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‘Panama Papers’ Whistleblower Says Russia ‘Wants Me Dead’

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The whistleblower behind the “Panama Papers” which revealed major tax evasion and fraud worldwide said he feared Russian retribution, in an interview published Saturday by Germany’s Der Spiegel.

The magazine quoted him under his pseudonym John Doe as saying he had evidence of financial wrongdoing by top Russian officials and their allies which helped fund the war in Ukraine.

Asked by Spiegel whether he feared for his life, he said, “It’s a risk that I live with, given that the Russian government has expressed the fact that it wants me dead.”

When Spiegel asked John Doe about tax havens used by “strongmen in autocratic regimes”, he spoke of the alleged role they play in Russia, whose leaders deny breaking the law.

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Russian President Vladimir “Putin is more of a threat to the United States than Hitler ever was, and shell companies are his best friend,” he said.

“Shell companies funding the Russian military are what kill innocent civilians in Ukraine as Putin’s missiles target shopping centres.”

He said anonymous firms “make these horrors and more possible by removing accountability from society. But without accountability, society cannot function.”

He said Russian state-funded channel RT had aired a two-part Panama Papers docudrama featuring a “John Doe” character “who suffered a torture-induced head injury during the opening credits”.

“However bizarre and tacky, it was not subtle,” he said.

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“We have seen others with connections to offshore accounts and tax justice resort to murder, as with the tragedies involving Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak,” referring to investigative reporters killed in Malta and Slovakia.

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In what was billed as his first interview since the release of the Panama Papers in 2016, John Doe said he had no plans to come out from the cover of anonymity.

“The Panama Papers involve so many different transnational criminal organisations, some of them with links to governments, that it’s difficult to imagine how it could ever be safe to identify myself,” he said.

The Panama Papers were one of several leaks of financial documents by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

Their revelations triggered the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and paved the way for the leader of Pakistan to be ousted.

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Crime

LAGESC convicts 12 commercial sex workers, sentences them to 8 months imprisonment

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LAGESC convicts 12 commercial sex workers

LAGESC convicted 12 commercial sex workers in Lagos, sentencing them to eight months in prison for prostitution and breach of peace offences.

 

The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) secured the conviction of 12 commercial sex workers during a dislodgement operation at Obalende.

They were sentenced to eight months imprisonment for offences related to prostitution and breach of peace. LAGESC Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), emphasised that the operation aligns with the Lagos State government’s THEMES agenda to ensure a habitable environment.

 

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Also read: Cleaner bags life jail for sexually assaulting baby in church

 

The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, successfully convicted 12 commercial sex workers on Wednesday following a large-scale enforcement operation in Obalende.

The convicted individuals were sentenced to eight months in prison for charges related to prostitution and breach of peace, in accordance with Sections 142(1)(a)(b) and 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

During the operation, led by LAGESC Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), the offenders were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adefioye at the Special Offences Court in Oshodi.

Out of the 19 individuals charged, 12 were convicted and sentenced, while the remaining seven pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody until December 18 for further hearings.

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Major Cole highlighted that the operation was necessary due to the deteriorating situation in Obalende, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES agenda, which aims to keep Lagos habitable for business and free from criminal activities.

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He reiterated that LAGESC would continue its efforts to rid Lagos of unlawful elements, despite challenges and attacks on its officers.

Cole also issued warnings to street traders and hawkers to refrain from displaying goods in prohibited areas such as road verges, lay-bys, and pedestrian walkways, stressing that defaulters will face daily arrests and prosecution.

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UK plans to reuse old graves amid burial space shortage

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UK plans to reuse old graves

The UK is considering reusing old graves to address the shortage of burial space, with proposals under public consultation until January 2025.

 

The UK is considering reusing old graves and reopening closed burial grounds to address the shortage of burial space, especially in cities.

Proposals from the Law Commission suggest reusing graves last used at least 75 years ago, but this would only happen after public consultations and government approval. The public consultation on these plans runs until January 2025.

 

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Also read: “There may be no election in 2023” Charlyboy insists from United Kingdom

 

In response to a growing shortage of burial space, particularly in urban areas, the UK is exploring plans to reuse old graves and reopen closed burial grounds.

The proposals put forward by the Law Commission could see Victorian-era graveyards, once deemed “full,” being repurposed to accommodate future burials.

The Law Commission, an independent body that reviews laws in England and Wales, highlighted the pressing need to address the dwindling availability of burial plots in cities.

Their proposals suggest that any burial ground could potentially be reused, provided that the last burial took place at least 75 years ago and after extensive public consultations.

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Professor Nick Hopkins, Commissioner for Property, Family, and Trust Law, stressed the importance of handling the matter sensitively.

He pointed out that reforming burial and cremation laws could secure burial space for future generations, but public support is crucial.

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The proposals would require government approval and public consultations to ensure transparency, especially when dealing with objections from family members.

Currently, public cemeteries can only be repurposed if an Act of Parliament is granted, but these new measures could open up more options for addressing the shortage.

Alex Davies-Jones, Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, expressed the government’s support for these efforts, saying that they eagerly await the Law Commission’s recommendations for modern, consistent regulations.

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Crime

Yobe State police investigation launched after homicide incident

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Yobe State police investigation

Yobe State police investigation launched into homicide involving Inspector Mohammed Bulama, who allegedly stabbed a man during a dispute.

 

The Yobe State police investigation has begun into the homicide involving Inspector Mohammed Bulama, who allegedly stabbed a man during a dispute.

The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has ordered an immediate investigation into a homicide incident involving Inspector Mohammed Bulama, attached to the Police Mobile Force, 41 Division, Damaturu, the state capital.

 

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Also read: Ogun police investigate alleged murder of 16-year-old in Sagamu

 

According to a press release from the Police Public Relations Officer of the Yobe Police Command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the incident occurred on September 29, 2024, at approximately 18:20 hours.

Inspector Bulama, 38, was involved in a heated argument with Abdulmalik Dauda (aka Baksha), 39, of Pompomari Ward, Damaturu, over an unresolved transaction in the Zango Area.

The dispute escalated into a physical altercation, during which Bulama allegedly stabbed Dauda in the chest, resulting in head injuries during the confrontation.

Following the incident, Bulama sought refuge at the ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters and was promptly arrested.

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The state Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation, and Bulama is currently in custody pending internal disciplinary action and prosecution.

CP Ahmed condemned Bulama’s actions and expressed condolences to Dauda’s family, assuring the public of a thorough and swift investigation to ensure justice is served.

“The Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate any misconduct from its personnel. We will ensure that justice is served and the perpetrator is held accountable,” Ahmed stated.

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