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A computer hacker who stole unreleased songs from British pop star Ed Sheeran and American rap artist Lil Uzi Vert has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, UK prosecutors said Friday. Adrian Kwiatkowski, 23, of Ipswich in southern England, hacked the artists’ cloud-based accounts and sold their songs on the dark web in exchange for cryptocurrency. City of London Police, which investigated the case, said Kwiatkowski made 131,000 pounds ($147,000) on the transactions. “Kwiatkowski had complete disregard for the musicians’ creativity and hard work producing original songs and the subsequent loss of earnings,” said Joanne Jakymec of the Crown Prosecution Service. “He selfishly stole their music to make money for himself.” In August, Kwiatkowski pleaded guilty to a variety of charges, including 14 copyright offenses and three counts of computer misuse. He was sentenced Friday in Ipswich Crown Court. City of London Police worked with authorities in the United States to investigate the case...

Soludo Bans Bet9ja, Nairabet, others Over ‘Criminal Activities’ Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo has ordered the immediate suspension of operations of casinos and gaming centers in the state over alleged fraudulent and criminal Activities. The directive is contained in a statement signed by Donatus Onyenji, the commissioner for culture, entertainment and tourism; Richard Madiebo, chairman, Anambra state internal revenue service; and Chikodi Anara, the commissioner for homeland affairs. According to NAN, the government said it received a worrisome number of petitions pertaining to the manipulation of casino machines and non-transparency in payment for winnings. It said the allegations amounted to serious abuse of global best practices in the industry which the government under the See of Chukwuma Soludo would not condone. “This fraudulent practice will not be allowed to thrive under the See of Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s administration and therefore must be dealt with immediately,” the...

Anambra State Government Goes Tough On Illegal Structures In Old Airport Site, Oba, Others Anambra State Government Task Force has warned illegal developers against building without approvals across the state as it goes contrary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo's mandate of a liveable and prosperous homeland. The task force gave the warning when it carried out partial demolitions on some structures built without approval and others marked for demolition at the old Airport Site Oba, Idemili South Council Area, Marine and Woliwo, Onitsha. Speaking to the ABS, Chairman of the State Physical Planning Board, Barr. Chike Mmaduekwe said that sadly, many government lands which have been released to developers were high-jacked by gangs of youths and hoodlums who measure the same lands into parts, sell and resell to innocent people who fall into their trap. While stating that these hoodlums also mandate the developers who have previously paid monies to government to pay additional huge amounts of...

P&ID Scam: EFCC Arraigns Ex-Lagos Attorney-General, Shasore For Alleged $200,000 Bribe The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, October 21, 2022, arraigned a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, on a two-count charge allegedly bordering on corrupt offers of $200,000 to public officers, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 9(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONDOLES WITH FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, DAVID MARK OVER PASSING OF SON, TUNDE President Muhammadu Buhari shares in the pain of loss with former Senate President, Sen. David Mark, and his family following the passing of his eldest son, Tunde Mark. The President commiserates with friends, relations, and associates of the former Senate President over the loss of the promising gentleman, who has over many years worked with his father, supporting and holding various responsibilities as a public servant. President Buhari affirms that the outpouring of testimonies of Tunde’s humility, simplicity, and large-heartedness clearly show his love and service to humanity, urging Sen. Mark and his family to find solace in the good works of the departed. The President prays that the Almighty God will comfort Sen. Mark and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.   Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) October 21, 2022. PRESS RELEAS...

LEAVE A LEGACY THAT WILL BENEFIT OTHERS, PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES LEADERS President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said leaders in the private and public sectors should be more mindful of their positions as "trustees of the people'', urging them to always work towards leaving a legacy that will be long remembered. “I wish that leaders will arise and stand up to be counted among leaders who have distinguished themselves to do the right thing and leave their footprints on the sands of time,’’ he stated. Speaking at the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) held at the Conference Centre in the State House, President Buhari commended the 44 recipients of the awards, which include former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. “Today, I am happy to have the opportunity to recognize 44 persons and organizations who have distinguished themselves across many sectors of the government and indeed, the economy. “I am particularly happy to recognize His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck...

ABU Zaria Reopens October 24 Sequel to the suspension of the eight-month-old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has scheduled the resumption of academic activities for October 24, 2022 The university’s director of public affairs, Mallam Auwal Umar, made the disclosure in a press statement he issued yesterday. He said the Senate of the university approved the resumption date at its 516th (emergency) meeting. Umar said the Senate also approved the university’s revised academic calendar for the 2021/2022 session. He said the calendar earlier approved by the Senate at its 513th (regular) meeting on November 25, 2021, had to be revised due to the strike which was called off last week by ASUU.  

GBEJI ATTACKS IN BENUE: SEN. SUSWAM TOURS AFFECTED COMMUNITIES In line with his commitment to give his people effective representation the Senator representing Benue North East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Gabriel Suswam has toured all communities attacked in Gbeji today. He commiserated with them over the unfortunate incidence of attacks that engulfed some communities in his senatorial district. The condolence visit and assessment tour of the affected communities took him to Ukum and Logo local government areas within his senatorial district of Benue North East where he commiserated with them over the incidences and donated over 100 bags of rice and financial support to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims. By Zendesha Aondoaseer One more photo below. 

NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS (NSCDC). LAGOS STATE COMMAND. PRESS RELEASE.  FRIDAY, 21ST OCTOBER, 2022. LAGOS COMMAND ANTI - VANDAL UNIT AGAIN INTERCEPTS DRUG DEALERS, RECOVERS ONE HUNDRED AND ONE BAGS OF CANABIS SATIVA OF 5OKG EACH. Commandant Eweka, gives credit of operational success to the synergy, between the Commandant General, NSCDC and the Chairman of NDLEA. In line with the renewed and re - invigorated efforts of the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, Commandant of Corps (CC) Edenabu Okoro Eweka, msc, acma, cna, against all forms of economic sabotage and other kinds of criminality, in Lagos State, the Anti - Vandal Unit, of the Lagos State Command, ably led by its Head of Unit (HOU), Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Musa Abdullahi Jibrin, who were always on constant routine surveillance and patrol, again, at the wee hours, of Thursday, 20th October, 2022, intercepted five drug dealers, on the high sea, close to ...

A message of condolence from His Majesty The King to the President of Nigeria. Your Excellency, Dear Mr President, I wanted you to know how deeply saddened both my wife and I are to hear of the many people who have lost their loved ones and whose lives have been so dreadfully affected as a consequence of the devastating floods across Nigeria.  We remember with the greatest affection our visits to Nigeria and the kindness of the people we met. However inadequate this may be under such tragic circumstances, our most heartfelt sympathy is with all those who have suffered so much, and our thoughts are with those working to support the recovery efforts.  I know that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Nigeria as you recover from these truly terrible events.  Charles R.  

EFCC Arrests Two Suspected Currency Counterfeiters with Fake $270,000 in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested two suspected currency counterfeiters: Johnson Olumoyegun and Tanko Abubakar, in Abuja. They were arrested on Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7, 2022 in Kubwa and Area 3 Axis of Abuja, with fake $270,000 (Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars). In addition, Olumoyegun impersonated an officer of the Commission, using a fake EFCC ID card with the name Solomon David. He also carried an ECOWAS Passport with the name, Isa Bello. The two suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. More photos below.   

Nigeria Customs Service Partners Wildlife Justice Commission to End Wildlife Trafficking  As part of the effort to mitigate illicit Wildlife trade and trafficking, Nigeria Customs Service in partnership with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) organised an awareness exercise centred on expertise, experience and best practice to combat transnational wildlife trafficking networks in Nigeria. The maiden edition which focused on, one of the objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office in enhancing the capacity of officers and men of the service as well as all critical stakeholders in fighting environmental crime, to achieve sustainability and improve competence, was chaired by the Nigeria Customs Service Legal Adviser, Smart Akande and held at the Wildlife office in Customs training college, Ikeja, Lagos for Nigeria Customs Service Prosecutors drawn from various Commands covering Airport, Seaport and Land borders.  According to Smart Akande, the essence of...

ONLY AUTHORISED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO ENFORCE PHYSICAL PLANNING LAWS - LASG The Lagos State Government has restated that only Government Agencies empowered by law are authorised to carry out physical planning enforcement exercises across the State. The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins made this known in Alausa on Thursday while reacting to reports in the media of the inauguration of an enforcement team by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) during the conference of the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) held the previous day. Bamgbose-Martins explained that the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 as amended clearly vested the responsibility to regulate the built environment of the State in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and its Agencies whilst the Government had not ceded the responsibility to any group or  Individuals He, therefore, urged st...

ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT HAS ARRESTED A MAN FOR ABUSING HIS SON. By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu Blessing Austin Nweke One Mr. Okwudili Ikediobi from Obiofia Nnewichi, Umuezize in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state has been arrested by the Nnewi Central Police Station.  The case was immediately transferred to Police State CID, Awka for further investigation and from where he will be arraigned in court in the shortest possible time. The said suspect is the father of the 15 years old boy from Nnewi with major hand and leg injuries.  The 15 years old was rescued by Hon. Ify. Obinabo, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in September through the assistance of some social workers. The victim explained that he was usually tied to the protector and tortured severely after he drank a left over tea of his step brother. Mr. Okwudili Ikediobi was found hiding inside the ceiling when men of the Nigeria Police came to arrest him, although he was violent and resisted arrest but wa...

Halloween, contraction of All Hallows’ Eve, a holiday observed on October 31, the evening before All Saints’ (or All Hallows’) Day. The celebration marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints and initiates the season of Allhallowtide, which lasts three days and concludes with All Souls’ Day. In much of Europe and most of North America, observance of Halloween is largely nonreligious. Halloween is celebrated on Monday, October 31, 2022. Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. On the day corresponding to November 1 on contemporary calendars, the new year was believed to begin. That date was considered the beginning of the winter period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld. Pe...