Youths arrested by security operatives on Saturday, for demonstrating against the resumption of operations at the Lekki tollgate, have been granted bail.
The demonstrators had gathered on Saturday morning to protest against the decision of the Lagos judicial panel, which granted approval to the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to resume operations at the tollgate.
Earlier, more than 100 officers, including personnel of the police force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had been deployed to the tollgate on Friday evening, in line with the directive by the Lagos police commissioner that no protest would be allowed to hold.
More than 30 youths were arrested at the Lekki tollgate, venue of the protest, and arraigned before a mobile court in Yaba, Lagos.
They were taken away in police trucks and a “Black Maria” van, and escorted by security operatives away from the tollgate.
They were arraigned on charges bordering on flouting the COVID-19 protocol on public gatherings, and “breaking an order not to protest”.
They were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with sureties in like sum.
The arrest of the protesters has generated much criticism across social media platforms, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) describing it as “a disrespect for the fundamental human rights of unarmed citizens”.
The popular Shasha Market, Ibadan was a ghost of itself Saturday as traders, workers and other stakeholders deserted the once bubbling raw food market for fear of being attacked by irate youths from both Hausa and Yoruba communities.
The market, which is reputed for cheap raw food brought from northern Nigeria, was embroiled in crisis on Thursday when a cart pushing Hausa man and a Yoruba man who was a cobbler, had an unresolved scuffle. The Yoruba man was said to have been attacked by the Hausa man which later resulted in his death. He was said to have been hit with a deadly charm
In what seemed like a reprisal attack, youths of Yoruba extraction grouped to attack members of the Hausa community in the area but Hausa youths also grouped to repel them.
The moves and counter moves led to the burning of some shops with casualties from both sides.
Despite the deployment of security personnel to the troubled area, a confrontation between the two groups continued overnight on Friday leading to the burning of no fewer than 50 shops the market. Some of the shops were looted.
The shops belong to traders dealing in raw food, groceries, fabrics, groundnut oil and plastics, among others. Some of the wares were also scattered in the market as at press time.
However, security personnel, mainly members of the state’s joint security outfit codenamed Operation Burst, were at the market to quell the riot while policemen manned the main gate of the market.
Members of Operation Burst outfit were mainly soldiers and civil defence corps. All of them were also there to enforce the 6 pm to 7 am curfew imposed by the state government.
The market has been closed down by the government to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Civil defence and soldiers from Operation Burst police manned the main gate. Residents gathered in front of their houses.
When The Nation visited the market Saturday, some residents lamented the crisis, saying it was already taking tolls on them.
One of the victims whose shop was looted and burnt, Kazeem Olona, said he suffered huge losses. He accused the security personnel of preventing Yoruba youth from repelling others who set the shops ablaze. He said no fewer than dour people were killed in the attack.
Abiodun Adeyi, officials of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) at Shasa Motor Park, also said that the incident has adversely affected their work because passengers were no longer coming to the motor park since the incident started.
“We are calling for the quick intervention of the government on this issue before it gets out of hand. Governor Makinde should give more power to Amotekun corps for them to perform their duties effectively in protecting lives and property,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi denied that many people died in the attack.
He said: “I don’t have such a report. The report is having with me shows that only one person lost his life during the incident, except if I have another one from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area. If anybody is killed, then there should be an official report by the family of the deceased, not just hearsay.”
China refused to hand over key data to the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of Covid-19, one of its members has said.
Microbiologist Dominic Dwyer told Reuters, the Wall St Journal and the New York Times the team requested raw patient data from early cases, what he called “standard practice”,
He said they only received a summary.
China has not responded to the allegation but has previously insisted it was transparent with the WHO.
The US has urged China to make available data from the earliest stages of the outbreak, saying it has “deep concerns” about the WHO report.
Wuhan was the first place in the world where the virus was detected, in late 2019. Since then, more than 106 million cases and 2.3 million deaths have been reported worldwide.
Only half of the early cases had been exposed to the seafood market where the virus was initially detected.
“That’s why we’ve persisted to ask for that,” Prof Dwyer said. “Why that doesn’t happen, I couldn’t comment. Whether it’s political or time or it’s difficult… But whether there are any other reasons why the data isn’t available, I don’t know. One would only speculate.”
“Everybody knows how much pressure there is on China to be open to an investigation and also how much blame there might be associated with this,” she said.
Prof Dwyer said the restrictions on data would be mentioned in the WHO team’s final report, which could be released as early as next week.
The team arrived in early January and spent four weeks in China – the first two in hotel quarantine.
What has been the response from the Chinese?
Beijing has insisted it was transparent with the WHO investigators, whose visit began only after months of negotiations. The experts were closely monitored by the Chinese authorities.
The US accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak and criticised the terms of the visit, which restricted the freedom of the WHO team to travel and interview witnesses, including community members, on health grounds.
The investigators told the New York Times that disagreements, including over access to patient records, were so tense that they sometimes erupted into shouting matches.
Last month, an interim report from the WHO criticised China’s initial response, saying that “public health measures could have been applied more forcefully”.
The WHO team has also called for further investigation into the possibility of “cold chain” transmission, referring to the theory the virus could have spread through the transport and trade of frozen food.
Dr Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO team, said the focus on where the origins that led to Covid-19 might be, could be shifted to South East Asia.
Mr Macaroni was arrested for protesting at the Lekki toll gate where he demanded that justice be served to the victims of the October 20, 2020, #EndSARS protest at the toll plaza.
A comedian, Debo Adebayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, has been arraigned before a mobile court, The PUNCH has learnt.
A spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this on Saturday evening.
“He (Mr Macaroni) and others have been arraigned before a mobile court. I will release a statement on it shortly,” he said in a phone interview.
On Saturday, Mr Macaroni was arrested for protesting at the Lekki toll gate where he demanded that justice be served to the victims of the October 20, 2020, #EndSARS protest at the toll plaza.
Mr Macaroni
He and 30 other #OccupyLekkiTollgate campaigners were arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command’s operatives.
Many civil rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have demanded Mr Macaroni’s release and the other detained protesters.
The Nothern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) on Friday exchanged hot words over the lingering security challenges posed by criminal herdsmen in the country. NEF, in a statement signed by its director of publicity and advocacy, Dr Hakeem BabaAhmed, accused YCE and other similar southern groups of eroding the security and integrity of Nigeria through what it called unfounded allegations of genocide.
“Allegations of planned or actual genocide are being made with reckless abandon, and even the international community is being lobbied in futile efforts to sell the fiction that some groups are intent on mass extermination of other groups. The latest communication by the Yoruba Council of Elders to the United Nations is an example of lamentable desperation of some groups to erode our security and integrity as a country, and it is more regrettable that it is the handiwork of so-called elders who should forfeit all rights to that honour.”
But the YCE fired back through its secretary general, Dr Kunle Olajide, describing the northern elders as reckless and unfeeling, keeping mum in the face of mass murder in the South West by their children. NEF also said that there were plans by elites and some elected individuals to incite people against one another and cause breakdown of law and order.
NEF said the individuals had gone as far as lobbying the international community in an effort to sell the fiction that some groups were intent on mass extermination of other groups. In a statement signed by its director of publicity and advocacy, Dr Hakeem BabaAhmed, NEF alleged that there were ongoing efforts to create multiple sources of falsehood in videos and other inflammatory materials with the aim of inciting people to act violently against each other. It said “now the nation is facing imminent threats from persons who are bent on pushing all of us nearer to disaster, to help them achieve their nefarious goals.”
On herdsmen, NEF said: “We repeat our demand that Fulani who have broken no laws must be protected from abuse wherever they are. “We ask all governments to identify criminals among the Fulani and subject them to the laws of the land. “Similarly, we demand the cessation of threats and attacks by local ethnic defenders on Fulani communities. “People who have broken the law by attacking and harassing Fulani for just being Fulani must be brought to book. “We encourage all law-abiding herders to stay put and seek protection, and if they cannot be protected, to relocate to safer areas in the country. “We urge northern governors to prepare to receive law-abiding Fulani herders who may be compelled to relocate. We urge all northerners to assure Nigerians from other parts of the country that they are safe and welcome to continue to stay in the north.
“The Forum repeats: it is not a crime to be member of any ethnic group, and no one has the right to attempt to expel any Nigerian from places where they live lawfully.” On the alleged destabilisation plot, the statement said: “The Forum particularly notes that continuing narratives and threats, including comments from seemingly responsible Nigerians and even elected officials who swore to protect the rights of all citizens and the survival of the country, are raising fears and passions that could make it easy to break more laws of the land and pitch citizens against each other.
“There are efforts to create multiple sources of falsehood in videos and other inflammatory materials in the media clearly targeted at inciting people to act violently against each other. “Allegations of planned or actual genocide are being made with reckless abandon, and even the international community is being lobbied in futile efforts to sell the fiction that some groups are intent on mass extermination of other groups. “Northern Elders Forum commits to continue to work to retrieve the country from the dangerous cliff where it has been placed by irresponsible people, many of them in positions of responsibility.”
NEF said it had plans to meet with governors in the North and South to improve collaboration and synergy and it also intends to visit communities where it has influence to lower tensions and provide assurances and comfort. The forum, however, advised President Muhammadu Buhari and governors to consult and explore measures that would lower tensions and assure all Nigerians that they live in a country where laws have meanings, and all citizens have equal rights to live under secure environments. “The fight against armed criminals must be pursued on all fronts and with a lot more seriousness. The criminal must not reap from the suspicions and fears which his activities also generate,” the statement added.
The NEF had, earlier this month, issued a similar advice to Fulani herdsmen asking them to move to northern region if their security could not be guaranteed in their host communities in the South. Northern elders reckless, condone mass murder in S/ West —YCE Dr Olajide of the Yoruba Council of Elders, reacting to the statement by the Northern Elders Forum, said: “The YCE is by far more patriotic and nationalistic than the Northern elders. In the YCE, we believe in a truly federal republic of Nigeria where equity fairness and justice will be available for all citizens of this country and where no citizen of this country will be regarded as inferior and where appointments will be based on merit; where there would be no ethno religious sentiments openly expressed by those in power. “In the last three to four years, it actually started in 2016, the criminal herders have been so brazen in their invasion of Yorubaland, carrying sophisticated weapons, raping our women, kidnapping for ransom and murdering our people, destroying farmlands; the economic means of survival of our farmers. We have been shouting at the rooftops almost on a daily basis and the Federal Government seems to turn deaf ears to these complaints, giving gross insensitivity to the plight of our people here.
“So, we had to appeal to the global community to intervene in restoring normalcy into the Nigerian nation state. it was becoming obvious, especially in the last two years, that this country has been polarised along ethno-religious lines. In fact, we have never been so divided like this. We have made several appeals to Mr. President to speak to Nigerians to reassure us that he stays committed to a truly Federal Republic of Nigeria where justice, equity and fairplay will reign supreme, but not a word from the presidency. The statements coming from the presidential aides, in fact, polarise the nation the more. You hear all sorts of things, like ‘farmers should obtain permission before going to their farms’ when 43 farmers were killed in Borno State. And we don’t know where farmers take permission and who from… so we have such statements that give credence that this government is only for a particular ethnic part of the country and when you get to this particular situation, we have to appeal to the United Nations because virtually all countries in the United Nations have citizens in Nigeria and they must be made aware of the level of insecurity in this country in the interest of the entire world. “So, what YCE did was to call attention of the global body to what appears to be the insensitive nature of the powers that be in Nigeria to the plight of Yoruba farmers, women, children and citizens. It is because we believe that a truly federal, united Nigeria will be the best for every part of the country. It is not because we want to secede. No, we have made too much sacrifice to keep Nigeria one. We are not into wanting to divide it at all because all parts of this country would feel the pain. On NEF’s advice to Fulani to come back to the North if they felt unsafe in the south, Dr Olajide said “there is freedom of movement. Anybody can go anywhere. We have not said Fulanis should leave. We said the criminal ones… we have Aliko Dangote in Lagos for example; nobody has said he should leave. We have some Fulani in the universities here who are contributing and adding value to society. But those ones killing and maiming citizens, raping women and kidnapping for ransom and destroying the means of livelihood of our farmers are the ones we said should vacate our forests.”
“They are in power today and they are in charge of all the security. If the security agencies allow what they call ‘genocide’ to go on, then whose fault is that? They should talk to the commander in chief of the armed forces and the Inspector-General of Police. In fact, if anything, we should accuse them of keeping mum and maintaining silence in the face of genocide and mass murder in the South West.
The ex-head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has been sworn-in as Italy’s next prime minister.
Mr Draghi put together a unity government of the main political parties, following the collapse of the previous administration last month.
It was thrown into chaos amid a row over how to spend EU coronavirus recovery funds.
Italy is still grappling with the pandemic and is also facing its worst economic crisis in decades.
The country has recorded more than 93,000 deaths, the sixth-highest death toll in the world.
After receiving the support of the largest group in parliament, the Five Star Movement, Mr Draghi now has backing across the broad political spectrum.
It means he will have a large enough majority to push through his agenda.
He has already named a cabinet: a senior figure in the Five Star Movement, Luigi Di Maio, will stay on as foreign minister.
Giancarlo Giorgetti, a senior figure in the populist far-right League party, will be industry minister. Andrea Orlando, from the centre-left Democratic Party, will be labour minister.
The government faces a confidence vote next week – a formality given its cross-party backing.
An economist with experience at the highest levels of the European Union and as governor of the Bank of Italy, Mr Draghi is being seen as a safe pair of hands.
The previous prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, resigned in January after his party lost support for its coalition government over plans for spending EU recovery money
The plan to hold #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest started after the controversial ruling of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki toll gate.
The panel, headed by Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge, on Saturday, ruled in favour of the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, to repossess the toll plaza for repairs and insurance claims.
The ruling was supported by five members out of the nine-man panel, with four other members, including Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the youth representatives opposing the ruling.
The police have also arrested about 20 other protesters at the toll gate on Saturday.
Operatives of Crack Squad, Enugu State Police Command have arrested one Dr. Chigozie Odum, said to be a senior lecturer at the Archeology Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Daily Post reported that a petition from the family lawyer of the female student led to the arrest of the lecturer. It read; The lecturer was arrested for allegedly impregnating a student identified as Onah Chinyere and threatening her.
“It is our client’s instruction that she has been a student in the Archeology and Tourism Department, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. “According to her instructions, Dr. Odum Chigozie Jude is one of the lecturers in the said department. “Our brief further showed that the said Dr. Odum Jude went and approached our client and demanded to be sleeping with her and threatened our client that if she refuses, she will never graduate from the said department. “He further threatened her that he was a cultist while in school and that up till today he still has a good number of them under his payroll. He, therefore, warned our client to comply with his demands and requests in her own interest. “Our information further showed that he called our client to his house and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.”
A mechanic whose name had yet to be ascertained has tragically lost one of his legs after a gas explosion occurred. The incident happened at the Anyama Mechanic Village in the Mile 2 area of Portharcourt. According to reports, the mechanic was simply rushing to buy something from a shop nearby when he unfortunately walked past a faulty cylinder which suddenly exploded.
The cylinder was reportedly not in use when it exploded, four persons were injured from the explosion but the mechanic suffered the most injury as the explosion cut off one of his legs from the knee downward and also shattered the phones in his pocket.
Former United States President, Donald Trump, is reportedly not showing any remorse for the riot that broke out at the Capitol Building on January 6.
Trump had allegedly incited his supporters to disrupt Congress sitting to ratify the victory of President Joe Biden on November 3, 2020 election.
At his impeachment trial on Thursday, Senators were told that the ex-President has not expressed any regret over the violent incident and his lack of remorse could influence wavering members.
A congress source reported that Trump was unmoved by the footage while watching the trial from his home in Florida.
Mr. Trump was in a really good mood during the second day of his impeachment trial as shocking footage from the Capitol riots was shown.
“So far, he has not shown any remorse or contrition,” the source said.
Former Vice President, Mike Pence, who was seen in footage being ushered away by the Secret Service with his family as the mob attacked the Capitol, has reportedly still not repaired his relationship with Trump over the incident.
At the resumed sitting on Thursday, prosecutors will conclude their arguments for the impeachment of Trump while a verdict could be out as early as Friday.
Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, said the Nigerian Police Force lied on the claim that herdsmen and their cattle did not invade his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Edward Ajogun, had on Wednesday dispelled reported invasion on the residence of Soyinka, saying it was a mere case of cows straying into the compound.
Reports had, earlier on Wednesday, went viral on social media that some herdsmen had invaded Soyinka’s residence at Ijegba Estate, Kemta, Abeokuta, in alleged attempt to attack the literary icon.
The CP, who was on on-the-spot-assessment to Soyinka’s residence, told newsmen that “we have evidence of cow dung but, we did not see the cows.
“What we heard was that three of the cows strayed into the compound of the Nobel Laureate not more than 20 meters away from the entrance and they were immediately chased out.
“I even heard that the Nobel Laureate saw the cows heading towards his compound and of course he directed that they should be chased away.”
‘Mad cow and madder narratives’
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Soyinka warned the police to always be truthful in their engagements with the people.
Soyinka, in a statement titled: “Mad cow and madder narratives,” confirmed that his home was actually invaded by herdsmen and their cows on Tuesday.
He, however, affirmed that he was never physically attacked, but “cows and herders did however attack my property – and not for the first time.”
“The police need to be very, very careful, learn to be straightforward with public information.
“Failure to adhere to that obvious, basic form of conduct means that the public will lose total confidence in security agencies and constantly bypass them in times of civic unrest, no matter how trivial or deadly.
“How on earth could the police claim that my property was not invaded by cattle? It was,” Soyinka said.
The literary icon said the cattle and herdsmen caught within his property were flushed out.
Soyinka said: “Once they were outside the gates, I came down from the vehicle and beckoned the herdsmen to come over.
“At first, they pretended not to understand, then, as I approached, fled into the bush.
“We thereupon “arrested” the cows, confining them to the roadside, while I sent my groundsman, Taiye, to the police to come and take over.
“Since they took rather long in responding, I summoned a replacement and proceeded to the police station.
“On the way, we met a detachment, turned around, and together we returned to the scene of the crime.
“The police wanted to commence combing the bush for the fugitives but I stopped them – what was the point? Keep the cows, I advised, and the owner will show up. Of course, that owner eventually did.”
‘A herd of cattle’
He added that: “I thoroughly resent the police version which suggests that the cows never invaded my home: the home is not just a building, it includes its grounds.
“And it was not a stray cow, or two or three. It was a herd – we have photos, so why the lie?
“It is so unnecessary, unprofessional and suspiciously compromised.
“The police suggest that I have nothing better to do than to go accosting cows on the public road – to what end?
“If the police demand proof, the next time such an invasion takes place, I warn that there will be no lack for cadaver affirmation and the police will be officially invited to join in the ensuing suya feast. So please, let us get serious!
“Getting serious means seeking with a sense of urgency, ways of terminating mayhem, impunity, and the homicidal culture being imposed on us through some near cultic business minority who just happen to trade in cattle.
“It means not giving up on peaceful solutions, but also being prepared for the worst.
“Those of my line of thought have been working on various ways of sensitizing the nation to the very real and imminent danger issuing from this cattle aberration.
“The menace, I repeat, challenges us as a cohesive entity and as communities of free individuals, committed to the dignity of existence.
“Cattle imperialism under any guise is an obscenity to humanity.
“So let me serve notice that we are about to commence a process of public sensitization; we hope even the police will join hands with the agenda as it progresses.
“A special practical plea: now that the railways are being resurrected, let us make cattle wagons a priority.
“I grew up with the regular sight of those practical conveyances. It is time to bring them back.”
One of the things that Lateef Jakande will always be remembered for is the landmark development he brought to Lagos State during his tenure as the governor, both in the education sector working with the five cardinal plan of the Unity party of Nigeria which was established by Awolowo and also in the housing sector amongst other things he achieved for the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu announced the death of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, a very great man in the service of Lagos State, Nigeria and humanity, a venerable Stateman, an outstanding politician, an administrator and the first civilian governor of Lagos State.
A new law decriminalizing same-sex sexual relations went into effect Wednesday, Feb 10, in Angola.
The new law overturned a colonial-era “vice against nature” provision that was seen as a ban on homosexual relations. The changes were passed in January 2019 by Angola’s parliament, but was not signed into law by the country’s president until November 2020. It went into effect on Feb 10, 2021. The new law also prohibits discrimination based upon a person’s sexual orientation.
The changes came from the first rewriting of the country’s penal code since gaining independence in 1975. Angola had previously been a colony of Portugal, and the amended laws had been a remnant of the colonial-era rule that encouraged discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. According to Human Rights Watch, the previous laws on same-sex sexual relations had been rarely prosecuted, but served as a basis for undue scrutiny and discrimination. The new law includes imprisonment of up to two years for discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Breonna challenged herself from the start of highschool year to write applications into 50 Universities and get accepted into them. That’s a big and long term goal to set. A lofty goal. A lay man may see it as setting up one’s self for disappointed, but Breonna knew what she wanted and went ahead to get it.
Ranging from John Hopkins University to Georgia State University to St. John’s University and Iowa State University. She got all their acceptances to become a member of their school.
The Cherry on top is that she didn’t just get acceptances, she also received 17 different scholarships to study any course of her choice and is currently going viral for her good job.
One Mohammed Sani, 30, has been apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Nasarawa State for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl in the Angwatashi area of the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.
Parading the suspect at the state headquarters of the NSCDC in Lafia on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Saraju Muhammed, said Mohammed lured his victim into a secluded place on the pretext of buying sachet water from her and had carnal knowledge of her.
It was gathered that when the victim came home, her parents reported the incident at the Angwatashi Police Station and the suspect was arrested.
Recounting her ordeal to our correspondent in an exclusive interview immediately after the suspect was paraded, the victim said Mohammed threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident to anyone.
The NSCDC image maker told our correspondent that the suspect had earlier confessed to the act and would be charged as soon as the command completed its investigation.
Police said that an elderly Maltese woman fell victim to the fraud after engaging in an online relationship with who she thought was an American soldier deployed in Afghanistan. The soldier was supposedly returning to Malta once his deployment ended.
One of Malta’s most prolific Nigerian footballers, Sunday Eboh, has been charged with four others in a romance fraud case.
Eboh, Maltese national Alexandra Pace, Nigerian nationals; Collins Eguavoen, Marvis Iyeke and Tony Ogbonna, were arrested late Monday night to be charged with money laundering, according to a report by MaltaToday.
Police said that an elderly Maltese woman fell victim to the fraud after engaging in an online relationship with who she thought was an American soldier deployed in Afghanistan. The soldier was supposedly returning to Malta once his deployment ended.
Despite never meeting with the soldier, the woman took the relationship seriously and transferred €58,000 to the person who allegedly asked her to pay for his expenses.
Investigations by the police revealed that the alleged fraud was being carried out in the country by a group of people who saw that the money was deposited in several local bank accounts. The money was being transacted in small amounts and laundered.
The police were able to identify who was behind the scam and arrested five individuals aged between 28 to 58 years of age.
Police suspect Ogbonna is the mastermind in the operation, although no account was traced back to him.
Eboh has played for a host of Maltese teams, namely Marsa, Birkirkara, Victoria Hotspurs, Marsaxlokk, Floriana, Naxxar Lions, Birzebbugia, and Pembroke. He also played for Greek side Apollon Smyrnis.
Magistrate Doreen Clarke refused bail after the prosecution raised fears that the accused could tamper with evidence or approach the vulnerable victim.
This is the first case which will see people being charged for online fraud through a virtual relationship.
The prosecution was led by lawyers Karl Muscat, Sean Xerri de Caro and Abigail Caruana Vella from the attorney general’s office. They were assisted by Inspector Sarah Zerafa from the Paola district and Inspector Claire Borg from the Economic Crimes Squad. Lawyers Leontine Calleja, Robert Anthony Piscopo and Charles Mercieca appeared for the accused.
Donald Trump committed the “most grievous constitutional crime” of any US president when he incited supporters to storm the Capitol last month, Democratic prosecutors said Monday on the eve of his Senate impeachment trial. In their final filing before the Senate’s 100 members sit in judgment of Trump, the nine House impeachment managers prosecuting the Republican leader also insisted the case should not be dismissed. Trump’s lawyers pushed for a dismissal in a document released hours earlier, saying the Senate “lacks jurisdiction” to try Trump, who left office on January 20, because he is no longer a sitting president.
Donald Trump
The Democratic managers directly rejected the argument and said there is “overwhelming” evidence of impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors. “His incitement of insurrection against the United States government — which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power — is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president,” they said. “The article of impeachment properly alleges an impeachable offense under the Constitution, is not subject to a motion to dismiss (and) is within the jurisdiction of the Senate sitting as a Court of Impeachment,” they wrote.
Researchers from Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center, Israel , have developed a new coronavirus drug that cured most volunteers who received it between three to five days.
The team at the hospital said 29 out of 30 people suffering from moderate to severe COVID-19 recovered within three to five days in the Phase 1 trials of the drug called EXO-C24.
They said all the volunteers also survived.
The hospital conducting the Phase 1 trial described the development as a ‘huge breakthrough’.
EXO-CD24 is a medication delivered directly to the lungs, to help prevent the immune system dealing with COVID-19 from overreacting and causing complications.
Prof. Nadir Arber, the researcher who runs the lab said the preparation is inhaled once a day for a few minutes, for five days.
He said, “The preparation is directed straight to the heart of the storm — the lungs — so unlike other formulas which selectively restrain a certain cytokine, or operate widely but cause many serious side effects, EXO-CD24 is administered locally, works broadly and without side effects.”
The drug uses exosomes, tiny carrier sacs that shuttle materials between cells , to deliver a protein called CD24 to the lungs.
The protein works to help calm the immune system and prevent cytokine storm . A cytokine storm is the name given to a worsening reaction to COVID-19 that can result in multiple organ failure and death.
The risk of a cytokine storm is particularly prevalent in older and at-risk groups.
One of the researchers involved in the study, Shiran Shapira, said the protein is located on the surface of cells and has a well known and important role in regulating the immune system.
The production of treatment for coronavirus would help massively in the fight against the disease.
The drug will move to the next phases of research, for additional information on its effectiveness and safety.
EXO-CD24 , like vaccines will have to receive emergency authorization before it can be used as a COVID-19 therapy
A Japanese submarine has collided with a commercial ship as it attempted to surface off the country’s Pacific coast.
Three of the submarine’s crew sustained minor injuries in the crash which occurred on Monday, government officials said.
The Soryu submarine suffered damage to its antenna mast along with its communication equipment forcing the crew to use a mobile phone to report the incident.
Japan’s defence minister said the collision off Kochi prefecture was “extremely regrettable”.
Nobuo Kishi said the Soryu was on a training exercise when the incident occurred. The submarine saw the vessel through its periscope but was unable to move in time.
The Soryu is a diesel-electric submarine that has been in service since 2009.
The 84-metre (275ft) long submarine was still able to continue sailing as the damage was not major, officials said.
The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump which begins on Tuesday, February 8, is set to be an historic event in the politics of the United States as no president has ever been impeached twice or put on trial.
The trial is seen as an “undertaking like no other in US history” as the defeated former president is being charged with inciting the violent mob attack on the Capitol Building on January 6, to overturn the election in what prosecutors have argued was the “most grievous constitutional crime,” likened to a coup.
Trump’s lawyers have insisted that he is not guilty of the sole charge of “incitement of insurrection,” saying his words to the protesters were mere figures of speech, even as he encouraged a rally crowd to “fight like hell” for his presidency.
Trump, who is the first US president to face charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors while in office, has continued to challenge the nation’s civic norms and traditions even in defeat.
Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol as the Senators begin proceedings. And while acquittal is likely, the trial will test the US’s attitude toward Trump’s brand of presidential power, the Democrats’ resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trump’s Republican allies defending him.
Trump’s defenders are also preparing to challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he was to blame for the insurrection. They suggest that Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office.
House impeachment managers, in their own filings, asserted that Trump had “betrayed the American people” and there is no valid excuse or defense.
His incitement of insurrection against the United States government, which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president,” the Democrats insisted.
With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, the trial will begin with a debate and vote on whether it is constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president, an argument that could resonate with Republicans keen on voting to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.
Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon on Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.
After that, there will be hours for deliberations, witnesses and closing arguments. The trial was set to break on Friday evening for the Jewish Sabbath, but Trump’s defense team, concerned about the delay, withdrew the request, and now the trial can continue into the weekend and next week.
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