Nigerian controversial crossdresser, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, is facing the possibility of spending the 2024 Eid-il-Fitr break in detention. Recall that Bobrisky was arrested on April 3 and subsequently convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos on April 5, 2024. Bobrisky is facing charges related to Naira abuse, as brought forth by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Nigerian anti-graft agency filed six counts against Bobrisky, with the first four specifically addressing naira abuse and the remaining two pertaining to alleged money laundering. During the court proceedings, the EFCC prosecutor requested the dismissal of counts five…
Author: GuruTrends
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clinched all eight local government chairmanship positions in the recent council elections in Bayelsa State. The party also secured a clean sweep of the legislative seats across the 105 wards, demonstrating its dominant political influence in the state. The elections, overseen by the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), were notably boycotted by the main opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP). This electoral exercise marked the first local government polls conducted under the leadership of Governor Douye Diri and was observed as a critical test of the administration’s popularity and…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Tigran Gambaryan, the company’s head of financial crime compliance, over allegations of money laundering. Naija News reports that the anti-graft agency arraigned the company and its executive on a five-count charge before Emeka Nwite, a judge of the federal high court in Abuja. In a related development, a Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Gambaryan, in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the determination of his bail application. The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order after Gambaryan pleaded not guilty to the money laundering charges preferred against…
Liverpool blinked in the Premier League title race in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Sunday to leave Arsenal still on top thanks to their superior goal difference. The Gunners cruised to a 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday, while Manchester City responded to conceding early at Crystal Palace to emerge 4-2 victors. AFP Sports looks at where each of the contenders stand and how their run-ins compare. Arsenal: 71 points (+51 goal difference) The Gunners are getting ever closer to a first title in 20 years. Mikel Arteta’s men have won 10 and drawn one, away to City, in their last 11 Premier League games and…
A Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre by a Federal High Court in Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application. The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, issued the directive after Gambaryan pleaded innocence regarding the money laundering accusations levied against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday. The judge then postponed the proceedings until April 18 to deliberate on his bail request and scheduled the trial to begin on May 2. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Tigran Gambaryan, the company’s head of financial…
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to the “postcode lottery” on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). There are huge differences in support offered in schools, linked to extra costs, says party leader Sir Ed Davey. He wants a new national champion to coordinate support for children with the most complex needs as part of a £300m boost. The government published its own SEND improvement plan last year. Parents must get an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan for their child to access tailored SEND support. However, the latest government statistics show just over half the plans were not provided…
Reform UK’s leader has defended his party’s vetting procedures after a string of its candidates were dropped. At least 12 of the party’s general election candidates have been ditched or suspended over offensive social media posts. Richard Tice said Reform was “the fastest party to get rid of candidates” when they had acted inappropriately. He added that he would not take any lessons from the Conservatives over the issue. Mr Tice told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the Tories had “a bunch of sexual weirdos permeating”, later clarifying he was referring to last week’s Westminster honeytrap scandal. Conservative MP William…
A woman died when a major private healthcare provider failed to transfer her to NHS intensive care quickly enough after she became critically ill. Sabrina Khan said Spire Healthcare staff “should have known something was wrong” with her mother, Nafisa. The BBC also obtained testimony from doctors – contracted by the company to work up to 168 hours a week – who say long hours could put patients at risk. Spire Healthcare has apologised for failings in Nafisa Khan’s care. The death of Mrs Khan from east London is one of several deaths following surgery at Spire Healthcare, looked at…
Diddy‘s son Justin Combs has seen his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, aim at the Department of Homeland Security for allegedly “using the press” during their raids of the embattled Bad Boy mogul’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles. On the latest episode of the Beyond the Legal Limit podcast, Lichtman — once an attorney for El Chapo and mob scion John Gotti Jr. — claimed that the feds abused their authority when they raided the mansions by having members of the media at the ready as they executed the warrants. “They were all there, ready to record it,” he claimed. “They were all there,…
Godwin Emefiele, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him. He appeared before the Ikeja High Court to face charges of alleged abuse of office and misallocation of billions of dollars. Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, appeared in court to face the 26-count charge. Both parties pleaded not guilty to all counts and further requested bail pending the hearing and determination of the proceedings. Emefiele specifically asked the court to grant him bail on self-recognizance pending the hearing and determination of his case or in the alternative that he…
The Foreign Office should be abolished and replaced by a new Department for International Affairs with “fewer colonial era pictures on the wall”, a group of former senior diplomats and officials has said. They have written a pamphlet proposing radical reform of UK foreign policy. They say the Foreign Office is elitist, “rooted in the past” and “struggling to deliver a clear mandate”. In response, the department said it had clearly defined priorities. The group of former officials say the new department should have a broader remit that promotes Britain’s prosperity and security by better coordinating strategy on trade and aid, development…
J. Cole has publicly apologized to Kendrick Lamar for dissing him on “7 Minute Drill” while performing at Dreamville Festival. Walking back his lyrics about his longtime friend on the surprise song that was released on last week, Cole expressed regret about releasing the track. “I’m so proud of [Might Delete Later], except for one part. It’s one part of that shit that makes me feel like, man that’s the lamest shit I did in my fuckin’ life, right? And I know this is not what a lot of people want to hear,” he said to the crowd during his headlining set on Sunday night…
BREAKING A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive, at the Kuje Correctional Centre while his bail application is being considered. Justice Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, issued the order after Gambaryan pleaded not guilty to the money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday. According to the PUNCH, the judge subsequently adjourned the matter till April 18 for the ruling on his bail application and May 2 for commencement of trial.
Microsoft is opening a new office in London dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. The tech firm’s AI boss Mustafa Suleyman said it will advertise roles for “exceptional individuals” in the coming weeks and months. But he has not said how many jobs will be created. Microsoft is a major investor in ChatGPT-creator OpenAI, which itself opened an office in London in 2023. “There is an enormous pool of AI talent and expertise in the UK,” said Mr Suleyman in a blog post. “Microsoft AI plans to make a significant, long-term investment in the region as we begin hiring…
Every police force in the country is looking for a man suspected of fatally stabbing a mother who was pushing her baby in a pram, officials said. Habibur Masum, 25, is wanted after a 27-year-old woman was attacked in the Westgate area of Bradford on Saturday. West Yorkshire Police confirmed the baby was not harmed in the attack. West Yorkshire’s deputy mayor for policing and crime said Mr Masum was known to the victim and was considered “very dangerous”. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Monday, Alison Lowe said: “Habibur Masum is still at large. “There is a very complex…
In March 2022 invading Russian troops occupied the Ukrainian town of Bucha outside Kyiv, leaving a trail of death and destruction which shocked the world. Two years after their departure, the BBC’s Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford has gone back to see how its traumatised residents are trying to return to normal life. When Russian soldiers killed Ludmila’s husband, she had to wrap him in a blanket and bury him at the back of their garden. She then fled Bucha with her daughter. It was March 2022. The Russians had occupied the small town just outside Kyiv and taken over…
Retail group John Lewis has said that the former boss of Tesco’s UK business will become its next chairman. Jason Tarry, who led Tesco’s UK and Ireland business for six years, will take up the role in September. It comes after the current chair, Dame Sharon White, said last year that she would be standing down at the end of her term. Mr Tarry said it was a “great privilege” to lead the company, which also runs Waitrose supermarkets. He will become only the seventh chairman of the retail partnership, which is owned by its employees. John Lewis has come…
Airline regulators in the US have begun an investigation after an engine cowling on a Boeing 737-800 fell off during take-off and struck a wing flap. The Southwest Airlines flight returned safely to Denver International airport at about 08:15 local time (15:15 GMT) after originally departing to Houston. The aircraft had 135 passengers and six crew members on board and rose to about 10,300 feet (3,140m) before landing. The incident comes amid manufacturing and safety concerns at Boeing. Southwest Airlines said its maintenance teams would review the Boeing 737-800 after its cowling, which covers the plane’s engine, fell off. The…
Israel’s military said on Sunday that it was reducing its numbers of soldiers from southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade in the area. The military stressed a “significant force” would remain in Gaza. “This is another stage in the war effort”, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner told the BBC. The pull-out is being interpreted as tactical, rather than a sign the war may be moving closer to its end. Also on Sunday, Israel and Hamas said they had both sent delegations to Cairo to join fresh ceasefire negotiations. It is six months to the day since…
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has been impeached by the State Assembly After adopting the report of the seven-man panel that investigated allegations of misconduct against him. Naija News had earlier reported that the retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa-led panel had its inaugural sitting last Wednesday in Benin, the state capital. The panel ended its sitting on Friday with Shaibu or his counsel failing to show up to defend the allegations levelled against him. The panel had adjourned till Thursday for Shaibu to open his defence, and when he didn’t show up, he was given till Friday to come and…