Nigerian envoy recalled for beating wife

Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya Dr Chijioke Wigwe has been recalled following wife battery allegations in Nairobi, by the federal government.

Dr Wigwe doubles as Ambassador to the Seychelles and is Nigeria’s representative to the United Nations Environmental Programme and the UN Habitat in Nairobi.

The High Commissioner was recalled back home to facilitate an investigation after his wife Tess Iyi complained that she had been battered and seriously wounded by the envoy.

Photographs of Dr Wigwe’s wife with injuries on her face were splashed on The Star newspaper in Kenya earlier in the week, sparking protests from gender-based organisations.

Foreign ministry spokesman, Damian Agu, said the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN)had requested he returned home.

“It is only when he is back that we can investigate him and know if the allegations were true or false,” Agu is quoted as having told THISDAY on telephone on Monday.

When Capital News from Kenya telephoned the Nigerian High Commission offices in Nairobi, an official said they were not aware of the latest development.

“Yesterday (Monday) was a holiday for us so we resumed today (Tuesday), I am not aware of that and the deputy High Commissioner who could confirm such reports is not around. Please call us much later to get a confirmation,” an official who declined to give his identity said.

Last week, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere wrote to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Nairobi, asking for the waiver of the envoy’s diplomatic immunity to enable him order for his arrest and prosecution on the matter.

Dr Wigwe has in the meantime dismissed the battery claims terming them a “fabrication by his wife.”

Mohammed Bin Hammam to appeal against FIFA Ethics Committee decision

Mohamed Bin Hammam will not accept yesterday’s decision by the FIFA Ethics Committee. As he is only allowed to appeal against the motivated decision by the FIFA Ethics Committee, he urgently requested this by Tuesday, May 31st, to be able to file his appeal in due time and to revoke the provisional ban before the congress of June 1st is starting.

There are many open questions: What was the discussion in the Ethics Committee and how did the Ethics Committee come to its conclusion? There are many other questions which need to be answered and transparency is urgently needed.

Mohamed Bin Hammam: “The way these proceedings have been conducted is absolutely not compliant with any principles of justice. I am punished before I am found guilty. I get the impression that the outcome of these proceedings had been defined from the very beginning as it has been made evident at the press conference on Sunday evening at which FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke showed his bias very clearly. This is not acceptable as the FIFA Ethics Committee is supposed to be a fully independent body. Therefore, I also expect the further investigation to be influenced and manipulated.”

German police officer kills a Nigerian woman

On Thursday May 19, a German female police officer shot dead a 39-year old Nigerian woman ((Mrs Christy Schnudeck nee Omorodion), who had a German passport in an unemployment benefit centre in Frankfurt.

She had come into the Jobcentre, a branch of the unemployment services that serves refugees and homeless people, that morning because she urgently needed financial assistance. She had submitted her official claim nine days earlier. However, upon arriving at the office, she was told she could not receive her benefits in cash because the money could only be paid into a bank account

According to the Frankfurter Rundschau, the amount in question was “no more than fifty euros” and the woman was clearly in a desperate situation. Jobcentre employees say that the woman became “loud”, and refused to leave the building until she got her money in cash. After the security personnel tried to remove her, the police were called.

When a police patrol arrived consisting of a 30-year-old policeman and a 28-year-old policewoman, they demanded to see the Nigerian woman’s identity card. According to Chief Magistrate Thomas Bechtel, the woman responded by reaching into her bag to take out a knife. She then stabbed the policeman in the belly. At that moment, the policewoman drew her pistol and shot her at close range. The bullet went through the woman’s stomach and pelvic artery. She died as she was being taken to hospital.

The general question in the lips of Africans in Germany is, why on earth will she carry a knife to job centre? The answer is simple considering the area it happened. It is well documented that she had a mental problem and by law, such people are treated with respect and absolute care. In a Country where one can escape judicial punishment when alcohol is found in Peoples blood system, one could imagine what happens to people with mental illness in Germany.
The state police in Wiesbaden have taken over the investigation. The question of necessity of firearms use "is being examined anyway.

Goodluck Jonathan sworn in as Nigerian President

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in for his first full elected term at the helm of Africa's most populous nation on Sunday, faced with the challenge of driving reform and trying to heal regional rifts.

Heads of state from across Africa, foreign dignitaries, religious leaders and traditional rulers gathered in Eagle Square in the centre of Abuja for the ceremony and a military parade to mark the start of his four-year term.

"As president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the constitution," Jonathan said as he took the oath of office.

The former zoology student won elections last month which, while far from perfect, were deemed to have reflected the will of the people in a nation that had known virtually nothing but military rule and rigged votes for the past half-century.

Jonathan emerged from the polls with a credible mandate, having won 59 percent of the vote, but with his ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) chastened by a weaker parliamentary majority and the loss of several powerful state governorships.

Canadian Immigration apologises to Nigerian couple

Citizenship and Immigration Canada is apologizing to a Nigerian couple who have been kept apart for nearly two years because the Canadian federal government made a series of costly mistakes while processing their visa application.

“We just wanted to have the opportunity to apologize profusely for the multiple errors that have occurred in the processing of this file and for the distress and expense that has caused both of them,” departmental spokeswoman Nancy Caron said on Friday evening.

With the pains of separation and distance killing the marriage, Gideon Christian, 36, was ready to give up on his doctoral studies in law at the University of Ottawa to return to Nigeria and be with his wife after he was repeatedly frustrated in his attempts to bring her to Canada.

Christian married Isabella Chinelo Ekpunobi, 25, also a lawyer, in September 2009. Shortly after the wedding he returned to Ottawa, where the permanent resident filed a sponsorship application so his bride could join him.

They soon received confirmation the visa was being processed at the Canadian High Commission in Accra, Ghana, but nearly a year later, they received a strange request in the mail from the Canadian embassy in Paris asking Ekpunobi to undergo another medical examination — and complete an alcoholism screening test.

“The questions were so strange, because my wife doesn't even drink,” said Christian.

When the office of Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa–Vanier) contacted Citizenship and Immigration on their behalf to find out what was going on, he was told the medical exam was a must.

Last December, they received another letter asking for yet another medical examination, even though by this time Christian had learned through an Access-to-Information request that the initial request had been sent in error.

On February 10, Ekpunobi got an email from the High Commission in Accra telling her the visa was ready for pickup. The couple arrived in Accra the night of Feb. 27 and hurried to the immigration office the next morning, but the visa was not ready. The two emails and letter had been sent in error. They needed another medical test.

Christian is not holding his breath for a resolution.

“I don't believe things are over yet until we have the visa,” Christian said.

UK court awards 5000 pounds to 4 Nigerians

Four Nigerian women who claimed they were treated as slaves won damages in Britain's High Court, where a judge ruled on Friday that the police's failure to investigate the complaints breached human rights law.

The women, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, alleged that they were illegally trafficked from Nigeria to the U.K. when they were between the ages of 11 and 15. Now in their 20s, they claimed they were forced to work 18-hour days for no pay in British

households and were subjected to emotional and physical abuse in the London area between 1997 and 2006.

Justice Wyn Williams ordered the Metropolitan Police to pay each woman 5,000 pounds ($8,100), saying in a written judgment that the police's failure to carry out an effective probe in 2007 breached European human rights law.

At a March court hearing, police denied that any officer had breached the women's human rights by failing to investigate their complaints.

The women were "ready, willing and able to participate in an investigation," Williams said, rejecting claims by police that the victims failed to cooperate.

A spokesman for the women's' lawyers noted Friday that the Metropolitan Police has not apologized for failing to investigate the abuses and argued — unsuccessfully — that it did not have a legal duty to investigate "credible allegations of servitude unless those allegations were reported whilst the servitude was ongoing."

"The (police) commissioner should not require a court judgment to appreciate the importance of investigating child slavery," said Tony Murphy, one of the solicitors. "His decision to fight this case sends a dangerous message to officers that combating human trafficking is not a priority for the Met."

The Metropolitan Police said it will carefully consider the judgment and take any appropriate action.

"It is, of course, a matter of deep regret that the claimants did not receive the levels of service which they expected," the statement said.

Taiwo gets Audi car from AC Milan

Nigeria's Taiye Taiwo got a brand new Audi car given to him immediately he sealed the AC Milan deal. The bulky Super Eagles defender stormed the city of Milan on Wednesday from Marseille, France to complete his transfer. Audi auto mobile is one of the official sponsors of AC Milan and they were proud to associate itself with the Nigerian star.

He was welcomed by large number of the Rosonerri fans who had come to see their new acquisition.

The Nigerian defender was at Milan training ground in the morning to feel the turf and also meet the fans. The Milan’s fans were so excited to see the Super Eagles’ player as they struggled for his autographs,

Taiwo had to go through series of medical examinations when he arrived Milan. He also used the opportunity to meet with the directors of the club. The former Marseille defender is expected in Nigeria next week to commence preparations for the Nigeria friendly international match against Argentina on June 1 in Abuja.

Museveni apologises to Goodluck on stone throwing mobs

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni in a statement published in the state-owned New Vision newspaper has apologised to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, whose vehicle was hit by a stone by mobs during last week's presidential inauguration in Kampala.

Museveni said the car carrying Congolese leader, Joseph Kabila, was almost hit. He apologised to the foreign leaders for

the "hooliganism and irresponsibility".

Meanwhile Museveni has branded foreign media as "enemies" especially the BBC because of their coverage of recent anti-government protests.

In a statement Museveni said,"The media houses, both local and international, such as al-Jazeera, BBC, NTV, The Daily Monitor, etc, that cheer on these irresponsible people, are enemies of Uganda's recovery and they will have to be treated as such. Why do they not also report the negative acts of these elements?"

Uganda has seen sharp spikes in food and fuel prices the last several months, making car or bus travel unaffordable for many. Anger over the increases has fuelled Besigye’s protests, and security forces have clashed with protesters around the country. Human Rights Watch says government forces have shot and killed nine people during crackdowns on protests.

Museveni, an ex-rebel commander who seized power at the head of a guerrilla army in 1986, once criticized African rulers who clung to power. In 2001 he promised to retire from politics despite lifting a two-term limit on the presidency so he could run again in 2006. But now Museveni says he is fostering peace, stability and growth.

Two Nigerians arrested in Malaysia with cassavas

The long arm of the law caught up with two criminal minded Nigerians who flew into Malaysia on different days with the thought they could hoodwink the authorities by stuffing 9.46kg of syabu worth about 2 million Malaysian Ringgit into cassavas and sweet potatoes, but their plan was foiled by alert KL International Airport police.

Syabu is an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous and as an appetite suppressant.

One of the suspect was nabbed on Saturday and the other on Monday.

Selangor Narcotics CID chief Asst Comm Nordin Kadir said both Nigerians had cut open the cassavas and sweet potatoes and dug holes to store the drugs.

“A steel rod the size of a pencil was used to re-attach the root vegetables which they then covered with mud,” ACP Nordin said yesterday, adding that both carried the vegetables as hand luggage.

He said it was the first entry into the country for the 32-year-old suspect who was arrested at 3.45pm on Saturday. He had brought six cassavas with him.

“The other suspect, 31, who had visited Malaysia before, was arrested at 7.30am on Monday with three cassavas and two sweet potatoes,” he said.

ACP Nordin added that the police found 11 packets of syabu in the nine cassavas and two sweet potatoes.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a death penalty

NBC staff paralyses operation in Lagos

The bulk of casual staff of Nigerian Bottling Company(NBC), the authorized bottler of Coca–Cola products and the leading producer of Alcohol-free beverages in Nigeria numbering about 500, took to the streets in Lagos, protesting over poor working conditions and inhuman treatment by the management of the company.

The protesters practically shut down operations as all entrance gates to the company were closed. Although, police personnel were not on ground, the atmosphere was tense.

The aggrieved workers started the protest around 8am, carrying placards and singing.

The protesters said the management has over the years refused to see to their welfare. Some of the things they complained about include: poor remuneration, harsh working condition and lack of medicare, amongst others.

A top executive was quoted to have said "We are aware that there was a demonstration on Monday, by a number of persons at the Ikeja Plant of the Nigerian Bottling Company Plc. These are people who have been engaged through service providers for the plant.

"The Company is currently having internal discussions about the situation. It is our desire to resolve this matter swiftly, amicably and equitably.It is not appropriate to go into details while these discussions are continuing. However, further information will be provided at the earliest opportunity," it said.

A protesting staff said the strike will continue today if the company does not invite the workers for dialogue.

Nigerian stabs Nigerian in Ukraine

A fight between two Nigerian medical student at the Crimea State Medical University occured in Ukraine recently. A 24 years old Nigerian student in his fourth year stabbed his 23 years old countryman, a third year medical student with a knife and hurt him seriously.

While the former is recuperating at an hospital, Jay Jay as he's fondly called is languishing in police custody and his due to face trial in a law court shortly against the state. He faces a possible eight years jail term, if conviccted of the crime.
However president of the Nigerian community are making efforts to see that the young man is granted bail and released.

Italy probes refugee sacrifice claim

Italy opened an inquiry on Wednesday into allegations by a refugee fleeing Libya that some people on the boat he arrived on threw other refugees into the sea as a human sacrifice during a storm.
The 16-year-old Ghanaian spoke to a volunteer from the charity Save the Children after arriving on the island of Lampedusa earlier this month and his disturbing allegations against a group of Nigerians were reported to police.
"As soon as we received the testimony we opened an investigation as required," the local chief prosecutor, Renato Di Natale, said.
Emanuela Salvatori from Save the Children, said: "We can confirm that we collected the testimony from this minor and that an investigation is underway."
"It was like a rite of sacrifice," La Stampa quoted him as saying, adding: "The captain pointed them out and the others threw them overboard."
The Ghanaian, who is now in a refugee centre in Italy, said his brother was one of the victims and also spoke of women being raped on the boat.
The news reports said other refugees had confirmed the Ghanaian's story.
Thousands of refugees fleeing Libya - almost all of them migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia - have been arriving in Italy in recent weeks as the conflict in North Africa has escalated.

Kenyan police seize tusks of elephant heading to Nigeria

Police in Kenya seized the tusks of 58 elephants-totaling one ton of ivory — after sniffer dogs led investigators to containers at the country's main airport that were destined for Nigeria according to Kenyan poice on Friday.
Police officer in charge Joseph Ngisa, said no arrests had been made. It was not immediately clear why the ivory was being transported to Nigerian; the most common destination for smuggled ivory is Asia.
"We are suspecting they could be from here or neighboring countries and we are on their toes. We must get them. They have killed many, many elephants and we cannot allow this," said Eunice Kiheko, the deputy police chief in charge of all airports.
Patrick Omondi, an expert on elephants at the Kenya Wildlife Service, says illegal ivory smuggling in Africa increased after the 2007 temporary lifting of a ban by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It allowed a one-off sale by countries that had stockpiles of ivory from elephants that had died naturally or problem elephants killed by wildlife officials.
In 2007, Kenya lost only 47 elephants to poaching, Omondi said. In 2008 — the year the sale took place— Kenya lost 145 elephants. In 2009, 271 elephants were killed and 187 were killed in 2010. Omondi said Kenya has already lost 87 elephants this year.