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Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelensky warns next 24 hours will be “crucial” as Ukraine-Russia peace talks begin
Ukrainian and Russian officials arrived at the Ukraine-Belarus border for peace talks that kicked off at 6am on Monday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Day 5 of the invasion that the next 24 hours would be “crucial” to Ukraine’s fate.
Kyiv’s delegation, led by Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, is seeking “an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine,” according to a statement from the office of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As the fifth day of war dawned, air raid sirens sounded around the country, and strikes were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv, amid concern after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday put his nuclear forces on high alert.
Eleven people were killed and dozens injured on Monday in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, by Russian rocket fire.
Oleg Sinegubov, a senior regional official, said on his Facebook page that Russian forces were shelling residential areas of Kharkiv, even though no Ukrainian forces are stationed in the area.
“What is happening now in Kharkiv is a war crime,” wrote Sinegubov. He said Russia was using heavy artillery and, due to continuing shelling, it was not possible to deploy emergency services.
Russian ground forces have taken control of the town of Berdyansk on the Black Sea coast between the Crimean peninsula and the Russian-backed breakaway region of Donbas, defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov claimed Monday morning.
News
Kidnappers kill woman in Kaduna over failure to pay ransom
Kidnappers have killed a woman, Martina John in Kaduna State after her family failed to pay ransom at the specified date.
Acccording to her uncle, Makeri Danjuma Mohammad, the deceased was abducted two weeks ago from Katari village along Kaduna-Abuja highway.
She was brutally murdered by her abductors and her mutilated body dumped around Sabon Gayan Chikun Local Government Area of the state on May 13.
Martina was laid to rest on Saturday, May 14.
“Martina John is a niece to me. She was kidnapped from our community ten days ago and gruesomely murdered by her kidnappers for not paying the ransom at the time specified by them (kidnappers) May her soul rest in peace,” he wrote
“At the grave site of late Martina John today who was kidnapped from my community ten days ago, gruesomely murdered day before yesterday by her heartless kidnappers and her mutilated body dumped around Sabon Gayan near Kaduna. An unprecedented crowd of mourners graced her funeral today. May her soul rest in peace.”
News
Abducted Zamfara journalist regains freedom after six days in captivity
Zamfara-based kidnapped Journalist, Idris Haruna Magami, has regained freedom. He was released Monday evening, May 16, after six days in captivity
Idris Haruna a popular Radio presenter in Zamfara was abducted last wednesday while on his way to his hometown Magami, in Gusau local government area of Zamfara State
He is a staff of Zamfara State Radio and Television Services
Magami/ Dansadau road has been on the news for the wrong reasons following incessant attack on Communities, Commuters and Security operatives
Magami is about fifty kilometers from Dansadau, an area known as one of the hotbed of Banditry.
News
ICPC arraigns professor over $40000 bribe
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Professor John Kester Ifeanyichukwu over allegations of bribery and inducement of officers of the Commission.
In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC is accusing the Professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the Commission.
The cheque was part of the $50,000 and a house in Abuja, promised to the officer to compromise the investigation by retrieving the accused person’s devices, MacBook S/N CIML8BUGDTY3, MacBook S/N W80204J7ATN and iPhone pro11 which were in the custody of ICPC for investigative activities.
John Kester Ifeanyichukwu had earlier been reported to the Commission by the Presidency for alleged acts bordering on corruption, extortion and money laundering.
ICPC, in a Charge No: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant allegedly induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and to replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant.
The accused person’s action is contrary to Section 18 (b) and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. He was therefore admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and one of them must have a landed property in Abuja.
The trial judge also ordered that the Defendant’s international passport and other valid travel documents must be submitted to the court before the next adjourned date otherwise his bail will be revoked.
The case has been adjourned to the 21st of June 2022 for the commencement of hearing.
