News
60 women accuse ex-Harrods owner, Al-Fayed, of sex abuse
By Francesca Hangeior
About 60 women have come forward to allege they were sexually abused by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, lawyers representing them said on Friday.
A BBC documentary last week aired claims by women that Fayed, who died last year aged 94, raped and sexually abused them during his ownership of the luxury department store.
The accusations make the Egyptian billionaire the latest high-profile figure to join a list of rich and powerful men, such as Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, disgraced by sexual abuse allegations.
“The response has simply been enormous. We can confirm that we now represent 60 survivors as part of our claim, with more to come,” the lawyers said in a statement.
The legal team said that since going public following the television expose, they had been contacted by people from all over the world.
“Our claim is becoming increasingly global in scope… We expected that anywhere Mohamed Al-Fayed went, the abuse would follow.
“Sadly this has proven to be true. We are now in possession of credible evidence of abuse at other Al-Fayed properties and businesses, including Fulham Football Club,” the statement read.
In 2013, he was accused of raping a woman, a claim investigated in 2015.
In both instances, the CPS, which decides on prosecutions in England and Wales, said there was no “realistic prospect of conviction” and did not bring charges against the Harrods chairman.
The lawyers said they would continue to respond to inquiries from potential victims or witnesses and called for an “independent and transparent process to evaluate and adjudicate these claims”.
The women they represented, they said, had “lost all faith in Harrods and their processes.”
Harrods’ Managing Director, Michael Ward, said this week his former boss presided over a “toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct.”
But he said he had not been “aware of his criminality and abuse” and expressed his “personal horror at the revelations.”
Fayed’s accusers say the assaults took place in his apartments in London and his properties in Paris, including the Ritz hotel.
Allegations include a repeated pattern of women who underwent a selection process for positions close to Fayed.
Once selected, they were subjected to an “invasive” gynaecological examination, the results of which were shared with Fayed.
The women said that when they tried to complain about their abuse, were threatened by senior security staff, demoted and subject to false allegations until they had “no choice” but to leave Harrods.
Fayed sold Harrods to the investment arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported £1.5 billion ($2.2 billion).
News
OERAF Executive Director Dr Akpodiete, Held Memorial lecture on Essence and benefits of health insurance+Photos
…Enrolled over 400 indigents into Delta state health insurance scheme
In a very unique and significant way of tackling health challenges in our society, the ever passionate and health insurance ambassador (HIA), Executive Director of Olotu & Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete Foundation (OERAF) Dr Otemu Olotu Akpodiete held memorial lecture on essence and benefits of health insurance in Nigeria in honour of his late grand father, Late Chief Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete Ph.D
Speaking during the event at both Okparabe and Otor-Udu respectively yesterday, he noted that health insurance is very important to every family in the society.
Akpodiete explained that, Sometimes there might be an emergency and if you don’t have health insurance, you will spent alot before you can be attended to by Medical organizations. But if there’s health insurance card with you it get easier.
“He further commended the Delta state government led by His Excellency, Rt Hon (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, for brining this good initiative and it’s very affordable, just with seven thousands naira, you get enrolled unlike the federal government that is almost forty thousand per person.” he added.
The Director General (DG) of the Delta State Contributory health commission, Olorogun Dr. Isaac Akpoveta ably represented by Mr. Emmanuel Akpofure, thanked the sponsor Dr Akpodiete for being the first person across Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency to register indigents for the scheme. He called on other wealthy individuals to emulate this young man.
Dr Akpodiete also received commendation from several beneficiaries of the scheme, they said that to enrole over 400 persons in this program so far is not a joke, each person is seven thousand naira and Dr Olotu Akpodiete is not the most wealthiest before doing it. He is a man with so much passion for humanity and we prayed God to grant him his heart desires.” they concluded.
Other highlights of the event was presentation of health insurance ambassador (HIA) award to the sponsor.
Pascal Gabriel Dozie, founder of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc and a former chairman of MTN Nigeria, has died at 85 from an undisclosed ailment, a source close to the family revealed.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
On Monday The Naira depreciated to N1,629 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira rose to N1,629 per dollar from N1,600 per dollar last week Friday, indicating N29 depreciation for the naira.
Likewise, the naira depreciated to N1, 570 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,565 per dollar last weekend. Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate widened to N59 per dollar from N35 per dollar last weekend.
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