News
Senate passes bill prohibiting payment of ransom to kidnappers
A bill seeking to prohibit the payment of ransom has passed third reading at the senate.
The bill was passed by the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday after Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman of the committee on judiciary, presented a report.
The bill is an amendment of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013.
The senator said the legislation would discourage the rising spate of abductions witnessed across the country.
“The overall import of this bill is to discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom in Nigeria, which is fast spreading across the country,” the senator representing Ekiti central said.
“Having policies in place to combat financing of terrorism will surely reduce or eliminate privacy and anonymity in financial and other sundry transactions as it relates to the subject in our society.”
Bamidele said the need for a review of the bill arose from the unfavourable ratings of the financial act task force (FATF) recommendations of Nigeria’s mutual evaluation report.
“The passage of this bill will save Nigeria from being included among countries in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list with its attendant negative consequences, which might ultimately result in international sanctions that would affect the image of the country in the comity of nations,” he said.
On his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the bill, if passed, would improve the country’s security situation.
“This is one piece of legislation that can turn around not only the security situation in Nigeria, but even the economic fortunes of our country,” Lawan said.
News
Oyewole Adeyeye, Ekiti chief judge, is dead
Oyewole Adeyeye, the chief judge of Ekiti state, is dead.
Adeyeye reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday.
He was said to have been unwell since July 12, 2023.
The illness followed severe injuries he sustained when a section of the state high court complex collapsed on him.
The association of international female lawyers (FIDA) in the state has issued a condolence message.
“With deep sorrow in our hearts and in total submission to the will of God, FIDA Ekiti consoles with the family of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye on his call to glory,” the statement reads.
“May He find rest with his maker.
“I pray that God grants the family, the Judiciary and the people of Ekiti State, the grace to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu great one.”
News
Human Rights Radio partially shuts down over detention of protesting minors
Human Rights Radio and Television, an Abuja-based media organisation, says it has partially shut down operations to protest the treatment of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The media organisation disclosed news of the partial shutdown in a statement released on X on Monday.
On Friday, the police arraigned 76 suspects, some of whom were minors, over their alleged roles in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
The charges levied against them include terrorism, arson, and treasonable felony.
At least four of the minors, however, collapsed at the court session.
The defendants, who looked ill and malnourished, were later granted N10 million bail each.
The trial, along with news that the defendants had been detained for 90 days prior to arraignment, has drawn widespread criticisms from the civil society.
Also reacting, the broadcast establishment called for the unconditional release of the children, and reiterated its stance on solidarity with the voiceless “until justice is served”.
“Human Rights Radio and Television (Brekete Family) shuts down partially in protest of the Nigerian government’s detention of underage children,” the statement reads.
“This decision reflects our deep commitment to defending the rights of the vulnerable and holding authorities accountable.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians and international bodies to join us in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of these children. Until justice is served, we stand firm in solidarity with the voiceless.”
News
Equatorial Guinean anti-graft boss enmeshed in 400 sex tapes scandal
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a top official of the Equatorial Guinean government, is embroiled in a massive sex scandal.
According to Real Equatorial Guinea, the scandal was uncovered when officials searched the house and office of Engonga, the embattled director general of Equatorial Guinea’s Anti-graft National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF) as part of a fraud investigation.
The country’s authorities were said to have discovered about 400 explicit videos allegedly featuring him and numerous women.
The footage, discovered in his office, reportedly included sex tapes involving prominent persons, such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the president of Equatorial Guinea, the director general of police’s wife, and about 20 of the country’s ministers’ wives, among others.
The videos, now widely circulated on social media, were filmed in his office, hotels, and toilets, with all scenes being recorded with the participant’s consent.
https://twitter.com/teonguema/status/1853095431263400274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1853095431263400274%7Ctwgr%5E263b65fdc2c9d6ea58be763a4c3d6bf704ef0cd3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flifestyle.thecable.ng%2Fequatorial-guinean-anti-graft-boss-engonga-enmeshed-in-400-video-sex-scandal%2F
Addressing the scandal via X, Teodoro Nquema, Equatorial Guinea’s vice president, emphasized that sexual relations in administrative workplaces are strictly prohibited.
He warned that anyone violating the rule will face disciplinary actions, including dismissal from their job.
“Given the abuse that has been shown on social media in Equatorial Guinea in recent days, and remembering that ministries are solely and exclusively for carrying out administrative work in support of the country’s development, sexual relations in offices are prohibited,” he wrote.
“Control mechanisms are already in place, and anyone who violates this rule again will be subject to disciplinary proceedings for indecent conduct and will be dismissed from their job.”
Engonga is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjoo, the current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).
His role in ANIF includes overseeing financial investigations and managing activities aimed at curbing financial corruption in the country.
The 54-year-old government official is married with six children.
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