Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys have requested that a federal judge reject special counsel Jack Smith’s gag order request and find the prosecutors in contempt. The request was made in response to Smith’s motion for a gag order to limit Trump’s public comments about the FBI’s search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. The special counsel’s office argued that the gag order is necessary to prevent Trump from making misleading and inflammatory statements that could endanger law enforcement personnel involved in the case. However, Trump’s legal team described the request as “unconstitutional censorship,” aimed at silencing the former president as…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
Nigeria leaders gathered at the National Mosque in Abuja on Tuesday to pay their final respects to Ibrahim Lamorde, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Lamorde, who passed away at the age of 61 in Egypt while undergoing medical treatment, was honored with a Jannazah (funeral prayer) attended by a host of dignitaries. Among the attendees were Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, and the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintri, also paid their respects alongside other notable figures. Earlier reports…
The World Igbo Congress (WIC) is calling for May 30 to be designated as Nigeria’s Civil War Memorial Day to honor those who lost their lives in the Nigeria/Biafra war from 1967 to 1970. This marks the declaration of Biafra’s secession by Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, then military Governor of Eastern Nigeria. Pro-Biafra groups have annually observed May 30 as “Biafra Day” since 1999, advocating for the restoration of the defunct Biafra republic. The WIC is planning a memorial service themed “54 Years after the war, what has changed in Nigeria?” on May 30, 2024, to honor the fallen heroes and…
The Cross River State House of Assembly has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Speaker Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, effectively resolving the recent crisis that had engulfed the Assembly. The vote, which took place during a plenary session on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, was initiated by Hon. Cyril Omini, the member representing Yakurr 1 State Constituency, and seconded by Hon. Kingsley Ntui of Etung State Constituency. Hon. Omini emphasized the importance of restoring order within the Assembly to support Governor Otu’s efforts in advancing the state’s development. He noted that the vote of confidence reflects the lawmakers’…
The Nigerian Senate has pardoned and recalled Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi after 77 days of suspension. The suspension, which began on March 12, 2024, stemmed from allegations of N3.7 trillion padding of the 2024 Budget. Deputy Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro initiated the recall process on Tuesday by moving a motion in which he expressed regret on behalf of Senator Ningi and pledged to assume full responsibility for his actions. Following a brief plea by several lawmakers, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced Ningi’s unconditional recall. Akpabio highlighted Ningi’s resourcefulness and underscored his value to the Senate, noting…
Peru’s Attorney General, Juan Carlos Villena, on Monday, accused President Dina Boluarte of accepting bribes in the form of Rolex watches, in the latest twist of a corruption scandal shaking her unpopular government. Villena said that her receiving the luxury items from a governor amounted to accepting bribes. The AG “presented a constitutional complaint against Dina Boluarte as the suspected author of passive corruption,” his office said on X, formerly Twitter. The scandal erupted in March with the discovery of a trove of undeclared luxury Rolex watches and jewelry in the president’s possession. Boluarte told…
Estonia’s President, Alar Karis, has made a resolute declaration about the West’s mission to curb Russia’s military ambitions. In an interview with Finland’s YLE, Karis underscored that stopping Russia is a primary objective for Estonia and its Western allies. As a neighboring country to Russia, Estonia has a unique perspective on the geopolitical tensions in the region. “As Russia’s neighbor, you must prepare for the worst,” Karis advised. He expressed doubt about any imminent changes within Russia’s political landscape, suggesting that the U.S. and Europe might have to deal with several more Russian leaders before witnessing any significant shift in…
An 18-year-old pupil was detained in western France on Monday after stabbing his schoolteacher in the face and fleeing, authorities said. The teacher from the town of Chemille-en-Anjou in western France “suffered a facial injury that is not life-threatening”, said a joint statement from the authorities including the prefect and public prosecutor. After the attack at the Lycee de l’Hyrome on Monday morning, the suspect quickly left through the window, abandoning his weapon, according to the authorities. He was detained by gendarmes and municipal police. The officials said in the statement that the young man was not previously known to…
Forced from her home by Israel’s seven-month-long Gaza offensive, Salwa al-Masri has little hope her plight will be alleviated by a ruling from the U.N.’s top court ordering Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. “The massacres are only increasing,” she said, as she cooked a meal on an open fire outside a tent in Deir al-Balah. “They shouldn’t say one thing, while the action is something different,” said Masri, who fled her home in northern Gaza earlier in the war. “We want these decisions to be implemented on the ground.” Judges at the World Court, also known as the…
For the first time in months, sirens blared in Tel Aviv on Sunday as Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, launched a rocket attack on Israel’s largest city. In a statement, the Al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage, stating, “We bombed Tel Aviv with a large rocket barrage in response to the massacres against civilians.” The group also released a video purportedly showing rocket trails streaking through the sky. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that sirens sounded across central Israel after “eight projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Rafah into Israeli territory.” According to the…
80-year-old Yeyu Ying from China has been recognized by Guinness World Records for having the longest career as a female language teacher, spanning an incredible 64 years and 33 days. Yeyu Ying began her teaching journey at just 17 years old in a rural elementary school in Zhejiang, China. Born into a poor family in Ruian, Zhejiang Province, she chose to become a teacher to support her family. This decision marked the start of a remarkable career that has now gained international recognition. After initially retiring in February 1999 at the age of 55, Yeyu Ying founded Yuying Elementary School,…
The Benin Royal Family has announced the suspension of Professor Gregory Akenzua, an uncle to the reigning Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. This decision follows Akenzua’s legal challenge against his suspension as an enogie (duke) in the Benin kingdom. Akenzua, along with Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen and other suspended dukes, approached the court seeking to overturn their suspension by Oba Ewuare II, asserting that such authority rests solely with the state government. Professor Gregory Akenzua, a distinguished gynecologist, former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, and ex-chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, is also the…