Court declares FG’s deportation of Cameroonian separatist leader illegal

Court declares FG’s deportation of Cameroonian separatist leader illegal

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, declared the arrest, detention and deportation of Cameroonian separatist leader, Dr Egbe Ogork, by the Federal Government in 2018, as illegal.

The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, held that the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, acted unconstitutionally when it deported the Applicant who is one of the separatist leaders in Southern Cameroon, without a court order.

Aside from declaring the arrest, detention and deportation of the Applicant null and void, the court awarded a cost of N5million as general and aggravated damages against the NSA and the Attorney General of the Federation, who were cited as Respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/271/2019.

The Applicant who is married to a Nigerian and a Professor of Engineering at the Bayero University Kano had in a suit he filed through his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, challenged his arrest and deportation, insisting that it amounted to gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

In a supporting affidavit that was deposed to by Mr Marshal Abubakar, the Applicant said he was billed to attend a meeting at Nera Hotels in Abuja on January 7, 2018, when he was apprehended and subsequently deported to Cameroon on Friday, January 26, 2018, by the NSA without an order of the court.
The Applicant told the court that he is a Nigerian citizen by naturalization, Cameroonian by birth and has been lecturing at the Bayero University for over two decades.

Consequently, among other reliefs, he prayed the court for: “A declaration that the arrest and detention of the Applicant from January 7, 2018, till Friday January 26, 2018, without being charged to court for a known offence is Illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity of person and fair hearing as enshrined in sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I999 (as amended) and Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A Declaration that the detention of the Applicant from January 7, 2018 till Friday January 26, 2018, by the 1st Respondent without granting him access to his family, lawyers, medical doctors, is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Applicant’s fundamental rights to private and family life, legal representative and health as enshrined in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I999 (as amended) and Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

An order directing the Respondents to bring the Applicant back to Nigeria forthwith, as well as an order directing the Respondents to pay N1billion as general and aggravated damages for his illegal detention from Nigeria.
More so, the Applicant, through his lawyer prayed the court to restore his permanent residence status in Nigeria.
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Trump approves legislation backing Hong Kong protesters

Trump approves legislation backing Hong Kong protesters

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law congressional legislation backing protesters in Hong Kong despite angry objections from Beijing, with which he is seeking a deal to end a damaging trade war.

The legislation, approved unanimously by the US Senate and by all but one lawmaker in the House of Representatives last week, requires the State Department to certify, at least annually, that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to justify favourable US trading terms that have helped it maintain its position as a world financial centre.
The law also threatens sanctions for human rights violations.
Congress passed a second bill, which Trump also signed, banning the export to the Hong Kong police of crowd-control munitions, such as teargas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and stun guns.
“I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi (Jinping), China, and the people of Hong Kong. 

They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all,” Trump said in a statement.
At the heart of the matter in Beijing’s promise to allow Hong Kong a “high degree of autonomy” for 50 years when it regained sovereignty over the city in 1997, a pledge that has formed the basis of the territory’s special status under U.S. law. Protesters say freedoms have been steadily eroded.

Trump had been vague about whether he would sign or veto the legislation while trying to strike a deal with China on trade that he has made a top priority ahead of his 2020 re-election bid.
After Congress passed the bill, Trump’s aides debated whether the president’s endorsement could undermine efforts to reach an interim trade deal with China, and most of them ultimately recommended the signing to show support for the protesters, a person familiar with the matter said.

The decision was also influenced by the overwhelming majorities in the Senate and House in favor of the legislation, which was widely seen as making the bills veto-proof, as well as the landslide election victory in Hong Kong earlier this week of critics of Chinese rule, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
If Trump had opted to use his veto, it could have been overridden by two-thirds votes in both the Senate and the House. The legislation would have automatically become law on Dec. 3 if Trump had opted to do nothing.
China has denounced the legislation as gross interference in its affairs and a violation of international law.
After the Senate passed the legislation, Beijing vowed counter-measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security.
Last week, Trump boasted that he alone had prevented Beijing from crushing the demonstrations with a million soldiers, while adding that he had told President Xi that doing so would have “a tremendous negative impact” on trade talks.

China has warned the US it could take “firm counter-measures” if Washington continues to show support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
The warning came after US President Donald Trump signed the Human Rights and Democracy Act into law.

The act mandates an annual review, to check if Hong Kong has enough autonomy to justify special status with the US.
Mr Trump is currently seeking a deal with China, in order to end a trade war between the two countries.

“The US has been disregarding facts and distorting the truth,” a Chinese foreign ministry statement said.
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Botswana Government deregisters, bans and closes all 60 branches of Prophet Bushiri's church

Botswana Government deregisters, bans and closes all 60 branches of Prophet Bushiri's church

 

Flamboyant Malawian Pastor, Shepherd Bushiri seems to be having issues with the Botswanan government as all branches of his church in the country have been closed down following its deregistration in 2018. 

This came weeks after the government of Botswana lifted a visa travelling ban imposed on the founder of the Enlightened Christian Gathering church during former president Ian Khama’s administration. 

The recent crackdown has left Prophet Bushiri's followers travelling to the church's headquarters in South Africa on weekends to attend Sunday services while others follow church events through his television channel. 

Bushiri who was described by former nationality, immigration and gender affairs minister Edwin Batshu as “too demanding”, had demanded for heavy security from Botswana's state security agencies whenever he was in the country. He also wanted government to direct all entry points to be opened around the clock for his convenience, a demand said to be a national security threat. 

“His church wrote a letter to my ministry requesting that we open our borders for 24 hours. They stated in the letter that, given the stature of the pastor, we should open the borders as per their request,” he said.
Confirming the closure of Prophet Bushiri's churches in Botswana, the country's police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe warned his church members to stop congregating or undertaking church activities because they were operating illegally.

“Following the deregistration of the church and its branches by the Registrar of Societies, the church sought to challenge the decision through the courts,” reads part of the letter.
“The church, however, withdrew its application as per court order… dated July 3, 2019. This meant that the decision to deregister the church stood, hence it should not operate in Botswana. Notwithstanding the above, it appears that the church continues to operate unlawfully within our country. We have therefore within our country. We have therefore been requested to intervene, and its branches around the country do not congregate or undertake any church-related activities". 
The national executive secretary of the church, Pelotshweu Baeng confirmed they've received the letter from the Botswanan government. He also disclosed that hundreds of followers attended last week’s service in South Africa’s capital following the letter from the police commissioner.

“We knew that the letter was on its way. We are law-abiding citizens and we will abide by the law,” he said.

copytright 

I’m not afraid of indictment by impeachment inquiry – Trump’s lawyer

I’m not afraid of indictment by impeachment inquiry – Trump’s lawyer

New York, Barely 48 hours after the Democrats-led House of Representatives Intelligence Committee concluded its two-week public hearing on impeachment, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Saturday lashed out at his accusers, saying he is not afraid of being indicted by the inquiry.

Guiliani whose name was mentioned multiple times by Department of State officials who testified at the hearings was said to be running shadow foreign policy at the behest of the President for his (Trump) personal political interest.

The former mayor of New York City, spoke in an interview with Fox News on the heels of Trump’s telephone interview on Fox and Friends the previous day.

For the umpteenth time, Trump took a swipe at the impeachment hearings, declaring he was ready to face the Senate trial, even as he described Guiliani as a “great lawyer.”


The former United States District Attorney of Southern New York whose two associates are facing criminal charges of funneling foreign money into U.S. election campaign funds, dismissed fears of being dragged into the alleged crime.

“You think I’m afraid?” Giuliani said. “You think I get afraid? I did the right thing. I represented my client in a very, very effective way. I was so effective that I discovered a pattern of corruption that the Washington press has been covering up for three or four years.”

“I’ve seen things written like he’s going to throw me under the bus,” he said in reference to media comments about him and his close relationship with Trump.

“When they say that, I say he isn’t, but I have insurance.”

“This is ridiculous,” he added. “We are very good friends. He knows what I did was in order to defend him, not to dig up dirt on Biden.”

He however clarified in a tweet that the term “insurance” referred to files in his possession containing details of former Vice President Joe Biden’s alleged wrong doings while in office. He said the files would be made public if he (Guiliani) “disappeared.”

Testimonies of top diplomats during the public hearings linked Giuliani with Trump’s request to have Ukrainian government announce an investigation of a gas company, Burisma, where Hunter Biden, the ex-VP’s son was a director in 2004. Trump demanded this from the Ukrainian President in exchange for the release of U.S. military aid which the Congress had approved months earlier.

Giuliani was also said to have launched smeared television campaign on former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, which eventually led to her sudden removal from office in May over her perceived disapproval of Giuliani involvement in Ukraine issue.

Democrats in the Congress subsequently launched the impeachment inquiry to establish that the United States President invited a foreign government to interfere in U.S. election in order to gain a political advantage over a potential opponent.

Giuliani described Biden’s defense of his son’s involvement in the Ukrainian gas company as aa “poor impersonation of the Godfather.”

“You’d have to be a fool to not know your son was under investigation,” he said, adding that Biden was “lying.”

He accused the media and certain political individuals of making him a scapegoat.

“Damn it, the mafia couldn’t kill me, your colleagues are not going to kill me!”

In response to former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s description of him  as a “hand grenade.”

Giuliani said, “For John to say I’m a hand grenade, then he’s an atomic bomb.”

He insisted that everything he did involving Ukraine was done in good faith as a defense lawyer.

“I didn’t go tell the White House(about) what I was doing as a defense lawyer,” Giuliani said.

“I did it privately. What I did there had nothing to do with his foreign policy, good or bad. I didn’t get involved in foreign policy. I was involved in gathering very, very significant evidence to exculpate my client.”

Speaking on his closeness to Trump, Guiliani enthused, “You can assume I talked to him early and often and have a very, very good relationship with him.”


 
New York, Barely 48 hours after the Democrats-led House of Representatives Intelligence Committee concluded its two-week public hearing on impeachment, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Saturday lashed out at his accusers, saying he is not afraid of being indicted by the inquiry.Guiliani whose name was mentioned multiple times by Department of State officials who testified at the hearings was said to be running shadow foreign policy at the behest of the President for his (Trump) personal political interest.

The former mayor of New York City, spoke in an interview with Fox News on the heels of Trump’s telephone interview on Fox and Friends the previous day.For the umpteenth time, Trump took a swipe at the impeachment hearings, declaring he was ready to face the Senate trial, even as he described Guiliani as a “great lawyer.”The former United States District Attorney of Southern New York whose two associates are facing criminal charges of funneling foreign money into U.S. election campaign funds, dismissed fears of being dragged into the alleged crime.“You think I’m afraid?” Giuliani said. “You think I get afraid? I did the right thing. 


I represented my client in a very, very effective way. I was so effective that I discovered a pattern of corruption that the Washington press has been covering up for three or four years.”“I’ve seen things written like he’s going to throw me under the bus,” he said in reference to media comments about him and his close relationship with Trump.“When they say that, I say he isn’t, but I have insurance.”“This is ridiculous,” he added. “We are very good friends. 

He knows what I did was in order to defend him, not to dig up dirt on Biden.”He however clarified in a tweet that the term “insurance” referred to files in his possession containing details of former Vice President Joe Biden’s alleged wrong doings while in office. 

He said the files would be made public if he (Guiliani) “disappeared.”Testimonies of top diplomats during the public hearings linked Giuliani with Trump’s request to have Ukrainian government announce an investigation of a gas company, Burisma, where Hunter Biden, the ex-VP’s son was a director in 2004. Trump demanded this from the Ukrainian President in exchange for the release of U.S. military aid which the Congress had approved months earlier.

Giuliani was also said to have launched smeared television campaign on former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, which eventually led to her sudden removal from office in May over her perceived disapproval of Giuliani involvement in Ukraine issue.

Democrats in the Congress subsequently launched the impeachment inquiry to establish that the United States President invited a foreign government to interfere in U.S. election in order to gain a political advantage over a potential opponent.Giuliani described Biden’s defense of his son’s involvement in the Ukrainian gas company as aa “poor impersonation of the Godfather.”“You’d have to be a fool to not know your son was under investigation,” he said, adding that Biden was “lying.”He accused the media and certain political individuals of making him a scapegoat.

“Damn it, the mafia couldn’t kill me, your colleagues are not going to kill me!”In response to former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s description of him as a “hand grenade.”Giuliani said, “For John to say I’m a hand grenade, then he’s an atomic bomb.”He insisted that everything he did involving Ukraine was done in good faith as a defense lawyer.“I didn’t go tell the White House(about) what I was doing as a defense lawyer,” Giuliani said.“I did it privately. What I did there had nothing to do with his foreign policy, good or bad. 

I didn’t get involved in foreign policy. I was involved in gathering very, very significant evidence to exculpate my client.”Speaking on his closeness to Trump, Guiliani enthused, “You can assume I talked to him early and often and have a very, very good relationship with him.”
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Bill Gates beats Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to reclaim world's richest man title

Bill Gates beats Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to reclaim world's richest man title

- Bezos ended Gates' 24-year run as the richest man in 2018

- Gates regained the lead on Friday, November 15

- This was after Microsoft stock went up nearly 48% in 2019 increasing his stakes

- Gates debuted on Forbes' first-ever billionaire list in 1987 with a net worth of 452,190,929,310.00 Nigerian Naira

- On the other hand, Bezos first joined The Forbes 400 list of richest Americans in 1998

Billionaire Bill Gates has officially surpassed Amazon Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jeff Bezos at world's richest person on earth with a net worth of $110 billion (11.2 trillion)

The Amazon founder ended Gates' 24-year run as the richest man in 2018 with a net worth of $160 billion.

Gates may have never relinquished the top spot were it not for his philanthropy. He has donated more than KSh 3.6 trillion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Photo: Getty Images.
Source: Getty Images

However, the Microsoft co-founder regained the lead on Friday, November 15, after Microsoft stock went up nearly 48% in 2019, helping boost the value of his stake in the tech giant, CNN reported.

The rest of his wealth is derived from share sales and investments made over the years by his family office, Cascade.

Gates had briefly topped Bezos as the world's richest man in October 2019, after Amazon's lacklustre Q3 results resulted in Bezos losing nearly $7 billion (713.7 billion )in stock value.

Bezos would be far richer if he and MacKenzie Bezos had not divorced in January 2019. Photo: Getty Images

The index, which tracks the wealth of the richest 500 people, is updated each trading day after U.S. markets close. Europe’s richest person, Bernard Arnault, is third with $102.7 billion.

Gates debuted on Forbes' first-ever billionaire list in 1987 with a net worth of $1.25 billion (KSh 127.5 billion).

Bezos first joined The Forbes 400 list of richest Americans in 1998, one year after Amazon went public, with a net worth of $1.6 billion (163.1 billion).

Bezos would be far richer if he and MacKenzie Bezos had not divorced in January 2019, with MacKenzie receiving a quarter of their Amazon holdings in July 2019.

Gates, on the other hand, may have never relinquished the top spot were it not for his philanthropy.

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Lady builds multi-million dream home for parents as 2019 gift

Lady builds multi-million dream home for parents as 2019 gift

Nothing beats the feeling of gifting your parents especially if you grew up with literally nothing.

A woman by the name Chabe Kgalalelo has done what her age mates have been dreaming of since the start of 2019.

Chabe, a South African national took to social media on Thursday, November 14, to share photos of a new home she just completed putting up for her loving parents.

The beautiful lady revealed she built her parents their dream home, splashing millions to make the permanent house look undeniably perfect by all standards.

"Finally finished my biggest project of 2019. A dream home for my parents. A token of appreciation to them for I am because they are. A multi-million home. I am so happy and humbled. I grew up with nothing but a dream to become," she captioned.

Her achievement was an instant inspiration to many members of the online community who wasted no time to applaud her for looking after her family.

"Congratulations, blessings will follow you all the way because you've done such an amazing thing for your parents. You didn't forget where you came from," tweeted Merrona Gomain.

Meanwhile, an Tanzanian MP is proposing a law seeking to punish adults who fail to take care of their aging parents.

Kahama Urban MP Jumanne Kishimba wondered why it was illegal for parents not to educate their children but they (children) are not reprimanded for failing to take care of them.

“If you do not take your child to school today you will be arrested and charged in court. I am only asking the Ministry of Education to bring us laws so that when a parent educates his child to a point where he is working, and when the parent calls that child and he refuses to pick the phone, a law should be put in place to ensure the kid is punished,” he said.

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