‘George Floyd Died From Drug Overdose’ – Defence In Derek Chauvin’s Murder Trial Tells Jury

 

The defense in the Derek Chauvin murder trial began his opening statement by telling the jury that George Floyd allegedly died from drugs and not by the actions of Chauvin.

Attorney Eric Nelson told the jury there’s evidence that is about more than 9 minutes of video. He then zeroed in on Floyd going to a market shortly before the police confrontation.

He says employees from the market observed Floyd and believed he was under the influence of something. Nelson then raised the issue of Floyd allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.

Nelson says when police got the call from someone inside the market, they said Floyd appeared “drunk.”

He told the jury when Floyd was inside a car after leaving the market he had fallen asleep, again suggesting he was under the influence.

He says when Floyd was confronted by cops, he “put drugs in his mouth” to conceal them, TMZ reports. He says when an autopsy was performed they found a “speedball” in his system, which includes meth and fentanyl.

Nelson says Floyd had incredible strength as he resisted 3 officers. Video shows the car rocking back and forth, indicating there was such a fierce struggle, he said.

He noted Chauvin was 5’9″ and 140 lbs, while Floyd dwarfed him at 6’3″ and 240 lbs, thereby suggesting the force Chauvin used was justified.

He also says Floyd had heart issues that were fatally exacerbated by drug intake.

He also said the growing crowd of horrified onlookers actually exacerbated the situation by hurling names at Chauvin and the other cops.

Nelson implored the jury not to consider this a social justice trial, rather he says it’s a trial of one man.

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Unfriendly Attitudes of Health Workers is One of The Reasons Nigerians Seek Medical Treatment Abroad ― President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday March 22, alleged that the unfriendly attitude of health workers in the country to patients is one of the reasons Nigerians seek medical treatment abroad.

Speaking through the Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire at the official commissioning of an International Conference Centre and Telemedicine hall as well as six other projects at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, the President stressed the need for continuous training and retraining of health workers in order to deliver quality health care services to Nigerians.

Buhari said;

“We still get all too often for comfort, disconcerting reports of not friendly attitudes of staff to patients, reports of unhygienic and housekeeping standards that leaves something to be desired even in the presence of sophisticated equipment and well-qualified doctors.

“Such simple failings like these are more frequently responsible for the loss of confidence of the end-users in our health system than even the lack of equipment.

“They are the triggers for the distrust that will lead people to go on medical tourism.

“We have a lot of work to do in that area. I want to believe that the managers of our hospitals, after such laudable, fantastic infrastructure investment, will now begin to pay attention, not only to improving staff harmony and welfare but to retraining health caregivers for better professionalism that deliver service in a productive and courteous atmosphere based on the lessons we learnt from our traditional African hospitality”.

President Buhari also disclosed that his administration is currently embarking on the infrastructural development of all it’s tertiary hospitals so as to position them for quality health care delivery to the people.

He added that the National Health Insurance Scheme is awaiting a law that would make the scheme compulsory for every Nigerian.

The President said;

“We are carrying on infrastructural development at all our tertiary hospitals to position them for quality health care delivery to all persons, the National Health Insurance Scheme is awaiting a new law to make health insurance mandatory.”

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PTF on COVID-19 Discloses That Two Vaccines Developed in Nigeria Are Awaiting Clinical Trials and Certification

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has said that two vaccines developed in the country are awaiting clinical trials and certification.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha who disclosed this during the PTF national briefing in Abuja on Monday March 22, described it as a welcome development that will open a new vista in scientific breakthrough and will boost the morale and image of the medical industry in the country.

Mustapha also called for collaboration among relevant agencies to ensure that the effort is successful.

He said;

“The disclosure that Nigerian scientists have produced at least two local COVID-19 vaccines which are awaiting clinical trials and certification is significant.

“This is a welcome development that will open a new vista in scientific breakthrough and will boost the morale and image of the medical industry in the country.

“I call on all relevant agencies to provide the required support and enabling environment for smooth conduct of the remaining protocols for the certification of these vaccines with a view to encouraging and motivating other researchers.”

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Attack On Governor Ortom: Three Suspects Arrested

Three Jukun fishermen have been arrested by the police in connection with last Saturday’s attack on convoy of Benue Governor Samuel Ortom along Tyo Mu, Makurdi.

Security Adviser to Ortom, Col. Paul Hemba, confirmed the arrest while conducting newsmen round the scene of the attack on Tuesday.

Hemba stated the police team found the fishermen close to the scene of the attack and are being investigated.

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“We Are Coming For You” – Army Chief, Attahiru Tells Dokubo, Igboho

The army will soon move against separatist agitators such as Sunday Igboho and Asari Dokubo, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. -Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru said on Monday.

Attahiru’s warning was delivered in Uyo at the first Commanding Officers’ Workshop 2021.

Igboho recently unilaterally declared that the South west part of the country was no longer part of Nigeria.

Dokubo had also announced the establishment of Biafra Customary Government in which he incorporated some parts of the South east and South south as part of the territory.

But Attahiru promised that the Nigerian Army will deal decisively with every form of security threats confronting the nation, including those posed by the secessionist agitators like Igboho and Dokubo.

Attahiru assured the nation that the Nigerian Army would soon surmount attempts by some individuals to compromise the territorial integrity of the country by the declaration of sovereignty on behalf of ethnic nationalities in the country.

“The Nigerian Army under my leadership would remain proactive and jointly work with other security agencies to decisively deal with threats facing the nation.

“The Nigerian Army under my watch remains resolute and is poised more than ever before to decisively deal with individuals or groups that threaten the peace, security and stability of our great nation,” he said.

Attahiru called on participants at the workshop with the theme, “Repositioning the Nigerian Army to Defeat Contemporary Adversaries in a Joint Environment.” to commit themselves to the dictates of their duty to the nation.

The COAS said that he would continue to provide mission oriented training through workshops and build capacity for the military that would make the army dependable and feared by all adversaries.

In his remarks, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said the security challenges confronting the nation called for a military that was ready and equipped to face the problems.

Emmanuel, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, urged the military to intensify and expand the strategies, techniques and tactics needed to contain all insecurity across the country.

He commended the various security agencies in the state for the synergy and harmonious working relationship among them which he said had brought about security in the state, and promised to continue to support them.

“With the security realities confronting our nation, the military more than ever should be ready and equipped to face and confront these realities by ensuring that the service maintains the highest possible standard of continuous training for optional performance.

“It is reassuring that in spite of other operational commitments across the country, the new Chief of Army staff has considered it necessary to organise this workshop,” Emmanuel said.

Earlier in his address, the General Officer Commanding 6th Division, Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed said the workshop was the first major achievement of the chief of army staff.

He said that the workshop was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it was an opportunity to enhance training and build capacity for military officers.

Mohammed said that the workshop had participants drawn from the South-South region of the Nigerian Army.

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Aisha Buhari Returns to Nigeria After Six Months in Dubai

First Lady Aisha Buhari is back in the country after spending six months in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Sources told Daily Trust that the first lady, who had quietly relocated abroad after Hanan, one of her daughters, got married in September, is currently at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

There were concerns about her whereabouts during her long absence but the presidency avoided making comments on the issue.

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FFK’s Estranged Wife Precious Chikwendu Vows to Continue to Fight For The Custody of Their Children

Precious Chikwendu, the estranged wife of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has vowed to continue to fight for the custody of their four children.

Precious shared adorable videos of herself with their children on her Instagram page this afternoon and wrote;

”It’s okay for them to say I’m crazy for not letting them break me, but the love you 4 and i share , they would never know . Till you are back in my arms, i wont stop exposing their lies .
#boysmamaiscomingforyou
#justiceforprecious”

Precious and FFK’s marriage has since collapsed and their four boys are currently in the custody of the former Minister.

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Banks, Telcos to Make Over Half a Billion Naira on New USSD Charge

Nigerian banks and telecommunication companies will realise at least N564 million in the next 12 months as proceeds from the new mobile banking fee approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to PREMIUM TIMES estimates.

The CBN and the Nigerian Communications Commission this week settled a prolonged row between banks and telcos by imposing a new fee for the banks’ short-code service, known as USSD, which allows millions of Nigerians to use their mobile phones to access financial services daily.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said its members were owed N42 billion by banks and threatened to suspend the service.

Starting Tuesday, March 16, subscribers now pay a flat rate of N6.98 each time they use the USSD for banking transactions, the CBN said, a move that has angered customers and alarmed advocates of financial inclusion.

The regulators claimed the billing will “ensure a much cheaper average cost for customers to enhance financial inclusion”.

“To promote transparency in its administration, the new USSD charges will be collected on behalf of MNOs directly from customers’ bank accounts,” the CBN said.

A PREMIUM TIMES examination shows the parties involved will realise at least N564 million annually from the deal that has pushed the burden of payment to customers.

The estimates are based on the volume of mobile banking transactions in the country as reported by the central bank.

Its latest data for 2018 show that mobile payments in Nigeria stood at 59.9 million that year. The country recorded 43.9 million transactions in 2015, 47.1 million in 2016 and 47.8 million in 2017.

As of 2018, mobile banking took only a little slice of the country’s total e-payments. The ATM was the most patronised with 68.3 per cent, followed by PoS terminals and mobile payments with 23.1 and 4.6 per cent respectively.

Mobile payments have since exploded in the country with more people owning phones and the government introducing a financial inclusion initiative.

If a conservative growth rate of 35 per cent is taken between 2018 and 2021 (mobile transactions grew at 36.4 per cent between 2015 and 2018), it would mean the total number of mobile transactions in the country by 2021 would be at least 80.8 million.

That totals N564 million at N6.98 per transaction.

The amount is likely to be higher as the CBN acknowledged its data for mobile transactions were based on only mobile money operators that uploaded data to its database within a certain timeframe.

Financial Inclusion

The new charge is good news for Nigeria’s mega-profiting financial institutions and telecom companies, who many Nigerians view as deft at taking advantage of lax regulation to bill customers. But it has riled those pressing for more financial inclusion.

“An attack on USSD is an attack against the poor people. CBN didn’t think that one through at all,” a Twitter user, Oloye, wrote Tuesday. “Those who do not have access to smartphones are the ones most affected by USSD costs, i.e the poor.”

By December 2018, the percentage of banked adult Nigerians stood at 39.7, according to the CBN. The results were most dismal in the North-west, where 56, 70 and 62 per cent of adults were not financially included in 2014, 2016 and 2018 respectively. In the South West, the figures were 25, 18, and 19 per cent for those years.

The charge adds to a host of other fees paid by customers for financial service, critics note. For a single transaction, a customer would now pay for the USSD, SMS alert, interbank transfer and stamp duty. They also cover monthly ATM maintenance and transfer fees.

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EFCC Orders Bank Workers to Declare Assets — Sets June 1 Deadline

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered bank employees to declare their assets.

The anti-graft agency has also set a June 1 deadline for workers to comply with the directive.

Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairman, disclosed this on Tuesday, while speaking with journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said they discussed the efforts of the commission towards eradication of financial crimes in the country.

Bawa explained that the move is aimed at checking the role of banks in keeping funds acquired illegitimately.

“Let me just put this, we understood that at the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminal to have access to the funds that he or she has illegitimately gotten and we’re worried about the roles of financial institutions,” he said.

“And we have discussed, but we hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers, will declare their assets as provided for by the law, in accordance with the Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act.

“And that the EFCC, come the 1st of June 2021, will be demanding for these asset declaration forms, filled by the bankers so that the line that we have drawn from the 1st of June is really complied with by bankers in particular.”

The EFCC boss lamented that the agency has arrested about 300 cyber criminals across the country between February and March.

“As a young man, I am appealing to all young Nigerians to desist from these cybercrime activities. It is bringing bad image to our country, it is giving bad name to our country, it is also chasing away a lot of foreign investment that we need,” Bawa said.

“And I call on all parents, guardians, and, of course, elders in the community, in the society to talk to these young people to desist from these crimes.

“These are crimes that they commit online. And of course, there is nothing like patting your back to say go and sin no more. Our laws does not provide for that. It is a crime and as we say in EFCC, EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime.”

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Here’s a List of COVID-19 Vaccination Centers in Lagos State

Earlier this month, Nigeria received approximately 3.92 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, from which Lagos State was allocated 507,742 doses of the vaccine on Tuesday.

The Lagos State Government has now authorised 8 health facilities to administer COVID-19 vaccination beyond the 20 local government areas in the state.

According to the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, vaccination which will be carried out in four phases are prohibited “outside of these locations in Lagos State… and will attract heavy sanctions through our regulatory agencies.”

The first phase of vaccination for frontline workers such as health practitioners and response team, teachers, the press, security agents, police and the military has already begun in the state.

The second phase will be given to people living with underlying health conditions and those who are 50 years old and above while phase three is for people who are at more risk of disease and those who missed phases 1 and 2, and phase 4 for other residents of the state, The Nation reports.

How to register
According to The Nation, healthcare workers and other frontline workers will register via electronic self-registration using a dedicated URL. “Each enrollee is expected to pre-register on https://www.nphcdaict.com.ng or https://www.vaccination.gov.ng to fill the form with their qualifying verifiable details, preferred vaccination site, date, and time. A vaccination ID will be generated, and this should be taken to the chosen health facility along with a means of ID. A confirmation text message and email will be sent to each enrollee after successfully registering for the vaccination.”

Akin Abayomi further stated that “although the registration portal is open to the public, only eligible participants within phase 1 should register for the vaccination now. More information on the vaccination of other participants in phases 2 to 4 will be communicated subsequently”.

He also says that, as most vaccines do, the COVID-19 vaccine my have common side effects like tiredness, joint pains, headache, fever, muscle pain and nausea, which should not exceed 24 to 48 hours.

Should any of these side effects become problematic, kindly call the number of the LGA Disease Surveillance Notification Officer—provided at the back of the COVID-19 vaccination card—for guidance, and/or return to the same health facility for further investigations and treatment.

All vaccinated persons are also advised to download the MED SAFETY app monitored by NAFDAC. The app can be downloaded on the iOS Store or Google Play store, and can be used to report any untoward event experienced after vaccination and/or any other Adverse Drug Reactions experienced with the use of concomitant drugs.

This is the list of COVID-19 vaccination centres in Lagos state, according to The Nation:

 

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Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari Appoints New AfDB Executive Director

Oyebode Oyetunde has been appointed as the Executive Director for Nigeria at the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

Oyetunde’s appointment was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, March 16, The Nation reports.

Until his latest appointment, Oyetunde served as the senior special assistant to the president on finance and fiscal policy as well as legal matters in the office of the chief of staff to Buhari.

Apart from being a chartered accountant and a fiscal policy tax expert with over two decades of exposure in investment banking, Oyetunde, a fiscal/development expert and a Ph.D. graduate of Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.

Added to these, the new AfDB executive director is a legal practitioner qualified in Nigeria, England, and Wales, being a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).

Congratulating Oyetunde on his new appointment, the minister of finance, budget, and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, said of him:

“Dr Oyetunde is one of the functionaries who worked assiduously for the finalisation of the Federal Budgets and the Finance Bills among others.
“He has the competence, experience, and pedigree to fit into the office.”

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Photo: Covenant University Lecturer Arrested For Allegedly Raping a 17-year-old Student

A lecturer in the Department of Business Management at the Covenant University Ota, Dr. Stephen Ukenna was on March 11 arrested by men of Ogun State police command for allegedly raping a 17yrear old student of the school (name withheld).

A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, says the 41yrs old lecturer was arrested following a complaint lodged at Ota area command by the parents of the victim who reported that their daughter called them on phone from the school that she was invited by the lecturer to his office on the said date under the pretence that he wanted to plan a surprise birthday party for her close friend.

”But on getting to the lecture’s office, he locked the office door and forcefully had sex with her on top of the table in his office.

Upon the report, the Area Commander Ota, Acp Muyideen Obe swiftly deployed his JWC team to the school where the randy lecturer was promptly arrested.

On interrogation, the suspect admitted having carnal knowledge of the victim, but was unable to give any reason for his action.”the statement read

Abimbola added that the state commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution.

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NSA Babagana Monguno Denies Saying Arms Procurement Funds Went Missing Under The Immediate Past Service Chiefs

Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser (NSA), has denied saying funds appropriated for the purchase of arms went missing under the leadership of the immediate past service chiefs, saying he was quoted out of context.

Munguno in an interview with BBC Hausa had said the newly appointed service chiefs did not meet the funds approved for arms purchase when they assumed office in January this year. Although he did not accuse the immediate past service chiefs of misappropriating the funds, he said the money might have been used in other ways unknown to anybody at present.

Following the reactions that trailed his comment, his office released a statement on Friday night, March 12 saying he was quoted out of context.

The statement reads

“We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the former Service Chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.

During the interview, the National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.

In the interview, the National Security Adviser clearly informed the BBC reporter that Mr President has provided enormous resources for arms procurement, but the orders were either inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the funds were misappropriated under the former Service Chiefs.

The NSA also informed the reporter that Mr President is following up on the procurement process as is usual with contracts relating to military equipments, in most cases the process involves manufacturing, due diligence and tedious negotiations that may change delivery dates.

As the National Security Adviser conveyed during the Aso Villa Media Briefing, questions relating to Defence procurement should be channelled to the Ministry of Defence.”

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Sad! Associate to Singer Davido, Obama DMW Loses His Father

Obama DMW, an associate of popular Nigerian entertainer and DMW boss, Davido has lost his father.

Born Habeeb Uthman, Obama DMW took to his Instagram page on Friday March 12 to share the sad news with his fans in a video which captured him in tears looking very devastated.

The video had the captioned;

“I’ll miss you forever Daddy” and attached broken love emojis to it.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Habeeb Uthman (@obama_dmw)

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I Didn’t Sleep Well Before The Fight – Isreal Adesanya say Following His Defeat to Jan Blachowicz

Israel Adesanya’s flawless record came to an abrupt end following his defeat to Jan Blachowicz in the UFC 259 light heavyweight championship in Las Vegas.

The Nigerian mixed martial artist suffered his first professional defeat in the combat sport after bowing to his Polish opponent in the fifth round through a unanimous decision. All three judges gave the contest to Blachowicz with a scorecard of 49–46, 49–45, 49–45 at the end of the meeting. However, while reacting to the setback, the 31-year-old insisted that the fight didn’t go as planned, adding that he was unable to sleep before the fight. He told UFC on BT Sport by the ringside:

“No, not exactly because I thought I was going to win and you know, I couldn’t sleep last night and instead of doing wines I was doing lines just to stay up.

“They got me one of these (bottle of wine) and I probably should have had it maybe I would have slept better. “Yes it didn’t go the way I wanted it but dare to be great, you know the critics are on the sidelines but I am the one putting my life on the line.”

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Aisha Buhari Sends Goodwill Message to Nigerian Women

Aisha Buhari, the first lady of Nigeria, has sent a goodwill message to Nigerian women, congratulating them on the occasion of the 2021 International Women’s Day.

Mrs Buhari has been silent since September 2020 after her daughter, Hanan’s wedding.

In her goodwill message, Mrs. Buhari condemned the abduction of schoolgirls in some parts of the country, saying it might have an adverse effect on the girl child’s education as well as early marriage. She called on all stakeholders to join forces to bring an end to the menace of abduction.

Read her statement below;

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Nigeria State Governors to Take The Coronavirus Vaccine on March 10

Governors of the 36 states in the country are expected to publicly take the Coronavirus vaccine on March 10.

The agreement was reached at an emergency meeting which was attended by Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF); Osagie Ehanire, health minister; and Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and convened to discuss the distribution of the vaccine.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi conveyed the decision in a statement released on Thursday March 4.

Fayemi who gave an assurance of the vaccine being safe, urged Nigerians to register on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency website – nphcsaict.com.ng/publicreg for the vaccine.

It is also expected that frontline workers will receive their vaccination alongside the president and vice-president on Saturday March 6.

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SAD! Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Mother is Dead

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has lost her mother, Mrs. Grace Ifeoma Adichie.

The mother of the renowned Nigerian novelist died on Monday, March 1, in Awka, Anambra State.

She was 78 years old.

“It was very sudden and we are devastated,” a family spokesperson said according to Guardian.

She is survived by her six children: Ijeoma, Uchenna, Chuks, Okechukwu, Chimamanda and Kenechukwu; as well as nine grandchildren, in-law and many relatives.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by her family later.

This comes just months after Chimamanda lost her father.

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Hushpuppi Hires New Criminal Defense Lawyer as Defence Counsel

Ramon Abass also known as Hushpuppi has hired a top-rated criminal defence lawyer, Loius Shapiro to represent him in his trial in the United States where he is facing fraud-related and money laundering charges.

Hushpuppi hired Shapiro after top Chicago lawyer Gal Pissetzky and California-based criminal defence lawyer Vicki Podberesky, withdrew their services as his attorneys. The duo had accused the former Instagram celebrity of refusing to communicate to them.

After a Judge granted their withdrawal from the case on February 22, a request seeking the approval of Mr Shapiro as Hushpuppi’s new defence counsel was granted on February 25.

Premium Times reported that Mr Shapiro who earned his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, began his career with the New York State Attorney General, Elliot Spitzer.

He also worked at several agencies including Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Detainee Unit and clerked for the federal public defenders office in Los Angeles. Mr Shapiro, a certified criminal law specialist by the State Bar of California, serves as a Criminal Justice Act Federal Trial Panel attorney for the Central District of California.

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Sunday Igboho is by Far The Most Powerful Man in South West Nigeria Today – FFK says

Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Aviation, has described Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, as the most powerful man in South West Nigeria.

FFK who shared his opinion via his social media handle, also mentioned that Igboho is canvassing for the rights of the Yorubas and is only doing the work that God has sent him to do in the world.

His post reads

”I will say this once for all to hear.

Chief Sunday Adeyemo (AKA Sunday Igboho) is by far the most popular and powerful man in South Western Nigeria today. He has inspired millions and restored the honor and self-respect of the Yoruba nation.

He has also proved to the doubting Thomas’ that the sons of Oduduwa are not cowards.

His views are simple and clear and he is entitled to them. He does not believe in Nigeria but in Oduduwa Republic and that is his right.

We may not all agree with those views but we will defend his right to hold them.

We may not all accept his methods but, as long as he operates within the law, we have no right to criminalise, demonise, undermine or stop him.

He is not a terrorist, a crimimal or a murderer.

He is a law-abiding Nigerian citizen and businessman who pays his taxes, defends his people and stands up against dangerous murderers and killers that have come from outside our territory to kill our people.

He is not an activist but a freedom fighter, a hero and a liberator of the oppressed who opposes tyranny and the mass murder, ethnic cleansing and enslavement of his people.

Unfortunately there appears to be a well-orchestrated plan and dastardly plot by some identifiable forces and individuals to eliminate him.

The attempt to abduct him like a common criminal in the middle of the road whilst he was on his way to a meeting with our reverred father Papa Ayo Adebanjo just a few days ago by security forces is just one pointer, amongst many others, to this.

They want to silence him at all costs because of what he has been doing, what he believes in and what he stands for.

This must not be allowed to happen. It must not see the light of day. Those behind it must perish the thought because if it does there will be dire, far-reaching and uncontrollable consequences for our entire nation.

If it does there will be a massive and brutal retaliation and Nigeria will be broken.

If it does the quest for Oduduwa Republic will no longer be a peaceful, lawful and constitutional one but it will become a violent and brutal freedom struggle which will lead to an armed struggle and civil war in which millions will die.

If he is killed those behind him will stop talking and writing and instead they will start targetting the enemy and fighting.

No-one will be safe and no-one will escape it.

This is not what I wish for but it is what I see and I pray it never comes to pass. Nevertheless I see and sense it. I perceive it strongly and it scares and worries me.

Igboho is unlike any other hero in Yoruba history. He is special and he is the beloved of the Lord. What he is doing is what God sent him into the world to do. He was carefully crafted and prepared for it.

Nothing must happen to this great, noble and courageous son of Oduduwa who has captured the hearts and minds of over 60 million Yoruba people from all over the world. He must not be killed.

Let me end with the following. Chief Sunday Adeyemo reminds me of Sir William Wallace (1230-1305) the great Scottish leader and warrior who led an armed rebellion against English rule and who inspired the successful quest for Scottish independence.

Even though he fought and defeated the mighty English army successfully on several occassioms and in many battles Wallace was evenrially betrayed by the ruling elite of the same Scotland that he sought to liberate.

They gave him over to their English oppressors and overlords in return for land and title yet eventually his cause still prevailed even though it was after his execution and even though he did not live to see it.

Without William Wallace (Braveheart) there would never have been an independent Scottish nation with its own independent Kings and Queens. Without him Scotland would have forever remained a vassal state of England

Without the efforts and courage of men like Sunday Igboho, Olayomi Koiki and a few others there will never be an Oduduwa Republic.

Happy New month.”

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