Dubai Court of Appeal reduces drug smuggling sentence of 18-year-old Nigerian female singer

The Dubai Court of Appeal on Sunday, December 11th, reduced the life sentence for smuggling drugs handed to an 18-year-old Nigerian female singer who was mistaken for a 30-year-old, to four years.

"I am only 18 years old, your honour, and it was a friend of mine who asked me to carry a package but I had no idea what it was," the girl, who was not named told judges while kneeling before the court.

Dubai Criminal Court had sentenced her to life after prosecutors said she sold 1.91 grams of marijuana. Her age was listed as 30 on court documents.

Prosecutors said that on October 25 last year she tried to sell the drugs to a police source posing as a buyer. An Emirati police lieutenant said the source agreed to meet the suspect near a hospital in Abu Hail to buy marijuana for Dh300.

He said that about midnight she arrived in a taxi and got into the source’s car. Shortly after police raided the car and she was arrested.
Records stated she resisted arrest and tried to escape, but a policewoman pinned her down. She will be deported after serving her term.

Pope Don X @PopeDonX - RISE OF THE KINGS Ft. Dikans X D'zaya

The fantastically triple ‘D’ sensation of Pope Don X and Dikans and super new kid on the block - Dzaya pay tribute to their nativity in the Hip-Hop number RISE OF THE KINGS. These are proud Akwa Ibom Songsters who this year set out to write an Anthem that all Akwa Ibom people can rally behind. The result, “Rise Of The Kings” brings a new style to Ibom pride and a fresh ibibio voice to Nigerian hip-hop. When you listen to this material, it is apparent they are their own artist, equipped with an entirely different message; a message that speaks of self-advancement, self-preservation, and communal advancement. The trio reps the international city of Uyo so hard and with so much pride.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopeDonX [@PopeDonX]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_PopeDonX [@_PopeDonX]

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Lmao! Cameroonians mock Minister with #BidoungChallenge after he greets their president too 'respectfully' (photos)

This Cameroonians are too wicked..lol! Cameroon's Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Pierre Ismael Bidoung Mpkatt was photographed graciously greeting the country's president Paul Biya during a reception in honor of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, silver medalists of the 10th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the citizens of the country wondered why Bidoung had to prostrate in such an over respectful manner to shake the president.

Cameroonians have now taken to social media to mock the minister for his pose and even started a trend called 'Bidoungmpkattchallenge' . Lol. See very funny poses after the cut....

Anthony Joshua beats Eric Molina to retain IBF heavyweight title (Photos)

Anthony Joshua emerged victorious in the fight against Eric Molina after only three rounds, with Anthony dominating the fight in all the rounds.

All through the fight Eric was mostly on the defensive and rarely succeeded in throwing a punch, making the fight look like a mismatch. 

It ended halfway into the third round with Anthony knocking Molina to the canvas with several punches. The referee stepped in then to end the fight.

Moments after the win, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, brought Wladimir Klitschko into the ring to announce that he will be fighting Anthony Joshua on April 29^th at Wembley Stadium.  It is believed that this fight will be the toughest so far for the Nigerian born British boxer, considering Klitschko’s numerous years in the ring.

Klitschko’s defeat to Tyson Fury at the end of last year came as a surprise to most, including to Klitschko. No doubt this fight with Joshua will be seen by Klitschko as a way to redeem himself and this makes the fight all the more intriguing. Joshua on his part seems confident about the fight and he expressed this in his speech to his audience;

 “Klitschko wants his belts back, may the best man win. I focus on myself, that's how I beat Wladimir Klitschko.”

Donald Trump signals willingness to confront China over 'one China policy' if they refuse to negotiate on trade, North Korea & tax policies

U.S president elect Donald Trump on Sunday signaled his administration's intention to confront China by refusing to accept Taiwan as part of 'one China', unless the Chinese government reduces its tax rates on American products, creates trade reforms that favors the American people, and helps out in ongoing military operations against North Korea.



Trump angered Chinese officials and caused diplomatic controversy when he recently picked up a call from Taiwan's leader congratulating him on his election victory- making it the first time a U.S president or president elect recognized Taiwan as a country or even had a phone conversation with Taiwanese government since the time of president Richard Nixon.

The U.S has always recognized Taiwan as part of 'one China' since the time of President Nixon but Trump on Sunday revealed that he will question the 'one China' policy and refuse to recognize Taiwan as part of China unless China comes back to the negotiating table in trade agreements, importations & exportations that'll favor America and severs it's relationship with North Korea- an 'enemy' of the U.S.


"I fully understand the 'one China' policy, but I don't know why we have to be bound by a 'one China' policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade," Trump said on "Fox News Sunday" programme.

'I mean, look, we're being hurt very badly by China with devaluation, with taxing us heavy at the borders when we don't tax them, with building a massive fortress in the middle of the South China Sea, which they shouldn't be doing, and frankly with not helping us at all with North Korea," Trump said.

"You have North Korea. You have nuclear weapons, and China could solve that problem, and they're not helping us at all," Trump said.

'I don't want China dictating to me and this was a call put into me. I didn't make the call, and it was a call, very short call saying 'congratulations, sir, on the victory.'
"It was a very nice call. Short. And why should some other nation be able to say I can't take a call. I think it actually would've been very disrespectful, to be honest with you, not taking it."

Chinese government officials believe Trump's antics could even go as far as stopping China from doing trade with the U.S completely.

China's Foreign Ministry-spokesman Geng Shuang said.
' China is seriously concerned by Trump's questioning of the one China policy'

'Bilateral cooperation would be out of the question if it was compromised or disrupted."
"Adhering to the one China principle is the political bedrock for the development US-China relations,"

Photo: Boyfriend stabs lover to death for refusing to make him ‘next-of-kin’ to her account in Rivers state

Officials of the Department for State Security DSS in Rivers state yesterday arraigned one Sotonye Martin, the boyfriend to a female staff of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Sophia Phillips Horsefall, and two others, Innocent Oluche and Wachukwu Ugochukwu, before a Port Harcourt magistrate court, for allegedly stabbing her to death on November 8th after she refused to make him, Sotonye, her next-of-kin to her bank account as well as her refusal to give him one million (N1 million) he had demanded from her.

According to Vanguard, Sotonye who has a 13 year old child with the deceased, lured her to his friend, Innocent Oluche's house where she was killed. After the act, the men dug a shallow grave, invited Wachukwu Ugochukwu, a spiritualist to perform some rituals and then buried her.

Counsel to the DSS, C.S. Eze told the court that the accused were brought before the court on a three-count charge which included “stabbing to death with a jack knife and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Rivers State 1999.”

The accused persons did not take plea. Chief Magistrate F. Alikor after hearing the submission of the DSS Counsel, referred the casefile to the state Director of Public Prosecution, saying her court did not have jurisdiction to entertain matters over murder which was the second charge.

She ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison and adjourned the case indefinitely. Speaking to newsmen after the case was adjourned, elder brother to the deceased, Amatu Phillips, accused Sotonye of murdering his sister whom he had dated for 13 years, because of her wealth.

He claimed she had some money in her account and confided in the boyfriend who later kept on pestering her for financial support. According to him, after the sister had allegedly given him money several times, he came again demanding for N1 million which she refused. He alleged that the boyfriend later lured her to his friend’s house, offered her a fruit juice drink which, unknown to the sister, was drugged.

He alleged that when the boyfriend noticed that she was dizzy from effect of the drug, he stabbed her on the neck, demanding her ATM card and password.

He claimed the boyfriend had before that day persuaded his sister to change the name of her next of kin on her bank details to his name.

The Authority Newspapers Today December 8, 2016

The Authority Mobile app is out! Please visit Google Playstore, search for "Authority News" and click on "install" to download free of charge.

Today's top stories:

Marginalization: No Igbo among 24 AIGs - https://goo.gl/meG2kc

Resources Control Bill passes second reading - https://goo.gl/RHdl8g

 

I'm not ready for trial, Justice Ngwuta tells court - https://goo.gl/YaGRaF

FG appoints consultants for $1bn Eurobond issue - https://goo.gl/FmdLtH

APC Crisis: Oyegun, Saraki meeting deadlocked - https://goo.gl/CmBEbA

Defamation: Court strikes out Buhari's suit against AIT - https://goo.gl/hizFq9

Money Laundering: Patience Jonathan petitions Reps against EFCC - https://goo.gl/RrYi5y

Why we redeployed CSO to Gov. Wike - https://goo.gl/DvRHBE

Today's AUTHORITY ICON on Page 3 is Rev. Fr. Prof. Bonachristus Uchenna Umeogu -https://goo.gl/EQPl4G

 

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Download Video: Jikume-Avrami Pitakwa

The Port Harcourt diva -Jikume drops the energetic video of her hit single-Avrami Pitakwa. The video that defines the strength of Port Harcourt women.

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Photos: GOV. Ambode presides over swearing-in of newly appointed Permanent Secretary

 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule, the new Permanent Secretary/Tutor-General District VI, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Olabisi Onadipe; her husband, Mr. Akogun Kola Onadipe, Son, Kipoju Onadipe and sister, Mrs. Ibiyinka Bamgbelu during the swearing-in of the newly appointed Permanent Secretary at the EXCO Chambers, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. More photos after the cut...

Former Pres. Jonathan charges traditional rulers on peace

Former President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday charged traditional rulers across the country not to shirk from their responsibility of working towards ensuring that peace reigns in their domains.
Jonathan gave this charge in Oporoza, Delta State at the official presentation of staff of office to His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaran II, Aketekpe, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, just as the Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa described the former President as a man of peace who left good lessons for all Nigerians.
A statement issued by the former President’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said that Jonathan also urged the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom and other traditional rulers to galvanize their subjects for the social and economic development of their kingdoms.

The former President described traditional rulers as special beings who occupy positions higher than that of mere mortals, noting that as such, they should play key roles in the development aspirations of the nation.

Jonathan said:

“Although we have here present, the governor, deputy governor, members of the National and State Assemblies, as well as other dignitaries holding positions in Government, at the traditional level we have only two sets of citizens; the ordinary mortals to which I also belong, and the superior mortals who are our traditional rulers. They are superior mortals because of what they represent and also because we believe in them. And we believe that they have a lot to do to stabilize their kingdoms.

“The governor has made a case for peace and I don’t want to belabor the point. But I always say that there can never be development without peace. It is the duty of every traditional ruler to have peace in his kingdom. They should also be able to mobilise their sons and daughters for the social and economic development of the people.

Although he believes that the situation could be improved, Jonathan further affirmed that there is relative peace in the region.

“In most cases, when we talk about the Niger Delta, those coming from outside our region will always think that it is a place where people cannot gather peacefully to handle this kind of ceremony. But here we are gathered and conducting our affairs in a peaceful environment. That gives me joy.”

He also urged Nigerians to lend their support to the effort to fully harness the abundant potentials of our great nation, stressing that Nigeria will continue to be a leading country in Africa and the world.

On the current hardship and economic difficulties in the land, Jonathan advised Nigerians to be peaceful, law abiding and optimistic, adding that the country would soon get over its temporary challenges.

“I believe that within this period there are challenges in the country, there are challenges in the Niger Delta and Gbaramatu Kingdom, but all these are temporary. Surely, our society will get over it. I believe Nigeria is still a great country and will continue to go on. Nigeria will succeed, Niger Delta will succeed and Gbaramatu Kingdom will succeed.”

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who spoke earlier described Jonathan as a father figure in the Niger Delta who had done so much to stabilize the region and country.

“He (Jonathan) has done his best for this country. This country is united today because of the decisions that were taken for the best interest of our country. He is a man of peace and that is a lesson for us to learn, those of us who are still in Government and even our brothers and sisters who are not in Government; that in a peaceful situation, there is always a lot that can be achieved.”

NCC to hold the 79th Edition of Telecoms consumer parliament in Abuja

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has announced the 79^th Edition of the Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) taking place on Thursday, 8^th of December at the NAF Conference CenterGwarimpa Expressway, Deeper Life Junction (Near Cash and Carry), Kado, Abuja. Time 10am.

The Telecoms Consumer Parliament is an outreach programme of the NCC which serves as a platform for consumers to meet face to face with their service providers to discuss any issues they may be facing. The 79^th Edition will focus on the Theme: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DO NOT DISTURB: THE JOURNEY SO FAR.

Expected participants are Consumer Advocacy Groups, All Service Providers, Professional Unions, Trade Unions, Representatives of Student Bodies and Telecom Consumers.

Admission is Free.

For further enquiry and reservation….08035750962 or 08036266239.