Life Daily

A Security guard attached to a Model College in Ojo, Lagos, and two others were on Friday arraigned in an Ojo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing five mattresses. The defendants — Godstime Ajayi, 37, Salisu Yahayah, 25, and Garba Samaila, 40 — are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing before Magistrate A. A. Adesanya. The first defendant pleaded not guilty, while the second and third could not state their pleas because of language barrier Adesanya admitted the first defendant to N150, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum. He said that one of the sureties must be a relative, the other a clergyman. The magistrate, however, remanded the second and third defendants in police custody pending when the court would provide an interpreter. Earlier the prosecutor, Insp. Uche Simeon, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Dec. 25 at the secondary school’s hostel in Lagos. He said that Ajayi, the security guard employed to guard the sch...

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has signed the N216.55 billion, 2018 budget passed by the State House of Assembly into law. The budget is made up of N131.1 billion capital expenditure and N85.44 billion recurrent expenditure. El-Rufai signed the budget at a ceremony at the Government House in Kaduna on Tuesday. “We have deliberately tagged it as Budget of Consolidation, because it is the last full annual budget before the 2019 election,’’ he said. He said the budget was designed “to complete many projects we have commenced in the service of our people”. “As I said while presenting the budget, we have published a record number of tenders as we try to achieve the goals outlined in our manifesto, these tenders have led to the commencement of many projects across the state. “We have looked at inherited projects that we considered feasible and viable, some of these have been completed, but others are at various stages of completion,’’ El Rufai said. The Stat...

A North Korean defector Ji Hyeon-A, has given a horrifying account how dogs ate dead bodies in her prison camp after she was repatriated to North Korea from China. Ji Hyeon-A spoke at a meeting with United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, on the human rights situation in North Korea. The event was titled “The Terrifying experience of forcibly Repatriated North Korean women,” and was sponsored by the U.S. France, Japan, South Korea, Canada and the U.K. At one detention center, Ji Hyeon-A described how inmates starved to death and their dead bodies given to the guard dogs as food. Ji Hyeon-A who was repatriated three times to North Korea after she was caught in China but finally escaped to South Korea, said: “I was also forced to have an abortion”. She pleaded for the world to act as North Korean women who got pregnant in China were forced to have abortions. “Pregnant women were forced into harsh labour all day. “At night, we heard pregnant mothers scream...

The National Reconciliation Committee of the People’s Democratic Party led by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Tuesday visited some aggrieved members as part of efforts to forge a post-convention reconciliation within the party. Among the party members visited by the Dickson team was former National Chairmanship aspirant, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Special Adviser Media Relations to Governor Dickson, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, revealed in a statement in Abuja. Also visited by Dickson were former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, a former Minister of Information and Orientation, Prof Jerry Gana, and former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Ina Ciroma, who contested for the position of Deputy National Chairman, North. According to Dickson, all his hosts were positive on the need to have a united and strong party. Adeniran, who lost to Prince Uche Secondus, for the top party job, told Dickson to reach out to all candidates and as many members of the party in the bid to reconci...

Turkey appealed on Wednesday to world to recognise East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, as it opened an Islamic summit called in response to a U.S. decision to recognise the city as Israel’s capital. “Firstly the Palestinian state must be recognised by all other countries. We must all strive together for this,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said as foreign ministers convened ahead of the full summit meeting. “We must encourage other countries to recognise the Palestinian state on the basis of its 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Cavusoglu said. Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islam’s third holiest site and has been at the heart of Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it, an action not recognised internationally. U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Dec. 6, recognising the city as Israel’s capital led ...

Former soccer star George Weah faces Vice-President Joseph Boakai as Liberia holds a delayed presidential run-off vote on Dec. 26, the electoral commission chief Jerome Korkoya, says. The poll was held up for several weeks by a court challenge by Charles Brumskine, who came third in round one. The winner replaces Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as president in what will be, if it goes smoothly, Liberia’s first peaceful handover of power in 70 years. The Supreme Court on Dec. 7, dismissed a complaint from third-place finisher Brumskine’s Liberty Party, which had said fraud had undermined the first round in October. Electoral Commission Chairman Korkoya said campaigning could start immediately but must end by December 24. Liberians are eager for change after Nobel Peace Prize winning Johnson-Sirleaf’s 12-year rule, which sealed a lasting peace in a country that for decades had only known war, but which has failed to tackle corruption or much improve the lot of the poorest. Via... Reute...

Nigeria has expressed great concern about the situation in many parts of the Middle East and called for the peaceful resolution of the protracted conflicts between Israel and Palestinian. “Obviously, the current situation does not offer a sustainable solution to the Question of Palestine. “Indeed, it is creating despair among the people of Palestine and causing anxiety among the people of Israel,’’ Amb. Olukunle Bamgbose, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said. He delivered Nigeria’s statement at the UN General Assembly ‘Debate on Question of Palestine and the Situation in the Middle East.’ “Nigeria calls on all parties to make genuine efforts to find peaceful solutions and to cooperate closely with the UN and its relevant agencies accompanying them to realise this objective. “As the international community continues to seek avenues to advance peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, international efforts remain focused on paving the way for Israel...

Previously undetected group of Russian-language hackers silently stole nearly 10 million dollars from at least 18 mostly United States and Russian banks in recent years by targeting interbank transfer systems, a Moscow-based security firm said. Group-IB warned that the attacks, which began 18 months ago and allowed money to be stolen from banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), appeared to be ongoing and that banks in Latin America could be targeted next. The first attack occurred in the spring of 2016 against banks in First Data’s (FDC.N) “STAR” network, the largest U.S. bank messaging system connecting ATMs at more than 5,000 organisations, Group-IB researchers said in a 36-page report. First Data said in a statement that a number of small financial institutions operating on STAR network had had their credentials breached for administering debit cards earlier in 2016, leading it to implement new mandatory security controls. The firm said the STAR network was never itself bre...

Brent crude oil prices jumped above $65 per barrel after the shutdown of the Forties North Sea pipeline knocked out significant supplies from a market that was already tightening due to OPEC-led production cuts. Brent crude futures on Tuesday, the international benchmark for prices of crude, were at $65.07 dollars a barrel at 0211 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at 58.21 dollars a barrel. Britain’s Forties oil pipeline, the country’s largest at a capacity of 450,000 barrels per day (bpd), shut down on Monday after cracks were revealed. “The market reaction shows that in a tight market, any supply issue will quickly be reflected in higher prices,” said ANZ bank. The jump in Brent prices widened its premium to WTI prices, making U.S. oil exports more attractive. Via... NAN

Bad weather has led to delays and cancellations of flights in Nigeria since last week, leaving many passengers stranded. The flight cancellations in airports across the country began last Thursday. The southern parts of the country are currently experiencing shades of cloudy and foggy conditions. In the northern and central states, the weather is partly sunny and hazy during the morning hours with dust haze conditions in the evenings. Passengers from Lagos and Abuja to Kano were also stranded due to delayed flights coming in and out of Kano. Henrietta Yakubu, a spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed that the bad weather had affected many flights across the country. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has persistently predicted dust and hazy weather and poor visibility of two to five kilometers and less than 1,000 meters over the entire country in the last few weeks. The agency has been warning pilots against adverse weather situ...

The Consul General of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria, Mr. Chao Xiaoliang has disclosed that China-Nigeria bilateral trade cooperation has hit $2.7 billion dollars and in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries. According to him, “China-Nigeria bilateral trade volume reached 10 billion USD from January to August 2017, and investment from China reached $2.7 billion dollars.” Mr. Xiaoliang made the statement while giving an update on the Belt and Road Initiative, saying the cooperation has tremendously helped in promoting peace, stability and development of Africa and the world. According to the CG, Nigeria is China’s strategic partner and this year, 2017, marks 46th anniversary of the establishment of China-Nigeria diplomatic ties. He said the two countries have gained fruitful achievements from this friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in various facets of the countries’economy. He also said that by deepening China-Nigeria friendl...

The 2018 Appropriation Bill of Edo on Monday passed second reading at the House of Assembly. Gov. Godwin Obaseki had on Nov. 29 presented a budget estimate of N146.65 billion to the assembly for consideration. Leading the debate before the second reading passage of the Bill, the Majority Leader, Mr Roland Asoro (APC -Orihonmwon South), said that the budget was well-structured to cater for the infrastructural needs of the people. Asoro said, “This budget tagged `Budget of Growth’ was designed in such a way that it touches all constituencies in terms of road construction and provisions of social amenities to the people. In his contribution, the Deputy Speaker, Victor Edoror (APC-Esan Central), said that the budget had everything that the state needed to move forward. “It is a confirmation that the state governor is committed to taking Edo to the next level,” he said. In his contribution, Mr Foly Ogedengbe (APC-Owan East) said, ”This is the first time in 20 years that 16 roads...

Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar — accused of sexually assaulting more than 100 young girls in his care, including members of the gold-medal winning US Olympic team — was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Thursday for child pornography. The 54-year-old Nassar, who is facing sentencing next month on separate sexual assault charges, pleaded guilty in July to three counts of possessing child pornography. The doctor, who worked at Michigan State University in addition to USA Gymnastics, was found to be in possession of more than 37,000 graphic videos and images of child pornography on his computer hard drives. He was given the maximum 20 years in prison on each count by US District Judge Janet Neff at a federal court hearing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “He has demonstrated that he should never again have access to children,” Neff was quoted by the local Lansing State Journal newspaper as saying. “You have to wonder whether he felt he was omnipotent, whether he felt he w...

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the actual buyer of a painting of Jesus by Leonardo da Vinci that sold for a record-breaking $450 million at auction last month, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The young crown prince, known by his initials MBS, used an intermediary to buy the much-sought-after painting of Christ, “Salvator Mundi,” the newspaper reported, citing US intelligence and other unnamed sources. The son of Saudi King Salman is seen to be progressively consolidating his power, and is the architect of a wide-ranging plan dubbed Vision 2030 to bring social and economic change to his country’s oil-dependent economy. He is also seen as the mastermind of last month’s rounding-up of more than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen in a sweeping anti-corruption purge. The painting — one of fewer than 20 works generally accepted as being by the Renaissance master, according to Christie’s — was bought by little-known Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin ...

Aruna Quadri has placed Nigeria on the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) radar after setting a new personal record for the country and himself as he is now ranked 21 in the end-of-the-year ranking released by the sport governing body. The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), in a statement on Friday, said Quadri has now surpassed his best of 25th in the ranking. “This has helped him to displace Egypt’s Omar Assar as the continent’s best-ranked player in the world. “In spite of not matching the record set by Assar as the first African ranked among the top 20 in the world, Quadri ends the year as the highest-ranked African in the latest rating,’’ the Nigerian sport ruling body said. Following victories over top-ranked players at the Swedish Open, Quadri amassed 50 points to improve from 2457 to 2507 points to be rated 21 in the world ranking. Prior to this latest ranking, the best achieved by Quadri in the world rating was 25 and with this, he has set a new record...

Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a top contender in Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairmanship election has said that he would not step down for any other aspirants or bow to pressure to drop his ambition. Mr Idea Eguabor, the Director, Chief Raymond Dokpesi Campaign Organisation in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja said it was important for delegates to the PDP convention to know on time ahead of the election. Eguabor said the clarification was important following some speculations that Dokpesi had succumbed to political pressure and agreed to drop out of the race. “Nothing can indeed be further from the truth. Chief Dokpesi is not only a front runner but remains the aspirant to beat at the convention grounds on Saturday. “We urge teeming members and party delegates to disregard and ignore such cheap and diversionary antics aimed at causing ill wind in the PDP. “Chief Dokpesi will not step down and those who wish so are advised to redirect their energies to ...

Justice Adeniyi Ademola pulled a fast one on the National Judicial Council, by hurriedly announcing his resignation, a spokesman for the council revealed today. According to Soji Oye, NJC’s Director of Information. the council recommended on Wednesday the compulsory retirement of Ademola, along with Justice O. O. Tokode, both of the Federal High Court, for misconduct. The decision was taken at the Council’s 84th meeting on Dec. 6., chaired by the Chief Justice Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghe. Ademola apparently getting wind of NJC’s decision, hurriedly notified the council of his decision to voluntarily retire from the bench. Ademola was due for retirement on April 9, 2018, when he would attain the mandatory retirement age of 65 years. The council said its decision was pursuant to its findings on the allegation in the petition written against Ademola by Committee of Anambra State PDP House of Representatives Members-Elect. The council said the petitioners alleged gross misc...

A man has been accused of killing his girlfriend’s daughter after sexually abusing the 3-year-old North Carolina girl before her death, court documents provided by the family show. Onslow County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday the remains found in a creek last week were of Mariah Woods, who was reported missing by her mother five days before the gruesome discovery, FOX8 reported. Earl Kimrey, the live-in boyfriend of Woods’ mother, was arrested and charged with concealing the death the day before the body was found. Kimrey allegedly sexually abused Woods and her two younger brothers, police said. He also hit “both the [boys] with a belt” that caused a bloody nose to one of them, according to court documents provided to the Jacksonville Daily News by Mariah’s biological father, Alex Woods. One of the boys told investigators they saw Kimrey allegedly sexually abusing Woods. Mariah’s mother knew about the alleged abuse and Kimrey’s drug use, according to court documents....

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) on Thursday in Abuja urged Nigerians to leverage on Federal Government’s open partnership initiative to expose corruption. A member of the group, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, made the call at the Citizens and Media Roundtable on “Anti-Corruption Commitments of Open Government Partnership (OGP)’’ in Abuja. The OGP is a multi-stakeholder initiative that focuses on improving government transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens through technology and innovation. It was founded in 2011, and had grown from presence in eight countries to 75 countries by February, 2017, with Nigeria joining in 2016 as the 70th country to commit to the initiative. Nwagwu, who is one of the conveners of “Say No Campaign’’, said that what was important was for Nigerians to hold the government to the commitment it made to OGP. He said that since the government made the commitment by saying “look, I am ready to be open, I want...

Bayelsa Government on Thursday said it had spent N148.38 million in generating N1.86 billion in September. The state Deputy Governor, retired Rear Adm. John Jonah, told newsmen that the amount was the highest Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) recorded in the state history. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government also spent N88 million to collect N1.3 billion in August. He explained that the state government was compelled to drag the oil firms operating in the state to court before they were made paid their taxes. Jonah said that the development was responsible for the huge cost of collecting the internally generated revenue. The state recorded an increase of N554 million in September from the N1.3 billion generated in August, according to the deputy governor. Jonah said the state received N10.72 billion as net inflow from the Federation Account for October after N1.721 billion was deducted at source from a gross inflow of N11.793 billion. He sa...