Following the seal-off the premises of the slated convention of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, this morning in Rivers. State Mega Mode Media learnt that an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting convened at the Government House in Port Harcourt, River State's capital.
The final decision is that the Convention will hold now at the Government House and extend the tenure of the Caretaker Committee for another 3 months.
Earlier, the was moved to extend the committee by a maximum period of 12 months before it was adjusted.
Meanwhile, the Central Working Committe, CWC, will tbe expanded at the modified Convention.
USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky confirmed the news in a statement to Us Weekly, writing, “According to four members of the U.S. Olympic swimming team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village. Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers, who demanded the athletes’ money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities.”
Original story below:
Ryan Lochte’s mom says the athlete was robbed and held at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, August 14. The International Olympic Committee, however, says reports of a holdup are untrue.
Ileana Lochte told USA Today that her son and at least one of his U.S. teammates were confronted by a group of people with guns and knives early Sunday morning while their cab was stopped at a gas station. The athletes were reportedly on their way to meet up with Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira, according to Ileana.
“I think they’re all shaken up. There were a few of them,” the Olympic star’s mom told the news outlet, adding that her son, who allegedly texted her after the incident occurred, was unharmed. “They just took their wallets, and basically that was it.”
Ryan’s coach, David Marsh, however, disputed Ileana’s claims and told USA Today that the athlete “was not held up.” The United States Olympic Committee also denied the claims.
An IOC spokesperson later told the Associated Press that the reports were “absolutely not true"
The 32-year-old swimmer is a 12-time Olympic medalist. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, he earned his most recent gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, making him the second most decorated male US swimmer after Michael Phelps.
United States Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the ranking Democratic Party member on the Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is leading a congressional delegation to Lagos from August 12 to 14. He heard from Nigerian technology leaders and young entrepreneurs on August 13 regarding their successes and challenges, and offered remarks on his efforts to expand internet access and digital literacy to enhance economic development, education, and good governance in developing countries.
Senator Markey's bicameral delegation includes Karen Bass (D-Calif.), ranking Democratic Party member of the Africa and Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), both members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The delegation also met with Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo on August 13 to discuss how public-private partnerships in the areas of technology and infrastructure can promote economic growth and development.
In his August 13 remarks to an audience of prominent technology leaders in business, civil society, government, and especially young entrepreneurs, Senator Markey emphasized that internet connectivity and successful economic development are inextricably linked in the 21st century's global economy.
"It will be the entrepreneurial and creative attitude of the people in Nigeria and across the African continent that will be the key to overcoming challenges to connectivity," Senator Markey said. "You all embody the vibrant spirit that is the heart of the internet. You will be digital ambassadors in bringing more connectivity to this great country and the region."
Senator Markey has introduced proposed legislation in the U.S. Congress entitled "Driving Innovation and Growth in Internet Technology And Launching Universal Access to the Global Economy (DIGITAL AGE) Act<http://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-introduces-legislation-to-help-expand-internet-access-and-increase-digital-literacy-in-developing-countries>," aimed at promoting public-private partnerships, and expanding Internet access with policy tools encouraging improved support for investors, strengthened and shared infrastructure, better spectrum allocation, and creation of public Internet access facilities and affordable devices.
Though the meeting went smoothly, with the boxing legend’s seven daughters, his natural son, Muhammad Ali Jr., and his adopted son getting an equal share and Lonnie keeping the Ali estate, not everyone may be pleased with the result.
A source revealed 44-year-old Ali Jr. has dumped his wife and their two children and is moving out of Chicago’s tough South Side to a home in a better neighborhood.
“Ali Jr. went to California, and now he’s got some money all of a sudden,” dished the source.
It’s a huge change for Ali Jr., who’d been estranged from his famous father —who passed away on June 3 at age 74 — for years. For the past decade, he and his family — wife Shaakira and their children, Ameera, 8, and Shakera, 7 — have been relying on food stamps and handouts to get by, insiders said.
While Ali Jr. is moving from Chicago’s blighted West Englewood area to a middle-class neighborhood near Midway Airport, “his wife and children won’t miss out,” insisted the source.
Family members now hope to keep him on the straight and narrow, said the source, but Ali Jr. is more focused on starting a business and helping people in the community.
“He wants to do landscaping stuff and help people,” said our mole. “He doesn’t need much. He’s a simple dude.”
The unmasking of the criminal gang that abducted the traditional ruler of Iba in Lagos State, Oba Goriola Oseni, three weeks ago, has also exposed how the gangs have cordoned off riverine areas of Lagos and Ogun states with seven camps manned by 800 members, all registered. Each of the camps is led by a ‘General’ and his foot soldiers, all operating in a typical military hierarchy. Toba Foreje (left) and Isaiah Ofodomu, suspected kidnappers of Oba Goriola Oseni, Oniba of Iba-land in Iba Local Council Development Area[LCDA] paraded by Lagos state Governor and Commissioner of Police at Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. This revelation came as Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, vowed to punish suspected kidnappers of the traditional ruler, stating that they would face the full wrath of the law. The governor described the abduction as “a sacrilege and a complete desecration of Yoruba cultural values.” Meanwhile, three other suspects were arrested by the Police, yesterday, after the initial arrest of two members of the gang on Saturday. The suspects confessed that they were paid N15.1 million ransom to free the Oba. So far, security agents have succeeded in recovering a register containing names of most of the vandals operating in the creeks. The list contains 800 names, with some of their pictures on display. Leader of the gang, identified as Duba Furejo, popularly called ‘General’ Duba, as reliably gathered, was arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, led by its commander, Abba Kyari, and those of the Special Anti -Robbery Squad, SARS of the Lagos State Police command at about 5pm on Saturday. Duba, a native of Arogbo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State and leader of a militant camp in Ijegemo creeks, Isheri area of the state, was arrested at Iyana school, along Iba/LASU road, moments after the monarch was released. He reportedly came out of the creeks after sharing the ransom among his members, with an intention to flee to his home town. His second in-command, identified as Ododomu Isaiah, was arrested at about 6am, yesterday, at Iyana-Ipaja, while trying to board a vehicle to Ondo State. Both suspects were paraded, yesterday, by Governor Ambode and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, at the State House, Alausa. However, three other suspected members of the gang were arrested, yesterday afternoon, in Igando area of Lagos State.. The suspects with undisclosed identities were arrested, following confessional statement by one of those arrested, identified as Isaiah. Vanguard was reliably informed that the suspect arrested at Igando got N800,000 from the ransom paid for the monarch’s release. Impeccable police sources revealed that N12 million was initially paid as ransom for the release of Oba Oseni, out of which ‘General’ Duba got N1m. But he was said to have been angry, as he felt he was short changed. Rather than release the monarch as instructed by the leader of another militant camp, he (Duba) took the monarch to his creeks in Ijegemo, where an additional N5 million was demanded as ransom. However, after much plea and persuasion from the monarch’s family, N3.1 million was reportedly paid for his release, out of which ‘General’ Duba got N600,000. His second-in-command, Isaiah, got N400,000, while the rest was shared among other members. Military to the rescue With the ongoing operation against pipeline vandals and militants in Arepo and Ikorodu areas of Lagos State, the militants, it was gathered, fled to Ijegemo creeks to seek solace. Some of them have, however, gone into hiding. As at yesterday, fighter jets from Nigerian Air Force were sighted hovering round Arepo and Ikorodu areas. Chairman of the operation, code named ‘Operation AWATHE’ and Flag Officer Commanding FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, assured that the operation would be sustained. Militant’s creeks Information at Vanguard’s disposal revealed that there are over seven creeks manned by militants in Arepo and Lagos State. Initially, the militants reportedly worked as a team with their head quarters and colony in Arepo, Ogun State. Military sources said four major camps, tagged “Target A, B, C and D”, are situated within Ishawo, Ibafo, Elepete areas and are interlinked. Along the line, they dispersed into different groups, following arguments over sharing formula. It was gathered that the Arepo creeks were divided into four major camps. One of the camps located in Ikorodu is headed by one ‘General’ Ossy. He oversees all creeks around Ishawo, Konu among others. Another leader, identified as ‘General’ Agbala, oversees all creeks around Elepete, Igbolomu and neighbouring creeks in Ogun state. Due to a disagreement among some of them, they spread their domain to Ijegemo, in Isheri area of Lagos where one TK was the head. Unfortunately, for him,TK was killed during a cross fire with the police, during a robbery operation. Late TK’s second-in-command, with an undisclosed identity, was said to have taken over the Ijegemo camp. Another creek with over 12 camps is also located in Ijegemo area, headed by one Kakandu group. Recovery of register Military sources disclosed that the register used by the vandals have been recovered from their creek. According to the sources, we have recovered their register and they have about 800 members with a General commanding each of their camps. “We also have some of their pictures. They categorized their ranks like that of the military. The camps are not easily accessible because of the swamps. That is why government should not spare any of the buildings in and around the creeks. They all have innumerable number of gallons used in aiding the illicit trade in oil. Permanent solution “For a permanent solution, government should use swamp buggy in clearing the creeks and its surroundings. It is like a caterpillar but it operates on water. This is because we cannot keep our soldiers for more than three months inside the creeks. They are human beings. And, of course, if we leave the creeks, business will continue as usual. It is only by clearing the whole area that we can operate from any distance and stop their criminal activities.” How I was freed — Iba monarch The kidnapped monarch narrated to Vanguard how he regained freedom after three weeks in captivity. He said: “I thank God for sparing my life in the hands of the kidnappers. My family, indeed, paid ransom to the kidnappers but I don’t know the exact amount. I was released at about 7.45 pm, on Saturday. They left me alone in a canoe from one of the creeks. Because I know how to paddle a canoe, I was able to navigate my way to Iba area. Having paddled for awhile on the water, I saw a man standing by the bank who told me I was in Iba and from there, I located my way back to the palace while clad in a boxer and singlet.” Asked how he was treated, Oseni said,” I was well treated and fed.” Meanwhile, the palace, yesterday, became a Mecca of some sort as well wishers continued to throng the place. Family members have also engaged in series of prayer sessions in gratitude to God for the safe return of the monarch. A family source who preferred anonymity, claimed the state government did not assist with payment of ransom running into several millions. It was also gathered that the monarch suspected insiders’ link with the kidnap saga as there are acrimonies between him and some people in the community over certain issues. We will punish kidnappers of Iba monarch–Ambode Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, vowed to punish the suspected kidnappers of the monarch. He said the kidnappers would face the full wrath of the law, even as he described it as “a sacrilege and a complete desecretion of the Yoruba cultural values.” Ambode, while briefing newsmen at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on the release of the Oniba of Iba and parade of two suspected kidnappers through the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, noted that though kidnapping was an offence, abduction of an Oba was a sacrilege that should attract strict punishment in Yoruba land. Suspects’ confession Isaiah Ofodumu A member of the nine-man kidnap gang, who simply gave his name as Isaiah Dodomu, who hails from Ondo State, paraded alongside another suspect identified as Toba Forejo from Ondo State, said the monarch was kept for 21 days in the Ijegemo Creek, Igando, Ikotun Local Council Development Area, LCDA, a location where they had been engaging in pipeline vandalism. They gave the names of other gang members still at large as: Godogodo, Mighty, Sam (the one who showed the kidnappers the route), Folly, and three others. According to Toba, “I was arrested at Iyana-School bus stop by the security operatives ” Explaining their profession before embarking on kidnapping, Isaiah said: “I was previously involved in pipeline vandalism. But since President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in, it had not been business as usual. Understanding the impact of the administration on our vandalism business, our leaders directed that we should start kidnapping and we started with minor kidnapping.”
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, on Monday, relaunched the War Against Indiscipline, WAI Brigade, in Abuja, saying in this era of insecurity, violence, kidnapping, and other forms of social vices, the role of the Brigade in civil intelligence gathering cannot be over emphasized.
It’s no secret that President Obama enjoys rap. He named Kendrick Lamar’s “How Much a Dollar Cost?” as his favorite song from 2015, and before he took the stage at the Democratic National Convention last week, he got pumped up by listening to another rapper’s energetic, driven track.
Before delivering his speech, Obama listened to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” The inspiring track seemed appropriate for the moment, written as it was about someone who must overcome his fears in order to achieve his greatest dreams. Now, we’re not saying Obama’s greatest dream was knocking his speech out of the ballpark at the convention, but considering how much is on the line this presidential election season he had reason to bring his A game.
“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment/ You own it, you better never let it go/ You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow/ This opportunity comes once in a lifetime,” Eminem raps on the chorus. It seemed like that was just the thing to help Obama get into the right mindset.
Kesha is back on the road and couldn't be happier.
As her legal battle with Dr. Luke carries on, the "Tik Tok" singer headed to Atlantic City in New Jersey Saturday night to continue her "F--k the World Tour."
While fans will be delighted to know the show features her biggest hits including "Your Love Is My Drug" and "Timber," Kesha couldn't help but display her happiness at being on stage once again.
"The show I have always wanted to put on has finally come to fruition," she wrote on Instagram Sunday afternoon. "This show is the most satisfying show I have ever been a part of on the deepest, most cellular level."
She added, "I'm so happy. See y'all out there on the road creeps."
Just two weeks ago, Kesha and the Creepies announced a summer tour that will feature mostly small, intimate venues. At the same time, music lovers will be able to hear a mix of rock ‘n' roll and country music.
"I thrive from making and performing music, and much like a flower with no sun, my soul slowly dies when I don't get to create and perform. So, for a short ride and in mostly small intimate venues, I will be performing a new creepy creation," she teased on social media. "It's been too long. Until I can release my own music I will be reinventing some of my old songs and some of my favorite songs from my musical idols."
She added, "I've handpicked songs from artists that have helped shape who I am and the music I make today. I have missed you, all of you, so if you would like to boogie, come join us. The time has come to get creepy.Kesha's latest performance is the first gig since she filed to dismiss her sexual assault lawsuit against Dr. Luke in California. She will continue to pursue her appeal and other legal claims in the New York courts.
"Kesha is focused on getting back to work and has delivered 28 new songs to the record label," her lawyer said in a statement to E! News. "We have conveyed to Sony and the label Kesha's strong desire to release her next album and single as soon as possible."
Dr. Luke's team has continued to deny Kesha's allegations. In fact, Dr. Luke's defamation and other claims against Kesha are also still proceeding.
Hoya, there! In May, actress and U.N. Special Envoy Angelina Jolie signed on to be a visiting professor at the London School of Economics for the fall. Now, she “will do the same guest spot at Georgetown University,” LSE’s sister school in Washington, D.C., a source reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.
The 41-year-old mom of six, who did not attend college, will share her knowledge in lectures, workshops and research focused on women, peace and security — subjects that are close to her heart.
“It is vital that we broaden the discussion on how to advance women's rights and end impunity for crimes that disproportionately affect women, such as sexual violence in conflict," Jolie said in a May statement, announcing her U.K. gig. "I am looking forward to teaching and learning from the students, as well as to sharing my own experiences of working alongside governments and the United Nations."
The course, the first of its kind internationally, was launched last year by Jolie and former U.K. foreign secretary William Hague, who will also serve as an unpaid visiting professor at LSE.
After meeting with the By the Sea star, Melanne Verveer, executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, expressed her excitement for bringing their program stateside.
"I was pleased to meet with Angelina Jolie during my recent trip to London on ways we at Georgetown University can continue the collaboration between our sister programs on both sides of the Atlantic," Verveer said in May. "We look forward to welcoming Angelina and former foreign secretary Hague to Georgetown in the future.
Air force personnel brainstorming on the aerial assault
Some vandals allegedly responsible for attacks on communities in Lagos and Ogun states are escaping in large numbers to riverine communities in the Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas of Ondo State.
Investigations on Monday showed that the insurgents, who escaped the intensified aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force of their camps at Arepo, Ogun, and Ikorodu, Lagos, had been sighted in Ore, Okitipupa and the riverine communities of Ondo State.
A top security source told one of our correspondents that security reports showed that some of the militants had sneaked into the Ondo reverine communities.
He said, ‘‘Arepo can no longer contain them. Some of them have run to Ondo to hide in the riverine areas.’’
It was further gathered that some of them were still trapped in Arepo and other communities in Lagos and were making frantic moves to flee.
A source in Ese-Odo said since the military started the bombardment of the militants’ camps on Friday, many of them had fled and regrouped in Ondo State.
A NAF official in a plane
The source said, “We have sighted them in some communities here. It seems Arepo is too hot for them.”
A resident of Ajagba in the Irele Local Government Area of the state, who identified himself simply as Francis, said there were strange faces in the local government, adding that it was difficult to identify whether they were fleeing militants or not.’’
He said, “Many people from Niger Delta states are living with us. Some of them do have visitors staying with them, so there is no way we can know if the new faces are the fleeing militants or not. “
Another resident of the state, Musa, who lives in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, said the high population made it possible for the militants to run to the commercial town and hide there.
“Ore is a commercial town with people from various tribes here. It is possible for strange people to come and hide here,’’ he said.
But the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Monday that the vandals were seen together on Sunday, probably to perfect a plan to run.
He said the cameras on NAF’s platforms that were used for night operations picked some of the insurgents having meetings.
He said the ongoing aerial operation against the vandals would continue until they were flushed out of the Ogun and Lagos areas completely.
The fighter aircrafts of NAF had destroyed the major camps of the vandals at Arepo, known as Fatola and Abuja, and two others during four days of sustained aerial offensive in the area.
He said, “They are almost out of Arepo, an area where they had consolidated their position. Maybe, it is so strategic to them because even in the night, they tried to come back; when we did night flying, the cameras still picked them.
“We see them coming together as if they wanted to hold meetings, maybe to run away during the day.
“Some of them tried to run into the mangrove. You know that place is very thick and that is why our operation is going to continue until we flush them out completely.”
Fighter jets used for the operation
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said it had arrested additional 21 fleeing militants in the creeks of Arepo, Fatola and other parts of Lagos, bringing the total number of arrests to 40.
The agency stated that the ongoing operation against pipeline vandals would not stop until all the miscreants were arrested.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Emma Okeh, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Monday that the militants were being detained at centres run by the military and the Department of State Services.
Okeh said, “Apart from the 19 suspects that were arrested since Thursday when the operation against the militants started, we have apprehended 21 others, bringing the total number to 40.”
The spokesman said the suspects would eventually be arraigned in court, adding that it would be done after all the militants in the operational area might have been arrested.
The Ondo State Police Command told one of our correspondents that policemen were on the ground to prevent militants from “doing anything” in the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr. Femi Joseph, said although there was no report about fleeing militants regrouping in Ondo, the police were not leaving anything to chance.
The PPRO said, “I don’t think the information that the fleeing militants are in this state is true, and if they are here, there is no way they can regroup to carry out any activity because our men are on the ground everywhere.
“We are not taking the security of the state for granted, but I don’t think any militant is here.
“We call on our people not to hesitate to inform the police whenever they notice any strange face or witness activities of some strange people in their communities so that we can move in to deal with such people.”
The Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the state government was not aware of any militant’s visit to the state.
He said the security agencies in the state were, however, up to the task to curb any criminal activity in any part of the state, adding that the state government was committed to the protection of lives and property of the residents.
Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar has debunked claims that he has formed a new political platform under which he would run for President in 2019, with Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko as his running mate.
This was contained in a Sunday evening statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe.
According to him, “the report bears all the features of a political hatchet job planted by his opponents who have desperately tried to invent events in order to draw a wedge between him and President (Muhammadu) Buhari on one hand and APC leadership as a whole”.
He said the “report was an incompetent product of fiction, so shallow and vacuous that even its authors could not validate its credibility with reliable and verifiable sources.”
The statement alerts Nigerians and APC leadership to the existence of “some people of bad faith trying tooth and nail to spread the seeds of discord in the party, and destroy the much needed unity, harmony and cohesion, which are the pillars of strength for every political organisation.”
The statement was quick to reiterate the Turaki Adamawa’s loyalty to President Buhari and the APC leadership.
“Atiku would ordinarily have ignored the malicious report, but says he chose to react, lest his silence would be mistaken as an admission of the falsehoods published against him”
Students who attend an evangelical Christian after-school program known as the Good News Club will soon be offered a “satanic” alternative. The Satanic Temple said its programs will show children “there are multiple perspectives on all issues, and that they have a choice in how they think.”
Doug Mesner, who goes by the professional name of Lucien Greaves, spoke to The Washington Post on Sunday about the group’s plans. He is the co-founder of the Satanic Temple along with Malcolm Jarry.
“We are only doing this because Good News Clubs have created a need for this,” Mr. Greaves said. “If Good News Clubs would operate in churches rather than public schools, that need would disappear. But our point is that if you let one religion into the public schools, you have to let others, otherwise it’s an establishment of religion. […] We’ve moved well beyond being a simple political ploy and into being a very sincere movement that seeks to separate religion from superstition.”
Mr. Greaves’ grievance stems from the U.S. Supreme Court’s “Good News Club v. Milford Central School” ruling in 2001, which concluded that denying after-school groups based on religious views infringed upon First Amendment rights. The Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), for example, initiated over 3,500 programs after the ruling.
“We would like to thank the Liberty Counsel specifically for opening the doors to the After School Satan Clubs through their dedication to religious liberty,” Mr. Greaves recently told a gathering in Salem, Massachusetts, the newspaper reported. “So, ‘the Satanic Temple leverages religious freedom laws that put after-school clubs in elementary schools nationwide.’ That’s going to be the message.”
The Post reached out to Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver for comment, who replied, “I would definitely oppose after-school Satanic clubs, but they have a First Amendment right to meet. I suspect, in this particular case, I can’t imagine there’s going to be a lot of students participating in this. It’s probably dust they’re kicking up and is likely to fade away in the near future for lack of interest.”
Mr. Greaves told The Post that his group does not believe in Satan. The group instead uses the name as a “metaphorical construct” against intellectual tyranny.
“The Satanic Temple (TST) facilitates the communication and mobilization of politically aware Satanists, secularists, and advocates for individual liberty,” the group’s mission statement reads.
Some TST chapter heads who took part in the group’s Salem meeting on after-school programming included members from Boston, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and San Jose. Members from Maryland, New York and Florida also participated, the newspaper reported.
A Nigerian accused of scamming $60 million from companies around the world through fraudulent emails has been arrested after months of investigation, Interpol and Nigeria’s anti-fraud agency said Monday.
One company paid out $15.4 million, according to an Interpol statement .
The ringleader of a global scamming network, identified only as 40-year-old Mike, was arrested along with a 38-year-old accomplice in Nigeria’s oil capital, Port Harcourt, in June, the statement said. He is on administrative bail, which implies that officers do not yet have enough evidence to charge him.
The man is accused of leading a network that compromised email accounts of small and medium-sized businesses around the world including in the United States, Australia, India, South Africa and Thailand. The statement didn’t name any targets.
The network involved about 40 people in Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa who provided malware and carried out the frauds, with money-laundering contacts in China, Europe and the United States providing bank account details.
A supplier’s email would be compromised and fake messages sent to a buyer with instructions for payment to a bank account under the network’s control, the statement said. Or an executive’s email account would be taken over and a request for a wire transfer sent to an employee.
Lawyer Gary Miller of the International Fraud Group said the amount was “minuscule, a drop in the ocean” in a cybercrime industry estimated to be worth $1 trillion to $2 trillion.
He said it is “quite unusual” to track down a cyber-criminal because “they’re usually protected by a few tens, if not hundreds, of zombie servers which hide their identity.” His group traces looted funds for individuals and companies.
Approximately 120 Nigerian undergraduate and graduate students newly admitted to U.S. higher education institutions attended an EducationUSA pre-departure orientation at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos today, July 26, 2016. The newly admitted students enjoyed a wide range of practical advice about U.S. culture and educational expectations to set them up for success, such as building positive relationships with professors and peers, time management, and balancing course workloads with a strong social and community life. EducationUSA Advisers Chinenye Uwadileke and Adeola Oseni led the session in concert with eleven current and former students from Nigeria who shared extensive wisdom from first-hand experience. Acting Public Affairs Officer Frank Sellin welcomed the group, noting they are beginning a life-changing educational and cultural experience, and urging the new students to bring back their experiences and knowledge to the benefit of all Nigerians.
EducationUSA is the authoritative and premier source of advice and information on higher education in the United States. The EducationUSA Advising Centers at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate in Lagos provide quality, timely, accurate, and unbiased information about all accredited U.S. higher education institutions for persons wishing to study in the United States. In addition to free general orientations open to the public on finding and applying to programs in the United States, EducationUSA Advising Centers offer individual advising for a fee to help interested Nigerian students who have the academic qualifications and financial resources for studying in the United States.
She’s with her! Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is getting a helping hand with her campaign wardrobe selections from none other thanAnna Wintour.
“Clinton has been consulting American Vogueeditor in chief and Democratic party fundraiser Anna Wintour on her wardrobe choices for key moments of the campaign,” the Business of Fashion reported in a Thursday, July 28, webpost. “On certain occasions, Wintour has approached designers to procure outfits for Clinton, who has settled into a uniform of brightly coloured pantsuits and jackets by US designers.”
The Business of Fashion revealed that most candidates don’t have items lent to them, like celebrities do. “Trump has a budget, Sanders has a budget, Hillary has a budget,” personal stylist Corey Roche told the outlet. “There is [campaign] money allocated to fashion and clothes, because that is a huge part of marketing and branding.”
Wintour, 66, has shown her support for Clinton for years. At 2013’s Oscar de la Renta: American Icon opening reception in Little Rock, Arkansas, the editrix took the liberty of predicting Clinton’s future. “I can only hope that all of you in Little Rock will be celebrating here come November 2016,” WWD reported at the time. “All of us at Vogue look forward to putting on the cover the first female president of the United States.”
And during February’s New York Fashion Week, Wintour commanded the first row of multiple shows in a Marc Jacobs campaign T-shirt emblazoned with Clinton’s face.
Clinton, 68, has stuck to one silhouette for years: the pantsuit. She’s even joined in on the joke, selling a $30 Everyday Pantsuit t-shirt on her campaign website.
