Liberty Port

Posts by solomon2day

  • Remembrance-Mr. R.A Ande

    Forever in our hearts. Mrs. V.A Ande-Wife J. Ande-Daughter

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  • Remembrance - Mrs. B. ADEWUMI (1938-2006)

    15 years gone by, you are still in our minds. Bisi, Nike, Funke, TayoB.A Adewumi

  • Pharmacist Convicted for $1M Prescription Drug Fraud

    A federal jury in the Middle District of Florida convicted a Virginia man today for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $1 million in prescription drug benefits.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ronald A. Beasley II, 33, of Portsmouth, was the pharmacist in charge at NH Pharma, a pharmacy located in Lake Mary, Florida. Through NH Pharma, Beasley and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for expensive compound drug creams that they never actually purchased or dispensed, and instead provided Medicare patients an inexpensive compound drug cream not covered by Medicare. Inventory records showed that NH Pharma did not buy enough of the expensive prescription drugs to fill all the prescriptions NH Pharma billed to Medicare. In total, Beasley and his co-conspirators received more than $1 million in fraudulent proceeds from Medicare.

    Beasley was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge David Walker of the FBI Tampa Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Darren C. Halverson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    Source-FBI

  • Chinese High-Altitude Balloon Recovery

    Behind the Bureau’s role as the lead governing agency for the forensic examination of the Chinese high-altitude balloon

    High 3FBI special agents assigned to the Evidence Response Team process material recovered from the high-altitude balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina. In a news briefing on Thursday, senior FBI officials detailed the Bureau’s role as the lead governing agency for the forensic examination of the Chinese high-altitude balloon identified and shot down February 5 by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina. The Operational Technology Division and the Laboratory Division are working closely with subject matter experts from the Department of Defense—including the Naval Criminal Investigative Service—and other government agencies. Additionally, personnel from the FBI’s Washington, Columbia, Charlotte, and Norfolk field offices have deployed personnel, including ERT- and USERT-trained agents, to assist with the logistics of the recovery and analysis of the debris. Michael Paul, assistant director of the Operational and Technology Division (OTD), and Eric Pokorak, assistant director of the Laboratory Division, said it is too early in the investigation to determine the intent and capabilities of the balloon. Pokorak said much of the evidence remains underwater and that the FBI is coordinating further searches with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Dive teams from the FBI and U.S. Navy are working together. “We were on-scene late Sunday, on February 5, and the first evidence that was received was transported to Quantico and received late Monday, February 6,” he explained. Pokorak described the search area as a “large-scale scene” and said weather concerns in the next few days “may impact” evidence collection and the transportation of recovered items.

    High 1High 2Once the evidence is received at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, a team of experts engages in a decontamination process, Pokorak continued. “In simple terms, that is removing the salt water from the evidence itself. Rinsing and washing it so that it can be further processed.” The evidence recovered so far has been limited to surface findings, including the balloon (or canopy itself) some wiring, a tiny amount of electronics—but only a small portion of the payload. “We have not seen the payload where we expect to see the lion’s share of the electronics,” said Paul. “OTD deployed specialists to assist with screening and to specifically assess electronic components that might be recovered during the operation.”

    High 1High 2He said this investigation marks the first time the FBI Laboratory and OTD have responded to a “hot air balloon of this nature” and the processing of the corresponding scene. Paul said no “energetic or offensive material” has been detected but emphasized much of the evidence has yet to be recovered. Asked about the manufacturer of the balloon or whether its design was based on stolen intelligence, Paul said the FBI is not in position “at this point to have that information.” He said both the FBI Laboratory and OTD are working to determine the source of the balloon components. Additionally, the FBI has no information or physical evidence at this time that contradicts previous statements made by other government agencies. The Laboratory Division leads the collection, transportation, and subsequent forensic examinations of evidentiary material. It is staffed with subject matter experts, including highly trained evidence response dive teams and hazardous evidence response teams, which contribute to the mission of collecting, analyzing, and sharing timely scientific and technical information within the FBI and with other government and law enforcement agencies. The OTD is the FBI’s provenance for applied technology enabling and enhancing investigations. OTD personnel have been deployed to assist with recovery efforts and initial assessments of technological evidence. Source-FBI

  • The Stubborn Refusal to Learn from History

    Complicit 11963/64, 1983, 1993, and 2003 are significant years in Nigeria's history.

    A number of political office holders may have learnt a lot of lessons from history, even though others have become perpetual learners and have continually repeated avoidable mistakes of the past.

    In a number of days to come, Nigerians will elect a brand new President and the statutorily stipulated lawmakers.

    Sadly, February 25th, a date that ought to attract happiness and hopes for Nigerians, has become a source of great worry.

    This date will serve as the long awaited JUDGMENT day for Nigerians to either reward good governance or effect a change in the present status quo, where and if necessary, in the center and the 36 states on March 11.

    Indeed, the gloomy faces of Nigerians constitute a major indication that the democratic experience has been that of despondency, anguish, sorrow and bitterness.

    Without doubt, the journey has been a political mis-adventure directed by the political class, who have, overtime, displayed a stubborn resolve not to learn any lessons from history.

    The Truth in Agonies and Hardships

    A school thought has it that the agonies, hardships and difficulties, Nigerians are presently experiencing were deliberately designed to make the electorate vulnerable to evil influences on election days. Perhaps this is true.

  • Be Conscious of Evil

    Be conscious of those with evil intentions who quietly penetrate gatherings of the gospel to counterfeit and discredit that which is of God.

    Mark 9 : 35-50

    35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

  • Be Conscious of Time

    Timing is crucial to success in business.

    Identify a project, work on it and implement it at the appropriate time.

    Let your project revolve around the preferences of customers for you to achieve satisfactory results.

  • As the General Elections Approaches

    Nigerians are hopeful that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) will justify the mind-boggling money the Federal Government set aside for the successful conduct of the general elections.

    This will become a reality if the elections are free, fair and credible.

    However, the violent crimes occurring on a daily basis in different parts of Nigeria is a major threat to the smooth conduct of the elections.

    Of worry, is the safety of lives and property.

    The electoral umpire has already made public, selected observers for the elections and part of that allocation will be for the observers.

    The journey so far, has been a far cry from what Nigerians envisaged when the present administration mounted the saddle in 2015.

    Indeed, the chairman and Resident Electoral Commissioners(REC) in the states where elections will take place should be above board and ought to maintain a non-partisan attitude before, during and after the elections, to ensure that the confidence reposed in them by the Nigerians does not wane.

    In the same vein, other categories of officials of the INEC ought to be mindful of their responsibilities by not engaging in acts that will undermine the smooth conduct of the general elections.

    Violent crimes

    Community leaders, elders and residents, landlords and tenants associations in communities in Nigeria ought to be held responsible for lawlessness and criminality in their domains, since they live and know those who are involved. The law enforcement agencies must cease to scratch the surface and act according to the dictates of their primary duties

  • Meditation

    Cultivate the habit of meditating 12 minutes each day to develop your brain.

    The benefits of this exercise include greater mental capacity, reduced stress and an increased sense of joy.

    Meditation adequately prepares you for the day's activities.

  • Draw out your Schedule

    For you to be assured of success, draw out your daily schedule. 

    Define each task on your schedule each day and ensure you carry them out for the best results.

    This will give you self-worth and a sense of accomplishment.

  • Debts and the 2023 General Elections

    Nigerians are now very worried and are asking several questions over the present debt situation of the Federal and State governments.

    In recent years, the government at all levels have failed to exhibit a high sense of responsibility in managing borrowed funds. Are the incurred debts at a sustainable level?

    Nigerians wish to know.

    Obviously, the heavy indebtedness of a number of states is a reflection of the major reason why those in authority occupy public offices.

    Indeed, the lack of prudence in the management and utilization of borrowed funds and the disability of measures that will guarantee transparency are two major characteristics of debt management in the country.

    The country's debt profile is disturbing, while the capacity of the different levels of government to manage their debts is questionable.

    Most importantly, the domestic debt data of all the states ought to be made public for Nigerians to know the financial status of these states.

    This will go a long way to determining the fate of preferred candidates for elective positions in the 2023 general elections.

    Sadly, millions of Naira have been frittered away to promote the activities of cultists, hoodlums and other categories of criminals by Those-in-Charge, as can be seen in the Olorunsogo, Molete, Felele, Scout camp and other communities in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, just as the crowd at available sources of doubtful sources of water establishes the fact that development is still a mirage.

    Note- The liability value of appendages of serious candidates for elective offices in the 2023 general elections in the guise of political party candidates is not only a disservice to democracy, but also a threat to the electoral process.

  • In Close Fellowship with God

    Believers who sustain a very close fellowship with God have all it takes to neutralize the most oppressive darkness and adverse situations.

    2 Samuel 22 : 1-7

    1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

  • Insecurity, Economic Hardships and Uncollected PVCs will affect elections-Prof. Olagoke

    IndexThe actual population of displaced Nigerians is still unknown. These bonafide citizens were displaced majorly by violent crimes and economic hardships.

    The suggestion is that the uncollected Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) belong to the displaced Nigerians.

    In this piece, the Founder, Spiritual head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu OlagokeJP warns that the unending insecurity, economic hardships and the large number of uncollected PVCs will impact negatively on the 202 general elections. Excerpts:

    Nigerians are apathetic to matters relating to the collection of their Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) to be able to be eligible to vote in the 2023 general elections because of the perceived disturbing state of the nation.

    For example, the high prices of consumables and essential commodities coupled with the prohibitive prices of petroleum products has made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians.

    The result is the hunger, poverty and high unemployment rate in the country. Indeed, the organized attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission's(INEC)offices across the country by the enemies of the state has not helped matters.

    The terrible state of security in the South East is also an issue. Nigerians in this part of the country live daily in fear. However, it is wrong for Nigerians to continue to cry over bad governance and the poor conditions of living without working to rekindle their hopes for a real change which the 2023 general elections may bring about, by producing the right leader who will not only transform the nation, but also carry out major reforms.

    There is therefore, the need for the uncollected PVCs to be claimed to ensure that eligible voters are involved in the electoral process because this is one of the ways we can fix Nigeria.

    The collection of the PVCs will ensure that Nigerians participate in the electoral process because if we fail to choose a credible leader, a random person will lead us.

    Therefore, we must all realize that the power of electing candidates of choice depends on the collection of the PVCs by the electorate.

    The failure to collect the PVCs will negatively affect the coming elections. Efforts should be geared towards encouraging Nigerians to collect their PVCs, by making the collection process easier than the process of registration. The INEC must also improve its communication strategy to ensure that all eligible voters are adequately informed on the need for them to exercise their voting rights.

  • The Art of Listening

    Explore the potential of listening to achieve success.

    You can generate sales through listening.

    When you have compassion, you will be able to listen. For you to unlock difficult situations, listen.

    Listening makes a difference in every interpersonal interaction.

  • Former Political Staffer Admits Role in Scheme to Defraud Campaigns and Political Action Committees

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County man who previously served as a staff member in the New Jersey Senate today admitted his role in a conspiracy to falsely inflate the invoices that a political consultant submitted to various campaigns, political action committees, and IRS 501(c)(4) organizations, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.  

    Antonio Teixeira, 43, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. 

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    From 2014 to 2018, Teixeira conspired with Sean Caddle, and Caddle’s political consulting firms, to defraud various campaigns, political action committees, and 501(c)(4) organizations of $107,800. Teixeira then failed to report this illicit income on tax forms that he filed with the IRS during those same years. 

    Caddle was hired by a former New Jersey state senator to create the PACs and 501(c)(4)s so that they could raise and spend money to advocate on a variety of issues, including supporting particular candidates in local races around New Jersey. Teixeira served as the senator’s chief of staff and wielded influence over the consultants that the campaigns and organizations hired and the budgets that each of these organizations would receive. 

    Teixeira and Caddle conspired to falsely inflate the invoices that Caddle’s consulting firms submitted to the campaigns, PACs and 501(c)(4)s with phony campaign-related expenditures. Caddle and Teixeira were fraudulently padding the invoices because they agreed to split the difference between Caddle’s actual campaign expenditures and the overage charged to the organizations. Caddle paid a portion of Teixeira’s share to him in cash and funneled the remainder to Teixeira via checks made to out to Teixeira’s relatives in order to conceal that campaign money was being kicked back to Teixeira. In total, Teixeira received more than $100,000. Although Teixeira pocketed these fraudulent proceeds and used the money for personal expenses, he never reported the money on the tax forms that he filed with the IRS during the course of the scheme.

    The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of 20 years, while the tax evasion charge carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison. Both charges are also punishable by a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2023.

    U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy L. Tomlins, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Farrell, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit, and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee M. Cortes Jr.

    Source-FBI

  • Open Defecation-Govt Should Empower Stakeholders-Prof. Olagoke

    Prof 4The government at all levels in Nigeria has been called upon to empower relevant stakeholders in the environment sector as a step toward ending open defecation in the country.

    This call was made on Friday by the Founder, Spiritual head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke in an address titled ''SAY NO TO OPEN DEFECATION'' at the commissioning of the comfort house for the Shafudeeen national headquarters' mosque, Shafautedo, Apata-Omi-Adio road, Ibadan Nigeria.

    ''This calls for government empowerment of stakeholders-Town Planning Authority(Urban and Regional planning)as well as the Sanitary Inspectors to enforce people's compliance in every built scheme with effective sensitization on the essence of hygiene protocol to keep every place clean to avoid breakout of diseases and add value to the necessary beautification effect of the environment for healthy living.''

    ''Comfort House is an essential utility for the home and public places to be hygiene protocol compliant. Built houses must respect the sanitary laws of every compound area to be free of open space defecation,'' Prof. Olagoke stated.

    In another development, Prof. Olagoke has advised media practitioners to discharge their duties with the fear of God and shun all sinful behaviors.

    He gave this advice at a special Jumat thanksgiving  service  held att eh Shafudeen national headquarters mosque for members of the Oyo state chapter of the  Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers' Union of Nigeria(RATTAWU)

    ''Media practitioners should have the fear of God and shun all sinful behaviors. The promise of God would never fail, put your hopes on God. Your work is full of hazards, God shall always guide you and will not leave you. We pray that God will always guide and protect you, '' He prayed.

    In his remarks, the chairman of RATTAWU, Comrade Adebayo Aribatise opined thanked God for everything saying,'' we are here to appreciate God for all He has done for us and in addition, I would like to admonish my members and everyone in the media to be devoted to their duties to justify the salaries they receive. On our part, we shall continue to engage with our employers to ensure that the welfare of our members is given the deserved attention.''
     

  • Chinese Estate Developer's Coy Docked for Corruption

    Chinese Real Estate Developer’s L.A.-Based Company Found Guilty of Paying Over $1 Million in Bribes to L.A. Politician José Huizar

    LOS ANGELES – Based on the actions of its agents, including its billionaire Chinese real estate developer owner, a downtown Los Angeles-based company was found guilty today of paying more than $1 million in bribes – including luxury trip expenses, casino gambling chips and a sham loan – to then-Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar to obtain city approval to build a 77-story skyscraper.

              After the jury deliberated for less than three hours, Shen Zhen New World I LLC was found guilty of all eight counts it faced: three counts of honest service wire fraud, four counts of interstate and foreign travel in aid of bribery, and one count of bribery.

              The owner of Shen Zhen – Wei Huang, 57, a resident of Shenzhen, China, who also maintains a residence in San Marino – is also charged in this case, but he has yet to make a court appearance in this matter. He is a fugitive believed to be in China.

              According to evidence presented at trial, in 2010, Shen Zhen – on behalf of its owner – purchased the L.A. Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The property was located in the 14th City Council District, whose representative at that time was José Huizar. As part of his roles on the Los Angeles City Council, Huizar was the chairman of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, commonly referred to as the PLUM Committee, which oversaw major commercial and residential development projects in the city.

              In June 2018, Shen Zhen filed an application with the Los Angeles City Planning Department to redevelop the L.A. Grand Hotel into a skyscraper featuring a mix of residential and commercial uses.

              From February 2013 to November 2018, Shen Zhen, acting through Huang, provided Huizar and his aide George Esparza with cash, casino gambling chips, flights on private jets and commercial airlines, stays at luxury Las Vegas hotels and casinos, expensive meals, spa services, prostitution services, political contributions, and a $600,000 collateral for Huizar to confidentially settle a pending sexual harassment lawsuit against Huizar by a former staffer that threatened his career.

              At the time Shen Zhen provided these items, it did so intending to influence Huizar to take official acts to benefit the L.A. Grand Hotel redevelopment project, a project that would have transformed Shen Zhen’s hotel into a 77-floor mixed use skyscraper that would have been the tallest such structure west of the Mississippi River.

              Specifically, Shen Zhen intended that Huizar benefit the project by presenting motions and resolutions in various city committees; voting on the project in the PLUM Committee and City Council; taking action in the PLUM Committee to expedite the approval process of the project; exerting pressure on other city officials to influence the approval process of the project; and introducing and voting on city resolutions to enhance the professional reputation and marketability of Wei Huang.

              United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a January 23, 2023 sentencing hearing, at which time the company is expected to face a multi-million dollar fine.

              Huizar and former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, which include racketeering conspiracy and multiple bribery counts, and are scheduled to go to trial on February 21, 2023. Esparza pleaded guilty in July 2020 to one count of racketeering conspiracy, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2023.

              Federal prosecutors have now convicted a total of nine defendants along with receiving over $3 million in criminal penalties to resolve their investigation into two other major real estate development companies, as a result of Operation “Casino Loyale,” the ongoing corruption investigation into Los Angeles City Hall being conducted by the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office.

              Salvador Huizar, José Huizar’s brother who testified as a witness for the prosecution in the Shen Zhen trial and is expected to testify at his brother’s trial, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15, 2023 after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of making false statements to federal investigators.

              In the first Huizar-related trial in this case, a federal jury on June 27 found real estate developer Dae Yong Lee, a.k.a. David Lee, 57, of Bel Air, and 940 Hill LLC, a Lee-controlled company, guilty of felony charges, including fraud and bribery, for providing $500,000 in cash to Huizar and his special assistant in exchange for their help in resolving a labor organization’s appeal of their downtown Los Angeles development project. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for January 30, 2023.

              Assistant United States Attorney Mack E. Jenkins, Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Assistant United States Attorneys Susan S. Har and J. Jamari Buxton, also of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castañeda of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, are prosecuting this case.

              Any member of the public who has information related to this or any other public corruption matter in the City of Los Angeles is encouraged to send information to the FBI’s email tip line at pctips-losangeles@fbi.gov or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
    Source-FBI

  • 2023-Igbos are expecting to hear from us-Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie

    AnozieFor some time, now a number of faceless individuals have been parading themselves as the leaders of Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state for self-centered reasons. In light of the worrisome development of the Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie warns Nigerians to be wary of such individuals.

    Excerpt: Any individual or group who allows himself/themselves to be deceived by some people is/ are on their own. Everyone knows the genuine leader of the Igbos in Oyo state. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry knows the authentic leadership of the Igbos in Oyo state, and I Eze(Dr.) Chukwudum Alex Anozie, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, and the Ohaneze/Igbo Community Development Association(ICDA) ably led by the President, Chief Emma Nididi Nzeako, we are the true leadership in Ibadan and Oyo state. God has confirmed this, Ndigbo who chose us has confirmed this, and the courts also confirmed this, so anybody or group who allows himself/themselves to be deceived by anybody is on his own because politics has come up again. This is an electioneering dispensation. Mushroom groupings are springing up. After the elections, you will not hear them again. Igbos are expecting to hear from us the leadership on the way forward.

  • Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

     Defendant Plotted a Terrorist Attack Targeting a Pittsburgh Church

    A Pennsylvania man was sentenced yesterday to 208 months, more than 17 years, in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, aka ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

    Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 24, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty in the Western District of Pennsylvania on Sept. 16, 2021 to one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS in connection with his plan to attack a church in Pittsburgh.

    “Alowemer admitted to planning a deadly bombing of a Pittsburgh church in the name of ISIS,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The National Security Division was created to protect the nation from terrorist threats and we remain vigilant against those who would plot violent attacks on U.S. soil in furtherance of an extreme ideology.”

    “The defendant’s plan to bomb a Pittsburgh church and risk death or injury to residents in the area in the name of ISIS was thwarted by the extraordinary work of the Pittsburgh Joint Terrorism Task Force,” said U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Our office will continue to hold accountable individuals who threaten the safety of our communities.”

    “I want to commend the great work of our Joint Terrorism Task Force, and that of their partners and sources, in successfully thwarting a planned terrorist attack in the name of ISIS,” said Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Alowemer’s plan to conduct an attack at a church in Pittsburgh and inspire other ISIS supporters in the United States was unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of law enforcement officials at both the federal and state level. This sentencing demonstrates the commitment we share with our partners to pursuing justice against those who violate our laws and seek to harm innocents in our communities.”

    According to court documents, Alowemer plotted to bomb a church located on the north side of Pittsburgh using an explosive device. His stated motivation to conduct such an attack was to support the cause of ISIS and to inspire other ISIS supporters in the United States to join together and commit similar acts in the name of ISIS. Alowemer also targeted the church, which he described as a “Nigerian Christian” church, to “take revenge for our [ISIS] brothers in Nigeria.” Alowemer was aware that numerous people in the proximity of the church could be killed by the explosion.

    In furtherance of the plot to bomb the church, in May 2019, Alowemer distributed multiple instructional documents related to the construction and use of explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to an individual Alowemer believed to be a fellow ISIS supporter, but who was in fact an FBI employee. Alowemer distributed these documents with the intent that the information be used in the assembly of a destructive device and in furtherance of conducting an attack in support of ISIS. In or around June 2019, Alowemer purchased several items, including nails and acetone (nail polish remover), with the belief that they were necessary to assemble a destructive device and with the intention they be used to construct the explosives that would be detonated in the vicinity of the church.

    Between April 16 and June 11, Alowemer met four times in person with an FBI Undercover Employee (UCE) and/or an FBI Confidential Human Source (CHS). At the June 11 meeting with the UCE and CHS, Alowemer provided additional details about the bomb plot and provided the materials, including boxes of nails, he had purchased for construction of the device. Alowemer provided printed copies of detailed Google satellite maps, which included hand-written markings identifying the church and routes of arrival and escape. Alowemer also wrote and provided a 10-point handwritten plan outlining details related to his plot to personally deliver explosives in a backpack. Alowemer expressed a desire to meet one more time to conduct planning and coordination prior to carrying out the attempted bombing in July 2019. That meeting was later scheduled for June 19 in the Pittsburgh area, at which time Alowemer was arrested.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorneys Brenda Sue Thornton and S. Elisa Poteat of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force members who were directly involved in this investigation include: FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Port Authority Police, Allegheny County Probation, University of Pittsburgh Police Department and UPMC Police Security.

    Source-FBI

  • Avoid Alcohol and Illicit substances- ACOMORAN Chairman to Members

    Members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders And Owners Association(ACOMORAN) have been warned to shun the use of alcohol and illicit substances when on duty.

    This warning was handed down by the association's chairman in Oyo state, Dr. Solomon Olugbode in a chat with People.

    ''Alcohol and drugs will only make you dull or make you over confident. That is why it is not proper to take alcohol or substances when you drive or cycle. It is dangerous to the health, members should avoid it,''Dr. Olugbode stated.