ECOWAS Court orders FG to pay N88bn Civil War Damages

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ruled in favour of mine victims of the Nigerian Civil War, ordering that the Federal Government pay N88 billion in damages.

According to TheCable, the mine victims had in 2012 approached the ECOWAS court and asked for an order to have to FG remove the remnants of the war materials stockpiled in 11 states in the South-East, South-South, and North-Central parts of the country.

The victims had asked that the court order the Federal Government to rehabilitate the affected areas and compensate them for the damages.

The court, granting the application on Monday, asked that the Federal Government clear the area of live mines, and pay compensation amounting to a total of N88 billion.

The ruling ordered that the Federal Government:

undertakes to pay, without delay, compensation in the summer of N50 billion in full and final sum to the victims, their families and communities as contained in Schedule 4(1) to this terms of settlement.

undertakes to lay a total sum of N38 billion as contained in schedule 4(2) to this terms of settlement for the purposes of carrying out total demining and destruction, rebuilding of public buildings, mine center activities, construction of class rooms, provision of prosthetic and all other activities enumerated there under.

undertakes to complete the demining and deconstruction of landmines and bombs in the Nigeria civil war affected states of south-east, south-south and part of the north-central of Nigeria covering eleven states as contained in schedule 1 to this terms of settlement.

undertakes to mobilise the 4th and 5th respondents back to work to complete the final phase of the ongoing removal and destruction of post-war lethal materials, the 4th and 5th respondents having satisfactorily carried out the first phase of the contract.

The court also asked that the Federal Government make the settlement in “a reasonable time not exceeding 45 days from the day of his judgement.”

It was reported that about 302 locations across Benue, Enugu, Abia, Cross River, Ebonyi and Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Anambra and Imo states were affected.

Tiger Woods pleads guilty to reckless driving in connection with his DUI arrest in May

Tiger Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving and has agreed to enter a diversion program, avoiding a DUI conviction stemming from his May arrest.  

The 41-year-old former golfer, who last won a championship in 2008, was booked on a driving under the influence charge in Florida after he was found asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz, which was parked about 15 miles away from his home.

As part of his plea deal and diversion program, the four-time Masters champion will spend a year on probation, attend DUI school within a month, perform 20 hours of community service, attend a workshop where victims of impaired drivers discuss how their lives were damaged and pay a $250 fine within six months as well as court costs and make an additional $250 donation to Palm Beach County Victim Services.

If he completes his duties, his reckless driving charge will be expunged from his record. If he violates probation, it will be revoked and he could face a 90-day jail sentence and a fine of up to $500.

Son of Equatorial Guinea's president Obiang Nguema handed 3-years suspended jail term for embezzling more than €150 million

A French court on Friday handed the son of Equatorial Guinea's president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, a suspended sentence of three years in prison after he was found guilty of embezzling millions in public money.

Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue,48, who is the country's vice president, had been accused of spending millions of dollars allegedly linked to corruption, embezzlement, and extortion in his oil-rich African nation to fund his opulent lifestyle of fast cars, designer clothes, works of art and high-end real estate.

Obiang, who did not attend the trial was also handed a suspended fine of 30 million euros ($35 million), and ordered that all goods seized during the investigation should remain confiscated.

According to ABC News, his trial came after two non-governmental organizations targeting corruption and an association of Congolese citizens living abroad filed a lawsuit in France nearly 10 years ago against leaders in nearly a half-dozen African countries, alleging that they used state funds during or after their tenures to buy properties and luxury goods in France.

Obiang used millions of dollars in public money to stay in Parisian palaces and later purchased a mansion on one of the capital's most sought-after avenues. 

The defense said the mansion serves as Equatorial Guinea's embassy and denied the charges, saying his wealth had come from legitimate sources. His lawyers accused France of "meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state", AFP news agency reported.

Court documents showed that in 2000-2011 Mr Obiang acquired a collection of luxury assets and properties in France, including the €25m Avenue Foch mansion. He also boasted 18 luxury cars in France, artworks, jewellery and expensive designer fashions.

Teodoro once splashed nearly 20 million euros at an art auction and his employers in Paris told investigators that their boss came to France with suitcases full of cash and paid mainly in cash for luxury goods.

In November, Swiss prosecutors seized 11 luxury cars belonging to Mr Obiang. They said he had plundered his country's oil wealth to buy luxuries, including a private jet and Michael Jackson memorabilia.

Paris prosecutor Jean-Yves Lourgouilloux said Obiang’s “fraudulent spending” amounted to more than 150 million euros.

The Paris judge found that the president's son had used his position as agriculture and forestry minister to siphon off payments from timber firms who were exporting from Equatorial Guinea.

It was also learned that it's the first of three French investigations into the alleged "ill-gotten gains" of long-standing African leaders and their families.

The French daily Le Monde reports that the family of Gabon President Ali Bongo has 39 French luxury properties, while 24 are owned by the family of Congo-Brazzaville's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. They also have about 200 bank accounts, French police say.

portraits of the 51st Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi

Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi - the 51st Ooni of Ife is regal in new photos.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce left speechless at the disgraceful state of Enugu Airport

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and the Senate Aviation Committee today went on an oversight visit to the Enugu airport. Describing the disgraceful state of what they met on ground, he said;

"Disgraceful airport, dirty toilets, failed runway, approach lights not working, crater on runway and falling roof. Infrastructure is in a complete state of decay. No lounge. No rest place for pilots or crew. Yet contractor has been paid in full. With over N100billion annual revenue from the aviation sector, I’m speechless!"

Senator Bruce also revealed that there have been 28 mystery containers abandoned at the Enugu airport since January 2014 and no one knows what's inside. More photos below.

Mary J Blige's estranged husband Kendu Issacs wants her to double his monthly spousal support, says the $30k he's getting is not enough

Mary J. Blige's estranged husband Kendu Issacs is reportedly seeking for more spousal support from the singer after he was placed on $30k monthly allowance.

Recall that the singer was ordered by a court in June to pay Kendu Isaacs $30,000 a month as spousal support after she sent him packing over alleged infidelity after 12 years of marriage.

According to documents obtained by The Blast, Isaacs says he has been unemployed since the divorce case was filed, and claims Blige is trashing him in the press, hindering his ability to get a job.

In the document, he points out that the singer has released two songs, “Love Yourself” and “Set Me Free” which he says are now known as her “divorce songs.”  He says Blige has seen a surge in success as a result of the breakup.

He also stated that since leaving the $8 million mansion he shared with Blige, he’s just patching in a 1,400 sq ft. apartment in Los Angeles.

Kendu Issacs who had initially requested for N125k a month, is now asking for his $30,000 spousal support to be increased to $65,000.

Hollywood actor Robert Guillaume dies at 89

Veteran actor Robert Guillaume, best known for his title role in the TV series "Benson," died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 89 after he had battled prostate cancer in recent years.

 His wife, Donna Guillaume said, 'he kinda went the way everyone wishes they could, surrounded by love and in his sleep".

 She added that her husband really loved making music, entertaining and making people laugh. He treasured his role as Rafiki in Disney's 1994 animated film "The Lion King," she said.

 Guillaume is survived by four children, all of whom had spent time visiting with their father in his final weeks.

British man bags three-month jail sentence for touching another man's hip in Dubai

A British man, Jamie Harron has been sentenced to three months in prison in Dubai for touching a man's hip inside a bar. 

 He was arrested in July over the incident in which he said he put his hand on a man's hip to avoid spilling a drink in a crowded bar.  The 27-year-old electrician had been working in Afghanistan and was on a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates at the time.

 A campaign group called Detained in Dubai (DiD) said he was sentenced to three months imprisonment at court on Sunday but lawyers plan to appeal. The group said Harron is "angry, disappointed, and dreads what may happen next".  

 He is not currently in custody while the appeal is considered, DiD chief executive Radha Stirling said. Harron has already been sentenced in absentia to 30 days in prison for failing to appear at a court hearing for making a rude gesture and drinking alcohol during the same July incident.

Robert Mugabe removed as WHO goodwill ambassador after only Two days in the post

Days after the World Health Organization named Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador, a move that angered and stunned human rights activists, it rescinded the appointment.

 WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said "I have listened carefully to all who have expressed their concerns, and heard the different issues that they have raised. It is my aim to build a worldwide movement for global health. This movement must work for everyone and include everyone."

 Tedros said he consulted the Zimbabwean government and concluded it's in the organization's best interests.

 The public health agency announced the appointment on October 19, 2017, saying the African leader would focus on noncommunicable diseases on the continent such as heart attacks and strokes but the public outcry that followed led to the new decision.

Aarinola Olaiya - the 1st student in 28 years to bag a distinction in Surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, OAU

Aarinola Olaiya reportedly just broke a record by being the 1st Student in 28 years to have a Distinction in Surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Osun. She reportedly also bagged distinctions in Medicine and Community Health.

MBGN 2017 Ugochi Ihezue leaves for Miss World pageant in China

Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2017 Ugochi Ihezue on Friday departed Nigeria for the 67th Edition of the Miss World pageant. The event will be held on November 18th, at the Sanya City Arena in Santa, China. 

Lawmakers in Quebec, Canada bar people with face coverings from getting public services

Lawmakers in Québec; a predominantly French-speaking province in eastern Canada passed a bill yesterday that would require public workers and citizens seeking government services to have their faces uncovered.  

 Bill 62 would affect whether Muslim women could wear religious face covering such as a niqab or burqa on government jobs or when they receive government services.

 The bill needs the lieutenant-governor's assent to become law in the province. "We are just saying that for reasons linked to communication, identification and safety, public services should be given and received with an open face. We are in a free and democratic society. You speak to me, I should see your face, and you should see mine. It's as simple as that" said Premier Philippe Couillard of Quebec.

Bill 62 was sponsored by Quebec Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée, who said people's faces should be uncovered for "communication reasons, identification reasons and security reasons. As long as the service is being rendered, the face should be uncovered,"

Vallée said Bill 62 doesn't specifically target religious symbols, as the law would also apply to masked protesters. "We're talking about having the face uncovered. It's not what is covering the face," she told the CBC.

Laziness is black man’s greatest challenge - Bishop Oyedepo

The general overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, says the black man has failed to task his intellectual faculty towards innovation and preferring solutions beneficial to his environment.

He spoke at the 54th meeting of the committee of deans of postgraduate schools (CDPGS) in Nigerian Universities at the Covenant University (CU) Ogun state, where he said the black man’s greatest challenge is not intellectual bankruptcy but laziness.

Oyedepo, who is the chancellor of CU, spoke on the theme, ‘Repositioning postgraduate education for sustainable national development: the leadership dimension’. He said his experience with those in the academia shows that many of them are proud of having become authorities in their chosen fields, asking them to “stop being merely bookish and start grooming thinkers”. 
 

He also said the ability to proffer solutions is independent of man’s biological configuration, saying “read thinking” concept combines research alongside critical thinking of solutions. “Everywhere I go in Nigeria today, everybody continues to complain that things are not working; but who will start how things will work and when?” Oyedepo asked. “That person is you and that time is now, and post graduate education should serve as a platform for inciting our students into thinking solutions. Today, it is thinkers that rule the world and we should be development-oriented in things we do” he said.

Leicester City sack manager Craig Shakespeare

Leicester City Football Club has parted ways with its first team manager, Craig Shakespeare.

 According to the club, Michael Appleton will be in charge of the First Team as Caretaker Manager for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Swansea City, supported by First Team Coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler.  

 Leicester City Vice Chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “Craig has been a great servant to Leicester City during his spells as an Assistant Manager and since taking over as Manager in challenging circumstances in February. His dedication to the Club and to his work has been absolute and the contribution he made to the most successful period in Leicester City history is considerable. However, our early promise under Craig’s management has not been consistently evident in the months since and the Board feels that, regrettably, a change is necessary to keep the Club moving forward consistent with the long-term expectations of our supporters, Board and owners". 

He continued to say, “Craig is and will remain a very popular, respected figure at Leicester City and will be welcome back at King Power Stadium in future, both professionally and as a friend of the Club.”  

The Club will now begin the process of identifying and appointing its next First Team Manager and will make no further comment on the process until the appropriate time.

Obafemi Martins shares photo with his cute sons

The Nigerian International Footballer shared the photo above with 3 love emojis as a caption!

Roger Federer defeats world number one Rafael Nadal to win the Shanghai Masters

Roger Federer brushed aside world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters today making it his fourth victory of the year over his Spanish rival.

 The Swiss world number two beat Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and Miami Masters and in the last 16 at Indian Wells, and never looked likely of losing to his long-time rival, firing 10 aces as he cruised to victory.

Federer, the only man who can still stop Nadal ending the year as number one, took an hour and 12 minutes to claim his sixth title of the year with a clinical performance.

Fire outbreak at Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba

There was a fire outbreak in a section of the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba, Delta state yesterday evening. According to a LIB reader who sent in the photos, the cause of the fire is yet unknown. See more photos below...

2000 Zambian villagers to sue UK mining company in London

At leaset 2,000 Zambian villagers have been given the go ahead to sue mining giant Vedanta in a UK court.

 The villagers who live in Nchanga in the country's Copperbelt province are suing for injury and damages to their property for what they say is numerous and ongoing toxic discharges around where they live.

 Vedanta Resources has an asset base of almost $40bn (£30bn) spread across the world and Its Zambian subsidiary Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) had appealed against a ruling in May 2016 when a High Court judge decided the claim could proceed.

 KCM which employs 16,000 people in Zambia had wanted the claims to be heard in the country. Reuters however reports that the judgment will play a significant role in defining the future liability of multinational companies based in the UK for alleged human rights and environmental abuses outside the country.

Mexican actor slaps reporter on the face on Hollywood red carpet

A Mexican telenovela star took the drama to the red carpet on Tuesday when he lost his temper and slapped a reporter.

Eduardo Yanez, 57, was being interviewed on the red carpet by Univision reporter, Paco Fuentez, when he took offense at a question and attacked.

Paco is seen in the video asking Eduardo a question about the GoFundMe page his son created to pay for a car he recently crashed. The topic of his son is a sore one for Eduardo because he and his son have a strained relationship that became public back in June after the son accused his famous father on Twitter of being a drug addict, racist and woman abuser.

Paco asked Eduardo why his son couldn’t just go to him for the money and the actor felt the question was disrespectful and warned the reporter.

Eduardo responded in Spanish: “If you're so worried about my son, you send him the money.”

The reporter responds that he's just doing his job and reminds Eduardo the press is the link between public figures and the people. 

At this point, Eduardo accuses Paco of trying to make a big deal out of the situation and calls him a “pure a**” adding: “You're not the link between anything and stop disrespecting me.”

Paco started to explain that he never disrespected him but mid-sentence, Eduardo stretches out his palm and hits him across the face.

The assault was caught on video and has gone viral with fans urging Paco to sue. Eduardo, who is said to have a history of being violent towards reporters, later tweeted an apology in Spanish.

Eduardo wrote: “I want to ask a sincere apology to the public and the person affected by my action. It was not correct. My personal life is not for sale.”

According to TMZ, he is now under criminal investigation after the reporter filed a report with the LAPD claiming assault and battery. 

Watch the video below.

Wife of Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo accuses his Chile team-mates of skipping training & drinking after they failed to qualify for 2018 World Cup

Carla Prado, the wife of Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo took to Instagram to blast the Chile squad after they failed to qualify for 2018 World Cup, which will hold in Russia.

Last night, Chile were defeated 3-0 by Brazil, as they slumped to sixth in the table after Argentina beat Ecuador and Peru drew with Colombia. 

Displeased by the poor result, Carla shared a group picture of the Chile National team celebrating one of their Copa América titles and accused some of her husband's teammates of partying and missing training due to hangovers.

'Thank you, Captain America, for all that you have experienced. It was really beautiful. 

'But when they put on the shirt it has to be with professionalism. I know that most of them busted their asses, while others left parties and even did not train due to their hangovers.

'If the cap fits, put it on and stop crying. Because now it is a whole country that is crying. Here we wait for you with open arms my captain,' She wrote.

When Bravo who's the captain of Chile was asked about his wife's comments after their defeat, he simply said: 'Those things are spoken about internally.' 

ECOWAS court orders Nigeria to compensate officer with $75k for his son’s death

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has given judgment in the case of Wing Commander Danladi Angulu Kwasu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), stating that the FRN violated the right of life in respect of the son who died during the watermanship training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, on April 30, 2015.

Kwasu’s son died by drowning and the court held that there was a failure to provide safety measures during the training or investigate the matter after the death.  The court ordered Nigeria to investigate the matter and punish those responsible and ordered Nigeria to pay a compensation fee of 75,000 US dollars to the applicant (Kwasu).  

 Nigeria was found to be in breach of the right to life under Art 4 of the African Charter as the death is an unlawful killing and the failure to investigate is also s breach of Art 4.  The applicant’s son was forced to carry out watermanship training at a dam in Kaduna in April 2015 even though he could not swim.  

 Safety measures were not provided and after his death, there was no investigation or compensation provided to the family.  The court in the initial part of its judgment ruled that it did have jurisdiction to entertain the suit as the FRN had argued that the CCJ did not have jurisdiction.  In 2015, Danladi Kwasu had accused the authorities of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) of murdering his son, who was until his death an officer cadet in the Academy.

 The retired Air Force Officer accused the NDA officials of pushing his 19-year-old son, El-Shadai Kwasu, with academy number NDA/10037, deliberately into a 100 meter-deep lake and drowning him during a training exercise on April 30, 2015.  According to him, his son died out of negligence by the Academy’s instructors who took him to the river.  He also alleged that about 20 officer cadets had been killed in similar circumstances over the years with the NDA authorities doing nothing to change the situation, although the NDA authorities declined to make an official comment on the allegation.  But a letter from the management of the NDA showed that the deceased died from cardiopulmonary arrest after he was drowned in a river while undergoing a routine watermanship training exercise at Kangimi Dam in Kaduna State.

Donald Trump's first wife Ivana calls herself 'First Lady'

USA President Donald Trump's first wife, Ivana Trump, referred to herself as "first lady" in a new interview with ABC News on Monday ahead of the release of her new book, "Raising Trump." , and also boasted that she had direct number to Trump who she calls once every two weeks.

Now, President Donald's current wife, First Lady, Melania Trump, has fired back at Ivana, a rare move, saying Ivana is just 'seeking attention''

"I have the direct number to White House but I don't really want to call him there because Melania is there and I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife, OK? I'm first lady, OK?" she told ABC.

Melanie Trump responded through her communications director, Stephanie Grisham, to CNN.

"Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and the President. She loves living in Washington, DC, and is honored by her role as first lady of the United States. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books," Grisham said, adding, "There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, this is unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise."

Ivana Trump, is the mother of Donald Trump's three eldest children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric and divorced the U.S president in 1992 following his affair with Marla Maples.

Super Eagles player, Leon Balogun, broke down in tears after they won their match against Zambia

Leon could not contain his joy as he broke down in tears after himself and his teammates, The Super Eagles, beat Zambia 1-0 to qualify for Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. Leon gave a brilliant performance during the game. 

Illegal alcohol kills nine people in Tanzania

At least nine people have died and several others have been hospitalized in Tanzania's main city Dar es Salaam after consuming illicit alcohol.  

 According to local authorities, the liquor contained an industrial chemical called 'GV' Gentian violet, an antiseptic dye normally used to treat infections of the skin, which is suspected to have caused the deaths.  

 While local brews are usually made using seeds, grains or vegetables in homes, some brewers are believed to be including deadly chemicals in an attempt to make the liquor more concentrated and attract more customers.  

Reports have ot that the local drink, gongo, is consumed more than any other liquor because it is cheaper than commercial brews. 

Three Chinese nationals and 22 others arrested in Zimbabwe over illegal money deals

In a new crackdown on the black market, Three Chinese nationals and 22 other suspected illegal money-changers have been arrested in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare and more than $55,000 (£41,500) seized

Prosecutor, Francesca Mukumbiri says the group has been charged with contravening the Exchange Controls Act after they were caught "red-handed ilegally trading money", If convicted they would face a lengthy prison sentence. 

Zimbabwe is in a deep economic crisis, forcing it to abandon its currency in favour of foreign currencies.  However, it has run out of US dollars and introduced bond notes as a substitute. The group was allegedly caught with bond notes, dollars, and the currencies of South Africa, Botswana and Tanzania.