Russian voters back referendum banning same-sex marriage

Russian voters supported a national referendum defining marriage exclusively as a union between one man and one woman.

The referendum, which included more than 200 constitutional amendments, also paves the way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 if he so chooses. 

The proposals, voted on by the public over the past seven days, were supported by more than two-thirds of voters, though the opposition maintains that the referendum was rigged from the start.

Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, slammed the gay marriage ban and said Putin is a "threat to the human rights of all."

“Russia is tripling down on its attacks on the basic human rights and dignity of LGBTQ people by adding constitutional prohibitions against marriage equality,” David said in a statement. “Putin and his administration used propaganda brochures leading up to the election promising a return to ‘traditional family values,’ using marriage between loving couples as a wedge to push through his nefarious agenda. It is shameful, manipulative and malicious."

The constitutional amendment comes after decades of legal and social oppression of LGBTQ people in Russia.

NBC News

NCDC blames rising cases on youths

INFECTED young people within age 20 and 40 bracket are responsible for the rapid spread of Coronavirus in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Thursday.

The agency also restated that the elderly are the most vulnerable and urged the youth to take responsibility by ensuring they did  not get too close to the elderly.Director-General of the NCDC Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu stated this during Thursday’s briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Control in Abuja

He said: “It is increasingly obvious that transmission among young people – between the age of 20 and 40 years – as far as we know, are really driving the spread of this virus. But those that are bearing the brunt of it are people aged 50 years and above.

“Three out of five people will die from COVID-19 at 50 and above. So, we have to work harder collectively to protect our elders.”

Chairman of the PTF Boss Musyapha warned that the Federal Government would not hesitate to change the course of its response to the disease, should the need arose.

Mustapha said the likely introduction of more measures to contain the virus was precipitated by observation  that the gradual  easing of restrictions globally  had led   a rise in positive cases .

The Nation

Hushpuppi, Woodberry extradited to US

Suspected Nigerian fraudsters, Ramon Igbalode Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacon Ponle a.k.a Mr Woodberry have been extradited to the United States.

They were arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates over high-level fraud, money-laundering and cyber-crimes.

The official page of Dubai Police confirmed their extradition. 

The Nation

Buhari to Economic Council: do more to develop Nigeria

THE Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) was directed to develop more strategies that will put the country on a sound economic lever by the President.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive during a virtual audience he granted the Prof Doyin Salami-led PEAC.

The President, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, expressed appreciation to the council for the outstanding support and guidance it had been providing, which he described as a ‘tutorial’.

He said: “We are a country characterised by a large population of poor people, serious infrastructure deficit, lack of housing and a vulnerable economy now haunted by the COVID-19 pandemic and collapse of the oil sector and its effect on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

Making a presentation to the President, the Council commended the administration for implementing several of its recommendations, even as it presented the government with a number of tough choices to make in order to put the economy on a higher growth path.Prof. Salami, who led the presentation, specifically expressed delight with the ongoing review of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2020 Budget in view of the disruptions   caused by COVID-19; the deregulation of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); approval for the implementation of the Oronsaye Report on the need to rationalise and restructure federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as the adjustment of the exchange rate of the naira.

He, however, noted that more needed to be done to increase efficiency, coordination and accountability on the part of MDAs.

The Nation

Why I pleaded guilty to $11m fraud - Invictus Obi

Obinwanne Okeke, popularly known as Invictus Obi, arrested in the United States last August for fraud, has admitted to American authorities that his participation in the fraudulent schemes for which he has pleaded guilty “was undertaken knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully and not as a result of an accident, mistake or other innocent reason.”

Mr Okeke, who was charged with two counts of computer fraud and wire fraud, also said he decided to plead guilty because he realized that the findings by investigators and the ‘statement of facts’ filed in court by prosecutors are true and accurate.

He said had the matter proceeded to trial, he was sure the United States authorities would prove the allegations against him beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Okeke’s explanations are contained in the Statement of Facts submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by G. Zachary Terwilliger (United States attorney), Brian J. Samuels (assistant United States Attorney) and Mathew P. Mattis ( special assistant United States attorney).

The document was filed in open court on June 18 as the ‘businessman’, also known as Invictus Obi in Nigeria, capitulated and pleaded guilty. He is to be sentenced on October 22.

Mr Okeke’s attorney, John Iweanoge, also agreed, saying pleading guilty remained the best course of action for his client.

“I have carefully reviewed the above Statement of Facts with him,” Mr Iweanoge said.

“To my knowledge, his decision to stipulate to these facts is an informed and voluntary one.”

The NATION

Akeredolu tests positive for COVID-19

Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who on Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19, has begun treatment at home.

Akeredolu said he is still very strong to continue working from home where he is self- isolating.

The Governor stated that he had malaria few days ago and was advised to undergo COVID-19 test by a colleague Governor.

The Nation

Redeemer’s University denies outbreak on campus

THE management of Redeemer’s University has frowned at the news of an outbreak of Covid-19 on its campus as reported by some media houses recently.

The report according to the institution  has the potential of undermining its efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation through free medical services being provided by Its  African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

The Nation