Nigeria – Witness testifies how Kuku, aides, pocketed over N35.2m from Amnesty funds in two months

Ayogu Nnamdi, a prosecution witness in the trial of Henry Ugbolue, an aide to Kingsley Kuku (former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta) on Thursday told Justice M. M. Kolo of the FCT High Court Wuse, Abuja that the accounts of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited received a turnover of about N35.2million in two months.

Mr. Kuku (a fugitive) and Mr. Ugbolue were alleged to have conspired among themselves and awarded contracts running into millions to companies in which they had interests.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on April 20, 2016 arraigned Messrs. Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple, both former aides to Mr. Kuku on two separate charges of criminal conspiracy, false declaration of assets and fraudulent acquisition of property to the tune of N55million.

Mr. Kuku (a fugitive) and Mr. Ugbolue were alleged to have conspired among themselves and awarded contracts running into millions to companies in which they had interests.

It was alleged that Mr. Ugbolue was the sole signatory of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited, the company which provided integrated management of communications and stakeholders’ engagement chain for the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.

On his part, Mr. Pepple was the director and sole signatory for KER Global Wave Limited, which was awarded a contract to provide Reintegration Support Services by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Testifying, Mr. Nnamdi, a compliance officer at the United Bank for Africa, UBA, who testified as PW1, told the court that, “a sum of N35, 206,564.89 was paid to the account of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited between March 4 and May 15, 2014 through the Office of Special Adviser to President on Niger Delta”.

Counsel to EFCC, Faruk Abdullah, sought to tender account opening documents, statement of account and mandate card in evidence, but the admissibility of the documents was objected to by Mr. Ugbolue’s counsel, G. E. Ezeuko, SAN, on the grounds that the documents were originals of public documents adding that, only certified true copies of public documents are admissible.

Mr. Ezeuko argued that, “one of the account statements has no certificate of identification and the one with certificate of identification did not comply with Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act”.

He also noted that one of the account statements was not in the proof of evidence given to him.

Responding, Mr. Abdallah argued that, “we concede that the documents are originals of public document. However, contrary to the submission of the defendant’s counsel, the original of a public document is admissible as it’s a primary document itself.

The Supreme Court had settled this when it held that, such document is the best form of document.”

Mr. Abdallah added that, “It’s only when you intend to tender a secondary evidence of a public document that it must be certified

Justice Kolo deferred ruling on the admissibility of the documents. He, however, admitted the documents, in the interim, as exhibits D & E adding that, “in the event the documents were found inadmissible everything relating to it would be expunged from the court record.”

The judge, thereafter, adjourned to September 20, 2017 for continuation of trial.

US ambassador to Qatar steps down after posting critical tweets about Donald Trump

Ms. Smith ho was appointed as the head diplomat in Doha by former President Barack Obama three years ago.

The US ambassador to Qatar has stepped down after posting critical tweets about Donald Trump’s administration after he fired FBI Director James Comey.

Dana Shell Smith announced the move a week after several Gulf states cut diplomatic ties with the monarchy in Doha, citing concerns over their financial ties to Islamist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, The Maldives, United Arab Emirates, Libya, and Bahrain won praise from Mr Trump for coordinating the anti-Qatari effort.

The President claimed foreign leaders had singled the country out for funding “radical ideology”, prompting criticism over his failure to address similar allegations levelled at his Saudi allies.

Ms Smith, a long-standing member of the US foreign service, has not indicated whether the ongoing crisis or the Trump administration played any part in her move, which the US State Department insists is “part of the normal rotation of career diplomats throughout the world”.

However when Mr Comey was fired on 9 May she tweeted: “Increasingly difficult to wake up overseas to news from home, knowing I will spend today explaining our democracy and institutions.

“Diplomats explain & defend our political system.Can be tough when partisan acrimony so high, but there is still no greater country. #USA.”

Ms Smith – who was appointed as the head diplomat in Doha by former President Barack Obama three years ago – has since tweeted that “Qatar is a strong partner in combating terrorist financing”, contradicting the US President’s public claims that the country is “a funder of terrorism at a very high level”.

Egypt has long thought Qatar’s support of Islamist groups Muslim Brotherhood was dangerous for their country.

Saudi Arabia also re-ignited tensions over Doha’s alleged support for Iran, which they claim could act to destabilise the region.

Last week Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked that the nations in the anti-Qatari effort “ease the blockade against Qatar” and requested that Doha be “responsive” to its neighbours’ concerns over terror financing.

However, just hours later Mr Trump applauded the coalition and raised the possibility that the cutting of ties was due to his urging that Middle East countries more effectively address financing terrorists during his Riyadh trip.

Ms Smith re-tweeted Mr Tillerson’s comments but not the President’s tweets.

The US agreed to sell Qatar $12bn (£9.4bn)-worth of fighter jets just days after President Trump accused the country of being a sponsor of terrorism.

The deal was signed off by the US Defence Ministry and reportedly included 36 F-15 combat aircraft.

Two days before she left her job Ms Smith retweeted a post by Meshal Hamad al-Thani‏, Qatar’s ambassador to the US, which said the deal would create 60,000 new jobs in 42 states.

The Pentagon claimed the sale would increase security cooperation between the US and Qatar.

Qatar remains the home of some 10,000 American troops at a major US military base. So far, the dispute between Doha and nations led by Saudi Arabia has yet to shake that partnership, though cracks are showing in the responses from the US administration.

Why Amazon’s Whole Foods Purchase Will Make Groceries Cheaper for Everyone

Amazon is bound to change Whole Foods’ margins dramatically. It is famous for undercutting the profit margins of competitors, and for its willingness to lower prices even though it’s losing money—so long as doing so helps it win market share.

On Friday morning, Amazon upended the grocery business—and the retail industry in general—with news that it was buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.

The deal is “absolutely game-changing” for Amazon, said Phil Lempert, an industry observer and the founder of SupermarketGuru.com, told MONEY. The acquisition of Whole Foods’ 431 locations gives Amazon new access to wealthy, health-conscious, quality-seeking shoppers.

But will it make your groceries any cheaper? Many experts say yes.

“It’s good news for consumers. This is going to be fabulous” for anyone hoping to save money on groceries, Lempert said.

In general, Lempert said, more competition in the grocery sector will lead to lower prices. The day before the announcement, Kroger stock plunged 19% after investors found out America’s largest supermarket chain was cutting its profit outlook by 10% and is being forced to lower prices amid heightened competition. Speaking of which, this week the low-price grocery Aldi, which is owned by the same company as Trader Joe’s, announced a major expansion in the U.S. Another low-cost grocer based in Europe, Lidl, also opened its first 10 U.S. locations this week, in the Carolinas and Virginia, and it has plans to have up to 100 stores in operation within a year along the East Coast.

But changes are expected to be especially noticeable at Whole Foods, the organic grocer that has been derided as “Whole Paycheck” because of high prices (remember the $6 asparagus water?). In recent years Whole Foods has attempted to stress value, and even launched a lower-priced Whole Foods 365 line of stores, but for the most part it is still thought of as an expensive place to shop for groceries.

“Amazon can be expected to work to deliver better value to grocery customers, both online and within the brick-and-mortar space,” said Bankrate.com senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick. “”This will be a good deal for consumers.”

Groceries tend to be a very low-margin business. The operating margin for Kroger is around 3%, and for a discounter like Supervalu it’s a low as 2%. But according to Morningstar, Whole Foods’ margin is more like 5% or even 6%.

Amazon is bound to change Whole Foods’ margins dramatically. It is famous for undercutting the profit margins of competitors, and for its willingness to lower prices even though it’s losing money—so long as doing so helps it win market share.

As Bloomberg columnist Shira Ovide put it, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos “doesn’t abide by the conventional rules of business like … turning a profit. He will slash prices and bleed money for years in groceries if that’s what it takes to fuel his strategic mission to become a big player.”

“It is not going to be ‘Whole Paycheck’ anymore,” Lempert said of an Amazon-owned Whole Foods. “Amazon’s intelligence and efficiencies will take a lot of the waste out of the system.” Lempert also anticipates that Whole Foods’ emphasis on private labels (like the 365 Value brand) will gibe well with Amazon’s strategies, what with its many in-house clothing brands and its low-price Amazon Basics electronics.

As prices drop at Whole Foods, and Amazon steps up its game further in online grocery shopping, competitors in the brick-and-mortar and e-retail spaces alike will have to lower prices or risk losing customers. Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods is clearly “a warning shot for the food retail industry that competition likely heightens on top of an already challenging retail backdrop,” Wells Fargo senior analyst Zachary Fadem wrote in a note to investors on Friday.

The larger battle, however, goes far beyond groceries, as the New York Times’ Neil Irwin explained on Friday. Why did Amazon buy Whole Foods, and why has Walmart purchased big e-retail players like Jet.com and (just this week) men’s fashion seller Bonobos? “The short answer is because they both want to sell everything,” Irwin wrote.

Amazon has been called the “Everything Store,” and the name rings even truer now that it will have a physical presence all over the country, in a spot that most shoppers have reason to visit once or more per week. It’s not hard to imagine that Whole Foods’ locations will become hubs where consumers can pick up same-day “click and collect” grocery orders, or all manner of other items available at Amazon.com. They will also just be able to go grocery shopping too, of course, at lower prices.

It’s worth noting, however, that pricing is only part of the reason shoppers are drawn to Amazon. “Amazon is as much about ‘value’ as ‘cheap,’” Stefan Weitz, executive vice president of technology services for the e-commerce management firm Radial, told MONEY via email. “You can often find cheaper prices on items offered from Amazon, but if you factor in free, fast, and reliable shipping and knowing that Amazon has your back in case of an issue, price is no longer the only consideration.”

Soon, shoppers can factor in the convenience of a neighborhood grocery store location as a consideration for doing business with Amazon as well.

Camille Cosby Opens Up After Mistrial: Calls Opposing Counsel ‘Totally Unethical’

Bill Cosby’s wife of 53 years issued a statement that also attacked the judge

Camille Cosby has issued a scathing statement on the sexual assault case against her husband, Bill Cosby, which was declared a mistrial Saturday morning.

Bill Cosby stood aside as a public relations representative read aloud the statement from his wife, who has publicly supported her husband of 53 years after dozens of women came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

Camille Cosby slammed counsel for her husband’s accusers, the media and Judge Steven O’Neill, who presided over the case. She called O’Neill “overly arrogant in collaborating with the district attorney,” whom she described as “exploitatively ambitious.”

Camille went on to express gratitude to “any jurors who tenaciously fought to review the evidence” and her husband’s legal counsel.

“As a very special friend once stated, ‘Truth can be subdued, but not destroyed,’” she said in the statement. Read it in full below:

How do I describe the district attorney? Heinously and exploitatively ambitious. How do I describe the judge? Overtly arrogant in collaborating with the district attorney. How do I describe the counsels for the accusers? Totally unethical. How do I describe many, but not all, general media? Blatantly vicious entities that continually disseminated intentional omissions of truth for the primary purpose of greedily selling sensationalism at the expense of a human life.

Historically, people have challenged injustices. I am grateful to any of the jurors who tenaciously fought to review the evidence; which is the rightful way to make a sound decision. Ultimately, that is a manifestation of justice, based on facts, not lies. As a very special friend once stated, “Truth can be subdued, but not destroyed.”

Moreover, I express humongous gratitude to counselors Brian McMonagle and Angela Agrusa for their hard work. Mr. McMonagle for his passionate and powerful articulations of truths; Ms. Agrusa for her thorough research to bolster Counsel McMonagle; to Mr. Andrew Wyatt for his unequivocal skills in public relations; to our team, who worked diligently and intelligently; to our staffs for their continuous commitment to our family and me, and to our children, grandchildren, and other family who loves us, and to our dear friends and supporters who never gave up on us, despite it all.

After 52 hours of deliberation, a jury of seven men and five women could not reach a decision in the case brought by Andrea Constand. The 44-year-old accuses Cosby of molesting her after giving her drugs at his home in 2004.

In their defense, lawyers for the comedian focused on pointing out discrepancies in Constand’s story; Cosby himself did not testify in his defense.

If convicted, the comedian might have been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Camille Cosby appeared alongside her husband during the trial on Monday, when she arrived at the Norristown, Pennsylvania, courthouse arm-in-arm with the embattled comedian.

RAPED AND IMPREGNATED BY ARMED ROBBERS

What would you do as a Pastor if armed robber invaded your December 31st Cross-Over Service and in the process raped your daughter?

The mystery involved in making children is beyond human comprehension. Man’s infinite dimensions cannot measure it, no matter how gifted you are. It has become a universal principle that every family yearns to have numeric increment via natural procreative process. Those not inclined to have children due to personal preferences opt for child adoption in line with approved processes.

While Science attempts to describe the egg fertilization through to eventual birthing processes, there are limitations in explaining HOW the mix of spermatozoon and egg co-join and how the liquid dropped for fertilization. Conversely, Science has not conclusively explained how infertility sets in and the true state of the internal system of the woman. I love how Dr. Randy J. Guliuzza’s submission in “Made in His Image: Human Reproduction” to Institute for Creation Research:

“Actually, the detail could go far beyond this simple description. As seen, the level of coordinated interaction to get any viable offspring exceeds the cellular level, extends past the reproductive system, pulls in the neurologic, hormonal, and circulatory systems, and demands substances that are produced independently by the male to modify the actions of the female body or the materials made by her–and vice versa. Evolutionary literature is rife with speculative stories about the origination of these processes, but devoid of any real scientific evidence to explain them. The only viable explanation is that GOD placed these processes in the first parents, Adam and Eve, fully functional right from the beginning.”

Truly, bringing forth a child into the world is indeed an awesome experience!

Within the last five years, two very challenging emotional conflicts situations revolved around “accidental procreation”. I want to operationally define accidental procreation circumstances as “birthing children as a result of forceful entry leading to pregnancy”. The need for this definition is because some women have had to deal with pregnancies resulting from birth control mechanisms failure.

What would you do as a Pastor if armed robber invaded your December 31st Cross-Over Service and in the process raped your daughter? What would you do if you find out two months on, that your daughter is pregnant? How can a Pastor’s daughter overcome the pain and shame of being violated, and, pregnant for an unknown criminal? How would she cope to full term? How would the Pastor and his wife explain their daughter’s pregnancy out of wedlock? Would the Pastor and his wife accept their first ‘grandchild’ as a blessing? What is the way out… Many unanswered questions!

Again, what would you do if after 19 years of ‘searching for the fruit of the womb’, hoodlums invaded your home, gang-raped you. Four months down the line, you realize that the gang rape experience resulted in multiple pregnancy – triplet? What would a loving husband do under this circumstance? Would this couple welcome these ‘innocent children’ as ‘Divine Intervention? How would the man react under this trying situation?

After over 10 years of working emotional cases, one lesson that reverberates is the fact that primary colours do not define emotional conflicts and entanglements. There are underlying and extenuating circumstances, enveloped by actions and reactions. These realities challenge the Emotional Counselor beyond rationality and simple logic. Incidents sometimes challenge fundamental beliefs and mores. Thus, the best counsel is offered from a painful impassioned pedestal, having identified variables holistically and individualistically.

Negative emotions must be extricated and flushed for the delivery of, sometimes, painful path towards emotional crisis resolution. These two unfortunate incidents, at some stage led to victims’ doubt of the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Eternal God Factor! However, the story of the Okes is very significant because of its emotional complexities.

Twenty-two year old Sandra was a Year 2 Bio-Medical Sciences student of a reputable institution. On December 23, she returned home for the Christmas holiday season full of expectations and plans. Her father, Pastor Oke is a well-known and respected preacher, who lives and walks the Word, bringing his children up in alignment with the Word of God. Pastor Oke’s children were love by neighbours and church members for their cultured manner. Mrs. Oke is a paragon of beauty and humility; she runs a foundation that caters for the girl child. In addition to supporting her husband, Mrs. Oke runs one of the cheapest Nursery/Primary Schools in the State.

The Okes look forward to December 31st every year with excitement and expectations – new resolutions, family plans and programs for the following year and a host of wish lists. The most important part of the period was the opportunity for January 1st Family Feedback Hour, when family members provide feedback Mom and Dad on parenting style. For Sandra, she always enjoyed the opportunity to tell her parents things she did not like and what her parents needed to refrain from doing ‘going forward’. So, coming home every December was not negotiable, because it was critical for family bonding.

The Okes had a great day – last minute year-end shopping and general preparation for the New Year. There was an air of spirituality amid sober reflection of the ending year. After dinner, they drove to the hired venue of the Cross-Over Service, an open area less than 10 minutes drive from their residence. A cheery congregation welcomed Pastor Oke and his family; as they step in, the environment electrified with praise and worship. It was an excited Minister that stepped up to the podium at precisely 2330hrs to commence the Crossover and Testimony Night program.

Thirty minutes into the Praise and Adoration, the “Happy New Year” was announced amid shouts of exultation and adoration. Fireworks outside the service environment added to the already electrified worship center as the congregation danced to ‘sow into the new year’. Then the unexpected happened, as armed men in masks, who ordered every worshipper to lie flat on their face, surrounded Pastor Oke at the podium. They made away with the collections, and dispossessed the congregation of their valuables. The gang also escorted some members identified as ‘wealthy’ out into their vehicles. At the protest of the Pastor, the four men descended on him, beating him to a stupor.

Sandra could no longer lie still. She got up to fight one of the hoodlums in defense of her father. Sandra’s martial arts training came handy as he rescued her dad from the villain. Unfortunately, two of the gang pinned her to the ground, beat her up really bad; it was under this tensed circumstance that the leader of the gang tore off her clothes and decided to ‘teach her the lesson of her life’. He violated her mercilessly to the point of losing consciousness. It was the longest nightmare of her life as Sandra floated between the pain of being raped and violently beaten.

Time stood still as Sandra and her father regained consciousness at the private hospital of a church member, her father’s bosom friend of many years, Dr. Umez, who had called for his hospital’s Ambulance. Pastor Oke was in pains when he came to, asked after his family, to which the doctor professionally responded: “everyone is fine”. Mrs. Oke did not leave her daughter’s side, and appealed to the doctor and key staff to maintain professional confidentiality by not telling her husband that Sandra was raped and severely beaten. Dr. Umez ordered several tests and treatments for Sandra; all members of the medical team worked frantically to ensure that all was well with Sandra and her father.

Mrs. Oke was treated for shock because witnessing her daughter violated and husband almost killed, was too much to bear. However, she managed to appeal for utmost confidentiality in matters regarding Sandra. After two weeks of hospitalization, father and daughter were discharged to the joy of the family and Pastor Oke’s congregation, many of whom were not very sure of ‘what really happened to Sandra’.

Through the efforts of a ‘protective mother’ who was guarding against stigmatization, there were conflicting stories concerning the incident. Some believed that Sandra was beaten to a pulp for “trying to be heroic”; others were sure that she was “attempting to call the Police” while another group said Sandra was “taking pictures of the invaders”. Yet, another group were convinced that Sandra “recognized some members of the gang” hence, the ‘serious beating’ she got. However, everyone empathized with her and thanked God for making sure ‘no life was lost’.

Sandra returned to school with the trauma as all rape victims, and thrust herself into the academic workload to distract her from the nightmares she experienced. She became a hermit and made conscious efforts to avoid male classmates. Efforts by close friends who knew she was ‘beaten by invading robbers’ paled into insignificance as Sandra rebuffed entreaties for group studies and campus fellowships.

Early February, Sandra fainted during a lecture session; her best friend, Pamela called Mrs. Oke who flew down to see her daughter at the university clinic. She immediately arranged for her transfer to Dr. Umez’s private hospital, the family hospital. Different tests were conducted: HIV/AIDS, Pneumonia, Diabetes, Malaria, Typhoid, Pap smear, Appendicitis, Low sugar, PCV, etc. Nothing significant was found.

After one week of hospitalization, Dr. Umez, Medical Director decided to indulge his ‘whim’; he took a blood sample to three outside laboratories for pregnancy test. Results came back positive. He was devastated, asking himself repeatedly: How would he tell Sandra’s mother that the real nightmare had begun? How would he face Pastor Oke, his dear friend of many years, to explain that Sandra was raped the same night he (Pastor) nearly died in the hands of the violent gang – resulting in pregnancy? How do you tell this to a mother who is yet to recover from the trauma of witnessing her daughter raped and husband beaten close to death?

Finally, he decided that there was no time to waste; Mrs. Oke needed to the situation to enable to family decide on what to do. Adopting reverse psychology, Mrs. Oke was asked what she honestly thought could be wrong with her daughter. She suggested it could be depression and fear that people knew she was raped. Dr. Umez reminded her that the personnel with the highest level of integrity coordinated post-rape treatment for Sandra. At the suggestion that Pregnancy Test would be done the next day, Mrs. Oke went berserk: “No. No. No. Don’t even think or suggest that Sandra could be pregnant. Do you know what that means? My husband’s Ministry will be finished! Have you considered what a pregnancy will mean to my daughter? Please perish the thought…”

Moved with compassion, Dr. Umez prayed for Divine Wisdom on how to communicate the ‘bad news’, fully aware that it was more dangerous to delay the information further. He needed to alter the Sarah’s medications to pregnancy-friendly ones decision on the pregnancy, but decided to update Pastor Oke on the situation to get a steer on the matter. Unaware of the pregnancy, but knew that it was expedient that her husband knew about the rape. At last, the secret of those fateful early hours of January 1 was going to be revealed. Would her husband feel disappointed and betrayed in her? Would he ever trust her again? How will Sandra feel IF the test proved positive…. Many disturbing questions…

Pastor agreed to create time Sunday evening to meet with his friend and chat over dinner. Ahead of the dinner meeting, Pastor Oke and his wife checked on their daughter, Pastor insisting that Sarah needed deliverance since nothing is medically wrong with her. Dr. Umez was glad to see his friend in high spirit, wondering how the day would end after delivering the sad message. He hated being the harbinger of bad news, and, it was the first time they were meeting socially, besides church services, since the unfortunate incident.

They had dinner in silence amid palpable tension; Dr. Umez ate mechanically, his mind pre-occupied, mentally joggling one possible strategy after the other. Walking with Pastor Oke and his wife in tow to the study, he knew that the die was cast and silently prayed for divine strength. “I want to begin with apologies. I have failed you as a friend and failed God as His child…” he began. A surprised Pastor Oke looked to his wife who sat with head bowed, believing Dr. Umez was about to reveal Sarah’s ordeal that fateful night.

“As you know, Sandra has been in the hospital for about two weeks…I just found out that she is pregnant…” Dr. Umez dropped the bombshell. Pastor Oke gave his wife a questioning look, “What…what did you just say? Sandra, my daughter is pregnant? How?” Turning to his wife, “Is this true? Are you aware of this? Speak, woman…” Dr. Umez interrupted, “My brother, mummy does not know that she is pregnant; that is why I decided to come to the house. We did not tell you everything about that night…. Those hoodlums raped Sandra, our dear daughter. Unfortunately, it has resulted in a pregnancy. I thought it wise to discuss with both of you. Something needs to be done, and, fast too…. My apologies Mummy; this burden has been too much for me…” he concluded with visible relief.

Mrs. Oke wept uncontrollably, while her husband stared unseeingly and motionless. When he spoke, it was to no one; he soliloquized: “Lord, what is my crime? Who has sinned in this family? What are you trying to tell me, Lord? Have I not served you faithfully? Are you visiting our sins on my beloved daughter? What kind of shame is this, Lord…?” Dr. Umez quietly left to the home of the Okes, making a mental note to return first thing the next morning. There are key issues that need to be resolved and the earlier the better.

For the Okes, it was the longest night of their lives. Painfully, Mrs. Oke narrated what took place that fateful night and how everything was done to clean up and treat their traumatized daughter who was violently raped. She pleaded with her husband to persuade Dr. Umez not to disclose to Sandra that she was with child – and to secretly abort the baby. Pastor Oke was indeed in dire straits – he could neither pray nor reason with his wife. He lamented all night.

Dr. Umez had invited me earlier to provide my perspective – a ‘third eye’ angle, but I dithered. He got to his friends’ residence the next morning only to discover that they never left the study. Husband and wife sat down in deep thought with confused expressions. Dr. Umez was concerned and checked their blood pressures; the results were so alarming that he gave them medication to relax them. He left with instructions to the housekeeper that the couple should neither be disturbed nor allowed to receive any visitors. He knew his friends would need their strength to deal with the issue at hand. Sandra had been requesting for a private session with the doctor to understand her ‘ailment’.

The meeting with Sandra’s parents was one of the most emotionally tense sessions I have ever dealt with. Discussions focused on “How to manage the information”; “Is abortion the answer?” “How will the church perceive their Pastor in view of the Sandra’s pregnancy? “Would the Pastor approve abortion as a necessity under the circumstance?” “Will Pastor accept that his first grandchild is seared by a criminal?” So many questions…

This couple was crestfallen. They needed a shock treatment that would kick-start them back to reality. I empathized with the Pastor Oke, who is one of the few ‘true men of God’ with the highest level of ethics and integrity I have met. He was loved for his stance on Christian discipline, piety and morality. Clearly, in this circumstance, Pastor Oke and his daughter, Sandra, are most impacted. Aware that they had not had anything to eat in almost 24 hours, Dr. Umez called on the housekeeper to get some green tea and freshly made juice, for it was going to be a long evening. Introductions and exchanges were made while waiting for refreshment.

We took refreshment in silence, but the tension was palpable as Dr. Umez gave me a nudge. One of the most trying periods for even the most experienced and talented professional is rationally surfing through entanglements. The need to explain real situations and their implications is usually a tough call. Dr. Umez and I had worked through the issues – all night and day – till the point of meeting – until he, too became very emotional.

Rationality is often impacted by uncoordinated feelings; this happens to be best of us, no matter your profession or vocation- including yours truly. “Pastor, I understand how you feel right now, but I believe that a prayer to kick off discussions will be good…. Please, lead us in a short prayer”. That was an unkind cut, but it had to be done; it was the beginning the process of venting and healing for the family whose trust is in God. Initially, Pastor Oke looked at me with an inexplicable emotion, shaking his head, he knelt down and said a very short, but powerful prayer under the circumstance. His prayer cleared the path to emotional recovery: “Lord Jesus, I thank you for everything; please, grant me the Grace to bear this great burden. Amen”

That simple but powerful prayer changed the mood in the room. There seemed to be an entrance of Power that encapsulated the room with PEACE. Internal peace aids positive reasoning, and we needed a surplus dose of that for the discussion. Also, the wordings and tone of the prayer was a signal that everyone in the room was ready to accept the worst-case scenario. Above all, I was strengthened and more confident to deliver painful but critical perspective to the ‘issues’ at hand. It was brief, without sentiments and straight to the point:

“Thank you for allowing me to participate in this very intimate family matter. I am glad that we are all positively disposed to deal with the fact of the tough problem before us. This family is a high profile and well-respected family, and Pastor Oke is a revered minister of the Word. Therefore, we need to carefully consider the situation and take decisions towards remediation. We need to consider that Sandra is an adult who must be carried along in this matter that affects her directly. Yes, the situation if not well articulated and handled, will impact the family’s reputation, Ministry, and most importantly, Sandra.

“While the seemingly easiest option is ‘quiet abortion’, Dr. Umez knows that he cannot wheel Sandra to the theatre without an explanation. She already suspects that she might be pregnant and has requested for a pregnancy test. When Dr. Umez and I playfully asked her what she would do if she were pregnant, Sandra shook her head and faced the wall. That is denial! The clock is ticking; the damage has been done, and I think we might consider the following steps:

1. ZERO consideration for Abortion
2. Relocate Sandra outside the country (preferably, the United States of America or United Kingdom) to have the baby and continue her education there
3. When the baby comes, send the baby to a Motherless Baby Home for possible adoption; OR, return the baby ‘home’ and be adopted into the Oke Family.”

“No way”, Mrs. Oke shouted. How can my first grandchild be a bastard, and, a product of rape? God forbid. Please Dr. Umez take out that thing…that bastard…. Oh God, why? Why? Why me? What did we do to deserve this? Who did we offend….”she sobbed uncontrollably. Her husband moved over to her side and held her tightly muttering “It is well; it is well; it will end in praise. Like Job, we will triumph. What else can we do? Abortion is against the Will of God. The shame is unimaginable, but I think they have thought this out well. It is a temporary option until things cool down. Please, my darling. Be strong…”

Pastor Oke decided to go with us to the hospital to see her daughter immediately. It was an apprehensive and confused Sandra who greeted us. Mrs. Oke wore a very sad and depressing countenance that increased Sandra’s anxiety, “Daddy, Mummy, what is the problem? Is everything okay? Am I dying?” Pastor Oke moved to the bed, reassuring his daughter that “All is well”, however, he had ‘unfortunate news’ to tell her. Sandra became hysterical: “Did I contact HIV/AIDS from the rape? Is it cancer? Oh, please, Mummy tell me that I am not dying. I have seen the way the some of staff have been looking at me with so much pity…like I have limited days to live…Can someone tell me what I am suffering from…”

“God is Faithful; He is Merciful and Gracious. You do not have any ‘Egyptian Disease’. We thank God for that; but you are pregnant…” Pastor Oke dropped the bomb! Minutes that seemed like an eternity passed, with a now uncontrollably hysterical Sandra pulled away from her father, tore off the drip and attempted to run away from the room without success. Dr. Umez tried to calm her down, overcoming his desire to sedate her. When she became calm, Sandra asked her mother, “Mummy, what am I going to do? How will I be able to face my friends in school and the church? Oh, Daddy, how will your members look at you – a minister whose daughter is pregnant out of wedlock…made pregnant by an armed robber? What kind of destiny is this…?” Sandra went on and on… Mrs. Oke held her daughter tight and the two women wept in tensed confusion.

One week later, the family adopted the “Emotionally Yours Model”, as Pastor Oke christened the advice provided that evening of crisis. Sandra spent some time with the Emotionally Yours Team to enable her vent and come to terms with the challenges of ‘accidental motherhood’, as she called it. Within three weeks, Emotionally Yours Team worked with its international network to get a Christian couple in Europe where Sandra was to live, school and have her baby – all with the support of her parents.

Emotional Piggy Bank

Rape victims experience emotional and psychological consequences beyond the constantly harped ‘stigmatization’. Being raped by a criminal with the resultant consequence of pregnancy introduces another dimension in emotional distress. While victims fall back to self-blame as ‘avoidance tool’, ‘spiritualizing’ the incident further impacts the healing process. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, flashbacks, sleep and disorders, guilt, anger and suicidal inclinations are recurring emotional pools in which victims swim.

Love, patience and understanding help victims rebuild their self-confidence, while crawling gradually from the stupor of depression through the rungs of self-awareness. It is Love’s influence via expression of positive emotion and rational behaviour that help victims overcome, as well as come to terms with any other fall outs impacting on other parties. The constant reference to the word ‘bastard’ during pregnancy arising from a rape incident naturally reopens the wounds to a never-healing state. The incident is mentally relived and the cycle could be unending.

Therefore, Love is the BALM that soothes emotionally traumatized victim. Thus, the next time you meet a rape victim, show empathy, understanding and LOVE.

More Emotionally Yours ►►►

 

Academic Doctors Worldwide advocates for peace, academic, and leadership excellence

World Association for Academic Doctors (WAAD) was founded in 2014 by Dr. Henrietta Okoro as a professional non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with headquarters in Maryland. WAAD is an international Organization with a network of doctors in the academia from various fields and eight regional continents: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Oceania. The recent concluded 3-day inaugural world congress that took place in BWI Airport Marriott from June 8 – 11, 2017, depicted collaboration of huge academic scholarship from participants that includes academic professionals, business leaders, NGO leaders, researchers, and students around the world.

Dr. Okoro said that WAAD’s mission focuses on bringing together the vast potential of professionals around the globe to promote excellence through quality education, advanced research, good leadership, and business ethics aimed at sustainable political, socioeconomic, and scientific growth of the world. To attain this goal, members’ pool their intellectual resources together through conferences and journal publications to offer solutions to world pressing issues for a better tomorrow. The June 2017 inaugural conference theme: ‘Global Perspectives in Business, Government, and Academia’ reinforces this. The communique from the conference serve as a policy tool for restructuring possible solutions in developing countries and around the world prepared by the communique team: Dr. William Woods, Dr. Margaret Vianna, and Dr. Elizabeth Young.

WAAD partner with governments and other agencies to help reinforce the global educational systems of the challenging countries. WAAD having a diverse membership in the eight regional continents will enable penetration in the most marginalized sectors and identify ways to improve quality education and research.

For future WAAD Global Conference visit: >>>

To JOIN WAAD: Complete the online registration via: >>>

Call for papers in progress: To publish in our IJLEBS Academic Journal, submit paper via >>>

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OBAMA’S DREAM ACT ENDURES: TROUBLED TRUMP WILL LET UNDOCUMENTED MINORS STAY FOR NOW

For now, at least, “Dreamers” will be able to keep on dreaming. President Trump plans to continue a program that bars the deportation of undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children, a measure he had pledged to end while campaigning for the presidency.

“Maybe this might help relieve a little tension,” said Matthew Archambeault, a Center City immigration attorney. “We’ll see what it really means going forward and what type of blowback he gets from his base.”

That the administration quietly affirmed the program, in a document released late Thursday, doesn’t mean the measure won’t be revoked later on, Archambeault noted.

An official at the Department of Homeland Security told the New York Times on Friday that no final determination had been made about the program.

For the moment, though, people who have lived and worked under the program’s protections can exhale.

Prudence Powell, who came to this country when she was 12, has been nervous since Trump was elected, wondering whether she would be sent back to a Jamaica homeland she no longer knows.

“It’s a scary thought,” said the 34-year-old mother of two, who lives in North Philadelphia. “It would be horrible. I have some family there but I don’t think I would be able to survive. My whole life is based here.”

As Trump promised a hard line toward undocumented immigrants, Powell worried: Would she be deported? Would her children be forced to leave with her, likewise sent to the Caribbean island?

Five years ago, when President Barack Obama announced a change in the nation’s immigration policy, Powell said, she was barely getting by, unable to work and dependent on public assistance and welfare programs.

The DREAM Act, an acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, was never voted into law. But Obama created a policy that called for delayed action on undocumented children, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

It allows certain people who entered the country as minors to gain a renewable, two-year period of deferred action from deportation along with eligibility for a work permit.

Initially some feared the government would use the personal information on DACA applications to track people and deport them. But thousands came forward.

When Powell was accepted for the program, she said, it changed everything.

“It was a way for me to work, get a driver’s license, and pay taxes,” Powell said. “It might not be much, but it’s a lot from where I came from.”

Today she works as office manager for the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, a Philadelphia-based organization that promotes immigrants’ rights and integration into society.

As a presidential candidate, Trump had promised to immediately end what he called an illegal executive amnesty. As president, however, he’s expressed empathy toward young immigrants, often referred to as Dreamers.

The DACA program has protected an estimated 787,000 people from deportation. It bestows no residency status, but provides a temporary shield from deportation and allows people to legally hold jobs.

The status can be revoked at any time, and some have lost their DACA protection after being arrested for crimes.

“This is the best news we’ve had,” said Cathryn Miller-Wilson, executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania, which works to welcome immigrants and their families. “In other aspects of the administration, they’ve made it clear they don’t want undocumented people at all.”

The DACA program, while not comprehensive, has improved the lives of young people who have been raised as Americans, she said.

“The thought that they would be deported to a country where they’ve never been, and don’t have family, is horrifying,” Miller-Wilson said. “These kids are fabulous, hard-working contributors, and they’re our neighbors and our friends and colleagues, and it was the right move.”

Otu-Umuokpu Anambra, USA inducts new members in Houston

NEW MEMBERS make membership pledge during the swear-in process. Membership in Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is open to all daughters of Anambra State of Nigeria whose fathers originate from Anambra State. Admission of members is open in April and close in October of any even year.

Houston, TX – The 2017 induction ceremony of the Otu-Umuokpu Anambra State USA Association Inc. Houston Headquarters featured the welcoming of another set of women into their social confraternity. The event held at the Igbo Catholic Community Center on   Creekbend was witnessed by a full house of guests who attended from various parts of the country.

The President of the group, Chief Lady, Dr. Queen Ozigbo thanked His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano Akpokuodike for sending a Representative of the Government to witness the event. “ we look forward to collaborating with Anambra State Government as we implement many projects in our dear State,” she conveyed.

Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is a community of all paternal daughters of Anambra State of Nigeria with the core mission to promote and uphold the welfare and culture her members; and foster unity, love, and harmony among them. The group has since its inception shared the uniformity of their ancestry as a unifying tool for community development and bonding of sisterhood.

According to Lady, Dr. Ozigbo, “The role of Umuokpu in Igboland has been explained in our previous induction ceremonies, but I suffice it to say that the Umuokpu of any Community in Igboland are highly respected daughters of the land who are fearless in speaking the truth, remaining neutral while resolving complex issues, maintaining integrity, and upholding culture. Otu-Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association, Inc is founded on these principles, hence our motto is Love, Respect, Integrity, and Service to Humanity.”

President of the group, Chief Lady, Dr. Queen Ozigbo (foreground) leads other members in a traditional dance. The group has since its inception shared the uniformity of their ancestry as a unifying tool for community development and bonding of sisterhood.

The group used the induction to also highlight their accomplished humanitarian projects in Anambra State. These accomplishments were projected in a live-screen broadcast while the event progressed. Included in these  projects are: a 2012 educational project that delivered 12,000 exercise books and library books to 45 Primary and Secondary schools in Anambra State; School Lunch Program and Educational Scholarships to children in Primary and Secondary schools in Anambra State; Annual Sisters International Breast Cancer Walks, where the group was the highest donor last year 2016; and Annual  donation to St. Jude’s Children’s’ Hospital since 2013.

Other projects are donation to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital Houston in 2016; and labor donation to Houston Food Bank.  Furthermore, the group is currently organizing other donations, including a proposed donation to the Salvation Army. Lady, Dr. Ozigbo said, “As you can see, OUA Houston has maintained a good track record of humanitarian service.  With your help tonight, we plan to continue our charitable projects.”

Membership in Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is open to all daughters of Anambra State of Nigeria whose fathers originate from Anambra State. Admission of members is open in April and close in October of any even year. In the 2017 induction last Saturday, 12 new Inductees, were in accordance with the group’s Bye-Laws, found worthy to be inducted to the great sisterhood.

Trump names inexperienced son’s wedding planner to lead federal housing office

Lynne Patton, vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Photo: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

The new head of the biggest HUD regional office has no experience in housing. The Eric Trump Foundation, where she worked from 2009 to 2017, is now under fire following a Forbes report alleging that the charity funneled donations back into the Trump Organization, and recently became the subject of a fraud investigation by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

President Trump has named Lynne Patton, senior adviser during his presidential campaign and former vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation, as the head of federal housing programs in New York.

On Wednesday, Trump appointed Patton to head the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Region II, which includes New York and New Jersey. She’ll act as a senior adviser to Ben Carson, the secretary of housing and urban development, and manage a $49 billion budget, various grant programs and federal funding for the region.

The new head of the biggest HUD regional office has no experience in housing. The Eric Trump Foundation, where she worked from 2009 to 2017, is now under fire following a Forbes report alleging that the charity funneled donations back into the Trump Organization, and recently became the subject of a fraud investigation by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Patton defended the foundation in a statement on Twitter, calling the claims “reckless & unsubstantiated.”

Patton, who began working with the Trumps in 2009, has planned numerous events for the family, including golf tournaments, Eric Trump’s 2014 wedding at Mar-a-Lago and charity events.

According to LinkedIn, Patton graduated from the University of Miami. Patton, who claims on her profile that she attended law school at Quinnipiac University School of Law for two years, actually attended for only two semesters, according to the New York Daily News. Patton also lists Yale University on her profile under the “Education” section but does not claim a degree or list the years she attended.

A Trump loyalist, Patton has displayed her unwavering dedication to the Trump family numerous times, most notably in a video called “The Trump Family I Know — A Black Female Trump Executive Speaks Out,” in which she defends the president against allegations of racism, noting that he’s hired “more minority and female executives than any other company for which I’ve worked.”

At the Republican National Convention in 2016, Patton reminded minority voters that “Donald Trump knows that your life matters,” speaking about Trump’s dedication to minority groups.

Like the president, Patton is an avid Twitter user, using the social media platform to praise the president and his family, defend Carson’s claim that poverty is a state of mind and criticize the leaking of memos by former FBI director James Comey.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., demanded that Trump remove Patton from the HUD job in a letter to the president Friday.

Frankly, serving as your family’s event planner and as an employee of the Eric Trump Foundation, which is currently under investigation by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for criminal activities, does not qualify an individual to serve as [HUD head],” Meng wrote. “This not The Apprentice; the federal government is not your personal patronage system. On behalf of every New Yorker who relies on NYCHA to survive, I ask you to start acting as such.”

Patton visited the New York City Housing Authority in May but did not enter a NYCHA apartment. NYCHA Chairwoman Shola Olatoye told the New York Daily News that Patton’s reaction was “surprise, maybe a little bit horrified” when she visited a community center in the Bronx.

Patton will begin her new HUD job July 5

Serena and Venus Williams’ Dad Files for Divorce, Claims Wife Forged His Signature, Stole Social Security Checks

In the docs, Richard says his wife of 7 years has forged his name on a deed to transfer one of his houses to herself … as well as cars. He also believes she’s taken his social security checks. They have a 5-year-old son together, and Richard thinks Lakeisha’s lifestyle endangers the child.

Serena and Venus William’s 75-year-old dad Richard is divorcing his wife and has accused her of pulling stunts and shows. According to documents, Richard claims 38-year-old Lakeisha Williams of stealing his social security checks and forging his signature to steal property — including cars and a home.

In the docs, Richard says his wife of 7 years has forged his name on a deed to transfer one of his houses to herself … as well as cars. He also believes she’s taken his social security checks.

They have a 5-year-old son together, and Richard thinks Lakeisha’s lifestyle endangers the child. According to the docs, she’s now living with someone who has “serious criminal, felony charges pending.” He also accuses her of taking his guns, and being an alcoholic.

Lakeisha’s attorney, Sandy Becher, tells TMZ Sports … “All of the allegations are false and will be proven to be false when we litigate the case in court,” and adds … Richard is just trying to avoid paying child support and alimony

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