A Nigerian, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, have been arrested by the United Kingdom for organ harvesting.

The metropolitan police who confirmed the arrest on Thursday said the duo was charged with conspiring to bring a child to the UK in order to harvest organs.

The arrest followed an investigation by the force’s specialist crime team.

READ MORE: GTBANK DOLLAR TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE

The Police said that they have been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court today.

“Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” the statement reads.

“Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

NAIRA DOLLAR BANK RATE? VISIT ABOKIFX RATE NOW.

“A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support.

“As criminal proceedings are now under way we will not be providing further details.”

As at the time of this report, the identity of the said suspect hasn't been confirmed to be that of Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. However, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, media aide to Ekweremadu promised to revert after calls were put in to confirm the report.

man and wife arrested over alleged organ harvesting 

Ike Ekweremadu, wife arrested for alleged organ harvesting

Presidential Flag Bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has paid a visit to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike at his private residence in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

On arrival, Obi was taken inside where he had meeting with the governor behind closed doors.

Read Also: GTBANK DOLLAR TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE

Both men, however, did not speak on the purpose of the meeting, as Journalists were not granted access.

Peter Obi’s visit comes four days after the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi also met with Governor Wike at about 9pm behind closed doors.

POUNDS TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE? VISIT ABOKIFX RATE NOW.

Just In: Peter Obi Visits Nyesom Wike In Rivers State

Popular lifestyle influencer, Idris Okuneye popularly called, Bobrisky has finally unveiled his long-awaited N400M house with a grand housewarming party.

Recall the crossdresser has often hinted about his magnificent house that was under construction.

According to the message Bobrisky posted on his Instagram handle, the new house is located at Pinnock Beach Estate, in Lekki, Lagos.

READ MORE: CBN DOLLAR TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE.

"I bought myself a smart home Dis is what a home of 400,000,000 in one of the best locations in Lagos. Party is about to start," he wrote.

Recall the crossdresser, over the past few months, and weeks, has been hyping the housewarming, as he promised to entertain all his invited guests and friends, while they thank God on his behalf for the beautiful mansion.

Nigerian cross dresser throws house warming party 

Bobrisky Unveils N400m Smart House, Throws Party

The EU is stepping up its fight against disinformation spread by accounts on Facebook, Google, Twitter and other social media with a bolstered code of practice presented Thursday.

The text — a reinforced revision of the code originally launched in 2018 — aims to push the platforms to more urgently and systematically crack down on false advertising, demonetise accounts spreading disinformation and boost fact-checking.

The code, obtained by AFP ahead of publication, remains voluntary.

But officials expect around 30 bodies to sign up, including some of the biggest social media companies, including Facebook parent Meta, Twitter, Microsoft and TikTok, along with big advertising corporations.

They all had input into the drafting of the updated code along with fact-checking outfits and media watchdogs such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF by its initials in French).

READ MORE: GTBANK DOLLAR TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE.

It was to be presented Thursday by the EU commissioner for transparency, Vera Jourova, and internal market commissioner Thierry Breton.

The new code of practice contains some 40 commitments, around double the number in the previous version, along with indicators to measure how well they are being met.

While the previous text relied on self-regulation, the new one holds the biggest platforms — those with at least 45 million users in the EU — to binding measures set out in the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

The DSA, in the process of being adopted, requires big online companies to reduce risks linked to disinformation or face fines that could go as high as six percent of the global turnover.

By signing up to the code, they can show they are taking “risk-mitigating” measures demanded by the DSA.

One of the main innovations in the code is to cut advertising platforms off from receiving revenue from ads placed on sites carrying disinformation.

“The platforms shouldn’t be getting even a single euro from spreading disinformation,” Breton said.

“From Brexit to the Russian war in Ukraine — over the past years well-known social networks have allowed disinformation and destabilisation strategies to spread without restraint, even making money out of it,” he said.

Platforms that front ads such as Google parent Alphabet — whose YouTube platform monthly gets nearly a quarter of the planet’s population using it — pledge to block advertisements with conspirational content and to verify where they come from.

They also commit to actively counter ads containing disinformation.

The signatories to the code have to give users tools to identify and report false or misleading information, and they need to cooperate more closely with fact-checkers in all EU languages. The fact-checkers also get added support, notably by having access to aggregated, anonymised data.

Unlike illegal content, disinformation won’t be subject to immediate deletion because of the principle of freedom of expression.

Rather it would trigger prompts to users to turn to sources of reliable information, notably ones meeting norms fixed by the Journalism Trust Initiative, of which RSF and AFP are partners.

The platforms also commit to making political advertising more transparent, clearly identifying them as such and letting users know why they were targeted.

The signatories commit to cracking down on fake accounts and the amplification of disinformation via bots, as well as identity theft and malicious deepfake videos.

EU Beefs Up Fight Against Social Media Disinformation

Famous actress, Zendaya has reacted to reports making the rounds claiming she’s pregnant.

The rumour started on Twitter after a TikTok prank that claimed the 25-year-old was pregnant went viral.

The video featured a fake sonogram photo that was photoshopped to look as if Zendaya had posted it herself.

But, Zendaya took to her Instagram Stories debunking the reports, lamenting about people ‘just making stuff up for no reason.’

Her post read: “See now, this is why I stay off Twitter.

“Just making stuff up for no reason weekly.”

Famous Actress, Zendaya denies being pregnant

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has sentenced two drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwane, who were linked to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, to six years imprisonment.

Delivering judgement in the case involving them on Tuesday, Justice Nwite convicted Umeibe and Ezenwanne on counts five, six, and seven of the drug trafficking charge filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

At the resumed proceedings, the NDLEA, through the Director of its Legal Department, Sunday Joseph, informed the court that it has entered into a plea bargain agreement with the two defendants.

Mr Joseph, therefore, persuaded the court to adopt the terms of the plea bargain deal as its judgement against the defendants.

Consequently, Justice Nwite convicted and sentenced the two defendants to two years jail term on each of the three counts of the charges against them.

He, however, noted that the two defendants were remorseful, saying the sentence would run concurrently, commencing from the date they were arrested.

The judge held that the defendants should forfeit their international passports in accordance with Section 30 of the NDLEA Act, Cap M30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

In line with the plea bargain agreement, he okayed Umeibe and Ezenwanne to testify as witnesses in the trial of DCP Kyari and the other accused police officers, even as it ordered the NDLEA to ensure their safety in any correctional facility of their choice.

EURO TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE? VISIT ABOKIFX RATE NOW.

Justice Nwite directed the NDLEA to constantly monitor the two defendants to ensure that they do not engage in any drug-related activity while serving their jail terms.

He subsequently fixed July 18, 19 and 20 for a full trial of Kyari and his men, as well as for a hearing of their fresh application for bail.

The duo, who were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu while attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country, were arraigned before the court on March 7.

They were brought to court alongside Kyari and four other police officers – ACP Sunday Ubia, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, and ASP Bawa James.

During their arraignment, the duo pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking charge against them.

Two Drug Traffickers Linked To Abba Kyari Jailed 6 Years

The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinaya Abaribe has announced his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the leadership of the Senate Ahmad Lawan at the resumption of plenary.

The session however started later than normal and no explanation is given by the leadership for the late start.

Senator Abaribe has now changed seats on the floor.

However, his action has angered some PDP Lawmakers who say Senator Abaribe was yet to consult with his colleagues in the PDP before defecting. Senator George Sekibo says Senator Abaribe did not inform the PDP caucus that he is having problems in the state chapter of the party.

Meanwhile, the Senate Majority Leader Yahaya Abdullahi and Senator Adamu Aliero both representing Kebbi State have also defected from the ruling APC to the opposition PDP.

In separate letters read by the Senate President on the floor, they explained that their decision to move to the PDP is because there is no internal democracy in APC.

Senator Aliero further explained that the APC in Kebbi state is plagued by high-handedness, unfairness, and mediocrity to the extent that important stakeholders holders are sidelined.

They both accused the Kebbi state governor of injustices meted out to party members in the state who refuse to toe the line and note that all efforts to correct the injustices by the state government have been unsuccessful and they have exhausted all channels for an amicable resolution to the crisis.

POUNDS TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE? VISIT ABOKIFX RATE TODAY.

Abaribe Announces PDP Exit As Senate Resumes Plenary

British prosecutors on Wednesday said they had authorised London’s Metropolitan Police to charge Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein with sexual assault.

Weinstein,70, was convicted of rape and sexual assault and jailed for 23 years in the United States in February 2020, in a landmark verdict for the #MeToo movement.

Last week, he lost a bid to get the conviction overturned in a New York appeals court.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the 70-year-old film producer was facing two counts of indecent assault against one woman in the British capital.

The Met said separately the alleged victim was now in her 50s. The offences are alleged to have taken place between July 31 and August 31, 1996.

Weinstein is currently incarcerated in a prison in California, where he is awaiting another trial for alleged sexual assault against five women.

Widespread sexual abuse and harassment allegations against Weinstein exploded in 2017.

In total, nearly 90 women including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek have accused Weinstein of harassment or assault.

The “Pulp Fiction” producer has maintained that all his sexual encounters were consensual.

As allegations poured in, the Met said it was investigating a string of sexual assault claims against Weinstein.

The CPS brings criminal cases in England and Wales and authorises the police to bring charges after assessing the case against a suspect.

The head of the CPS special crime division, Rosemary Ainslie, said the charges against Weinstein followed “a review of the evidence” in a Met police investigation.

Before the allegations against Weinstein emerged, he and his brother Bob were Hollywood’s ultimate power players.

They co-founded Miramax Films, a distribution company named after his mother Miriam and father Max, in 1979. It was sold to Disney in 1993.

Their hits included 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love,” for which Weinstein shared a best picture Oscar. Over the years, Weinstein’s films received more than 300 Oscar nominations and 81 statuettes.

The British charges against Weinstein came two weeks after UK police and prosecutors announced that Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey faces four sexual assault charges and one charge of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.”

Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner, has said he will voluntarily appear in a British court to face the charges.

Spacey, considered one of the finest actors of his generation, lives in New York. He has previously denied similar charges in the United States.

Harvey Weinstein To Be Charged With ‘Indecent Assault’ In UK

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has ratified the Labour Party’s leadership structure, recognizing officials loyal to presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Factions of the Labour Party have rejected Mr Obi as the consensus presidential candidate, nominating other aspirants as the flag bearer. 

Checks by Peoples Gazette on INEC’s official website showed that Julius Abure and Umar Farouk were recognised as the Labour Party’s national chairman and secretary; Akingbade Oyelakin as the national legal adviser. 

A former deputy national chairman of the party, Calistus Okafor, claiming to be the party’s chair, had sued Messrs Abure, Farouk and Oyelakin, declaring their leadership illegal. But the defendants insisted they were elected chairman and secretary at a party conference in Benin in March 2021.

Last week, Mr Okafor filed an ex parte application praying the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to declare him the lawful chairman of the party.

Mr Okafor supports a presidential aspirant EJude Ezenwafor as the party’s candidate. He described him as “a man of integrity,” affirmed “to be the presidential candidate of the Labour Party come 2023.”

Meanwhile, another faction is rooting for the candidacy of Sampson Charles Uchenna as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

Peter Obi’s Labour Party recognised by INEC

This is a live update page for the All Progressives Congress (APC) special convention to elect the party’s presidential flagbearer for the 2023 general elections. Kindly refresh this page for the latest developments.

The event, which is holding at the Eagle Square in Abuja will see 2,340 delegates queuing to choose their preferred presidential candidate.

In the lead-up to the exercise, 28 presidential hopefuls had picked the nomination and expression of interest forms, but five of them later pulled out.

Twenty-three aspirants later appeared before the APC presidential screening committee led by the party’s former chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

The run-up to the special convention, which is billed to run till Wednesday, had been marred by intrigues over the zoning of the presidential ticket and consensus candidacy.

While a consensus candidate was said to have emerged on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari on his part said the delegates should be allowed to decide the party’s presidential flagbearer.

The northern APC governors also canvassed for the party’s candidate to come from the southern part of the country.

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani has dropped out of the race for the All Progressives Congress’ presidential ticket.

He made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Monday. Nnamani said his decision was motivated by the APC’s decision not to zone the presidency to the South, specifically the South-East. 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday cleared all doubts about where he stands on the choice of a presidential candidate for the governing All Progressives Congress, APC. He declared before the party’s governors of northern states that he has “no preferred candidate,” and has “anointed no one,”

APC holds convention to elect presidential candidate 

APC Holds Primaries To Elect Presidential Candidate

Apple has unveiled its latest iPhone operating system upgrade software –iOS 16. This was unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2022. 

It will debut after September as it is still under beta testing, offering more personalization options, an improved lock screen with widgets, and some welcome updates to Messages for the typo-prone among us.

The biggest change coming in iOS 16 is the lock screen, starting with the ability to customize fonts and colors used. Apple is picking a book from Android customization but putting in more swag. It will be possible to add widgets and configure multiple lock screens that you can switch between by swiping across the screen. Different focus modes can also be assigned to different lock screens. Apple-supplied wallpapers get a refresh too, with animated and Pride-themed choices.

Notifications appear on the lock screen differently, too. Instead of piling up across the screen, they “roll in” at the bottom of the screen. There’s also a “live activities” feature to display notifications associated with an event like an Uber ride or sporting event in a single tile.

Messages are getting a revamp, too: iOS 16 adds the ability to edit typos out of sent messages, recall messages that you didn’t mean to send, and the ability to mark a message thread as unread so you can come back to it later. SharePlay is also coming to messages.

Apple’s powerful Live Text feature will be coming to video. Additionally, there will be more actions available when you use Live Text in photos or videos. Wallet gets some expanded features too, with a way to share saved IDs securely by supplying only necessary information. It’ll be easier to share saved keys, too. Apple Pay gets a new “Pay Later” feature, adding the option to split a bill into four equal payments without interest or fees. Apple Maps will get multi-stop routing in iOS 16, and six more cities will be added to the “detailed city experience” introduced in iOS 15.

Apple is also adding shared iCloud photo libraries, in an effort to make it easier to share certain photos across family and friends’ accounts. Up to six users can access a shared library. Photos will include sharing suggestions, and image edits and keywords will be synced for all users.

There’s also a new feature called Safety Check, which is aimed to protect people in abusive situations. It allows you to easily revoke access to certain information, like location, that you may have shared with someone else previously.

iOS 16 will be available after September for iPhone 8 and later, and will most likely debut alongside the iPhone 14 series, which is rumored to offer an always-on display for the first time in an iPhone.

All the new changes coming with Apple’s new iOS 16

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to escalate his bombing campaign if Western nations send Ukraine longer-range rockets, and he dismissed the weapons President Biden recently pledged as “nothing new.”

In a television interview with state media that was recorded Friday and aired Sunday, Putin said he considered the medium-range missiles Biden promised last month to be replacements for similar artillery that Ukraine has lost in the fighting. 

READ MORE: BLACK MARKET EXCHANGE RATE DOLLAR TO NAIRA.

But should longer-range systems arrive, Putin said, his military would begin hitting targets it has so far avoided. He offered no specifics. The Russian president also characterized the West’s materiel support as an attempt to “prolong” the conflict.

Also on Sunday, Russian rockets struck the Ukrainian capital for the first time in more than a month, shattering the city’s sense of tentative safety. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its missiles destroyed tanks and other armored vehicles sent to Ukraine by Eastern European allies, but Ukrainian authorities denied the claim and again accused Moscow of targeting civilian infrastructure.

EURO TO NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE? VISIT ABOKIFX RATE TODAY.

Putin threatens new targets if Ukraine gets longer-range rockets

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.