A criminal gang in South Africa which kidnapped a teenage boy on Sunday is demanding a ransom in bitcoin cryptocurrency of nearly 120,000, dollars police said.

Police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi said, Katlego Marite, 13, was dragged into a car while playing with two friends near his home in Witbank, a town in the eastern province of Mpumalanga, on Sunday afternoon.

They demanded that the family should deposit a sum of 15 bitcoins, not in rands, he told news channel eNCA.

(The parents) dont even know what these bitcoins are. They are not dealing in those things. They are in tatters as we speak.

Source: NAN

A Court in London will deliver judgment on Friday in a case filed by lawyers for the Bodo community in Nigerias oil-producing Niger Delta.

The lawyers, went to court in London to fend off what they said was an attempt by Shell to kill off their litigation.

The community was devastated by two major oil spills a decade ago.

The Bodo oil spills have been the subject of years of legal wrangling.

In 2015, Shell accepted liability for the spills, agreeing to pay 55 million pounds (83 million dollars at the time) to Bodo villagers and to clean up their lands and waterways.

Oil spills, sometimes due to vandalism, sometimes to corrosion, are common in the Niger Delta, a vast maze of creeks and mangrove swamps criss-crossed by pipelines and blighted by poverty, pollution, oil-fuelled corruption and violence.

The spills have had a catastrophic impact on many communities where people have no other water supply than the creeks and rely on farming and fishing for survival.

At the same time, oil companies have run into problems trying to clean up spills, sometimes because of obstruction

and even violence by local gangs trying to extract bigger payouts, or to obtain clean-up contracts.

After years of delays, the clean-up in Bodo is currently underway and litigation in the London High Court is stayed, or on hold.

Lawyers for SPDC, the Nigerian arm of Shell, argued that the litigation should be struck off in

October 2018, or at the latest a year later, and that it should only be re-activated if SPDC failed to comply with its obligation to pay for the clean-up.

Lawyers for the Bodo community said that was unacceptable, because the clean-up could go wrong for any number of reasons and that under Shells proposal the villagers would be left without the recourse of going back to court.

The effect of what Shell is trying to do is to kill off the case, said Dan Leader, the Bodo communitys lead lawyer, on the sidelines of the hearing.

Its only because of the pressure of litigation that the clean-up is getting back on track.

But Shells lawyers, citing an earlier judgment, compared the stayed litigation to a gun in the cupboard that

the Bodo communitys lawyers wanted to be able to hold to Shells head at their convenience, for years on end.

They said the litigation was a hindrance to the clean-up because it gave some local community members the impression that there was still the possibility of a bigger payout, incentivising them to block the clean-up rather than cooperate.

The previous persistent delays to the clean-up process clearly demonstrate that litigating Nigerian oil spill cases in the English courts does little to resolve the complex underlying security and community issues which can frustrate attempts to clean up areas impacted by oil pollution, an SPDC spokeswoman said.

We hope that the community will continue to grant the access needed for clean-up to progress as planned.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra command, said it spotted 572 faults in 390 vehicles examined during the two-day Free Vehicle Safety Checks (FVSC), conducted by the command in Anambra.

Mr Sunday Ajayi, Sector Commander of FRSC in Anambra, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, on Wednesday.

He said 183 commercial, 196 private and 11 government vehicles were inspected during the exercise.

Ajayi explained that through the FVSC programme, the Corps uses a checklist of possible vehicular faults to examine vehicles on the spot.

According to him, poor lighting systems, bad wipers and bad tyres were the most prevalent faults detected.

The Sector Commander said the checks were not meant to penalise motorists, but to advise them on the conditions of their vehicles and recommend maintenance.

He said, We conducted safety checks on 390 vehicles under the command which is entirely free and 572 faults were detected.

Ajayi said the command had embarked on the evacuation of all broken-down vehicles and obstructions on the highways within Anambra.

He said the evacuation was to enable motorists drive under a safer environment, especially as the rainy season was close.

We have evacuated over 10 burnt vehicles since since we commenced the decongestion exercise two days ago, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Pope Francis urged Chinese Catholics on Wednesday to show they are in full communion with the Holy See.

The appeal is coming amid what appears to be another stall in the Vaticans longstanding attempts to reach a deal with Beijing over bishop nominations.

Francis made the comments during his general audience, noting that many Chinese Catholics will be marking a feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary this week in Sheshan, near Shanghai.

Francis prayed that all Chinese faithful can live their faith with generosity and serenity, and can make gestures of fraternity, harmony and reconciliation in full communion with the pope.

Chinas estimated 12 million Catholics are split between those belonging to the government-backed Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and an underground church loyal to the pope. These underground priests and parishioners are frequently detained and harassed.

Francis, and before him Pope Benedict XVI, have tried to unite the two communities, and in recent months Vatican officials had expressed hope that a deal to resolve the key stumbling block to reconciliation was nearing completion.

Under the deal, the Vatican would recognize seven bishops not chosen by the pope who have been appointed over the years by Beijing, and two underground bishops named by the pope would step aside. Going forward, the pope would have effective veto power over Beijing-nominated bishops, according to a Vatican official familiar with the talks.

But since the beginning of the year when word first emerged that an agreement was near, China appears to have hardened its position. In February, the government introduced new regulations on religious affairs and has hardened attitudes toward any organization outside the direct control of the Communist Party.

Recent propaganda posters have been popping up around China, saying God cant solve problems, only the party can. Go to church each day to study God, no way the spirit can relieve your hardship, reads one in Henan province south of Beijing. Go with the party, dont believe in God, the party will bring us so much happiness.

Supporters say the Vatican-pushed deal would help the Holy See achieve its years-long goal of bringing all of Chinas Catholics ostensibly under the popes wing. Critics say the deal is selling out Chinas long-suffering underground Catholics to an authoritarian regime.

Read More at :https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-to-china-catholics-make-gestures-showing-communion/2018/05/23/4fc17340-5e66-11e8-b656-236c621

Source: NAN

The return of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 would pave the way to make Igbo presidency a reality in 2023, Chief Osita Okechukwu, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), has assured Ohaneze Ndigbo.

“Ohaneze Ndigbo should work towards plucking the low hanging fruit; which is President of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023, than chase elusive theorems,’’ Okechukwu said on Tuesday in Enugu.

The president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023 will assuage the lamentation of marginalisation and return Ndigbo into the mainstream.

“The low hanging fruit is that equity and natural justice favours the South East more than any other geopolitical zone in the south to produce President of Nigeria in 2023.

“This is based on the fact that since our return to the 4th Republic in 1999 when the zoning convention commenced, the South West had eight years (1999-2007) and South-South five years plus (2010-2015). It’s our turn if we work hard and support President Buhari,’’ he said.

He issued a statement in a reaction to the communiqué of the Ohaneze Restructuring Summit held in Awka on Monday.

Okechukwu, while commending the organizers of the summit, called for pragmatism, `if truly they are working for the collective interest of Ndigbo’’.

He observed that the summit neither addressed the issue of Igbo presidency in 2023 nor commended Buhari for his efforts at revamping dilapidated infrastructure in the South-East.

He appealed to Ohaneze to stop squandering the golden opportunity of the South-East to harvest the zoning convention between the North and South, by pontificating and platitudes.

Dismissing the less democratic six year tenure Ohaneze recommended; he said: “One, the truism is that four years tenure renewable by peoples vote blends squarely into the tenets of democracy, which allows a referendum on the incumbent.’’

“In other words, the four years incumbent is aware that he can be voted out and works hard to please the electorate; unlike the single six years tenure which entrenches corruption and do or die apocalypse.’’

On the fine line in the Communiqué read by Prof. Charles Soludo, which states that, `Ndigbo want a Nigeria that works’; Okechukwu said that he was sincerely on the same page with Ohaneze because “we are all praying for Nigeria that works’’.

“`it is the quest for Nigeria that works which made President Muhammadu Buhari to embark on the massive critical infrastructural development – roads, rails, Agriculture and Power (RRAP) Projects as well as construction of 5,000 kilometres of Federal roads and 5,000 kilometres of standard gauge rail lines.

“An additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity and self-sufficiency in food production,’’ he said.

He however regretted that there was no one sentence in the communiqué, commending Mr President for the construction 2nd Niger Bridge; other dilapidated Federal roads in the region; gas pipeline; Enugu coal and agriculture farms.

Okechukwu said that propaganda apart, Ndigbo would be one of the greatest beneficiaries of Buhari’s RRAP Projects and it would be the onerous duty of our son or daughter president in 2023 to consolidate Buhari’s RRAP Projects.

On the issue of regions, he said it was on record that “we all support additional state in the South East’’.

Source: NAN

Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani and a politician, Mr. Samuel Okposo were docked today in Port Harcourt for a six-count charge of money laundering.

The amount involved was N750million, part of the $115million pilfered from the treasury by former oil minister, Diezani Alison Madueke.

All the three men appeared before Justice B. Bilikisu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the accused collected the money from the Garrison branch of a new generation bank in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the eve of the 2015 general elections .

The money was part of the infamous $115million Diezani Alison- Madueke cash deployed to bribe many politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election .

Kobani allegedly collected N50,000,000 out of the heist while Okposo allegedly collected the remaining N700,000,000.

Count one of the charge read: That you Samuel Johnson Okposo on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire and aid other persons yet to be charged, to acquire and take possession and control of the sum of Seven Hundred Million Naira( N700,000,000.00) from Fidelity Bank location Garrison, Port Harcourt, reasonably knowing and or ought to have known that such fund or property forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under section 15( 3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.

Count two of the charge read: That you Kenneth Kobani on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire and aid other persons yet to be charged, to acquire and take possession and control of the sum of Fifty Million Naira( N50, 000,000.00) from Fidelity Bank location Garrison, Port Harcourt, reasonably knowing and or ought to have known that such fund or property forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under section 15( 3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.

When the charge was read to them, they pleaded not guilty

Prosecution counsel, C.A. Okoli told the court that he was ready for trial and prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody. However, the lead defense counsel, C.A. Okala, SAN, sued for the bail of the defendants.

Justice B. Bilikisu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000,000 and a surety each in like sum. She adjourned the matter till June 4 , 2018 for trial.

Source: NAN

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Bishop Anselm Umoren, has called on the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibility to protect lives and property of citizens.

Umoren made the call on Tuesday in Abuja in his sermon at the Requiem Mass for the slain priests and lay faithful in Mbalon, Benue.

Two Catholic priests, Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, and 17 worshippers were killed on Tuesday, April 24.

They were killed when suspected herdsmen invaded St. Ignatius Quasi Parish, Ukpor-Mbalom in Ayar-Mbalom community of Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) during Morning Mass.

The bishop reminded the President Muhammadu Buhari of his inaugural speech in 2015 to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians irrespective of their religion and tribe.

We are here today to remind our President about his promise to secure the lives and property of the citizens.

Life is sacred; it is only God that has the right to take life, so there should be dignity for human life.

Therefore, we call on the government to defend the citizens.

We pray for the repentance of those killing innocent people that they may be converted because God wants them to repent from their evil deeds, he said.

He, however, called on Christians to pray for peace and justice to reign in the country, adding that they should be people of clean hands and clear hearts.

Umoren also urged Christians not to allow the killings to affect their relationship with God and the country.

We should fear God who owns our body and soul; we should not fear those that can kill our body only, the bishop said.

Umoren said the martyrs of Benue would be remembered for their commitment to their God.

Also, the Primate of Church Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, reiterated the need for the government to protect the lives and property of citizens.

The Army, Navy, Police and all the security agencies should be empowered to enter the bush and fish out these killers and deal with them.

They are human beings, they have to prosecute them and bring them to face the law.

If this is not done, this problem will not come to an end, he said.

Okoh urged Christians not to be intimidated with the happenings but should remain steadfast in prayers.

He commended the Catholic Church for it contribution to peace and justice in the country and assured them of the support of the Anglican Communion.

In his remark, Dr Samson Ayokunle, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), President, also called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the Benue killings.

Ayokunle was represented by Dr Stephen Adeghita, CAN Director of Social Affairs.

We must continue to demand for justice, the blood of the martyrs will not be in vain, he said.

Also Speaking, FCT CAN chairman, Dr Jonah Samson said, CAN is saying enough is enough; we are saying no to killings, brutality and wickedness of all sort, he added.

There was massive turnout of Christians at the Christian Centre in solidarity with the Catholic Church in mourning of the slain two catholic priests and parishioners.

The peaceful protest and Rosary Procession, which started from the Christian Centre, would end in Our Lady of Queen of Nigeria, Pro-Cathedral, Garki.

The peaceful protest was led by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Bishop Anselm Umoren, in solidarity with some Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officials as well as some Christian leaders in the FCT.

Source: NAN

Nigeria's Super Eagles lost to 3 - 2 to the EUROPA league winners, Athletico Madrid at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo.

The game kicked off at 6PM Nigerian time.

Salisu Yusuf named a very strong line up for the game which included the Nwakali brothers, while Diego Simeone chose to leave star player Fernando Torres and captain Gabi on the bench.

Chances for both sides until Arsenal loanee Kelechi Nwakali, opened the scoring with a sumptuous strike in the 31st minute, but almost immediately Angel Correa equalised for the Spanish side as they went to half time with a 1-1 draw.

Source: Pulse NG

Former Minister of Water Resources Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, alongside four others was docked today in Sokoto Federal High Court on a five count charge of Conspiracy and Money Laundering to the tune of N500 million.

Charged along with the former minister are Senator Abdullahi Mohammmed Wali, Ibrahim Gidado, Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and Ibrahim Milgoma.

They were being tried by Justice Idrissa Kolo.

Trouble started for the defendants after the Commission received intelligence that the accused persons were also beneficiaries of the $115m allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to senior members of the Peoples Democratic Party, to influence the 2015 election.

Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who also benefitted from the money, are separately facing trial.

Shagari and other defendants allegedly received the N500million, which was not paid through any financial institution, in flagrant violation of provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

One of the counts read: “You Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Gidado and Ibrahim Milgoma sometime in March 2015, within the justification of this honourable court did conspire among yourselves to receive cash payment of the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) from one Abdulrahaman Ibrahim without transacting through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 16(2) of the same Act”.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

Prosecution counsel Johnson Ojogbane requested a date for trial in view of the plea of the defendants and also asked that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

Counsel representing the 1st,3rd and 4th defendants Ibrahim Abdulaziz as well as counsel for the 2nd and 5th defendants Ibrahim Idris and L.A Abdulkadir respectively applied for the bail of their clients pending the determination of the case.

Ojogbane confirmed that he was served with the various bail applications by the applicants but also reminded the court that he was only served yesterday (May 21 ) and therefore needed time to respond.

Justice Idrissa after listening to the arguments exchanged between the parties remanded the defendants in police custody till Thursday, 24 May, 2018 for the hearing and determination of bail.

Source: NAN

The police announced on Tuesday the arrest of two of the fugitive robbers that took part in the attack on banks in Offa on 4 May, about two weeks after they were declared wanted and their photographs published.

One of the suspects arrested was identified as 35 year-old Kunle Ogunleye, also known as Arrow..

An indigene of Kwara, he was arrested on 20 May in Oro town, also in the state.

The second suspect arrested was Micheal Adikwu, from Apa LGA in Benue State. He was arrested two weeks ago.

Adikwu was a dismissed Police corporal. He was dismissed from the police in 2012, after being found guilty of aiding the escape of robbery suspects in police custody.

He served three years in prison. When he was freed in 2015, he became what the police called, “a vicious and notorious gang leader of an armed robbery syndicate, wanted in Kwara and beyond for for several armed robbery cases.

The police in an update said the arrest of these two gang leaders have brought to 22, the suspects arrested so far by the Nigeria Police Force in connection to the Offa Bank Robbery.

“The two suspects have confessed to the crime and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the Offa bank robbery. They will be charged to court on completion of investigation”, said Moshood Jimoh, an assistant commissioner of police and public relations officer.

Moshood said: Members of the general public who have any information further information about the other wanted suspects still at large should feel free to contact the Police through the following Phone numbers 08062080913, 08126285268, 08032365122, 07056792065, 08088450152. Protection of the informant will be guaranteed by the Police and handsome rewards in addition to the pledge of Five Million (N5,000,000) by Kwara State Government await anyone whose information leads to the arrest of these wanted suspects.

Source: NAN