US Bans Owners Of Abuja Wonderland Over Terrorism

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnwxXvZedJ2iDmc6ogjRMeodUUD0Fex-VbAuDvKV2zpDybzl7lEDRtM00KHbcRj1jHCxSX4K0TSnGOBzOvGJEeKlxsYumK5BmaDpJu5Ez5ASw9YM77KvtLR-M5AUrHT9vyYJRbcj3-k9n/s1600/Wonder-Land-Abuja-465x291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnwxXvZedJ2iDmc6ogjRMeodUUD0Fex-VbAuDvKV2zpDybzl7lEDRtM00KHbcRj1jHCxSX4K0TSnGOBzOvGJEeKlxsYumK5BmaDpJu5Ez5ASw9YM77KvtLR-M5AUrHT9vyYJRbcj3-k9n/s1600/Wonder-Land-Abuja-465x291.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The United States of America has banned the owners of Nigeria’s Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland from dealing with any U.S. person.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a statement, the United States Department of Treasury said it has frozen all property and assets owned by Fauzii Fawad, Mustapha Fawaz and Abdallah Tahini.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> All three men were also earlier named by the Joint Task Force, Kano, as members of a Lebanese Hezbollah group in Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The U.S. Department of Treasury said the trio and their companies have been issued Executive Order 133224 for acting for or on behalf of Hezbollah, a Lebanese group.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A U.S. Executive Order 12947 of January 1995 listed Hezbollah as a Specially Designated Terrorist, while the Department of State designated Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in October 2001.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “As these designations make clear we will track Hezbollah’s illicit activities to all corners of the earth.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Together with our international partners, we are tirelessly working to dismantle Hezbollah’s financial apparatus. Wherever this terrorist group may seek to raise funds, we will target and expose its activity,” the statement said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Wonderland is Abuja’s biggest and most popular amusement park, while Amigo is one of the largest supermarkets in the Nigerian capital.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In May, 2013, the Joint Task Force in Kano said Mr. Fawad’s name was mentioned by three Lebanese arrested for being in possession of heavy weapons, and other terrorism related activities.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Fawad and three other Lebanese – charged for terrorism and alleged importation of firearms were arrested by a JTF raid in Kano in May, 2103.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They were charged to court but were later free after a Court in Karu, an Abuja suburb, stuck out the suit following an application by the prosecutor, Cliff Osagie.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The State Security Service and the Nigerian Army said they found several arms and ammunition including anti-tank guns in buildings belonging to the Lebanese in Kano.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The raid by the JTF led to the sealing of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park in Abuja at the time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At the trial, the prosecutor, in his application to withdraw the charges, told the court that further investigation against the accused persons revealed that the offences for which they were charged before the court were outside the scope and jurisdiction of the court.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A different case was however, filed by the Lebanese at a Federal High Court seeking the release of the accused persons from detention and an apology from the Nigerian Security agencies for their detention. They demanded N50 billion as damages.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On June 8, 2013, the DSS sought President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval for the immediate demolishing of Amigo Supermarket, the approval was, however, not granted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The lawyer for the suspects, Bamidele Aturu, questioned the rationale behind the planned demolition of the Amigo building. He also threatened legal action against the federal government if those arrested were not charged to court immediately as required by law.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On November 29, 2013, a Federal High Court in Abuja, sentenced Tahal Roda, to life imprisonment on terrorism charges. The court however, cleared Messrs. Fawaz and Thani, of all charges levelled against them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> During their trial, Simon Egede, the prosecution counsel, maintained that the accused persons were guilty of the charges, especially based on the evidence given by witnesses.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Egede said that Hezbollah was a terrorist group and should be treated as such. He explained that any organization that was involved in bombing and destruction was a terrorist organization and prayed the court to convict the accused.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, Robert Clarke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the defence counsel, opposed the submission of the prosecution counsel, saying Hezbollah had not been pronounced a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said Hezbollah was like any other group and, therefore, prayed the court to acquit and discharge the accused.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in his ruling also ordered an immediate reopening of the supermarket and Amusement park which were sealed for seven months.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Mustapha, the U.S. says, is a significant donor to the Hezbollah group.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In September, 2003, he reportedly solicited donations in Abuja, Nigeria, and helped arrange the transmission of these funds to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the US department of the treasury said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He communicated and received emails and newsletters regarding the group’s activities and aided in the distribution of information to other Hezbollah supporters in Abuja, while using special surveillance cameras based at Amigo Supermarket to monitor the movements of expatriates, especially Israelis.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to the U.S., Mr. Fauzi is a Hezbollah Foreign Relations Department official in Abuja. The department scouts for recruits for the Hezbollah’s military units, creates and supports Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure for its operational units in Africa and globally.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Messrs. Fawad and Fauzi are co-owners of Amigo Supermarket Limited, holding a combined 70 per cent ownership share, and are both listed as a Director.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They also hold combined 100 per cent interest in Wonderland Amusement Park, with Mr. Fawad as Managing Director.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The duo also own Kafak Enterprises Limited, a holding company operating in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. They are the Managing Directors of this entity.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The third Lebanese listed, Mr. Tahini, is said to have received military training in Lebanon and described as a permanent representative of the Hezbollah Foreign Relations Department.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Credit: <a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/177962-america-bans-owners-of-amigo-supermarket-wonderland-amusement-park-over-alleged-terrorist-activities.html">Premium Times</a></b></div>

US Bans Owners Of Abuja Wonderland Over Terrorism

The United States of America has banned the owners of Nigeria’s Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland from dealing with any U.S. person. In a statement, the United States Department of Treasury said it ha…

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Biafran Embassy Opens In Spain

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdwYGOOEhZ0qz2JW4Ca-4b3UERhfrtcSYHPL71q1Uss2EIdPjm4mV4Ufv924pu1cbMLzpJ_jEvHnhHE4xMkUEB-skNTIIn88ehr02kOHLrqi-g4WSyw_hEcoH6u-cc_9gdSIIyixjeG1i/s1600/Biafra+Embassy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdwYGOOEhZ0qz2JW4Ca-4b3UERhfrtcSYHPL71q1Uss2EIdPjm4mV4Ufv924pu1cbMLzpJ_jEvHnhHE4xMkUEB-skNTIIn88ehr02kOHLrqi-g4WSyw_hEcoH6u-cc_9gdSIIyixjeG1i/s1600/Biafra+Embassy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>An Embassy of Biafra has been opened in Victoria, Spain. “It is another milestone in our drive towards Biafra’s restoration,” said a Radio Biafra broadcast from London monitored in Lagos by <i>News Express</i></b>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The embassy, set up by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was opened on Saturday, Feb. 28, by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra, London.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a prayer at the event, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said: “We your children are gathered here in Vitoria Basque country O’Lord of Hosts, to do that which you have divinely mandated us to do. Today here in Northern Spain we open yet another chapter in this relentless effort to restore your kingdom upon the face of this earth. For the journey mercies you have granted us from all over the world here gathered we remain eternally grateful. From all over the world we h</div> ave come to establish a firm base in this land from where your will must be done. This year belongs to us Biafrans because in the end all glory and honour will be yours and yours alone. Iseee!”<br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> An elated Mazi Kanu yesterday expressed gratitude to God for the success of the event, writing on his Facebook page:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “To the most gracious almighty Chukwu Abhiama do we owe all that we are for this journey mercy granted to all hard core Biafrans that attended IPOB mission opening ceremony in Vitoria Basque Country in Spain. Magnificent and merciful creator of the universe, even if we worshipped you from now till eternity we still would not be able to repay you for the grace you have shown we Indigenous People of Biafra for guiding us back to our respective destinations. For those we left behind please guide them to their families in safety that in the end as always all honour and glory will be yours and yours alone because only you is worthy of praise.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Your children have asked me to come to Amsterdam Netherlands from where your redeeming gospel of restoration will be preached tonight to the hearing of humanity. Abide with us Heavenly Father as you have always done for we are nothing without you. This family here shall find peace as they all desire that indeed your kingdom Biafra may come on this earth as it is heaven…..Iseee!”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Credit: <a href="http://www.xwaizi.com/biafra-opens-embassy-in-spain/">Xwaizi</a></b></div>

Biafran Embassy Opens In Spain

An Embassy of Biafra has been opened in Victoria, Spain. “It is another milestone in our drive towards Biafra’s restoration,” said a Radio Biafra broadcast from London monitored in Lagos by News Expr…

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We'll Overrun PDP In 26 States, Says Buhari Campaign Coordinator

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV65AyNXAOdxh4_nLtD8S4rsfL1AZDOUz167pAizd7KKTGZ5hi2IdECQNvj7dvuWdaXGnB33_LHFflzrbys1qoEJiL3nJ3FIi1NSSBhov1ZTPn0-n-lL7EJu2aRjRyurrC7wFAQ9aAov7/s1600/BuhariFam79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV65AyNXAOdxh4_nLtD8S4rsfL1AZDOUz167pAizd7KKTGZ5hi2IdECQNvj7dvuWdaXGnB33_LHFflzrbys1qoEJiL3nJ3FIi1NSSBhov1ZTPn0-n-lL7EJu2aRjRyurrC7wFAQ9aAov7/s1600/BuhariFam79.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Lagos State coordinator of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has done vigorous political campaign to sweep the polls in 26 states of the federation in the forthcoming presidential election scheduled for March 28.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Speaking at a press conference to herald one million man march in Lagos tagged 'Marching for Change', Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives said the party is not in any way jittery over constant campaign visits of President Goodluck Jonathan to the South West region, a report by <b><a href="http://leadership.ng/news/415386/we-will-overrun-pdp-in-26-states-buhari-campaign-coordinator">LEADERSHIP</a></b> says.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “We are not worried about President Jonathan’s visit to Lagos, let him continue to share his dollars, as far as we are concern in South West, it is Buhari at all states. Buhari will win in 26 states across the country.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Faleke added that Nigerians are ready to vote for change, saying “The present administration has done nothing; they could not deliver on constant power; and we can’t allow them to continue ruling the country like this, its certain that Nigerians will vote out PDP at the poll.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said that APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Buhari’s running mate Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola would lead the million man march for Buhari slated for Saturday March 7.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Faleke explained that the walk will commence from Maryland through Ikorodu road to terminate at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He added that the walk is to showcase that residents were ready for the general elections.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “It will also give psychological reawakening to the electorates.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “It is also to say that Nigerians reject the return to the dark age of Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs); there is no going back on PVCs as it is the practice in civilized countries,” Faleke said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He assured that the walk would be guided and would not disrupt commercial and business activities.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Faleke assured that all relevant agencies and security operatives have been adequately mobilized to ensure hitch-free political walk.</div>

We'll Overrun PDP In 26 States, Says Buhari Campaign Coordinator

Lagos State coordinator of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has done vigorous political campaign to…

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