Foreign / Military / News

Ukraine launches operations to flush Russian Military out of Kiev

The Ukrainian military said it has launched operations to flush the Russian military out of the outskirts of the capital, Kiev.

The head of the regional military administration of Kiev, Oleksandr Pavlyuk confirmed that there was “resistance from the enemy.”

“Russians were moving around their units,” Pavlyuk added.

He said he could not divulge any details as operations are ongoing. He called the situation in Kiev region difficult but “controllable,” adding that it was difficult to make any prognoses.

Pavlyuk said the road to the western city of Zhytomyr and the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel north-west of the capital, near the Kiev city limits, are most at risk, as is Makariv to the west.

Shelling reported at north of the capital, he added.…

Foreign / News

Netflix suspends service in Russia amid Ukraine invasion

Netflix has moved to suspend its streaming service in Russia following President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to multiple reports, the streamer announced that it would suspend all future projects, acquisitions and now all of its services in Russia in a bid to protest the war spearheaded by the country.

“Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia,” a spokesperson for Netflix said in a recent interview.

Prior to the latest move, Netflix had confirmed four new Russian originals including a crime thriller series directed by Russian filmmaker Dasha Zhuk. The series which had began principal photography was put on hold.

Although relatively new in Russia (the streaming platform launched in 2016 with an estimated 1 million subscribers), the latest move joins other global corporate bodies as well as film studios who have in recent weeks moved to boycott the country amid the ongoing war.

Companies including Microsoft and Apple announced that they were suspending activities in the country even as they continue to face sanctions.

…
Foreign / News

Ukraine is Europe’s ‘fastest growing refugee’ crisis since WWII

The number of people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has topped 1.5 million, making it Europe’s fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II, the United Nations said on Sunday.

“More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in 10 days,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grande tweeted.

The UN described the outflow as “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”. On Saturday it had reported that nearly 1.37 million refugees had fled.

The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also expressed grave concern at the worsening humanitarian situation.

“@WHO has confirmed several attacks on health care in #Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Additional reports are being investigated,” Tedros tweeted.

“Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law.”

The WHO said on Sunday it had deployed staff to Moldova, Poland and Romania “to scale up (the) response capacities of its country offices, including operations, engagement with partners and support to the (Ukrainian) government for the health response”.

The body said it had also mobilised logistics to set up an operational hub in neighbouring Poland and help secure land corridors “to facilitate rapid movement of supplies to affected populations”.

It added a second shipment of health supplies was on its way to Poland, following a first shipment on Thursday that included trauma and emergency health supplies.

The WHO had earlier condemned a slew of verified reports of attacks on health care in Ukraine.

UN officials said they expected the wave of refugees to intensify further as the Russian army pressed its offensive, particularly toward the Ukranian capital Kyiv.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, a total of 922,400 people have fled Ukraine to Poland, Polish border guards said on Sunday.

Hungary, Moldova, Romanian and Slovakia have also seen Ukrainian refugees arrive.…

Church / Foreign / News

Primate Ayodele to Putin: The war will end but you won’t go scot-free

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, following the invasion of Ukraine that happened a week ago.

The man of God revealed this in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, in the early hours of Friday.

Ayodele made it known that Putin will not go scot-free because he has resisted God’s warning to put an end to the crisis.

It would be recalled that Primate Ayodele warned the president few days after the invasion that he should end the war because he foresees an assassination attempt on his life. Unfortunately, Putin has not put an end to the war, causing more destruction in Ukraine as against the warnings sent to him by the man of God.

In this fresh warning, Primate Ayodele noted that plans to assassinate President Putin is underway because he didn’t listen to God.

He also revealed that a Russian soldier will be used to execute the plans.

He said: “President Vladimir Putin of Russia has gone against God’s warnings.

“I warned him to put an end to the invasion of Ukraine but he didn’t listen.

“Just like pharaoh whose heart was hardened against God’s children but perished, Putin will not go scot-free.

“I still insist that this war will not lead to Third World War.

“It will come to an end but President Putin will not go scot-free.

“A Russian soldier will be used to execute the plans to take his life.”…

Foreign / News / politics

Ukraine War: 427 stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

No fewer than 427 Nigerians based in the troubled Ukraine arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja Friday morning.

They arrived en route Romania on Maxi air.

It was gathered that the Federal Government will give each of them $100.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday approved over $5m to effect the immediate evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Ukraine which has been over week invaded by Russia.…

Foreign / News / Security

Mutinous Russian troops argue about orders to bomb civilian areas

Russian soldiers taking part in the invasion of Ukraine are in “complete disarray”, according to voice recordings obtained by a British intelligence company.

The intercepted radio messages indicate that troops are refusing to obey central command orders to shell Ukrainian towns and are complaining about running out of supplies of food and fuel.

The recordings are among around 24 hours of material obtained by intelligence firm ShadowBreak since the invasion of Ukraine began last week.

In one of the eavesdropped conversations, listened to by The Telegraph, a soldier reportedly sounded as though he was crying. In another, a soldier was heard losing his temper when asking when food or fuel would arrive.

He said: “We’ve been here for three days! When the hell is it going to be ready?”

A third message revealed a tense exchange in which the same soldier had to remind a colleague speaking from a command centre that they could not use artillery on an area until civilians – who were labelled “the goods” – had left.

ShadowBreak’s founder Samuel Cardillo, 26, told The Telegraph he had been sent the messages by amateurs listening in with antennas.

He said: “What we have found is that the Russian operatives are operating in complete disarray.

“They have no clue where they are going and how to really communicate with each other properly.

“There were periods where we heard them (Russian soldiers) crying in combat, a period where they were insulting each other – obviously not a sign of great morale.”

Cardillo said that some of the messages were also “proof of war crimes” because they revealed order to fire missiles into urban areas.

Other video recordings are said to show Russian soldiers retreating back into Russia after becoming frustrated, whilst a text message sent by a soldier to his mother is alleged to have said: “The only thing I want right now is to kill myself.”

In a further sign that morale may be poor, a senior US defense official told the New York Times on Tuesday that …

Drugs / Foreign / News

Abba Kyari: FG begins US extradition process as Malami files case

Nigeria has approved the request by the United States for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.

A grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the US District Court for Central District of California.

A Deputy Clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft. He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.

On Wednesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.

The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, was filed under the Extradition Act.

The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the US Embassy in Abuja.

It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.

Kyari and five other police officers are undergoing interrogation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over a cocaine deal.

Last week, a court endorsed further 14-day detention for the suspects.

In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, the AGF stated that he was satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the US such that so long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.

He added that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.

The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest …

Foreign / Military / News / politics

Russia rebels accuse Ukrainian Forces of offensive shellings

Pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine have accused government forces of shelling a village on Friday while Russian media reported more infantry and tank units were returning to their bases in contrast to Western fears of an imminent Russian invasion.

For a second consecutive day, pro-Russian separatists who have been at war with Ukraine for years said they had come under mortar and artillery fire from Ukrainian forces, according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels in the country’s east traded fresh accusations of shelling and other ceasefire violations on Friday, escalating tensions amid fears of a Russian invasion. Kyiv and the rebels blamed each other for the escalation after artillery and mortar attacks Thursday, prompting fears that Russia, which has massed over 100,000 troops near Ukrane’s borders, could get involved. The Kremlin said on Thursday it was “deeply concerned” with the flare-up in Ukraine and was watching the situation closely.

The United States said Russia was looking for a pretext for war.

Kyiv and the pro-Russian separatists have been facing off for eight years, and a ceasefire between them is routinely violated, but the intensity of fighting increased notably this week.

U.S. President Joe Biden Thursday said Russia is preparing a pretext to justify a possible attack on Ukraine, whose ambition to one day join the NATO military alliance has angered Moscow.

In Europe’s biggest security crisis in decades, Russia has massed troops, tanks, and heavy weapons on Ukraine’s borders and demanded assurances that Kyiv never joins NATO, something the Ukrainian government has refused to do.

Even so, Russia says it has no intention to invade Ukraine and accuses the West of hysteria over its military build-up, saying some of its troops have returned to bases.

Interfax news agency cited Russia’s defense ministry as saying on Friday that several Russian mechanized infantry units had returned to their bases in the regions of Dagestan and Chechnya after completing drills in Crimea.

Interfax also cited the ministry as saying that a train loaded with tanks had departed to an …

Entertainment / Foreign / Music / News

Trey Songz sued $20M over anal sex rape

According to the suit filed by the lady with alias Jane Doe, she had a consensual sexual relationship with Trey before the alleged rape on March 24, 2016.

Doe said Trey invited her to a house party in L.A., where he invited her upstairs for what she believed would be consensual sex. She claimed in the court document obtained by TMZ that “Trey repeatedly asked her if he could “get that a**” on the way upstairs … to which she says she repeatedly told him “no” and to stop asking.” “Trey’s demeanor changed upon entering the bedroom. She says he threw her to the ground, ripped her pants off, pinned her down face first and forced his penis into her anus without her consent.”

She claimed that she begged the music star to stop and tried struggling with him but was overpowered.

Doe said someone entered the room and left almost immediately as the music star continued to rape her.

She claimed she left the house after Trey finished raping her and was taken to the hospital by the Uber driver who felt she was distressed.

The music star has been accused of rape and sexual assault by several women.

The latest was a basketballer, Dylan Gonzalez who accused the singer of rape and “unbearable PTSD.”

…
Foreign / Music / News

American rapper Eve welcomes 1st child at 43

American rapper Eve Jihan Cooper has welcomed her first child with hubby Maximillion Cooper.

The music star took to her Instagram page on Thursday, February 10, 2022, where she shared a photo of her newborn son.

“Our Beautiful boy was born Feb 1st, 2022 💙 Wilde Wolf Fife Alexander Somers Cooper 💙 Words can’t describe this feeling ✨✨✨,” she captioned the photo.

The ‘Ruff Ryder’ rapper first announced that she was expecting a baby last year.

Eve and Maximillion started dating in 2010.

By 2013, the couple got engaged and tied the knot the following year.

Cooper has four children from his former marriage with Julie Brangstrup.

…
Entertainment / Foreign / Law / News

Wendy Williams needs a guardianship, ‘concerned’ bank claims

There are serious concerns by TV host Wendy Williams’ bank that she is incapacitated and needs a guardian.

According to American bank Wells Fargo in a letter sent to New York Supreme Court Judge Arlene Bluth, it requested for a hearing to determine whether Williams, who has not hosted her daytime talk show since July 2021 due to ongoing health issues, needs a professional to intervene in her affairs.

“We are concerned about [Williams’] situation. It is our hope that the Guardianship Part [of the court] will imminently appoint a temporary guardian or evaluator to review the situation and ensure that [Williams’] affairs are being properly handled,” the request read. This is coming weeks after the TV host’s lawyer had claimed that the bank refused her from accessing her accounts.

The bank has however denied preventing Williams access to her accounts.

“We deny any allegations of improper actions with respect to Ms. Williams’ accounts and are fully participating in a court process to reach a resolution that is in her best interest. The financial well-being of our clients is at the heart of everything we do,” the bank’s spokesperson said.

Williams has been off her show’s set for months following her illness.

She has been battling Graves’ disease for years.

…
Awards / Foreign / Movies

The Oscars 2022 nominations are in! Check out full list

Nominations for the 94th Academy awards are finally in! The announcement made on Tuesday, February 8, expectedly got the internet buzzing.

Surprising for most was the Lady Gaga snub for her role in Ridley Scott’s ‘House of Gucci’.

Meanwhile, Netflix’s ‘The Power of the Dog’ swept the most nominations with 12 nods including a history making nomination for Jane Campion.

The film’s director became the first woman to be nominated more than once in the best director category. (The first being ‘The Piano’).

Following closely with 10 nominations is ‘Dune’ then ‘Belfast’ and ‘West Side Story’ with seven nominations each.

Denzel Washington further extended his record as the most nominated Black actor, earning his tenth Oscar nomination for his performance in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’.

Here is a full list of nominees:

BEST PICTURE

“Belfast”

CODA”

“Don’t Look Up”

“Drive My Car”

“Dune”

“King Richard”

“Licorice Pizza”

“Nightmare Alley”

“The Power of the Dog”

“West Side Story”

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”

Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”

Judi Dench, “Belfast”

Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”

Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast”

Troy Kotsur, “CODA”

Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog”

J.K. Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”

Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

“Drive My Car”

“Flee”

“The Hand of God”

“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

“The Worst Person in the World”

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

“Audible”

“Lead Me Home”

“The Queen of Basketball”

“Three Songs for Benazir”

“When We Were Bullies”

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Ascension”

“Attica”

“Flee”

“Summer of Soul”

Writing with Fire”

ORIGINAL SONG

“King Richard”

“Encanto”

“Belfast”

“No Time to Die”

“Four Good Days”

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

“Encanto”

“Flee”

“Luca”

“The Mitchells vs. The Machine”

“Raya and the Last Dragon”

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“CODA”

“Drive My Car”

“Dune”

“The Lost Daughter”

“The Power of the Dog”

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Belfast”

“Don’t Look Up”

“King Richard”

“Licorice Pizza”

“The Worst Person in the World”

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”

Benedict Cumberbatch,

…
Foreign / News / politics

FG grants citizenship to 286 foreigners

The Federal Executive Council has granted Nigerian citizenship to 286 foreign nationals.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this known to State House Correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

Aregbesola said the successful candidates emerged out of 600 applicants. He disclosed that 208 of those approved were granted citizenship by Naturalization, while 78 others were granted citizenship by registration, and they cut across various countries of the world.

He said: “The Ministry of Interior through me presented the Advisory Committee on Nigeria citizenship approval to the Council today.

“And is the first set by the end of this first quarter or latest by the middle of the year another set will be presented to council.

“But what is it about?

“We received 600 applications from several people, foreign nationals who have been residing in Nigeria, but desirous of being Nigerians.

“These applicants are from virtually every part of the world.

“Americans, North and South Koreans, Australians, Europeans, Arabs, Asians, all over of the South Africa.

“Out of the 600 applicants, the Advisory Committee approved for the consideration of the council 280.

“Before the presentation, let me say, some agents of government scrutinized these applicants.

“The Agencies are the Department of State Services, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the state of domicile of those individuals.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government had in 2017 granted 335 foreign nationals citizenship.

Also commenting on Wednesday’s approval, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the decision as groundbreaking, especially at a time “when some Nigerians say the country is unfit to live in”.

Mohammed said: “It’s a groundbreaking memo as it will tell you because just as some people think Nigeria is not a fit and proper place to live, we have thousands of people who are applying daily all over the world from virtually every continent to be citizens of Nigeria.

“I think that is very …

Foreign / Music / News

Adele sparks engagement rumours

The music star came to the awards wearing a customized dress and the ring which drew attention.

This is coming days after she mocked rumors that her relationship with Rich Paul had crashed. “Hiya, so I’m really happy to say that I am performing at the Brits next week!! Anddddd I’ll also be popping in to see Graham for a chat on the couch while I’m in town too! I’m looking forward to it! Oh, and Rich sends his love,” she tweeted. The rumors about cracks in her relationship with Paul first broke after she cancelled her Las Vegas Caesars Palace residency at the 11th hour.

It was previously claimed Adele was heard “shouting and sobbing” on the phone to Rich during rehearsals.

The music star was married to to Simon Konecki.

Adele filed for divorce from Konecki back in September 2019 after their separation in April that same year.

Adele and Simon’s relationship and later marriage have always been kept away from the prying eyes of the public.

The former couple started dating back in 2011 even though a lot wasn’t known about their relationship.

They welcomed their only child together in 2012.

…
Foreign / Music / News

Nick Jonas and Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra welcome 1st baby via surrogate

American singer Nick Jonas and his wife Priyanka Chopra have welcomed their first child together.

The former beauty queen and actress and her hubby took to their Instagram pages on Friday, January 21, 2022, where she announced the big news.

“We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family. Thank you so much,” they wrote.

The couple did not, however, reveal the sex of their baby.

Priyanka and Nick started dating in early 2018. By July of that same year, Nick proposed to the actress.

They went on to wed in a lavish three-day celebration in December 2018 and went on to host four more wedding receptions.

…
Foreign / Music / News

Rihanna honored by Barbados after officially removing Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State

Barbados has honored music star, Rihanna, with the prestigious National Hero of Barbados award.

The award-winning music star was presented with the honor by the president of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason.

While presenting the award to the music star, the president showered accolades on her for all her achievements.

“On behalf of a grateful nation but an even prouder people, we present to the national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty. May you continue to shine like a diamond as you bring honor to your nation by your words, by your action, God bless you, my dear,” she said.

Rihanna is the 11th National Hero of Barbados. She is the second woman to ever receive the honor.

The honor comes on the heels of Barbados declaring itself the world’s newest republic, as it removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

…
Foreign / News

18-year-old Nigerian among teenagers jailed for killing 15-year-old in UK

An 18-year-old, whose name sticks out as being Nigerian, Michael Ugochukwu, has been sentenced to life in prison for being among other teenagers who killed a 15-year-old, Keon Lincoln, in a brutal manner in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

According to the report by https://www.birminghammail.co.uk, the victim was stabbed and shot by the teenagers on Linwood Road.

One of the teenagers, a 14-year-old, who fired the gunshot that eventually called attention to the scene of the crime, also has an African name: Yussuf Mustapha. According to the newspaper, Mustapha blasted Lincoln with a revolver near the victim’s Handsworth home after he had already been stabbed repeatedly by other teenagers in the gang. The victim was found lying in the street by his mother who had heard gunshots ring out near their family home in Linwood Road.

Mustapha was sentenced to life with a minimum of 16 years for murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Three other teenagers were also jailed for life for murder and a fifth locked up for 12 years for manslaughter.

Judge William Davis said: “Keon Lincoln, aged 15, was murdered close to his family home by five young men.

“They had arrived in a stolen car.

“Four of them had knives with which they attacked Keon.

“One had a revolver.

“He shot Keon in the abdomen as Keon lay on the ground.

“That was the fatal wound.

“Less than a minute after they arrived the five men had left in the stolen car.

“Keon’s mother was in the family home.”

A 16-year-old, from Walsall, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 17 years for murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Tahjgeem Breaken-Ridge, 18, from Balsall Heath, and Ugochukwu, 18, from Edgbaston, were each sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 19 years before they will be eligible to apply for parole.

Kieron Donaldson, aged 18 and from Perry Barr, was sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter and …

Foreign / News

Woman dies Saving Son From Collapsing Roof

A woman died while trying to protect her son from a roof that collapsed during a storm in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Monday.

Both the woman and her son were buried under the roof, the state broadcaster TRT reported.

While the woman died at the scene, the child is now being treated in hospital, it said.

According to TRT, eyewitnesses described how the mother threw her body over the child in an attempt to protect him at the very last moment before the roof came down. Damage to houses and other incidents of injury were also reported elsewhere in Istanbul and across Turkey as a whole.

In the municipality of Catalca, on the outskirts of Istanbul, a clock tower was felled by the strong winds, according to the report.

The Bosporus strait was closed to shipping by the coastguard on Monday afternoon, and at least one internal passenger flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Ankara as weather conditions deteriorated.

The Turkish meteorological service warned of more heavy rain and winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour to come in western and central Turkey later on Monday.…

Foreign / Fraud / News

Abba Kyari, Hushpuppi: How IRT sting operation went wrong, FBI misled

A Police Officer, who wishes to be simply identified as Superintendent of Police Kolade, has revealed fresh facts about the connection between the former Commander of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.

According to the Superintendent of Police, what befell Abba Kyari was a sting operation that went horribly wrong.

He revealed that the NPF Special Investigation Panel set up to look into the allegations by the United States of America Federal Bureau of Investigation against Kyari, did not indict him.

It will be recalled that in July, news broke in Nigeria that the United States District Court for the Central District of California had indicted Kyari in the ongoing prosecution of Hushpuppi. A US Magistrate Judge, Otis Wright, issued an arrest warrant on Kyari.

Also, unsealed documents in the US stated that Kyari allegedly arrested and jailed one Chibuzo Vincent on the instruction of Hushpuppi.

He also allegedly sent Hushpuppi’s bank account details into which he could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.

The Superintendent of Police alleged that aside from the FBI’s case against Kyari, many other unknown personalities were fighting the Nigerian Police Poster Boy from all corners.

He said: “You probably do not know, but Kyari in the course of his job arrested thousands of criminals all over the country.

“Many of these criminals have relatives, friends, colleagues and gang members.

“Many of them are rich and well connected.

“They are not happy about the fact that their friends, relatives or partners were arrested.

“Also, don’t forget Kyari and his team’s latest battle in the South East, how they fought against unknown gunmen that had been killing and creating panic.

“Do you know the number of policemen and soldiers killed in those states?

“Police stations were burnt and the Inspector General of Police and his Management Team in their wisdom decided to deploy Kyari and his men to those boiling zones.

“I can tell you that the South …

Foreign / News / politics

MURIC to President Erdogan: Stop persecuting opposition

The Muslim Rights Concern has told the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to stop the persecution of opposition in his country.

MURIC said this in a statement on Monday ahead of the State Visit of the Turkish president to Nigeria.

The State Visit will take place on Monday (today).

MURIC berated the Turkish leader for persecuting the opposition back home in Turkey. MURIC accused Erdogan of arbitrary arrest, torture, political killings, long imprisonment of opposition figures and critics, particularly members of the Hizmet Movement.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Nigeria today, Monday, 18th October, 2021 on a state visit. He is expected to sign some business deals with his Nigerian counterpart, President Muhammadu Buhari. However, Erdogan’s visit leaves a sour taste in the mouth because of his undemocratic and tyrannical practices back home in Turkey.

“Born on 26th February, 1954 at Rize, Turkey and presently leading the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi), Erdogan who became prime minister of Turkey in 2003 clinged to power for eleven years before metamorphosing into a president on August 28, 2014. He cooked up a phantom coup on 15th July, 2016 to justify sweeping changes to the constitution and he arrogated extensive powers to himself as president one year later.

“What followed was arbitrary arrest, torture, political killings, long imprisonment of opposition figures and critics, particularly members of the Hizmet Movement. Travelling documents of key members of Hizmet were seized, and their properties were confiscated. They were thrown in jail in their thousands without fair trial. Members of the group who were outside Turkey were disallowed from returning.

“Though Hizmet is not a political movement that could threaten his position, yet like all dictators and tyrants, Erdogan was envious of the group because the latter had become extremely popular.

“Erdogan uses its diplomats in Nigeria to haunt Turkish citizens and members of the Hizmet Movement who are rendering humanitarian services in the country. They were declared persona non grata in Turkey and disallowed to enter their country of origin. Their …