Farmers Worry

By solomon2day
On 03/07/2023
In Solomon's Column

Farmers in Nigeria have continued to lament the hostile attitude of the government at all levels towards the enactment of a policy that would empower and safeguard them.
Of worry,are the numerous challenges weighing down the agricultural sector, among which is the astronomical costs of processing and distribution between the farms and markets.

Indeed, the insecurity in different parts of the country has resulted in the forced annexation of the ancestral land of the people by faceless actors backed by Those-in-Charge.

In so many states the real estate business has distracted the elected representatives of Nigerians form their primary responsibilties, while lawlessness and criminality have defied all solutions.
Difficulties in accessing credit, farm loss and policy-induced distortions have also contributed to the situation today, that has translated to hunger and poverty.
Sadly, the ailing sector has ensured the acute shortage of food, a high rate of unemployment, increase in the poverty rate and inadequate supply of raw materials to industry, while political office holders grapple with self-centered interest-outside economic development.

The Economic Status
Daily scenes, events and occurrences across the geographical locations in Nigeria indicate that millions of Nigerians are anxious to experience a positive change in their economic status very soon. How soon, Those-in-Charge would have to determine.

Ed El Kabir-Share with the Poor-Senator Ladoja to Rich Nigerians

By solomon2day
On 28/06/2023
In News

Poor A former Oyo state Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has called on wealthy Nigerians to cater for poor Nigerians this festive period.

Senator Ladoja made this call on Wednesday in an interaction with journalists at his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria residence.

''We thank God for witnessing Eid, we pray that we will celebrate more Eids. I will plead with wealthy Nigerians to share with the poor the things they have to celebrate. The times are hard. Let us extend our hands of fellowship to others. I wish Nigerians Barka De Sallah.

He expressed confidence that the present administration would make a positive impact, saying ''all of us know that we need to readjust and rejig Nigeria. It is now a question of how to redistribute wealth. We assume that he knows what he is doing and he will do well. We will get there.''

Protecting Poor Nigerians from the Unpredictable Price Mechanism

By solomon2day
On 27/06/2023
In Solomon's Column

Nigeria's chronic budget deficit has brought about an unhindered increase in the national debt.

Indeed, the multiple taxation by the government at all levels may now be too embarrassing for an economy that majorly revolves around the motive of personal gain.

Without doubt, the redistribution of disposable income from the well-to-do to the indigent would increase the average propensity to consume, since the marginal propensity of the indigent to consume is higher than that of the well-to-do.

Sadly, this approach is not in the thoughts of the government, although the budget deficit may have stimulated private investments.

The government ought to cut down on expenditure on political office holders.

However, in view of the fact that the economy is ailing, the government at all levels must be decisive and proactive in interventions in health, transport, electricity, unemployment, hunger and poverty.

Of course, the protection of sectors such as education, health and agriculture which have direct bearing on the survival of citizens from unpredictable price mechanisms is desirable, but largely depends on the mindset of those in charge.

Bad Eggs in Uniform The crime-friendly mindset and attitude of a number of those in law enforcement agencies in certain states, including Oyo, justifies the unabating lawlessness, criminality and violent crimes in the land. Curiously, the high levels of insecurity in Nigeria is partly due to unprofessional conduct and despicable acts of bad eggs in uniform.

Nigeria in the Clutches of Those with dangerous Ideology-Former TUC chairman

By solomon2day
On 13/06/2023
In News

Gov 3 Nigeria is in the fierce clutches of individuals with ideology that is detrimental to the people.

This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze at a symposium in Ibadan, Nigeria.

''In Nigeria, it is still the same old story, the same drive, the same motivation and the same ideology. The mood is not encouraging. All the while, we have been having changes in nomenclature, but in actual fact, nothing has changed. It has been eight years of manipulation and it is continuing. These individuals are fighting Nigerians. We are already witnessing the extension of hardships. I am not sure if there is any hope for Nigerians'', Comrade Emelieze declared.

Similarly, Comrade Reasheedat of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights(CWDR), blamed some of those in the leadership of labor for the attitude of insensitive political office holders, saying, ''the leadership of the labor movement has been compromised. That is why we have a democracy for the rich. Also, the presence of right wing elements in labor unions in the country has furtherworsened the situation. Nigerians are now left with only one option-take their destinies in their own hands.

Misplaced Priorities

By solomon2day
On 06/06/2023
In Solomon's Column

Wicked The lack of domestic purchasing power of citizens has been a set back for economically backward countries of the world.
Monetary expansion in these countries has resulted in the inflation of prices of goods and services to the detriment of the people.
Indeed, in a number of countries, the great majority who are poor are manipulated to focus on smart phones and related products as urgent priorities even as they wallow in abject poverty.
Sadly, these products are not locally produced, but imported from economically viable countries.
Of worry, is the fact that the real income of the workforce is side by side to the subsistence level-with little or no hope for a raise.
The unimpressive income of the workforce has ensured that productivity remains at the lowest ebb, while redundancy, inefficiency and mdeciority take the center stage.
Curiously, the prevailing hunger and poverty in a given geographical location not only inhibits the inducement to invest but also discourages economic progress.
Nigeria is made up of an estimated land mass of 923,773km2, including varied vegetation and soil types suitable for a variety of agricultural initiatives.
Solid minerals, namely coal, coumbite, liginite, talc, marble, baryte, gypsum, iron, crude oil, among others abound in the country.
The mentioned resources ought to be a concrete foundation for development.
The improvement in the well being of citizens is usually the ultimate objective of visionary leadership all over the world. In addition, this is achievable by formulating an economic policy that would ensure unhindered access to the basic needs of life by citizens.
There is no doubt that today's political office holders ought to put in place policies that would have an immediate, visible and positive impact on the quality of lives of millions of impoverished Nigerians.
The Desperate and Wicked Heart
Well wishers, supporters, admirers and loyalists of political office holders are indeed, having a field day in Molusi, Olorunsogo, Onafuwa Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Aluko and Felele communities in Ibadan, Oyo state among several other communities in Nigeria. The situation is disturbing even as lawlessness and criminality persists.
Indeed, long before now, pick pocketing has become a means to an end in different parts of Nigeria, with no convincing effort from Those-in-Authority to combat the ugly trend.The hearts of those who insist that they are representatives of the people have become seemingly desperately wicked.

Human Trafficking-Former Oyo TUC chairman Hails Judgment Vindicating Embattled ASCSN President of Human Trafficking

By solomon2day
On 02/06/2023
In News

A former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze has hailed the High Court judgment that vindicated the embattled president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN), Bola Audu for human trafficking.
Comrade Emelieze gave the commendation in a statement.
''The Judiciary remains the last resort of the common Nigerian. The high court's judgment has vindicated Bola Audu of human trafficking. This is a welcome development.
After over two years of trial, the court has finally declared that Comrade Bola Innocent Audu is truly innocent in the alleged case of human trafficking . Comrade Bola Audu, a staff of the Accountant General of the Federation, and also the National President of the Association of Senior Civil servants of Nigeria, (ASCSN), who also doubles as the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) was arraigned alongside three other civil servants for human trafficking. We are full of joy to hear of the victory of Bola Audu,'' Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The Vicious Circle of Poverty

By solomon2day
On 29/05/2023
In Solomon's Column

Hunger 3 Infrastructure is a necessity for development but may not be a condition for advancement.

Skilled labor, moral and social outlook, political situation and historical narratives all play critical roles in economic development.

Indeed, the store of technical knowledge is not at par with economic resources available at a given point in time, while corruption remains a major impediment to development.

Various conditions determine the inducement to invest, but in most cases, developing countries rely on a make-believe and cosmetic approach.

Unfortunately, this has not been successful.

The potential to develop is guided by the ability and willingness to save.

Sadly, the capacity to save in developing countries is low due to low real income, which in turn is as a result of low productivity and the visible absence of the enablers of development. Some countries remain in the vicious circle of poverty not because of the lack of natural resources and a conducive environment, but because of corruption, greed and self-centeredness among those-in-authority.

However, redundancy and ignorance are challenges for the workforce in focus.

Seeking Foreign Direct Investment

By solomon2day
On 22/05/2023
In Solomon's Column

Lead 1 Lawlessness is now the way of life in Nigeria, due to the lingering poverty and hunger in the land.
A review of the economy and security architecture will unravel the untold story, only if a transparent probe is conducted in the days to come.
A number of the crises in the last eight years have generated revenue for a few pockets, with millions of Nigerians always contending with the sufferings and hardships during such crises.
Indeed, the interests of Nigerians have been undermined or destabilized based on ethnic, religious and gender considerations.
Sadly, the political leaders in the states, have failed to convincingly ensure a conducive environment, but are in the nick of time, seeking direct investment.
Investors can only develop confidence in the economy when there is regular electricity supply, free flow of potable water, good and motorable roads, security of lives and property, skilled and trained power and favorable incentives for startups.

Nigerian Man Sentenced for Online Fraud Schemes

By solomon2day
On 13/05/2023
In Special Report

Defendant extradited from the United Kingdom

BOSTON – A Nigerian man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in online fraud schemes.

Happy Chukwuma, 30, was sentenced on May 5, 2023 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to eight months in prison (time served). On April 10, 2023, Chukwuma pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. Chukwuma was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019. He was arrested and detained in the United Kingdom in September 2022 and extradited to the United States in March 2023.

Between November 2015 and January 2019, Chukwuma and his co-conspirators participated in a variety of online fraud schemes, including “phishing” and romance scams. They exchanged victims’ personally identifiable information, including identification and financial documents, and engaged in financial transactions with that information. Several of the victims whose information was compromised were from Massachusetts.

Phishing schemes mimic the appearance of legitimate websites to gather victims’ online credentials, including usernames, passwords, financial account information, social security numbers and other types of personal identifiable information. In romance scams, perpetrators generally create fictitious online personas to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the United States, and then leverage those relationships to obtain money and property.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police National Extradition Unit provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Chukwuma.

Source-FBI

Make a simple Business plan

By solomon2day
On 13/05/2023
In Special Report

When drawing out your business plan, let the actions of customers influence your decision.
Make your business plan simple, straightforward and workable.
Adjust your plans to be in line with market feedback.

Translating Acclaimed Potentials to Reality

By solomon2day
On 11/05/2023
In Solomon's Column

Loot This has resulted in the sidelining of critical sectors of the economy.
Nigeria's quest for economic growth and national development, has overtime, been impeded by the absence of broad policy objectives and strategies for achieving the country's vision statement.

Policy choices all the while have impacted negatively on the economy, which has brought about social and political instability, declining welfare and economic stagnation.
Of worry is the long term effects of the huge debts of governments at all levels and the weak Naira on the economy.
This is compounded by the challenges the perpetual absence of credible and focused leadership will bring in its stride.
Indeed, the possibility of Nigeria translating its acclaimed potential to reality remains foggy, even as the government struggles to improve education and health systems to enhance human capital for development.
Assets Declaration
Transparency in asset declaration is crucial to good governance.
Political office holders at all levels ought to declare their assets before inauguration into office in a democracy.
Sadly, the treasury at all levels of government was looted clandestinely, under the guise of ''it is our common wealth''.

Monitor your Children and Wards-IGS Old Student to Oyo Parents and Guardians

By solomon2day
On 01/05/2023
In News

Edu Parents and Guaridans in Oyo state have been advised to monitor their children and wards.

This call was made during the weekend by an Old student of Ibadan Gramar School(IGS), Mr. Adebolu Okikiolu.

'' The buck stops on the parents and gaurdians. Charity begins at home , each family should nurture their children and wards in the ways of God. They should monitor their activities. In addition, the state government should provide all that is necessary to encourage smooth education. The bad eggs among the teachers should also be dismissed,'' Mr. Okikiolu stated.

Give Nigerians Palliatives to Cushion sufferings-Labor Leader

By solomon2day
On 29/04/2023
In News

Images 4 The government at all levels have been called upon to introduce palliatives that will cushion the effects of the sufferings and hardships currently being experienced by millions of Nigerians.
This call was made by the deputy chairperson of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN)Public Complaints Commission(PCC) unit, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, Mrs. Omotayo Adebanjo-Adesida.
''The Federal Government has tried to do harmonization of salaries, it. It will boost the morale of workers, but I think the government at all levels should introduce palliatives for workers and Nigerians in general, such as staff buses, low-cost housing and controlling the prices of goods and services in the market,m so that it will enable Nigerians on enjoy a good life.''
She maintained that workers in the country had every reason to celebrate workers' day, saying ''for the fact that we are alive, we have to thank God for the gift of life. In addition, because of the fact that some of us still have our jobs, we still have cause to thank God.''
In a related development, a former chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU) in Oyo state, Comrade Fatoki Olusola-Cole also insisted that the major reason why workers have cause to celebrate was because of lfie, ''I wil say to far so good, we have every cause to celebrate not minding the hardships and diffuclities the workers have exprienced in the last eight years of the present administration. We thank God that we are surviving. This administration is wicked. All the promises made were not fulfilled. The national minimum wage is nothing to write home about, considering what the cost of living is presently.''
''We thank God for seeing another May day. A 40 per cent increase in the allowances of workers is nothing to write home about. 40 per cent has been implemented for some workers. We in university, research institutes, colleges of education and polytechnics were not included. Is it only the core civil service that constitutes federal workers? Do the core civil servants have another market they patronize? We no longer have hope in this government. The government has made life unbearable for Nigerians, Comrade Olusola-Cole stated.

The Disturbing Absence of Demographic Planning in Nigeria

By solomon2day
On 24/04/2023
In Solomon's Column

Pop 1 The first census in 1962 was cancelled as a result of allegations and counter allegations of over-counting in several geographical locations in the country.
The figures were rejected by the Eastern and Mid-Western regions based on their arguments that the figures for the Northern region were inflated.
The result was 29.8 million for the North, 10.3 million for the West, 12.4 million for the East and 2.5 million for the Mid-West.
Another census held in 1973, by General Yakubu Gowon-led military government fixed Nigeria's population at 79.758 million.
Controversy trailed the result and it was eventually cancelled by the Murtala Muhammed-led military government in 1975.
However, in 1988, the National Population Commission(NPC) was established, but failed to minimize the controversies revolving around the result of the census.
In 1991, the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida conducted yet another census. The NPC put the country's population at 89.9 million.
Nigerians kicked, insisting that the result did not represent the true figure of the country's population.
In 2006, the civilian administration of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, conducted the most recent census and the result presently serves as the basis for political and economic projections in the country.
Sadly, it is doubtful if policy makers have been successful in pinpointing the population growth rate for long term planning.
Of worry, is the fact that uncertainty surrounds the actual figure of the new addition to the population and the available resources in the country.
Indeed, the absence of proper demographic planning is visible at the three tiers of government, even though the office holders emerged through the ballot box.

At the Tail End
The acts of omission and commission must have been well thought out, carefully planned and professionally executed, but at the tail end, The Powerful Today,seeing the handwriting on the wall, have resorted to apologies and pleas for forgiveness.

The feeling everywhere now, is that there has not been any government in place, at the center and in a specific numbe of states, all this while.

Rest on the Lord

By solomon2day
On 24/04/2023
In Special Report

In the time of distress, rest on the Lord, and He will restore peace to your soul.
PSALM 142
1(Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.) I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Have an Eye for Good Things

By solomon2day
On 20/04/2023
In Special Report

Develop the habit of watching out for good things.
Always be on the look out for good attributes, and you are already on the way to cultivating a positive mindset.
This frame of mind will not only enhance your happiness and efficiency but that of several others.

Non-Indigenes Sympathize with BCOS on Fire Incident

By solomon2day
On 20/04/2023
In News

Untitled 1 Non Indigenes in Oyo state have sympathized with the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo state(BCOS) over the fire incident that occurred on Wednesday.

Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie made this known in a chat with People

On behalf of myself, my company-Conac Optical NigerIa Limited and Nidgbo in Ibadan and Oyo state, I sympathize with the state government and the management and staff of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo state(BCOS) over the fire incident that occured yesterday, Wednesday 19th April, 2023.

We pray that such this will never happen again. And that God should give them the courage to embark on a very quick replacement of all damaged equipment and carry out all the necessary repairs and even modernize the establishment.
May I use this opportunity to encourage the electricity distribution companies to do everything possible to minimize these worrisome electricity surge-induced occurrences that have always exposed the public to great danger?
The fire services should also improve.

They are doing well, but they can still do better, by making sure they get to fire incidents very quickly.
Finally, we really thank God that no life was lost.

Eze(Dr.) Anozie is the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state. He is also the chairman of the Association of Non-Indigenes in Oyo state

FBI Statement on Investigations

By solomon2day
On 20/04/2023
In News

Two Arrested for Operating Illegal Overseas Police Station of the Chinese Government

Defendants Are New York City Residents Who Allegedly Operated the Police Station in Lower Manhattan and Destroyed Evidence When Confronted by the FBI

A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging two defendants in connection with opening and operating an illegal overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, New York, for a provincial branch of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). “Harry” Lu Jianwang, 61, of the Bronx, and Chen Jinping, 59, of Manhattan, were arrested earlier this morning at their homes in New York City. Their initial appearances are scheduled this afternoon in Brooklyn before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes Jr.

As alleged in the complaint, Lu and Chen are charged with conspiring to act as agents of the PRC government as well as obstructing justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official. The defendants worked together to establish the first overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS. The police station – which closed in the fall of 2022 after those operating it became aware of the FBI’s investigation – occupied a floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. While acting under the direction and control of an MPS Official, Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station. None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government surreptitiously open and operate an illegal MPS police station on U.S. soil.

“The PRC, through its repressive security apparatus, established a secret physical presence in New York City to monitor and intimidate dissidents and those critical of its government,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The PRC’s actions go far beyond the bounds of acceptable nation-state conduct. We will resolutely defend the freedoms of all those living in our country from the threat of authoritarian repression.”

“This prosecution reveals the Chinese government’s flagrant violation of our nation’s sovereignty by establishing a secret police station in the middle of New York City,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “As alleged, the defendants and their co-conspirators were tasked with doing the PRC’s bidding, including helping locate a Chinese dissident living in the United States, and obstructed our investigation by deleting their communications. Such a police station has no place here in New York City – or any American community.”

“It is simply outrageous that China’s Ministry of Public Security thinks it can get away with establishing a secret, illegal police station on U.S. soil to aid its efforts to export repression and subvert our rule of law,” said Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “This case serves as a powerful reminder that the People’s Republic of China will stop at nothing to bend people to their will and silence messages they don’t want anyone to hear. The FBI is dedicated to protecting everyone in the United States against efforts to undermine our democratic freedoms, and we’ll hold any state actors – and those who help them – accountable for breaking our laws.”

Before helping to open the police station in early 2022, Lu had a longstanding relationship of trust with PRC law enforcement, including the MPS. Since 2015, and through the operation of the secret police station, Lu was tasked with carrying out various activities, including to assist the PRC government’s repressive activities on U.S. soil:

In 2015, during PRC President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, Lu participated in counterprotests in Washington, D.C,. against members of a religion that is forbidden under PRC law. A deputy director of the MPS awarded Lu a plaque for the work he performed on behalf of the PRC government.

In 2018, Lu was enlisted in efforts to cause a purported PRC fugitive to return to the PRC. The victim reported being repeatedly harassed to return to the PRC, including through threats of violence made to the victim and the victim’s family in the United States and in the PRC.

In 2022, the MPS Official sought Lu’s assistance in locating an individual living in California who is a pro-democracy activist. In turn, Lu enlisted the help of another coconspirator. Later, when confronted by the FBI about these conversations, Lu denied that they occurred.

In October 2022, the FBI conducted a judicially authorized search of the illegal police station. In connection with the search, FBI agents interviewed both Lu and Chen and seized their phones. In reviewing the contents of these phones, FBI agents observed that communications between Lu and Chen, on the one hand, and the MPS Official, on the other, appeared to have been deleted. In subsequent consensual interviews, Lu and Chen admitted to the FBI that they had deleted their communications with the MPS Official after learning about the ongoing FBI investigation, thus preventing the FBI from learning the full extent of the MPS’s directions for the overseas police station.

If convicted of conspiring to act as agents of the PRC, the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The FBI New York Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit: www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression.

The charges in the complaint are merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source-FBI

FBI Statement on Investigations

By solomon2day
On 20/04/2023
In News

40 Officers of China’s National Police Charged in Transnational Repression Schemes Targeting U.S. Residents

Defendants Accused of Creating Fake Social Media Accounts to Harass PRC Dissidents, and Working with Employees of a U.S. Telecommunications Company to Remove Dissidents from Company’s Platform

Two criminal complaints filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York were unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging 44 defendants with various crimes related to efforts by the national police of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) – the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) – to harass Chinese nationals residing in the New York metropolitan area and elsewhere in the United States. The defendants, including 40 MPS officers and two officials in the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), allegedly perpetrated transnational repression schemes targeting U.S. residents whose political views and actions are disfavored by the PRC government, such as advocating for democracy in the PRC.

In the two schemes, the defendants created and used fake social media accounts to harass and intimidate PRC dissidents residing abroad and sought to suppress the dissidents’ free speech on the platform of a U.S. telecommunications company (Company-1). The defendants charged in these schemes are believed to reside in the PRC or elsewhere in Asia and remain at large.

“These cases demonstrate the lengths the PRC government will go to silence and harass U.S. persons who exercise their fundamental rights to speak out against PRC oppression, including by unlawfully exploiting a U.S.-based technology company,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “These actions violate our laws and are an affront to our democratic values and basic human rights.”

“China’s Ministry of Public Security used operatives to target people of Chinese descent who had the courage to speak out against the Chinese Communist Party – in one case by covertly spreading propaganda to undermine confidence in our democratic processes and, in another, by suppressing U.S. video conferencing users’ free speech,” said Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “We aren’t going to tolerate CCP repression – its efforts to threaten, harass, and intimidate people – here in the United States. The FBI will continue to confront the Chinese government’s efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country.”

Disclosure: U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York is recused from and has not participated in the case captioned United States v. Julien Jin et al., 20-mj-1103.

United States v. Yunpeng Bai, et al.

The two-count complaint charges 34 MPS officers with conspiracy to transmit interstate threats and conspiracy to commit interstate harassment. All the defendants are believed to reside in the PRC, and they remain at large.

As alleged, the officers worked with Beijing’s MPS bureau and are or were assigned to an elite task force called the “912 Special Project Working Group” (the Group). The purpose of the Group is to target Chinese dissidents located throughout the world, including in the United States.

“As alleged, the PRC government deploys its national police and the 912 Special Project Working Group not as an instrument to uphold the law and protect public safety, but rather as a troll farm that attacks persons in our country for exercising free speech in a manner that the PRC government finds disagreeable, and also spreads propaganda whose sole purpose is to sow divisions within the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “I commend the investigative team for comprehensively revealing the insidiousness of a state-directed criminal scheme directed at residents of the United States.”

The complaint alleges how members of the Group created thousands of fake online personas on social media sites, including Twitter, to target Chinese dissidents through online harassment and threats. These online personas also disseminated official PRC government propaganda and narratives to counter the pro-democracy speech of the Chinese dissidents. As alleged, for example, Group members created and maintained the fake social media accounts through temporary email addresses, posted official PRC government content, and interacted with other online users to avoid the appearance that the Group accounts were “flooding” a given social media platform. The Group tracks the performances of members in fulfilling their online responsibilities and rewards Group members who successfully operate multiple online personas without detection by the social media companies who host the platforms or by other users of the platforms.

The investigation also uncovered official MPS taskings to Group members to compose articles and videos based on certain themes targeting, for example, the activities of Chinese dissidents located abroad or the policies of the U.S. government.

As alleged, the defendants also attempted to recruit U.S. persons to act as unwitting agents of the PRC government by disseminating propaganda or narratives of the PRC government. On several occasions, the defendants used online personas to contact individuals assessed to be sympathetic and supportive of the PRC government’s narratives and asked these individuals to disseminate Group content.

In addition, Group members took repeated affirmative actions to have Chinese dissidents and their meetings removed from the platform of Company-1. For example, Group members disrupted a dissident’s efforts to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre through a videoconference by posting threats against the participants through the platform’s chat function. In another Company-1 videoconference on the topic of countering communism organized by a PRC dissident, Group members flooded the videoconference and drowned out the meeting with loud music and vulgar screams and threats directed at the pro-democracy participants.

United States v. Julien Jin, et al.

This amended complaint charges 10 individuals, including a former PRC-based Company-1 employee, six MPS officers, and two officials with the CAC, with conspiracy to commit interstate harassment and unlawful conspiracy to transfer means of identification. Nine of the defendants are believed to reside in the PRC and remain at large. The tenth defendant is believed to reside in Indonesia or the PRC and also remains at large.

“The amended complaint charging a former PRC-based employee of a U.S. telecommunications company illustrates the insider threat faced by U.S. companies operating in the PRC,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pokorny for the Eastern District of New York, who thanked Company-1 for its cooperation in the government’s investigation. “As alleged, Julien Jin and his co-conspirators in the Ministry of Public Security and Cyberspace Administration of China weaponized the U.S. telecommunications company he worked for to intimidate and silence dissenters and enforce PRC law to the detriment of Chinese activists in New York, among other places, who had sought refuge in this country to peacefully express their pro-democracy views.”

“These cases demonstrate that the Chinese Communist Party, once again, attempted to intimidate, harass, and suppress Chinese dissidents in the United States,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “In the United States, the freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the FBI will work tirelessly to defend everyone's right to speak freely without fear of retribution from the CCP. These complex investigations revealed an MPS-wide effort to repress individuals by using the U.S. communications platform and fake social media accounts to censor political and religious speech.”

In December 2020, the Department first announced charges against Julien Jin in connection with his efforts to disrupt a series of meetings on the Company-1 platform held in May and June 2020 commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. Jin served as Company-1’s primary liaison with PRC government law enforcement and intelligence services. In that capacity, he regularly responded to requests from the PRC government to terminate meetings and block users on Company-1’s video communications platform.

As detailed in the original complaint, Jin and others conspired to use Company-1’s U.S. systems to censor the political and religious speech of individuals located in the United States and elsewhere at the direction of the PRC government. For example, Jin and others disrupted meetings held on the Company-1 platform to discuss politically sensitive topics unacceptable to the PRC government – including the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Jin and his co-conspirators fabricated evidence of purported misconduct to cause U.S.-based employees of Company-1 to terminate the meetings.

The allegations in the amended complaint reveal that Jin worked directly with and took orders from defendants at the MPS and the CAC to disrupt meetings on the Company-1 platform and that the co-defendants had targeted U.S.-based dissidents’ speech on Company-1’s platform since 2018.

Starting in 2018, Jin and his co-defendants repeatedly sought to terminate video chat meetings organized by a Chinese dissident residing in New York City who has been a vocal critic of the PRC government and the Chinese Communist Party. After the CAC requested that Company-1 terminate the dissident’s meetings on the Company-1 platform, Jin worked to identify all accounts associated with the dissident, caused meetings related to the dissident to be hosted in a “quarantine zone” – that is, on a server with known lags in response time – and later worked to block all accounts associated with the dissident. Similarly, in 2019, Jin collaborated with the MPS and CAC to block accounts seeking to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the cases.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Antoinette N. Rangel, Ian C. Richardson, Nicholas J. Moscow and Jessica K. Weigel of the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases.

The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. Please visit: www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression.

Source-FBI

When Nation Building takes the Back Seat

By solomon2day
On 10/04/2023
In Solomon's Column

Nation Nigerians will soon heave a sigh of relief, after eight years of tortuous regulation of their behaviors by those in power today.

Indeed, participation in the decision making process during this period is a true reflection of democracy.

Sadly, additional organizations have been established to further regulate the behavior of Nigerians and in the process ''dehydrate'' them financially.

Political and career appointments in this administration exposed the fact that Nigeria is not a balanced federation revolving around the principles of justice, equity and fairness.

The insensitive leadership facilitated the entrenchment of economic stagnation at all levels of government; closely followed by the political mariginalization of the other geo-political zones. Indeed, the policies of the apex people's unfriendly policies of the apex bank in the country, have overshadowed the loyalty and commitment of Nigerians to nation building.

The Twilight Days

It is so sad that in the twilight days of the present administration, terrorism, banditry, killings and other violent crimes are on the increase. Are these what Nigerians will remember the outgoing administration for? Probably not.

Posts by solomon2day

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