DA serves Zuma with papers to get answers on cost of defending 783 counts against him

The Democratic Alliance has served President Jacob Zuma with papers regarding his failure to answer a Parliamentary question put to him by DA leader Mmusi Maimane about how much public money has been spent on avoiding the 783 charges of fraud‚ corruption and racketeering against him.
Chairman of the DA’s federal council James Selfe said on Sunday that by avoiding the question‚ the DA believed that both the President‚ and the Deputy Speaker‚ Lechesa Tsenoli‚ presiding at the time who allowed President Zuma to avoid the question‚ acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally.
“For more than eight years‚ taxpayers' money has been used to pay for the President’s legal costs in the so-called ‘Spy-Tapes’ case.

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How barcoding is helping South Africa track its precious pollinators

Pollinators are the unsung heroes of food production. Almost one third of the food eaten comes from animal pollination. Animal pollinated foods also contain nutrients and minerals essential to human diets and they maintain natural areas by pollinating wild plants.
But understanding the relationship between plants and pollinators isn’t straightforward. Nevertheless, it matters because some indigenous pollinators are under threat. This is particularly challenging in South Africa which has a rich collection of indigenous pollinators. The list includes bees, predacious wasps, pollen wasps, beetles, moths and birds. This huge diversity makes it even more difficult to study plant interactions with pollinators purely through observation.
In the last couple of years, DNA-based techniques like next generation sequencing have been increasingly used to identify pollen on pollinators and their products, like honey. The technology reads the DNA from a mixed pollen sample and then compares the DNA to a reference database to obtain identifications. The short, specific DNA fragments targeted from the pollen sample are used as “barcodes” to identify the plant species from which it originated. Using a standard set of genes, combined with next generation sequencing, to identify plant species from their pollen is referred to as metabarcoding.
Pollen metabarcoding has led to huge strides in understanding the relationship between pollinators and plants. And there’s an ongoing project to barcode the plants of southern Africa, using genes in the chloroplasts of plants. This is undoubtedly good news for the metabarcoding of mixed pollen samples to study plant-pollen interactions.
In our recent review, we discussed the field of plant-pollinator interactions and the impact and study of these relationships, focusing on South Africa. It highlights the advances made by South African scientists using cutting edge molecular technologies like pollen metabarcoding.
This work has the potential to shed new light on the complexity of pollination in South Africa’s ecosystems – in both the natural as well as agricultural ecosystems.

Why it’s complicated

A generalist, nonselective pollinator can pollinate multiple plant species, or several pollinators could pollinate a single plant.
Exclusive relationships also exist. This happens when specialised pollinators and plants have a close mutualistic relationship. In some cases, they develop compatible morphological features like, for example, the oil collecting bees (genus Rediviva) and Diascia flowers.
Pollinators seen on a flower may be visiting them for rewards other than pollen. They could, for example, be hunting for nectar. And it’s possible that they may not be involved in the successful pollination of the flower they were visiting. The pollen found on these pollinators could have come from a different plant species altogether. So, observing pollinators on flowers could be misleading in trying to understand pollination networks.
Traditionally, plant-pollinator interactions were investigated through field observations, microscopic pollen identification – or palynology – and cage studies. The process was slow and required a lot of expertise to correctly identify plants from their pollen.

How do DNA-based techniques work?

Increasingly DNA-based techniques – like next generation sequencing – are being used to identify pollen on pollinators and their products.
The technology reads the DNA amplified from a mixed pollen sample, and then compares the DNA to a reference database for identification. Mixed pollen samples can be identified by genes contained in pollen nuclei or chloroplasts. Using a combination of these genes in the identification of mixed pollen samples provides more accurate results than studying only a single gene.
The sequence reference database used to compare pollen DNA sequences needs to be suitably comprehensive to get accurate identifications. The project to barcode plants in southern Africa is making significant progress. This means that the sequence database for the country’s diverse plants are becoming more complete for the genes used in pollen metabarcoding. In turn, this means that more accurate identifications can be made from pollen collected from pollinators.
The well-being of pollinators has a direct impact on our lives – from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear and even the natural environments we relax in. On top of this, the interactions between pollinators and plants ensure the long term sustainability of agricultural and native environments.
Understanding these interactions and how they change over time will help us to identify what’s threatening plant and pollinator communities, both of which are key to long term food and ecosystem sustainability.

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Fraud: How Former FCT Minister's Son Spent N1.1 billion on Choice Properties in Abuja

 

Hearing of a case of illegal acquisition of wealth and money laundering to the tune of N1.1billion involving Samsudeen Bala-Mohammed, a son of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed got underway on Thursday, November 9, 2017 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its first witness, Ishaya Dauda, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

 

Samsudeen, who was re-arraigned on May 30, 2017 on an amended 15-count of money laundering and false declaration of assets, is facing trial alongside four other companies: Bird Trust Argo Limited, Intertrans Global Logistics Limited, Diakin Telecommunications Limited and Bal-Vac Mining Nigeria Limited.

 

The ex-minister’s son among other things allegedly involved in cash payments above statutory limit for the construction and purchase of properties in various parts of Abuja.

 

He allegedly paid various cash sums of money beyond the limit set by the Money Laundering Act for the purchase of houses without going through a financial institution.

 

Dauda, an operative of the EFCC, while being led in evidence by the Ben Ikani gave a blow-by-blow account of how Samsudeen paid a cumulative sum of N1.1billion to buy different properties in choice areas of Abuja, using names of different companies.

 

According to the PW1, “the Commission stumbled on the various offences committed by Shamsudeen in the course of investigating his father, Mohammed”.

 

The witness also revealed how the sums of N580,000 and $60,000 were recovered from Shamsudeen’s residence during execution of a search warrant.

 

“I know the defendant. In the course of investigating a case assigned to me against the former FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, we received an additional intelligence concerning purchases of properties by the defendant within the FCT.

“The companies are Diakin Telecommunications Ltd., Balbac Minning Nigeria Ltd., and Intertrans Logistics Global Nigeria Ltd.

“We extended our investigation to the Corporate Affairs Commission. We confirmed that the companies were registered with the CAC.

“We invited the lawyers that registered these companies by name Ishiaku Shuaibu, who confirmed that he registered those companies.

“Our investigation was extended to Abuja Investments Development Company, where the General Manager, Dr. Musa Musa, and the company secretary, Salisu Abdusalam, were invited to our office.

“Their statements were taken concerning the purchase of properties by the defendant using Diakin Telecommunications Ltd., and Balbac Minning Nigeria Ltd., which they confirmed.

“They said he brought cash to their office. He bought the properties from the Abuja Development Investments Company. The properties are located in Apo Area of Abuja.

“Another property that was purchased by the defendant is at 7, Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja. He brought cash in company with a lady by name, Maimuna Aliyu Sanda.

“Together they took this cash to the developer, by name, Farouk Saleh. The cash was in dollars, they told me. But the worth of the property was N210m.

“Another property was purchased at Sunrise Hill, Asokoro. The defendant made lodgment of N80million to the then managing director of the company. The MD, Sami Apougaoude, a Lebanese is late now. Then the defendant contacted a company, K & K Construction Company, to build the said property.

“He again made a cash lodgment of N100million to Sunrise Hill in error which was then transferred to K&K Construction Company into their Zenith Bank account. He then made a cash lodgment of N110million to K&K directly.

“Again, he made a lodgment of N200million to K&K Construction Company.

“All these lodgments were made in the name of the Birtrus Agro Allied Limited.

“The last time he made lodgment to K&K Construction company was N296million”, Dauda stated.

 

The statements made by the defendant and the asset declaration form completed by him were tendered and admitted as exhibits as Chris Uche, SAN, representing the defendant raised no objection to the admissibility of the documents.

 

Further hearing has been adjourned to December 11, 2017.

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Ghana Launches Its First Satellite Into Space

Ghana has successfully launched its first satellite into space. GhanaSat-1, which was developed by students at All Nations University in Koforidua, was sent into orbit from the International Space Centre.

Cheers erupted as 400 people, including the engineers, gathered in the southern Ghanaian city to watch live pictures of the launch. The first signal was received shortly afterwards.

It is the culmination of a two-year project, costing $50,000 (£40,000). It received support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The satellite will be used to monitor Ghana's coastline for mapping purposes, and to build capacity in space science and technology.

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Recall:FG Suspends NHIS Boss Over N58m SUV

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Friday announced the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, for three months.

Findings by Punch correspondent revealed that one of the allegations against Yusuf was that he bought a sport utility vehicle for N58m.

In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola, the minister said the suspension was due to a series of petitions written against Yusuf.

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Andrew Harrison Wanted for sacrilegious acts

The okpara-ukwu and the elders/idumuesah youth association of the idumuesah community has declared one mr Andrew Harrison wanted for the sacrilegious acts he committed  by carrying the white man religious into the community,  eye witness report who spoke to our crime reporter on the condition of anonymity, said trouble started with the young preacher some months ago when  an age long festivals of igue was about taking place, when the young preacher who normally converted hundreds of persons within and outside the community with his white man religious of Christianity started his preachings when some group of angrily mob descended on him by way of stopping him not to continuing his preachings and converting people to the new found religion of white man, he maintained that the most annoying part of its all is that sometime ago the preacher single handedly converted a very powerful native doctor who was the second in command in the line of sprintualities of the community and beyond,  he emphasized that the young preacher most be stopped that if not so a time we come were the age long festivals will not be in existence because if he continued like this within now and some few years to come,  I believed nobody will be attending the age long festival. Our crime reporter who visited the community of idumuesah in delta state revealed that the long age festival was celebrated on a low key, one of the elder of the community who spoke to our crime reporter, further revealed that the young man preacher brought sacrilegious acts to our community by bringing the white man religious into the land, the elder who gave his name as chief onome omaterye said the young preacher is wanted,  a search of him had been map out throughout the country for his arrest towards the cleansing of the land, because the blood of the offender of gods is what we normally used for the cleansing of our land he concluded by saying that the young preacher is wanted dead or live. As at press time the whereabout of Andrew Harrison is unknown.

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Pictured! Court Jails Five Nigerians For £610,000 Telephone Banking Fraud

An Inner London Crown Court has sentenced five Nigerians to various jail terms over the theft of £610,000 from business bank accounts.

According to reports, Victor Oke, 39, of Galleons Drive, Barking, used stolen data provided by Desmond Uyiosa Abifade, 25, of Henniker Road, Stratford, to falsely impersonate company directors via telephone banking.

Once Oke gained access, he diverted funds to ‘mule’ beneficiary accounts monitored by Moses Kuye, 28, of Connaught Road, Silvertown.

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Nigeria Police Reject Ranking As World’s Worst

The Nigeria Police Force has gunned down the latest ranking by The International Police Association and the Institute for Economics and Peace, that puts it at the bottom of the world police formations.

The 2016 World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) credited to the two organisations, rated the Nigerian police the worst in the world. The ranking measured the ability of the Police to address Internal Security Issues in 127 Countries in four key areas of Capacity, Process, Legitimacy and Outcomes.

The ranking showed that Nigeria under-performed on all four domains, with a score of 0.255.

But  in a statement today, the NPF trashed the assessment as unempirical and instead proclaimed itself one of the best in the world.

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I’m Under Pressure To Contest In 2019 - Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says people have been asking him to contest the 2019 election.
In an interview with Dele Momodu, celebrity journalist, the immediate past president said he is moved to tears seeing people shouting “GEJ, we want you back”.

Jonathan, who ruled out the possibility of returning to office, said reflections on his achievements and mistakes make him sober.

“I’m not God but I sincerely doubt the possibility,” Jonathan was quoted to have said in response to a question on the next election.

“People come to me every day saying they want me back. I’m always moved to tears whenever I go out and see the huge crowds shouting GEJ, we want you, even in the north.

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Photo: Nephew, 22, Kills Aunt For Refusing To Give Him Money To Pay His Rent

Twenty-two-year-old Sunday Peter is now in the cold embrace of detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command State, Abuja.

Peter is alleged to have stabbed his aunt, 35-year-old Salome Idoko, to death with the help of an accomplice, Istafanus Yerima, 22, in the sitting room of her residence close to Berger Bridge Quarry Gate, Mpape, Abuja.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Bello told Sunday Sun that the ugly incident happened around 1:35am on September 28, when Peter, a nephew of the deceased and his friend, Istifanus, went to the home of the aunt to threaten her and demand N30,000 from her to pay his rent. Peter had earlier stayed for three days with the family of the deceased. Later, the husband of Salome, James Idoko, gave Peter a ride to Maitama, and also gave him N1000 to cover his transport fare to Maraba, Nasarawa State, where he lives.

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Updated: Man narrowly escaped death in Idumuesah - Delta state

 It was a day of commotion recently in idumuesah community in delta state were its was alleged that some persons Mark's Dawn for sacrifice's for their age long festival of igue has escaped, the festival which normally take place every year, is a festivals that had been in existence since the creation of man according to an eye witness reports who spoke to our crimes reporter on the condition of anonymity, stated that the age long festival always take placed every year, but said the human sacrifice's is been done every ten years  of living hood for betterment of the community and good successful harvest's for the next ten years, the  festivals which is  taking place this year were the sacrifice's will be done, he Emphasized that the oracle has already chooses some persons to be used for the sacrifice's, the same thing that happened about ten years ago in 2007, this year 2016, makes it complete ten years when the sacrifice's was done. He maintained that once the deities chooses  persons for the sacrifice's since in sessions no man has refused the god's, because it's is a blessing to the  families of the persons and the community as whole, the deities  normally picks eight persons for the sacrifice's every ten years, the blood of those persons after been sacrifice's always been used for every strategies positions in the community, he further revealed that this year invent which supposed to  taken place as of nown has shortcomings because two persons among of the eight penciled down for the sacrifice's has escaped from the shrine about two weeks ago to unknown destination, they were kept there for purifications for 21days before the main invent take placed, he gave the names of the escapees as Okafor Promise and Joshua umonitaye, he said the escapees dot know what they had caused for themselves because as powerful as the deities, they will never lived to tell their story. Meanwhile the ovie, elders / idumuesah youths association has sent message across the country by declaring  Okafor Promise and Joshua umotaniye wanted dead or alive. As at press time the whereabout of Okafor Promise and Joshua umonitaye is unknown.

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Rotimi Amaechi Releases Statement On Confrontation In Port Harcourt Today!

Rotimi Amaechi releases statement on confrontation in Port Harcourt today! Says Wike’s security pulled gun on him & vandalized his car

This afternoon, Governor Wike and Rotimi Amaechi’s convoy and security officers clashed in Port Harcourt. Wike has released a statement telling his own side of the story. Read Amaechi’s version of events below..

In a blatant show of Unclad raw power, Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi this afternoon narrowly escaped being shot by security men attached to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. His car wasn’t that lucky though. The car was vandalized with a broken side mirror.

The incident occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, along Trans-Amadi road, Nwaja axis. The Minister had arrived Port Harcourt this afternoon.


Accompanied by cars of many of his supporters, the Minister’s black jeep was intercepted and blocked at the junction by the security Motorcycle Outrider attached to Wike after two cars had passed through. One of the two cars had security men assigned to protect the minister in Port Harcourt. Suddenly, gun-totting security men attached to Wike’s convoy, surrounded the Minister’s car, threatening to shoot him. They hit the car, tried to smash the windscreens, back and side windows and broke a side mirror. All through this attack, Amaechi remained calm, inside the fortified Jeep. While the attacked occurred, Wike remained inside his vehicle.

The Minister eventually passed through after the intervention of the security team on ground to protect him in Port Harcourt. However, when Governor Wike got to the point where the incident occurred after Amaechi’s vehicle had gone by, his security men blocked the road again, dragged out from a vehicle and thoroughly beat up a police man attached to protect Amaechi in Port Harcourt. The Policeman’s riffle was also taken from him.

Wike came out of his car, and with his security team was going from one vehicle to another, of Amaechi supporters, charging at them, harassing and abusing them. Wike’s security men were heard loudly insulting Amaechi and called him all sorts of derogative names.

This is a crass show of high handedness, arbitrary behaviour and abuse of public office by a State governor who has no care for the safety of Rivers people.

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PDP Will Not Produce A ‘northern President’ 2019– Turaki

Former Minister for Special Duties under the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, Tanimu Turaki, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party will not produce a northern president in 2019.

Turaki said, rather, the party would field someone who would carry everybody along.

The ex-minister in an interview with Premium Times said the current government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari does not have regard for other parts of the country.

According to him, the former ruling party is looking for men and women of integrity, people that will be the new face of PDP.

He said, “We want people that will not have been part of the so-called impunity that have played out in the party before. People that will raise that hope among Nigerians. People that will inspire members of the party to go that extra mile in canvassing support for the party. So that at the end of the day, we will come up with men and women of proven integrity that will stand anywhere and that would be the first step that PDP will use in telling Nigerians that we have changed, this is a new PDP.

“By the time we get to the point of selecting our party’s presidential candidate, I assure you that Nigerians will be proud of PDP. We will come out with a man or woman of high integrity, somebody who is unassailable, whose integrity is beyond reproach, somebody that Nigerians will have confidence that even though we are going to bring a northerner, we are not going to bring a northern president.

“I want to assure Nigerians and it is important that Nigerians take note of this. Even though the presidency has been zoned to the north, we are not going to give Nigerians a northern president, we are going to give Nigerians, a Nigerian president of northern extraction. Somebody when he thinks, he thinks Nigeria; when he wants to act, he acts Nigeria. Somebody when he wants to move, he moves Nigeria.

“Not somebody that will begin to discriminate among Nigerians, not somebody who will want to treat Nigerians differently on the basis of their support, their thinking, their beliefs and attitude. Somebody who will build strong bridges of friendship across the divide. We will bring somebody who is a unifier.”

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