the current date of the infected machine to indicate when the initial infection started. All of this evidence is stored as registry values which later will be sent to the attacker’s C2 server.

The function WriteRegistry.

PLAYING HIDE-N-SEEK

The third function CleanTrace is responsible for cleaning evidence of the malware’s actions. It deletes files and persistent malware ‘Run’ registry values, empties the Recycle Bin, and deletes multiple VB extension files that resides in ‘Path’ System environment variable.

All of these actions are attempts by the attacker to stay hidden and undetected during the infection. Just as in a game of hide-n-seek, the security team must keep up with the attacker’s evasiveness. By copying the malware from one path to another and then deleting the previous copy, the attacker ensures that the average user will likely not notice the initial infection. This is why having the right security team and environment monitoring is essential.

The function CleanTrace.

THE ENDLESS INFECTION LOOP

Adobe Worm Faker uses an endless “while” loop to call multiple malicious functions. The use of this endless loop allows the malware to stay hidden and persistent. The script sleeps for five seconds in between each loop.

The while loop.

WORM DNA

The attacker uses relatively well-known worm-like techniques to propagate in the infected machine, and to make the malware persistent and harder to remediate by security teams. This is achieved through the use of the CreateShortcuts function, responsible for the following:

Creating shortcuts containing the malicious cmdline to run the malware repeatedly.
Copying the fake Acrobat launcher and PDF file to each drive.
Deleting evidence.
Creating persistence.

The sub CreateShortcuts.

The fake Acrobat Reader folders.

The contents of the fake folders.

Fake shortcuts that contain malicious cmdline to execute the VBE file, located in: (%drive%\%fakename%.lnk)

Example for a fake shortcut cmdline:
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Adobe Acrobat\ AcroUP.exe //B /e:VBScript.Encode %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Adobe Acrobat\Notebook.pdf

TAKING ACTIONS TO STAY PERSISTENT

We see many malware variants that tend to use certain actions to remain persistent in the environment. The malware uses the function CreatePersistence to:

Create persistence via Startup folders.
Create persistence via the registry.
Delete the built-in Windows icon for (.lnk) files.
Change the folder options to *SuperHidden mode.

The Sub CreatePersistence.

CreateFile and WriteFile evidence.

Registry evidence.

SuperHidden Mode activated – Hide protected operating system files.

TARGETING AV PRODUCTS

The malware targets two specific Anti-Virus products. This behavior may indicate the potential for region-targeted attacks. The malicious script checks if Smadav and USB Disk Security AV products exist in the system by using the function TargetAvProducts. If they do exist, the malware kills their processes and deletes their files.

The sub TargetAvProducts.

Query Information regarding SMADAV and USB Disk Security.

Kill SMADAV and USB Disk Security processes by using TaskKill cmdline.

Deleting SMADAV and USB Disk Security Folders and files

THE PAYLOAD

Remote payloads are one of the most efficient and effortless techniques of malware delivery. They allow attackers to use Windows native processes to deliver these payloads silently. By using the ConnC2 function, the malware is able to establish a connection to the malicious C2 and then import the payload from the page’s source code. This function also sends the machine’s information as a ‘User-Agent’ value.

The function ConnC2.

Create connections to malicious addresses.

RECONNAISSANCE STAGE

The malware contains additional reconnaissance and information-gathering functions which gives the attacker a better understanding of the compromised machine. The following two examples show how this is done.

Collecting information on the machine OS version and its patch update might reveal the machine’s vulnerabilities to known exploits or malware. This information can be very useful to cyber threat actor groups who are categorized by their motivations toward targeting organizations and institutes. The function GetOS queries information on the operating system, and stores it in the registry values.

The function GetOS.

Perhaps related to the previous function TargetAvProducts, the function AVProduct is used to query information about existing AV products on the machine. If an AV product is found, the product name is written to a registry value. If no product is found, the stored registry value is ‘Not found’.

The function AVProduct.

How WMI Is Used to Query Machine InformationThe malware uses a WMI method calledWMI Taskswhich provides links to WMI classes for querying almost any type of information about a compromised machine. Some of the information was queried by using Windows environment variables and VB functions.

Using several WMI queries, the attacker collects information, such as hard drive information, computer and user name, operating system, processor model, total physical memory, GPU model, installed AV products, and even the date of the target machine.

Example of use in Visual basic to call WMI tasks and query AV products.

This vast use of WMI queries shows how much precision the attacker used in executing his malicious intentions.

Here’s an example of data that has been collected and transmitted to an attacker’s C2 server.

User Agent value sent to the malicious address: Compromised machine information

After running these functions, the endless While loop referenced earlier sends a connectivity check to the malicious C2 addresses. If those URL addresses are up, a status of 200 OK is returned. The malware then obtains the data from the server and executes the remote payload.

CONCLUSIONS

Earlier this year, we anticipated that attacks using LOLbins will increase. Because of the great potential for malicious exploitation inherent in the use of native processes, it is very likely that more attackers will continue using this method to deliver payloads onto targeted machines.

The Cybereason Active Monitoring service performed deep malware analysis to reveal the infection. Without detecting the malware and analyzing its behavior, it would have continued to gather the information needed to launch an advanced attack.

We were able to detect malicious use of the AcroUp utility (which is similar to the wscript utility tool) and reconnaissance activities that used WMI Tasks. We also detected and evaluated the infection technique used to spread this worm variant of Adobe Worm Faker via removable devices.

In our discovery, we examined the use of legitimate built-in Windows OS processes to perform malicious activities undetected, and we also delved into how the worm is able to deliver more payloads to the compromised machine. We also showed the malware’s ability to evade most AV engines due to its complicated obfuscation. The analysis of the tools and techniques used in this malware show how truly effective LOLbins are at evading antivirus products.

Our customer was able to immediately stop the attack as a result of this detection. They then used the remediation section of the Cybereason platform to prevent an advanced attack from causing future damage. The malware was controlled, and the attack was halted in its tracks.

Interested in learning to threat hunt and prevent these sorts of attacks?

INDICATORS OF COMPROMISE

IOC	Type	Description
SHA1B44E6E197C085DDDA1779DA42E094BA816F8E2E4	Hash	Adobe Acrobat.zip
SHA1C7371297FEA738DD2A334399CD1239B4ADB435F3	Hash	Notebook.pdf
SHA17D5D0A65F3D443D33B8C6B3D1C6F4CF4D4A08E81	Hash	AcroUp\AcroDC.exe
105.98.9[.]222	IP	C2
41.105.50[.]134	IP	C2
simone.linkpc[.]net:186	Domain	C2
hlem.myq-see[.]com:186	Domain	C2
oahm.duckdns[.]org:186	Domain	C2

Hackers targeted mobile phone networks around the world.

Hackers targeted mobile phone networks around the world to snoop on specific users, according to a report.

The level of access they gained to the networks meant they could have shut them down had they wanted to.

US-Israeli security firm Cybereason concluded “with a high level of certainty” that the hackers were based in China, probably sponsored by the government.

The attack – dubbed Operation Softcell – began in 2017.

Cybereason spotted the attacks in 2018 and helped one telecoms provider through four more over the next six months. It has now briefed more than a dozen others.

None of the targeted firms or people has been named but, according to the report, the hackers collected the call records and geo-location of various individuals from a selection of countries, including those in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The security firm identified changes in the pattern of attack and new activity every three or four months.

The hackers gained entry to networks via a flaw in a web server product.

‘Grist to the mill’

Cybereason said the tools and techniques bore the hallmarks of Chinese hacking group APT10, which is widely believed to operate on behalf of the Chinese government.

Security expert at the University of Surrey, Prof Alan Woodward said the scale and audacity of the attacks was “breathtaking”.

“The hackers used phishing attacks to get privileged access to networks and could potentially have closed them down.

“They could see who called whom, when, and also seem to have been able to track people’s movements.”

While US networks do not seem to be affected by this wave of attacks, they remain vulnerable and could have been targeted with different tools, said Prof Woodward.

While there is no suggestion that Chinese firms played any part in the attacks, it will add “grist to the mill” for politicians calling for mobile operators to distance themselves from firms like Huawei, he added.

In 2018, 30% of telecoms firms reported that sensitive customer data had been stolen in attacks.

US is waging a Tech war against shenzhen district

Shenzen has grown from a fishing village of 30,000 people to a sprawling manufacturing and innovation megacity of more than 13 million. — SCMP

Every lunchtime hundreds of young Chinese tech workers spill out of their offices onto streets in the Yue Hai district of Shenzhen, eager to grab tables before restaurants fill up.

The area – home to some of China’s biggest names in technology, including social media giant Tencent, telecoms maker ZTE and drone giant DJI – is often called China’s Silicon Valley.

Now, a joke that went viral online has put Yue Hai on the map amid the escalating US-China tech war.

“Rather than China, it seems the US government has started a tech war with Yue Hai. It is the district officer who should attend the negotiations with US president Donald Trump,” said the post, referring to the local government official in charge of administrative affairs in Yue Hai.

About a 30-minute drive from Yue Hai is the corporate headquarters of Huawei Technologies, the Chinese telecoms giant at the epicentre of the latest escalation in the tech war after Trump banned it from buying US technology without Washington’s approval.

DJI, which is building a new headquarters designed by the same architectural firm behind Apple Park in Silicon Valley, provides nearly 80% of the drones used in the US and Canada. Without naming DJI, the US Department of Homeland Security recently advised American companies about the inherent security risks associated with Chinese-made drones.

One Yue Hai district company that has so far avoided the heat in the tech war is Tencent, operator of social media platform WeChat, whose CEO Pony Ma Huateng also brought up the viral joke in remarks at a Shenzhen tech summit over the weekend. “It was widely circulated on the internet,” noted Ma.

In the span of four decades, Shenzhen, which became China’s first special economic zone after it was opened up to capitalism and foreign investment in 1979, has grown from a fishing village of 30,000 people to a sprawling manufacturing and innovation megacity of more than 13 million.

As well as big names like ZTE, DJI and Tencent, YueHai is home to dozens of China’s national high-tech and research centres as well as nationally known tech companies such as Shenzhen Dazu Laser Technology and the Kingdee Software Group.

Now Shenzhen has been caught in the crossfire of a China-US tech war because the country’s most advanced technologies from artificial intelligence to drones and robotics are being developed in the area. “The [Yue Hai] high-tech area has a very special position, playing a key role in Shenzhen’s pursuit of tech innovation,” Tencent’s Ma said over the weekend.

During lunch hour in Yue Hai earlier this week, we spoke with young scientists, engineers and programmers to get their take on the tech war. Those who agreed to speak did so on the condition their names and companies would not be used as they were not authorised to speak to media.

“It will be a no-win situation for the US and China,” a male engineer said. “Huawei and China’s high-tech manufacturing will be heavily hit if the tech war continues. I don’t think the US has prepared well for a break with China. The conflict has come about from China’s ambitions of having its own technologies and that makes the US feel threatened.”

A male programmer said that while Huawei and some tech hardware makers were at the centre of the storm, if it continued then everyone would feel the negative impact. “There are no lay-offs in my company so far, but marketing strategies have changed and sales of some products have been hit,” he said.

To help ease the impact on the local technology economy, which accounts for 40% of the city’s GDP, the Shenzhen government said it would cut individual annual income tax from as high as 45% to 15% for certain top overseas and local talent as it seeks to maintain its edge in innovation. Deputy mayor Wang Lixin said on Sunday the city would use its own operating income to make up for the shortfall in tax revenue.

After a US tech ban on ZTE in 2017, which was lifted after it paid a US$1.4bil (RM5.8bil) fine and agreed to US compliance on Iran sanctions, Chinese president Xi Jinping urged China to go all in on scientific self-reliance. Those calls have grown louder since Huawei met a similar fate in being denied access to US technology.

“I think the US government’s behaviour is barbarous,” said a female programmer. “I don’t think what Trump is doing is farsighted. The trend of globalisation cannot be reversed.”

Others were more sanguine. “Complaining or being angry cannot solve any problem,” said a young scientist. “What we can do is develop our own technology. If not, China’s tech development will be restrained by the US forever.” – South China Morning Post

Rapper, Iggy Azalea’s nude photos leak online as hackers target her 2016 photoshoot (18+photos)

Australian rapper, Iggy Azalea has deleted all her social media accounts after nude photos of her from a 2016 ‘GQ’ photoshoot leaked online.

In the wake of this breach of privacy, photographer Nino Munoz, who captured the images in 2016 insists they were stolen.

Munoz addressed the controversy via Instagram saying: “I’m outraged and saddened to find out that images of mind were stolen and published without my permission,” he wrote. “There is currently an investigation underway. Posting these stolen images is illegal and anyone who has done so will be prosecuted.

“I empathize with any discomfort that this situation has caused to anyone that is involved.”

Iggy who deactivated both her Instagram on Monday following the leak is also upset and has vowed to take legal action.

She temporarily reactivated one of her social media accounts to issue a statement saying:

“A lot of high profile women have shot covers with GQ with a strategically placed hand etc covering their breasts etc.,” she wrote in part. “I always felt they were very beautiful covers, so I jumped at the opportunity. I hadn’t seen other women’s covers leak so I felt comfortable (on a closed set) to model for such a reputable magazine knowing only the images with my hands covering would be considered for print.

“I never consented to taking topless pictures for potential release, period. I don’t feel there is any where I can retreat to or that I have a ‘happy place’ I can wait until it all blows over. Please think of how you might feel if the shoe was yours to wear.”

A lot of the comments I see from men in particular taking things even further and sharing their thoughts and fantasies in regard to my body has honestly disturbed me,” she continued. “The outright wicked things people say is overwhelming & makes me feel like throwing up.”

In the photos, the 28-year-old rapper was pictured showing off her nude titties during the photoshoot.

See full photos below.

Kylie Jenner & her one-year-old daughter

Cute new photos of Kylie Jenner & her one-year-old daughter Stormi splashing around in the pool

Make-up mogul, Kylie Jenner, 21, took to Instagram to share these cute photos of herself and her one-year-old daughter Stormi Webster splashing and playing around in the pool.

‘My Malibu baby,’ she captioned it.

See full photos below.

Court grants, Naira Marley bail

Breaking: After 20-days in jail, Naira Marley has been granted bail in the sum of 2 Million Naira

Embattled Nigerian rapper, Naira Marley has been granted bail in the sum of 2 Million Naira with sureties with landed property in Lagos.

Naira Marley was arrested on his birthday, 10th of May in Lagos and has remained in EFCC custody since then. He was charged to court on 11-counts of fraud and internet scam.

Chelsea beats Arsenal 4-1 to win Europa League Finals

BBC Sport in Baku

Eden Hazard scored two goals and made another to help Chelsea thump London rivals Arsenal in Baku and win the Europa League.

Victory gave Blues boss Maurizio Sarri the first trophy of his managerial career and ensured the Gunners will miss out on next season’s Champions League.

With only about 5,000 fans from both sides able to make it to Azerbaijan, there was an eerie atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, which appeared less than half full.

That was the surreal setting for a match played 2,500 miles away from both teams’ home, and the game itself was devoid of action before the break before bursting into life early in the second half.

Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock when he met Emerson’s clipped cross with a powerful near-post header that zipped past Petr Cech.

Cech, also facing his old side and playing the final match of his career, could do nothing about Chelsea’s second goal either, with Pedro sweeping home a Hazard cross.

Hazard made it 3-0 from the penalty spot soon after, sending Cech the wrong way after Ainsley Maitland-Niles fouled Giroud.

Substitute Alex Iwobi briefly gave Arsenal hope with a powerful first-time strike moments after coming on.

But Hazard quickly made sure of victory, playing a one-two with Giroud and firing home Chelsea’s fourth goal.

The Belgium forward said after the game it was likely to be his Chelsea “goodbye” as he continues to be linked to Real Madrid.

Hazard says goodbye with sparkling display

Chelsea’s triumph brought them their fifth European title and their first since they won the Europa League in Amsterdam in 2013.

An emotional Sarri celebrated with his players on the pitch, but his future remains in doubt despite ending his first season at Stamford Bridge on a successful note.

Hazard’s departure appears rather more certain, and his performance ensured this game will be at least partly remembered for footballing reasons, after being overshadowed beforehand by politics, plus travel and ticketing issues.

The Chelsea fans who did make it to the game – via train, plane and even taxis – were rewarded by a typically effervescent display from a player who has sparkled for them over the past seven years.

Giroud deserves credit too, particularly for his finish for the opening goal that led to Arsenal’s collapse.

But it was Hazard who made the difference, as so often this season and in previous years.

If he does go, the question is who will replace him?

Cech signs off with painful defeat

While Sarri was able to end his troubled first season with a smile, Arsenal counterpart Unai Emery had to watch in horror as his hopes of leading his side back into the Champions League after a two-year absence disappeared in the space of 16 second-half minutes.

That was how long it took Chelsea to build an unassailable three-goal lead thanks to the kind of Arsenal defensive collapse that has been all too familiar this season.

Emery won this competition three times with Sevilla but this defeat is particularly painful as it will almost certainly significantly affect his summer spending.

The Gunners will be back in the Europa League again next season, but they will be without veteran goalkeeper Cech, who is set to retire at the age of 37.

This was not the fairytale ending his glittering career arguably deserved, but Arsenal’s capitulation was nothing to do with him.

There was little he could do with any of Chelsea’s goals from open play, let alone the penalty, and he actually helped to limit any further damage with some impressive late saves.

Man of the match – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Match stats – Giroud & Pedro join elite clubs

Chelsea won their fifth major Uefa European competition final, with only Liverpool winning more among English clubs (eight).
Arsenal conceded four goals in a European match for the first time since a 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in March 2017 and were the first team to do so in a Uefa Cup/Europa League final since Middlesbrough lost 4-0 to Sevilla in 2006.
Chelsea became the first team to win a major European title without losing a game (W12 D3) since Manchester United in the 2007-08 Champions League.
Arsenal have now lost five of their six major Uefa finals, including their last four in a row (1995 Cup Winners’ Cup, 2000 Uefa Cup, 2006 Champions League, 2019 Europa League).
Chelsea won 12 Europa League matches during 2018-19. Only one team have won more matches in a major Uefa European competition in one season (Atletico Madrid in 2011-12, 13 wins).
Olivier Giroud became the first player to score 11 goals in major European competition for an English club since Alan Shearer in 2004-05 for Newcastle United.
It is a record by a French player in a single European season, breaking the record held by Nestor Combin in 1963-64 (Cup Winners’ Cup) and Just Fontaine in 1958-59 (European Cup).
Chelsea’s Pedro became the fifth player to score in a European Cup/Champions League and Uefa Cup/Europa League final, after Allan Simonsen, Dmitri Alenichev, Hernan Crespo and Steven Gerrard.
In his final match, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech conceded four goals in a match for only the third time in major European competition.
Chelsea’s starting XI featured no Englishmen, the first time a team had started a major European final without a player from their home nation in their starting line-up since Inter Milan against Bayern Munich in the 2010 Champions League final.
Eden Hazard scored twice for Chelsea, becoming the first player to do so in the final of a major Uefa competition for an English club since Mark Hughes for Manchester United against Barcelona in the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup.

Europa League final in Baku

Europa League final in Baku: Far from the pitch and a long way from home – the surreal final

BBC Sport in Baku

Baku pitch surround — The pitch and the stands were separated by a green covered area

The next time Uefa wants to take a showpiece club final to a new footballing outpost, they could always try the moon.

It cannot be that much more inaccessible than Baku proved to be for UK-based Chelsea and Arsenal fans, and the atmosphere will surely be better than it was at the half-empty Olympic Stadium on Wednesday too.

Things did improve as a spectacle once the star man, Eden Hazard, decided to put his stamp on proceedings, but until then it seemed that this would be a final that reflected its build-up – unhappy, and strangely surreal.

One of the few chants before half-time that could be heard echoing across the covered-up athletic track that forms the perimeter of the pitch came from the pocket of Chelsea fans who had travelled the 2,500 miles to get here.

It was directed at Uefa, contained an obscenity and asked: ‘Is this what you want?’

Like everyone else inside the stadium or watching – from an extreme wide angle – on TV around the world, they were witnessing what appeared to be a pale imitation of a Premier League match, played at pre-season pace.

The backdrop of rows of empty seats seemed distant and strangely detached from proceedings. So did most of the players.

There were familiar faces on both teams, but we were seeing them in an alien environment – a long way from home.

It made for an unforgettable final, but sadly for mostly the wrong reasons.

Fans forced to improvise to get to Baku

Only a total of about 5,000 home-based supporters had followed Chelsea and Arsenal to Azerbaijan, with the Blues sending almost half of their allocation back unsold.

They were deterred by high prices and how long it takes to get here, and also the fact that it is difficult to access Baku even if you have both time and money on your hands.

A lack of direct flights led to some inventive and long-winded routes to reach this beautiful port on the Caspian Sea, and fans who had made it were happy to share their stories as they basked in the sunshine before the final.

Some had come by plane, some by train and even some by taxi – a 600km trek from Tbilisi in neighbouring Georgia to be exact. All of them deserved credit for their efforts.

But, even before the game, there seemed relatively few of them about.

Arsenal fans were here with their flags in greater numbers and took over a street of bars near the city’s famous Fountains Square in traditional ‘fans abroad’ style – good natured, and loud.

The Gunners sang constantly – mostly about themselves or Tottenham, but also included more anti-Uefa chants. They did not feel fans were put first – or indeed anywhere near the front – when plans for the final were made.

Chelsea supporters were harder to find, but they all agreed with those sentiments.

They are also used to commandeering city squares for major European finals – think Munich for the 2012 Champions League final, or Amsterdam for the 2013 Europa League final.

This time they were scattered and could seemingly barely fill a pub on their own, even the ones they had been allocated. The occasion seemed somewhat diminished for it.

Global fans and enthusiastic locals – just a shame about the game

The location was not a drawback for everyone, of course. There were fewer UK-based fans attending this final than usual, but there seemed to be many more from around the world.

There was the Georgian Arsenal fan who had spent £5 to get a bus across the border, the Chelsea fan from Mexico who had set off the previous week, and the family of Arsenal fans from Dubai.

For most of them, this was a real-life ‘Game 39’. Two Premier League teams, playing a competitive match closer to home, outside of the UK and with silverware at stake.

The locals, too, seemed genuinely happy to have a big match and two sets of fans on their doorstep, and appeared desperate to impress.

It was just a shame about the game itself, really, especially from Arsenal’s point of view.

If, as some of the Gunners players had declared in the build-up, that they were playing for missing team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan – who was unable to play because of security reasons – then they did not show it.

They also did not demonstrate much, if any, of the extra motivation they had talked beforehand of having because a Champions League place was on the line.

If the final was a non-event for the first 45 minutes, Arsenal were a no-show for most of the 90, and the result reflected that.

Their reward is to return to this competition next season, for a third straight year.

The 2020 final is in Gdansk, Poland, so at least they will not have to travel so far next time, providing they make it of course.

Chelsea face uncertain future with or without Sarri

Chelsea will travel home with the trophy but arguably a more uncertain future too.

Their best player, Hazard, is almost certainly leaving this summer and it looks increasingly likely that Sarri will depart too.

Despite a turbulent first season under the Italian Chelsea finished third in the Premier League, won a fifth European title and reached the final of the Carabao Cup too.

With or without him, they might have to deal with a transfer ban as they try to build on that success.

Back in Baku, building is one of the things they do a lot of in this oil-rich country – dozens of gleaming new glass towers rise above the older parts of the city and more are under construction.

The largely hostile response to them hosting this final is not going to change that, or the city’s future as a major sporting venue.

Big games are coming back here next summer as part of Euro 2020’s sprawl across the continent, with three group games and a quarter-final being held at the Olympic Stadium.

If you’re planning to attend any of them, I would book your flights now. Otherwise, you should probably get used to that distant wide-angle view.

Court grants Naira Marley bail

Breaking: After 20-days in jail, Naira Marley has been granted bail in the sum of 2 Million Naira

Embattled Nigerian rapper, Naira Marley has been granted bail in the sum of 2 Million Naira with sureties with landed property in Lagos.

Naira Marley was arrested on his birthday, 10th of May in Lagos and has remained in EFCC custody since then. He was charged to court on 11-counts of fraud and internet scam.

Muslim man fights for life

Muslim man fighting for life after hit-and-run outside Leicester mosque

A Muslim man is fighting for his life after an alleged hit and run outside a mosque in Leicester.

The man and a teenage boy were hit by a car just after Taraweeh, a prayer made during Ramadan. The boy escaped with injuries that are not life-threatening.

The Masjid At-Taqwa Leicester mosque said that one of its members was fighting for life after a vehicle rammed into him at 1am on Thursday morning.

They wrote on their Facebook page: “Last night after Taraweeh, one of the brothers who prayed with us was the victim of a hit and run just outside the masjid. He is fighting for his life, and we implore any one reading this post to ask Allah the Lord of The Worlds to grant him a full and speedy recovery, and to grant his family plentiful patience to get through this very difficult time. We remind you all to be very vigilant and to take care when leaving the masjid. May Allah protect us all.”

Leicestershire police confirmed a man in his 40s and a teenage boy were struck by a vehicle on Humberstone Road but they said the incident isn’t being treated as terror-related. Police said that early inquiries by officers led them to believe the vehicle did not deliberately drive at pedestrians.

They said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation and enquiries are continuing into the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. We can confirm we are not treating this as terrorist related and we would ask that people do not speculate while the incident remains under investigation.”

Nollywood actor, writes to VP, Yemi Osinbajo

These are the three issues you should focus on – Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi writes an open letter to VP, Yemi Osinbajo

Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi has written an open letter to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo urging him to focus on three important things as he begins his second term in office.

According to the actor and filmaker, ‘congratulations sir on your swearing-in for a 2nd term. My greetings to your wife and children. Essence of writing you are based on three issues: i) Compulsory Every Child Education, ii)Human Rights Protection, iii) Restructuring of Police Security’.

Penultimate 1983 Coup, Gen. Buhari rode on Corruption campaign. Sir, innocent children birth then are now full adults, worst with corruption either as leaders or masses. Something is not working.
Each corrupt leader emanates from the masses. Our collective backgrounds as Nigerians which education should be responsible for is destroyed. There are disfunctional syllabuses at the elementary stages in school. We urgently need a law that will make it criminal for a CHILD age 2-12years NOT GO TO SCHOOL. Compulsory BASIC EDUCATION is key.
Subjects MUST include Rights, Civic and Social education. If the next generation have these backgrounds across states, irrespective of religion or tribe, Nigeria is on the path of true development, peace and vastly reduced corruption. The system will be producing A BETTER SOCIETY. All political parties must key into this.
Restructuring Police security is non-negotiable. No government genuinely fights corruption with these kind of police services, stop fooling Nigerians. 98% of Police Stations do not have staff toilet, condusive cells, conference rooms, printers, laptops, internet etc. If a Professor is the 2nd man in a country(on 2nd term), it will be a shame her education and policing are like this. The overall Welfare, Training and Logistics of Police officers need quality upgrade. Declare State of Emergency on Education and Police asap.
Mr VP, look into the SERIAL HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES by Law Enforcements. Our score card is too low. Picture the pain, wailing, scars, agony of Nigerians in police stations. Battering with rods, tieing citizens upside down, multiple slaps and fists in the name of interrogation are criminal, injustice and killing patriotism. The extreme wickedness from Police, Army brings shame and dishonour to the flag and uniform. These brutalities from SARS etc is a tickling time bomb.
Wish you the best. UP IC!
Yomi FABIYI
Actor/Producer/Human Rights Ambassador

Woman supports Rita Daniels for marrying off Regina without her father’s consent

“Dear single mothers, It’s ok to change your children’s surnames to yours” Woman supports Rita Daniels for marrying off Regina without her father’s consent

A popular Facebook user has shared a lengthy post to praise Regina Daniels’ mother, Rita Daniels for taking charge, raising her kids on her own, and damning tradition to give her daughter away in marriage by herself.

Nkechi Bianze, while praising Rita Daniels, used the opportunity to advise single mothers to learn from Regina’s mum. She also advised children of deadbeat fathers to take a leaf from Regina Daniels and quit going after their deadbeat fathers.

She went on to add that single mothers should change their children’s surname from their father’s to their maiden name if the men are not active in the children’s lives.

She wrote: “Single mothers who raised their children alone deserve to be the ones to accept bride price or any other honor the parent of the bride should get.”

She added: “Dear single mothers on my list, It’s ok to change your children’s surnames to yours. I just want you to understand that. Yes, I said it!

“My graduate school housemate’s mum changed her name as soon as her father abandoned them to another country to marry another woman. Many people are now doing this. Things are changing fast.

“Young men of today need to begin to realize that they will not get away with being deadbeat fathers to their children. We as a society, especially single mothers and women need to begin to send across this message.

“Deadbeat fathers are the scums of the earth.”

Read the post and replies below.

Seven dead, 19 missing as tourist boat crashes and sinks in Budapest

Budapest crash

Seven people have been confirmed dead and 19 are still missing after a sightseeing boat carrying 33 passengers and two crew crashed and sank in the Danube River in Budapest.

The boat, carrying tourists from Korea with two crews from Hungary, crashed and sank on Wednesday night after hitting another vessel.

Rescue officials said seven bodies had been recovered following the boat accident while a further seven people were rescued and are now being treated in hospital. One of the people rescued was found near the Petofi Bridge, which is about two miles south of Parliament.

The sunken boat, identified as the “Hableany” (Mermaid), was located early on Thursday near the Margit Bridge, not far from the neo-Gothic Parliament building on the river bank.

Employees from the South Korean Embassy in Budapest were assisting Hungarian officials in identifying those rescued and the deceased, Metro UK reports.

Mihaly Toth, a spokesman for the Panorama Deck boating company, said the “Hableany” was on a “routine city sightseeing trip” when the accident happened. He told state television that the boat was serviced regularly and he had no information about any technical problems with the boat.

South Korean president Moon Jae-in has instructed officials to employ “all available resources” to support the rescue efforts in Hungary.

Mr Moon’s spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said in Seoul that Mr Moon also ordered the launch of a government task force led by foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha to deal with the accident and maintain close communication with the family members of the South Korean passengers.

by Linda Ikeji at 30/05/2019 1:52 PM|1 Comments

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Johnlawsblog

Yaya Toure announces his retirement from football at 35

His controversial agent Dimitri Seluk
announced the news this morning and revealed the Ivorian superstar will now concentrate on a new career as a coach.
“I say this for the first time: Yaya decided to end his career as a champion,” Touré’s agent Dimitry Seluk told Russian outlet Sport 24 on Friday.
“The farewell match given to him by Manchester City, in principle, was the real end of his playing career. Not only in this team, but in general.
“Yaya is one of the best players in Africa and he had one of the brightest careers in the history of African football.
“We talked for a long time about this topic. Of course, every football player wants to play as long as possible. In terms of his physical condition, Yaya could do this at a sufficiently high level for another five years.
“But we came to the conclusion that he, the football player who played for Barcelona and Manchester City, could not lower the bar with his hands.
“We see many players who continue their careers at a sufficiently mature age, and this is commendable.
“But Yaya and I chose a different path: to leave as a champion and start a new stage in life – a career as a coach, in which, I am sure, Yaya will reach even greater heights than those he achieved as a football player.
“There are no African coaches in the English Premier League. I think.”
Touré who left Manchester City at the end of the 2017/18 season and became a free agent, joined Olympiacos in September 2018 for the second time in his career.
However, the former midfielder lasted just over three months at the Greek Superleague club before leaving by mutual agreement in December
Yaya Toure who started senior football career with Beveren in 2001, also played for Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos, Monaco, Barcelona and Manchester City.

Yahoo Yahoo: Ex-BBNaija star, Deeone, applauds EFCC for arresting singer Naira Marley

Deeone took to his IG page to commend the EFCC for arresting singer Naira Marley, who has openly shown his support for internet fraudsters. Deeone wrote

”Kuddos to @officialefcc on this one let’s learn to lead by example. Nigeria no be USA… At least people go begin learn lesson from here.

Naira Marley, Zlatan, others pose for the camera as EFCC parades them following their arrest (photos)

Read the press statement from EFCC following the arrest of singer Naira Marley, rapper, Zlatan and four others.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, arrested two fast-rising Nigerian musicians – Afeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley) and Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael (aka Zlatan), in connection with alleged case of internet fraud and money laundering. Intelligence report had also linked them to cybercrime offences.
They were arrested along with: Tiamiu Abdulrahman Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses and Abubakar Musa.
Their arrest followed an early morning raid on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 9, Gbangbola Street, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos.
At the point of arrest, the Commission found and recovered a number of items, including laptops, from the suspects.
They have so far volunteered useful information about their involvement in the alleged criminal activities, even as investigations continue.

Melanin Popping! Reality star Amara La Negra showcases her hot body in new seductive photos

Love & Hip Hop Miami star and singer,
Amara La Negra took to Instagram to showcase her eye-popping assets in these seductive photos she shared.

See another photo below.

Rapper, Drake shows off his new private plane, ‘Air Drake’

Canadian rapper, Drake has bought himself a new private plane.
The “In My Feelings” rapper took to Instagram to show off the new customized plane, Air Drake. The giant 767 has two bedrooms and it’s said to have cost him between $75 and $100 million.
He captioned the video: ‘Nothing was the same for real.’
In the video, Drake says “No rental, no timeshare, no co-owners” and then pointed to Ajay Virmani , President & CEO of Cargojet Airways, who he gave credit for making the deal happen.

Rapper, Drake shows off his new private plane, ‘Air Drake’

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome 4th baby


 Kim Kardashian and her husband, Kanye West have welcomed their fourth child, a son via surrogacy. It was announced yesterday that Kim was with the unidentified surrogate when she went into labour, and the baby has now been born.
 This is Kanye and Kim's second son, but 4th child. They are parents to North, 6, Saint, 3 and Chicago West, 15 months.

Katie Price flashes her assets while judging the G-A-Y Porn Idol night as contestants go naked in front of her (18+photos)

British TV Personality, Katie Price put up a raunchy display while judging the G-A-Y Porn Idol night at Heaven nightclub on Thursday evening.
The former glamour model, 40, who had been picked to be a judge at the weekly amateur strip night at the London club flashed her ample assets to the fun-loving crowd and was even groped by a drag queen.
In some of the photos, the contestants who were competing for a celebrity judge went completely naked in front of her for assessment.
See full photos below.

Here’s the real reason Barcelona team bus left Lionel Messi behind at Anfield after Liverpool defeat

Here

Last night, the Barcelona team bus did not wait for Lionel Messi as it departed Anfield without the Argentine after the Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

Messi, who suffered a miserable night for his club as Liverpool completed a stunning comeback to knock Barca out of the Champions League was required to undergo a doping test immediately after the crushing defeat at Anfield.

According to El Chiringuito, the process took so long that Barca’s team bus headed to the airport while Messi was still at Anfield. Messi was eventually able to provide a urine sample, while special arrangements were made to reunite the Argentine with the rest of the squad and coaching staff before they travelled back to Spain.

Messi also walked through the mixed zone at Anfield much later than the rest of Barca’s players but said nothing to the media as he was escorted out of the stadium.

President Buhari inaugurates the North East Development Commission

President Buhari today inaugurated the Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) was established in 2017, after the Bill establishing the commission was passed by the two legislative chambers. President Buhari on October 25th 2017, assented to the Bill, then signed it into an Act.

The NEDC is charged with the responsibility to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federal Account international donors for the settlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency as well as tackling menace of poverty, illiteracy level, ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the North-East states”- Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe.

President Buhari inaugurates the North East Development Commission

The Act establishing the Commission provides for a Governing Body, comprising of a Chairman; a Managing Director and Chief Executive; three Executive Directors (one from each Member state not being represented by the Chairman of the Board, the Managing Director and the representative of the North-East zone); one person each to represent the six geo-political zones of Nigeria; and one person to represent the Federal Ministry of Finance; and Budget and National Planning.

On January 2019, President Buhari nominated candidates to serve as Chairman and members of the Board of the Commission.

President Buhari inaugurates the North East Development Commission

On April 9, 2019, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Major-General Paul Tarfa (rtd) as Chairman of the North East Development Commission (NEDC). Others confirmed are:

? Mohammed Goni Alkali – MD/CEO
? Musa Uma Yashi – ED Humanitarian Affairs
? Mohammed Jawa B. – Executive Director, Admin and Finance
? Umar Maiwada Mohammed – Executive Director, Operations
? Hon. David Sabo Kente – Member representing North East zone
? Asamo M. Mohammed – Member representing North West zone
? Benjamin Adeniyi – Member representing Central zone
? Olawale Osun – Member representing South West zone
? Theo Nkechi – Member representing South East
? Bassey Uke – Member representing South South zone

‘Don’t compare us to terrorists, we don’t kill’ – Afenifere, Ohanaeze reply President Buhari’s aide, Garba Shehu

The Ohaneze Ndigbo and Yoruba Afenifere group have asked Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, not to liken them to Miyetti Allah.

The groups stated that Miyetti Allah is a killer group and have been engaging in kidnapping and killing people, acts they do not commit. Shehu in a television interview with Channels TV on Tuesday asked Nigerians not to see Miyetti Allah as bandits but as socio-cultural group like Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo.

“It is a mistake to say the Nigerian government is talking to bandits. The Miyetti Allah group is like the Ohanaeze and Afenifere. It is a socio-cultural group. There are criminals within the Yoruba race and you cannot say because of that Afenifere is a group of criminals,” Shehu said.

See their reactions below….

Ohanaeze Reacts…

In a swift reply to the comments, the Ohaneze while speaking to the to newsmen vehemently disagreed with Shehu stating that the only recognizable socio-cultural group in the North it can relate with is the Arewa Consultative Forum.

Speaking for the group, Uche Achi-Okpaga, spokesperson of Ohaneze, said there is no justification to compare the Ohaneze with a group of criminals.

He said, “There is no justification for such a comparison. It is a bad comparison.

“Ohanaeze is a regional body that is promoting the unity of the Igbo; so also is Afenifere to the Yoruba and the ACF to northerners. We also have the Middle Belt Forum in the North-Central and PANDEF for the South-South.

“You can never put Ohanaeze and Miyetti Allah on the same pedestal. These people are invading villages, killing people, and you are telling us that they are on the same page with Ohanaeze. There is no justification for that.

“This is an organisation that the Global Terrorist Index has described as the world’s fourth deadly terrorist organisation. “These people are just negotiating with criminals. We are in a state of lawlessness.”

Afenifere’s Response.

Similarly, Yinka Odumakin, spokesperson of the Afenifere also disagreed with the Presidency while saying that the group does not abduct and kill people as the Miyetti Allah does.

He branded the comparison as “most unfair and very unfortunate.”

Odumakin said, “We are surprised that the spokesperson (Shehu) was talking like someone under the influence of drugs. In Afenifere, we don’t kill, we don’t abduct people.”

“How can you compare us to a group of people who have been killing in Enugu, Benue, Ogun and other states?” He asked.

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Convington Catholic student sues CNN for a whopping $275 million.

The lawsuit, filed just after 3 p.m. in the U.S. District Court for its Eastern District of Kentucky, asserts that CNN “Elevated untrue, contested accusations of racist conduct” against Sandmann and failed to adhere to”Well-established journalistic criteria and
ethics.”

Sandmann and his family formerly announced they were filing a lawsuit against The Washington Post for $250 million in compensatory and punitive damages after the newspaper’s coverage of an encounter that went viral on social media.

Co-counsel for Sandmann, Todd McMurtry, in an exclusive look on Fox News’”The Story” Tuesday, said that his client’s “Character has been determined by the lies issued by CNN” after their widespread policy of Sandmann.

“What CNN’s tagline is,’facts first,’ and that which we think their coverage was in this circumstance was,’lies , pay second,’ and facts not yet determined by that business,” McMurtry said.

The attorney said that what the news network reported was”With no any reasonable evaluation, they took something straight off Twitter which had been in essence manipulated so it told one tale and they reported it as the truth.”

Sandmann, a junior in Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, became a target to get outrage after a video of him standing face-to-face with a Native American guy, Nathan Phillips, while sporting a reddish Make America Great Again hat surfaced in January.

The 16-year-old was one of a bunch of students from Covington attending the anti-abortion March for Life in Washington, D.C., while Phillips was attending the Indigenous Peoples’ March on precisely the exact same day.

Sandmann and Phillips have both said that they were trying to defuse the circumstance.

McMurtry said they’re also”Looking very carefully” at reporting about the story from NBC, The Associated Press, HBO”For the behavior of Bill Maher,” as well as individual men and women, such as Kathy Griffin “Who sent out these horrible tweets which
are called doxxing.”

Nigerian Killed In South Africa

RAMO

Tony Elochukwu, a Nigerian from Nnobi, Anambra state, has been killed by an unidentified gunman in South Africa.

Ben Okoli, president of Nigerian citizens association in South Africa (NICASA), disclosed this in a letter sent to Godwin Adams, consular general, Nigerian consulate in Johanesburg.

According to the letter, three Nigerians have been killed between April 6 and 9, at different locations in the country.

NAN reports that Okoli decried the death and continued killings of Nigerians in the country, adding that people are worried and scared since none of the suspects has been arrested or charged.

“We received yet again the sad news of the death of another Nigerian in Witbank Mpumalanga province,” he said.

“Mr Tony Elochukwu from Nnobi Anambra State was shot twice in the head by an unidentified Nigerian gunman on April 24 at around 2:45 pm.”

Okoli narrated that a lone Nigerian man walked to some Nigerians at a restaurant and inquired from them where to get some weed to smoke.

He said those standing, however, told him that they did not know where since they do not smoke but the man pulled out his gun and shot Elochukwu on the head, then sped off in a car parked down the street.

He added that a case of murder had been opened at the police station by Obeji Chukwuma, NICASA chairman, in Mpumalanga area of the country.

“This look like another case of Nigeria killing themselves. This ugly trend of Nigerians killed by fellow Nigerians is on the increase and is disturbing to our community,” he said.

“NICASA is deeply worried over the death and continued killings of our citizens in South Africa.

“People are worried and scared, since none of the perpetrators had been arrested or charged over it.”

He appealed to the consulate to put pressure on the South African police to pursue cases of killings of any Nigerian with seriousness.

“The South African police must stop attempting to encourage this killings by lack of investigation and prosecution with aim of bringing to justice every criminal involved in these heinous crimes,” he said.

Adams also condemned the killings but said they do not fit into xenophobic attacks.

“It is clear that as much as any form of criminality and xenophobic attacks against foreigners, including Nigerians in South Africa is condemnable, the killings do not fit into xenophobic attacks,” he said.

“The cases are the stabbing of a Nigerian, Mr Bonny Iwuola, in Turfontain in Johanesburg on April 6 at about 23:30 hours in front of his house, by unknown assailants, and more of crime related murder.

“Another Nigerian, Gozien Christian, from Agbor in Delta State, was stabbed to death by three unknown assailants. No arrest has been made but cases were opened and police are investigating the murders.

“The third case of murder which happened on the night of April 8 at Sunnyside in Pretoria happened at the usual place of cult-related murders by Nigerian cult groups.

“This particular case had more connection with business-related disagreement that turned sour.

“Investigations are on but eye witness accounts indicated that he was killed and his new Mercedes car-2019 model was snatched and driven away. All these cases do not appear to be xenophobic.

“They are part of the usual crime-related killings in South Africa. Police statistics in South Africa indicate that over 18,000 murders take place in South Africa in a year.”

Another Nigerian Killed By South African Police

south africa police

Ben Okoli, president, Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), has raised alarm over the circumstances surrounding the death of Ebuka Udugbo, a Nigerian citizen, allegedly killed by South African police.

Okoli conveyed this message in a letter to the consul general, Nigerian consulate, Johannesburg, South Africa, a copy of which was obtained by NAN in Abuja on Friday.

He explained that Udugbo was arrested by South African police over a quarrel with Linda, his girlfriend, on April 28, and later pronounced dead by the police.

“The information we got initially was that he committed suicide while in the South African Police custody in Cape Town. We conducted our own preliminary investigation over the circumstances surrounding his death,” he said.

“What we discovered was really shocking and disheartening from our findings.

“The late Udugbo had a quarrel with his girlfriend and left the house at about 9 a.m on April 28 to avoid further altercation with his girlfriend.

According to him, the girlfriend called the police and along with the officers they had gone out in search of Udugbo. He was later found by the police while he was driving on the road in town.

He said that Udugbo’s vehicle was stopped, and he was arrested and handcuffed.

“The police took his car keys, left the car by the way and drove with him back to his house in the Police car along with the girlfriend,” he added.

“He was severely beaten by the cops in his house and he fainted. At this point the landlord’s son feared and told the Police to take him to the hospital.

“The police refused, and instead they took him to the Police Station where they claimed that he had allegedly committed suicide.

According to him, past 10am, one of Udugbo’s relatives went to the station and was told that Udugbo had committed suicide.

“We do not accept this police story, we believed that he was killed right in the Police Station and hanged afterwards,” read the letter.

“His case was that of domestic violence, and does not warrant the Police to beat him since he did not in any way resist arrest.”

He said that all circumstances surrounding his death was a clear indication of bias, hate, xenophobia and premeditated action and police high handedness.

“We believed that the late Udugbo was killed and to cover it up the Police hanged him to make it look like suicide,” Okoli said.

“The police cell is not a place for anybody to commit suicide. It is meant to be a place of safety and protection.

“The South African Police service had considered Nigerians as inconsequential and unimportant.

“They tend to always get away with it because they had been allowed to go free in numerous murder cases where they had killed Nigerians.

“NICASA shall protest this unnecessary police brutality, bias, death in police custody, xenophobia and high handedness against our nationals.”

The death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to rise, with more than 120 lives lost since 2016.

Udugbo’s death comes barely a week after Tony Elochukwu, another Nigerian from Nnobi, Anambra state, was killed by an unidentified gunman in South Africa.

Breaking: Liverpool wins second-leg against Barcelona 4-0 , 4-3 agg

Liverpool produced one of the greatest Champions League comebacks in history by overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit to beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate and reach the final. After Barcelona won the first leg 3-0 at the Nou Camp, few gave Liverpool a chance of scoring the goals they needed to progress, let alone preventing the La Liga champions from scoring themselves. But an early strike from Divock Origi, who tapped in after Marc-Andre ter Stegen failed to hold Jordan Henderson’s shot, gave the vociferous Anfield crowd the belief that another European fightback from the Reds could be on the cards. Georginio Wijnaldum, on as a substitute for the injured Andy Robertson, made it 2-0 with a low drive nine minutes after the break before the midfielder almost immediately made it 3-0 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate with a superb header. And Origi, starting the game because of injuries to Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, completed a remarkable victory for Liverpool when he swept Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low corner into the back of the net late on. The win means Liverpool are into the Champions League final for a second successive year and they will play either Ajax or Tottenham in Madrid on 1 June.

Liverpool Stun Barca; Reach 2nd Consecutive UCL Final

LIV 4-0 BAR Origi (7′, 79′), Wijnaldum (54′, 56′) Liverpool entered the second leg of the Champions League semifinal facing an improbable 3-0 deficit. The Reds had the support of the Anfield crowd but were without the services of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino due to injuries. However, Anfield helped them comeback against all odds as they pulled off an unbelievable 4-0 victory to advance to the Champions League final on June 1 in Madrid where they will play the winner of Tottenham vs. Ajax. Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum both scored twice, with three of Liverpool’s goals coming in the second half.

Dembélé, Coutinho, and Paying Over the Odds for the Champions League

Barcelona played Lyon at the Nou Camp for the home leg of the Champions League round of sixteen. In the time since the scoreless first game of the tie in France, both Real Madrid and Atlético had been knocked out after failing to close the deal on their leads against Ajax and Juventus. Barça would then be the only nominally “Spanish” team left playing for the big-eared cup.

Seven of the last ten cups have been won by teams from Spain. Two of those finals were Real vs. Atléti Madrid derbies. Today, after Barça punished Lyon 5-1, they are La Liga’s only representatives left in the Champions League. Meanwhile, all four of the Premier league’s emissaries (Spurs, City, United and Liverpool) successfully stamped their tickets after years spent comparatively outclassed.

Barça went into the game with the domestic league pretty comfortably in their pockets. Though they hadn’t gotten a goal at Lyon in the first game, the blaugrana always have confidence for these occasions at the Nou Camp. It was last year at the same stage that Dembélé was set up for one of the goals of the season against Chelsea.

A year ago at the Nou Camp, Ousmane Dembélé was not yet a World Cup winner. The young frenchman had shown up to the team at summer’s end after going on strike from his club, Borussia Dortmund, in order to force the move to Catalunya. After arriving, he barely began to integrate into the team before he freaked his hamstring on an attempted flick against Juventus and was out for 106 days.

bartomeu dembele.jpg Bartomeu signs Dembélé in 2017

He was something of an unknown to most Barça supporters when he was signed for an obscene amount of money in the wake of the Neymar deal. It was seen skeptically by most supporters as a panic buy from the Bartomeu administration who had failed to deliver Coutinho from Liverpool in the summer transfer window. Basically the club lost their shiny heartthrob Neymar, tried to replace him with Coutinho but couldn’t, so settled on spending a hundred million on a young player most supporters hadn’t heard of, but fit the profile–and then he broke almost instantly when they took him out of the box. In the last sixteen against Chelsea, Messi found him with a pass that was delivered with encouragement beyond cooperation. Once Dembélé scored with it, Messi embraced him once, twice, several times emphatically. Vindicating the expectations around the young talent.

Now, a year beyond that public elevation of the starlet, Ousmane has grown in that accelerated way that teenagers do as they find their confidence. Unfortunately, he has continued to have disruptive injuries and has not gathered true momentum on the pitch for a sustained stretch in the starting eleven. This is frustrating for supporters, as his play is exciting and electric in a way no other members of the team are apart from Messi.

In 2017, Coutinho didn’t go on strike to leave his club like Dembélé did, but he did have a sour face when he scored for Klopp’s team. In the January transfer window of 2018 he got his move to Barcelona for a club record fee that could swell to the area of £140m. He was cup-tied for last season so didn’t get to play in Europe for Barça, and instead, had to watch his ex-team Liverpool play in the final (though they would ultimately lose to Real Madrid). This week, with Ousmane only able to play limited minutes over concerns about a knock he’d gotten in La Liga, Coutinho got to start in the front three with Messi and Suarez. Could he rise to the occasion?

Mostly, yes.

He was active and occupied defenders frequently, but the final product on his involvement is still questionable. Many of his runs into defenders get him predictably dispossessed, leaving the rest of the team to scramble as they switch to press in defense. He did, however, score today off a generous assist from Suarez who was giddy to deliver it.

a tale of two coutinhos.jpg A Tale of Two Coutinhos

Though he started well in the fall, the underlying effort of his game has been strained and visible for defenders to predict. For Brazil, he can charge at the box and boss the attacking third. In shorter, denser national team tournaments where more specific organization isn’t practically possible–individualistic play is the default for flair creative types like him. But in blaugrana he gets tied up between trying to dribble past defenders with his head down, and looking to find the best pass option from the stars around him.

To keep the ball moving quick enough to fit with the style of play Barça is known for, the players need to constantly be taking pictures of the pitch and know where the next pass should be before the imminent one arrives. Busquets, who had a massive game against Lyon, is a master of this. Xavi and Iniesta were masters of it. Messi is one. These are pretty illustrious dudes to be compared to, but I feel Coutinho has his eyes more on the ball than the game.

In the first half Messi converted a panenka penalty (why are panenkas all the rage right now?!? Suarez and Aguero have done them recently), then Coutinho got the tap in. Dembélé replaced the Brazilian around the seventieth minute. At that point it was 2-1. A few minutes later Messi abracadabra’d a goal, seating a defender along the way. It was reminiscent of when the little man put Munich’s Jerome Boateng on his backside four years ago–the last season Barça won the Champions league.

After the third goal, the Lyon defense fell into chaos. Messi quickly found Pique on a marauding run that didn’t make much sense for the center back to be making in the first place. After the game he said that he saw Suarez was tired, so he started to do attacking runs. Pique loves to score. He has more rabid intensity and grinning accomplishment when he scores than when he makes ten clearances off the goal line in his own half. For a defender, there is a sense that their accomplishments are things that shouldn’t be overly celebrated. Like being able to afford car insurance. But to mark a goal, that is like winning a lottery, even though the effects on the scoresheet may be just the same.

Only a few minutes after Pique scored, Dembélé got set up by Messi and broke the ball through the keeper to find the inside left corner of the net. 5-1. A year after Chelsea, with barely fifteen minutes on the pitch against Lyon, Ousmane Dembele was once again the worthy recipient of the Nou Camp’s applause. Unfortunately, it seems the thigh injury he’d struggled with since the weekend was aggravated and he will be out of commission for an as-yet-to-be determined amount of time. A bright flash of talent that will, for a short while longer at least, have to return to the box.

Captain answers questions of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ questions – here are all the mysteries it solved

Captain Marvel’ answers tons of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ questions – here are all the mysteries it solved
Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

Captain Marvel will top the box office with ease this weekend, considering it’s the most anticipated film of the week and the final Marvel movie before Avengers: Endgame. As expected, the movie answers plenty of questions about Endgame and the MCU universe, but it also creates plenty of new mysteries as well. After all, we’re looking at a span of 15 years between Captain Marvel and The Avengers, and Nick Fury started working with some of the original Avengers well ahead of that. Mind you, if you haven’t seen Captain Marvel, you’re in for quite a few spoilers — the same goes for Endgame too, as we’re going to discuss the Captain Marvel post-credits scenes and they involve Endgame.As we expected, Captain Marvel doesn’t just introduce Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel — well, technically, nobody uses her superhero name at all in the movie. The film also covers the creation of the Avengers program, as well as Nick Fury’s evolution from a regular old spy to a determined operative who’s about to form the most powerful team of heroes on Earth.

We finally found out how Captain Marvel is born. It’s not the Kree who turned Carol Danvers into a superhero. They just put a contraption on her that was designed to limit her power. What’s interesting is that the Tesseract’s energy is what created this superhero. She’s the most powerful Avenger, if you think about it, considering what she can do.

Also, she’s the real first Avenger. Captain America shouldn’t even be considered the first Avenger even though he was the first human with extraordinary abilities in the MCU, and he got them back in World War 2 — of course, we’re all ignoring the fact that Wakanda had a Black Panther for thousands of years, but I digress. It’s because of Carol’s fighter plane that Fury gets his inspiration for the Avengers program. The ‘Protector Initiative’ sounds incredibly dull.As for her suit, the differences between the original Captain Marvel armor and the one we see in the credits scene might not be that major. We’re just looking at a different paint job, and we’ve already learned that the suit lets you customize the colors as you see fit.

Image Source: YouTube

We also know that Carol took Fury’s pager from him so he couldn’t call backup without her knowledge. She then tweaked it and gave it back to the SHIELD boss only for emergencies. We’ve now officially learned from Marvel that we have no real idea whether or not Fury had tried to call on Captain Marvel before Infinity War.

She will appear on Earth very soon after the snap. What the leaked credits scenes didn’t make entirely clear, because they were so blurry, was that Captain Rogers and Co. were monitoring the count of dead people at the Avengers compound when the pager stopped working. When you watch the scene in theaters, you’ll see that the pager still had Captain Marvel’s colors on it. Even so, nobody on the team recognized the symbol. Not even Natasha, who’s been with Fury for years. Not even Rocket, who may have heard stories about it — though that assumes Rocket is with them somewhere.

In the days preceding the film’s launch we also learned that Samuel L. Jackson’s claim that Captain Marvel can travel through time was made up, which means any theory or “leaked” story that says Carol can travel through time is bogus.

We also learned how Fury lost his eye. The filmmakers trolled us once, but it turns out that it’s the “cat” who did it. Although that’s not something Fury will ever confirm or deny. Also, it’s understandable why he doesn’t trust anybody. He just witnessed shape-shifting aliens on earth, as well as a cat with monstrous tentacles shooting out of her mouth. The universe is a lot bigger than he thought, and a lot more dangerous.

There’s also Agent Coulson to consider. It’s clear why Fury trusted him for so many years. Coulson had his back in Captain Marvel and proved to be a worthy SHIELD agent.

Let’s also address Ronan the Accuser’s brief appearance in Captain Marvel. He realizes the massive potential of Carol Danvers after witnessing her destroy one of his ships and says he’s going to be back for this weapon. It’s unclear at this point whether they’re aware that an Infinity Stone gave Carol her powers. But witnessing Captain Marvel’s power may have been enough for Ronan to decide to keep the Power Stone for himself in the future, in Guardians of the Galaxy, after realizing what that artifact could offer him.Finally, there was no Doctor Strange in Captain Marvel whatsoever. As much as he may prove to have influenced events of the past, he wasn’t shown anywhere in the film or the post-credits scenes. Of course, doing so would give us a major Endgame spoiler.

Image Source: Marvel

We can’t conclude this post without mentioning Stan Lee. He appears in the movie, playing himself repeating a line from a movie you might be aware of: Mallrats. That’s also a huge nod to Kevin Smith, and it’s quite puzzling. Speaking of things that are puzzling, we also looked at all the new questions Captain Marvel raises and rounded them up in a single post —

Biafra is near, says IPOB

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra on Sunday said the sovereign state of Biafra would soon be actualised.

The group stated this in a statement issued in Awka, the Anambra State capital, by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful.

The statement read in part, “The Indigenous People of Biafra and its leadership wish to reaffirm our position clearly to all and sundry in Nigeria and beyond that Biafra freedom and sovereignty is non-negotiable regardless of the political permutations in Nigeria.”Saying that the group had been vindicated by the presidential election in the country, the statement added, “Voting in Nigeria is useless. We have been vindicated by the result of the shambolic, rigging fest they call elections.

“The unacceptable levels of humiliation, intimidation, killing, announcement of fake results, coupled with sponsored propaganda against our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the entire peaceful movement, cannot stop our total resolve to restore Biafra sovereignty in the shortest possible time.

“Only a moron and worker of iniquity will pretend not to know what transpired in the colonial contraption called Nigeria during the recently concluded presidential election. Using the military, police and armed thugs to rig in favour of the ruling APC was clear for all to see.

He added, “That the result has been sanctioned by some weak-minded apathetic Nigerians as well as the Fulani-loving British colonial masters, despite the horrors of those elections, is proof, if one is needed, that the poor masses of Nigeria are like tormented caged animals stripped of every dignity and lacking in courage.”

West Ham’s Snodgrass charged over alleged abuse of anti-doping officials

West Ham midfielder, Robert Snodgrass, has been charged by the Football Association after allegedly abusing anti-doping officials, the English game’s governing body announced on Monday.

The charge against the 31-year-old Scotland midfielder arises from a visit by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) officials to London club West Ham’s training ground in February.

“Robert Snodgrass has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3(1),” the FA said in a statement.

“It is alleged the player used abusive and/or insulting words towards UK Anti-Doping officials who were visiting West Ham United’s training ground on 06 February 2019 to conduct out-of-competition testing. He has until 18 March 2019 to respond.”

Snodgrass, signed from Hull for a reported fee of £10.2 million ($13.4 million, 11.8 million euros) in January 2017, has scored four goals in 32 appearances for the Hammers so far this season.

Neymar and Mourinho join Cristiano Ronaldo as DAZN global ambassadors

The PSG superstar and former Real Madrid coach have been announced as key figures for the live sport streaming service as part of a “multi-year deal”
Article continues belowNeymar and Jose Mourinho have been unveiled as DAZN’s latest global ambassadors, joining an elite roster that already includes Cristiano Ronaldo as the streaming service goes live in Spain.

Announced in a press conference on Wednesday, launching in Spain is the next step in DAZN’s global expansion.

The live sport streaming service has already gone live in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the United States plus future territories.

Ronaldo was confirmed as DAZN’s first global ambassador in August 2018 following his €100 million (£88m/$117m) transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus earlier in the summer.

Article continues belowNeymar has now joined the global streaming service as a brand ambassador in a “multi-year agreement”, along with former Real Madrid manager Mourinho.

“Growing up in Brazil instils a love of sports, especially football,” said the Brazil superstar, who will feature in exclusive original content in 2019.

DAZN global ambassador

“Brazilians rally behind the teams and athletes they love. I think DAZN has the same type of passion towards sports and wanting to make it as easy and affordable as possible for people to enjoy.

“Sports should be available for everyone and I’m happy to join a brand that has this goal in their DNA.”

Former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Mourinho will provide punditry and promotional duties in 2019.

“DAZN is giving football fans a new way to enjoy the sport and players they love,” the Portuguese coach said. “Their style of live football coverage is different from what I’ve experienced before.

“I like their authenticity and pushing the boundaries of sports broadcasting. I’m excited to join DAZN as a global ambassador and connect with football fans around the world with this platform.”The ex-Manchester United boss spoke exclusively to DAZN earlier in the week about former player Eden Hazard and how the Chelsea star would excel at Real Madrid.

“Eden’s ambitions… playing at Chelsea his whole life or going out to a giant like Real Madrid?” he said.

DAZN global ambassador

“Let’s talk about talent. Does he have the talent to play for Real Madrid? He does. Does he have the personality to wear a super heavy shirt and play in front of a crowd like the Bernabeu? He has personality, yes.”

Through DAZN, sports fans are able to enjoy watching multiple live events at once on numerous devices including TVs, tablets, phones, PCs and gaming consoles. DAZN will be available in Spain for €4.99 a month, with users getting the first month free and never having to commit to a long-term contract.

Sports content available on-demand with DAZN in Spain will include the Premier League (from 2019-20), Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana as well as MotoGP and UFC.

DAZN Group CEO Simon Denyer said: “This is the dawn of a new era for Spanish sport fans as they join the revolution of flexible, accessible and affordable sport that we are rolling out around the world.

“Spain is a nation of sport lovers and they are ready for change. They want a better way to watch and we are incredibly proud to be making that happen as we expand our rapidly growing international business.”

Live updates: INEC begins official declaration of presidential election results
LIVE Updated: 6:28 AM
Author:Editor

As anxiety continues around Nigeria over the outcome of the presidential election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, February 23, the electoral umpire is fully prepared for the results.
The chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, and the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) reportedly arrived the collation centre minutes ago for the commencement of the announcement of results.
The election was peaceful across the nation except in Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos and pocket of other areas where violence marred the exercise with some Nigerians killed and some others arrested for electoral offences which included burning of electoral materials .Shortly after conveying at the national collation centre, INEC chairman Yakubu declared collation centre open and set ground rule for all parties and interested individuals present.
Afterwards, key commission officers present at the high table were all introduced.
Party members agents also introduced themselves. The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali introduced himself as the agent for the APC.
Shortly after the introductions, INEC chairman Yakubu adjourned collation to Monday, February 25.
Mahmood said: “During the course of the proceedings there may be interludes and adjournments. This is to hereby announce the adjournment of this proceedings to 11 am on Monday, February 25. Thank you and God bless.”
Collation commences at 11am today, Monday, February 25. Follow our live updates here as we bring to you accurate official results from the national collation centre.
Don’t forget to refresh your browser always for fresh updates.
Updated: Feb 25 11:30 AM
Collation about to start as INEC chairman speaks
The collation centre is filled up. The INEC chairman and other INEC principal staff members are present.Mahmood announces the opening of the collation of results for Monday, February 25.
The INEC chairman already speaking, displaying and explaining all the necessary forms/papers used by the electoral body.
Updated: Feb 25 11:40 AM
INEC chairman makes a presentation of the collation result sheets
Mahmood makes a presentation of the collation result sheets in alphabetical order starting with Abia state.
Updated: Feb 25 12:30 PM
RESULTS COLLATION: Osun state
Next state, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos , introduces himself as the collation officer for Osun state.RESULTS:
ANN – 268
ANP – 67
ANRP – 155
APA – 1897
APC – 347,634
GDPN – 1,081
RAP – 49
MPN – 53
KP – 46
PT – 89
PDP – 337,377
UPN – 45
WTPN – 19
YPP – 189
Total valid votes – 714,682
Rejected votes – 17,200
Total votes cast – 732,882NOTE: The result, according to the collation officer, was signed by 20 party agents.
The electoral officer said 12,082 were cancelled after reconciliation due to cases of over voting from some local government areas.
Updated: Feb 25 12:46 PM
How APC and PDP stand after two states announced
APC – 566,865
PDP – 491,409RESULTS COLLATION: Ekiti state
Live updates: INEC begins official declaration of presidential election results
The Ekiti state collation officer, Professor Olayinka Idowu, has started announcing the results of the presidential election in Ekiti state.
RESULTS
APC – 219,231
APGA – 39
PDP – 154,032
PPA – 253
PPC – 126
PPN – 49
PT – 20
RAP – 14
RBNP – 11
RP – 6
SDP – 48
SNC – 339
SNP – 37
UDP – 17
UP – 11
UPN – 20
WTPN – 10
YES – 11
YPP – 68
Total valid votes for 16 local government areas in Ekiti – 381,132
Rejected votes – 12,577 votes
Total votes cast – 393,709
NOTE: Idowu said the result was as collated by himself and signed by two party agents.
After the announcement, the collation officer handed over Ekiti presidential result sheets to the INEC chairman.Collation adjourned, resumes 2.30pm
The INEC chairman said the next states will take up to one hour to present.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been informed by the collation secretariat that the next states will take up to one hour. Can we adjourn and reconvene?,” he asked.
The audience chorused: “Yes.”
“Okay, we adjourn and reconvene at 2.30 pm,” the INEC boss said.RESULTS COLLATION: FCT
INEC chairman, Mahmood reconvenes collation of the presidential election results.
Mohammed Sali Suleiman, VC for Nasarawa State University set to present results from FCT.
A – 69
AA – 51
AAC – 583
ACPN – 48
ADP – 145
ANP – 82
ANRP – 205
APC – 152,224
APGA – 255
BNPP – 19
CAP – 36
DPP – 284
FRESH – 76
GDPN – 501
GPN – 75
JMPP – 70
MAJA – 32
MMN – 165
NCMP – 19
NIP – 30
NPC – 127
NRM – 49
NUP – 123
PCP – 2921
PDP – 259,997
UDP – 19
UPN – 12
WTPN – 6
YES – 26
YPP – 1,083
The total number of valid votes in FCT – 423,951
Rejected votes – 27,457
Total votes cast – 451,408
NOTE: The collation officer reported that he has only one polling unit in Kuje where election did not hold on Saturday, February 23.
He, however, said that the election later took place on Sunday, February 24, and that the result for the unit is contained in the announced result.
He also stated that there was a total of 1,335,015 registered voters; 467,784 accredited vote.

Nigeria Election: How Buhari, Atiku performed in 32 States

Nigeria Election: How Buhari, Atiku performed in 32 States
Feb 26, 2019 3:41 PM
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently leading the race in the presidential election conducted on Saturday.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Results obtained from States collation Centers by DAILY POST showed that President Buhari is coasting to victory with a wide margin of votes as against his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

While Atiku has gained more votes, winning the incumbent President with wide margins in States in the South East and some in South-South, Buhari has gathered insurmountable strength in the North.

2019 Election updates for Mon 25th Feb results

Live updates: INEC begins official declaration of presidential election results
LIVE Updated: 6:28 AM
Author: Editor
As anxiety continues around Nigeria over the outcome of the presidential election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, February 23, the electoral umpire is fully prepared for the results.
The chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, and the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) reportedly arrived the collation centre minutes ago for the commencement of the announcement of results.
The election was peaceful across the nation except in Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos and pocket of other areas where violence marred the exercise with some Nigerians killed and some others arrested for electoral offences which included burning of electoral materials .

Shortly after conveying at the national collation centre, INEC chairman Yakubu declared collation centre open and set ground rule for all parties and interested individuals present.
Afterwards, key commission officers present at the high table were all introduced.
Party members agents also introduced themselves. The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali introduced himself as the agent for the APC.
Shortly after the introductions, INEC chairman Yakubu adjourned collation to Monday, February 25.
Mahmood said: “During the course of the proceedings there may be interludes and adjournments. This is to hereby announce the adjournment of this proceedings to 11 am on Monday, February 25. Thank you and God bless.”
Collation commences at 11am today, Monday, February 25. Follow our live updates here as we bring to you accurate official results from the national collation centre.
Don’t forget to refresh your browser always for fresh updates.
Updated: Feb 25 11:30 AM
Collation about to start as INEC chairman speaks
The collation centre is filled up. The INEC chairman and other INEC principal staff members are present.Mahmood announces the opening of the collation of results for Monday, February 25.
The INEC chairman already speaking, displaying and explaining all the necessary forms/papers used by the electoral body.
Updated: Feb 25 11:40 AM
INEC chairman makes a presentation of the collation result sheets
Mahmood makes a presentation of the collation result sheets in alphabetical order starting with Abia state.

Updated: Feb 25 12:30 PM

RESULTS COLLATION: Osun state

Next state, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos , introduces himself as the collation officer for Osun state.

RESULTS:

ANN – 268
ANP – 67
ANRP – 155
APA – 1897
APC – 347,634
GDPN – 1,081
RAP – 49
MPN – 53
KP – 46
PT – 89
PDP – 337,377
UPN – 45
WTPN – 19
YPP – 189
Total valid votes – 714,682
Rejected votes – 17,200
Total votes cast – 732,882

NOTE: The result, according to the collation officer, was signed by 20 party agents.
The electoral officer said 12,082 were cancelled after reconciliation due to cases of over voting from some local government areas.

Updated: Feb 25 12:46 PM
How APC and PDP stand after two states announced
APC – 566,865
PDP – 491,409

RESULTS COLLATION: Ekiti state

Live updates: INEC begins official declaration of presidential election results
The Ekiti state collation officer, Professor Olayinka Idowu, has started announcing the results of the presidential election in Ekiti state.
RESULTS
APC – 219,231
APGA – 39
PDP – 154,032
PPA – 253
PPC – 126
PPN – 49
PT – 20
RAP – 14
RBNP – 11
RP – 6
SDP – 48
SNC – 339
SNP – 37
UDP – 17
UP – 11
UPN – 20
WTPN – 10
YES – 11
YPP – 68
Total valid votes for 16 local government areas in Ekiti – 381,132
Rejected votes – 12,577 votes
Total votes cast – 393,709
NOTE: Idowu said the result was as collated by himself and signed by two party agents.
After the announcement, the collation officer handed over Ekiti presidential result sheets to the INEC chairman.

Collation adjourned, resumes 2.30pm
The INEC chairman said the next states will take up to one hour to present.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been informed by the collation secretariat that the next states will take up to one hour. Can we adjourn and reconvene?,” he asked.

The audience chorused: “Yes.”

“Okay, we adjourn and reconvene at 2.30 pm,” the INEC boss said.

RESULTS COLLATION: FCT

INEC chairman, Mahmood reconvenes collation of the presidential election results.
Mohammed Sali Suleiman, VC for Nasarawa State University set to present results from FCT.
A – 69
AA – 51
AAC – 583
ACPN – 48
ADP – 145
ANP – 82
ANRP – 205
APC – 152,224
APGA – 255
BNPP – 19
CAP – 36
DPP – 284
FRESH – 76
GDPN – 501
GPN – 75
JMPP – 70
MAJA – 32
MMN – 165
NCMP – 19
NIP – 30
NPC – 127
NRM – 49
NUP – 123
PCP – 2921
PDP – 259,997
UDP – 19
UPN – 12
WTPN – 6
YES – 26
YPP – 1,083
The total number of valid votes in FCT – 423,951
Rejected votes – 27,457
Total votes cast – 451,408

NOTE: The collation officer reported that he has only one polling unit in Kuje where election did not hold on Saturday, February 23.
He, however, said that the election later took place on Sunday, February 24, and that the result for the unit is contained in the announced result.
He also stated that there was a total of 1,335,015 registered voters; 467,784 accredited voters.

RESULTS COLLATION: Kwara state

The INEC chairman called on the vice chancellor of Federal university of Technology Minna, Abdullahi Bala for Kwara state’s presidential election results

ADP – 203
AGAP – 34
ANN – 422
APC – 308,984
AUN – 19
BNPP – 17
CAP – 15
CNP – 18
DPC – 88AC151-151
DPP – 176
FRESH – 107
HDP – 52
JMPP – 46
LM – 20
LP – 56
MAJA – 68
MMN – 411
NDCP – 16
NPC – 172
NUP – 205
PCP – 2,108
PDP – 138,184
PPA – 531
RP – 39
SDP – 212
SNC – 1,165
UPN – 21
WTPN – 10
YES – 12
Total valid votes: 459,676
Rejected votes: 26,578
Total votes cast: 486,254
“We had cancellation of result at four polling units,” the collation officer noted.
The total number of cancelled votes from the four polling units is 3,342 votes.

RESULTS COLLATION: Nasarawa state

The INEC chairman announced that the next state for collation is Nasarawa state
A party agent raised an observation that there is a wide margin in FCT number accredited voters and number of votes, rejected and cancelled.
According to the party agent, the excesses should be seen either in valid, rejected or cancelled as accreditation and voting were done simultaneously.
The INEC chairman agreed that this would be looked into.
Professor Mahmood for called on Professor Azubuike Sunny Nwankwo, the Academic Provost of Nigerian Defence Academy who is the collation officer for Nasarawa state.
Total number of local government areas in Nasarawa state: 13
Total number of registered voters – 1,509,481

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Say Biden can’t dictate our way of life

•We owe America no obligation to repeallaw made reflecting our culture, values

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SEC’s stand on Capital Market FinTech

What you should know

CRYPTOCURRENCY

Unknown whale transfers $160 million worth of Bitcoin

CRYPTOCURRENCY

Bitcoin miners are outrageously rich, earn $4 million per hour

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Money Heist season 5 release date: When will it air on Netflix?

Money Heist season 5 cast: Who will be in it?

Money Heist season 5 plot: What will happen?

Money Heist season 5 trailer: When will it land?

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By John law

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Pakistan PM Khan hails government’s virus response

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Trump’s confidence rating lowest in Mexico

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Netanyahu has described the target of last week’s US drone strike — Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards foreign operations arm — as a “terrorist-in-chief”.

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Drake surprised fans when he gave an in-depth interview discussing his friendship with Chris Brown and how they were able to put their Rihanna drama in the past. We’ve got her reaction to it.

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ABSTRACT

SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

THE FIRST WAVE IN AN ADVANCED ATTACK

HARD TO FIND, HARD TO REMEDIATE

UNIQUE ASPECTS OF ADOBE WORM FAKER

COMPONENTS

CHARACTERISTICS:

DRILL DOWN TO ADOBE WORM FAKER

DO I HAVE PERSISTENCE ALREADY?

GIVE ME MORE DETAILS!