Egyptian Teenager Who Was Imprisoned For Challenging The Government Sanctioned Torture Has Been Released

An Egyptian man, 20 year old, Mahmoud Hussein who was imprisoned for more than two years for challenging the government-sanctioned torture in Egypt was released on bail early Friday morning.

Hussein was arrested when he was 18 in 2014 after being stopped at a checkpoint on his way home from a peaceful protest commemorating the third anniversary of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, which ousted longtime President Hosni Mubarak. At the time Hussein was arrested, he was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Nation Without Torture” and a protest scarf.

Egyptian authorities arrested him and put him in a pre-trial detention on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist group and attending an unauthorized protest, among other charges. While in detention, he allegedly admitted to many other charges but Human rights advocates that have been campaigning for his release said he was tortured into making those false confessions.

Nadine Haddad, the Egypt campaigner at Amnesty International, who had been campaigning heavily for Hussein's release said:
“The fact that the authorities arrested him in the first place, tortured him, tried to get him to falsely confess to these crimes and kept him in detention for so long despite growing public pressure to release him,” McMullen said in an interview, “just shows the lengths to which the Egyptian government is willing to go to silence any form of dissent, whether it be a journalist or a young activist.”
She added that:
“There are at least 700 people being held in just two cases on pretrial detention,” Haddad said in an interview with Yahoo News. “We obviously decided to work on the case because it was such a clear-cut case of injustice. It highlighted the flaws in the criminal justice system in Egypt.”


Source: Yahoo News

Aisha Buhari Threatens Lawsuit At PDP For Their Accusations Of Her Obtaining $22m FOREX Illegally From CBN

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP in a series of tweets yesterday accused the First lady, Aisha Buhari and other aides of the President, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari of obtaining Forex from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the orders of the president below the N197 official price, and selling it for double the price later the same day.

Responding to the allegations, the wife of the President, through her twitter handle has said they are “false and unfounded”, threatening to take them to court if they continue with such allegations.

Gunmen Open Fire On Motorists In Kwara

Three gunmen who are reported to be some youths that have manned the gates to an NNPC filling station located along Offa Garage road in the Kwara metropolis on Saturday opened fire on motorists on the queue for fuel, leaving two men and a woman injured.

The victims were rushed to a medical facility, Yusjib Industrial Medicare, along the same axis. The Chief Medical Director, Dr Yusuf Abdulraheem has said that they were in stable conditions

Accordin to The Nation, an eyewitness said “it was due to an argument among the boys; you know they are thugs and they have been at the gate but we don’t really know what led to the argument but we just suddenly heard the gunshots and it was later discovered that some people were seriously injured.”

Ajayi Okasanmi, Kwara Police Spokesperson confirmed the incident and has said that one of the gunmen has been arrested with a locally made pistol and some live cartridges recovered from the suspect.

Mercy Aigbe-Gentry Opens Up: Her AMVCA Dress, Hopes Her 2nd Marriage Will Be Her Last & Says Yoruba Actors Should Be Given More Respect

In a recent chat with Punch, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry opened up about the Yoruba movie industry – why they should be considered part of Nollywood, she will never stop working on Yoruba movies, her personal life and her recent AMVCA nomination and show-stopping dress.

Why did you kick off your career in the Yoruba movie sector?

I didn’t choose to be in the Yoruba movie sector. I started out in Nollywood and I featured in several soap operas and movies. My career took a different direction when a Yoruba film producer cast me in his movie titled Ara. The movie became a hit and I soon began getting scripts from other Yoruba filmmakers and I couldn’t turn them down because I had just launched my career. In no time, I became a household name in the Yoruba film genre.

In between this time, I worked with Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen in his movie titled The Other Side of the Coin.

You recently spoke about Yoruba movie practitioners being discriminated against. Why do you think this is so?

I really don’t know why and it has been on for a very long time. However, we have started to get better recognition unlike what obtained in the industry four years ago. The gap is already being bridged and I think it is only a matter of time. I think we Yoruba actors also need to let people know that we are also a part of Nollywood and demand to be respected like our English counterparts. Our works will speak for us at the end of the day. I think it is about time we are respected, so the gap that currently exists can be closed.

Do you think the Yoruba movie genre has better actors?

Our counterparts in the English genre have always had fantastic stories and actors. I think Nollywood should be one and devoid of any form of disparity or segregation. The term Nollywood in my opinion means movies made in Nigeria irrespective of the medium. I am also featuring in a Hausa movie which will be released soon.

Why are actors in the Yoruba sector tagged illiterates?

This is one area where I have a problem with people’s perception of Yoruba actors. Many people think we are uneducated and can’t speak good English. I think people are not informed, so whenever someone tells me they are not aware I speak proper English, I simply laugh it off.

In the last few years, you have attained new heights in your career. Some of your fans are of the opinion that you no longer fit into the Yoruba genre.

Some people write to me and request that I should feature in more English movies because they believe that only then will I gain more acceptance and recognition. My fans believe I’m not being appreciated in my sector.

Will you eventually stop acting Yoruba movies?

I can never stop acting Yoruba movies because that industry made me who I am today. As a matter of fact, a lot of people don’t know I am from Edo State. When I began featuring in Yoruba films, I wasn’t speaking the language flawlessly, so I had to learn on the job. My industry is very accommodating and that is why I would always be grateful to them for accepting me and giving me a platform to excel. I also produced a movie titled Osas in order to connect with my Benin roots.

On her Personal Life & Acting

How have you being able to keep your home?

It hasn’t been easy and this is actually my second marriage. Before I got married to my present husband, I asked God to make this my second and last marriage because I want to stay married. Our marriage is under scrutiny all the time and a lot of people just want to find faults even when there are no faults. My previous marriage taught me to be more patient, tolerant and prayerful.

Is he comfortable with the romantic scenes you take part in?

Yes, he is and I actually kiss in my movies. I was already an actress before I met my husband and he goes through my scripts. Sometimes, he chastises for not kissing well in a movie. I could be on set for a week or more and he does not make an issue out of it. I know I married my friend and he is very understanding.

Tell us more about your AMVCA outfit that sent social media into frenzy?

People haven’t stopped talking about my dress. So many people aren’t even aware that a young, creative Nigerian fashion designer made the outfit. We shopped for the fabric together, agreed on the style and God made it a hit. I arrived at the award venue with a team and a back-up dress even though we had settled on a dress. The outfit earned me more followers and some people have even requested that my designer make the exact dress for them as their second wedding outfit.

“Nigerian People Were Right To Feel Insulted” Bola Tinubu On Ibe Kachikwu’s Fuel Statement

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has lashed out on the Minister of State for Petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, over his recent comments on the lingering fuel scarcity in the country which aggravated the fuel crisis.

He did this on Saturday in a statement titled, ‘Kachikwu needs to know that respect and good performance will do what magic cannot’, where he pointed out that the minister’s comments on the fuel scarcity were not only disrespectful but were out of line.

The minister had stated last week while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja that since he was not a magician, the fuel queues could not be eliminated with a magic wand and that it was by sheer magic that the country had the amount of products it currently had in filling stations.

Tinubu, however, reacted in his statement that the minister “was basically telling Nigerians that they should be lucky that they are getting the inadequate supply they now suffer and that they should just be quiet and endure the shortage for several weeks more.”

The former Lagos State Governor continued, “Perhaps the statement by Kachikwu was made in a moment of unguarded frustration or was an awkward attempt at a joke. Whatever the motive, it was untimely and off-putting. The remark did not sit well with the Nigerian people; they were as right to feel insulted, as the Minister was wrong to have said such a thing. The fuel shortage is severely biting for the average person. They are forced to remain in lines far too long, for too much time, to pay too much money for too little fuel. This is no joking matter. Livelihoods and people’s welfare are at stake. With so much on the line, Kachikwu’s flippancy was out-of-line …”

He added, “Kachikwu’s intervention was unhelpful. It panicked and disappointed the public as to the duration of the crisis. It insulted the people by its tonality. He spoke with the imperious nature of a member of the elitist government the people voted out last year and not the progressive one they voted in. Kachikwu must be reminded that he was not coerced to take this job. He accepted the job and its responsibilities knowingly. He also must remember that he does not own NNPC. This also is not a private company that owes nothing to the public except the duty of fair dealing.

He further said that since Kachikwu is a public servant and the seat he occupies is not owned by him but by Nigerians, he is answerable to them, adding that the minister should “refrain from such interjections in the future.” He emphasized his confidence in President Buhari and his government in resolving pressing issues, including security and the economy and concluded, “Let all of us, in and out, of government never forget this. If we adhere to this remembrance, we shall see that magic will not be needed to bring the progress we seek.”

Source: Vanguard

President Buhari Sympathizes With Victims Of Kano And Kebbi Fire | Calls For Adherence To Precautionary Building Standards

President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathized with the victims of the fire incidents in Sabon Gari Market, Kano State, and Birnin Kebbi Central Market in Kebbi.

A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, said President Buhari commiserated with the government and people of the two states.

According to the statement, President Buhari shares in the pain of the victims knowing that the two fire incidents had created major setbacks for all those that had business outfits in the markets.

He also noted with sadness that the incidents had also affected the livelihood of the victims’ families and setting back economic activities in the states.

The President advised the Kano and Kebbi State Governments to find out the immediate and remote causes of the fire disasters in the states in order to forestall future occurrences.

President Buhari also called for strict adherence to precautionary standards in buildings and operations in all markets to avoid fire outbreaks.

He prayed that the Almighty God would comfort and replenish all those that incurred losses in the incidents. (NAN)

Kebbi State Governor Visits Birnin Kebbi Central Market Gutted By Fire

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu along with other government officials visited the Birnin Kebbi Central Market yesterday, which was gutted by fire hours earlier. During the visit he commiserated with all those affected and assessed the damage caused by the tragic fire.

Olajumoke's Picture Used In A Church Banner..

Olajumoke's picture was used in a church banner tagged 'From Grass To Grace'....Lol

Ifeanyi Ubah Lifts Eagles' Spirit With $8,000, Charges Them To Beat The Pharoahs In Egypt

The Super Eagles received a morale booster of $5,000 from the President of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah ahead of the reverse leg of the 2017 Africa Nations Cup against Egypt in Alexandria on Tuesday.

The Chairman/CEO of Capital Oil and Gas had promised $5,000 to the national team if they beat the Pharaohs in the first leg on Friday in Kaduna, but the Eagles were forced to a 1-1 draw by the North Africans. However, Dr. Ubah, who is also the Publisher of The Authority newspapers, yesterday lifted the spirit of the players when he presented a cheque for the amount to the team at their Africa Continental Hotel camp, despite not winning the match.

The team officials also benefited from the package as they received $3,000. He urged them to put the result of the first leg behind and positively work towards a win in Alexandria on Tuesday.
“I am giving this to the Super Eagles to motivate them to win the match in Alexandria on Tuesday. I made the pledge to give the team $5,000 as our support to inspire them to pick the maximum points against Egypt in Kaduna on Friday. Although the game ended in a 1-1 draw, it is my conviction that the team deserve to be motivated ahead of the game on Tuesday in Egypt.
Dr Ubah, who during the visit to the Super Eagles with the management of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, advised the players to take the positives from the match in Kaduna and go all out for a win in Alexandria, saying, “Nigeria has the players and the capability to achieve victory in Egypt.
"I am an advocate of motivation for result. That is the reason I and the FC Ifeanyi Ubah management have come to lift the spirit of the team. We believe in the Super Eagles and will continue to support the team,” he said.