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Nigeria Seeks Extradition as Biafran Separatist Leader Faces Terrorism Charges in Finland

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Nigerian authorities indicated Thursday they would seek the extradition of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based separatist leader arrested on terrorism charges, as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) publicly distanced itself from the controversial figure amid escalating violence in southeastern Nigeria.

The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed Ekpa’s arrest along with four others on charges of terrorist activities and financing, marking a significant development in Nigeria’s efforts to curb separatist violence. Ekpa, who describes himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, faces accusations of using social media to incite violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria.

“The Chief of Defence Staff is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice,” said Defense Information Director Brigadier General Tukur Gusau. The military has repeatedly accused Ekpa of sponsoring terrorism through the Eastern Security Network (ESN), IPOB’s paramilitary wing.

IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful emphatically rejected any connection to Ekpa, stating, “We have reiterated on several occasions that Ekpa had no relationship with the IPOB from the formation to date and he had nothing in common with the Biafra struggle.” The organization’s political wing called for his immediate extradition to face charges for violence that has claimed numerous lives and destroyed billions in property.

The District Court of Päijät-Häme ordered Ekpa’s imprisonment “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” according to Finnish authorities. Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen noted that Ekpa’s social media activities had “led to violence against civilians and authorities” in southeastern Nigeria.

The arrest follows months of escalating violence in Nigeria’s southeast, where enforced sit-at-home orders and attacks on security forces have disrupted daily life. Just this week, gunmen enforcing such orders killed five people in Anambra State’s Central Senatorial Zone, including three vigilantes in Abatete community.

Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode welcomed the arrest, describing Ekpa as “a feral psychopath” who “waged war on our nation from the safety of Finland.” Bashir Ahmad, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, called for Ekpa’s extradition after serving any sentence in Finland.

Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala indicated that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu await official briefing on the arrest through diplomatic channels. The development comes as Ekpa’s alleged mentor, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, remains in Department of State Services custody since 2021 facing terrorism charges.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, expressed cautious interest in the arrest details while emphasizing their priority remains Kanu’s release. Chief Dubem Silas stated the group opposes unlawful activities but maintains Kanu’s detention is unjustified given court orders for his release.

Punchng.com

Eight Nigerian Teenagers Face Charges in Gang Rape of 14-Year-Old Girl

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Eight teenagers have been arrested and remanded in custody for allegedly gang-raping and filming a 14-year-old girl in Nigeria’s Ogun State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) announced Thursday, revealing disturbing details of a case that has shocked the local community.

The suspects, aged 16 to 19, allegedly lured their victim to a secluded room in the Ijebu-Mushin area on November 15, where they sexually assaulted her and recorded the attack, according to NSCDC spokesperson Dyke Ogbonnaya. The perpetrators then reportedly used the recording to blackmail the victim into submitting to additional assaults.

“The suspects threatened to upload the video on social media if she did not allow them to have her again,” Ogbonnaya said in a detailed statement. The victim finally reported the abuse to authorities after enduring physical beatings and verbal assaults from her attackers.

The accused include Mathew Omotayo, 17; Mojeeb Solomon, 16; Olamilekan Adefuye, 18; Damilola Ismail, 19; Emmanuel George, 17; Aborisade Paul Ayomide, 17; Paul Chukwuchebe, 19; and Lateef Adeoye, 16. All claim to be students at St. Anthony Grammar School in Esure, Ijebu-Mushin.

Following preliminary investigations and medical examination of the victim, prosecutors secured a 60-day remand order from a magistrate court in Ijebu. Magistrate Sotayo granted the order pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions, with the next hearing scheduled for January 20, 2025.

Ogun State NSCDC Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo emphasized the agency’s zero-tolerance stance toward abuse of minors. “The Corps will not tolerate any act of abuse on the girl child nor a minor either by teenagers, caregivers, guardians, and/or parents,” Ekundayo stated, promising decisive action against perpetrators.

PUNCHNG.COM

Italy, Netherlands, and Canada Pledge to Enforce ICC Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu

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Multiple Western nations announced Thursday they would enforce arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, marking an unprecedented commitment to act against a sitting Western leader accused of war crimes.

Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada led a growing list of countries pledging to execute the warrants, which accuse the Israeli leaders of crimes against humanity including starvation, murder, and persecution during the ongoing Gaza conflict that has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians and displaced much of the territory’s 2.3 million residents.

“While I disagree with equating Israeli leaders with Hamas, Italy has a legal obligation to comply with the court’s directives,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said, emphasizing the binding nature of ICC membership. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani added that Italy would consult allies on implementation while maintaining the court’s role as “strictly legal and not political.”

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp took an equally firm stance, declaring the Netherlands would arrest Netanyahu if he entered Dutch territory. “We won’t engage in non-essential contacts and we will act on the arrest warrants. We fully comply with the Rome Statute of the ICC,” Veldkamp stated.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized the warrants’ binding nature for all EU member states. “This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision,” Borrell said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his nation would also enforce the warrants, reiterating Canada’s commitment to international law while calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and increased humanitarian aid. “It’s really important that everyone abide by international law,” Trudeau said, drawing praise from the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

The ICC warrants also target Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif but have drawn particular attention for targeting Netanyahu and Gallant, representing the first time the court has moved against sitting leaders of a major Western nation. The charges stem from the conflict that erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi endorsed the ICC’s decision, stating it “must be respected and implemented” and asserting that “Palestinians deserve justice.”

Convicted Killer Lyle Menendez’s Prison Romance with British Student Revealed

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Lyle Menendez, serving a life sentence for the notorious 1989 murders of his parents, has developed a relationship with a 21-year-old British university student through illicit prison communications, potentially complicating his bid for resentencing, according to documents and photographs obtained by DailyMail.com.

Lyle Menendez, 56, started an affair with 21-year-old British university student Milly Bucksey and had her come all the way from Manchester to visit him in prison on September 14

The 56-year-old inmate at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility has been corresponding with Milly Bucksey, a University of Manchester student 35 years his junior, since early 2024. Their relationship began through a Facebook group managed by Menendez’s current wife, Rebecca Sneed, 55, whom he married in 2003.

Prison records show Menendez was caught with a contraband cell phone on March 15, an incident documented in former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s resentencing memo. Sources familiar with the situation reveal Menendez has since acquired another unauthorized phone to maintain contact with Bucksey.

In one of the pictures taken inside the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, the love-smitten pair pose with a large dog

Photographs obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com show the pair together during prison visits, including images of them embracing near facility murals and posing with a large dog. Time stamps indicate Bucksey visited the facility on September 14, shortly before her university’s fall semester began.

The revelation of the relationship and second contraband phone could impact Menendez’s bid for resentencing, which faces new uncertainty following Gascón’s electoral defeat. His replacement, Nate Hochman, has announced plans to review the case after taking office December 1.

Lyle has been hoping for an early release from his life sentence but the discovery of illicit cell phones and the replacement of LA district attorney George Gascon could complicate that

“Before I can make any decision about the Menendez brothers’ case, I will need to become thoroughly familiar with the relevant facts, the evidence and the law,” Hochman told CNN following his victory. A resentencing hearing scheduled for December 11 will likely be postponed.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declined immediate clemency for the Menendez brothers, awaiting Hochman’s review. The brothers have been imprisoned since March 1990 for the shotgun killings of their parents, Kitty and José Menendez, in Beverly Hills. While both admitted to the murders, their defense citing sexual abuse failed to convince jurors, who found them guilty of killing for financial gain after a $700,000 post-murder spending spree.

Lyle wants to divorce his devoted lawyer wife Rebecca Sneed, he allegedly told Bucksey

This isn’t Menendez’s first extramarital relationship from prison. His previous marriage to Anna Eriksson ended in 2001 after she discovered him writing love letters to another woman. His brother Erik, also serving life without parole, married Tammi Saccoman at Folsom State Prison in 1999 before the brothers were reunited at the San Diego facility in 2018.

When approached at their home in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, Bucksey’s father declined to comment. Representatives for the Menendez family have not responded to requests for comment.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Whoopi Goldberg Claims Elon Musk is Trump’s ‘Actual Vice President’ Amid Growing Influence

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“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg sparked debate Thursday by suggesting tech billionaire Elon Musk, not running mate JD Vance, serves as Donald Trump’s de facto vice president, highlighting growing questions about the Tesla founder’s unprecedented influence in the incoming administration.

“I believe Elon Musk is the actual vice president. Yes, I believe that,” Goldberg, 69, declared on the ABC daytime show, characterizing Vice President-elect Vance, 40, as merely “interim” while questioning why Musk hasn’t divested from X, the social media platform he acquired in 2022.

The comments follow two weeks of highly visible collaboration between Trump, 78, and Musk, who has participated in transition team meetings, joined calls with world leaders, and weighed in on administration staffing decisions. At Trump’s election night celebration, Musk and his young son X were included in Trump family photos at the president-elect’s request. Trump’s granddaughter later told Politico that Musk had achieved “uncle status” within the family circle.

Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the relationship, telling Politico: “Elon Musk and President Trump are great friends and brilliant leaders working together to Make America Great Again. Elon Musk is a once in a generation businessman and our federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency.”

The president-elect has frequently praised Musk’s accomplishments, particularly in space technology. “Did you see the way that sucker landed today?” Trump said at an early October rally, referring to SpaceX rockets. “It only needs a paint job. That’s a lot cheaper than building a new one, right?” At another campaign event, he called Musk “one of our geniuses” who needs protection and care, noting “there aren’t too many of them.”

Trump recently appointed Musk, alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead his newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The pair’s relationship has grown increasingly close, with Musk joining Trump at a UFC match and family meals. “It’s a bromance,” one Mar-a-Lago resort member told Politico, “And they are having a blast.”

The expanding role of tech leadership in the incoming administration extends beyond Musk, as Trump continues to announce controversial cabinet selections, including television personality Dr. Oz as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Serbia Arrests 12 Over Fatal Railway Station Collapse as Political Tensions Rise

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Serbian prosecutors announced Thursday the arrest of 12 people in connection with a deadly railway station roof collapse that killed 15 people in Novi Sad, as public anger over alleged corruption and safety failures continues to mount.

The Higher Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad said the suspects face criminal charges related to public safety violations that could carry prison terms of up to 12 years. One additional suspect remains at large. The November 1 collapse killed 14 people immediately, with a fifteenth victim succumbing to injuries on Sunday.

The disaster has triggered a series of high-profile resignations, including ministers of transport, construction, infrastructure and trade, along with the head of state-run Serbian Railways. Former Construction Minister Goran Vesic, reportedly among those detained, claimed on social media platform X that he had voluntarily presented himself to authorities.

Former Novi Sad Mayor Borislav Novakovic criticized the timing of the arrests, telling The Associated Press, “For the past 20 days, all suspects could influence witnesses, tamper with evidence and alter documentation.”

The incident has sparked widespread protests, with demonstrators and opposition leaders alleging that government corruption and nepotism contributed to substandard construction practices. Opposition politicians have called for organized crime prosecutors to take over the investigation.

President Aleksandar Vucic has responded forcefully to the demonstrations, labeling protesters as “thugs and bullies” and characterizing the actions as “terror” and “brutal violence by certain political factors.”

Protesters continue to demand indictments related to the collapse and the release of activists detained during earlier demonstrations.

Trump Taps Former Florida AG Pam Bondi for Justice Department After Gaetz Withdraws

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President-elect Donald Trump swiftly nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general Thursday, just hours after controversial first choice Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration amid ongoing scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation.

Bondi, a staunch Trump loyalist who served on his first impeachment defense team, would oversee a dramatic shift in Justice Department priorities if confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump declared on social media. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”

The rapid replacement of Gaetz with Bondi demonstrates the transition team’s preparedness for potential confirmation battles, as predicted by Donald Trump Jr. in a Sunday Fox Business interview. The nomination comes as Trump’s administration faces increasing scrutiny over controversial cabinet picks, including Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, who faces unresolved sexual assault allegations.

Bondi brings significant political baggage to the nomination, having been a vocal critic of Special Counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors who brought criminal charges against Trump. In one radio appearance, she characterized them as “horrible” people seeking notoriety by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.”

If confirmed, Bondi would join recently announced senior Justice Department appointees Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, and D. John Sauer, all former Trump attorneys. She would face immediate challenges managing the department’s stance on January 6 prosecutions, which Trump has pledged to pardon, and implementing what’s expected to be a significant shift in civil rights and corporate enforcement policies.

The nomination follows Gaetz’s withdrawal statement claiming his confirmation had become “a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” Trump later praised Gaetz’s efforts on social media, noting he “was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration.”

Bondi’s tenure as Florida attorney general included controversy, notably a 2013 public apology for delaying an execution to attend a campaign fundraiser. She currently chairs the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump administration officials.

The next attorney general will inherit a Justice Department potentially transformed by recent Supreme Court opinions affirming presidential authority over investigative functions and expanding former presidential immunity. While Special Counsel Smith’s Trump prosecutions are expected to conclude before the transition, questions remain about the public release of his final reports.

Putin Threatens US, UK Targets After Confirming New Hypersonic Strike on Ukraine

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Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated military tensions Thursday by threatening strikes against British and American military facilities while confirming Russia had used a new hypersonic missile system against Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

In a televised address, Putin revealed Russian forces had tested a new intermediate-range missile system, dubbed “Oreshnik,” in strikes against Ukrainian targets. The announcement came amid Ukrainian reports of multiple missile impacts on the city of Dnipro and confusion over whether Russia had deployed an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time in combat.

“Russia considers itself entitled to use weapons against military facilities of countries that permit the use of their weapons against Russia,” Putin declared, directly responding to Ukraine’s recent deployment of U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory. “Since this moment, as we have underscored repeatedly, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has acquired elements of global nature.”

The Russian leader claimed the new weapon system has no existing countermeasures, warning Western nations to “seriously consider” their support for Ukraine. “If necessary, we will choose targets for destruction. There are currently no means to counter such weapons. It is impossible,” Putin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported the “new Russian missile” achieved speeds and altitudes characteristic of ICBMs, which typically reach speeds of 13,000 mph and operate at the edge of space. While Ukraine initially claimed Russia had used an RS-26 Rubezh ICBM, Western officials cautioned the missile’s range fell short of ICBM classification.

The strikes occurred amid heightened tensions following Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles against targets in Russia’s Bryansk region. Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, claimed Britain’s provision of Storm Shadow missiles made it “directly involved in this war,” though Moscow has previously made similar assertions about Western military support.

The military escalation follows Putin’s Tuesday signing of a new nuclear doctrine lowering the threshold for nuclear strikes, allowing first-strike responses to attacks by countries supported by nuclear powers. British Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia had been planning the strikes “for months.”

During the attacks on Dnipro, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was instructed mid-press conference not to comment on the missile strikes, highlighting the sensitivity of the operation. The incident coincided with the U.S. embassy’s closure in Kyiv over strike concerns, though British diplomatic facilities remained open.

Russian officials claimed the strikes targeted a Ukrainian missile factory, with unconfirmed footage showing multiple explosions consistent with MIRV (Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle) warheads, a technology developed in the 1960s for nuclear delivery systems.

Man Who Bombed Alabama Attorney General’s Office Gets Nine-Year Prison Term

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A federal judge sentenced an Alabama man to nine years in prison Thursday for manufacturing and detonating a shrapnel-filled explosive device outside the state Attorney General’s office, marking the conclusion of a case that highlighted growing concerns about attacks on government institutions.

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 27, of Irondale, pleaded guilty to the malicious use of an explosive device in the February 24 attack on the downtown Montgomery building. During his plea hearing, Calvert admitted to crafting the explosive device with nails and screws intended as shrapnel, positioning it near the building in the early morning hours, and igniting its fuse before fleeing the scene.

“Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said following the sentencing. “Kyle Calvert attacked the Alabama Attorney General’s Office with a shrapnel-filled explosive and then fled the scene, but this sentence ensures he will not escape accountability for his crime.”

The investigation revealed that before the bombing, Calvert placed stickers bearing various political messages on downtown buildings, including some reading “Support your local antifa.” However, prosecutors noted that Calvert explicitly denied any affiliation with antifa organizations in his plea agreement. Law enforcement arrested him on April 10 following an extensive multi-agency investigation.

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the broader implications of attacks on government facilities. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice anyone who attempts violence to injure or intimidate members of our community,” Wray said.

Steven Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), characterized the sentencing as a clear message that “any attack on America’s justice system, and on the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country, will not be tolerated.”

The successful prosecution resulted from coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Working together, investigators and analysts were able to identify Calvert as a suspect and ensure he was held accountable for his attempt to intimidate public officials and create chaos,” Davidson said.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley prosecuted the case, which was investigated primarily by the FBI with assistance from the ATF. While no injuries were reported from the explosion, the incident prompted heightened security measures at government facilities throughout the region.

Mexican Cartel Leader Who Faked Death Arrested in California, Faces Drug Trafficking Charges

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Federal authorities have arrested a high-ranking Mexican cartel leader who allegedly faked his own death and lived luxuriously in California, charging him with orchestrating the trafficking of massive quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes a.ka. El Mencho, reputed leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, with his son Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, known as El Menchito, in an evidence photo used by federal prosecutors.

Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, son-in-law of notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader El Mencho, was arrested November 19 in Riverside after authorities discovered him living under an assumed identity in a luxury residence allegedly purchased with drug proceeds.

“The Jalisco Cartel — one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations — is weaker today because of the tenacious efforts of law enforcement to track down and arrest a cartel leader who allegedly faked his own death and assumed a false identity to evade justice,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said.

According to court documents, Gutierrez-Ochoa began working for CJNG around 2014 and personally coordinated the movement of approximately 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2,000 kilograms of cocaine through Mexico destined for U.S. markets. Prosecutors allege he employed violence to further the cartel’s operations, including the 2021 kidnapping of two Mexican Navy members in an attempt to secure the release of El Mencho’s wife.

The elaborate scheme to fake his death allegedly involved El Mencho himself, who told associates he had killed Gutierrez-Ochoa for lying, providing cover for his son-in-law to slip into the United States. El Mencho remains a fugitive with a $10 million U.S. State Department reward for his capture.

“We allege that Gutierrez-Ochoa, a high-ranking member of the CJNG and the son-in-law of El Mencho, conspired to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States on behalf of the Jalisco Cartel,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The Jalisco Cartel is responsible for unprecedented violence in Mexico and helping to fuel the deadly drug crisis in the United States.”

Gutierrez-Ochoa faces charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for import into the United States, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and maximum of life imprisonment. Additional money laundering conspiracy charges could add 20 years to his sentence.

The case, investigated by the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation targeting high-level drug trafficking organizations threatening the United States.

Source: DOJ

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