A Nigerian pirate who was convicted and sentenced for hijacking a Dutch freighter has been charged again in connection with a previous piracy incident in 2017.
The case has been in motion for more than six years. South African police arrested pirate action group leader Itoruboemi Benson Lobia at an airport in Johannesburg in late 2018, acting on an Interpol warrant issued by the Netherlands. A South African court approved his extradition, and in 2022, a Dutch court convicted Lobia of the hijacking and kidnapping attack aboard the FWN Rapide. The Dutch-flagged freighter was attacked by pirates off Port Harcourt in 2018, and the criminals held the 11 crewmembers hostage during a month-long series of ransom negotiations. The operator, ForestWave, reportedly paid a ransom of $340,000 to secure the release of the crew - a fraction of the $2 million reportedly sought by Lobia.
The Rotterdam District Court ruled that Lobia was the operational leader of the hijacking gang, and he was sentenced to a term of 8.5 years in Dutch prison for the FWN Rapide attack. He may yet receive a longer penalty: Last week, he was "arrested" a second time while in prison, and he will be tried on additional charges related to an earlier hijacking - the attack on the German merchant ship BBC Caribbean.
On February 5, 2017, BBC Caribbean was operating off Nigeria when she was boarded by armed pirates, who abducted eight members of the crew. The hostages were transferred back to Nigeria in skiffs and hidden at a compound in the creeks of the Niger Delta. Several crewmembers managed to hide and evade capture aboard the ship, and they navigated the BBC Caribbean safely to Las Palmas, 2,500 nautical miles to the northwest.
After a month of hostage negotiations, which the pirates reportedly spent in a state of constant and severe inebriation, the kidnapped crewmembers were ransomed and released. The amount of the payment was not disclosed.
Meanwhile, the BBC Caribbean was searched on arrival at Las Palmas, and forensic investigators collected extensive evidence - including fingerprints and DNA traces from cigarette butts. One set of DNA eventually turned up a positive match: it was Lobia's.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service and the National Expertise and Operations Unit (LX) launched a second investigation after finding this link, and have asked authorities in South Africa - where Lobia was first arrested - for permission to prosecute him a second time for the additional crime. An examining magistrate granted a custody order to start the case last Thursday.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Convicted Nigerian Pirate Charged Again for Second Hijacking
Nigeria Declares Nivea Deodorant Free From Harmful Chemicals
Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has published an update to an alert notifying Nigerians of a recall for Nivea’s Black&White Invisible roll-on deodorant. The regulatory body has now declared that products manufactured in Nigeria are safe to use.
According to a report published by The Cable, an investigation carried out by the regulatory body found that the product in question manufactured in Nigeria does not contain the non-compliant ingredient BMHCA.
Beiersdorf clarified, per The Cable, that the batch subject to the recall expired in January 2022, was fully compliant with EU regulations at the time, and has not been marketed in Nigeria. The deodorant has since been reformulated to be Lilial-free following the ingredient’s 2022 ban.
By Georgina Caldwell, Global Cosmetic News
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Nigeria plans $28 bln spending for 2025 budget
Nigeria plans 47 trillion naira ($28.18 billion) spending for its 2025 budget, using an assumption of an oil price of $75 per barrel and target production of 2 million barrels per day, the country's budget minister said on Thursday.
The budget includes a deficit of 13.8 trillion naira, or 3.87% of estimated GDP, Atiku Bagudu told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Abuja.
The 2025 budget also includes a forecast exchange rate to the U.S. dollar at 1,400 naira, stronger than its official closing rate of 1,655 naira on Thursday.
Bagudu said the government's fiscal efforts were on track with key non-oil revenue streams performing better than anticipated.
By Felix Onuah, Reuters
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Video - Millions of Nigerians go hungry due to severe floods, insecurity, rising food costs
The World Food Programme says the number of people in dire need of food aid in Nigeria is expected to rise to 33 million by June 2025. The group blames the food insecurity issue on unfavorable weather conditions, insurgent attacks, and a surge in food prices resulting from the removal of a fuel subsidy.
Osimhen strike books Nigeria place at Africa Cup of Nations
In spite of not playing on Thursday, other results also saw South Africa, Gabon and Uganda secure places at the 24-nation showcase of African football, which kicks off in Morocco on December 21 next year.
Sudan missed a chance to qualify after a shock 4-0 loss to Niger -- a result which offered a glimmer of hope to Ghana ahead of a must-win match in Angola on Friday.
Nigeria were trailing against Benin in Group D before reigning African Footballer of the Year Osimhen equalised nine minutes from time to secure a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Mohamed Tijani had put Benin ahead after 16 minutes as they sought to repeat a shock triumph over Nigeria in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at the same stadium last year.
Nigeria top the table with 11 points after five rounds, leaving Benin (seven), Rwanda (five) and Libya (four) to fight for the second qualification place.
Nigeria host Rwanda on Monday at the same time as Libya will have home advantage over Benin. Libya got back into contention by beating Rwanda 1-0 through a late Fahd Mohamed goal in Kigali.
A thrilling 3-2 victory for South Sudan over Congo Brazzaville in Juba ensured Uganda and South Africa would qualify from Group K before they meet on Friday in Kampala.
Congo, needing maximum points to keep their slim hopes alive, twice surrendered the lead before being reduced to 10 men on 78 minutes when Bryan Passi was sent off.
South Sudan took full advantage of having an extra man to snatch victory soon after through substitute Data Elly.
- Seesaw struggle -
Ali al Abdi scored in the third minute of added time to give 10-man Tunisia a 3-2 victory over Madagascar in Pretoria and qualification from Group A.
In a seesaw struggle, Madagascar twice equalised before gaining a late second-half advantage when Wajdi Kechrida was red-carded.
But the Indian Ocean islanders fell behind again four minutes later and defeat stretched a winless run in AFCON qualifiers to 15 matches.
Comoros, shock winners over Tunisia last month, will fill the other qualifying place from the section if they beat the Gambia on Friday.
Sudan needed one point from a clash with Niger in Lome to clinch qualification from Group F, and eliminate four-time champions Ghana.
But the east Africans fell behind after only six minutes when Daniel Sosah scored, and he converted a penalty in first-half added time to widen the lead to three goals.
There was no way back for the rattled Sudanese in the second half with Ousseini Badamassi completing the rout by scoring on 51 minutes.
Ghana must defeat leaders Angola in Luanda, and Niger in Accra on Monday, and hope Angola beat Sudan if they are to avoid the humiliation of failing to qualify.
An unbeaten run by Burkina Faso in Group L ended when they fell 1-0 to 2022 AFCON champions Senegal in Bamako. Habib Diarra scored the lone goal seven minutes from time.
There are 10 qualifiers scheduled for Friday when Botswana, Comoros, Mali, Mozambique, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe could qualify.
Should all seven secure berths, it would leave just two qualifying places up for grabs.
Guinea could fill one on Saturday if they beat the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group H and Tanzania fail to take maximum points against Ethiopia.
Benin, Rwanda or Libya would complete the line-up.
Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Senegal had secured places before Thursday.
Morocco are automatic participants as hosts, but are taking part in qualifying to gain competitive match practice.