A team of government prosecutors led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M.B. Abubakar, on Monday alleged that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, refused to present himself before the Federal High Court in Abuja for his planned re-arraignment.
“My lord, I understand that the defendant declined to come to court today.
“As of last week, the defendant was intimated of this sitting and he did not object. However, when I called the office this morning, I was informed that the defendant woke up and declined to come to court.
“All entreaties and pleas were made but he refused to come to court”, the government lawyer told the court.
Kanu’s legal team, however, said the allegation was strange as Kanu had never hidden his intention to always be in court.
“My lord, this is totally strange to me because this is a person that has never hidden his intention to always be in court. In fact, even in processes we filed at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the defendant said he would want to be present in court for hearing of all the matters,” Kanu’s legal team head, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said.
It is the start of a beautiful week for popular crossdresser James Brown following a pleasant surprise from his dedicated fans and followers. Brown who purchased his first car some weeks ago was gifted yet another expensive automobile by his supporters.
Fans gift James Brown new car and money. Photo: @wf_jamesbrown Source: Instagram
An excited Brown took to his Instagram page with a video showing the moment the fans drove into his compound with the new ride.
The crossdresser was screaming in excitement as the fans alighted the car and presented him with a large box of money.
“I can’t still believe this, I am amazed, speechless, Wow this is incredible. FANS GIFT ME CAR Thanks my love ones,” Brown captioned the video on his page.
Famous Nigerian singer David Adeleke, aka Davido, has postponed his upcoming Are We African Yet (A.W.A.Y) festival to honour his son, the late Ifeanyi Adeleke.
The singer’s management, in a statement issued on the festival’s Twitter handle, apologised to fans for the disappointment and promised to make it up.
According to the statement, this is part of Davido’s desire to spend more time with his family during this challenging time of mourning.
The statement reads: “We have made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone A.W.A.Y Festival until November 18, 2023. To all ticket buyers, your tickets will be honoured for the 2023 date. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to seeing you all in the near future.”
The singer reportedly, on Monday, appeared on Instagram for the first time after he was bereaved to deactivate his late son’s Instagram account and unfollowed DJ Cuppy and Femi Otedola.
Victor Osimhen will look to set another record in the Italian top-flight when Napoli take on Udinese this weekend.
Osimhen, who has been in blistering form for Napoli this season equalled former Inter Milan forward, Obafemi Martins’ assists record in the Parthenopeans 2-1 away win at Atalanta last weekend.
The Nigerian duo have 10 assists each in Serie A.
Another assist against Udinese will see him move ahead of Martins.
The 23-year-old surpassed Simy Nwankwo as Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer in Serie A last weekend.
Osimhen now has 32 goals, with Nwankwo on 31.
He has scored nine goals in 13 games in all competitions for Napoli this season.
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From War to Peace: How Ife, Modakeke have been living together 20 years after last bloody conflict
Historians have described the crisis between Ile-Ife and Modakeke as one of the oldest intra-ethnic conflicts in Nigeria.
Saka Aminu, a retired teacher, and his wife, Saudat, sat in front of their house at Oke Yidi, one of the areas where lives were lost when Ile-Ife and Modakeke indigenes fought 20 years ago.
Now septuagenarians, the couple recalled how the conflict tore the people of the two towns apart, including close relatives.
Mr and Mrs Aminu said they went through physical, emotional and mental pains during the “war.”
“Nobody, no property was safe”, Mrs Aminu said. “May we not experience that again in this land.
“During the war in 1998, the only house my husband built was razed. Many fled Modakeke to other parts of Osun State. Some even fled as far as Ibadan and Lagos to work and build new houses. But we could not do so as a poor family with children in tertiary school then.”
pondent how he escaped with his family in the middle of the night to Ore in Ondo State.
“My house was razed like many others in the community. Despite being a retired soldier, I ran with my family to Ore.”
Mr Olaegbe started a new life in Ore as a farmer.
“Today, I don’t have a single evidence that I was once a military man because all my uniforms and pictures from my days in service were burnt with my house,” Mr Olaegbe said.
The crisis
Historians have described the crisis between Ile-Ife and Modakeke as one of the oldest intra-ethnic conflicts in Nigeria. Seven major violent clashes have been recorded between them in 1835-1849, 1882-1909, 1946- 1949, 1981, 1983, 1997-1998, and 2000.
The causes include cultural identity, economics and politics as reflected in land ownership, payment of land rent (Isakole), creation of local government and location of its headquarters.
Ife, which the Yoruba regard as their source, considers itself the ‘landlord’ of the Modakekes. The latter had migrated to the area following the collapse of the Old Oyo empire in the 19th century. This was the underlying factor in the crisis between the two Yoruba groups that led to the slaughter of thousands of people.
The last conflict ensued over an agitation by Modakeke people for a local government council of their own. In 1997, the military junta of the late Sani Abacha granted their wish by creating Ife East Local Government out of the former Ife North and Ife Central local governments.
Ife indigenes wanted the headquarters of the new council in their part of town, but Modakeke people objected. The government then announced Oke-Ogbo in Ile-Ife as the headquarters, despite initially indicating that Oke D. O. in Modakeke would be the location.
Modakeke people swiftly protested the “cheating and injustice” and a full-blown “war” ensued that killed hundreds of people from both sides and destroyed hundreds of houses, cars and other properties. Some residents also died later from depression over the loss of their properties to the conflict.
The killings continued until 2000 when the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, set up a committee, led by Olabode George, to look into the intra-communal crisis.
The initiative was supported by the state government under the then governor, Bisi Akande.
The committee recommended the recognition of Ife East Area Office as a local administration entity with headquarters at Oke, D.O. in Modakeke, and adding “Ife” as a prefix to Modakeke for the town to become known as Modakeke-Ife.
The committee also recommended the location of a mobile police training school in Ile-Ife and police buffer zones in the flashpoints of the conflicts like Oke Yidi, Odo Okun, Iye Kere, Egbedore, Akrabata, Isale Agbara, and Mayfair/Obande areas.
Tolerance
The government accepted the recommendations and peace has since returned to the two communities.
PREMIUM TIMES findings, however, showed that many victims of the violence still live with the trauma.
“People from both sides are living together now but we continue to remember all that was lost in the crisis. The most important prayer is that a repeat of the crisis shall not happen,” Mrs Aminu said.
Her husband agreed that nothing is more important than maintaining the current peace between the communities.
“Ile-Ife cannot leave the land for Modakeke and Modakeke people also have nowhere else to go. The bedrock of our peaceful coexistence since 2000 is tolerance. There are disagreements but they can no longer escalate to war like before.
“We also appreciate the unity among our traditional rulers. The Ooni of Ife and the Ogunsua of Modakeke have both played huge roles in reconciling the parties anytime disagreements occur.”
In Ile Ife, Mr Olaegbe said religious leaders have been pivotal in ensuring that the peace is sustained.
“People have now realised that war produces only regret and not peace.
“If anyone tells you that there is no more disagreement in the communities, the fellow is lying. There are many issues on a daily basis. But with the support of the two kings, matters are always resolved amicably.”
Many residents also believe that intermarriage between the two communities, which is now common, will also cement the peace.
“I witnessed the crisis and we lost somebody very close to my family. But we have long reconciled and in fact, are intermarrying. My family is an example. I married her from Iremo in Ile-Ife and we already have kids together.
“I have friends from Modakeke who have bought land and built their houses in Ile-Ife. I also know Ile-Ife indigenes who have left to build houses in Modakeke.”
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been sentenced to Kuje Prison over contempt of court.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on October 28, and sighted by newsmen on Tuesday, the EFCC boss was convicted of contempt of court in relation to the failure of the anti-graft agency to comply with a November 21, 2018 court order directing it to return a Range Rover and the sum of N40 million to the applicant in a suit.
The ruling, which was delivered on October 28, 2022, was on a motion on notice marked: FCT/HC/M/52/2021 filed by a one-time Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Rufus Ojuawo.
Ojuawo had filed a motion through his lawyer, R.N. Ojabo, in a suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 that the EFCC had refused to comply with the court order directing it to release his seized property.
The EFCC had arraigned Ojuawo on two counts before Justice Muawiyah Idris of the High Court of the FCT in Nyanya in 2016 for corruptly receiving gratification to the tune of N40 million and a Range Rover Sport (Supercharged) from one Hima Aboubakar of Societe D’Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited.
However, in a November 21, 2018 ruling, Justice Idris discharged and acquitted Ojuawo on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case.
Idris had held that for the charge to succeed, the prosecution must prove that the defendant corruptly accepted the gift; that he accepted or obtained the gift for himself or for any other person.
He held that the burden was on the prosecution to prove all ingredients of the charge preferred against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt as required under Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011.
The court had also held that the anti-graft agency should return Ojuawo’s seized properties to him.
“In conclusion, I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove the two counts charge of corrupt gratification under S17 (1)(a) and (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
“The defendant is discharged and acquitted on counts one and two of the charge.
“Consequently, the complainant (EFCC) is ordered to refund the defendant his N40,000,000 wrongly paid into ONSA recovery account and to return to the defendant his Range Rover Sport (Supercharged) forthwith,” Justice Idris had held.
The EFCC, however, did not comply with the judgement which made Ojuawo to file a motion in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 that the EFCC had refused to comply with the court order directing it to release his seized property.
In the October 28, 2022 ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji held that, “The Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in contempt of the orders of this honourable court made on November 21st 2018 directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja to return to the applicant his Range Rover (Supercharged) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira).”
Consequently, the Judge ordered that Bawa should be committed to prison at the Kuje Correctional Centre for his wilful disobedience to the order of the court.
Justice Oji held, “Having continued wilfully in disobedience to the order of this court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order of court made on November 21st, 2018, until he purges himself of the contempt.
“The Inspector-General of Police shall ensure that the order of this honourable court is executed forthwith.”
The spokesperson for the EFCC, in his response to an enquiry by our correspondent, however, said, “The Commission is appealing the ruling.”
Celebrities enjoy a lot of benefits from their careers, like wealth that most of us can only dream of, special treatment, and larger than life experiences. However, it does come with the cost of personal freedom. That’s why so many celebrities have to invest in serious security. Life in the spotlight comes with the real fact that they can’t go anywhere without bodyguards. Here are some celebrities with the most expensive and exclusive bodyguards.
Adele
Adele is one of the greatest voices of this generation, and fans absolutely love her down to earth personality. Her net worth is at about $190 million, so it makes sense that she has hired security that follows her day and night. She hired Lady Gaga’s former body guard Pete Van Der Been in 2017, who charges $70,000 per year for his services.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston shot to worldwide fame when she starred as Rachel Green on the beloved series Friends. Since she became so well known, she hired the infamous celebrity bodyguard Sheldon back in 2013. He has worked with many stars in the past, so Aniston knew that he was the one to hire.
David and Victoria Beckham
David and Victoria Beckham are two of the most famous people in the world. He is a former star soccer player and she was a member of the Spice Girls and now a fashion mogul. That’s why they spent $1 million on tightened security in 2014 and they also have guardhouses installed in their home in 2020. They also always travel with security close by.
Halle Berry
Academy Award winner Halle Berry has been in the industry for over 30 years, so she is no stranger to paparazzi attention. has had many different bodyguards over the years. She goes everywhere with them, even while on hikes.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is often seen out and about along with her bodyguard, who fans believe looks like a young Hugh Jackman. It is believed that Perry increased her security detail after she had her first baby in 2020, which makes a lot of sense.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is a bona fide star, and she frequently attends public events and award shows, always with bodyguards by her side. She even took them while on a trip to Walmart. She knows that the reality of her fame means that she can’t take any chances.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams has a full security team that accompanies her on red carpet events. She doesn’t necessarily have 24/7 security, and it seems like she is able to keep her private life under wraps. She has employed security guards that other celebrities have hired, so eagle-eyed fans may even recognize them.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s incredible level of fame means that she has a whole army of fans, who call themselves “Swifties.” While that is incredible, it also means that Swift has to be careful, which is why she has two bodyguards that go with her everywhere she goes.
Rihanna
Rihanna is a mega star who has to rely on serious security around her at all times. It is estimated that she spends about half a million dollars on security per year. She has bodyguards around, even if she’s only going on a quick Target run.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez has had a long and successful career as a dancer, singer, and actress. She has an estimated net worth of $290 million, so it makes sense that she spends a ton of money on security. She is rarely seen without bodyguards by her side.
Kesha
Kesha has been in the spotlight since a young age, but since her career has not been at its peak like it was in the past, she can afford to hire bodyguards and security only when she feels like it is necessary. She is often seen with bodyguards, and she always seems to be very down to earth and friendly with them.
Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle was first known for her acting, especially for her roles on TV show Suits. Her fame then skyrocketed when she became linked to Prince Harry, and things went over the top when she married him. The two require a lot of security, and it is estimated that they spend about $20 million each year on security.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe has been a well known figure ever since he was a child and he was cast as Harry Potter in the film franchise. He doesn’t have security around the clock, but he does hire guards when he feels that it is necessary. This is especially the case when he is traveling.
Britney Spears
Ever since she was a teen sensation, Britney Spears has been a paparazzi fixture. She has been plagued by it for years, so it really makes a lot of sense that she dedicates a lot of resources to having tight security. In 2009, it was estimated that she spent $400,000 per year. It’s estimated that that figure has grown to about $600,000.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes was not selected by Brazil for the World Cup now looks at the positives and negatives as Mikel Arteta faces a challenge to bring out the best response.
Gabriel Magalhaes will join up with Arsenal teammates
Gabriel Jesus and, rather surprisingly, Gabriel Martinelli at this year’s World Cup in Qatar. Brazilian coach Tite opted against the 23-year-old defender in favour of more experienced options but did, despite early leaks reporting the contrary, call in Martinelli to the group.
Gabriel Magalhaes has been an excellent performer for the Gunners this season. Arsenal have needed his goals and defensive contributions of him to see them top the EPL going into the final league game before the World Cup.
Martinelli spoke recently and summed up the thoughts of the Gunners' cohort of Brazilians: “We talk a lot about it and all of us want to be there on the list and play in the World Cup,” he said. “All we can do is work hard here at Arenal and try our best to be on the list.
“It is announced on Monday - what else can you do? I need to wait, I cannot call the manager and ask so I will wait at home with my friend, and keep my fingers crossed.”
With what is sure to be a disappointment to the player, football.london takes a look at both the positives and negatives. With how Arsenal’s season is going, it is best to leave with optimism, so we begin with the potential drawbacks.
Negatives
First of all, it is worth noting that in Brazilian football culture the World Cup is the absolute pinnacle. Whilst there may be debates about whether a supporter would rather see their club win the Champions League or their country win the World Cup, there is little to no discussion for those from Brazil.
Therefore, for Gabriel, this will come as a big blow. The potential mental impact is sure to be of concern to Mikel Arteta who, along with his coaching staff and players, are sure to provide the utmost support to him.
With two games before the World Cup kicks off though there’s little time for the decision to marinade. Arsenal face Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday before playing Wolves at the weekend.
There will be the expectation that missing out on the squad will not impact his performance, but no one can ever guarantee that. Arteta will be the person best placed to make a decision on selection.
For Martinelli who now travels, there is little fear over potential injury or fatigue. Vinicius Junior is the established starter at left wing with Martinelli most likely making an impact from the bench if necessary.
Positives
The obvious one is Gabriel need not worry about any potential injury risk from the World Cup. It is an extra player not making the trip and instead he can enjoy some time off before the mid-season break begins a mini-preseason per se.
Meanwhile, Manchester City, Arsenal’s title rivals, will see many of their team head off for the winter tournament. In fact, all of the starting eleven from the 2-1 win over Fulham could indeed be off the winter tournament.
In contrast, from Arsenal’s team that beat Chelsea, seven are expected now to go, which would have been nine were Gabriel and Martinelli involved.
