23 Nigerians Jailed In France For Sex Trafficking (SEE Details)

23 Nigerians Jailed In France For Sex Trafficking (Read Details)

A French court has sentenced 23 Nigerians and one Frenchman, all members of a Lyon-based sex trafficking ring to prison terms of up to seven years for forcing Nigerian women into prostitution.

It was the latest case to highlight the growing use of African migrants in the European sex trade.
Among those sentenced was Europe’s most wanted woman, fugitive Jessica Edosomwan, accused of acting as a France-based “madam” to women recruited mainly in Nigeria’s Edo State.
Edosomwan was tried in absentia. Also sentenced was self-styled Pastor Stanley Omoregie, 35, who said he just wanted to help the people in his community.

He denied in court the accusation of being involved in running a prostitution racket and trafficking of young girls from Nigeria to Europe.
Half of the 24 defendants present are women, mostly under 35 years old, and suspected of being the “mamas” of the network, in other words pimps.
Nigeria was the main country of origin for the tens of thousands of migrants who crossed the Mediterranean to Europe by boat in 2016 and 2017.

Many were women and girls lured to Europe with false promises of jobs as hairdressers or seamstresses, only to find themselves selling sex to repay their smugglers.

Seventeen women filed complaints against the defendants but none of the victims attended the trial, with the exception of one former sex worker who found herself in the dock for luring another woman into the trade.

The accused had faced up to 10 years’ imprisonment on charges including human trafficking, pimping, money laundering and helping people live illegally in France.

Prosecutors estimated that the victims, aged 17 to 38, made up to 150,000 euros ($166,000) a month for the syndicate by selling sex in vans parked by the side of the road for as little as 10 euros.
A French mechanic who looked after the vans was among the 24 defendants.
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N2bn fraud: Maina used sister’s name to run secret bank account- Witness

N2bn fraud: Maina used sister’s name to run secret bank account- Witness

Mairo Abdulahi Bashir, a business manager with United Bank for Africa, UBA, and first prosecution witness, (PW1), in the ongoing trial of Abdulrasheed  Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team before  Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, November 29, 2019 disclosed that  Maina used his sister’s name to open a secret bank account with the UBA, through which funds were transferred.

According to the witness, Maina passed off the account as belonging to his sister, while he actually operated it.

The witness under cross- examination by defense counsel, Esther Uzoma denied harbouring  any ulterior motive in her testimonies.

 Uzoma had accused the witness of nursing an ulterior motive by not revealing to the UBA authorities,  Maina’s huge monetary transactions, including documents containing the alleged deposits and withdrawals in local and foreign currencies by Common Input and Properties Ltd, (allegedly belonging to the defendant).

The witness denied any ulterior motives in her testimonies, revealing further that Maina presented a certificate of incorporation for Common Input and Properties Ltd, with his sister’s photograph and her personal details but endorsed the document with his own signature.

Justice Abang adjourned the case until December 9, 10, and 11 for continuation of trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Maina on a 12-count charge, bordering on operating fictitious bank accounts, corruption fraud and money laundering to the tune of over N2 billion.

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Buhari to launch construction of new university in Daura

Buhari to launch construction of new university in Daura

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday participate in a “ground breaking ceremony for the University of Transportation, Daura,” his spokesperson has said.

Daura in Katsina State is Mr Buhari’s hometown.
Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari’s spokesperson, said the president arrived in Daura on Friday evening “after attending the 5th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.”
President Buhari arrived the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport at 4.20 p.m. and was received by Governor Aminu Masari, the spokesperson said.

“The president, who is on a five-day official visit to the state, will on Monday participate in a ground breaking ceremony for the University of Transportation, Daura, and commission the Kwanar Gwante (Shargalle Road), which is off Kano-Daura Road. 

“The specialized university, which will be built by CCECC Nigerian Ltd, will focus on research and development of human capital for the transport sector.
“The president will depart Daura on Tuesday for Kaduna.”
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Kylie spends $400k on security monthly

Caitlyn Jenner has provided a glimpse into how much her billionaire youngest daughter, Kylie Jenner, spends on her security per month.

According to her, Kylie spends anywhere between $300,000- $400,000 a month.
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When asked “How does that make you feel that your daughters have to go through that just to go to the shops?” Caitlyn said “It’s sad but they have been doing it forever. They like having the security guys there.”

Nigeria's Buhari seeks parliamentary nod on $23 billion in foreign loans

Nigeria's Buhari seeks parliamentary nod on $23 billion in foreign loans

ABUJA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has asked parliament to approve $22.72 billion of foreign borrowings tied to infrastructure and other projects, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Friday, after a similar request three years ago was rejected.

In the letter dated Nov. 26, Buhari said parliament did not approve a $30 billion external borrowing plan in its entirety. Rather, a $4.5 billion Eurobond sale was approved alongside five projects out of a total of 39.

He asked for the lower house to reconsider and approve the external borrowing plan for 2016-2018 as well as projects tied to the funds, he said in the letter.

The government has said it wanted to borrow more from abroad so that 40% of its loans come from offshore sources by 2019 to lower cost and help fund its record budgets. Buhari plans to spend 10.33 trillion naira ($33.8 billion) next year, a 17% increase over this year’s budget.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) said it had no plans to use the international debt market in 2019 after its sixth Eurobond sale a year earlier. However, the debt office has said the government plans to tap cheap concessionary loans this year.

The new borrowings are tied to projects supported by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, German Development Bank and China EXIMBank, the letter read.
“Outstanding projects in the plan that were not approved by the legislature are ... critical to the delivery of the government’s policies and programmes relating to power, mining, roads, agriculture, health, water and educational sectors,” Buhari said in the letter.

In 2016, Buhari asked the Senate to approve $30 billion of foreign borrowing to fund projects. But the Senate dealt him an unexpected blow by rejecting the plan.
During Buhari’s first term, the executive was embroiled in a power tussle with the legislature that slowed government including confirmation of appointments. However, in February, Buhari won a second term while some of his party loyalists in parliament were re-elected.

Nigeria has been borrowing abroad to fund projects after a 2016 recession caused largely by low global oil prices, but debt service costs have been rising. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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A couple surprised their Denny's waitress who walked hours to work with a new car

A couple surprised their Denny's waitress who walked hours to work with a new car

(CNN)While it doesn't have much to do with Turkey, a waitress at a Denny's restaurant in Galveston, Texas, has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Almost every day, Adrianna Edwards walks over four hours to and from work.

"I have bills to pay," Edwards told CNN affiliate KTRK . "I've got to eat. You've got to do what you've got to do."

But her walking days are finally over.

A couple she served at the restaurant on Tuesday bought her a new car -- just hours after they'd met.

Edwards can now start college earlier than she thought.
The couple, who wanted to remain anonymous, were at Denny's for breakfast when they found out that Edwards was walking 14 miles just to get to her job and go back home.

The waitress, who was saving up money to buy a car to free herself from the long trek, gave the woman extra ice cream. But what she got in return was much sweeter.

The Texas couple finished their meal, left the restaurant, and came back with a 2011 Nissan Sentra and handed Edwards the keys. This car will turn what was a five hour walk into a 30 minute commute.

"She teared up, which made me happy that she was so moved by that," the woman who bought Edwards the car told KTRK

All the couple asked in return for the car was for Edwards to simply pay the good deed forward. And that's exactly what she aims to do.

"I still feel like I'm dreaming. Every two hours, I come look out my window and see if there's still a car there. When I see somebody in need, I'll probably be more likely to help them out (and) to do everything that I can to help them out," Edwards said