Month: November 2017

Rafael Nadal wins defamation case over doping claims

Emporium Reporters

A French tribunal on Thursday ordered a former minister of health and sports to pay tennis star Rafael Nadal $11,800 in damages for accusing him of doping. The tribunal found that Roselyne Bachelot, who served as the minister of health and sports between 2007 and 2010, defamed the 16-time grand slam winner during a March 2016 television appearance in France. The tennis star filed a lawsuit against Bachelot the following month, saying at the time that the case was intended “to defend my integrity and my image as an athlete,…

Promoting Transparency And Accountability In The Recovery Of Stolen Assets In Nigeria: Proposals For Reform By Femi Falana

Emporium Reporters

Introduction: Upon the inauguration of the Mohammadu Buhari administration the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and Switzerland assured the federal government that stolen funds and assets stolen from Nigeria would be repatriated. Not only have these countries refused to cooperate with Nigeria they have also frustrated the efforts of the federal government to recover and repatriate such tainted funds and assets. In a display of sheer arrogance and hypocrisy in June last year the then British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron described Nigeria as “a fantastically corrupt country”.…

Autopsies Of 26 Dead Nigerian Girls Revealed, 2 Pregnant

Emporium Reporters

Autopsies on the bodies of 26 teenage Nigerian girls found dead in the Mediterranean in early November has been confirmed that they drowned at sea by Italian news agencies. The victims’ bodies were found floating in the water by a Spanish military ship and brought to Italy on November 3 after two separate rescue operations. According to the autopsy report carried out in Salerno, Italy, 25 of the girls died from asphyxiation in the water, while one girl suffered a wound to her liver. Two out of the 26 women…

N112m Scam: EFCC Commences Trial of Delta INEC Official

Emporium Reporters

Justice E.O Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State on Thursday, 16 November, commenced hearing of a matter involving a former official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Fidelia Omoile, who is facing trial on a one- count charge bordering on bribery to the tune of N112, 480, 000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira only). Omoile was a former INEC official in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State during 2015 general elections. She is among scores…

ICPC Arrests Former Nigerian Judge For Alleged N220m Scam

Emporium Reporters

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, said it has arrested a former Kano State High Court Judge, Kabiru Auta, for an alleged N220 million fraud. The spokesperson of the commission, Rasheedat Okoduwa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. Mr. Okoduwa said the suspect was detained on Tuesday when he honoured an invitation by the commission over allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery. Mr. Auta, according to her, allegedly conspired with some other persons to defraud a Kano businessman named Bashir Yakasai of N220 million.…

Mugabe Resisting Pressure To Resign

Emporium Reporters

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is in talks with military officials, South African government ministers, and a Catholic priest to determine his future and that of the country he has ruled since 1980. Mr. Mugabe was placed under house arrest following the military’s seizure of power on Tuesday night. Reuters reports that sources close to the talks said the 93-year-old president is resisting pressure from the military and the mediating priest, Father Fidelis Mukonori, to voluntarily resign ahead of the elections slated for next year. The South African government sent envoys…

Google Doodle Honours Chinua Achebe

Emporium Reporters

Google has resolved to change its logo to a doodle in honor of the late Chinua Achebe, who is considered to be one of Africa’s greatest storyteller. He would have been 87 on Thursday. Born in Ogidi to an Igbo family of Nigeria, West Africa in 1930, Achebe was the son of an evangelical priest. In love with reading and writing, he completed English studies at the University of Ibadan in just four years instead of five, which was the standard. Achebe was disappointed in the European interpretation of African…

NATIONAL SECURITY: FG TO BUILD NAVAL BASE IN NIGER

Emporium Reporters
Gov Sani Bello

The Federal Government has resolved to build a naval base for the Nigerian Navy in Shagamu, Borgu Local Government area of Niger State by 2019. The Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Monsur Dan Ali (rtd) disclosed this to newsmen in his office in Abuja after a closed door meeting with the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello. The minister said plans for the building of the naval base have reached advance stage, alluding the progress made on the project to the determination of Governor Sani-Bello , whom he said initiated…

World Diabetes Day: Gov Obaseki Tasks Stakeholders on Diabetes Cure

Emporium Reporters

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has challenged world leaders, researchers and charitable organisations to join efforts in finding a cure for diabetes. Obaseki made the call on Monday, in commemoration of the United Nations World Diabetes Day, celebrated on November 14, each year. He said, ”While previous efforts at finding a lasting cure for diabetes have produced drugs with which diabetes sufferers could manage the health condition, millions of people across the world still bear the disease burden, denying them of fulfilment and happiness.” He advised stakeholders such as…