NAIJAFEED

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Doctor jailed for death of former first lady Stella Obasanjo

The Spanish surgeon has been sentenced to one-year in jail for involuntary homicide by a court in Malaga, Spain for the death of Stella Obasanjo after a liposuction operation he carried out on the former first lady in 2005.

The court banned the surgeon from practicing medicine for three years and ordered him him to pay Stella Obasanjo's son Olumuyiwa Obasanjo 120,000 Euros ($176,000) in compensation.

Daily Independent

Criminal prosecution case against surgeon charged with Stella Obasanjo's death begins in Spain

Nigeria improves and rises to Tier 1 in 2009 T.I.P. report

Nigeria has risen to Tier 1 status in the 2009 TIP (Trafficking in Persons) report and has met the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking", according to a statement made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Department of State's ninth annual TIP Report in a public event at Washington D.C.

"Over the past year, the Government of Nigeria more than doubled the number of trafficking offenders convicted, while it improved assistance given to victims, demonstrated strong awareness-raising efforts, and increased funding to its anti-human trafficking organization, the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)"

"the 175-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, a modern-day form of slavery". it stated.

According to the statement the findings are intended to raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons.

Nigeria was rated for increased efforts in 2008 and achievements over the past few years in preventing human trafficking. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria also congratulated the government of Nigeria and the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on its accomplishment and encourages continued progress in the future.

"The U.S. Congress, through its passage of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), as amended, requires the Secretary of State to submit this Report each year. The goal of this Report is to stimulate action and create partnerships around the world in the fight against modern-day slavery".

"Within the Report, countries are assigned to one of three tiers: countries assessed as meeting the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking" as set forth in the TVPA are classified as Tier 1; countries assessed as not fully complying with the minimum standards, but making significant efforts are classified as Tier 2; and countries assessed as neither complying with the minimum standards nor making significant efforts to do so are classified as Tier 3." It stated.

Daily Trust

Nigeria is the largest African source of trafficked women to Europe and Asia

Video report of Hillary Clinton comparing Nigeria's election to America's previous election in 2000

732 Nigerians in Chinese Prisons

It's been reported by Vanguard that about 732 Nigerian are in imprisoned in China for various offences. Out of the 732 Nigerians, 322 are in detention, 304 are awaiting deportation, and 106 are serving prison terms for trafficking, fraud, and robbery.

The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi made these following statements during discussions between the two countries:

" Nigerian side is expected to raise and collaborate with the Chinese, to find lasting solutions to the increasing arbitrary arrest and detention of Nigerians who have over stayed their visas in China.

"Discussion on the consular problems has become inevitable in view of increasing number of Nigerian being arrested for violating Chinese immigration laws, with available statistics that about 732 Nigerians are in various Chinese prison for various offences; 322 out of the number are in detention and another 304 are awaiting deportation, while the remaining 106 are in prison for trafficking, robbery and fraud",

" By Chinese penal code, foreigners who overstay their visas' period, face severe penalties including arrest, detention and payment of fines before they could leave the country.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Video report on Nigerian Police accused of illegal killings in Boko Haram incident

The violence that erupted in Nigeria earlier this year left at least 1,000 people dead. Human rights group say the Nigerian police carried out illegal killings during their attempt to suppress Boko Haram fighters.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports on the hundred of families in northern Nigeria that are accusing the Nigerian police of murder.

Video report on the widows of Boko Haram militants

Boko Haram declare Jihad

Oprah Winfrey picks Nigerian author Uwem Akpan's "Say You're One of Them" for book club

Uwem Akpan said he was "humbled" to know that his debut collection of short stories titled "Say You're One Of Them" was picked by Oprah Winfrey for her book club.

Say You're One of Them becomes the first book of short stories to be added to Oprah's book club and is her 63rd book club selection. She said the stories left her stunned and profoundly moved.

The Nigerian author who runs a parish in Lagos said he was "very, very humbled" to have Say You're One Of Them chosen by Oprah. Due to work with his parish Uwem said he's been too busy to work on another book but that the church still supports his writing.

"I have permission to write, but I do not need an imprimatur from the church -- that is more for people who are writing about theology and philosophy. They see that I am writing fiction and assume it is made up," Uwem said.

"Don't forget that Jesus was a priest and a poet."

With almost two million online members. Oprah's book club is the biggest in the world and books chosen for the club usually end up becoming bestsellers.

Uwem Akpan studied English and philosophy at Creighton and Gonzaga universities then went on to study theology for three years at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

In 2003, he was ordained as a Jesuit priest and received his masters degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2006.

Say You're One Of Them is a collection of five short stories published in 2008. The stories are from the perspective of an African child that captures the resilience of children growing up in the face of unimaginable devastation.