The former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has been found guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters who were demonstrating against him in last year's uprising.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
In Texas, woman shoots mother dead and steals her baby
Kala Marie Golden, 28, was carrying her three-day-old son, Keegan, in the car park of a paediatric centre when she was confronted by a woman.
The woman shot Golden up to seven times and snatched the baby from her arms before driving away.
Prosecutors suspect the attack may have been part of a plan to abduct any baby.
Brett Ligon, a district attorney, told ABC's Good Morning America programme that Verna McClain, 30, had been charged early on Wednesday in the killing.
According to ABC News, Ms McClain is a registered nurse and mother of three.
Mr Ligon told ABC: "There were statements as indicated in the arrest record that were made by Ms McClain that led us to believe that, in fact, this was an intentional act on her part.
"Not that Ms Golden was targeted specifically, but that this was part of a plan to kidnap a child."
The stolen baby was found unharmed on Tuesday evening and has been reunited with his family, a Child Protection Services spokeswoman told the Houston Chronicle newspaper.
It is not known where authorities found the infant, but they said the baby was not in a home raided by armed police on Tuesday evening.
Golden had taken her son to Northwoods Pediatric Center in the town of Spring for a routine check-up earlier that day.
Witnesses say there was an argument between Golden and another woman outside the building, before the attacker opened fire. A receptionist at the paediatric centre said that Verna McClain was not an employee there.
The dying woman leaned into the vehicle and tried to take her child back, screaming "my baby!" but her attacker sped away.
Reports suggest there was a second person in the car.
Linda Golden, the victim's mother, told the Associated Press news agency: "I wanted to kiss her before they put her in the ambulance."
"That's the hardest she's ever fought," Ms Golden added. "She died trying to save her baby."
Speaking to Houston television station KHOU on Tuesday, Keegan's father, Keith Schuchardt, paid tribute to Golden.
"She was sweet, lovable," he said. "I loved her and she loved me."
Days earlier, Mr Schuchardt had announced the birth of his son on Facebook: "Baby Keegan is here, born 4/14/12, 6lbs 15oz, 20 inches long. Looks like me lol."
Monday, 2 April 2012
Robbers attack luxury bus, rape students
The students said to be returning to their parents in Lagos for the Easter holidays, were also reportedly dispossessed of cash, GSM handsets and other valuables which monetary value could not be immediately ascertained.
Report said they left Enugu for Lagos on Saturday morning but the luxury bus developed a mechanical fault which could not be repaired immediately.
Another luxury bus with Number Plate XW 875 LSR was brought by the transport company to convey the stranded students to Lagos. But by then it was already late in the evening.
However, on reaching Oke-Odo at about 11.40pm, the gun-wielding robbers reportedly intercepted the luxury bus, ordering all passengers to lie down, cooperate or risk losing their lives.
Report also said that the robbers thereafter, hijacked the luxury bus and drove it far inside the bush, where they allegedly gang- raped some of the teenage students and made away with their valuables.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, parents and relatives of the victims became apprehensive after waiting endlessly for their wards. Tension heightened when they got wind of the attack which made them to pass the night at the park, waiting for their return.
When the students eventually arrived yesterday morning, parents and relatives wailed at the sight of some of the blood-stained teenagers.
Some however, were dazed as they could not find their wards among those that came in. An unconfirmed report however had it that some of the passengers fled while the robbery was going on in Ogun State.
Management of the transport company was said to have immediately rushed most of the victims to the hospital.
No official report yet — School Principal
The principal of the school, Mercy Ani, in her reaction said she had not been contacted by any parent of her students that traveled back to Lagos after the school closed on Saturday. She however confirmed hearing the rumour of the robbery attack but quickly added that reports reaching her indicated that all the students that left for Lagos were already with their parents.
When Vanguard arrived Jibowu park at about 4.30pm, none of the staff agreed to speak on the issue. Rather, they referred one to their head office at Oregun. They also refused to give out the telephone numbers of their spokesman and that of the manager.
But a man who simply gave his name as Ifechukwu, a loader with another transport company, said: “It is just unfortunate that this is happening. The truth is that the company in question does not travel at night. It is prohibited there. It is just unfortunate that the vehicle was faulty. Some of the relatives are blaming the company but they should understand that no one will ever drive a faulty car around.
“Yes, I saw some of the girls. Most of them were stained with blood and had scratches all over them. I guess they must have sustained that in the bush. Some of them were also in shock because this probably is their first experience. But in all, let us thank God that none of them died.”
Contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Jaiyeoba, confirmed that a manager of the transport company whose identity he did not disclose, reported the case at Sabo division but that he was referred to Ogun State, since the robbery did not take place in Lagos.
When his Ogun State counterpart, Mr Olumuyiwa Ogunjobi was contacted, someone else picked his phone, informing that the PRO was in a meeting that would last three hours. He however sent a text message which read: “Report received from the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ijebu-Ode has it that by 0730 hours (7.30am) yesterday, one Friday Odi, a male of Ekenedilichukwu Nigeria Limited, driver in charge of vehicle registration number Lagos XW875 LSR reported that at 2340 (11.40pm) hours of 31/3/2012 (Saturday) while conveying 42 female students to Lagos, armed men in Oke-Odo area along Ore-Shagamu Expressway, stopped their vehicle and drove them to a point in the bush where where they were robbed.
“Supol Ogbere led his men to the scene, traced the hijacked bus, rescued and evacuated the students to their Lagos destination and thereafter, towed the vehicle to the station and later released it to the owner on bond. Nobody was injured.”
A police source also confided in Vanguard that a child of a top police officer in Abuja was one of the victims and that effort to arrest the armed robbers was not successful.
Victims may suffer psychiatric disorders — Medical experts
Reacting to the emotional and psychological impact of the attack on the rape victims, a Senior Registrar at the Dejumo Hospital Gbagada, and former Registrar, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Obagaye Olukunle, who expressed worry that the victims may suffer psychiatric disorders said there is need for them to be taken to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further evaluation and immediate treatment.
Olakunle said in the meantime, the victims may experience sudden trauma because of the sudden nature of the rape. He said the victims are also prone to episodes of anxiety disorders notably, acute stress reaction and post traumatic stress disorder because of what happened.
“In the immediate, the victims will experience acute stress reaction. Most times, you find that the victims will not feel happy.
Mild or moderate, acute stress may even lead to suicide, depression. On the long run, they are bound to come down with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is when the picture of the experience will keep on recurring to them over and over again”.
He advised that such individuals be taken to a psychiatrist or psychologist immediately to relay their experiences freely. “Any psychiatric disorder discovered should be treated immediately. The victims should be placed on a Community Behavioural Therapy and there should be adequate counseling.”
Apart from drugs, Olakunle posited that the victims must also undergo psycho therapy.
Also reacting to the incident, Executive Director at Media Concern Initiative, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode described rape as a signature of robbers. According to her, “there is hardly a robbery now without its own incident of rape. It is an exhibition of power and dominance over the victim. Rape is one of the most common forms of sexual violence in the world.”
Commenting on the immediate and long-term effects on the victims, Olufemi-Kayode, who has vast experience in rape-related issues particularly child sexual abuse, stated: ”First there would be an initial trauma. Some of the victims may not show anything now, but may exhibit delayed shock.
They would need to be counseled and properly examined by a medical expert. This is a normal procedure in any rape incident and since they are minors, their consent or their parents’ consent is not required.”
Continuing, she explained that normally, if there is no life threat, a police report is required before the medical examination. “However, if the victim is bleeding heavily or is in serious pain, a medical test may be carried out first to obtain a report before lodging complaint with the Police.
The victim would then need to be given pain relievers and antibiotics. Emergency contraceptives are often required for those that are mature enough so they don’t get pregnant. They would especially need to be protected against sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and hepatitis, among others.” – The Vanguard
PDP to Ajimobi – resign if you cannot pay N18, 000 minimum wage
PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West, has asked the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, government in Oyo State, led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to resign if he cannot pay workers in the state the N18,000 minimum wage.
Also, a group within the PDP in Oyo State, loyal to immediate past governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has criticised the governor’s handling of the on-going strike in the state.
The state chapter of ACN, on the contrary said Governor Ajimobi had in the last 10 months shown enough commitment to workers’ welfare, saying last Monday’s meeting the governor had with the workers where facts and figures were placed before them was a further confirmation that Ajimobi had nothing to hide as far as the financial situation was concerned.
PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Kayode Babade, said, yesterday, that it was the height of wickedness for a governor, with over 1,000 political appointees earning an average of N300,000 per month to deny civil servants in his state the payment of just N18,000 as minimum wage.
The statement said: “We in the PDP, have an advice for him, he should please resign and let someone else, who won’t see Oyo State Government in terms of naira and kobo, take over the affairs of the state.
“Let Governor Ajimobi be reminded that former Governor Adebayo Alao Akala, who approved the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage did so in the understanding that the state had the capacity and capability to pay. If Akala were to be the one in power, he would have been paying the N18,000 as approved since May, 2011.
“Besides, didn’t Governor Ajimobi promise the workers the N18,000 minimum wage during his electioneering campaign? So if it is now difficult for him to meet his obligations to the people of Oyo State who elected him, why then is he still in office as governor? Isn’t resignation the most honourable thing for him to do since he has confessed that he cannot pay the workers, not to talk of executing developmental projects unless he borrows N135 million monthly? Or is it by force to serve the people of Oyo State?”
In 18 months, Fayemi wasted N200bn state fund
The Chairman of the party, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, made the accusation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti on Monday. He claimed that 18 months after taking over, the governor had virtually nothing to show in terms of achievements while the administration had continued to complain of lack of fund.
He specifically accused the governor of planting N3 billion flowers in the dry season, an action which he regarded as a monumental waste. Ogundupe also claimed that the standard of living of an average man in the state had reduced since the advent of the Fayemi-led administration.
He urged the government to desist from playing politics with the implementation of the new salary package for workers, noting that the government had been dilly dallying on the issue. According to him, the government had initially agreed to pay the workers N22, 000 as minimum wage but has now come down to N19,000. The chairman said the PDP was taking steps to take over power in the state in 2014, saying that already, a reconciliation committee had been set up on March 19, to reach out to aggrieved members. Ogundipe said that the last congresses of the party had strengthened the PDP's internal democracy and advised those who lost to accept their defeat in good faith.
In a response, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, dismissed the claim by the PDP, saying the government was prudent in the management of its resources. He said that the government had nothing to hide and advised the PDP to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Law, which was domesticated in the state, ``to get details of the government's prudent spending''. ``Fayemi’s administration has distinguished itself by restructuring the education system, introduction of the social security for the elderly , construction of several roads and various free health missions,'' he stated.
Evander Holyfield spotted in Nigeria tracing his root
The Alabama, United States-born retired pugilist believes he is of African descent.
Holyfield disclosed this to reporters here when he visited the traditional ruler of the town, Wheno Aholu Meno Toyi 1, the Akran of Badagry, saying he was visiting to trace his African roots.
"I am happy to see His Royal Majesty, the Akran of Badagry and to also reconnect and reunite with my ancestral land," he said.
According to the world renowned boxer who believed to be one of the offsprings of the Blacks in the Diaspora who were taken into slavery during the trans-atlantic slave trade in the 18th century, Badagry is also a good place for investment.
"On the long run, I will like to promote tourism here," he added.
He later went on a boat cruise along the Badagry waterways, to see areas of possible investment.
The retired pugilist was in the company of Alfred Dickson, an associate of Marlon Jackson, who also disclosed that he would be investing in Gberefun Town where Badagry's Point of No Return is located.
The Point of No Return is the gate from where slaves were shipped abroad during the days of slavery.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
In Ghana, 19-year-old unemployed remanded over harbouring teenager for sex
Dominic Aboagye, charged with defilement for keeping the 14 year girl at Takorase near Kade in the Eastern Region for sexual purposes, denied having any knowledge of the offence. The accused would go to court again on April 17.
The prosecutor, Inspector Kwaku Appiah told the court, presided over by Mr. Yaw Atta Sampong that, sometime in October, 2011 the complainant, Mr. Kwesi Antwi noticed that his daughter in primary class four had left home and failed to return.
He said, Mr Antwi who lived with her daughter at Akim Oda, searched for the girl at Akim Oda and Breman Odobeng where the mother lives.
Inspector Appiah said on March 25, this year Mr. Antwi received information that Aboagye and her daughter had returned to Odobeng and therefore, effected his arrest and handed him over to the police, who issued a medical report form to the girl to attend hospital for treatment.
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