Shakira In The Dock In Spanish Tax Fraud Case

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Shakira In The Dock In Spanish Tax Fraud Case

The 46-year-old was accused of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) on income earned between 2012 and 2014, charges denied by the singer who says she only moved to Spain full time in 2015.

Colombian singer Shakira attends the inauguration of the Nuevo Bosque Pies Descalzos School, supported by her Pies Descalzos Foundation, in El Bosque neighbourhood in Barranquilla, Colombia, on September 16, 2023. 

 

Colombian superstar Shakira goes on trial in Barcelona on Monday in a tax fraud case, with Spanish prosecutors seeking a jail term of over eight years for the Grammy-winning singer.

They accuse the 46-year-old of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) on income earned between 2012 and 2014, charges denied by the singer who says she only moved to Spain full time in 2015.

The case centres on how much time the singer, whose hit singles include “Hips Don’t Lie”, “Whenever, Wherever” and the 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka”, spent in Spain between 2012 and 2014.

Spanish authorities allege Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll — dubbed the Queen of Latin Pop — spent more than half of that period in Spain and therefore should have paid taxes in the country.

They say she moved to Spain after her relationship with former FC Barcelona star defender Gerard Pique became public in 2011, but maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.

In its indictment, the prosecution claims that Shakira “used a set of companies” based in tax havens “with the intention of not paying” tax in Spain.

Prosecutors are seeking a jail term of eight years and two months, and a fine of nearly 24 million euros ($24 million dollars) for the singer.

Shakira’s lawyers say that until 2014, she was leading a “nomadic life” and earned most of her money from international tours, and that she moved permanently to Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in January 2015.

“I’ve paid everything they claimed I owed, even before they filed a lawsuit. So, as of today, I owe zero to them,” the singer said in an interview published in Elle magazine in 2022.

Shakira announced her split from Pique in June 2022 after a decade-long relationship, ending what had been one of the world’s most famous celebrity couples. She moved to Miami in April with their two sons, Milan and Sasha.

Her high-profile trial is set to get underway at a Barcelona court at 10 am (0900 GMT). It is expected to run until December 14, with the court scheduled to hear from nearly 120 witnesses.

While the singer is expected to take the stand on the opening session of the trial, she may request permission from the court to not be present at the remaining hearings.

Details of her private life will likely emerge during the proceedings since Spanish prosecutors carried out a meticulous investigation to prove their case.

They interviewed her neighbours, tracked her images on social networks, checked payments at hairdressers and even the health clinic she attended during her pregnancy to prove their accusation.

Questions about Shakira’s finances have been raised before.

The Latina superstar was named in one of the largest-ever leaks of financial documents in October 2021, known as the “Pandora Papers”, which revealed the wealth and tax avoidance strategies of the global rich, in her case relating to residence in the Bahamas.

Spain has in recent years cracked down on celebrities like football stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for not paying their full due in taxes.

Both players were found guilty of evasion and received prison sentences that were waived for first-time offenders.

Shakira’s former partner Pique was himself convicted of tax fraud in 2016 and later ordered to pay the tax office 2.1 million euros.

The singer picked up three awards at the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville in southern Spain on Thursday, including for song of the year and best pop song for her collaboration with Argentine DJ Bizarrap on “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”.

The track takes swipes at her former partner Pique and includes a reference to being left with a “debt to the tax office”. It has been played almost 1.5 billion times on Spotify and YouTube.

Kwara Police Arrest One Over Murder Of Poly Student

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Kwara Police Arrest One Over Murder Of Poly Student

The 23-year-old female student was allegedly hacked to death in a rented apartment located outside the polytechnic campus last Thursday.

Kwara is a state in the North-Central zone of Nigeria.

Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested one suspect in connection with the dastard killing of a Higher National Diploma (HND) female student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Toyin Bamidele.

In a statement signed by the state Police commissioner, Victor Olaiya, the suspect is currently helping police in their investigation, just as the Command expressed its determination to get to the root of the crime.

The 23-year-old female student was allegedly hacked to death in a rented apartment located outside the polytechnic campus on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

The incident was confirmed to journalists on Friday night by a spokesman for the institution, Folake Oyinloye, who said that the development was strange in the history of the institution.

Narrating the graphic details of the death, the police boss in the statement, said, “Preliminary investigation at the scene revealed some marks of violence on the face and neck regions of the body.

“The body was removed to Wale Clinic and Hospital, where the deceased was certified dead by a medical practitioner.

“The body of the deceased has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.

“One suspect has been apprehended in connection with the case. He is presently helping the Police in investigation.

“The command wishes to advise members of the public to be conscious and vigilant during this period, as evil men are prowling looking for what and who to devour.”

Super Eagles Held To Draw By Zimbabwe

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Super Eagles Held To Draw By Zimbabwe

It was not the start they were looking for as Zimbabwe’s Musona hit a perfect 30-meter free kick in the 26th minute to beat Nigeria's shot stopper Francis Uzoho.

FILE: The Super Eagle missed the 2022 World Cup. X@NGSuperEagles

 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Sunday were held to a 1-1 draw by the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their second match of World Cup qualifiers at the Huye Stadium in Rwanda.

The pressure was on the Super Eagles as they needed a positive result after an underwhelming draw against Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium last Thursday.

It was not the start they were looking for as Zimbabwe’s Musona hit a perfect 30-meter free kick in the 26th minute to beat Nigeria’s shot stopper Francis Uzoho.

The 2013 AFCON champions who had their point man Victor Osimhen as well as Taiwo Awoniyi struggled to impose themselves on the game with Zimbabwe emerging the stronger side at half time.

Jose Peseiro would make three changes at halftime,bringing on Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho and Osayi-Samuel, for Ola Oina, Onyeka and Nathan Tella.

And Peseiro’s men were duly rewarded with a 67th-minute goal from Iheanacho, who fired a shot just inside the left post to equalize for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria kept on searching for the winning goal in the closing stages of the match but the Warriors remained resolute in defence.

Source: Channel TV

NBA SPIDEL Sentences Obaseki's Refusal To Swear In Judges

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NBA SPIDEL Sentences Obaseki's Refusal To Swear In Judges

    Ad The Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has portrayed as a maltreatment of office and a break

A file photo of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State

The Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has described as an abuse of office and a breach of constitutional powers, the refusal of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to swear in judges recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment in the state.

In a proclamation by its Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins and its Secretary, Funmi Adeogun, SPIDEL requested the quick affirmation of the appointment of the eight legal officials which had been made since June 2023.

"The Deputy of the Governor of Edo State to swear-in these Judicial Officials is a protected commitment and not one to be seen at the joy of the Governor.

"Subsequently, the proceeded with deferral to swearing-in the new Judicial officials is a maltreatment of force and a through and through dismissal for the appointment of the Constitution of the Government Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered)," the assertion read.

Refering to the provisions of Section 271(2) of the Constitution, SPIDEL said that Obaseki's inability to swear in the appointed authorities has occasioned a weakness to the justice conveyance framework in the state, adding that there is right now a lack of Judges to take care of the rising number of cases in this manner overburdening the current Judicial scholars in the state with extraordinary responsibility.

"Besides, this postponement has enormously debilitated the monetary method for the assigned Judicial officials who are all at present sitting away with practically no method for food for them as well as their families as they can no more, by uprightness of their appointment as judicial officials, practice as judicial Lawyers.

"In the illumination of the prior, SPIDEL unequivocally requests the swearing-in of the Judicial Officials assign by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. We trust that the Governor will act in like manner and play out his unavoidably forced obligations to guarantee that the equity conveyance framework in Edo State isn't totally disabled.

"Once more, the lamentable situation in Edo State by which the Governor, an individual from the Chairman, has held the judicial executive by the throat, brings to front the overall need to totally protect the Leader arm of Government from the arrangement cycle of Judicial officials or, best case scenario, permit the chief or some other arm of government to assume a just ostensible part all the while," SPIDEL expressed.

Court Sacks Mutfwang As Plateau Governor

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Court Sacks Mutfwang As Plateau Governor

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to him.

 Caleb Mutfwang

 

The Appeal Court in Abuja has sacked the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.

In her ruling on Sunday, the lead Justice, Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Nentawe Goshwe.

Justice Williams-Dawodu set aside the judgment of the Tribunal which affirmed the election of Governor Mutfwang, describing it as highly incompetent.

According to the court, the decision of the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the APC and its candidate on the ground that the duo had no business meddling in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform Mutfwang was elected is in breach of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 134 (C) of the Electoral Act.

The court also held that contrary to the decision of the tribunal that the issues contained in the petition filed by the appellants were pre-election matters, they were both pre-election and post-election matters and could not have been deemed status barred.

Citing section 177 of the Constitution, the panel noted that Mutfwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP during the election.

It held that the party violated the court order that a valid congress be conducted in the 17 local government areas of that state, by conducting congress in only five local government areas of the state, and as such is a nullity.

While dismissing the decision of Plateau State Election Petitions Tribunal, the court held that the issue of qualification is both a pre-election and a post-election matter contrary to the findings of the tribunal which held that the appellant lacked the locus to contest the validity of the respondent.

The court also noted that under section 134 of the Electoral Act, it is the sole right of a political party to sponsor its candidate having met the necessary requirements to do so.

While evoking section 136 of the Electoral Act, the court ordered INEC to retrieve the certificate of return issued to Governor Mutfwang and issue a fresh certificate of return to the Goshwe.

Agreeing with the judgment, Justice Okon Abang said unless the PDP resolved its issues in Plateau State, it would always suffer self-inflicted misfortune

Source: Channel TV

Affirmed Internet Fraud : EFCC Liberates 7 NAF Personnel, 1 Armed force Official

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Affirmed Internet Fraud : EFCC Liberates 7 NAF Personnel, 1 Armed force Official

EFCC operatives

Seven Nigerian Air Force personnel and one serving Nigerian Army officer, allegedly linked with internet fraud, have been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The suspects were at first captured on Monday by personnel of the Kaduna State zonal office of the anti-graft agency unite organization and were held in care for examination and conceivable arraignment.

Nonetheless, the circumstance went in a new direction when equipped Nigerian Air corps personnel purportedly attacked the EFCC office situated at Number 4, Wurno Street in Kaduna. They requested the arrival of their partners who were being held by the anti-graft agency.

The Army personnel showed up at the EFCC office in five Hilux watch vans around 10 am, cordoning off the area and discouraging EFCC authorities from entering or leaving. This swelled into a showdown between the officers and EFCC staff.

The strained circumstance was ultimately managed after a short gathering between the EFCC zonal head and the head of the Nigerian Air corps group, prompting the arrival of the suspects.

Authorities of the EFCC in Kaduna expressed concern, stating that the release and handover of the suspects to their respective agencies went against the commission’s standard operating procedure. Despite having completed its investigation and forensic profiling, the EFCC emphasized that the suspects would still be arraigned in court.

Lieutenant Colonel Emerges As First Armed force Professor At NDA

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Lieutenant Colonel Emerges As First Armed force Professor At NDA

The new professor holds a graduate degree holder in Mechatronics from Newcastle College, Joined Realm, and PhD in Mechatronics and Mechanical technology from a same University.

A file photo of Lieutenant Colonel, Abubakar-Surajo Imam, who emerged as the first Army professor at the NDA

 

A Lieutenant Colonel, Abubakar-Surajo Imam, has emerged as the first officer on whom the title of professor was conferred from among the serving personnel of the Nigerian Army.

Imam, who was consulted with the title of a Professor by the Nigerian Defend Academy (NDA), is currently a Professor of Mechatronics Designing.

The Enlistment center of the Foundation, Brigadier General A.M Tukur, who uncovered this in a proclamation, said the advancement of Lieutenant Colonel Imam who is likewise the Top of the Division of Mechatronics Designing, was sanctioned during the NDA Board Meeting in September and produced results from October 1, 2022.

The assertion made sense of that the academy councils choice was an impression of the certainty and acknowledgment of the commitments of Imam to the Division of Mechatronics Designing of the NDA.

Furthermore, he said that the new professor has offered model types of assistance and maintained the principles of greatness anticipated in his field.

The new professor hails from Kankia in Katsina State and holds a Four year University in Mechanical Designing from Bayero University, Kano State. He is likewise a Master's degree holder in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, Joined Realm, and PhD in Mechatronics and Mechanical technology from the same University.

He enlisted in the Nigerian Armed force as an individual from Diminutive Help Soldier Course 32, and was relegated to the Nigerian Armed force Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineer.

During his tactical vocation, Imam later switched over completely to Standard Commission, and served in various units 1 Base workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Armed force Electrical and Mechanical Designing Corps and Protection Businesses Partnership of Nigeria (DICON).

The new teacher is an Inspector and Part Focal Choice Council for Expert's and PhD competitors being supported by the Petrol Innovation Advancement Asset.