May 10, 2023

EFCC seeks extradition of brothers, other to U.S over child pornography

The EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, made this known on Monday in a statement in Abuja.

According to Uwujaren, the Ogoshis and Ezekiel were indicted in a U.S.A Federal Court on Dec.1, 2022 on charges of exploitation of minors and production of child pornography resulting in death.

He said they were also indicted on conspiracy to distribute child pornography and conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet.

”According to investigations, the suspects conspired to conduct a sex-based extortion of minors and adults in the United States of America.

”The trio, investigations also revealed, hacked some social media accounts, posing to be young attractive women to entice unsuspecting victims to send their sexually explicit photographs.

”These pictures were then used in blackmailing the victims, thereby forcing them into making huge financial payments,” he said.

The anti-graft agency spokesperson said consequently, Samuel Ogoshi was charged with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of minors that resulted in the death of one Jordan DeMay.

He said that the offence carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a statutory mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.

”The trio are charged with conspiracy to sexually exploit minors by causing them to produce child pornographic images that they used to blackmail them.

”They are further charged with conspiracy to distribute child pornography, which borders on sending images to minors, their families and friends, as well as conspiracy to commit stalking through the Internet.

”Both offences carry a minimum of five years and maximum 20 years imprisonment.

”While the Ogoshis were arrested sometime in February, 2023 around the Ojo axis of Lagos, Ezekiel was picked up in Nasarawa by operatives of the EFCC,” Uwujaren said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 10, 2023

A baby has been born using three people’s DNA for the first time in Britain.

Most of the child’s DNA came from their two parents but about 0.1 per cent was from a third person, another woman.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said “less than five” babies have been born in the UK this way, but no further details have been released to protect their identity.

The scientific technique is designed to prevent children from being born with devastating mitochondrial diseases.

These are long-term, genetic and often inherited disorders that occur when mitochondria fail to carry out their function of producing energy for cells in the body.

These illnesses can be very serious and often fatal.

In children, symptoms can include poor growth, poor muscle tone, weakness, failure to thrive, spasms and a slow-down in progress or slow deterioration.

Some families have lost several children to inherited mitochondrial diseases and the new technique, mitochondrial donation treatment which is a modified form of IVF.

This is seen as their only chance of having a healthy child.

The DNA from the second woman only affects the mitochondria, and did not affect other key traits in the child such as appearance.

The latest findings were first reported by the Guardian following a freedom of information request.

Britain became the first country in the world to formally allow mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) when the HFEA gave a cautious green light to the procedure in 2017.

In 2018, fertility doctors at the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life were given permission by HFEA to give two women the treatment.

Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA, said: “Mitochondrial donation treatment offers families with severe inherited mitochondrial illness the possibility of a healthy child.

He added: “The UK was the first country in the world to allow mitochondrial donation treatment within a regulatory environment.

“The HFEA oversee a robust framework which ensures that mitochondrial donation is provided in a safe and ethical manner.

“All applications for treatment are assessed on an individual basis against the tests set out in the law and only after independent advice from experts.

“These are still early days for mitochondrial donation treatment and the HFEA continues to review clinical and scientific developments.”

Sarah Norcross, director of the Progress Education Trust, said UK laws relating to the treatment were “passed only after many years of careful research, assessment and deliberation”.

She added: “Even then, it was decided that use of this technology will be permitted by the regulator only on a case-by-case basis.

“This measured approach was and is appropriate, given the relative novelty of this technology.

“News that a small number of babies with donated mitochondria have now been born in the UK is the next step in what will probably remain a slow and cautious process of assessing and refining mitochondrial donation.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 10, 2023

Team Namibia arrives in Italy for Jesolo Grand Prix

Namibian athletes and their management team arrived in Italy on Monday night for the fourth round of the World Para Athletics (WPA) Grand Prix that will be held in the city of Jesolo, Italy.

The fourth round of the WPA Grand Prix will be held from 12 to 14 May 2023 at the Armando Picchi Stadium.

From February to May this year, four cities around the world welcomed Para-athletes as they celebrated the 10th anniversary of the WPA Grand Prix. At the fifth Grand Prix of the year, Team Namibia will be represented by nine athletes and five guides over the three days of competition.

Speaking to Nampa on Tuesday, the team’s Chef de Mission for the games Jean-Paul Schmidt who is the treasurer for the Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC), said coming to Europe is meant to prepare athletes well ahead of the World Championships.

“As a body that wants to grow, we are happy to see all our athletes ranked in the top 10 in their respective categories made the trip. Our goal is to compete with the best in the world and improve the number of slot allocations to us as a country ahead of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games,” he said.

Schmidt added that the NPC hopes for all its athletes to be at their best during the 2023 International Paralympic Committee World Athletics Championships in France.

“The team has arrived in Italy but there are still small logistics that we are dealing with back at home. I am hopeful that come competition day everything would have been sorted out and our athletes will be winning silverware for us in Italy before we proceed to Notwil, Switzerland for our last Grand Prix before the World Champs,” Schmidt said.

Namibian athletes who travelled with the team are T11 male sprinters, Ananias Shikongo, Kinda Chris, and Alfredo Bernado, T11 female sprinter Lahja Ishitile, and T12 sprinter Lahja Ipinge, T13 sprinter Johannes Nambala, T47 sprinter Bradley Murere, T37 sprinter Petrus Karuli, and T64 sprinter Denzel Namene.

The athletes are accompanied by guides Even Tjiuiju, Hatango Murere, Kelvin Goagoseb, Philipus Paulus and Sem Shimanda.

The management team consists of Schmidt, team manager Michael Hamukwaya, Ruan Mocke (physiotherapist), Letu Hamhola (head coach) and Naomi Schmidt (assistant coach).

Source: Namibia Press Agency

May 10, 2023

Presidential aide describes NAN Deputy Editor-in- Chief as epitome of knowledge

Mr Femi Adesina , the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, has described Mrs Grace Yussuf, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief , News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as an epitome of knowledge.

Adesina, who was represented by Mrs Patience Tilleygyado , the Assistant Director, Information, State House, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the launching of a book authored by Yussuf.

He said Yussuf had displayed special skills in writing the book titled “ The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith“ that really worthy of emulation.

The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle,also described Yussuf as a journalist with difference in her reportage as a journalist.

Ponle, who was represented by Mr Mufutau Ojo , the Director of Special Duties in the Agency , said” Yussuf is a celebrated Journalist as the presence of the crowd had proved it.”

The managing director pledged to keep promoting such laudable initiative among members of NAN staff, adding that he would further celebrate NAN Journalists who excelled in their endeavours.

He advised young female journalists to take a lead from Yussuf and put down their experiences in writing.

“Many have put in two to three decades in the profession. The new ones should learn from Grace Yussuf that have put in over three decades in the profession.

” The book is interesting and exciting. I recommend it to others to buy to take cue from there,” he said.

Prof. Joy Ezedo, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) said Yussuf had made herself outstanding among women through her personal efforts.

Ezedo , who was represented by Mrs Ijeoam Ezeude , WACO Head of Legal Unit, said the author was worthy emulated as she had balanced the roles of wife, mother and journalist.

Mr Joe Bankole, a former Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who reviewed the book said it was a typical story of a typical professional in a typical Nigerian setting spared none from pains and comfort.

According to him, the book titled “ The Journalist, The Women and Her Faith“ is a “Memoirs of a Nigerian Female Journalist“.

Bankole said the uniqueness of the book reflected in the sincerity, passion and candour with which the author told the story.

“It is a beautiful work of art that is good and pedagogical.

“It provides the platform for an enduring litany or lessons for young professionals in the field, working journalists and Christian women who want to stick to their faith no matter challenges in any sphere of life.

“I proudly recommended this book to all of a disciplined life, and one dedicated to the praise of God Almighty,” he said.

Mrs Grace Yussuf, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), thanked everyone that came for the occasion.

The author further thanked everyone that had helped her during service years and those she had leant from to attain the feat.

Yussuf said she had covered many beats, including , Economy and Industry beat for NAN and visited USA, Spain, Japan, South Africa, Gabon, Cameroon and Gambia to report events.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria