EFCC arraigns American for $2.3m visa scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned an American businessman, Marco Ramirez, alongside his companies — Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC — on eight counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of $2.3m.

Ramirez was arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama on Monday, according to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.

According to the complainants, Prince Ejikeme Mgbemena and Frank Egbon, the suspect allegedly promised them that he would invest the money under the Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5).

The complainants further alleged that the suspect promised to provide American Green Card for members of their families below 18 years.

The charges read in part, “That you Marco Anthonio Ramirez, being the Manager of Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA NOW LLC and you EAGLE Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC on or about May 21, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained through an account titled Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP domiciled at Wells Fargo Bank USA the sum of $55,000 from one Ejikeme Mgbemena under the pretext of investing for him under the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Regional Center Program with pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’’

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Samuel A. Ugwuegbulam, asked the court for a date for trial.

Consequently, Justice Affen adjourned the case till May 21, 2016 for the hearing of bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded in the EFCC custody.

Nigeria’s switch to digital TV pilot scheme to be launched 30th April 2016

The Federal Government has assured residents of Jos the Plateau State capital that the digital switch over from analog to digital TV pilot scheme will be launched on the 30^th April 2016. Minister of Information and Culture, Chief Lai Mohamed stated this while on a courtesy call on the Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong at the Government house in Rayfield. The Minister who was accompanied on the courtesy call by the digital team said he was in Jos to ensure the success of the digital switch over pilot scheme. Saying the digital team is dedicated and committed to ensuring the switch over becomes a reality in order to ensure that the success of the switch over from analog to digital, the Federal Government has set up a committee comprising of all majors stakeholders to drive the process. The Minister solicited the corporation of the State Government in the provision of set up boxes to ensure the switch over day is successful. Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong who was represented by his Deputy Prof. Sony Tyoden commended the Federal Government for choosing Jos the State capital for the switch over and assured of his support towards the success of the program. Lalong stated that the task force headed by the State Commissioner for Information and communication Nazif Ahmed has been set up to liaise with the digital team to ensure the success of the program.

My Favorite Bible Verse May Be 'Eye For an Eye'- Donald Trump

Donald Trump has said that his favorite Bible verse might be the one that includes the phrase "an eye for an eye."

Trump, the leading candidate for president in the Republican race, made the remark during an interview with Bob Lonsberry on WHAM 1180 in Rochester, N.Y.

The comments begin at the 11:53 mark of the above audio clip.
 "Well, I think many. I mean, you know, when we get into the Bible, I think many. So many," Trump said. "And some people — look, an eye for an eye, you can almost say that. That's not a particularly nice thing. But you know, if you look at what's happening to our country, I mean, when you see what's going on with our country, how people are taking advantage of us, and how they scoff at us and laugh at us.

"And they laugh at our face, and they're taking our jobs, they're taking our money, they're taking the health of our country. And we have to be firm and have to be very strong. And we can learn a lot from the Bible, that I can tell you."
 In the Book of Exodus, a portion of chapter 21 reads as follows:
"If people, when brawling, hurt a pregnant woman and she suffers a miscarriage but no further harm is done, the person responsible will pay compensation as fixed by the woman's master, paying as much as the judges decide.
"If further harm is done, however, you will award life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stroke for stroke."
 "Eye for an eye" is also referenced in Leviticus, chapter 24.

Philippine presidential candidate Duterte apologises for rape remark

A leading Philippines presidential candidate, Rodrigo Duterte, has apologised for comments about the rape and murder of an Australian missionary.

Video showing Mr Duterte making light of Jacqueline Hamill's assault during a prison riot in Davao City in 1989 caused outrage in the Philippines.
He was the mayor of the city at the time, and said she was so beautiful "the mayor should have been first".
Mr Duterte had initially said his comment was simply "how men talk".
But in his apology he insisted: "There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime."
"Sometimes my mouth can get the better of me," he added in his statement.
Mr Duterte is known for his irreverent speeches, sexual boasts, and inflammatory statements, including once proposing the mass execution of suspected criminals.
He built his political reputation on a tough approach to crime-fighting in Davao city, which he has run for 22 years.
President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma had said comments showed Mr Duterte was "unfit" for presidential office and reflected his "utter lack of respect for women".
Rival presidential candidate, Vice-President Jejomar Binay, was even more blunt: "You are a crazy maniac who doesn't respect women and doesn't deserve to be president."
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said the comments "were a disgusting endorsement of sexual violence" for which Mr Duterte should be utterly condemned.
In 2015 HRW had described Mr Duyerte as the death squard mayor for his tactics in dealing with violent crime in Davao, with more than 1,000 people being killed.

China To Train 1,000 Nigerian Engineers In Space Development Sector

The Chinese government has agreed to offer 700 scholarships and expertise training to 1,000 Nigerians especially engineers in the space development sector.
 The scholarship and training are part of agreements the Nigerian government reached with China, during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari.The Minister of Science and Technology Doctor Ogbonnaya Onu, gave a hint about the agreement while briefing reporters of the outcome of the visit.
 He said: “What we expect that would be coming in would be investments. Investments”.

“The Chinese Minister of Science and Technology offered to build a ground receiving station in Nigeria at no cost to us.
“It will enable Nigerian scientists to collect data from all Chinese satellites.
“We want to start assembling satellites and at some level it will help our space agency to start making money just like the Chinese are doing now,” Dr. Onu explained.
But the Minister said that Nigeria must first set up an assemble-integrate-and-test facility so it would starts producing its own satellites for development in agriculture, advanced crime control and other things.
He said that the government had made provision for it in the budget and that the civil works would begin once the budget is signed.