Former United States President and Republican Party candidate in the upcoming election, Donald Trump, has revealed that billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, donates $45 million to his campaign fund monthly.
Trump disclosed this while speaking at a recent rally in Michigan.
“Elon [Musk] endorsed me the other day, and I read, I didn’t even know this, he didn’t even tells me about this but he gives me $45 million a month.
“I just talked to him a while ago that I was coming here and he didn’t even mention it. I mean, other guys, they give you $2 and you gotta to take them to lunch, you gotta wine and dine them. No, this [Elon Musk] is a great guy. He really is.”
Newspot recalls that President Joe Biden accused Elon Musk and other billionaires of trying to “buy” electoral victory for Trump days before he steeped down as the Democratic Party’s candidate.
[Newspot]
Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, says one of his friends who started investing abroad four years ago, has been taunting him over the back and forth with the government in recent times.
Dangote has been having issues with the government over his refinery project in Lagos.
He had earlier narrated how a cabal was blocking his moves to import crude and how it has been difficult to get products, slowing down operations.
But last week, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the Nigerian government was yet to license the Dangote refinery to begin operations in the country.
Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer (CEO) of NMDPRA, disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the state House on Thursday.
According to Ahmed, the claims of ongoing efforts to scuttle the operations of Dangote refinery due to lack of supply of crude oil by International Oil Companies were not true, adding that the refinery was still at the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet.
Ahmed added that the diesel product of Dangote was below international standard, a claim which the businessman refuted during an interactive session at the weekend.
In an interview with online newspaper, PREMIUM TIMES, Dangote narrated how a friend whom he tried to talk into being patriotic about Nigeria is now taunting him.
“Four years ago, one of my very wealthy friends began to invest his money abroad. I disagreed with him and urged him to rethink his action in the interest of his country. He blamed his action on policy inconsistencies and shenanigans of interest groups. That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right,” Dangote was quoted to have said.
He emphasised that he invested in the project to help solve a major issue in the country, wondering why some persons were working against him.
“As you probably know, I am 67 years old, in less than three years, I will be 70. I need very little to live the rest of my life. I can’t take the refinery or any other property or asset to my grave. Everything I do is in the interest of my country.”
“We have been facing fuel crisis since the 70s. This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery.
“This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery. At least the country will have high-quality products and create jobs,” he added.
The 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery, which came to life last year after a decade of prolonged construction, cost $19 billion, more than double the initial estimate, promising to help wean Africa’s biggest oil producer off its reliance on fuel from overseas and save up 30 per cent of the total foreign exchange spent on importing goods.
[DailyTrust]
The Nigerian government said the era of buying Premium Motor Spirit, known as fuel between N750 to N1000 per liter, is over as it will commission 30,000 Compressed Natural Gas powered vehicles in the next 90 days.
The Project Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this during the Park to Park CNG Mobilisation program held at the Ojota Park in Lagos on Saturday.
He said the initiative is expected to gulp N36 billion for 30,000 CNG conversion kits for distribution free of charge nationwide within the period.
The kits and the conversion costs were valued at the rate of N1.2m per vehicle, making a total of N36bn within the next three months.
He stressed that the move was to ensure the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel for transportation.
“Today, we are here with conversion kits. We have bought over 30,000 of these kits, mainly for distribution in the next 90 days.
“The President has told us that this is not just to end with 30,000 kits, the target is one million kits. We want to make sure all of you can benefit from this government initiative,” he stated.
“The era of buying N750, N800, or N1,000/liter fuel is over. We are not doing that again. We will start using the gas under our feet so that we can buy it at N230/kg,” he stated.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to procure CNG-powered vehicles as palliative to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
United States Democratic Party presidential hopeful Kamala Harris on Sunday kicked off fundraising activities to succeed President Joe Biden.
Biden dropped off the race on Sunday morning.
Harris, who is the Vice President and Biden’s anointed, sent messages to Americans calling for donations to her campaign.
In the message, Harris confirmed she was running to be President of the United States and said it has been the honour of a lifetime to serve alongside Biden.
She described Biden as “one of the finest public servants we will ever know”.
She said she is honoured to have Biden’s support and endorsement.
“And I am eager to run on the record of what Joe and I have accomplished together. We built our country back after our predecessor left it in shambles — making historic progress in reducing prescription drug costs, upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, fighting climate change, and more. We are stronger today because we took action — together — to invest in America’s future.
“I am excited to continue to work toward our vision for a better future for all. If that’s all you need to hear, then make your first donation to fund my campaign today,” Harris added.
[TheNation]
Veteran highlife singer, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, has been moved to tears by the unexpected resurgence of his 1983 song, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche”.
The song, which had been largely forgotten over the years, gained new life after skit maker, Brain Jotter used it in one of his videos, creating a catchy dance move that synchronises with the music.
The song has since gone viral, garnering over 659,000 likes on Instagram and an impressive 11 million views on TikTok.
Its popularity has transcended borders, with the song being used in content from Nigeria to Asian countries.
The viral sensation has prompted content creators to pay homage to Mike Ejeagha, with one Tiktoker, @anyigoldtv, presenting him with an envelope containing money and sharing the achievement of his new song.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the aged singer broke down in tears, clearly touched by the unexpected revival of his music and the appreciation from a new generation of fans.
The Lagos State Government has denied media reports that from October 2024, it would charge churches and worshippers in the state, who park vehicles on designated streets around places of worship.
In a letter addressed to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State branch, the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) had informed the religious body that vehicles parked by churches and members on designated streets will be charged hourly.
The agency noted that indiscriminately parked vehicles will be enforced upon accordingly.
“I am directed to inform your revered organisation that LASPA will be commencing its on-street parking scheme at designated streets within the Lagos State metropolis.
“In view of this, I am using this medium to inform your eminence, that vehicles parked on designated streets by the church and its members, will be charged hourly and indiscriminately parked vehicles will be enforced upon accordingly.
“Consequently, we advise that this piece of information be adhered to as a law-abiding organisation,” the letter dated July 19 and signed by the Head of Operations of LASPA, Ayokunle Akinrinmisi, stated.
But in a statement, LASPA’s General Manager, Adebisi Adelabu, said the state is not imposing parking fees on churches or worshippers for parking on streets around religious houses.
According to her, LASPA is rather implementing the Lagos State Parking Policy to mitigate parking induced traffic congestion across the state.
“To clarify the matter, LASPA wishes to emphasize that this information is inaccurate and does not reflect the true intent of our communication. The Lagos State government is not imposing parking fees on churches or worshippers for parking on streets around religious institutions. Rather, LASPA is implementing the Lagos State Parking Policy to mitigate parking induced traffic congestion across the state.
“Like many other major cities worldwide facing similar challenges, Lagos is experiencing a high demand for parking spaces that exceeds available supply. Therefore, we are adopting a regulated on-street parking model to better manage parking resources efficiently,” Adelabu said.
She explained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had early this year approved the introduction of regulated on-street parking, which was announced during a stakeholder’s forum held in February.
The LASPA boss stated that the state government has mapped roads for onstreet parking across major zones such as Ikeja, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki, adding that the letters sent to religious institutions were to notify them of their respective roles and the financial aspects of utilizing these designated parking lots.
“As part of our efforts to inform stakeholders, including religious organizations who were adequately represented at the forum, about the upcoming implementation in October, LASPA communicated with umbrella bodies representing these groups. One of such correspondences was referenced in a news release making the rounds.
“It is important to clarify that no specific religious group is being singled out by this policy. Our aim is to ensure all stakeholders are informed and prepared for the implementation of the regulated on-street parking scheme.
“Additionally, Lagos State Government has designated and lane-marked suitable roads for onstreet parking across major zones such as Ikeja, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki, creating approximately 1800 additional parking slots.
“The communication sent to religious institutions serves to notify them of their respective roles and the financial aspects of utilizing these designated parking lots. The management of these facilities will be overseen by concessionaires under the regulation of the Lagos State Parking Authority,” Adelabu added.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has demanded for an increase in the lump sum payment on retirement to 50 percent under the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, to enable retirees begin a comfortable retirement life.
This is as NLC raised several questions agitating the minds of retiring workers.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, at a programme on retirement in Abuja,said “Many Questions fill the minds of workers as they retire ; such as will my pension be paid immediately after I leave service? What will I survive on after my last salary in service? What will the real value of my pension be in terms of purchasing power? Will it be sufficient to cover my basic needs? Will I receive it regularly as expected? Will it be adjusted to keep pace with inflation to maintain its value?
“Will my pensions be sufficient to service my mortgage? Will my health challenges be sufficiently addressed by my pensions? etc These are fears that our pension system should address, yet, unfortunately, it often exacerbates them. Retirement, which should be a period of joy and rest, is too often perceived as a daunting prospect as a result of some of these.
“Nigerian Workers before and at retirement are confronted with life-changing challenges which include; Inadequate Pension Benefits Many retirees face, insufficient pension payments that fail to meet basic living expenses, Inflation and rising living costs erode the value of fixed pension incomes over time.
“For example, those who had saved up to N10 million in their Retirement Savings Account, RSA, before 2023 have seen this value dropped to around N3 million in real terms – a situation that is unacceptable. Pension schemes often lack proper indexation to adjust for cost of living increases due to inflation.
“Delayed Pension Payments; Inconsistent Policy Implementation and paucity of Support for Informal economy still persist thus necessitating the need for inclusive policies that integrate informal workers into the pension system.
“We demand the strengthening and reforming of the pension systems to ensure timely and adequate payments, make Pension governance more transparent to reduce looting.
“There is the need to introduce policies to index pension benefits to inflation and cost of living, expand social support systems to include affordable healthcare, housing, and community services, enhance financial literacy programs for retirees to help them manage their funds better.
“There should be policies to integrate informal sector workers into the pension framework, streamline and standardize pension policy implementation across all sectors and regions.
“More importantly there is urgent need to increase the percentage of lump sum payment on retirement to 50 percent and expand the investment windows available beyond housing via mortgage arrangements to allow for more investment options for workers to use their RSAs while in service.”
Mr. Biden’s decision came four months before the country’s 2024 presidential election.
Joe Biden’s campaign has been thrust into pressure, as panic and worry about his election chances pour in from the highest levels of the Democratic party.
Below are some incidents and people who called for his withdrawal:
According to BBC, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had expressed concerns in private to Mr Biden about his candidacy.
His former running mate, former President Barack Obama, had reportedly said Mr Biden’s chances of winning the election have greatly diminished.
Why Biden should leave the race
On why he should quit, US senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat said it was time for Biden to “to pass the torch to a new generation”. Leaving the race, Manchin said, would allow Biden to focus on issues the president cared about, including helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion and ending Israel’s war on Gaza.
“He will go down with a legacy unlike many people, as one of the finest and truly a [patriotic] American,” Manchin said. “So, with that, I come with a heavy heart to think the time has come for him to pass the torch to a new generation,” he said during an interview on ABC’s This Week.
Similarly, a 6 July letter from high-ranking congressman Jamie Raskin, a Maryland representative, compared the president to a baseball pitcher whose arm has “tired out”.
Mr Biden, 81, has repeatedly and defiantly declared he is “not going anywhere”, urging his party to refocus on the task of defeating Donald Trump.
But the calls to exit are nearing a crescendo as Democratic politician, donors and voters speak out against the president’s candidacy.
Who wants Biden to go
Lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol came out in growing numbers against the idea of Mr Biden staying in the race.
It began five days after the June 27 debate with Lloyd Doggett, a 15-term Texas congressman, who said that it was time for Mr Biden to “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw”.
Mr Doggett, 77, who sits on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said he respected “all that President Biden has achieved” but that the Democrat had failed to “effectively defend his many accomplishments” on the debate stage.
Only three members of the Senate publicly called for Mr Biden to drop out. They are Peter Welch of Vermont, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Montana’s Jon Tester, who is fighting for re-election.
They have been joined by House colleagues including the likes of Adam Schiff, California’s likely next senator, and several members in tight re-election races of their own. The others are:
Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Mike Quigley of Illinois, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Adam Smith of Washington, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Pat Ryan of New York, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Hillary Scholten of Michigan, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Ed Case of Hawaii, Greg Stanton of Arizona, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Scott Peters of California, Eric Sorensen of Illinois, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, Mike Levin of California, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, Jim Costa of California, Sean Casten of Illinois, Jared Huffman of California, Marc Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Greg Landsman of Ohio, Zoe Lofgren of California.
Biden quits presidential race
President Joe Biden bowed to pressure yesterday and withdrew from the United States Presidential race.
He made the announcement on his X platform (former Twitter).
‘Heartfelt appreciation’
In his statement, President Biden thanked his Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she was an “extraordinary partner”.
“And let me express my heartfelt appreciation for the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me,” his statement added.
“I believe today and always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”
He wrote that he would address the nation on the matter next week.
Last week he returned to his home in Delaware after being diagnosed with Covid, but said on Friday he was looking forward to “getting back on the campaign trail next week”.
He has previously said only the “Lord Almighty” could make him withdraw, but then later said he would consider withdrawing if he had a health condition.
Responding on his Truth Social platform, Republican nominee Donald Trump said that Joe Biden “was not fit to run for President”
Biden endorses Kamala Harris as Democratic presidential nominee
In another development President Biden has endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris as Democratic presidential nominee.
In his statement Biden said: “My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this”.
Biden wasn’t fit to run — Trump
Reacting to Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump said his former opponent was “not fit to run.”
Trump, in a statement, said: “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was.
“All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t.
“We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. Make America great again.”
THE Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Owo in Ondo State, Revd Stephen Fagbemi, has lamented that the economic challenges in the country have left Nigerians in pain and frustration just as he urged President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency intensify efforts to address the security challenge and economic hardship facing Nigerians.
He stated this in his Charge delivered during the third session of the 14th Synod of the Church held at St Stephen’s Church, Ipele in Owo local government area of the state.
The cleric noted that the effects of the current economic hardship are real and painful.
Fagbemi said: “Unless urgent and effective steps are taken to curtail the effects of the current economic situation in the country, Nigeria may witness an uncontrollable rise in crime.
“Nigeria has become a harder place to live in as evident in the fact that many people are leaving the country for greener pastures while many are finding themselves in difficult situations where they fled to.
“Nigeria and its people have encountered acute economic hardship within the past year owing to the sudden removal of petroleum subsidy and due to devaluation and instability of the foreign exchange.
“The resultant effects of these actions are the harsh economic reality that Nigerians are facing daily. Inflation is almost out of control and prices of goods and commodities have risen astronomically.
“It has become hard for people to feed their families. Perhaps only very few wealthy individuals can claim to be comfortable at the moment.
“We urge our government to work harder at diversifying our economy. Already it is evident that unemployment is very high, as so many graduates are walking about without any job or means of livelihood. This makes the future look bleak and hopeless for many.”
He noted that despite the economic quagmire, Nigeria has continued to borrow while “the political class is not undergoing any serious economic adjustment as their monthly take-home which is humongous is a shameless inconsideration of the plight of their electorate.”
Josephine Adeh, police public relations officer (PPRO) in the FCT, has lamented that “the rate at which Nigerian men break women’s hearts is saddening”.
The FCT police PRO expressed her displeasure over failed relationships in Nigeria via a post on X.
Adeh said most of the cases she is attending to lately are related to women being jilted by men — although she did not provide sufficient information to back her claim.
She described the situation as “distasteful” while urging men not to “get into a relationship if you don’t want anything serious”.
“It’s distasteful to lead a woman on and then break her heart. The rate at which men are doing this is saddening. Most of the calls I receive these days are from women sharing their experiences in tears. Men, please, don’t start a relationship if you don’t want anything serious,” she wrote.
Also airing his opinion via the tweet’s comment section, Bright Edafe, the Delta state police PRO, claimed most ladies go into relationships with “too many expectations”. He also argued that women who date internet fraudsters are bound to be jilted.
“I feel women gets into relationships with too much expectation. Most women are not ready to invest in men. Already made men. And secondly, if you are in a relationship with a Yahoo boy, forget it, you are single. Meanwhile, you know I can’t break your heart sha,” he wrote.
Media
It’s distasteful to lead a woman on and then break her heart. The rate at which men are doing this is saddening. Most of the calls I receive these days are from women sharing their experiences in tears. Men, please, don't start a relationship if you don't want anything serious.? pic.twitter.com/dNSBeFLAEr
— SP JOSEPHINE ADEH PPRO FCT (@Jossy_Dannyking) July 20, 2024
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Paris Olympics supremo Tony Estanguet said Sunday that the city was “ready” for the Games as he played down complaints from some residents and businesses about the impact of the event.
“We are ready as we head into the final phase,” Estanguet told a press conference in Paris, five days from the opening ceremony next Friday.
He added: “For as long as the closing ceremony hasn’t finished, we need to remain vigilant. But today we are exactly where we would have dreamed of being a few years ago.”
Finishing touches are being applied to the venues across the City of Light and thousands of athletes and officials are pouring in, while the weather has brightened up after months of rain.
In a further boost for organisers, the water quality of the river Seine — which is set to be used for outdoor Olympics swimming events — has also improved dramatically since the start of July.
“All the indicators for the Seine are positive at this stage,” Estanguet added.
The river is set to host the opening ceremony which will see 6,000-7,000 athletes sail down it on 85 barges and boats.
It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, with up to 300,000 ticketed spectators set to watch from stands and on the river banks and another 200,000 expected to watch from the overlooking apartments.
Around 4,000 tickets are still available for the ceremony, Estanguet said.
“We’ve always tried to maintain as high a level of ambition as possible so that these Games make France shine,” Estanguet added.
‘Disruption’
The vast security operation for the opening ceremony is causing some friction, however, with large parts of central Paris along the banks of the river and around Olympic venues off-limits for most people.
Trade groups representing Paris shops, restaurants, bars and clubs complained on Friday that they were facing an “unprecedented slump in business and footfall”, blaming in part the “heavy security measures”.
“It was always a choice made in full conscience that the success of Paris 2024 would mean having the Games in the city,” Estanguet explained. “That was the completely unprecedented concept for Paris 2024.”
As well as the opening ceremony in the heart of the city, much of the sport is set to take place at temporary venues around Paris, with beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, archery at the Invalides and skateboarding at the Place de la Concorde.
“We can’t do it without some disruption. We can’t do it without some restrictions,” Estanguet said.
He thanked “those who have understood this because it’s really to honour our country in the most beautiful way.”
Around 45,000 members of the French security forces are set to be on duty on Friday when the Olympics kick off at 7:30pm (1730 GMT).
“Security was the number one priority for Paris 2024,” Estanguet said.
Cybersecurity is also a major concern, with a global IT outage last Friday caused by an update to CrowdStrike software leading to temporary disruption to accreditation system for the Games.
The International Olympic Committee has said it is bracing for disinformation attacks targeting the Paris Games following recent incidents blamed on Russia, in response to a near-ban on Russian athletes because of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
In another development, a major French Jewish group on Sunday slammed a hard-left MP for saying Israeli athletes were not welcome in Paris because of the war in Gaza.
Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (Crif), said on X that France Unbowed (LFI) lawmaker Thomas Portes was “putting a target on the backs of Israeli athletes”.
Portes had said at a rally in support of Palestinians that “Israeli sportspeople are not welcome at the Paris Olympic Games”.
Opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza featured heavily in his party’s campaign for European elections last month.
Arfi said Israeli athletes were “already the most in danger at the Olympic Games”, recalling the 11 “murdered by Palestinian terrorists” at the 1972 Munich Games.
The territory’s Hamas-run health ministry said Sunday that almost 39,000 people had been killed in the fighting, which was sparked by the bloody October 7 attacks by Hamas.
The Appeal Court Lagos Division has dismissed the appeal of a Denmark national, Peter Nielsen, who was sentenced to death for killing his Nigerian wife, Zainab and daughter, Petra Nielsen.
The appellate court upheld the conviction of Nielsen by the trial court and dismissed his appeal for lack of merit.
When the case was called on Friday, Mr Adebayo Haroun, leading Jubril Kareem, announced his appearance for the respondent, while Mr A.D Taiwo Nsirim with Tochukwu Amaefule, appeared for the appellant.
Delivering the judgment, the appeal court held that the respondent (Lagos State) proved the offence of murder against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.
It resolved the appeal in favour of the respondent and dismissed the appellant’s case.
The appellate court held, “The corroborative evidence of DNA also strengthened the circumstantial evidence against the appellant.
“There was no proof of breaking into the apartment as suggested by the appellant.
“The missing exhibits as a result of the #EndSARS attack on the court do not affect the defence of the appellant as he had ample opportunity before the attack on the court. The findings of the forensic examiner corroborate the evidence of the children.”
Nielsen was found guilty and convicted of the murder of Zainab and Petra, by Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile,(retd.), of the Lagos State High Court, at the Tafawa Balewa Square.
Okikiolu-Ighile, in her judgment delivered on May 20, 2022, held that Nielsen smothered Zainab and Petra Nielsen to death.
She ruled, “He was the one who killed Zainab, and Petra Nielsen. Zainab had already predicted her death when she told their driver that this man would kill her. She told her stepfather, Chris Madaki, when she went to Abuja that this man would kill her.”
The judge also held that the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) that on April 5, 2018, at 4:10 am, she saw Peter Nielsen beating and hitting Zainab’s head on the floor collaborated with the oral evidence of Prof John Obafunwa (PW4).
The judge held, “It is the judgment of the court that you, Peter Nielsen, is found guilty of the murder of Zainab and Petra Nielsen on April 5, 2018.
“I hereby pronounce that you Peter Nielsen shall be hanged by the neck till death. May God have mercy on you,” she said.
Justice Okikiolu-Ighile found him guilty of counts one and two of murder preferred against him by Lagos state.
She held that the oral and documentary evidence before the court showed that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nielsen killed his wife and daughter.
“This is one of the cases of domestic violence. The DNA analysis of nail scraping brought out the assailant of Zainab.
“Zainab tried so much to defend herself. The evidence shows that Peter Nielsen killed his wife and daughter.
“There is evidence before the court that there is a fight between Peter Nielsen and his wife,” the judge held.
She held that Prosecution Witnesses (PW5 and PW6) testified that they heard Zainab calling Mimi (one of the girls living with the couple) for help and they heard Zainab telling Nielsen to check her phone but he kept hitting her head.
“The act of Nielsen shows that he suffocated his wife and daughter.
“Nielsen has always domestically abused his wife which was shown in the police extract from the Ikoyi Police Station.
“She didn’t know that her marriage to the convict was void abi nitio because Peter was already married in Denmark.
However, on the issue of the nightgown worn by Zainab on the night she died, the judge expunged the evidence.
She said that the pathologist who analysed the DNA on the nightgown was thoroughly examined and cross-examined by the defence.
The judge, however, said that on October 20, 2020, the High Court of Lagos was vandalised and burnt, during the #EndSARS protest which affected the nightgown, a jumpsuit, towel and pants worn by Zainab and Petra.
The judge, however, said that the contention of the convict was not for cross-examination but for them to take the items for DNA examination for their case.
“It is trite law that all documentary evidence must be scrutinised but the defence argued that the convict didn’t have the opportunity to produce his examination.
“The defence made an application to expunge such items from the evidence.
“I have considered the application, exhibits, PWN (Zainab’s nightgown, Petra’s jumpsuit, towel and pants) is hereby expunged,” she said.
But dissatisfied with the judgment Nielsen approached the appeal court to challenge his conviction.
Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018, on two counts of murder.
He pleaded not guilty, to the two counts of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, following which trial commenced.
The Lagos State Government accused Nielsen, now 57, of smothering Zainab and their daughter Petra Nielsen, to death at about 3:45 am, on April 5, 2018, at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
When the trial commenced, the prosecution called nine witnesses and closed their case on September 20, 2019.
The defence opened its case and also called nine witnesses with the
convict as the ninth witness.
On Saturday, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afam Osigwe won the presidential election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Osigwe, was called to the Bar in 1999, who is set to become the 32nd NBA president when the outgoing president, Yakubu Maikyau, completes his two-year tenure in August.
Mr. Osigwe, a former General Secretary of the NBA from 2014 to 2016, secured 20,435 votes, more than half of the total ballots cast for the presidential position, defeating his two rivals. Tobenna Ikwuazom came in a distant second with 10,998 votes, while another SAN, Chukwuka Ikuazom, who withdrew from the race midway through the election on Saturday, came third with 9,018 votes.
The election was restricted to eligible candidates from the Eastern Bar of the NBA, as it was their turn under the association’s zoning arrangement to fill the position for the next two years.
He is taking over from Maikyau who represents the Northern Bar. The other regional bars within the NBA are the Western Bar and the Mid-Western Bar, which many still see as part of the Western Bar.
What you should know about Osigwe
The new NBA President-elect, Afam Osigwe, was born on October 25, 1972. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1997 and was called to the Bar in 1999. He began his legal career with Chike Chigbue and Co., Abuja Office in 1999, and left in 2002 to establish his firm, LAW FORTE (Legal Practitioners, Corporate Consultants, and Notary Public). In 2006, he became a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In 2010, Osigwe completed a face-to-face tutorial at Keble College, Oxford, earning a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration. He became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2011. In 2007, he obtained a Master’s of Laws Degree (LL.M) from the University of Jos, and he also holds another LL.M in Transnational Commercial Practice from the Centre for International Legal Studies, Austria, in collaboration with Lazarski University, Poland.
Osigwe has acted as counsel in numerous arbitral proceedings and has served as a sole arbitrator or member of arbitral tribunals in commercial disputes. He is an avid reader and researcher.
Osigwe was the last person to hold office as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch (Unity Bar), covering the entire Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. During his tenure, the Bwari and Gwagwalada Branches were created.
By consent of the chairmen of the Bwari and Gwagwalada Branches, he became the first Chairman of Chairmen of NBA Branches in the FCT in 2012. He was sworn in as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association in August 2014 and held that position until his tenure ended on August 26, 2016.
Mr. Osigwe, who campaigned to tackle corruption in the Bar and on the bench, is expected to revive the NBA’s traditional role of holding public officers accountable.
The inauguration of the new president and other national officers is scheduled to take place during the NBA 2024 Annual Conference in Lagos between 23 and 28 August.
[TNG]
Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe revealed that his attempt to break into the industry was met with failure, leaving him jobless from November 2012 to November 2013 without a single movie role offer. When he finally started landing roles, the pay was meager, ranging from N1,000 to N10,000, and even a humiliating "thank you for coming" at one point.
Arukwe shared his struggles, saying, "I worked in various industries, including telecoms, retail, and sports. However, I was fired from Etisalat in 2012, a fact I haven't even shared with my mother. As the team leader, I took the fall for a departmental mishap. Five years later, when I hoped to become a manager, I was instead demoted to a specialist role."
He continued, "I tried to transition into film in 2012, but progress was slow. Between November 2012 and December 2013, I only landed a single stage drama gig, courtesy of Seyi Babatope. For an entire year, I was jobless and received no film offers. It was a bleak period."
Arukwe added, "I considered returning to my previous career, dusted off my certificate, and eventually secured another job. I spent five more years in the corporate world before deciding to pursue acting full-time in April 2018. My first gig with Iroko came on August 28, 2018, a time when I was broke and struggling. It was so dire that I found myself saying prayers at noon."