Codewit World News

A free and Balance flow

Codewit World News

NIGERIA: Enugu Govt Dismisses Chime’s Rumoured Death

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 23 Second

For the umpteenth time, officials of the Enugu State government  Thursday dismissed the rumoured death of Governor Sullivan Chime in far away India.

News of the governor’s purported death had taken over the internet and other social media networks, causing tension in the state as both residents and workers in the state capital were seen in groups discussing the development.

It is recalled that similar scenario had played out early in the year following the governor’s trip to the United Kingdom on health grounds which was later discovered to be treatment for cancer of the nose.
It took the governor who returned to the state after almost five months absence, to dispel the rumour.

However, following the upsurge of enquiries on the whereabouts of the governor, some officials of the government who though could not reveal his actual location, dismissed the rumour.

The Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwoke, who spoke with THISDAY laughed off the rumour, noting that some idle minds have finally found succour in peddling unfounded rumours.

“How do you expect to begin to react to the activities of rumour peddlers? The other time, they equally said the governor died in India and it was later discovered that the governor had never visited India. Now, they’ve come again, and it is our hope that very soon, they would equally eat the humble pie,” the commissioner noted.
THISDAY checks however revealed that the governor had left the state for Abuja last Tuesday after an official function at the Government House.
It could not be ascertained as at press time whether he had travelled outside the country.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta charged by ICC, invited to Somalia meeting in London

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 9 Second

NAIROBI (Codewit) – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, is expected to visit London at Britain's invitation next week for a conference on Somalia.

It will be his first trip to a Western capital since his election in March. Britain and other countries said before his victory that, if he won, they would only have "essential contacts" with him because of the court case.

"Kenya is a vital partner on Somalia and we judge our contact according to the issue concerned," a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said.

Kenya was playing a crucial role in stabilizing neighboring Somalia and housing refugees, he added.

A source close to the Kenyan presidency and a diplomat both said Kenyatta was likely to travel to the meeting, which aims to build international support for Somalia, where Kenyan troops have battled Islamist militants.

The move reflected the West's desire to keep Kenya as a stable ally at the expense of other principles, Kenyan rights activist GeorgeMorara said.

"It is a U-turn in the UK and the Western world's approach to the whole issue of impunity," Morara said.

The March election passed off peacefully, a relief to many Kenyans after ethnic violence erupted following the vote five years ago. The charges against Kenyatta's in The Hague relate to allegations he had a role in orchestrating bloodshed last time.

Western states view Kenya as an ally in their battle against Islamist militancy in the region and it has sent about 5,000 troops to Somalia as part of an African force that has driven back al Shabaab Islamist fighters.

The British spokesman said the decision to invite Kenyatta was taken in part because the president had committed to cooperating with the court in The Hague.

Britain's high commissioner (ambassador) to Kenya, Christian Turner, whose remarks about essential contacts had angered Kenyatta's backers in the former British colony, offered the invitation during a meeting with him on Wednesday.

After the election result, Western diplomats had privately indicated that they would take a pragmatic or "flexible" approach in assessing the level of contacts with Kenyatta, 51.

As well as concerns about alienating an ally, Western powers are wary of jeopardizing trade ties with east Africa's biggest economy and worry the diplomatic wrangle could open the way for China and other Asian states to extend their influence.

(Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

U.S. calls for shutting down Iran, North Korea arms networks

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 12 Second

GENEVA (Codewit) – The United States said on Friday that Iran and North Korea were trying to obtain high-tech materials linked to their nuclear programs in violation of U.N. sanctions.

Iran was also sending weapons and ammunition to Syrian government forces despite a ban, said Thomas Countryman, Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation.

"Both Iran and North Korea have developed channels that enable them to continue to export and continue to procure the items they need for their weapons industry," he told a news briefing in Geneva.

In comments to Reuters, he made clear he was referring to high-tech materials related to nuclear and other programs, including conventional weapons.

Iran and North Korea are under U.N. sanctions banning sales of nuclear, missile and related high-tech material to them as well as the export of any military material, Countryman said.

There was a determined international effort to enforce the U.N. sanctions and prevent such trade, he said.

Regarding Iran's alleged efforts, he said: "Certain Iranian procuring agents in high-tech places like China push very hard."

Asked about any cooperation between Iran and North Korea in nuclear matters, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of not being identified, said: "They have contacts. We are watching it.

Western experts say the two countries have cooperated on ballistic missile development and there is concern that cooperation may extend to the nuclear field, though no such link has been proven.

North Korea, which conducted a third nuclear test in February, continues development of nuclear technology and long-range ballistic missiles that will move it closer to its stated goal of being able to hit the United States with an atomic weapon, a Pentagon report said on Thursday.

Countryman led the U.S. delegation to a two-week session that reviewed progress in implementing the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that aims to prevent the spread of atomic weapons. The Geneva talks end on Friday.

"Obviously, more needs to be done in order for the regime in Iran to hear the message that it must seriously address its non-compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty," he said.

Critics say Iran is trying to achieve the ability to make nuclear bombs. Tehran denies this, saying it needs nuclear power for energy generation and medical purposes.

Negotiators from the European Union and Iran will meet in Istanbul this month to discuss future diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Additional reporting by Fredrik Dahl in Vienna; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

NIGERIA: Court Fixes May 10 For Ruling On Rep. Lawan’s Application

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 52 Second

An FCT High Court on Thursday fixed May 10 for ruling in an application seeking to quash charges against Farouk Lawan, former Chairman, House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime

Lawan is standing trial alongside his Vice Chairman, Boniface Emenalo, on a seven-count charge of allegedly obtaining N625 million bribe from Mr Femi Otedola, the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas Ltd.

The court, presided over by Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, had reserved Thursday, May 2 to rule on Lawan’s application seeking to quash the corruption charges against him.

However, ruling in the application was stalled due to the absence of the judge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the judge travelled out of Abuja to attend the burial ceremony of his brother who passed away on Wednesday.

At the last hearing, Defence Counsel, Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN), brought an application seeking to quash the charges against Lawan and Emenalo.

My lord, this application is seeking an order of the court quashing charges number FCT/HC/CR/76/2013.’’

Tarfa said the application was brought on the ground that the court lacked the jurisdiction and competence to try and determine the offences in the said charge.

He added that the conditions precedent to prefer same had not been fulfilled, thereby rendering the charges incompetent.

The counsel argued that the proof of evidence tendered by the Prosecution Counsel, Chief Adeboyega Awomolo (SAN), did not disclose the commission of any offence by the accused in the circumstance of the charge.

My lord, the charge as constituted is devoid of essential ingredients to suggest the commission of the offences for which the accused stand charged,” Tarfa said.

Awomolo, however, urged the court to reject the application, describing it as frivolous and an abuse of court process.

In view of this, we have filed a 12-paragraph affidavit and written address urging the court to dismiss the application.’’

He said the application sought to determine if the accused were entitled to see the written statement of the prosecution witness.

It also seeks to know whether the court can look at the merit of the application seeking to quash the charges before trial.’’

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

VIDEO: 4-Year-Old Girl Dies After Rape

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 30 Second

4-Year-Old Girl Dies After Rape – A week after the news of a child rape sparked protests in India, hospital officials confirmed the rape of another girl.

The 4-year-old died Monday from cardiac arrest at Care Hospital in Nagpur, India, a spokesman said.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested and accused of sexually assaulting the girl, said Mithilesh Shukla, superintendent of police.

It is the latest in a number of assaults that caused outrage and raised questions about how women and girls are treated in India.

The girl was allegedly abducted from Ghansaur, a small town in central India, on April 17, and her family found her the next day, unconscious and with severe head injuries, Shukla said.

“We hope from the administration, the police and the court that a fast-track court will hear the case and that the accused will be given the death sentence,” said one of the girl’s relatives, Aalok Vajpayee.

Last week, two arrests were made in the case of another victim, a 5-year-old girl who was raped in New Delhi.

The assaults on the girls came just four months after a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped in a bus in New Delhi, setting off furious protests in India.

She later died at a Singapore hospital. After the attacks, the country’s news media turned their attention to some of the thousands of rape cases reported in the nation each year.

In a recent report, the Asian Center for Human Rights cited statistics that it said showed 48,338 child rape cases were reported in India between 2001 and 2011.

The report said the number of cases rose from 2,113 in 2001 to 7,112 in 2011.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

NIGERIA: Okada Rider To Die By Hanging

0 0
Read Time:45 Second

A 25-year-old commercial motorcyclist, known in local parlance as okada rider,  Etenuwoma Oghenero, has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Isiokolo High Court of Justice, for armed robbery.

The convicted armed robber who hails from Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, southsouth Nigeria, along with others now at large, allegedly robbed Felix Itirikpe, a transporter, of his valuables including cash at gun point.

The offence was committed at Okurekpe village, Kokori within Isiokolo judicial division, Isiokolo on 30 January, 2010.

Delivering judgement in the case, the court held that the prosecution proved the two-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt.

The court thereafter pronounced the accused guilty, and imposed the maximum punishment as stipulated in the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Volume 14 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Archbishop violent attack by four topless lesbian activists

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second

BRUSSELS, MAY 2, 2013 (codewit.com) – In a letter sent to the head of the Catholic Church in Belgium all of Europe’s bishops expressed solidarity with Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, who was doused with water in a violent attack by four topless lesbian activists last week.

The bishops were represented by the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE).

In the press release announcing the letter, the CCEE called Archbishop Leonard a “victim of an act of religious intolerance.”

The letter expressed their “sincere closeness and solidarity” with the Archbishop and condemned the aggressive hate crime.

At the same time, the CCEE said that it shared the position of the Belgian Bishops’ Conference, according to which “a democratic debate on the issues of society is only possible if everyone is allowed to express their ideas in mutual respect and freedom of expression.”

The incident captured the attention of the worldwide media since, in addition to the topless women, Archbishop Leonard shocked reporters and attendees alike with an astonishing display of gentleness as he remained seated, eyes closed in prayer while the topless women attacked him with shouts and curses and doused him with water.

Even Archbishop Leonard’s debate opponent at the university where the incident took place, despite his vehement disagreement with the Archbishop on his stance on homosexuality, protested the violent actions of the gay and abortion-activist women.

In an interview with the Beligian paper La Libre, Professor Guy Haarscher acknowledged that, the attack was indeed violent, especially against an “old man.” (Archbishop Leonard will turn 73 on May 6).

“You know, having been pied, I can tell you that these things appear to be very violent,” said Haarscher. “Specifically, when you have a pie or liquid thrown in your face, you do not know what's inside. This is very, very frightening. Fortunately it was only water, but it could have been acid or something.”

Haarscher added that his own support for Archbishop Leonard’s right to express his opinions was noteworthy, “especially since I am in total agreement with [the women] and disagree with Leonard on homosexuality.”

As codewit.com reported in its previous coverage of the April 23 attack, it’s not the first time Archbishop Leonard has been attacked for standing up for the Church’s teachings on homosexuality and abortion.

Since 2007 alone, he has been pied, denounced by the prime minister, and brought before courts for his teaching on the dangers of homosexual acts to body and soul.

Archbishop Leonard’s calm and prayerful demeanor in the face of the attack won him his audience according to his debate opponent.

Prof. Haascher said that seeing the calm reaction to the attack “immediately attracted the sympathy of an audience that it was not really favorable…as you can imagine.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

NIGERIA: 3 Robbery Suspects Shot Dead In Attempt To Escape Arrest In Port-Harcourt

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 4 Second

Rivers Police Command said its men had shot dead three armed robbery suspects who tried to escape after being arrested in the course of their operation in Eleme.  Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, the command’s Spokesman, stated this in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

He said the suspects were initially arrested by the Anti-robbery patrol team in Eleme Local Government.

The spokesman said the patrol team arrested the suspects following a distress call that a gang of the armed robbers had attacked a residential house in Eleme town.

Ugwuegbulam said the patrol team rushed to the scene and intercepted the suspects on a Qlink motorbike as they were speeding out of the building.

The spokesman said that the suspects were searched and one locally-made revolver pistol, .9mm ammunition and one expended bullet shell were recovered from the gang.

Ugwuegbulam said that the anti-robbery team was taking the gang to the police station in their patrol vehicle when they ‘’jumped down from the vehicle.

“They were given a hot chase by the patrol team and when it was impossible to re-arrest them, they were fired at to stop them from escaping,” he said.

Ugwuegbulam added that the suspects were “fatally wounded in the process.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

We’ll no longer fund Nigerian military due to human rights abuses —US

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 24 Second

As controversy continues to swirl over the alleged massacre of civilians in Baga, Borno State, the Government of the United States of America has announced its decision to stop extending any form of aide to the Nigerian military.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley, announced the decision this morning during a closed-door meeting with stakeholders of Nigeria’s human rights community.

News Express learnt that at the meeting held in the Ambsaador’s Abuja residence “issues of extra-legal killings by security agents and state of of insecurity in the country were extensively discussed,” according to one source. Also discussed, siad the source, is “the unprecedented corruption in Nigerian government circles.”

At the meeting, Ambassador McCulley restated the US Government’s worry about the issues discussed and made references to the recently released human rights report of the US State Department which alleged widespread human rights abuses in Nigeria. He then disclosed that the Barack Obama administration has consequently decided to withdraw any further assistance, financial or otherwise, to the Nigerian military.

This is coming on the heels of the controversy surrounding the April 19-21 military operation in Baga, a town close to the Chad border, in which many civilians were allegedly killed in the hunt for Boko Haram insurgents.

Representatives of about 10 prominent human rights group attended the breakfast meeting held with Ambassador McCulley in the Nigerian capital. They include Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Kole Shettima of MacArthur Foundation; Emmanuel Onwubiko of Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA); and Clement Nwankwo of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %
Exit mobile version