Dons EzeI MAY NOT SURVIVE THIS – POPE FRANCIS TELLS AIDES
I MAY NOT SURVIVE THIS – POPE FRANCIS TELLS AIDES Pope Francis has reportedly told confidants that he may not be able to survive a case of pneumonia. The pontiff has been hospitalised since last week after doctors reportedly told him he was at risk of dying if he stayed at the Vatican. The Pope was rushed to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday with significant chest pain. Prior to that, he had resisted calls to leave the Vatican for days. Doctors at the hospital diagnosed him with a ‘complex’ respiratory infection and barred him from taking part in several engagements. The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that ”Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture.” According to the statement, the infection is of particular concern because the Pope had part of his lung removed many years ago. According to a report by Politico, Francis told two people close to him that he ‘might not make it this time’. The report claimed that the Pope had in recent weeks moved to ‘tie up loose ends’ and ensure the continuation of his legacy at a politically sensitive time for the Catholic Church.
I MAY NOT SURVIVE THIS – POPE FRANCIS TELLS AIDES
I MAY NOT SURVIVE THIS – POPE FRANCIS TELLS AIDES Pope Francis has reportedly told confidants that he may not be able to survive a case of pneumonia. The pontiff has been hospitalised since last week after doctors reportedly told him he was at risk of dying if he stayed at the Vatican. The Pope was rushed to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday with significant chest pain. Prior to that, he had resisted calls to leave the Vatican for days. Doctors at the hospital diagnosed him with a ‘complex’ respiratory infection and barred him from taking part in several engagements. The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that ”Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture.” According to the statement, the infection is of particular concern because the Pope had part of his lung removed many years ago. According to a report by Politico, Francis told two people close to him that he ‘might not make it this time’. The report claimed that the Pope had in recent weeks moved to ‘tie up loose ends’ and ensure the continuation of his legacy at a politically sensitive time for the Catholic Church.
NNAMDI KANU VS BINTA NYAKO: DETAILS OF WHAT TRANSPIRED IN COURT
NNAMDI KANU Vs BINTA NAKO: DETAILS OF WHAT TRANSPIRED IN COURT BACKGROUNDOn September 24, Nyako recused herself from Kanu’s case after an oral application by the defendant “I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the chief judge,” she had said.Kanu directly told Nyako that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.However, John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high court, returned the file to Nyako on the ground that Kanu’s application must be formally brought before the court through a motion on notice. Consequently, in a letter dated December 5, 2024, and addressed to the deputy chief registrar, Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial. Opposing the request for a trial date, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s counsel, in a letter dated December 9, 2024 said the ruling of the judge recusing herself remains valid.Subsequently, Ejimakor asked that the case be transferred to a federal high court in the south-east if no judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it. ROWDY COURT SESSIONAt the resumed session on February 10, Awomolo told the court that the prosecution counsels have filed and served all necessary processes in the suit and that they were ready to proceed with trial. However, Ejimakor insisted that was not the issue before the court.Nyako explained that although she does not want to preside over the case, the chief judge has refused her recusal and directed the defendant to file a formal motion asking for a reassignment of the case to another judge. While the lawyers in the suit argued over whether a formal motion was required, Kanu interjected: “I want to speak”, he hollered.Asked by the judge if he wanted to take over from his lawyer, the defendant said: “Yes, I want to take over.” The separatist said he was only in court because of the respect he had for the court, but that Nyako no longer had the jurisdiction to preside over his case following her recusal in September.Raging at the prosecution counsel, Kanu said: “A grown-up man like you who should be in the village and who should be making sure that things are done properly is here subverting the law.” Addressing the judge, he bellowed: “I don’t recognise the authority of this court to preside over my case. Everything you said here is meaningless to me.“Why is it that when it comes to my case, everything is turned upside-down?” He said the memo sent by the chief judge returning the case file to Nyako cannot override the enrolled order of the court made on September 24. Told by the judge that he was at liberty to appeal the directive of the chief judge, Kanu said: “If the chief judge disagrees, he should appeal the decision. “You cannot preside over this case, not now, not today, not ever. You stand recused and you must leave my case. I don’t need you in my case. You are biased. Tell the chief judge that Nnamdi Kanu said so.“This is not a court of law, this is a shrine to injustice and I will not subject myself to it.”In his submission, Awomolo asked the court to fix a date for trial. “In view of the fact that the defendant has indicated that he would not make a formal application, I apply that your lordship gives us a definite date for trial,” Awomolo prayed. “Because of money they are paying you from the AGF’s office, a grown-up man like you is here supporting evil. The rule of law says you should go on appeal,” Kanu replied. “The same chief justice writing this stupid memo, I have recused him before. He sat on appeal, I took…
NIGERIA GETS WORLD BANK $1.5BN LOAN FOR SUBSIDY REMOVAL, TAX BILLS
NIGERIA GETS WORLD BANK $1.5BN LOAN FOR SUBSIDY REMOVAL, TAX BILLS The World Bank has fully disbursed a $1.5bn loan to Nigeria following the Federal Government’s implementation of key reforms, including removing fuel subsidies and introducing comprehensive tax policies. The loan, part of the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing initiative, is among the fastest disbursements Nigeria has received with both tranches released in less than six months. According to a World Bank document, the loan was approved on June 13, 2024, with the first tranche of $750m disbursed on July 2, 2024. The second tranche, tied to the fulfilment of specific economic reform conditions, was disbursed in November 2024. This rapid disbursement contrasts with other loan programmes, which typically experience delays due to slow or partial implementation of conditions. For more context, another loan of $750m was approved on the same day (June 13, 2024) for the Accelerating Resource Mobilisation Reforms Programme for Results project in Nigeria. The World Bank has only disbursed about $1.88m to Nigeria at the time of filing this story, which is less than one per cent of the total approved $750m for the ARMOR project. The $1.5bn loan disbursed to Nigeria was structured in two tranches with different maturity periods. The first tranche was a $750m credit from the International Development Association, featuring a 12-year maturity and a six-year grace period. The second tranche, a $750m loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has a 24-year repayment period with an 11-year grace period. The World Bank document read, “This document summarises the progress made under the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing for the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Borrower or Recipient), which was approved by the Executive Directors on June 13, 2024. “The DPF is a standalone operation comprised of two tranches: (1) first tranche comprising $750m credit from the International Development Association (Association) (Shorter Maturity Loan terms with 12-year maturity and grace period of 6 years, Credit No. 7567-NG); and (2) second tranche comprising $750m loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Bank) (US dollar-denominated, commitment-linked loan with 24-year maturity and grace period of 11 years, Loan No.9683-NG). “The Financing Agreement and Loan Agreement were signed and declared effective on June 19, 2024 and June 26, 2024, respectively. The first tranche was released on July 2, 2024.” While the document itself did not clearly state when the disbursement for the second tranche was made, further findings showed that Nigeria got a $750m disbursement from the World Bank in November. According to the document, a critical reform that unlocked the second tranche was the removal of fuel subsidies. The World Bank commended the government for not only meeting the condition but exceeding expectations by fully deregulating the fuel market. The document noted, “In terms of implementation, while the TRC [Tranche Release Conditions] formulation required introducing the change over a specified time-bound implementation period, the Borrower has moved ahead and made the change immediately, thereby overachieving the TRC in this respect. “Effective October 2024, the price of PMS has been determined by the international market and the exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Nigeria.” This move has allowed petrol prices to align with international market rates and exchange rates, effectively ending the implicit subsidies that had burdened public finances. Fuel prices have increased more than fivefold since the reform process began in mid-2023, a change that has drawn both praise for its fiscal prudence and criticism for its impact on living costs. In addition to removing fuel subsidies, the Federal Government introduced sweeping tax reforms aimed at improving revenue mobilisation. The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, submitted to the National Assembly, proposes a gradual increase…
MOTHER KILLS SON WHO CAUGHT HER SLEEPING WITH HIS GRANDFATHER
MOTHER KILLS SON WHO CAUGHT HER SLEEPING WITH HIS GRANDFATHER A mother who murdered her eight-year-old son when he found out she was having an affair with his Grandfather has been jailed for 30 years… A mother who murdered her eight-year-old son when he found out she was having an affair with his Grandfather has been jailed for 30 years in Italy. The woman Veronica Panarello, was reported to have throttled her son Loris Stival, 8, with electrical cables Veronica claimed that the boy had discovered her affair with his grandfather, Andrea Stival. Panarello had tried to pretend her son had been abducted, telling police she had taken him to school and that he had disappeared by the time she came to collect him in the afternoon. Police investigations revealed she was lying. She was found guilty of the boy’s murder and of concealing a body. When Panarello confessed that her son had been killed, she blamed her husband’s father Andrea Stival. Although he denies the accusation and is threatening to sue his daughter-in-law for slander, Stival is being investigated as an accessory to murder.