More than 200 children abused at German Catholic choir -- Lawyer

 

 

More than 200 children may have been abused sexually, by adults working with a Catholic children's choir in southern Germany, a lawyer tasked with investigating the allegations said Friday.

Ulrich Weber said the 231 alleged victims included 50 who made "plausible" claims of sexual abuse at the Regensburger Domspatzen boys' choir and two associated boarding schools between 1953 and 1992.

Weber, who was commissioned by the Catholic diocese of Regensburg, said that former Domspatzen conductor Georg Ratzinger must have known of at least some of the abuses. Ratzinger, the older brother of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, has previously denied knowledge of the incidents.

Allegations of abuse surfaced several years ago, at a time when the Catholic Church's handling of such claims was being widely scrutinized following a series of high-profile cases in Europe and the United States.

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Weber said his eight-month investigation involved interviews with more than 140 people, including 70 alleged victims. He concluded that almost a third of all pupils at two primary feeder schools for the choir, one in Etterzhausen and one in Pielenhofen, suffered some form of abuse.
The sexual assaults ranged from stroking to rape, he said.

"The events were known internally and criticized, but they had almost no consequences," Weber said.
Most of the alleged crimes have passed the statute of limitations for criminal complaints by now.

The diocese published the interim report on its website Friday, along with a year-old sermon by Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer in which he expressed regret for the abuse the children allegedly suffered.
The diocese has previously offered to pay 2,500 euros in damages to each of the victims.

Mexican Druglord Captured (See Photo)

Mexican Druglord Captured (See Photo)

 

World's most wanted drug lord, El Chapo captured today close to his hometown after gun battle with Mexican marines.

 

 

 

 

Onigbinde Reveals How FIFA decides World Ranking

A former FIFA Instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde, says the quality of friendly matches undertaken by the Super Eagles determine the team’s ranking in the monthly world ranking.

Onigbinde told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Friday that the world ranking showed the true state of every nation’s current football development.
He said the FIFA world ranking system was based on teams’ success, with the most successful teams being ranked highest.

The Super Eagles are currently ranked 66 on the world ranking log.
The former Eagles coach said with good administrative structure, the future of quality football would be ensured in the country.

Onigbinde said: “Our administrators need to get their acts together.
“They need to plan ahead.
“Players don’t solicit for friendlies.
“Administrators do.
“So it falls on them to ensure that players are booked for high-ranking international friendlies.

“There is need to plan ahead for any friendly match we want for the Super Eagles.
“It is not done to secure friendly with a high-profile country like England within two weeks.
“It will never happen because they have a structure that is well planned.

“Even common India has a list of their friendly matches for the next two years, unlike us that have a fire brigade approach to things.
“A team that plans will never fail.

“There is need for a functional, meaningful, technical developmental programme for sports generally and football in particular in the country.
“I have been talking about this for over 16 years but it’s nowhere in view and if you check the number one objective of FIFA is about improvement of the game of football.

“That is FIFA’s top priority.
“So if we are not doing that, are we not following FIFA’s objective that is supposed to guide us.
“We win age grade group competitions, which are supposed to help select players for our senior teams, but that can’t happen when we don’t have proper records of these players’ age.

“When I talk most times, some football administrators believe that it’s a publicity stunt.
“For God’s sake, at my age, I don’t need that.
“I remain a loyal Nigerian.

“I want to see my country do well.”
NAN reports that Nigeria’s most successful FIFA ranking till date was in 1995 when the country was ranked fifth in the world.

Akwa Ibom State Assembly legally constituted – NBA

 

 

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has dismissed claims in certain quarters that the current Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly is not legally constituted.

The Uyo branch chairman of the NBA, Aniekan Akpan, while reacting to certain newspaper and social media publications, described the argument against the current status of the House as misleading.

He said section 91 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended deals with the “composition” of the various state houses of Assembly and not their quorum.

He explained that the section states clearly that the house of Assembly of every state should be made up of 24 and not more than 40 seats. 

He pointed out that the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly is made up of 26 seats. He said, therefore, that the current composition of the house has not changed despite the various judgments.

Barr. Akpan made this known in a presentation he made at the public hearing of the 2016 briefing and public hearing on the 2016 budget organised by the State House of Assembly today.

“About 2 days ago, we read in some newspapers and the social media, arguments tending to imply that this distinguished house, in the imagination of the writers, is not property constituted and that the House as it stands had no powers to sit, or elect a speaker, or indeed receive the 2016 Budget from the governor.

“It is important to deal with this preliminary issue because if, as they claim, this House is not properly constituted, it would be a anathema for The Nigerian Bar Association to honor its invitation or otherwise associate with illegality in any form.

“The proponents of the argument made heavy weather of sec 91 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as variously amended, and came to the erroneous and/or mistaken conclusion that having lost some members to various judgments of the Court of Appeal that ordered rerun elections, the number of Honourable Members presently in the House being less than 24, the House can neither sit nor election a speaker, nor receive the Budget.

“With respect to them and others who may have been confused by this misleading argument, this interpretation is completely at variance with the words and spirit of the Consituation. Section 91 of the constitution deals with “COMPOSITION” of the various state Houses of Assembly and not their quorum. This distinction is crucial and central to a proper understanding of the issue.

The section states inter alia that the house of Assembly of every state should be made up of not less than 24 and not more than 40 seats (or state constituencies) the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly is made up of 26 seats (or state constituenices).

“This has not changed despite the various judgments. 2/3 of its membership would form a quorum, in this case 18. The house presently has 22 validly elected members. This is clearly above its required quorum. Consequently the house can lawfully stand carry out any business Including the election of its speaker.”

Doyin Okupe says President Buhari’s anti-graft war selective...condemns Metuh's arrest

Dr. Doyin Okupe

The former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of pursuing a selective war against corruption and ignoring the rule of law.

According to him, recent developments including the arrest of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, is making the President to lose respect.

“Buhari is respected but with the hounding of opposition members, he is losing respect in the eyes of the international community. This selective probe is eroding his integrity,” he said in an interview.
Okupe condemned Metuh’s detention, insisting that the PDP sourced and utilised its campaign funds the same way the All Progressives Congress did.

He said, “The Federal Government should not try to dabble into or control the finances of the PDP. The way and manner the ruling party is undertaking its selective probe by hounding opposition leaders is unbecoming and very disheartening.

“Party finances are not the business of the government. The former National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, cannot deny that he didn’t collect money for campaigns during the last elections.

“Why is the Federal Government not asking questions on the sources of the APC’s campaign funds? The way the PDP spent billions of naira to fund its campaigns in the media was the same way the APC did theirs? Where did the APC get its campaign funds from? The opposition must be given the liberty to thrive.”

Reacting to an allegation that a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, benefited from the $2.1bn arms funds, Okupe said the former minister merely provided a service to the PDP during the electioneering and should not be questioned.
 
Okupe urged the President to be tolerant of criticism even as he condemned a statement credited to the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, in which the APC chair asked Nigerians not to abuse Buhari.

He advised Buhari to emulate Jonathan who he said was insulted by many leaders of the opposition but never retaliated.

Fani-Kayode had said on Wednesday that the All Progressives Congress spent more than the Peoples Democratic Party which was in power during the last general elections.

Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, made the claim while reacting to the probe of some key officials of the PDP by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He said, “No election campaign anywhere in the world, including that of President Buhari was run with just words, goodwill, grass and pebbles and neither were we given free campaign adverts or airtime. All these things were run and paid for with large sums of money.

“This is especially so with publicity and media because that was the lifeblood of the various campaigns. I repeat, there is nothing that we did in the campaign organisation or that my directorate did that Lai Mohammed, Buhari and the APC did not do in theirs.

‘As a matter of fact, they spent far more than we did but I have no idea where they got their money and whether they were private or public funds.”

The ex-minister also denied reports that he collected N1.7bn from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

ISIS fighter publicly killed his own mother

ISIS fighter publicly killed his own mother

 

 

A source from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights made it known that an ISIS fighter publicly executed his mother in Raqqa, Syria, because she encouraged him to leave the group. 

 

The woman who was in her 40s, obviously worried for her son's safety warned him to leave because she feared that the US-backed coalition was going to wipe out the terror group. The said son neglected his mother's advice and reported the matter to the group.

Citing local sources, the Observatory said the 20-year-old man executed his mother on Wednesday near the post office building where she worked in front of hundreds of people in Raqqa, a main base of operations for the group in Syria.

Have you seen Kim Kardashian's twin?

 

There's no doubt that 20-year-old blogger, Kamilla Osman, is one of Kim Kardashian's doppelgangers, but she still admits that she had a little work done on her face.

"The only thing I did was my nose and my lips -- and the nose was for medical reasons," Kamilla revealed. "I had my nose done, which is rhinoplasty, for my health problems. I had a deviated septum so I couldn't breathe. That was for that and they tweaked it a bit. You know, why not?"

Kamilla says she got her lips done as a teenager. "My lips, I did them when I was 16 or 15 years old," she said. "As I was growing up, I always wanted big lips."

Her uncanny resemblance to Kim has helped Osman garner over 155,000 Instagram followers. "I think she's such a gorgeous woman. I mean, probably one of the most beautiful women in the world," she said of the 35-year-old reality star.

While Kamilla admits that it's fun to look like a celebrity, her main focus is being herself. "I'm embracing the fact that people think we look alike and I appreciate it because I think she's beautiful," she told ET. "But I want to be me."

Kamilla says she sees the differences in personality traits between her and the mother-of-two. "Kim is very reserved, calm and collected. Me, I'm more like a storm," she quipped. "I have a few talents and I hope to show the world soon -- that's probably more in music and fashion industries."

While Kim is happily married to Kanye West, her look-alike is still single. "I mean, Kanye is a great guy. He's one of one," Kamilla complimented. "It's all about personality that catches my eye. Of course, you want your man to be appealing but it's more of a character that I'm looking for. A man has to be kind, compassionate, ambitious and just love me."

Like her doppelganger, Kamilla has learned to deal with her haters. "They called me a Walmart version of Kim Kardashian. That was so funny!!" she exclaimed. "I actually commented back and was like, 'That's a brilliant comment.' So yes guys, I'm a Walmart version of Kim Kardashian."
 
She added, "You know, you got to have fun with it. I can't do anything about it. This is going to be my face until the end of the time."

ET also spoke with one of Kim's makeup artists, Mario Dedivanovic, about how you too can look like the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star. Check it out:

LG Caretaker Chairmen in Enugu inherit N4bn debt-- Commissioner

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed all Local Government Caretaker Chairmen and their deputies to as a matter of policy reside in their respective councils, adding that the era of living in hotels was over.

Ugwuanyi gave the directive during the swearing-in ceremony of the chairmen at the Government House, Enugu. “All chairmen and their deputies must reside in their councils as the era of living in hotels and running the local government areas is over,” Ugwuanyi said.

The position of Ugwuanyi was sequel to a revelation by Chijioke Edeoga, the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, that the new local government Caretaker Committee Chairmen are inheriting over N4 billion in debt.

Edeoga said at the ceremony that the debts were incurred by the elected chairmen whose tenure expired on January 4.

He said the disclosure was necessary for the incoming chairmen to understand the enormity of financial obligations they would be faced with after their inauguration.

He said: “What is happening here today is the result of extensive consultations, mental and physical work put in to constitute an impeccable team.

“It is a clarion call to duty.

“You heard the governor talk of bailout.

“What is being handed over to you are sets of financial obligations to grapple with, so that you can begin to address them.”

Edeoga said acceptance to serve was a clarion call to duty, adding that it was their responsibility to prudently utilise available resources to meet the challenges ahead.

The commissioner listed the financial obligations of the various local government councils as follows: Aninri, N290 million; Awgu, N155 million; Enugu East, N365 million; and Enugu North, N207 million.

Similarly, Enugu South, N465 million; Ezeagu, N479 million; Igbo-Etiti, N360 million; Igboeze North, N330 million; Igboeze South, N622 million, and Isi-uzo, N198 million.

Others were Nkanu East, N408 million; Nkanu West, N290 million; Nsukka, N552 million; Oji River, N175 million; Udenu, N346 million; Udi, N242 million, and Uzo Uwani, N286 million.

Responding on behalf of the Chairmen, the Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area, Prof. Rose Onah, said it was great to be considered to serve in that capacity.

Onah said in spite of the enormous financial challenges, they still thanked God for the opportunity.

“We have heard the enormous financial challenges and it is something to thank God for being chosen to occupy these positions of responsibility,” Onah said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that three of the immediate past chairmen, whose tenure elapsed on January 4, were re-nominated to serve in the new capacity.

They are Cornelius Nnaji of Enugu East, Afam Okereke of Nkanu West and Cornelius Onwubunya of Uzo-Uwani.

Gov Aregbesola to sack striking Osun doctors on Monday

 

There are indications that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State may sack the striking doctors in the state by Monday. He gave the hint in Osogbo on Thursday while speaking at the 75th birthday anniversary of the founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hassan Sunmonu, Punch reports.

Aregbesola expressed shock that despite his efforts to persuade the doctors, who commenced the ongoing strike on September 28, 2015, they had stuck to their guns.

He said, “To my dismay, they stuck to their guns. But you are either in or out. We have decided to use the civil service rule.

“The Head of Service will implement that as from Monday. Head of Service, it is over to you.”

Some of those present started grumbling loud enough to attract the attention of the governor, who was forced to ask if some of the doctors were present at the occasion.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, Mrs. Omolara Ajayi, had while addressing journalists, appealed to the doctors to resume work in the interest of the masses.

She said, “I want to appeal to them to resume in the interest of the masses, people who do not have an alternative. A life that is lost is lost forever.”

President Buhari pledges to invest more in science and technology

 

President Buhari has restated his commitment to invest in Science, Technology and Innovation to enable Nigeria become more competitive at the continental and global levels.

The President, who stated this yesterday at an inaugural meeting with the National Research and Innovation Council, NRIC, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the objectives of securing Nigeria, growing the economy, creating jobs and fighting crime can best be achieved through science and technology.

He stressed that Nigeria must accord high priority to science and technology if it must take its rightful place among the leading economies in the modern world.

According to him, “Nigeria’s vision of becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020 is only attainable when science, technology and innovation are fully integrated into our national socio-economic development process. That process will now be fast tracked with the coming on board of this Council.

“I wish to assure this Council of my determination and commitment to ensure that as a nation, we will invest appropriately in science, technology and innovation in order to guarantee our competitiveness both continentally and globally. Our goal to secure our nation, grow our economy, create jobs and fight crime can best be achieved if we embrace science and technology.

“The NRIC is geared towards coordinating and streamlining the nation’s research and development activities as well as fostering innovation. It is designed to accelerate the growth of innovation-based entrepreneurship in the country and to create conditions for the commercialisation of current and further research findings in our universities and research institutes.

“Your Council is also expected to reposition STI as a national priority to guarantee sustainability, high standard of living and quality of life for Nigerians as well as fast-track industrial and economic development. In this regard, the Council will meet quarterly to consider and take vital decisions on STI related issues.”

Court of Appeal judgement on Abia State election ‘fundamentally wrong’ – Mike Ozekhome

 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ozekhome has described the Court of Appeal Judgment on the Abia State Election Petition Appeal as ‘fundamentally wrong’ and full of errors in Law.

Mr. Ozekhome, who was speaking on Channels TV Breakfast Programme ‘Sunrise Daily’ aired on Friday, pointed out that the Court of Appeal was wrong in nullifying the election of Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Alex Otti as the winner of the election.

The constitutional lawyer noted that the Court of Appeal erred in law by granting the Appeal of Mr. Otti who could not adopt his own written statement on oath at the tribunal and also by admitting in evidence, the Card Reader Report from a witness who was not the maker of the document.

Ozekhome also wondered how the Court of Appeal could give credence to the evidence of the APGA Star Witness, Mr. Ahamdi Nweke, who was only a Collation Centre Agent and could not have been at the Polling Units where elections were alleged not to have held.

He reasoned that on the facts of the case before the Court of Appeal, it was fundamentally wrong for them to have declared Mr. Alex Otti as the winner of the elections and ordered his swearing-in.

The lawyer noted that considering the fact that even going by the calculations of the Appeal Court justices, the difference between the votes allocated to Mr. Otti and Dr. Ikpeazu was 48,000 while the total number of registered voters in the 3 Local Government Areas of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North where they cancelled elections are over 250,000 and as such, going by the Electoral Act, the very worst the Court of Appeal should have ordered should have been a rerun election in those 3 Local Government Areas where they cancelled elections to decide the eventual winner.

He equally faulted the Court of Appeal for relying only on the Card Reader to determine the issue of over-voting and wondered why they discountenanced the Manual Accreditation done in those Local Government Areas considering the fact that the INEC guidelines allowed for Manual Accreditation where Card Readers fail.

Mr. Ozekhome expressed the confidence that the Supreme Court will not allow the Appeal Court Judgment on Abia State Governorship Elections to stand in the interest of Equity, Justice and Fairness.

EFCC arrests Buhari’s associate, Jafaru Isa

 EFCC arrests Buhari’s associate, Jafaru Isa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday night arrested a former military governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Lawal Jafaru Isa.

Mr. Isa is the first chieftain of the APC arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of a sweeping probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.

Mr. Isa, Military Administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Isa, also a close political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested at his Abuja residence located at Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro.
According to a source, operatives of the anti-graft commission invaded his residence around 9pm, and then whisked him away a few minutes later.

It was gathered that Mr. Isa, a retired brigadier general, was invited last week to appear before the commission on Wednesday (yesterday) to clear the air on “some questionable receipts” from the former NSA.

Investigators believe the retired soldier received over N100million from Mr. Dasuki.

Rather than honouring the invitation, sources said, Mr. Isa wrote a letter to the EFCC through his lawyer, seeking a postponement of his appearance date on the grounds of death of a relative.

Apparently dissatisfied with his excuse, the EFCC however arrested him to clarify the “questionable receipts”.
The spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Ujuwaren, could not be reached Thursday morning for‎ comments on the arrest.

But a top official of the commission confirmed the development.
”He has been wasting our time, and we just have to pick him up for our investigation to continue,” the official said.

Not All Former Governors Were Corrupt – Isa Yuguda

Former Governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda has dispelled the assertion that all former governors were corrupt while in office.

In a statement issued from Abuja, the former governor assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari has the best intentions for the country.

Yuguda who governed Bauchi State between 2007 and 2015 said “We can discern clearly that President Buhari is trying to make things work. His clarity of purpose is as unmistakable as his sincerity. Nigerians should try to be patient. Take for example the situation in the oil sector where it has not been possible to dismantle the cartel in that sector in the past.

“Everybody has a critical role to play in the ongoing nation-building process including those who served in whatever capacity in the past. Our present political office holders need to accommodate the opinions of former public office holders for the collective benefit of the country. It is not everybody who once served that is corrupt. This mindset should change.

“On a very personal note, I did my best while in office but some misguided elements went on social media platforms to discredit me unjustly and ignorantly, accusing me of what I did not do. I leave them to Almighty Allah’s judgment. I served my people and my country to the best of my ability and conscience. I love my country. We have no other country we can call our own.”

Gov Fayose celebrates his wife on her birthday (See His Message to His Wife)

 

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described his wife, Feyisetan, as a great source of support and God’s grace he enjoys as a politician and the leader of the current administration in the state. In a congratulatory message by the governor yesterday Thursday January 7, to mark his wife’s 52nd birthday, Fayose described his wife as the positive force behind his political successes.

 

According to a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said of his wife,

“She has distinguished herself as a role model. A person who believes in modesty and totally reserved. “Her‎ prayer life has made a difference and has impacted positively on me. Any woman that marries a man like me, who is generally seen to be fearless and courageous and who is vulnerable to attacks by political opponents, cannot afford not to have a woman with her sterling qualities as wife. Only a virtuous, Godly and resolute woman like her have what it takes to stand firm in the face of attacks. “I appreciate her as she adds another year and also appreciate her care for our children. God has brought her to this kingdom at this auspicious time when many supposed men of honour have disappeared into the thin air. “I want to assure her that her labour of love will not be in vain. She is a woman to emulate for her modesty and inspiring and fervent prayer life and only her can be an ideal wife for a man like me,” he said.

The governor wished her many more glorious and fulfilling years on earth and prayed for more bliss in their marriage.

 

 

The second left really resembles the father.

Checkout photos from the 2015 Glo-CAF awards & full list of winners

The 2015 Glo-CAF Awards took place last night at the International Conference Center, Abuja, Nigeria, and below are the award winners:

Club of the Year – TP Mazembe
Fair Play Award – Allez Casa (Senegal Supporters group)
Women’s National Team Of The Year – Cameroon
Men’s National Team Of The Year -Cote D’Ivoire

Youth Player Of The Year- Victor Osimhen

Most Promising Talent -Oghenekaro Etebo

Coach of The Year – Havre Renard

Women’s National Team Of The Year – Cameroon
Woman player of the year – Gabrielle Enganamouit
Referee Of The Year – Ameshinda Bakari Wa Gambia Papa Gassama
African Player Of The Year based in Africa-Mbwana Samatta
Football Leader Of The Year – Abdiqani Said Arab Of Somalia

African Player Of The Year -Pierre Emerick Aubameyang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Davido and babymama sign peace accord

 

Following the media battle that took place recently, the families of Afro hip-hop singer, David Adeleke (aka Davido) and his Baby mama, Sophia Momodu, have fi­nally signed a peace agreement.

They decided to resolve amicably, the child trafficking allegation levelled against the music star. According to the SUN, this came at a meeting held at the instance of the Na­tional Agency For the Prohibition of Trafficking In Per­son (NAPTIP) which was attended by Sophia, the musi­cian’s father, Deji Adeleke, Mr. and Mrs. Dele Momodu, Adeleke’s lawyer, counsel to Dele Momodu, Gbolaga Ajayi, Mr. Ajayi Famakinwa, and NAPTIP’s representa­tives.

At the meeting, it was decided that the issue be resolved amicably and that both families should stop the ongoing media war.

NAPTIP’s representatives, who took Sophia and Dele Momodu and his wife’s statements, advised the Adelekes to allow the child’s mother have access to her child, currently in custody of Davido’s half-sister, Ashley Adeleke.

Momodu’s lawyer, Gbolaga Ajayi, who con­firmed that the meeting held, told Daily Sun that the issue of blackmail being alleged by Davido does not arise.

“What will Dele Momodu blackmail Davido for; mon­ey, position or what?” he queried.