News
Just in: President Replaces Six Ministers Over Corruption Probe
Six Peruvian cabinet ministers resigned Monday in a reshuffle that came amid a probe of how President Dina Boluarte obtained Rolex watches she has been seen wearing.
With Peru feasting on a scandal dubbed Rolexgate, Interior Minister Victor Torres was the first to step down, two days after police under his command raided and searched the home and office of the president.
Tension as deadly terrorists group, ISIS Ambush Nigerien Soldiers, Capture, Destroy Sophisticated Weapons donated by USA Five other ministers resigned hours later.
They held the posts of women’s issues, education, rural development, production, and foreign trade.
The government did not explain the resignations but they came two days before the new prime minister, Gustavo Adrianzen, and his cabinet were to go before congress to be sworn in, in a vote planned a month ago.
On Monday night, Boluarte swore in six new ministers to replace the ones who left. Torres said after a cabinet meeting that he was stepping down for personal reasons.
He has also taken a lot of heat in congress over a sharp increase in street crime.
Torres said he coordinated his departure with Boluarte. “I am leaving because I asked the lady and she accepted,” Torres told reporters.
Peruvian politics is a turbulent world — the country has had six different presidents in the last eight years.
The latest drama erupted in mid-March when a news program revealed that Boluarte, who has a rock bottom approval rating, owns several expensive Rolex timepieces and it is not clear how she acquired them. She makes about $55,000 a year.
She is now the target of a corruption probe to determine if she has enriched herself illegally since taking power in December 2022 and for failing to report the watches as part of her assets. Advertisements Boluarte is scheduled to give a formal statement to investigators on Friday and has been instructed to present any Rolex watches in her possession when she goes to that meeting. None were found in the dramatic raids carried out Friday night into Saturday.
Boluarte came to power in December 2022 after then president Pedro Castillo tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, leading to his arrest and violent protests demanding she step down, and that fresh elections be held.
She is also facing a constitutional complaint over a crackdown on those protests which led to the deaths of more than 50 people.
If she is indicted in the Rolex case, a trial could not take place until after her term ends in July 2026 or she is impeached, according to the constitution.
Congress potentially could seek her dismissal on grounds of “moral incapacity,” but that would require the unlikely cooperation of the right-leaning groups that control the legislature — and are Boluarte’s main support — with their left-wing rivals.
News
Triple national stampede: Adopt realistic actions to tackle corrosive hunger- Reps Minority Caucus tell FG
…mourn victims of stampede across Nigeria
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has advised the Federal Government to adopt a more realistic approach to tackle corrosive hunger as it mourn those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Okija, Ibadan and Abuja stampedes.
This was contained in a statement dated December 22, 2024, signed on behalf of the caucus by its Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda stating that:
“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is deeply pained by the unfortunate triple disasters that occurred in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja which led to multiple deaths, and many injuries during distribution of empowerment palliatives, and other giveaways.
” We are shocked at the severity of the pains, deaths, and injuries that happened at these respective locations while people were gathered to receive foods, and other items to mark the yuletide season.
“As a Caucus, it is saddening that in just few days, we lost about 70 people; including children, nursing mothers, women, and the elderly as a result of stampedes that happened at the distribution points.
” It is heartbreaking, and heartrending that these victims payed the supreme price in search of what to eat. Pathetic, and dehumanizing!
The caucus further stressed that: “Due to biting economic situation that has led to debilitating poverty, and corossive hunger, it is worrying that these terrible occurrences are gradually becoming the norm across the country.
“We are saddened that as a result of harsh economic realities, many people; who have fallen into untoward hardship, and penury throng any, and every empowerment palliatives event in search of what to eat.
“As a result of these disturbing trend, the Caucus strongly appeal to the Federal Government and various intervention agencies to take immediate actions towards increasing, and improving empowerment programmes.
“With the negative global attention these avoidable incidents have generated, we reiterate that the FG and State Governments should do more by ensuring that these palliatives percolate to the right people that need such.
“As we commiserate with the families of those who died at the stampedes, and identify with those who suffered various degrees of injuries, the Caucus calls for proper security arrangements; full-proof crowd management; and appropriate medical services at the venues of distribution of empowerment palliatives by governments, agencies, politicians, religious bodies, social groups, and individuals.
News
2.1 tons cocaine seizure: 4 drug barons get 28yrs in jail, forfeit VGC houses, N67m, $50,000+Photos
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
. Their conviction and forfeiture of their assets a historical blow to illicit drug trade, says Marwa
Four drug kingpins arrested in connection with the historic seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine at an Ikorodu residential estate in 2022 have been convicted by a Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro who sentenced them to various jail terms totaling twenty-eight (28) years with hard labour.
The convicts: Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Wasiu Akinade, 55; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican, were charged with six counts in charge number: FHC/L/607C/2022 in October and December 2022, while the trial of the fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday arraigned along with them is still ongoing in court. The charges border on conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organization (DTO); management and financing of a DTO; importation and possession of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine, among others.
Operatives of a special operations unit of NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation on Sunday 18th September, 2022 raided a house located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, Lagos where the over 2.1 tons of cocaine were seized, the largest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s anti-narcotic operations. The drug kingpins were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between the night of Sunday 18th and Monday 19th September, 2022.
After over two years of diligent prosecution, the trial judge handed the Jamaican, Kelvin Christopher Smith four years imprisonment with hard labour; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu got a total of 16 years; Soji Jubril Oke got five years with hard labour and Wasiu Akinade three years with hard labour. The trial judge however gave the convicts varying options of fine with the exception of one of them who will serve his full jail term without an option of fine.
They were also to forfeit a grey colour Toyota Tacoma SUV marked AAA-734HT registered in the name of Emmanuel Chukwu; $50,000:00 USD (Fifty Thousand US Dollars) belonging to Chukwu; N55,099,509.50 (Fifty-Five Million, Ninety-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Nine Naira, Fifty Kobo only) also belonging to Chukwu; the sum of N9,003,168.06 (Nine Million Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Eight Naira Six Kobo only) belonging to Wasiu Akinade and N3,052,295.20 (Three Million, Fifty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Five Naira Twenty Kobo only), also belonging to Akinade.
The Agency also in another suit marked FHC/L/MISC/672/2024 and filed before Justice Bogoro on 9th December 2024 after an initial interim forfeiture order, secured the final forfeiture of two houses linked to members of the drug cartel.
According to the trial court: “That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal
Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number 6 Olokunola Street,
Sholebo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 2A, 2B,
and 2C attached to this application used for the storage and concealment of 2,139.55kg (More Than Two Tons) Cocaine, an illicit substance similar to Heroin and LSD.
“That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number J9, Road 3, Close 1,
Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate, Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 3
attached to this application reasonably believed to be bought with proceeds derived
from trafficking in illicit drug substances (proceeds of crime) as in relief 1 of this Motion.
“That an Order is granted directing the sale or disposal by any other means provided by law of the forfeited House/Landed Property by the Applicant and the payment of the proceeds
therefrom to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation and prosecution of members of the drug cartel, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) said the case is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll not only go to jail but will equally lose all their investments in illicit drug consignments including all the properties and wealth acquired through the criminal trade.
Triple national stampede: Adopt realistic actions to tackle corrosive hunger- Reps Minority Caucus tell FG
2.1 tons cocaine seizure: 4 drug barons get 28yrs in jail, forfeit VGC houses, N67m, $50,000+Photos
Arewa Christians Association Salutes Nigerians At Christmas
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
News23 hours agoNigerians Are In Pains Because We Chose Darkness In Place Of Light — Bishop Kukah
-
News20 hours agoChristmas disaster: Plane crash claims dozens
-
News17 hours agoSEE List of 14 Nigerians Wanted By INTERPOL
-
News20 hours agoTerrorists reportedly bomb Nigerian army base
-
News6 hours agoTerrorists Bombard Nigerian Military Base In Yobe With Fighter Drones After Borno Attack
-
Politics7 hours agoPDP chieftain opens a can of worm on Edo APC Chair
-
News17 hours agoCourt Remands Refinery MD In Kuje Correctional Centre Over Alleged $35m Scam
-
News6 hours agoDriver loses control as bus runs into Christmas procession, injures 22